madkins007

All of the leaders we got in our pack, we got using Bob White's and the BSA's method. Specific invitations work. Begging, guilt trips, group invites, etc. don't. Does this mean we had all the leaders we needed? Nope. None of our DLs had an assistant (but we made sure they all had Den Aides and we tried to keep the dens managable), and we had a heck of a time recruiting a new ACM to help the new CM as the old one rotated out. Of course, neither did we have a big happy pack nearby. Most of us in this part of town were in the same boat.

OldGrayEagle makes an excellent point. To make solid, program improving suggestions, one must do some background work. What are the goals of the changes? What are the weaknesses of the current program? What is your evidence for the weakness or that the change will work? I think the single biggest challenge in improving the program is the sort of thing we see here. Some of us defend the program as written pretty solidly. Others are quick to throw out pretty much any of it. Some of us like this section, others think it is the stupidest thing since camo smoke shifters. We are a relativ

Pack size sorta reminds me of church size. Mega-churches just seem to keep on growing. You almost wonder if it is only because of the quality of the church program (which undoubtedly is a part of it), or just the American tendency to assume bigger is better, or the desire to want to join things that appear successful, etc. Really big churches have plusses and minuses. They can offer more programs in many ways because they have so many resources and volunteers. Most mega-churches have more social and small-study groups than you can shake a stick at. They often run schools and profess

Scoutndad- thanks! BW made a comment about a ladder as well and I just was not sure where it came from. Suddenly there were all these ladders surrounding me! I wasn't sure which way to turn, I... I... I'm OK now. Whew!

By the way, FrankJ, I was just trying to give CA_Scouter ammo to convince the committee to pass on the idea. I don't have anything against it myself as long as the basic guidelines are solid!

While I personally am AGAINST the BSA's ban on atheists, I am also appalled by how far from "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" (Bill of Rights, Article 1, part 1)we have come. How does funding a Jamboree, which represents Scouts from hundreds of religious backgrounds, qualify as 'establishment of religion'? Rhetorical question, of course. The current environment is the complete seperation of 'church and state', based on dozens of establishing legal precedents. I know, I know. Lessee- we can't celebrate C

Personally, I think the smart answer is for the BSA top managment to visibly begin to systematically excise all the rot out of the system. Audit councils aggressively, and remove leadership (council, regional, or national) that played a role in the problems. Hire independent auditors to supervise the process. Make a bit of media noise- a sort of quiet, dignified 'we found some troubling issues and are dealing with them decisively' sort of release that highlights the aggressiveness and open nature of the treatment process. Use good soundclips and videos to make a nice big splash. Do t

re: finances- after some shenanigans earlier in our pack, when we took over, we included a bit about an annual outside audit to be done by the CO's treasurer (with their permission, of course). Our own people never played with the books, but the monthly statement and annual audit made everyone feel a little better.

It's Me- I ABSOLUTELY agree that a lot of the requirements in Cubs are significantly less fun today than they were in the past. Cubs USED to have to build crystal radios! How cool is that? I collect Cub books from around the world (mostly English-speaking countries) and history (pretty much a complete set of those!) I think we have a GOOD program now, but one that stand some serious renovation. When I compare what we do now with Cubbing in the 60's, or British Cubbing, I sometimes drool over the possibilities!

I quoted them right out of the first pages of the Insignia Guide (you'll find it in almost any edition of the booklet). I had a complete copy of the Rules and Regulations that I found in a pile of odd stuff at our local Scout Shop years ago. I don't know if they still print them that way though.

In Cub Leader Basic Training, I was at one point trying to change our 'Uniforms' module from 'how to be technically accurate' to 'why uniforms?'. I was planning on showing a picture of an adult in civvies, a similar adult in a 'half uniform', and a leader in full uniform, then asking the people in the class the following questions: - Which person would you most likely trust your own children to? - Which person is most invested in the program? - Which person do you think understands the Scouting program better? - Which person is most likely to know how to deal with varius issues th

The 'offical' patrol flags are pretty boring, but better than nothing- barely! Make'em! Turn it into a contest, do it at a camp, make it part of the national patrol award program, whatever!

