mdlscouting

I'm not sure who the committee chair is, or if there is anyone in that role other than just as a placeholder for the recharter. This may be due to the lack of communication, but as far as I know, there isn't anyone actively doing the Committee / Committee Chair duties, and all of that is falling on the CM, ACM and DLs.

It's kind of funny that you mention turnover as kids age out. About the time my son goes into Webelos II, I've got 2 more Tiger cubs lined up to follow in their big brother's footsteps. So, whatever pack we go with, I'm gonna be around it for a long, long time.

I'm gonna do my leader specific training at the first opportunity I have, and I'd like to do Wood Badge as well. Not sure when it is offered next, but I know I need to do the leader specific stuff first.

I think what I'm going to focus on is communication first, and a good Pack Schedule second. I think if we can lay out what we have planned for the whole year, and communicate it well up front, that will go a long way toward getting things going in the right direction. And, it will be a great tool for the cub roundup as well.

My son just got his Tiger, and I volunteered to be DL next year. Since I did this, I've done a lot of research and reading on scouting, and have learned a lot. (Prior to this, I didn't know anything about scouting outside of reading thru the Tiger handbook w/ my son.)

From what I can see, there are a LOT of areas our unit could improve in. It's a very new unit, only about 4 years old or so. Communication has been a huge issue for all of us, and in general things seem very disorganized. Only about half of the leaders in uniform, Early training of leaders is poor, No one using Denners, Den Chiefs, Den Flags, Pack meetings are very infrequent, etc. This isn't because the current leaders don't care or are lazy... They are just all new, and there's very little experience to fall back on anywhere in the Unit, or our associated Troop. (The Troop consists of about 5 Scouts who crossed over this Febuary.)

A few miles away, there is an existing scout program that is highly successful. Over 100 Cubs in it, been around forever, has 2-4 dens at each grade level. I don't know if it's all run "perfectly" by the book, but I know the CM was a former eagle, and is working on his wood badge ticket now. Lots of scouter experience in that Pack.

I've already emailed some suggestions to the CM, and truth be told, I'm probably getting on her nerves. In addition to being a DL, I've setup a website for the pack, just waiting on a current (end of school year) roster so I can send out email invites to it.

How would you approach this situation, in terms of fixing things within the current pack? Assuming that everything can't be fixed immediately, what are the areas you would focus on first? I don't want anyone to feel I'm pushing them into changing stuff, but at the same time, I want to do things right, and give the boys a great Cub Scout program.

Would it make sense for our pack to ask some of the leaders within the other pack to "Mentor" us? In one way, we are sort of competitors of theirs, in terms of recruiting scouts from the area, but I think they'd be willing to help us out. (And with over 100 boys, I'm not sure that growth is their biggest concern right now.)

I'm tempted to pick up and head to the other Pack, but My son has made some good friends in his pack, and I don't want to separate them. Also, I've made a commitment to help my current pack, and I don't want to back out on that. I'm going to give it at least one more year, and hopefully we can get things on the right track. If not, I may have to switch units. I'd really like my son to stick with scouts for a long time, and I think a well run unit is the best chance for that.

In reading here, I understand that there is a lot of importance at the Boy Scout Level of having a Boy led program, rather than Adult Led. I know that as the boys progress into Webelos, a good DL should be preparing them for this transition. At the other levels, (Tiger, wolf, bear) how much of this boy-led approach can and should be introduced? Specific examples would be great. (I'm parent of a wolf, soon to be Wolf DL... no experience outside of that.)

A Human Pyramid Contest?

I assume the "Only Mom" refers to the lack of a Dr's Signature, not lack of a Dad's signnature.

At an rate, if the medical situation is that complex, it might be worth a personal phone call to the mom, just to make sure you are equipped to handle the scout's needs, from a safety POV.

Just an FYI: If you go that route, SOAR (http://www.soarol.com/) is a Scout specific website provider that has Paypal functionality built in.

From what I can tell, their stuff looks really solid. We went with a different solution for a website, but if you are going down the paypal road anyway, that might make it a bit easier.

Well,considering that even if it had been a "fair" election, the 260ish candidates that wanted to run were limited to (I think) 4 by the Mullahs... Even if it had been a fair count, it was still an unfair election.

The no tie shoelaces are genius. I'm wondering where I can get a bunch of them cheap for the Den Doodle next year.

Maybe someone could offer advice, rather than fussing at the original poster for going above and beyond the call of duty as both CM and DL.

When they post a thread asking about tips on how to recruit a new DL, constructive criticism could be used there.

As for the original question asked, I'd go to the parents, and make sure they, and the scout understand that this is the last warning.

