ScouterAdam

Two Adults is Two Adults is Two Adults. If you cannot maintain that due to an emergency. Outing is over and you need to attend to the sick/injured Scout.

In your example of your son being sick and needing to go home. That's a tad different. He is your son, you can go with him. There were two other adults. Your covered.

To those who say two deep leadership is perferable & not required...It's the BSA RULE. Can you say LAWSUIT?

All it takes is one boy to say something to the parents and the parents call the Council.

Den Meetings: Keep other parents onsite. Ask them to help with the project. They do not need to be YPT trained, but your covered. Also, why not get the whole Pack YPT trained. Simple online training.

Also, GSS states that in an emergency YPT takes a back seat. But, an emergency really needs to be defined.

Meaning: if a Scout break their arm and there are two Adult Leaders with two cars. Adult drives boy to hospital. Another Scouts comes along to help injured Scout. Other Adult Leader packs up the rest of the Scouts and heads home. That is the best solution in that case. During that time calls are being made to Cubmaster/Committee Chair informing them of emergency. Your covered because you took action and DID YOUR BEST.

The health and safety of the Scouts is on the Scouter. Just means that taking BALOO, OWLS, ITOLS and other training is needed.

Ok: Bears. Good to know. Big thing is to find what they have done thus far as a Den. You just might have to talk to the boys and see what they remember.

Sounds like you have a Den Leader and an Ast Den Leader for the Bears? What's going on with the other Leader for the Bears? If one is not working out, then the other should step in. Is your son in this Den? (I am a Cubmaster and my son is a Bear, hence the question.)

What you might have to do is have the talk again with Den Leaders/Committee and lay it out on the line. Below is a good info.

http://www.ptcmedia.net/forum/moms-in-scouting-service/the-perfect-line-parent-recruitment/

You might also have to include the parents. Lay it out on the line. Tell them that if nothing happens, the boys will not be able to earn the Bear Rank. Thus skipping to Webelos without that Patch. It's almost like having their boys fail 3rd grade. Parents do not like that.

Sounds like your a very concerend Cubmaster and your there for the Scouts. Good for you. It just might come down to taking on another hour a week and being the Den Leader for the Bears. Hopefully that just won't be the case.

if it comes to that, you might have to work the Bear Den activies into the Pack Games/Opening/Flag and other things to get them covered. Meaning: use Pinewood Derby to satisfy wood working. Make Ice Cream with the whole Pack via baggies. Take a hike with the Pack at a nature park and talk about Birds!

Another suggestion: Find the local troop. Talk to the Scoutmaster to see if there are Den Chiefs available. Invite the Boy Scouts over to teach something. It gets the Cubscouts excited to see the older boys doing the same stuff they are.

GO TO ROUNDTABLE! Stand up and make the annoucement you need help with Bears! You will get help.

Hope this helps and gets you down the right path and the boys their rank!

Good idea on helping out. What you do not say is what rank they are currently at?

So, I will assume that it's not Webelos II.

Each Scout earns their rank as they can. Granted June is the ideal time since that is when School is generally out. (It's the time when our schools are out..could be different where you are.) So, Tigers, Wolf, Bears and Webelos I can get their Rank when they earn it.

My old Unit Commissioner told me that she has allowed boys who do not earn the rank be end of School year to continue until Aug 31st. That gives them time. Once completed, hold a Rank Advancment ceremony.

As to the "Gets it or he Don't" Cubscouts are supposed to have FUN. They are learning. This isn't Boyscouts! Yes, the Cubscouts need to complete or "DO THEIR BEST" to get it done. Granted if the Cubscout does not do a report on famous Americans or Write a letter...then they do not get credit.

However, if they have broken their arm and cannot write, they can dictate it to another scout who can write.

The other thing that you can do is this: Find out what they are missing or need to do. Then hold a Pack meeting around those items. Have the WHOLE Pack knock them out. Or do it on a Weekend as a Pack Activity. Then, the boys will NEVER know they were behind.

