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Laurie

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Everything posted by Laurie

  1. You know, sometimes messed-up schedules can be a blessing in disguise. Nothing went as planned, we were caroling, and half the pack didn't show (sickness and a school concert), and of those boys who did show, some families didn't stay, so all ceremonies were dropped, and the boys didn't know they were going to take place anyway, so no one missed them (but me!). My husband and I have read your posts, and we both thank you for the ideas and support you've given us as we seek to do what is best for our son. Thank you kindly.
  2. Yikes! I just noticed a typo: "briding" ceremony. Hmmmm.... You do know this is bridging, right? No, I haven't gone and created something new
  3. Eagle1973, we would risk losing this particular boy if he is denied his Arrow of Light again. I sent a PM with more info, but I do understand and agree with your point. I would add that it depends very much on the boy as well though. All: I'm still not sure what tonight holds, but I thank you again for giving me much to think about in respect to this. Please know that I don't handle advancements or other's feelings lightly, and this was actually a hard thread to start--thus the last-minute asking for ideas.
  4. The pack is not willing to pay for these awards, though I tried to have funds designated to cover one award per boy, leaving the rest of the cost to the family if they chose to buy other awards. So the cost isn't as big an issue as the earning it. It's pretty ironic that I have this problem, as I'm told that I am "too by the book" when it comes to awards and such. However, I have noticed the cost, know there's just little more than a year to earn this particular set of awards, so it seems to me they are designed to bring recognition to the anniversary in some fun ways. I love the award
  5. Thank you all. I won't elaborate on some of the factors at play here because I truly care about and respect my fellow leaders. As for committee, that's basically the den leaders as most committee members don't show but den leaders do. So I misled you all though that wasn't intentional; I'm sorry about that. I would be proud of and honored to provide any boy with any award or advancement at any time, but at times I am a lone voice in the unit. This type of thinking is not shared by all for varying reasons, but not one that I've found I can agree or jives with BSA training yet. I have the
  6. A boy completes Arrow of Light on his own, with the den leader's approval to move forward on it, and he has done so three months ahead of the rest of his den. He is ready to join a troop now, is old enough, is very excited about this, but if he leaves now, he will do so without an AoL ceremony, briding ceremony, opportunity to take part in PWD and Blue and Gold. He says he's ok with that, but I'm not entirely convinced. Here's the wrinkle: not only did he finish "early" (only one bridging & AoL ceremony each year--not sure more than one was ever needed), but he's my son, and I suspect h
  7. At the Scout shop, it was pointed out to me that one person could potentially earn more than one award. I figured that if requirement #1 were earned for one award, it would be earned for the others as well. However, one of the den leaders said this can't be right, that for each award, each item would need to be redone. Can anyone clarify this for me please? As CM, I have deliberately held a pack meeting already that was a celebration of the 75th anniversary, for I know some will miss the Blue & Gold--happens every year. This way there were two opportunities. Another question: fo
  8. What I would love to see happen is that all leaders become focused on making the program fun the boys so that advancement would happen naturally rather than for advancement to come first and fun just to be fit into things if time allows. Wow, long sentence, huh?
  9. Wow, two responses with so very much to think about--thank you. Semper, right now the fond memories are outnumbered by the difficulties faced this past two years, but I agree with you that staying out of obligation is not good--the boys would see that anyway, I think. And Eamonn, you are too kind, but your words are a balm to a rather weary Cub Scouter at the moment. Thank you. You know, you're right--this can wait until after the holidays. The very best to you and yours too!!
  10. Thank you both! Glad to hear it truly is that easy. I have until early February to turn in the recharter, but last year the hard part was gathering signatures, so I want to know what I'm dealing with this time around.
  11. I never ever thought I'd want to leave Cubs, but I've been ready to go for awhile. Sad thing is that I've been involved for such a short time, too short to feel such relief over moving on. Just this week I learned that the person I'd asked to replace me will do so. So, come March 1, I'm not sure what role I'll fill, if any, in Cubs. Both boys will be in a troop, and the troop is great for the boys and adults alike, and my husband would like me to become more involved in the troop. He's not sure how, just thinks I should be there and active. The need in the pack is such that I've been ask
  12. I just got the unit ID number today, and I've gone through the tutorial (quickly, just to get an idea of what's involved), and this doesn't look too challenging. The hardest part for me is getting started, and I'm slightly confused on that. Do we simply download the council info, or do we need to wait for the printed release? I've been given some info, but in fairness, I missed training, and not one other person was able to go. TIA.
