Pack38Scouter

Pack330 ... this is what exactly what we are doing. We have two troops within the 3 miles radius of our Pack. They normally expected that our Pack and our Brother Pack feed into them automatically. So they became complacent. They do not do any active recruiting. They do not attempt to "get to know" the Packs. Last year, 11 of our Webelos 2 went to another troop 10 miles away in another District and the remaining 10 went to one of the two troops. This year we started to look at all of the troops within the 10 miles radius (about 8 troops). That woke the local troops up. So to me, it is beneficial to look at other troops. At the best case, your son and his fellows Webelos will find a great troop to join. At the worst case, you have giving the local troop the wake up call ... free-enterprise system is alive and prospering! They are not the only game in town! Also by looking at other troops, you can take back the elements of what you and your Webelos like and try to implement them at the local troop! Remember, if the reason for your looking at other troop is the way that the troop is being run, you and the incoming parents can help to fix that!

As for us, we simply told our local troops that there are other troops that the boys would like to visit and leave it at that! If they are upset with you then it is only because they are realizing that they may no longer have the monopoly over your Pack! I (as a Cubmaster) told my Webelos Den Leaders that they should not influence the kids decision. They should only facilitate the visits and the interaction with the troops. They should advice the parents and the boys on what to look for in choosing a troop and what questions to ask.

It is important that you stress these points to the Webelos parents and the Webelos. It is not the Webelos Den Leader's decision. It is not the Webelos parents' decision. It is the Webelos' decision as to which troop that he would like to join, because he is the one who will be having fun and his definition of fun is definitely different from that of any adult!

One final point from one of the scoutmaster, he said that "We would love to keep the boys in our troops and within our District; however, if there is another troop in another troop and District that the boys like better, then that's great, because the bottom line is to keep the boys in scouting!"

As KoreaScouter indicated, a good program will automatically attract new scouts.

Good luck.

http://www.scoutorama.com/library/volunteerism.cfm

Success on getting the parents to volunteer can be measured by how much the boys talk about the event afterward and how willingly the parents volunteer again! Good luck ... 'cause it's one of those elusive answers that everyone of us leaders is desparately seeking! Sometimes, wouldn't it be nice just to be one of those "parents"?

Every year for the last four years and will be a tradition, our Pack collect toys (100+ toys) and gifts for the local Woman's Center. We have a large Pack so the boys in each Den brought toys that is age appropriate according to his Den number (Den 1 = 1 year-old, Den 11 = 2 year-old, Den 15 = 6 year-old, etc.). The parents and leaders can bring a gift for a woman. We found out that the Woman's Center is the one of the last places that anyone would think about in terms of gift donations for the Seasons.

This year, we also had a small food drive to stock up the local Food Pantry before the Thanksgiving break. These local Food Pantry gets little of the food distribution from the large collection location from Houston.

During the xmas weeks, one or two of our Dens go around the nursing homes and do caroling.

Affiliate yourself with a Cub Scout Pack or two. Do things with them. Go to a campout with them. Help them with Pinewood Derby. Provide Den Chief (assuming that at least one of your four scouts are 1st Class or above). Basically, get your feeds from the Pack! If not actively recruit your local middle school.

Get your Disctrict Commissioner to help with locating a Pack or two! Good luck.

http://www.geocities.com/~pack215/cm.html

To me a Cubmaster is no more than an MC at the Pack Meeting, a figure head for the Pack. He/she puts on a memorable pack gathering event for the boys each month. He/she deals with the boys while the CC deals with the parents and runs the Pack. The engine that drives the Pack are the leaders and the parents. I have been a Cubmaster for Pack 38 the last two years. Although, I have enjoyed my time serving as CM ... there are numerous times the burnt-out feeling is overwhelming. Only until recently did I have a good ACM. Our CC still needs a little motivation ... but she is trying. For a Pack the size of 130 kids, I was pulling the heavy load a lot of times. The parents help but not volunteeringly. So I have been in yours and your husband's shoes before.