Telling someone that they are behind will cause them stress.

As for the Leadership/Committee tell them holding a boy back because they don't get it...well, they DON'T GET IT!

Your going down the right road. DO YOUR BEST

Updated info:

Last month, the BSA allowed us to peek behind the curtain a bit and see what the new BSA Alumni Award square knot would look like (it was upside down when they displayed it initally on their ScoutStuff website. I contacted them and told them to turn it upside right...and in the process, I was given the following information. This information will be formalized in the way of an application form which may already been provided to your local Councils. Please use THOSE REQUIREMENTS as they are the final versions -- what follows is the draft copy. I was told by Alumni Relations that the final requirements won't change if any from the following:

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BSA Alumni Award square kniot emblem

(shown right-side up)

Based on the requirements below, complete the Application for the Alumni Knot Award and submit the application to the National Alumni Task Force for approval.

All requirements must have been completed after June 1, 2009.

Applicants must be currently registered adult Scouters of the Boy Scouts of America.

All applicants must receive the approval of their local council's alumni relations committee chairperson and their council Scout executive.

Area I Alumni Identification/Promotion (Complete any 3 of the 5 requirements in this section)

Create and distribute a communications vehicle designed to identify unregistered alumni, that has been approved by the local council alumni committee staff advisor

Assist in planning an alumni activity at the district, council, community, region or national level

Make contact with at least 5 adult alumni, not currently registered with the BSA, engage them in a serious discussion about the Scouting program, provide them each with an Alumni Connection card and follow-up to see if they have visited the web site

Make two presentations to non-Scout groups promoting the BSA, alumni membership and volunteering

Obtain at least two scout profiles or stories, use them in local council alumni promotion and forward a copy of the profiles/stories to the national alumni office

Area II Alumni Engagement (Complete all 4 of the requirements in this section)

Make arrangements for at least two unregistered alumni to attend a Scout activity at the district, council, community, region or national level (must be different than those used below in this section)

Facilitate at least two alumni becoming registered members of the BSA (must be different than those used above in this section)

Personally solicit and obtain Friends of Scouting gifts from at least two unregistered alumni (must be different than those used above in this section)

Recruit at least two unregistered alumni to volunteer at a district, council, community, region or national event (must be different than those used above in this section)

Area III Personal Participation (Complete all four of the requirements below in this section)

Serve on a local council or national alumni or National Eagle Scout Association committee for at least one year

Visit the Alumni Connection web site and complete the alumni scavenger hunt

Upload two of your own Scouting-related photos to the Alumni Scrapbook section of the Alumni web site

Share your favorite Scouting memory through the Rekindle Memories section of the alumni web site and send an ecard to at least five unregistered alumni

All Eagle Scouts must complete one additional requirement in this section:

Become a member of the National Eagle Scout Association and register on the NESA web site

Area IV Personal Education (Complete any 1 of the 3 requirements in this section)

Become an Alumni Ambassador by successfully completing the online alumni volunteer training

Attend an alumni session at the BSA National meeting

Attend an alumni course at the Philmont Training Center

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The Award will consist of a certficate and square knot; the knot emblems are controlled by the Alumni Relations folks and cannot be directly ordered/purchased through the ScoutStuff website.

Thanks for your patience and thanks to Jeff and the team at the BSA's Alumni Relations Service at National for their assistance and for sharing this information with all of you....it is their (and MY) hope that as many of you go out and bring back some Scouters to our programs

Scouts can earn it each year provided they complete the requirements for that year. If your Pack Committee wants to pay for the pin each time, fine. However, it seems silly to do so since the pin itself does not change. I would award a certificate stating that they achieved the award in their current rank. It's cheaper and gives instant recoginition that they have gotten it.

@Scoutfish: I am the Cubmaster and when I show up at Committee Meetings, the commitee knows who I am, so I do not wear my uniform. Everything else as you and others stated, I wear the uniform.

