sctmom

Yaworski, I think you just lucky. I can't think of any clothing items I've bought with those problems even at Wal Mart or from online stores (where I can't do my own inspections until the item is delivered). I would suggest your Scouting associates find some extra time to try on items before purchasing and do a thorough in-store inspection. I know that will not catch everything, sometimes it takes a washing or some wearing to really catch the problems. I thought I did find an "inspector" piece of paper in the Scout pants I recently bought. Maybe someone doesn't like your counci

I know the scheduling is often a problem. When I first heard of doing training with self study, I thought "why don't they tell more people about this?". Then I realized if they advertised it, many people would do self study when they aren't good at self study. What bothers me are the people who know everything already so they don't have to get trained. I have recently attended a Pow Wow and Cub Leader training (2nd time in 2 years). The training was not very good in my opinion, but I still learned a few things -- how NOT to conduct training, why other adults were volunteers, which g

For some schools "band" is a class with a grade. Bob White, Thanks for bringing up this subject. I think it is something all Scout leaders need to consider. Even adults will not attend if they feel they are not part of the group or contributing anything.

OGE, that's what I thought too. Bob White, did we understand correctly?

fboisseau, Actually I wasn't talking about what you posted. I don't remember anything about your son playing soccer. I was only commenting on Bob's original post, not about the boy who does sports and scouts. I think both are important and Scouting should encourage boys to be involved in other acitivities. I just think Bob White brought up a good point. I know I've seen what he is talking about. Been guilty of it myself. My son is "just another scout" and he feels that way too. So he feels no need to try to go on campouts, even if he has no other obligations or plans. One reason boys do k

Even without a title for POR, isn't every member of a patrol important? If half the boys in a patrol thinks "I'm just a worker bee, it doesn't matter if I miss this campout", then what does that do to the patrol on the campout? Patrols are recommended to be 8 boys for a reason. If only 2 show up, you can't function very well as a patrol. I think Bob White has a very good point that on a sports team everyone has a "position" but so many times a scout is "just another scout" not "the best pancake cooker" or quartermaster or whatever. That everyone wants to feel they are truly contributing

Many subjects go back to "people don't get trained". What are your experiences with why people don't take the training? (or your opinion of why) A few other questions go along with this in my head: Why do some trainers state as "facts" things obviously in conflict with the printed materials? Assuming people are trained correctly, why do people think "well they said that and it's in the book, but I'm going to keep doing it this way."?

OGE, I agree. Yaworksi, not all rec depts are as good as yours. I've seen our rec dept go "we need a coach for these kids" at a tryout and take the first hand that went up, no background checks, no nothing. That was about 5 years ago. That's one reason why I watch my son practice ball.

Pack38, Thanks for your response. I guess my problem is that I have never seen a "ceremony" for awarding badges. Our pack always calls up the boy and his parent at the pack meeting and says "Junior has earned his wolf badge. Give him a round of applause". Yes, I know there are ceremonies and props, etc. Unfortunately "that's the way our pack has always done it, everyone seems happy with it, no need to drag out the pack meeting". You are right about not spending time in den meeting time "educating". One reason I became a den leader was after a few meetings of watching an unprepared den l

"For us (a huge Pack), we like to give the boys a grand ceremony ... nothing short of a momentous occasion. So we elected to have all rank advancement at B&G where 120+ boys can participate with his parents in the ceremony" Has anyone ever tried giving the boy his badge when earned and then recognizing him again at the B&G? The reason I ask is after learning that in troops, the badges "should" be given as soon as possible after being earned and then the boy is recognized at the next Court of Honor. Why wouldn't that work for Cub Scouts? Maybe giving the parent's pin at that t

I snipped some Bob White quotes from the other thread: (with a few typo corrections) **** There is really nothing to vote on. So the need for votes does not exist in the month to month operations of a unit. Nowhere that I am aware of in BSA training or literature does it state that the committee operates by majority rule. *** so then we should NOT vote or let majority rule? *** This is not a 'majority rules' committee. This is a 'here is your assignment now run with it' committee. *** again, no majority rule EVER? *** If the Cub Master and the Committee Chair decide to do

"Most of the rank advancements happen at the Blue & Gold banquet in February. " Please notice the word "most". If a boy earns his rank next week (in October), DO NOT wait until February to award it. Have his den leader recognize him at the next den meeting and then award it at the VERY next pack meeting. On the other side of that coin, DO NOT give out awards that have not been earned. It hurts the boy you gave it to.

Honestly I've yet to see an "official" vote at Pack Comm. mtgs or Troop Comm. mtgs. It is usually a "is that okay with everyone? anyone got a problem?" If the problem starts dragging down the meeting then "we will take this offline after the meeting. next item is ..."