My advice is to sit all the parents down and have a heart-to-heart talk about the situation. You and your husband need to revive the Scouting spirits in the parents and point out that it is a community effort and not just two or three people. You need to point out yours and husband dilemma about getting burn-out. For most people, they do not know what it takes to run a Pack and a Den. Hence ... the training ... you have to get your leaders and parents to training. For most people, they automatically think that if they sign up their boys and just drop them off ... by natural progression they become good boyscout and cubscouts. One parent even have the audacity to ask me this question ... "Isn't that what I pay you for, out of the registration fee?"

One thing I can tell you that works is that when you approach people for helps ... don't give them choices ... give them exactly what you want for them to do and they will do it. If you give them choices (e.g., I need someone to help...), most will opt to do nothing and let someone do it. Give them a lot of low punches like Cubmaster minutes that hit home (see the Scoutermaster Minutes Discussion Group). Remind them that it takes an entire village to raise a child. Lord knows I have sent out many tear-jerker emails soliciting helps. Get your District Commissioner to help. He/she is usually the best to give pep talk to the parents and leaders.

Tell your Tiger parents that it is required for them to attend the Den and Pack meeting with their son. It is a shared leadership environment.

To get parent enthusiastic, in my experience, you and your CC have to pull together a fun program that will involve the parents. Give them responsibility that they could handle. You can tell by the way that they talk, the way that they walk, and their talent survey responses. When they have fun ... their son will have fun and they will roll up their sleeves to help. As they have said, the more people helping, the less work for everyone! Currently, I have close to 50 leaders (DL & ADL, Committee Rep, and various chairpeople, including two ACMs) to serve 130+ boys. It took a lot of work, but these people actually enjoy being part of the Pack ... now all that I have left to do is somehow get them to go to training every year!

When you and your husband's scouting energies run low, look at how happy you have made one kid, your son ... and it is worth all the while! If you can teach and make another one enjoys scouting, then it is only the icing on the cake! I usually attend round table, pow wow, cub university, etc. to get a recharge. Seeing these people who do a whole lot more than what I do ... inspires me.

It's never what we all expected! Good luck ... hang in there! Remember ... it only take one hour a week! lol

YIS,

Pack38Scouter

"Talking Feather" works great in one of my Dens but then it doesn't in another. When I was a Den Leader for my son's Tiger, Wolf, and Bear year, I had to tell the parents to just drop their boys off ... and stay to help if it was their turn to help (one parent plus my assistant and I deal with 10 boys). I had them draw up the rules and the consequences. We set boundaries as to where they can and can't go. I used the "talking feather" for one year and didn't need after that. I also used behavior marbles. Each boy gets a bag of 20 marbles, one for each of the Den meeting. If he misbehaved, then he gets one of his marbles taken up. He can only earn it back by doing at least 2 good deeds for his parents or family members. I also have alot of "beads" for attending the Den meeting, for completing activities, for attending Pack Meeting, for being voted as the best behaved scout by his peers, etc. The boys display these beads on their Den Doodle. Throughout the year, I got the parents to donate their McDonald's Happy Meal toys and put it in a Treasure Chest. The boy who got pick by his peers get to go the Treasure Chest. It's amazing how simple toys that they throw away at home become desirable. Part of the Den dues ... I used to purchase cheap toys. At the end of the year the scout with the most number of beads and marbles gets the first shot at these toys.

The other thing that worked well is that the Leader has to be very well prepared ... meaning, you have to do a lot of leg works ahead of time. Don't try to figure out how to use a hot-glue gun or how to assemble the bird house at the Den meeting. Keep a lot of xword puzzles and other small projects for those kids who speed through the Den project.