For awards and other special Council, District & unit events I put on the Wood Badge Scarf & Slide. I will wear my beads to all events.

When I am holding a Join Night or something that I am in Public, I will wear the Wood Badge Scarf & Slide. It's another talking point to those who do not know. Wood Badgers will always spot the beads.

I went through a Private School that at one time was Military. The way it was/is set-up it was not possible. They had all their own programs and other commitments that did not allow for non-school activites. Plus, the libility would have been too much. Most of the kids there were from out of state, so Summercamps would not be possible.

Since the schools are 9 months, the program would be 9 months.

Here is what our Pack does for Finances.

The packs financial structure is done in an effort to adequately fund all activities while adhering to the two applicable points from Scoutings values:

The Law of the Pack The Cub Scout helps the Pack go.

The Scout Law A Scout is Thrifty (A Scout pays his own way).

PACK DUES

The Pack dues are an annual amount charged to each Scout that pays for much of his Scouting experience. They cover the fiscal and program year, which runs from September 1 through August 31. For 2010-2011, the Pack dues will be broken into two payment due dates. The first payment, due by September 30th, is $45. The remaining $100 is due on December 31st. For Webelos II boys who will be crossing to Boy Scouts at the end of February, the 2nd payment is reduced to $50. As described below, participating in fundraising activities can reduce the pack dues and cover most items not included in the Pack fee.

What does the Pack dues pay for?  Registration (paid to National)  Insurance (paid to Council)  Boys Life Magazine  Many Pack activity fees  Pack Administrative Costs  Rank related recognitions*  Leader registration & training *Rank requirement recognitions that officially go on the uniformshirt, such as rank badges, arrow points, Webelos activity badges, progress towards rank emblems and beads, compass point emblem and beads.

What is NOT covered by the Pack dues?  Handbooks/Uniforms  District/Council Activity Fees  Special Pack events (campouts, sporting events, etc.)  Non-rank recognitions*  Camps (Day/Resident/Family) *Non-rank recognitions, such as Sports and Academic belt-loops and pins, activity segments, and special achievement awards .

INDIVIDUAL SCOUT ACCOUNTS AND FUND RAISING

In an effort to keep the cost of Scouting affordable, Pack 221 has instituted Individual Scout Accounts (ISAs). 100% of the commission earned on any of the fund raising events (popcorn, wreaths, etc) goes into the Scouts ISA. The family can use the money in their Scouts ISA to pay for many Scout related expense including the second Pack dues payment, other scout activity fees (Winterlodge, summer camp). Both pack and den activities can be covered by funds the Cub Scout may have in their ISA. At the end of the scouting year any funds remaining in the ISA are rolled into the general Pack 221 account. With the Individual Scout Account system it is possible that, with a bit of work and determination on the Scouts part he can pay for almost an entire year of Scouting with no money coming out of the familys pocket!

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

For families in need of financial assistance, programs are available that can help greatly reduce the cost of

Scouting. Payment plans can be set up through the Pack Treasurer to make the fees manageable. With these programs and the ability to earn funds through fundraising, every boy should have the opportunity to enjoy the Scouting program! Our goal is to never turn away a boy from a Scouting experience because of money. Please note that there is no 100% scholarship program available, each Scout must help the Pack go by being thrifty and helping to pay his own way.

You are correct and those questions were asked.

When the program was published/announced I had forwarded it to the Bear and Wolf Den Leaders. I would become the acting Tiger Den Leader since no one stepped up. The Webelos I Den only had 2 boys and Webelos II were on their way out and had 4 boys. I focused on Wolf & Bear Dens since they made up the Lion-share (pun intended) of the Pack.

They constituted 60% of the Pack. Myself and the Bear Den Leader completed all the ribbons as well. Hence, I used the 50-70% level. That was my Troop Guide's idea since he wanted me not to fail because as you say, under someone else's control.