Either way is acceptable... But saving the strings until you need them may keep them from getting lost.

If I remember correctly, that kit comes with 4 strings. My advice, use 2 from each kit, and save 2 for lost strings down the road.

Loop a string like an upside down "U" hanging from the left 2 holes, and do the same with the other string in the right 2 holes, and you only need 2 to hold all 4 strands of beads.

That will be plenty long enough.. Just make sure you tie them well at each end, so the string can't slide out. If you can leace some spare string after the knot, slip that string back over the bottom most bead, and into the bead above it. That will keep the knot from getting untied.

What I'm planning to do is make a large Arrow, out of a dowel, and 2 pieces of wood cut/painted to look like an Arrowhead and Tailfeathers

Along with that, I will have a piece of wood for each Boy, with their name. That piece will hang from the arrowshaft, and also have the plastic rope to hold the beads hanging below.

Oh, and also this:

http://www.my-debugbar.com/wiki/IETester/HomePage

In Firefox, there is an addin called IETab. It renders everything in a selected tab as if it were coming from IE. I'm not sure if it might be worth a try. (unless it uses whatever version of IE happens to be installed)

The Book mentions it, but there's not a lot of information really. There's more in this thread than in the Leader book.

I'm in a very new pack, and At least within my Den, I'd like to start using a Denner next year. (and to introduce it to other dens as well) (Note: This is a wolf den)

Deciding on the Denner: Is it best to use electons? is this to prepare the boys for PL type stuff in Boy Scouts? I can see a lot of potential for hurt feelings in that (Or everyone simply voting for themself), at this age... But that may be me just being an over-protective parent.

I'm assuming my den will be small enough that everyone will have a chance to be Denner during the School Year if we rotate once per month.

Typical duties for a Denner:

Calling Roll?

Leading the pledge/ CS Promise, etc?

What else? Don't want to overload the kid, but I also don't want it so seem trivial.

Is there anything else I should be aware of, either to include or avoid??

I wouldn't mind seeing a bit mre emphasis on that sort of stuff in Webelos. I have no opinion/experience on whether or not it should count for Tenderfoot though. But it might not be a horrible idea to "double cover" some of those items.

Here's one you may want to use.

A Hundred Years from Now It will not matter what my bank account was,

The sort of house I lived in, Or the kind of car I drove. But, the world may be different, Because I was important in the life of a boy.

-Forest Witcraft

m going to be DL for wolves next year, and as tigers, they have beem more or less off the wall uncontrollable. (partly due to kid personalities, partly due to unstructured meetings where they got bored, IMO)

I want to start next year right, and Id like any suggestions you have.

My plans are the following:

1) Start off with a code of conduct.

2) use conduct candle or conduct bead jar for violations of the code. (1 warning, 2nd they lose their bead or blow out candle/ 3rd violation they have to leave the meeting.)

3)use den doodle and denner system to recognize reward good behavior.

4) structured meetings

Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.

I bet some of the people in this forum would have a stroke if they saw the kids in our pack. Non regulation pants, and even Socks! White socks even! The horror!

I'm really surprised that nationals haven't sent the uniform police swat team to come and shut us down by now.

Thanks for the quick response. Just My son got his tonight and is wanting to wear it to Camp next week.

I know that the Outdoor activity patch goes over the pocket flap... How do you sew that on, without blocking the ability to button the pocket?

Also, the patch is actually bigger than the pocket flap itself. (possibly because my son is in a small shirt)

What i was thinking was that it would be best to just sew the top and sides of the patch onto the pocket, ad leave the bottom side unsewn, to allow access to the button.

How have others sewn that patch on?

I'm not sure about the exact description, but What I would use that person for is

1) Helping new families get used to scouting and/or things in your pack. Check in with them the first couple months, see if there are any questions, etc.

2) Match up parents with volunteer needs.

Spamming 16 times a day is probably NOT what I'd ask them to do.

Well, Next year's themes are what we really need...

Thanks for the advice Novice. I'll check that out. We are looking for something like that for our Pack Closet. I'll have to recommend that to the person who is running it.

And if my son was in a sports team at age 7 expecting $100 for a uniform... I'd seriously have to rethink him being in that sports league. Especially with 3 more coming behind him in a few years, that's seriously unaffordable.

It doesn't make much sense for a Scout Uniform to be the most expensive outfit my son owns. Heck, my Den leader outfit is the most expensive outfit I own other than my 1 suit... And I even got it at the BOGO sale!

Theres a reason why a large number of packs endorse the use of Shirt + Jeans. Cost IS a factor for many families.