Bob White- I guess I'm having another brain blip, but I can't seem to recall or find my using the term 'ladder'. I'm not trying to be sarcastic or cute (for once), just feeling a little befuddled (also not a new sensation!) As for the 'only those not following the program complaining' bit, I beg to differ. I tried hard in our pack, along with a core of other dedicated leaders, to make the program work as advertised. We varied rarely from the proscribed program and watched our 50+ year old pack go from near death before we got involved, grow to about 35 youth, then dwindle again as w

What on EARTH would a unit do with $150,000? *sniff, sniff* Does something smell... 'funny'... to you?

SR540Beaver- "Madkin, Fair value? Have you checked the price of Trails End popcorn lately?" Sigh. Yeah. Do you REALLY want to hear my opinions of THAT here?

Gee... I wonder what it says about Texas and places south when even the ARMADILLOS are trying so hard to escape?

There are several big issues in today's society that affect MANY organizations like the Scouts- overall reduction in volunteerism, reduction in charitable giving, etc. As far as 'overstretched' or over-scheduled people goes, that may be a part of it, but I also think that many of these oganizations make it increasingly hard to be a volunteer. I've had to drop out of several groups I was associated with over the last several years for different reasons. One instituted a 'minimum hours' requirement. Another added a 'mandatory classes' requirement and then scheduled the classes at bad t

Bob White said "We have mechanisms in place now that work when used. If some people will not follow them then what is gained by changing the mechanisms?" You do not get out of a rut by digging deeper in the same place. I agree that the basic mechanisms are sound- but if they are not being followed, we need to try something different- either changing the mechanisms OR something around the mechanisms. To use your example of the baseball team- improving or replacing the players are not your only options. You can change the leadership, the coaching/teaching staff, the amount of community

Hey! We have a troop like that in our council too! Big, obnoxious, acts priviledged or above the rules at camp and camporees. Ours churns out bunches of merit badges but oddly, the leaders rarely show up at training or roundtable. I'd bet the troop's own council already knows them, and has already done pretty much all they are going to do. Frankly, there is not much they can do. I'd suggest you let it go- except as a gentle reminder to your own Scouts about the right ways to act and how you appear to others.

From the BSA's Ten Guides to Money-Earning Projects: "Even when sales are confined to parents and friends, will they get their moneys worth from any product they purchase, function they attend, or services they receive from your unit? Here again is the principle of value received a sale standing on its own merit - so that the recipients are not in any way subsidizing either Scouting of the member. Youth members must learn to pay their own way and to honestly earn the money to do it. You cannot permit anyone to capitalize on a Scouting connection or induce sympathy as a substitute for a wort

Look for the book "Great Fundraising Ideas for Youth Groups" by David and Kathy Lynn. Available at Amazon.com and most bigger church supply bookstores. Some of the ideas are not consistant with the Scouting fundraising philosophy* (pass those ideas on to your sports team!) The book claims to have '6 quick and easy ways to raise $1,000!' (*- OK, an example of a great but 'not for the BSA' idea in the book is 'fundraising insurance'- give us a set amount ($20-40) and we won't come to you with any other fundraiser for a year. Another idea is having adults run classes to teach their skills, a

"How many activities, and what kind, do you do with the other Dens of the same rank?" Depends on your situation. If you end up with 2 other dens scattered over a large area, you might not be able ot hook up very often. I think the better question is 'how often do the Den Leaders of the various dens meet up, even if only by phone, to coordinate plans?' You ought to be working off the same annual planning calendar (a great tool for year-around planning) so you ought to be on about the same page most of the time. However, there is nothing to stop you from joining forces when it mak

Bob White- I agree with you totally... but I wonder- from what I have seen in the records, the losses have been occuring at about the same places (except, obviously, for Tigers) for years- since at least the 70's and probably earlier as well. If the same basic leaks have existed for years, even with several changes in the programs, etc., can we reasonably expect that things will improve by basically telling people to follow the program more tightly? I believe that in an ideal world, the program would run wonderfully if it were followed correctly (sounds sorta like a Walgreens commerc

My nickel's worth is... 1.) Get trained, and invite as many other semi-interested people as possible to join you. 2.) Tell the CM that you NEED fewer boys in your den and the committee will have to help locate another DL. Do not make the mistake of adding 'or they'll have to find a replacement for me as well', etc. As they add families, they NEED to add leaders as well or face real problems. 3.) Help everyone understand that the den leadership SHOULD be distributed over the DL, an Assistant DL, a Den Aide, the Den Chief, and the Denner and Assistant Denner. By using these positi

Depending on exactly how the tent is configured, you can also try running a 'clothesline' between the upright poles, and using that and the corner flap tie-ups to support the netting.