For ADD and ADHD, I simply asked his mom or father to stay with him and to interact with the boy. Wolf year is still a fun year for them. You will need a lot of parental assistant. For me, it took a while to get the boys to be respectful and "somewhat under control." They do mature ... believe it or not. Now ... you may think that they are the worst behaving Den, but you'll be surprise on how hard you are on their behavior after you have seen another Den! Talk back and disrespect has to be dealt with by the parents and all that the Den Leader can do is to correct the situation as it happens. I do know one thing ... your view point of disrespect and talk back may tolerable and non-issue to the boy's parents! I tried to get the boys in my Pack to at least address all parents and leader with a "Mr. or Mrs. and their first name." Believe it or not I got pushed back from two or three parents. They feel that it's not necessary to be that formal! I told them that it's is not formal but respectful.

kwc57, my answer to you is do what I did ... become a leader. That's what happened to my son's Tiger Den. The lady who volunteered (blessed her heart) over committed herself and could not deliver and the Den almost folded. I rolled up my sleeves and took over. I had a parents only meeting and laid down the ground rules .... "i.e. Thou shall help ... Thou shall help ... and Thou shall help!" I was short of saying "if you don't help ... you might want to have your son do something that he will enjoy!" They are 2nd year Webelos now and of the current 6, I still have 4 of the original 10 and they are close knit group. The other six moved to another state or out of the country through out our Cub Scouting years. Frustration is part of the volunteer package. The Cub Scout's Motto "Do Your Best" applies to adult as well as the Cubs! Also, the committment to Cub Scout is really up to the parent and the boy. In our Pack, the committment is shared between sports and Cub Scouts (and we have 130 boys). Sometimes, I see the boys out there practicing baseball in drizzly weather at 9:00pm ... I wish that they and their dad or mom would give 1/2 of that devotion to Cub Scout!

YIS

Q. What French Actor is grey and scaley?

A. Girard Depardeullo

Q. What is grey and scaley and works in a cubicle?

A. Amadilbert

Q. What is grey and scaley and a harbinger (of more) April showers?

A. A daffodillo

Q. Why do armadillos make such good policemen?

A. Because they are the long armadillo of the law,

Q. What's grey and scaly and quick on the draw?

A. Marshall Armadillon.

Q. Whats grey and scaly, plays guitar and sings protest songs?

A. Bob Armadylan

Q. What's grey and scaly, British and cannot be denied?

A. A jolly good armafellow.

Q. Whats grey and scaly and plays in a string quartet?

A. An armacello.

Q. What's grey and scaly and mystical?

A. A karmadillo.

Q. How did the British armadillos gain control of the seas?

A. By defeating the Spanish Armadadillo.

Q. What do you get if you cross an armadillo with a chicken?

A. A peckadillo.

Q. What's grey and scaly and plays beach blanket bingo?

A. Annette Armafunicello.

(Courtesy of http://www.raincity.com/sheri/armajoke.htm)

Long Live the Aging Armadillos!

Bill ... out of curiosity ... what Troop are you with in Sugarland? 731?

Bill ... Fellow Tomahawker ...

Our Patrol flag has an Aging Armadillo comes complete with cane and reading glasses with the Motto "Don't Tread on Us" (with the words "Tread on" crossed out and replaced with "Run Over")! We also have an Armadillo Patrol badge ... an armadillo lying on his back drinking a "Lone Star!"

Only in Texas!

YIS

Bill ... Fellow Tomahawker ...

Our Patrol flag has an Aging Armadillo comes complete with cane and reading glasses with the Motto "Don't Tread on Us" (with the words "Tread on" crossed out and replaced with "Run Over")! We also have an Armadillo Patrol badge ... an armadillo lying on his back drinking a "Lone Star!"

Only in Texas!

YIS

Recruiting is a 2-way street. As I have told my Webelos parents, it is very much like choosing a school for your boy. You want to make sure that your boy will like his classmate and the environment that he will be in. On the flip side, the Boy Scout troops have to be actively recruiting the boys ... making them feel special and wanted. These boys can easily be lost to other troops, to sports, or from scouting all together!

I can give a good example ... our Pack has an average of 22 second-year Webelos graduating each year. We have a brother Pack that averages around 20 boys a year as well. We have two troops in the vicinity of our Packs and several other within the 10 miles radius. The two troops borned out of the Packs. With 40 boys graduating from Cub Scout each year for the past 6 years ... one would think that we would have two strong troops of 80+ boys or many strong troops of 40+ boys, but on the contrary, we have one troop that has only 30 boys of which only 20 is active. The other troop has 40 boys of which 25 is active. That's only 45 active boyscout in a community that has well over 250 Cub Scouts each year!

