jhankins

Planning and backdating is just about the basis of all you do in Scouting anyway! Just as one FOS campaign finishes, another begins, so while you're executing, leading and managing one campaign, two others are in the mix. While your youth and adults are at camp during the summer, you're planning and backdating all of the recruitment events for fall, and any fall fundraisers. While the recruiting is happening, you're planning for your winter kick-off for district and leadership FOS and organizing last minute fundraisers... In the winter and spring while you're working fundraising so the council can pay for summer camps, you're already planning spring recruitments, managing camporees, and visiting charter organizations, delivering speeches to institutional heads and Rotary clubs... It's a continuous cycle that requires much organization, lots of working on your own, and incredible presentation skills. Not to mention, knowing your volunteers, how to become their partner and friend, and serving every unit in the district!

I think it's really up to the council to pursue the nomination with the National Court of Honor. The certificate of merit is given by councils regularly, but if they don't see fit to move it up the line, it won't get there. 20 gallons is amazing. What dedication! I only had given a gallon before I became ill and can't donate anymore, but I cherish those that do!

My son is a Webelos I this year, and we've been discussing his choice in troops. I've supplied him with a list of questions to ask about what's important in choosing a troop, and then he makes the phone calls to set up a visit and interview with each troop and their SPL. Because it's his responsibility and I'm not choosing for him, he really taking the weight of it all seriously and weighing all the options. Letting the boys choose is a pivotal part of growing up in my opinion, and the decision making process will serve them for a long time to come.

I use "my" in the same way, but also because of my role as the district training chair, I call them "My leaders" too. When people ask me what I do, I tell them I'm a Boy Scout. When they ask what my job is, I tell them "I only work so I can Scout, so let me tell you about my 2,000 boys!"

I hadn't heard this yet. Will have to mention it to our committee since we have a stockpile of old books we use for bridging to Webelos.

It is fraud, and unethical. One of the reasons I'm not a professional anymore is because business practices came to light that I wanted to correct in my district and was told things wouldn't change so my SE could get his fat retirement. Every word of the Scout Executive's Code is an oath professionals take, and if I was going to be told to follow it, I wasn't going to do the job. I got a great start on cleaning house before I left. Sure enough, the SE retired, and the membership and financial audits came in. Everyone responsible has now retired with six figure retirements. Not every council does this, but was being done. Not every professional is involved. With the financial situation we're in, more of this is coming to light.

If parents don't have a computer at home, we offer the training in a group setting at committee meetings. It's amazing what an internet connection can do for portable training. Simple yet meaningful training ensures that all the parents are on the same page. It takes less than an hour to complete all the trainings, and offers a safer program for everyone. The youth aren't penalized, they benefit by a safer program with consistent leadership. Not to mention, if you have boys swimming at an event, or need a backup leader for a tour permit, it's beneficial for everyone's state of mind. I'm not sure what you mean by Tiger Team... that's a new one that I've not seen in any BSA material. As far as the troop goes, direct contact leaders attend events in the proper 2 deep fashion. Those DC leaders are offered Wood Badge reimbursement following the successful completion of their ticket and are allowed to go on events once this is done. If a parent is a leader, the same applies. Non DC-Leader parents are asked to take a step back, and it works well for everyone. The expectation is there, clearly defined and everyone is happy with it.

The committee of a pack is supported and chosen by the charter organization in order to supply a program tailored to their needs and desires. The committee then enacts the vision of the charter in all manner of behavior: finances, service, meetings, leadership. The Cubmaster enacts the program designated by the wishes of the committee and the COR. The Cubmaster may run the program in your unit with complete autonomy, but the relationship between committee and cubmaster is clearly defined and should be run accordingly. Who has your committee designated to sign the rank advancement? It's not totally in the hands of the den leaders for Webelos, it's also the responsibility of the committee to ensure the awards are given appropriately.

Seven people asking questions. National requirement is 3-6. Oops. "All boards must constitute at least three and not more than six members who are all 21 years of age or older. " I don't agree with a uniform requirement for members of a Eagle Board of Review. When we call in a doctor or lawyer who aren't scouters to serve on a board, some of them don't have a uniform. We call for "Sunday Best" dress, and that seems to work fine and respect the occasion. I even break out my mauve and woggle for a EBOR when I usually just wear my beads.

