ScoutMomSD

every cub in our den gets an award. We take digital pics and decide at the leader meeting.

Some are very funny. Like "Best red car". Basically we pick out something unique about the car and create a "best" for it. These are paper certificates - the trophies are for speed in the heats

Do you have folks in the Den you consider friends, enough that you can switch off with taking the kids to meetings? Or help you with Rank requirements?

One of the issues I have seen is that due to many of the requirements for rank and more plus Den meetings and Pack shows, people get really overwhelmed. And in our area, I have tried to recruit kids from single parent homes and we have a number of kids with two working parents. Its really hard and in a few instances, folks sign up and then think, "what the heck have I gotten myself into".

I would DEFINATELY ask these questions of your Den Leader and the other leaders who you feel are approachable. The last thing the pack leaders want is to have a kid drop out because the parent felt like they couldnt do it all. I am sure there are parents in your pack who would gladly help out and get your child to all the events.

Den meetings are important because it usually involves working on the Rank, ie the Bear, which your child will want. The monthly pack meetings may or may not be where awards are given out. I know in our pack, we have good attendence but not everyone comes every month.

Your child will definately also enjoy the Pinewood Derby and Space Derby, as well as camping. Camping one parent will need to go - ask you den leader about this.

Whatever you can do you and your child will benefit from the camraderie

good luck

As someone who eventually will take over the roll of CC, I am looking for input as to communicating between the pack and the leaders and some type of summary/monthly document that is a one stop shop for finding out what is going on and when.

1) we currently have a mix of methods, a website with a monthly calendar that is usually not current, a yahoo group for leaders and one for the pack and a monthly newsletter that has key stats.

2) when changes or additions happen it seems like we end up with a barrage of emails to our yahoo groups. This also becomes an inefficient way to handle any changes that need discussions (dates, locations, etc).

3) we have scout mate but have had no training on it and are looking at something called Troopmaster/packmaster.

4) the current CC kind of updates some stuff and creates the monthly newsletter and makes decisions on what next.

I need to note that this pack a mere 4 years ago had under 10 scouts - now we have close to 60.

I am getting very concerned about taking over this role as in my prior jobs as well as non profit work roles were really clearly defined. I know there is a lot of overall top down organization needed but I also dont want to argue with the "well its always worked for us before" theories.

input??? Thanks

thanks so much - it ends up we are going to push it back a week so will probably go to where we were before -

any input on an Americana theme? Barbeque?

thanks again - the above was really helpful

E

we need some quick cheap ideas for blue and gold - our community centers are all booked - where do you hold yours and about how much per scout does it end up costing? do you charge or is it part of the annual dues?

thanks so much

My daughter is in 7th grade and I am just getting used to the requirements. I believe they are working on the award (Bronze?) - I still confused about the Journey thing.

At our age group they do a lot of service projects. Also they do a lot of work with Brownies and younger girls.

I love that we are back in an active troop. A great leader (NOT me) and a great group of like minded girls really helps!

I have heard racist, sexist, anti gay, anti liberal, anti women, anti californian, etc comments on this board and I WAS OUT OF LINE???????????

Are the Yes on Prop 8 folks being paid to RUN the board too?

Its about THE KIDS folks - all else is immaterial. There are folks on this board who seriously, scare me. And who I would NEVER leave my kids with. But thats from a California liberal born in SF.

(OGE here, maybe I am just a prude, but the comment I deleted was over the line, well, I thought so )

(This message has been edited by a staff member.)

"So, when the Zoological society at the San Diego Zoo has a special set of hours for members to attend and see new things, or simply enjoy as members, someone who is not a member should have the right to participate during that time too, even though they do not meet requirements?"

As a member of the SD Zoological society (and having been one for close to 20 years), note that it is not limited to race, sexual preferance or religion. If you have the money to join, you can join. And there are no religious references and meetings and events arent held in a church.

I am a proud and loyal scout leader, at least to my Pack and Den.

But you cant support prop 8, have a huge influence of the LDS church (ie from what I can tell ALL monthly committee meetings IN THE COUNTY are in LDS churches), have discussions as have happened NUMEROUS times on this board that you have to have a religion to be in the group, have religious badges, etc.