From what I can observe is the fact that these troops (before this year and before we ... as parents spoke up) do not actively recruit Cub Scout! They automatically assumes that the Webelos have no where to go but to them! They make no efforts of presenting the scouting spirits or values. Of course the political arena is not what I am calling nice either! They just don't like to share "the sand box!" As a result, some of the Webelos from previous year went outside of our District to another troop in another District ... (as long as the boys are in scouting ... it doesn't matter ...) Some went to one troop and the rest just quit scouting. The troops need to advertise themselves and actively recruit. Without it ... sports and other interests will take over!

I do notice one thing .... when you have a strong Webelos program that resembles a scouting program ... most of the boys will continue. When you have a weak Webelos program where the Webelos Den Leader is just putting up with the year ... looking toward the AOL as the end of his/her involvement then he/she will pass that "terminal" mentality to the boys and their parents.

As a Cubmaster, I am trying to motivate my Webelos Leaders to put on a Webelos program that involve all Webelos Den Patrols .... i.e. reducing the silos effect. When the Patrols are functioning as a scouting units (camp together, go places together, do activity pin together) ... they develop a sense of comraderes. When you present such activity as Readyman, Outdoorsman, Aquanaut as precursors to Scouting and that these are skills that the boyscouts are learning ... it gives them a new sense of achievement than just another activity pin that they have to earn to graduate. For my son Webelos 2 Patrol, this year we let the boys elect their Patrol Leader and an Assistant Patrol Leader. These two then meet with me and my co-Den Leader for a PLC to lay out the tasks at hand. They met with the other boys (6 of them) and came up with their activities for the year (including 3 campouts, a movie outing, rock-gym climb, lazer zone, activity pin day, troop meetings, etc) ! (Today, we went to see "the Santa Clause 2" as a Patrol! ) You should see the gleams in their eyes when they realized that they have the final saying in what they do! Bottom line ... make it fun and prepare them for the real fun of Boy Scout is the key!

Troop Visit should be a time where the Webelos and his parent can observe and learn more about the troop. It would be ideal to have the troop be prepared to the receive the boys, but the "prepared" events do not reflect the true operation of the troop. I personally like "surprise" visits better ... it gives the true reflection of a troop and not a show for the purpose of recruiting.

In our case, in Houston, we have well over 2-6 troops within the 10 miles driving distance ... we have a choice and the troops actually go out and recruit. In your case, it seems that you don't have much of a choice. Sometimes, visiting another troop can give you a better idea of how a different troop runs. Remember, when your Webelos join scouting ... you and the other Webelos parents come along with the ride! You all can make a difference in that troop. I know that my Webelos 2 parents and I are making a difference in one of our local troop.

I guess that the bottom line is to have the Webelos join in the scouting activities so that they can experience the scouting way of life (the transition) ... not to stand around and admire the troop.

Finally found it ... and here is our Patrol Yell:

Boom-a-lacka! Boom-a-lacka! Bow-bow-bow!

Mug-a-lacka! Mug-a-lacka! Mow-mow-mow!

Boom-a-lacka! Mug-a-lacka! Who are we?

Armadillo! Armadillo! Can't you see?

Armadillo! Armadillo! Were the best;

well crawl over all the rest.

Got run over! Got run over! Were big mess,

Dead or not, dead or not, were the best!

Enjoy ...

Here is our Marching Cadence that cracked the trainers up! Can't say that I didn't have fun!

Hopefully, I can bring back the fun to the Scout Troop that my son will join this March!

Mama, Mama cant you see?

Oh, what Scouting has done to me!

They all told me, Its Piece of Cake!

Just one hour thats all it takes!

Oh, Mama Mama can't you see?

Oh, what Scouting has done to me...

They made me cook for real

Eating foil meal, what a deal!

Mama Mama can't ya see?