That's not totally correct. Your COR can also be your Committee Chair.

PD-L1 0804 here. The only required training: Youth Protection, Fast Starts for each program. That's it. I did it all one evening in the office while waiting for a meeting to start. Granted, I had already done them as a volunteer first, but it was a good refresher to have them done again. I was one of two Wood Badge trained in my course. I saw right away as soon as I met my volunteers that they had relied solely upon the DE in the past to make things work. I took a servant-based leadership model to heart and began to restructure and actually form a district committee that met for the first time in ten years. During your first year on the job, there's some flexibility as far as the numbers game is concerned, and I used that time to build a committee that is still growing. Money, manpower and membership, the 3 "Ms" that professionals get graded on. What my volunteers graded me on? Did she camp at the camporee? Did she drive to my Blue and Gold and buy something at the auction? Did she come to my training and introduce herself? Did she drive 2 hours to the service center to buy my patches? I see the role of a DE as a servant to the district. If everyone else does their part, the DE can do theirs and everyone wins.

Your DE's job to your district committee? He's the secretary and advisor. He reports to the SE who in turn reports to the board how your district is doing. The DE sets the goals with the Key 3 and sets the agenda for their meetings. The rest is up to the volunteers. Your District Chair is in charge of program, membership and finances. No one going to camp? Have you talked to your camping chair? What about a report from each unit commissioner on what the units aren't going camping? Your Commissioner Corps are the quality assurance of Scouting. They go in and check to see the program's being delivered. Notice that the Commissioner Corps and your DE are the only two offices in your district that wear a wreath around their job patch. That denotes service, and a promise to serve. It doesn't denote "SUCKER" at all. Volunteers have to take responsibility for their districts and use your DE as a tool, not the fall guy.

The councils that don't separate LFL and traditional scouting do so to save money, plain and simple. The programs are vastly different and service different groups of people. When you add those units on top of traditional units, it makes double the work load for the DE, so that they become a manager rather than a "unit-serving executive." This was recently done in my council, so my DE is now not only in charge of 160 traditional units, but 50 LFL as well. According to national standards, that's enough units for two paid positions.

Former professional here. A trend I've noticed is that many districts have fallen out of the habit of being run by the volunteers, and in turn that translates to the council level as well. When a DE is tasked by an SE to draft a Webelos to Scout Transition curriculum for new leaders (instead of a University of Scouting class or a Membership committee meeting), there's just one symptom of a greater problem. Many DEs do the job of both the DC and DCom because they don't get done otherwise, and their paycheck is on the line. Membership audits are happening across the country. Some SEs were authorizing payments to support scouting through LFL and Scoutreach, to find out that the kids were paid for by council, but never actually receiving program. I've heard of one council losing 20,000 kids in a year.

The requirement is clearly laid out in the book, so I'm not sure where the CM is coming from. That being said, when I'm teaching the Oath and Law, I usually recommend they learn it first, as it's easier to explain the points when you know what they are, but it's not mandatory. Some Cubmasters and parents need to remember that the pack committee sets the standards, and the CM enacts them.

On my first course as a staffer, I witnessed a participant look in the proverbial mirror and see something in himself he didn't care for, at all. This gentleman was so abhorred at his own behavior, he deflected the outrage back at the staff because he couldn't face himself. Four months later I'm starting to notice a change in this man -- he thinks before he speaks, he listens more attentively, and instead of berating Wood Badge, he understands it's changed his life and how he approaches working with other people. Some people have never recognized the qualities in themselves that could be a detriment to our youth. Playing "The Game" is a slice of humble pie for some, for others it's a test of their own ethical values. Every person on a course will take away something personal, something unique. That's a good thing. So one person may be a jerk about it, another may be in tears because of what's been happening in her own unit and how the game mirrors that, and another still may realize they need to learn how to be heard and they understand the moral of the game. The lessons learned are as varied as the people that attend Wood Badge, and I think the better the staffers understand that, the stronger the take-home message can be.

