SeattlePioneer

You need two dens.

My theory is that the thing to do is to find one person who will DESIGN each den meeting, and another person (two is better)  who willpresent the program as planned.

It takes less ability to presnt a program than to design it.  And it's a lot easier to have two dens of seven boys each than one den of 14.  For o0ne thing,  with two dens you can easily design competitions between the two dens,  and low stakes competitions between dens make for easy program and a lot of fun for boys.

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If one mails paperwork to the council office for processing. get a postal receipt which will come back signed and dated it was delivered.

Make copies of everything before giving to the office.>>

Sorry,  not interested in doing that.  By and large these days,  when the council screws it up I'm letting it sit there,  uncorrected.

I just don't have the energy to try to fix all their goofs.

Meanwhile,  they keep piling on more administrative complexity that THEY can't manage,  let alone volunteers.

In my opinion,  BSA is strangling itself with all the administrative BS.

At our district committee meeting last night,  it was confirmed that our council requiring annual YPT beginning THIS year.

The idea is apparently that people need annual training or they wont abide by YP rules.

Now,  I was tested before I could get a driver's license,  that was uhhh, fifty years ago.

This strikes me a contempt by the council towards volunteers.  We are too STUPID to only be tested  every other year, apparently.

Of course, National BSA apparently isn't going to show that people need to take YPT,  and may not even allow people who have  taken YPT within a year to take it again.  But the administrative burden to take it is on the volunteers.  The council isn't responsible for the consequences of their actions.

Meanwhile,  this year I've sent in two set of youth applications to the council which have been lost  --- checks never cashed.

I sent in six Cub Scout Day Camp applications which weren't processed for several weeks and which I was afraid were lost  --- it would have been a nightmare to try and get those applications done over.

A couple of years ago I had an adult leader application that I mailed in to the council lost -----twice.

The administrative complexity is such that the PAID STAFF look like clowns,  yet they keep ladling on layer after layers of complexity for volunteers to deal with.

Look at the hypersensitivity of feminists,  routinely shouting "rape"  these days on college campuses for the most trivial reasons. 

Girls and women have their own program,  which they apparently manage poorly.  Keep the feminist influence OUT of BSA,  or we'll all be taking rape "sensitivity" training before long.

The policy goal of feminists is CONTROL by women over men,  establishing a matriarchy.  Web don't need to give that yet another leg up in BSA.

<<Photos from the inaugural session of our new STEAM Day Camp, TechLab: Oceans!>>

This from the Capitol Area Council.

STEAM presumably = Science, technology, engineering, ARTS and math.

The arts advocates seem to be envious of the STEM idea,  and are promoting the idea that they should be included in such program as well.

I'll agree with that as soon as I see the Museum of Modern Art rename itself the Museum of Modern Arts and Sciences.

Until then,  I have NO sympathy for the arts establishment trying to latch on to someone else's program and ideas.

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I keep an eye on the websites for neighboring councils and sometimes their districts to see what they are up to.  Sometimes I find ideas and activities I can use.

Farther afield,  sometimes I'll Google up Scout Councils in cities around the country,  to see what they are doing,  and often I'll check district website to see what districts are doing.

Some are doing well,  other poorly.

I'm pleased to be able to say that few seem to be doing as well as my own Chief Seattle Council.

http://www.seattlebsa.org/

So who has council websites that deserve a look?

^<<

^{SeattlePioneer, on 26 Aug 2015 - 2:25 PM, said:}

 

^{If you Google "District Nominating Committee",  you will find a procedure to have an election to fill the position of District Chair.  That's assuming we have a District Nominating Committee>>}

 

 

 

^{Appointing a Nominating Committee annually is something the District Chair is REQUIRED to do.}

 

^{I had a district chair who hadn't appointed a nominating committee in years,  and had no interest in doing so.}

 

 

^{But I handed out the nominating committee rules that can easily be Googled up,  and made a stink about it until the task was done.  It became painfully evident that the District Chair wasn't CAPABLE of finding volunteers to appoint to the committee.  That made it painfully evident where our district problems were beginning.}

 

^{Eventually,  enough pressure was placed on the District Chair that he took advice on who to appoint,  and we wound up with an excellent new District Chair and an Excellent new District Commissioner.  They have been busily working on rebuilding the district committee for the past year.  Still not an easy task,  but they are working at it and having reasonable success with the task.}

 

^{That's a LOT better than the death spiral of deterioration that had been going on for years before that.}

 

 

 

 

Our district has an annual planning meeting in January.  We plan activities for the next year or two.  That's an opportunity to decide WHAT the district should be doing.

What kinds of things is your district doing that aren't worthwhile?

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My opinion:

We've lost the real intent Baden-Powell wanted for Scouting:  A game with a purpose.

I don't care if the emphasis is historic camping or STEM:  If it can be a game with a purpose, it'll support the youth.  If it's not a game, then it won't capture their desire to participate.>>

Personally,  I don't think that just any old game will work.