Because of that, I put a percentage on all my ticket items that needed it.

It was because I already had buyoff from Den Leaders who were working with me on this, the ticket item succeeded. The goal behind doing the patch was two fold and based on the goal of "It's for the Boys".

First: The boys were motivated by ribbons and attained their own advancement within their ranks at that time. (Most important)

Second: It is the 100th Year and when they go for Eagle and even look back years from now, they will have this patch, remember what they did to earn it. Not every Scout or Unit worked to earn it.

There were several Wood Badgers that used this as a ticket item. It was a very successful program/ticket item for this course.

Being that I was right out of being the Tiger Den Leader and became the Cub Master, I needed a few programs to motivate the Cubs. It worked out well. I just happened to get Beads out of the deal.

Thanks for your question.

1)

What will be done? Completion of Celebrating 100 Years - A Year of Celebration

Who will do it? Pack 221 Scouters and Cub scouts

Where will it be done? Within the Den, Pack Meetings as well as within the home.

When will it be done? 50%-70% Cub scouts & Scouters should be done by December 2010.

How will it be done? The Den Leaders and Cub Master will assist Cub scouts and Scout Parents as needed. Some will be completed as a Den, Pack or individually. Most requirements will be completed inconjuction with earning current rank within normal advancement.

How will it be verified? When requirements are met per award requirements.

Why will I do it? To celebrate 100 years of Scouting and to promote Leadership, Achievement, Community Service, Character and Outdoors within each Cub Scout and Scouter.

Have you earned all the Ribbons? Is your Unit on board? Was it successful?

http://scouting.org/100years/100years/ayearofcelebration.aspx

I am in a cubscout pack as the Cub Master. I earned all five ribbons and many of the boys have as well. This was a Wood Badge ticket of mine. However, many of the Den Leaders decided that it was worthwhile for the boys to work on it before then.

We were pretty sucessfull. However, we basically stopped at the end of the school year last year. Not to many boys kept up with it for the beginning of this School year.

But did you complete the 100th Year Anniverysary patch with all the Ribbons? Myself and a lot of the Cubscouts did! Good on your Scouts to earn those Merit Badges.

Awesome Idea for the start of the Pack Meeting! I think that I will do that too! Because of my Wood Badge course, I started playing the Native American Flute to help call the meeting to order. Will incorporate it all.

Yes, being Cubmaster gives you a license to be funny. It's about the Boys and not the Parents.

Great movie. I got mine the other day. Very inspiring.....

I agree with what is said from the others.

Parents need to be informed.

For whatever reason the boys are behind, they can use this:http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Leaders/DenLeaderResources/DenandPackMeetingResourceGuide/BearDenPlans.aspx to help guide and help them earn what they need to.

There are a lot of things that the boys can do at home and with the parents.

Last year we had a boy join late, but earn his Webelos Badge and AOL in 6 months.

One thing that I learned from my Unit Commissioner last year is that she gives the boys up till the day before the start of school the next year to complete everything. If the Parent shows that they have been workign and they completed before that start date, then she woudl award that badge.

Some packs run year round and not on school calendar. Because of that I extended that to one parent whose son started very late in the year.

OVerall, it is communication from the Den Leader (and maybe Pack Committee) to the parents letting them know what their respondsibility is. Also, I would start awarding rank badges as soon as they earn them. Then at the end of the year, hold a crossover for the whole den. They ALL CROSSOVER to the next rank. Nothing stops that. That way they are all included.

The only reliable information is from scouting.org. All other sites can get the information wrong. I still use worksheets and others as a help and guide. Since other non-bsa sites could get a requirement wrong, that might be an issue later down the road.

As for not having a physical guide about the MB, I suspect all the info will be on the App. It's a new world out there. The Scouts were born and raised in the Computer Age. They do not know or understand life without it. If it is easier for them, let them use it.

I have used and seen other iphone apps which are ok. My hope is that this app will allow for multiple scout tracking.