Oh, what Scouting has done to me....

I used to sleep in cold AC.

Now I bunk with skeeters and bees.

Mama, Mama can't you see?

Oh, what Scouting has done to me...

I used to sit in front of TV.

Scoutmaster, Im gonna be!

Sound off, 1, 2

Sound off, 3, 4

Sound off, 1, 2, 3, 4

Armadillo!

Hoo-ha, Hoo-ha-ha

Hoo-ha, Hoo-ha-ha

Hoo-ha, Hoo-ha-ha

I took the overnighter for what was called BSALT. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It did feel strange being the only "blue epaulette" member of the trainees. We formed two patrols. My Patrol called ourselves the "Aging Armadillos." If Wood Badge is anything like BSALT then I will surely attend ... it's gave me back close to 30 years ... since I was a boyscout!

I managed to make 15 grown men and one women act like little boys. Here is our Patrol song that I sort-a-pull together for the campout...

Buff the Tragic Dillo

(Sing to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon")

(Chorus)

Buff the Tragic Dillo lived by the street

And crawled along the boulevard through rain and snow and sleet.

An Old Scoutng Patrol picked on Armadillo Buff,

And took him back and filled him up, with grubs and other stuffs.

(1)

Together they would travel along the avenue

They hung him out all by his tail, and swung him till hes blue.

Taxi cabs and buses would honk as they went past,

Tragic Dillo doesnt seem that he would be long last.

(chorus)

(2)

Old geezers live forever, but not so Armadillos,

Dillos can never be a friend to rotten older boys.

And on that day it happened while the Geezers took their nap,

A garbage truck ran over Buff and turned him into scrap.

(chorus)

(3)

The Old Scoutmasters-to-be said just off the cuff,

Lets add it to McFarlands dinner with Armadillo Buff!

(chorus)

YIS

NJCubScouter ... yep ... for some reasons that term "blood circle" and its explanation seems to stick to the boys head better then the conventional "safety circle!" From time to time ... I can hear one Webelos said to another ... "can you please stay outside of my blood circle!" I guess that it's "cool" to refer to the safety circle as the blood circle. In the Pack, we use which ever that allows the boys to remember the clearance space required to use their pocket knife safely. Some of my Leaders use the safety circle and some use the blood circle ... we have three Bear Dens and six Webelos Patrols.

NativeTexan, if you know where it is referenced, please let me know. Thanks.

YIS

I posted this questions on the CubScout forum and got several advices. We had a 6-lanes wooden (handbuilt) track. Over 6-years of Houston humidity, two of the lanes warped to the point that every car jumped track and the "back-weighted" cars went flying to the next lane. We ran our races based on average time from each of the six lanes; as the result, the winner came from the car who can stay on the track! For 97 cars, it took us 2 hours (from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm). To keep the boys from being bored, we interjected (between heats) awards for the different categories. Everyone went home with at least one ribbon! So we had many categories ... but it kept the boys excited between races. We sold our wooden track this year.

The boys hunkered down and pulled in $1500 from the popcorn sales and this year we are getting an aluminum track from BestTrack. We are getting Microwizard's GrandPrix timer with all of the fixin'. We are getting Enterprising Idea's Derby Master for the software. We elected to go with the Aluminum track because of the humidity issue with storing the wooden track. We got Microwizard's since it Infrared timing is more accurate and less prone to wear and tear trip gates. The Derby Master is as good as others, but it has the various option of races that we can choose from.

If we can run 91 cars through 6 lanes with the wooden track, the aluminum track will only help us timewise. The total cost of our aluminum track is about $1450. Way more than what we want but then again ... it will last longer than anything and alot of abuses ... except for boys!

For a Pack 40-50 ... I would think that a 4-lane track is more than enough to rotate the cars through. Off course, having a great pit crew will facilitate your races!

By the way, we will have a "preview race" on our new track December 13th. Can't wait. Our official race is in January. I will let you know the feedback of the track system ... if you are interested!