Wow, thanks! I'm printing this one off for my notebook! I live between 2 elementary schools, each with about 250 boys between 1st and 5th grade. Each school tries to have it's own pack. Our pack is still surviving, but this year is hurting. The other pack is off and on. They are on again this year, saw them in the parade on Saturday. Out of each grade of 50 boys, we may have 8 in Cubs. These are the boys and parents you see at everything -- church, sports, school events, etc. Some years we have had 2 dens of a particular grade level. I'm not sure if the other pack has 30 boys this year. S

Pack38Scouter, Thanks. Please tell us what your town does to have 2 very strong packs. You have enough boys for 4 packs! What are you doing? (maybe a separate thread) I'm already thinking ahead to next fall, if I'm the Webelos leader for this group, I will plan a Webelos overnighter in September. We have a good number of council approved sites to camp out, all very nice and within about an hour's drive. I think the boys in this den all get along great together and would benefit from a few small group activities even at the family campout.

I had thought about the addition of a picture would be nice as well. That way anyone could see this is the right form for the person, even someone at camp or medical personnel. With or without the picture, it is very important to keep this information secure so wackos aren't making copies for other wackos. Don't leave it behind at the waffle house after breakfast. L-Owl, thanks for the info and glad to hear your scout is okay. I have the Class 1 in front of me, it does say that some states require an annual precamp medical evaluation, to check with your council about that. It

It doesn't say you have to vote, it doesn't say you can't vote. It also doesn't say how long the meeting should be. The book gives guidelines of what should be covered and a basic outline.

Per the Cub Scout Leader Book, 2001 edition. Monthly Pack Leaders' Planning Meeting Who? All adult den and pack leaders attend this planning meeting. It goes on to say den leaders turn in advancement reports to the person responsible for obtaining awards. Den leaders turn over den dues to the pack treasurer. Special committees report on plans for the upcoming pack meeting or special events for the upcoming months. SOOOOO, that sounds to me like den leaders and committee members are in the SAME meeting. There is NO mention of "committee meetings" vs. "den leade

Bob, The cubmaster is at the den meetings for a few different reason -- reason #1 his son is there, reason #2 it give him a chance to communicate (with handouts) to the den leaders weekly. As a den leader, I have every right to attend a committee meeting if I wish. Have you ever played the game "gossip"? I tell the cubmaster, he tells the committee, what if there is a misunderstanding? Oh, wait, I know, that's my problem or his problem,etc. If we had 10 den leaders and 6 to 8 committee members, to meet all at once would not be productive. But having 5 den leaders and 3 committee members a

Just talked to some of the parents who said they only plan to go for the day. I encouraged them to be sure to stay through dinner and at least "act like camping" while there. I may also take one of my small tents for the boys to practice putting up and it will give them a place to rest and hide out when they need some down time that afternoon. That should ease the parents and boys into camping. I don't want to force anyone to be in "the group" if they prefer to do their own thing that day.

Let me expand on my thoughts a little. Over the last 2 years, few of my Webelos den camped. There was another Webelos den that seemed to camp as a group but they excluded us (fine, didn't really like them anyway). A couple of times I teamed up with the other single mom and we acted as one family. This year I have Bears. We have a council sponsored family campout coming up. The council does NOT provide food. There are some activities. Some of the kids and families have never camped before. Some are single mom & one kid. I'm wondering if we should try camping as a group and having the

If the Popcorn chair says "we are doing a show & sell on Saturday" and the den leaders say "no way, I'm not standing out there with the kids to earn $100". Then the popcorn chair is going to be out there by himself. If we don't ALL agree to do the show and sell, then it doesn't work. Popcorn chair may not know of last year's show & sell fiasco (where? not many sales, etc.) Perhaps the den leaders could suggest a new location, a different approach. I know I would not want to make such a decision in a vacuum. I may not always be right, someone else just might have a better idea.

Bob, Since many people in this thread read your posts as "no voting is ever needed", I'm not the only one that felt that you implied you should NEVER vote. I think communication is hindered if the committee and the den leaders do not talk face to face. Also, you asking the cubmaster to attend a monthly meeting with the committee AND a monthly meeting wiht the den leaders AND roundtable AND pack meeting. Also, our cubmaster attends the weekly den meetings (we all meet on the same night, same place). So this means he will be meeting basically twice a week, almost every week. Maybe if our co

Bob writes: "Did I say voting wasn't permitted? " Uh, Yes. Lots of times. You have said there is nothing to vote on and that the only mention of voting is that the scoutmaster can't vote. Committee members may be competent but some decisions should be made as a group. Example of my popcorn kernel. He comes back to the pack leadership and says "do you want to do show & sell? I recommend we do and here is why." If we all felt disagreed, then we override him and the group makes the decision. Yes, the documentation says den leaders do not attend committee meetings, but where I

When your pack goes camping (as a pack overnighter or at a council event), do have your dens camp as a group? Or is everyone on their own? Would like to hear pros and cons of each.