The girl scouts have a much nicer property that is right next door, I mean if you take a left you will be on their property from the BSA spot. The girl scouts have NEVER had this issue. BUT the girl scouts are not joined at the hip to a religious organization and do not have the religious requirements. I have never even heard in Girl Scouts (and I was one, my mom was a leader and my daughter has been one for 6 years) of even asking about religion.

I have no problems with the boy scouts and folks on this board having their opinions. But when you are cited for precisely that, dont complain. You cant have it both ways.

Proud boy scout AND girl scout mom and proud San Diegan for 21 years.

As a native Californian living where folks get out down parka's when the temp dips below 50 (like today) I think it depends on your lifestyle.

I would never trust my son or my den to do this. We are Wolves. And they are So Cal babies.

But my husband lived in Minneapolis a number of years and I have relatives in Minnesota and I think kids there are more accustomed to the cold than we are.

And one of my New Year's resolutions is to think about things a bit more than just reacting as again we are in a suburb of a large metro area so what we think is normal or outside of it may not be to others.

I am even watching "the Mormons" on PBS to try and figure that deal out.

I have been lurking a while and was determined not to get into the psycho drama of this site anymore but I read this thread and as politely as I can will say you are all nuts.

I am amazed that I am finding more and more that Beavah is the voice of moderation.

If you strike a child or teen and they call the Dept of Social services, they will probably arrive quickly and possibly take your child away.

this is not the 1940's or 50s' - thank goodness. When men were men and women were on valium.

the "good old days" were not so good. Not good for women and in many instances, not good for kids. A lot of closet abuse then. Not as much divorce because women had no other choices but to stay in horrid or abusive marriages. "good old days?" - no.

I am really glad I live on one of the "blue coasts"

I came to this forum truly trying to find out about boy scouts and now sadly, I will have to back out of this forum for a while. I will lurk but forget posting.

Those of you who are still spouting the "hate speak" including those in the McCain audience last night who booed when the name Obama was mentioned, need to seriously look in the mirror. I dont care who you voted for, as you ALL said in the last 8 years "have respect for the office".

Look I know lots of you live in Red States and maybe havent travelled much. This last June I was lucky enough to visit Chicago and have stood in the spot where Obama made history last night. I have now been to almost every large city in the US including Boston, Dallas, Seattle, Baltimore, DC, New Orleans, Miami, Denver and more. I have also been to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. I have also been lucky enough in the past to work with and get to know people all over the country in my past jobs. My favorite thing about travel is getting to go to where the natives not the tourists live. I have developed an appreciation of the diversity and colors of this country and its territories that make it great.

The reason that Obama won was exactly that. The reason that the Republicans lost is that people especially the YOUTH and the diverse section of our country (in California the non white population is approaching a majority) are tired of being preached at as to what is right and wrong.

This is a HUGE vote against the "old white guy" vote. Sorry, and remember I am happily married to an "old white guy". A white registered republican who voted for Obama and against prop 8.

The vote is saying "status quo is NOT okay".

I am so happy to live in the US. However I am very dissatisfied with the tone and undercurrent of this forum. I am frightened for the children of folks who would boo a new president.

I was 10 years old when Martin Luther King jr was shot. 2 months later my father died of a long battle with leukemia. One month after that Robert Kennedy was assasinated. This is a period of intolerance and sadness which is branded on my brain.

Scouting is about the kids having a good time, not about brainwashing kids to become the intolerant right wing of the future.

I leave you with the following quote from Martin Luther King Jr.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Letter from a Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963.

Please put your kids first and teach tolerance. You dont have to agree but please teach your kids so we are not doomed to repeat the past. And to paraphrase Jesus, love each other more than you love yourself, and he who is without sin, can cast the first stone.

take care - signing off.

I think the over abuse of the term creepy which I used once can be substited for intuition. I dont want to put my small child in a position where I dont feel comfortable.

that is me - you can do whatever you want with your kids. I am responsible for my kids and if I am not comfortable with a situation and I find certain folks disturbing, I have the right.

Its just something I have never seen in Girl Scouting except in leadership positions, which are not troop involved. And the Girl Scouts dont have the same rep as Boys scouts with regard to discrimination, leader/boy "issues" etc.