On the issue of Dad built, well if you have an "open class" then the Dads will have something to show off their engineering skills. I usually tell my parents as a guideline is that it should be boys' built. At Tiger age 20% of it is his, Wolf 40% of it is his, Bears 60% of it is his, Webelos 1 80% of is his , and Webelos 2 95% of it is his (5% for the powertool should be the parent). We can get away for the "inspired" Dads. All that we can do is to level the playing field! I usually hold an orientation/ workshop. Basically, I divulge all of the nitty secrets of pinewood derby that I can find on the Net to all Dads ... and Cubs ... it's up to them on how to implement it. I get all available power tool users to offer their power tools to members of their Dens and other Dens. When you have a leveled playing field ... everyone including the ones that was made by a kids will be competitive! The highly engineered cars will win ... but not by much! This is my fifth year with my son ... we have not won ... last year he built his own (90%) and finished 17 overall in the class of 97 cars ... He was proud and so was I! Good luck.

YIS

(This message has been edited by Pack38Scouter)

If my memory serves me correctly, only Bears can earn the "whittling chip" (http://www.geocities.com/~pack215/whittlin-chip.html). It's Achievement 19 (http://www.geocities.com/~pack215/bear.html). I do believe that Webelos 1 & 2 can earn the "whittling chip" card if he follows the same requirements as Achievement 19 in the Bear Book. It is not written anywhere in the Webelos handbook.

Tigers and Wolves handbooks do not have the option for the boys to earn this Card; however, it doesn't state anywhere that Tigers and Wolves cannot earn it. On the flip-side, some Tigers and Wolves are not mature enough to handle the responsibilities of a pocket knife (especially Tigers) IMHO. Of course the same can be said about some Bears, Webelos and Scouts!

Bob White and others will correct me if I am wrong on this subject.

My Cubs can only bring their pocket knives to a Pack or Den functions that will require the use of the pocket knife. At which time, strict observation of the "blood circle" is enforced with adult supervision. They will also have to have their whittlin' chip card with them. Sometimes at camp, we set up an equivalent of "axe yard" or "whittling circle" with it being roped off from the general public. In our Pack only Bears and above can earn the whittling chip and its rules are strictly enforced.

YIS

How do you lifelong scouters get a recharge with the Scouting spirit? Being a Cubmaster and having to deal with the parents/leaders issues and their lack of involvement do have their drawbacks. It's the frustration dealing with volunteers that gets me down from time to time. I know that the question "What in the world am I doing this for if no one else cares?" comes in your mind from time to time. Even the most die-hard scouter has his/her doubts.

Three things that get me recharged: 1) My two (eventually three) scouts, 2) the boys in my Den/Pack, and 3) The various training at the District or Council level.

1) When my interests start to wane, I would remember what my oldest said to me when he was a Wolf ... "Dad, when I grow up, I want to be the best Den Leader just like you!" Now that just hit you right at the weakest point in your heart.

2) I also remember what my Cubscouts told me once or twice ... "I really had fun, thanks."

3) When I hit the bottomless pits of scouting, I would attend roundtable, POW WOW & Cub University and the likes. Seeing these volunteers who do more than just being leaders in their Dens or Pack while volunteering their time at the District and Council level as well inspire me. My volunteer effort is minute in comparison. Their enthusiasms overwhelm you and their scouting spirits are contagious.

When I am at my low point ... I refocus my goals to the boys! Although, getting full support from parents would be ideal. It would fuel my scouting energy and that of my leaders' to their capacity.

dan

You are correct "A Scout" is not part of the Law; however, it is understood. This is the way that I remember my SM taught it to us back many, many moons ago. He would take each word of the Law and treat it individually with the words "A Scout is" in front of it. So it is implied that "A Scout is ... trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly..." Also removing the word "Scout" from the title ... all that we have left is the word "Law." To a young man ... the word law by itself has a negative connotation ... a barrier; on the other hand, by adding "Scout" the Law becomes a personal achievement.

I finally realize (many years later) that these words (qualities) together make a Scout ... a person that all of the SM, ASM, CC, leaders, and parents want for a boy to become. So ... if nothing else to me ... the word "Scout" is the most important word in the Scout Law.