Hiking and camping appeal to the adventurous nature of a pretty significant percentage of boys ---and adults.

But BSA rolled out "Soccer and Scouting" a few years ago with the aim of appealing to Hispanics.  That drew in boys to play the games,  but not adult volunteers to run the program.  And not much interest in crossing over from soccer to a regular Scouting program either.

When the council got tired of paying staff people to run the program,  they dropped it.

I had experience with chess in high school.  Out of 2,000 students in our high school,  about a dozen had an interest in chess and about a half dozen interested enough to participate in tournaments and such.  And that was for a chess team that won the city and state chess team championships in 1968.

<<If your district committee is NOT helping your units deliver and develop solid programs for your units then they do not belong in their current positions and should be replaced  ASAP.>>

That's what my district does.

A couple of years ago,  we had district leaders too worn out to do much.  We got new leadership,  and they are doing a good job.

<<Good luck to the volunteers trying to make this new program work out in the field.>>

BSA is built around volunteers organizing and conducting programs.

Our council made a real effort to make "Soccer and Scouting" work,  before abandoning it.  But it was mostly conducted by paid staff,  not volunteers.  Not many parents stepped up to provide the leadership and continuity that makes Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts work.

<<[Personally, I think something vaguely like STEM Scouts is probably a good idea generally (there is a place for more STEM related activities for youth), but I am not sure if it makes any sense for BSA to be the one doing it (I fear it will produce a sub-optimal program for STEM and will also be a diversion of resources within the organization).>>

I agree again.   But Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts is built around hiking and camping and other activities that many adults have experience with.

Science,  if you are serious about it,  involve4s a lot of complex theories built one on top of the other,  and a variety of measuring and other specialized equipment that isn't necessarily readily available and can be expensive.

Furthermore,  science, technology ,engineering and math are all very broad topics. Even many technically trained people may have experience in only a corner of one of these.   Similarly,  children may be attracted to an element of one of these areas,  but how likely is it that a local program will offer,  say,  amateur radio,  as part of their program? 

I hear that robotics is a popular area for youth investigation these days,  but how much is BSA going to be able to contribute to such a program?

<<

We did procure a Cub pack for our CO.    So now we have an in-house feeder pack and will be able to work directly with the Cubs and their program to develop a seamless transition into the troop.  We haven't worked out the details as yet, but we will both be meeting at the CO on the same night.  

As an adult in the program, I'm really excited about the potential of what we have here.  >>

Sounds like you have the resources that make a FIGHT worthwhile.  Look for ways to help your Cub Pack be successful.

Good luck!

<<

What do effective commissioners do?

What would effective RTs do? What would they consist of?

District and council screw up my recharter paperwork. If they stay out of the way I get it done first pass. When they get involved -- which they do only to get what they want out of my unit -- they lose stuff, screw it up or otherwise delay it.

>>

Well,  an effective district doesn't screw up your recharter paperwork.

A couple of years ago,  I couldn't complete my unit recharter because an adult leader's training couldn't be identified on line.  I wound up calling the district Commissioner,  who identified the problem as being multiple BSA numbers,  and he corrected the problem.  THAT was an example of an effective commissioner.

I've been a UC for packs and troops. I attend most unit committee meetings and help keep leaders focused on stuff that coming up,  from activities to new leaders that are needed.  I put my shoulder to the wheel to help with understaffed fund raising activities when a need suddenly becomes acute.

You know  --- helping leaders be effective and to run an effective program.  Avoiding things that will mature into problems if neglected. 

Personally I attend district committee meetings and Roundtables.  I'm well plugged in to what is going on in the district and the council.  I can get the attention of district and council leaders if need be. 

I can make those resources available if needed to an otherwise isolated troop or pack as a Unit Commissioner.

<<https://stemscouts.org/>>

Well,  here's BSA's latest brainstorm to replace regular Scouting.  Open to boys and girls grades 3-12.

Not a WORD about camping that I saw. 

This is BSA following the latest fads.  Remember Soccer and Scouting?

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Speaking for myself, I don't care if they go or stay as it does not affect my unit. But part of me would like to see them stand their ground and show BSA they made a very bad decision. There's plenty of a "total lack of scout spirit" on both sides of this argument for you to be disappointed about. >>

Personally,  I think BSA deserves credit for standing its ground.    BSA took the issue to the USSC  --- and won.

However,  cultural norms shift, and for good or ill it has shifted in favor of including homosexuals in the program as youth and leaders.

BSA has decided that it must adapt to those changes.  It made that decision on it's own,  rather than at the point of a court order.

I continue to be a BSA members and volunteer.

Similarly,  LDS is entitled to do what they decide they need to do.  They have adapted to similar realities in the past by abandoning plural marriage and a stigmatized role for Blacks in their church.  I wish their leaders wisdom in making difficult choices in how to deal with this issue,  and I wish them well whatever they choose to do.