  13. I've been blessed to have already worked my dream job before a working a second one. When I was about 25, I was activitely helping to recruit a new counselor and director for an organization I volunteered for. In helping to draft the job description as a volunteer board member, in helping with public relations and recruiting and fundraising, in helping train others, I discovered that this was *the* job for me...in about 10 years, after I had gained more experience and perhaps a degree. I set out to do this. I received a call to stop by the office. I was offered the job. It seemed that I
  14. 1. Find out what a CO is; none of us had a clue two years ago. All leaders, even those around for awhile, thought the pack ran the pack, and that it was allowed to do so by the CO. 2. Serve the CO. Little odd jobs as they are seen, bigger jobs when able to. 3. Make sure the community knows that the pack is owned by the CO. Do so by naming the pack as "St. Joseph's Cub Scout Pack 000" when submitting publicity releases, for example. 4. Thank the CO, in writing, and whenver possible including boys' signatures, for the opportunities it allows the unit to have in providing the pr
  15. I heard there was CD for each unit, but as CM all mail goes to me, and I even asked the DE, but there's nothing for us. I have hunted and hunted for both games and songs without success. However, I will post a link for our newsletter that has some 75th anniversary stuff (just fun stuff) in case you can use this. This timeframe was at the time of the depression, so there is much on-line about the hardships but little about recreation. Stickball and marbles were around, miniature golf was popular, so I may use these in some way. Anyone else have ideas? Please? The link: http://ww
  16. Eamonn, the prices of all the 75th Anniversary items are high, at least in my opinion. I bought myself a mug for $6.95, a pen for $5.95, the commemorative patch for $3.95, and for my very patient little sidekick while shopping, the clapper for $2. The pack isn't too happy with the prices, so families are being asked to pay for the 75th anniversary awards they earn.
  17. I'm sorry if my post sounded judgemental; re-reading it, I see that it may be taken that way. As for caravans, I get nervous trying to keep others in sight--kids in car, road to watch, directions to a new place--too much to keep track of, you know? So I suggested something that seems to work for us so far: we do leave at the same time, exchange maps/directions, and exchange cell phone numbers. This way, if a car gets lost, a call can be placed to others for help. We usually ask a boy to answer the phone rather than try to do so while driving. So far, this system is working for us. I
  18. Eamonn, point taken about people living in glass houses, but (you saw that coming, didn't you?)... If I am willing to accept responsibility for driving other people to and from an event, I fully expect to be held accountable to following the law, to being alert and rested, to doing all that I possibly can to keep all aboard safe. If I'm not willing to do that, then I shouldn't be behind the wheel. Speeding is not safe driving, and I don't speed. In fact, by following the speed limits, I tend to tick off a lot of people--those behind me in the no-pass zones in particular! The same
  19. Eamonn, he sounds pretty normal to me. Since their births I worked at a schedule for our boys, and 11 & 12 years later, they are still going to bed at 8 pm. Recently we began allowing them to stay up a little later, but they will often ask to go to bed by then. I wake them at 7 am every morning, and over the summer they were waking as early as 5 & 6 am. A week into school, and they needed to be shaken out of bed by 7. Growth combined with the hard work of school, the athletics and scouting events and social time--it seems perfectly appropriate that a youth would sleep longer consi
  20. I honestly don't know, but since the age of 10 I have volunteered in one capacity or another, usually with kids. Our boys joined Scouts just after our daughter was born, and I had no choice but to cut way back on time spent volunteering at their school just as I became part of the unit leadership. I look forward to going back to school as a chaperone and volunteer aide in a couple of years, and our littlest wants to be a Boy Scout but will settle for Girl Scouts , so I'll most likely become a Girl Scout leader in time too.
  21. I haven't seen the incidents you refer to, but we have one pro team we won't take the unit to due to conduct among the fans. Another team is simply too pricey, doesn't offer discouts, and that was an easy one not to add to the unit calendar. That's the negative. On a positive note, there are two teams that are very family-friendly to go see, and not just on Scout night. These two teams are added to the unit calendar as soon as the Scout night dates are known. If there is a conflict with Scout night, we will still go, but another time. These are two nights families look forward to due
  22. I was adamant that we not make every pack meeting a time to award something to every boy. What we have done for a year now is to focus on having fun and having ceremonies for advancements every time one or more advancements is earned and awarding other items to those who earned them. Two things have happened: the boys who were awarded what they earned see that it's special, and the other boys set goals to earn what the others got. The Pinewood derby and raingutter regatta (we just had our first--very cool!) and Cub-anapolis are treated differently. There are awards for first, second,
  23. Hmmm...NJ & I linked in Issues and Politics--that's a first Pack, that is exactly the tone and language that I find offensive and would cause me to stop listening to the person using it, here or abroad, and regardless of which person is being written about.(This message has been edited by Laurie)
  24. OGE writes: "Sometimes we have to accept people arent where we want them to be, but being insulting and arrogant and talking down to them doesnt work." I agree with that. I will not debate the election now, though interestingly enough I'm surrounded by family and friends who of a different political party than I am, and they are suddenly interested in wanting to debate. I don't get it; the election is over now so where is the value in the debate? Our sons have heard quite a bit on the playground at school, and they have formed some very wrong opinions based on what others say rath
  25. The most important thing I've learned about Cub Scouting and Scouting to date is to enjoy and focus on the path rather than the end result. I'm an achievement-oriented person, always have been, so I tend to be in a hurry to get the job done and done perfectly. That doesn't work with the youth. The relationships that I've been privileged to enjoy as we work toward advancements, serve together, etc. have been moments that often bring a smile to face. I treasure them, and I sincerely hope that in some small way they moments that help define, for better, the lives of those I've spent time with
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