Jeffrey H

A small Pack of less than 10 boys will work just fine if it has enthusiatic leaders and volunteers that provide a quality program of fun meetings and outdoor events.

I hesitate to give a hard number because I just don't know. I do agree with the previous post that a small Pack must have consistent attendance by all members to succeed.

I'm not Episcopalian, but I'm glad to hear that there is still strong support for Scouting in your denomination.

QUOTE:  My point is: They love the program! Professionals don't what to harm the program, ever. In fact they want to pass on a more vibrant program then they inheirited. Unfortunately, it often is our job to be the bearer of bad news. We are paid by the board to keep the council financially solvent, to ensure that we can grow the program, that we can support our properties adequately. We are paid to ensure that our youth are with the right people when they head out on an outing. We are paid to ensure that the nessary business of a non-profit is handled. It isn't always glamorous or popular, but damn is is gratifying.

commandopro,

Thanks for sharing what you do.  I never really understood what DE's did, but I do understand that professionals usually have to take alot of unfair criticism from negative-minded volunteers.  Thanks for your dedication and hard work.  I wish the best for you. 

QUOTE:  I hope you have as gratifying job as I do!

I don't, but I do love Scouting and receive a great deal of satisfaction working as an Asst. Cubmaster.  Scouting is great stuff

When I hear about units (packs and troops) with 5, 6, 7 boys, I have to suspect that the boys would be better off with fewer, but larger units.

They are better off.  The boys from the "dying Pack" are jumping right in to the activities of our Pack.  They are ENCOURAGED, making new friends, having fun, and not dropping out. 

Eagle candidate coming up for BOR. No one has seen him at any Troop activity since 9/05. He has a record of never assisting any other Scout with Projects and has been involved in a number of fights with other Scouts. He was fired from camp as a Leading Scout for stealing. Not an nonorable scout. Can he be denied Eagle based on this?

I would ask how in the world did he make it to Star and Life? Was he a "good scout" and then suddenly became a "bad scout"? Was he always a "bad scout" that was just simply given what he wanted bya lenient SM. It appears to me that this lad does not apply the vaules of scouting to his life - lots of head knowledge, but his heart is not in it.

I discovered some time ago to always check the National web site first when looking for anything scout related. Many times I found it there and it's always current and official.

www.scouting.org

Now that I've been asked to become ACM for my son's pack, I suppose that I'm going back into uniform. What is the proper headwear?

For the CM or ACM, there appears to be no standard cub leader hat.  There is a cub leader bush hat for the outdoors, but not practical for indoors.  For the den leaders however, they can elect to wear the same hat as the boys wear in the den (according to the cub leader manual).

So I guess the short answer is wear any official BSA (past or present) that your comfortable with.  Check our www.scoutstuff.org and see what you like.

QUOTE: A pack cannot recharter without a CM (at least on paper). I would never agree to be a "paper CM". I agree...as long as you prop this pack up, the parents will not get motivated. This is the District's problem, not yours. The DE and DC need to be working overtime to get this pack back on its feet. DEs will (or should, if they want to keep their job) do almost anything to keep a unit from merging or folding.

The reason they are able to re-charter is our CM has agreed to take over as their CM. He is now CM of two Packs. This is not a paper CM scenario. He is actively working with the dying pack to help them get a CM (along with the DE and DC) and at the same time provide an active Scouting environment for their boys so they do not drop out. He is reminding the parents the seriousness of the situation and they will lose their Pack if they do not step up. This situation may not be our problem, but our Pack has a long history of friendly cooperation with their Pack. We are, at a minimum, extending a hand of friendship and help.

QUOTE: It sound like you are just trying to get the Pack to survive for one year until the new leaders can take over.

Thats about all the time they have.

Yes, we are merged, just not officially on paper. The district executive likes it that way, but pretty stupid in my opinion. IMO, we need to be one Pack with one unit number and I would invite all of them to transfer to our Pack and be done with it. The only reason the DE is giving them "time" is because they are approaching their 25th year anniversary of existence. Well, I guess they will be able get that little "25 year" patch on their uniforms.

Our CM is currently working with their Pack's parents to give them an opportunity to step up and save their Pack. However, he can only do this for so long. If no one steps up to CM, my prediction is (within the next year)they will eventually fold or more likely, their active boys will elect to transfer to our Pack.

A few months ago, my Pack recently took under our wings another neighborhood Pack who does not have a Cubmaster and has yet to find a replacement. This is not a merger. For an interim period, Our CM agreed to take them in order to keep them going and help them re-charter. They are a very small Pack of 7 boys so it was not a great burden to take them in. They are currently meeting with us for Pack meetings.

The tough question: How do we get this Pack self-sufficient again? Basically, they need a Cubmaster and need one soon. Their future is not promising for the long-term - they have no Tigers, no Wolves, 2 Bears, and 5 Webelos. Their 2 Bears have no den leader and they are currently attending my den. Their Webelos, however, are active and have a strong den leader. They have a Committee Chair, but he does not seem to have much initiative to find a solution to the problem. We discussed with our district the possibility of merging their Pack into ours, but our DE and District Chair do no want that to happen (#s of units are important to them).

QUOTE BY LISABOB: "One fellow said he "thinks" he did WB but it was over 20 years ago and he isn't sure..."

I doubt it would be WB. Anyone who has taken Woodbadge would remember it.