Fire - yes I know

A friend of my daughter's who is 13 has a grandmother who went to school (high school) with my husband coincidentally.

I know - you have to give them roots AND wings. I have a good friend who was really "close" to her daughter when she was 17 and all of the sudden she figured out her daughter was pregnant. Thats where the tie the camel comes in.

thats why I do what I can and the rest has to take care of itself. As to this forum, I dont think scouting really is in the ballpark of the problematic choices they will run into. I have always told my daughter I cant fix other people's parents. I can tell you have to behave, I can suggest to you how to work on situations but if another kids parents are nut cases, you have to be ready to deal with those consequences as they translate to the kids.

probably the use of the word creepy was over the top.

There is a muslim saying (which I believe has been used in a number of religions) which I was taught in college (those liberal havens!) that said "tie your camel first and then put your trust in Allah".

I really like and appreciate the comments above by "GAHillBilly" but trust me I am not naive. I know that most kids are molested by folks they know including parents and relatives and friends. I know there are many married pedofiles.

Again I am going to say that my point was I and all parents are allowed to choose the places we allow our kids to go and the situations they are in. We still need to teach them but we can be a blockade to stop negative situations. Again I am going to "tie me camel" and not just cross my fingers that all is okay.

Okay - male teachers, principals, etc

Not okay - a teacher, coach, leader, church leader that by himself takes a child out of the normal group/setting/etc - ie if a coach wants to drive a small group to have dinner, I would want to go. To their house, no.

I will be honest and say that when boys get to the 5th grade and older level, I will be very uncomfortable with my son going on a weekend campout without me or my husband going. The exception would be if someone was going who I had closely observed. Does that make them perfect? of course not.

It wasnt easy for us to become parents and they are my treasures. And there will be no more so I take their safety seriously. We live under a mile from our elementary and there is no way I will ever let my son walk or bike to school alone. My daughter is in middle school and last year a car pulled up along two middle school boys and tried to get them into a car. And this is 12 to 14 year old kids in what is the highest income section of our community.

Life these days are scary. From the internet predators to the in your face ones, I will do what I need to to protect my kids. And if that means as my son gets older he has to miss certain events, oh well.

as to southpark:

I believe that the Fab 5/QESG ARE actually crab people

I believe in Towlie

I believe in Mr Hanky

I believe Cartman is fat

Beavah - thanks so much for starting this thread.

I will freely admit that this week I am "charged up" being in Calif with the whole prop 8 issue, including the interface with the LDS church.

Here is where I am at - its a lot like the southpark episode with Big Gay Al who was the scout leader. They kicked him out because he was gay and brought in an ex military guy who wanted to take naked pics of boys. At the end they ask Al to come back and he says he doesnt want to be in a group that doesnt want him.

I have NO issue with out of the closet former scouts who are gay being involved. I DO have an issue with folks like the "conservative moral" folks like Larry Craig, Ted Haggard, Mark Foley, etc - there are a ton more, most are not as high profile. And with regard to women, of the 37 people in 06, 07, and 08 who were involved in scandals NONE were women (from wikipedia). Because there are men who want to be involved with boys in an inappropriate way and its like putting a cooked steak in front of my dog and saying "dont touch it".

Is every single man or man with kids who are older a threat to boys - of COURSE not. But if you quizzed a group of men about how they would like to spend their free time when they dont have kids, I have to say I would question more highly the ones that choose children as a priority than those who dont.

thats my opinion.

My point of this whole discussion is I am fine with having a difference of opinion. Re the two boys who approached my daughter - I would have not had an issue, if they had not as TWOCUBDAD said, they had asked for email, address and phone number.

And yes GoldW, of COURSE she didnt give it out, but as to parents, why are THEIR parents/church/etc encouraging soliciting young girls (or boys in the case of the above) to get phone numbers. And I agree that at the tender age of 13 my child has more intellectual smarts than common sense, but that is definately not a generational thing. I am of the Judge Judy ilk that until you are over 25 you are not fully "cooked". I think I CAN give myself a pat on the back that my daughter TOLD ME instead of giving the info out!