<<Flag ceremonies are never "incorrect" if people take time to do it respectfully.  >>

This is my priority.

I've been a Tiger Cub Den Leader the past EIGHT YEARS.  Guess what?  I've never drilled Tiger Cubs so that they follow the US Flag Code.

I looked for simple ways boys can learn to respect the flag.   I've posted two examples of how I've done that.  They've worked quite well for me.

If you are unhappy with such things,  follow you own standards in your own program.

<<No, that's not my problem, it is the problem defined by the U. S. Flag Code adopted by Congress.  And no they do not prescribe anything other that what's written in the Code.  For further reference, review the document, it's on-line.>>

I'm not bound by the US flag code adopted by Congress. I'm a BSA volunteer  and I do things that carry out my program.

So what are your prospects for recruiting more boys?

Is there a nearby Cub Pack you can cultivate and perhaps get crossovers?

Are your two boys willing to find and invite boys they know to come to a quality Boy Scout activity?

Will near by schools co-operate by letting you visit the school and invite boys to an activity?

Are there other adults that can help you with the program and activities?

Nine years ago I began an effort to rescue a Cub Pack that was down to a single boy.  That has led to a quality program for boys,  but I haven't really found enough effective adult leaders so that the program can carry on without me.

And unfortunately,  after devising reasonably effective methods for recruiting new Cub Scouts,  those methods failed me this past spring.  We need to be effective with Fall recruiting or have a huge hole in the program.

Yes, you can FIGHT!  Unfortunately,  you may have to fight forever.

Fighting is more worthwhile if it leads to a stable unit and effective leadership that can carry on with Fighting for everything,  all the time.

So...

When did you and your boy join your pack?  How many Tiger Cubs in your den?

What activities do you have planned or would you like to do? 

Is your Cubmaster or other Pack leader helping you get your den plans worked up?

Does your pack have some good activities planned that your den can participate in?

<<

But what does this mean? How does any of this help the units? How does any of this further the goal of scouting? From my experience "district goals" have been more around JTE than anything substantial felt at the unit level.

I was looking for concrete program ideas and execution by "good districts" which help the units.>>

Things that districts should be doing to aid units:

1. Effective Unit Commissioners

2.  Effective Cub Scout and Boy Scout Roundtables

3.  District activities units can participate in such as Klondike Derby, Cub Scout Day Camp and district organized Cub Scout activities

4.  Assistance with Rechartering and recruiting

<<

2. Functioning UC's for every unit.

3. All units chartered on time.

4. Day-long JLT twice a year with best possible adult and Scout staff.

5. Recognition of troops using the Patrol Method.

6. Patrol Method training at two or more Roundtables. 

7. Youth-planned and led district camping events (camporee & klondike derby) with all events sponsored, planned, and carried out by units.

8. Back-ups for all key district leaders.

9. Scholarship fund to insure that no leader missed week-long JLT for lack of funds.

10. Outstanding Roundtables largely focusing on unit program.  Savage curtailment of announcement.

So what about Cub Scouts?

<<

So what happens when a district has no members on district committee except the key 2.5?>>

The DE and the District Chair or Commissioner had better start beating the bushes to find new people to fill positions.

If they can't do that,  they need to be replaced with someone who can.

If you Google "District Nominating Committee",  you will find a procedure to have an election to fill the position of District Chair.  If you have a District Chair who isn't doing much and wont turn over the position to a better person,  that procedure can be used to find new leadership.

<<the respectful way of doing it using the appropriate standard.>>

That's your problem.  you apparently think there is only one respectful and appropriate way of doing a flag ceremony.

Read my post above.  It gives two respectful and appropriate ways to do flag ceremonies,  and I'm sure many others could be devised as well.

My priority is to avoid boring and repetitive flag ceremonies.

And I'm in a Scout program,  Cub Scouts in particular.  It's not the Marine Corps,  which has different values and standards. 

<<The personal connection/recommendation is your best bet.  Ask each of your families to identify 2 or 3 other boys that they know that they think might enjoy scouts.  Have them e-mail or contact those families to invite them to an event.  Then get that contact information and follow up by adding your own personal invitation to theirs.  Make sure that you tell prospective families not just about the program but about yourself.>>

Yes,  peer-to-peer recruiting can be highly effective,  if boys and parents will help you out.  Never had good results with that myself.

The most effective recruiting strategy for me has been school visits during lunches.   I have an attractive event to shill,  such as stomp bottle rockets or raingutter regatta.  I take a rocket or boat with me to show boys and invite them to come and make a boat  themselves,  and then race it against their buddies to see who has the FASTEST boat (rocket that goes the farthest)

Each time their boat or rocket beats someone else,  they get a sticker to put on their rocket, boat or whatever.