... but that is probably not what Red Feather is thinking about ...

YIS(This message has been edited by Pack38Scouter)

"Listen and learn from your elders. Even if he is one second older than you ... he is still one second wiser! Teach and learn from your juniors ... for young minds can refresh a hardened mind."

- my Mother

Scout ....

Without the word Scout, the rest of the law is just a set of words with not much meaning to a boy. By putting the boy (the Scout) with these words ... they become meaningful and become the embodiment of the scouting ideals.

A Scout is Trustworthy.

A Scout tells the truth. He is honest, and he keeps his promises. People can depend on him.

A Scout is Loyal.

A Scout is true to his family, friends, Scout leaders, school, and nation.

A Scout is Helpful.

A Scout cares about other people. He willingly volunteers to help others without expecting payment or reward.

A Scout is Friendly.

A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He offers his friendship to people of all races and nations, and respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from his own.

A Scout is Courteous.

A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows that using good manners makes it easier for people to get along.

A Scout is Kind.

A Scout knows there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. Without good reason, he does not harm or kill any living thing.

A Scout is Obedient.

A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobeying them.

A Scout is Cheerful.

A Scout looks for the bright side of life. He cheerfully does tasks that come his way. He tries to make others happy.

A Scout is Thrifty.

A Scout works to pay his own way and to help others. He saves for the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property.

A Scout is Brave.

A Scout can face danger although he is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or threaten him.

A Scout is Clean.

A Scout keeps his body and mind fit and clean. He chooses the company of those who live by high standards. He helps keep his home and community clean.

A Scout is Reverent.

A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.

I'm on my way out as a Cubmaster; however, I have the luxury of grooming my successor for the job. You, on the other hand, don't have much time on your transition. I can tell you one thing ... get your current leaders to chip in with the task especially your Committee Chair or your assitant Cubmaster. Let the new Cubmaster ease into the role ... meaning let him get assimilated at his own pace or else you will scare the gentleman away. I found that out the hard way. When I took the Cubmaster position two years ago, I told myself that I will help the new Den leaders get up to speed as fast as possible so that the Den can start having fun ... not the way that I had to find out myself when I was a Den Leader.

I gathered information; I lent out books; I got Fast Start going; I had new leader orientation, I got the Den Leaders listings of training; I had one-on-one meeting with the Den Leader to help plan for the Den meetings; and I even lead the first two Den meetings, much like what you are doing ... It backfired ... it scared two of the leaders away. Their feedback was that they were intimidated by the enormous tasks at hand and they were overwhelmed. Anyone would be fearful of the "one hour a week" volunteer notion.

The most important thing is that you have to get your new Cubmaster to "let his hair down." In other words, enjoy being a Cubmaster first and then run the show. Remember ... that's his job. Running the Pack is the Committee's job. If you force him to run the Pack then you will soon have to find another Cubmaster. Get everyone to pitch-in to help. This is a perfect opportunity to get alot more involvement from other parents. Also, get him the information that he needs. Presents to him the District's training opportunities, Roundtable, Pow Wow, etc. But let him do it at his pace. Again the important task is to get him to enjoy being a Cubmaster. Once he is in ... it's "hook, line and sinker!" When scouting is revived in his blood, he will flourish ... of course until the parental helps start to wane!

By the way, I know it should work, because that what happened to me! Two years ago, our Cubmaster decided to go on with his son to Scouting. It was Blue & Gold and he had no one to pass the baton on. After B&G, I approach him to talk about an unrelated issue. That's when he announced to everyone that I have volunteered for the position ... and left it at that! So I didn't have a transitional period. I had to sink or swim; however, I had great leaders and committee (not much of a CC), but a great committee nevertheless. y inaugural month as a Cubmaster was painless and actually enjoyable!

Good luck

YIS,

Pack38Scouter

If being a lefty qualifies for the stories, then include me in the mailing list. Thanks. Thank goodness that there are so many people in their right mind! :0