As to homosexuality being a "disorder", having a best friend who is gay and having spent WITH my kids time at their house (including, heaven forbid, OVERNIGHT!) I just disagree. I would encourage you to read more about it and realize that there are probably a number of gay folks you deal with daily. But again, your opinion is okay. But how would you like it if I came to YOUR house, and said "I am just encouraging you to vote" and handed you a list of why you should vote PRO gay marriage AND wanted to talk about how evil YOU were. OR spoke to your kids about it - or put up signs near your kids school.

And as to "NARRACTICONG(?)" with regard to the zip zilch nada into heaven, again that is your opinion. But again its YOUR OPINION, not everyone's. Lots of folks and religions do NOT take the bible literally and do not have your beliefs. Which is okay.

Some of the most influential folks in my life were those with whom I disagreed on certain political/moral/religious issues. My favorite boss of all time had an ongoing discussion with me about Madonna. He thought she was corrupting the youth and immoral, I said I liked her music and had no problem with kids hearing it. And heck, that was the late 80's, early 90's. Before the Brittany spears, etc. But we still got along and had GREAT discussions, however, neither was trying to "convert" the other.

I think Colin Powell summed it up succinctly when he said "the question shouldnt be is he (Obama) a muslim but if he is what does it matter?"

private message I received - can you all have the parts to just post this stuff?

"ScoutMomSD, How long have you been in scouting? Where would you get the idea that because a leader does not have a son in a pack/troop that they are evil? Chances are you've stood next to more evil people in public, at the store, on the street, or at the park. Man I am sure glad that closed minded people like you are still not in a position to take away from me the one passion that I have. I love scouting, I was a cub scout, boy scout, and now I am a scoutmaster. Maybe before you throw a whole group of people under the bus you should have some kind of figures or facts to back up such a ridiculas remark such as yours. Bill. This Member to Member private message was sent by eagle77"

look it's my opinion - many of you think that I am a godless jerk because I am liberal. And that I am against prop 8. And that I question some of the tenents of scouting. Sorry. I am being forthright and honest. Just as many on this board are. But I am "bad" because they are different opinions. Cool dudes.

Go back to tax ID's - sorry I had an opinion.

thanks for clarifying the roles - I am only in my 2nd year in Cub's and am still learning. I have years of Girl Scout experience but I am still trying on this side

thanks again - I appreciate constructive criticism!

first let me clarify - I have know some LDS folks who were fabulous. I had a friend in Junior high, worked with someone who was LDS who was a fellow CFO at a rehab hospital in SLC area and many are really really great folks.

But like with far left liberals, born agains, etc. there are the folks with agendas. And I see a "yes on 8" border on this site, which just makes me very very very sad. Why is "scouter.com" involved in ANY side? And the person who knocked on my door was telling me "I am just reminding you to vote" and giving me a door hanger with some "suggestions" - of course at the bottom of the flyer was a HUGE ad for yes on 8. So I said "I am against 8 so I dont want to talk to you" - he left and put an LDS flyer on my door. THAT is what I have a problem with.

My mom and dad were VERY religious people. I was raised in a "fringe" church, Christian scientists who have a LOT In common with LDS in that they are considered "off" mainstream, have some nutty ideas (like the no alcohol, and in a strict form no caffeine) and if you do any research on religions BOTH are considered by mainstream religions (ie Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist) to be "cults". And there is a Christian Science religion patch. So I am not speaking from the "outside" but from experience "inside" a non main stream church.

HOWEVER I believe in separation of church and state (hate to say but my parents actually were on the John Birch mailing list if you know what that is)and they were registered republicans and I actually volunteered for the Gerald Ford campaign in High School.

BUT I dont want religious folks telling me who to vote for. I am FINE with discussing it among fellow church members, or on church property, but if I wanted to know about your religion I would go to your church.

Yes we get the union propaganda also and I am on the Planned Parenthood mailing list - they ALL have their suggestions but I, amazingly, actually "read stuff" and make my own decision on all. As I tell the folks in front of stores getting signatures, I dont sign anything - I have to read both sides and decide.

fyi - here is some info on prop 8:

link to the LA times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-prop8-2-2008nov02,0,7071124.story

link to SD UT (a highly right leaning paper)

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080918/news_lz1ed18top.html

more LA times blog:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/10/now-the-mormon.html

I have a problem with graying the line between church and politics.