As for Troopmaster coming out with something. That would be nice. They do not even have a Facebook/Twitter acount, so I am not holding my breath. Yes, they have the software that will download it to another smartphone device, I just do not see it for macintosh since they do not support Mac's with their software already.

My hope is that they start coming out with stuff for Cubscouts....

Keep inviting them. If your sons are on sports teams, start talking to the parents while your watching them play.

Invite them to Blue & Gold, Pinewood Derby other BIG ticket items.

Post flyers in churches, community centers, coffee shops, etc. Find the local Home Schooling network people.

Tell the current scouts about the Recruiter Strip that they can earn.

Hole a "Bring a Friend" Pack Meeting or Outing.

Hole a Beltloop Class at a meeting or on a weekend and have them earn it.

Make it fun... and keep going advertising.

Not everyone is on Facebook nor wants to be.

Keep an open website that can be viewed by all who want to look at it to get basic information.

Create a password protected area for troop only information.

Remember that YPT is in affect with Scouts, even on the Internet.

There are cases of Scoutmasters and others abusing Scouts via Internet.

If posting photos of the Scouts, get a written authorization from Parents, not the boys. Put photos in protected area on website or not at all.

Counsel the Scouts in what the Internet is all about. Once it's out there, you cannot un-ring or un-post something.

From a friend of mine on Facebook I will keep you up dated.

"My Supply Group representative provided me with some initial information; he said that the Award (which will right now ONLY consist of a square knot item) is indeed called the Alumni Award. There will be requirements for earning this square knot which will be sent to local Councils in early January. Alumni Connections are still developing the form to complete to send to your local Council to receive the square knot emblem.

I am still waiting on a response from Alumni Connections; once I receive that response, I'll share what I know to the U.S. Scouting Service Project, Inc.'s website and to my Badge and Uniform Site. It sounds like a great idea to get alumni reconnected to the BSA.

And I was right: the colors of the square knot correspond to the flag colors of the BSA's uniformed programs: blue (Cub Scouting), red (Boy Scouting), and gold/yellow (Venturing). The background is supposed to be grey (silver) and the border color gold mylar. "

Thanks for your continued patience folks!!

At our Pack Committee Meeting the Webelos DL said they were working on an overnight to the aquarium (where Free Willy was). Bears DL said, hey, we are too! CC said: Hey, could we just open it up to whom ever wants to go? Everyone said, yes. So, it's a Pack Campout at the Aquarium.

I completed this as part of my Wood Badge ticket and so did a lot of the Cubscouts. Can Cubscouts wear it on their uniform? Can you place it just like the religious emblem for the boys?

Eagle92: Thanks for the welcome! Appreciated.

While I agree that the Scout should have a complete uniform for the EBOR and in that case any BOR, I suspect that there are many cases of that not happening. When it does, the scout needs to explain why. If it's his Sunday's best and the troop is run in a way that the culture in that troop stipulates jeans & tan shirt, then I will ask him why. His Scoutmaster will also get questioned why. It could be Scoutmaster/Committee driven. If that is the case, then the issue is with them and not the Scout.

Also, the Scoutmaster can provide insight into the history of the Scout's family if it really is a money issue. If it is and the Scout is Thrifty, there again, understanding is given.

Overall, if the scout is living by the Oath and Law, showing Scout Spirit and shows up in an incomplete uniform I will find out why and proceed.

Thanks for the welcome...see you again!

I would define, what is a uniform. Besides the Suit option, a uniform could be jeans the the tan shirt with rank. It's what's the uniform within the troop. You could get nit-picky about shoes, socks, pants, belt and anything else. Stick with the Oath & Law and the Scout will be fine. It's the Adult's that get in the way.

The scout should not be denied Eagle based upon what he wears. There are many reasons why a uniform might not be worn. It should be asked. The scout should have a valid reason.

If word gets out that the EBOR is getting harsh on little things, then scouts just might be Life for Life.