First, congrats on a successful surgery! I've been through the ringer myself with medical issues and have found Scouting keeps me motivated and young through it all. Keep It Simple, Make It Fun -- one of the best parts of training and working with the boys. If you're having fun, so are they. Being a den leader is a great excuse to act like a nine year old and have fun with it. New Leader Essentials has been replaced by "This is Scouting" online, so be sure to take the appropriate course. As a Webelos Den Leader, it's a breakout within Cub Scout Specific, and you'll learn everything your den leader will learn. If you can, I suggest also taking Outdoor Leader Essentials instead of BALOO, as it'll give you a better basis on what to teach your boys to get them ready for Boy Scouts. You'll start to see how the puzzle fits together and how the continuum of scouting works for the boys.

From what I understand, District Training chairs will be able to input training just as Commissioners can input their unit reports online. It's supposedly in the works to be rolled out with the 2011 mandatory training. In the mean time, we have pack trainers and district committee members making phone calls to update records at the council level so we have a better idea where our true starting percentage lies. In my troop and pack, if you don't take training, you don't go on outings, period. All parents at the pack level have to have safe swim, safety afloat, weather hazards and youth protection. At the troop level, all of the above, event specific, plus Wood Badge in order to go on outings with the boys. I'm so glad the committee set the precedent, it's paying off knowing everyone is on the same page.

That answer really lies with your council training committee, at least for now. In my council we are looking at a short refresher (1 hour) with a "quiz" at the end to see if the meat and potatoes of the course is remembered, and we'll sign off the training card. This falls under the self-study aspect of district training, and we use it just for these types of scenarios. We're not going to make a Scoutmaster of 20 years retake a course unless he wants to, yet can still show competency on what needs training.

We had an 18 yo Venturing young lady on our last course, and while she was a seasoned camp staffer, she had a great time sharing her insight, role in Venturing, and learning from those around her. Just think of the leadership potential this young woman already shows, and just how much she will use the skills from Wood Badge not only with Scouting, but in her college life? If I would have been open and receptive enough to even take Wood Badge at that age, I think more than a few situations would have been resolved for the better.

For what it's worth, I'm a proud Owl, course WE4-45-2-07, and I staffed Wood Badge for the first time this year as a Troop Guide. 21st Century Wood Badge offers a chance for leaders from all walks of life to have a chance at some serious communication, team building, and leadership training. The Patrol method is not lost in 21st Century WB, it's accessible to all levels of the program. We had Cubbers, Scouters, Venturers, Coaches, and brand new district level people on our course, and it was an adventure for them all. Even corporate trainers in our participant roster found use in everything that they were exposed to. Depending on how closely a staff follows the syllabus will dictate how things shape up. While there is significant classroom time, there are also opportunities for hikes, patrol cooking adventures, outdoor physical challenges to promote teamwork, and time in the great outdoors. I strongly encourage anyone who is not happy with the way some traditions take over the syllabus, get involved and change it. Our Course Director took a chance and we went back to following the syllabus and nary a tradition in sight, and it was an amazing experience. Being a staffer for WB is being a servant leader, and I'm proud of the gifts I was given to help me remember my time spent as a Troop Guide for six amazing people. They each have meaning, and remind me of the Scout Spirit and the boys that brought us together. The boys aren't lost through the items, they're a reminder of the boys we serve. That being said, if you want more back country Wood Badge, take the Philmont Leadership Challenge -- it's Wood Badge on Steroids for those who have their beads.

Hi everyone! My name is Jessica, I'm a single mom to a new Tiger Cub, and I jumped in head first and I'm assisting the new Den Leader who is also a Girl Scout Leader -- so her attention is divided. I help her with paperwork and involving the parents and learning the behind-the-scenes while watching her work with the kids. As time goes on, I'm easing into more responsibilities within the pack, and am looking forward to being a Cubber for a long time to come. I've taken all the online training and am participating in Leader training in November. Our pack is only two years old, but we've reached forty boys, and the Cubmaster is already recruiting me for Wood Badge training! I really enjoy the motivation of the Quality Pack. I was a brownie for a short time as a kid, but I always grew up in the shadow of my dad the ScoutMaster, and am looking forward to participating with my son as he grows. Thank you to everyone for contributing here, it's a wealth of information!