And my issue with god and scouts is that I AGREE with this as the belief in God was a key cornerstone to the founding of our countries, but also remember the birth of our nation was due to religious TOLERANCE. NOT religious takeover.

Gold - "sez" me.

Okay here goes my non PC side again. I think its kind of creepy to have men whose kids have long left who spend their spare time "hanging around" scouts. In fact that kind of creeped me out at the Roundtable I went to also.

There have been so many "issues" and I believe a whole patch (bobcat) about that subject that I would never be in favor of folks who dont have kids in the pack/troop involved.

My mom used to say, "avoid the appearance of evil".

So I am starting this thread for 2 reasons - first I dont get the integration of the mormon church into scouting and second as one of them knocked on my door and practically assaulted me about voting for Prop 8 in California (the we hate gays prop).

I have to say I am pretty uncomfortable going to Roundtables at Mormon churches or whatever they are. I used to work with a heatlthcare group which had a hospital in Salt Lake and my brother in law lives in Park City. I have known and worked with a number of LDS. But how are they so enmeshed in scouting? and why?

Re: the prop 8 issue - the LDS church in SLC is pouring millions into the yes on prop 8 initiative and the whole thing just makes me queasy and uncomfortable.

Yes I am a liberal and Obama supporter as well as a No on 8 supporter. And a proud Cub Scout mom.

Again I am just uncomfortable with it - I can deal with the God/Scout link as it goes with the start of our country but this is not exactly a main stream religion. Plus when we were selling popcorn, I had my 13 yr old with me (who looks 16 plus) and I left to go to the restroom and while she and my son were there she was practically accosted by 2 Mormon boys (on their mission? forget what its called) and they asked for her phone number AND email and were trying to convince her to go to church. Gee I know there arent women on their "quest" but do they have to hit on 13 year old girls?

Sorry again, I am probably going where no PC scout has gone before, but I am just curious.

This is really interesting.

first you have to talk to this person. Starting a new group or avoiding it is exactly what NOT to do - what are you teaching others and your kids? when confronted with a problem you have to deal with it head on.

The person may not know how they are coming off. I know as a "cc in training" a number of times I have told folks tell me if I am coming on too strong as I have some management experience and even though it was a while ago, it comes out in group settings.

One of the worst thing in ANY group is the whole power trip. I probably go the other way as no one and no title or income level ever impresses me. I had a path I could have gone down that I didnt and from that I have learned that just because someone has a high position or a ton of money means nothing as to who they are and if they are a good person.

HOWEVER there are some folks especially in non profit groups who never have had this opportunity and probably never will. They are convinced that because they have the title they get to be a "boss".

I am super lucky, we have a great pack and the leaders and parents get along pretty well - but its a group of what I would consider middle to upper middle class folks who all are close to the same position in life which I think makes a difference.

However when I went to our Roundtable I have to say I was appalled. Some of these folks I wouldnt let lead my dog. I also realized that some packs are great and some, not so much.

good thread - lots of fun!

I am an Obama supporter in a sea of McCain and prop 8 yard signs. But being in a Blue state, it doesnt really bother me. I am not going to lessen or change my opinion. Interesting is I had my Obama button on my purse and I cant TELL you how many folks have said "I love your button" - nothing else, no hatred for McCain. And I have to say 100% of these folks are women or young (under 30) people. I am not trying to convert or preach, but I have a right to show my support.

I used to work for a company based in Macon, GA (the corporate office, I lived in California). I had folks my age who had gone to segregated high schools. When I visited once a friend took me to a real southern restaurant and he freely used the "N" word and "the blacks" in front of the people there AND they didnt say anything. As a person born in San Francisco, I was so offended. (And Al, I know where Danville is - one of the most beautiful places on earth)

This same person came to LA to do an audit of our hospital and my boss picked him up at the LA airport. He said LOUDLY "look at all the "nxxxx's" and "spxxxxxc's" here"-my boss literally was afraid he would be knifed.

Were me and my boss different? NO - its how they were raised. The flip side of that is I love Southern men, as they are very very nice to women and I was always shocked at how polite they were. Despite the racism. Of course this was 20 years ago when I still was a natural blonde and had a figure!