SemperParatus

When I was 19 I had a Mustang II - that car was a piece of junk and I swore I would never buy another Ford (let alone a Mustang). I really like the look of the new Mustang and am planning to go to a dealership later this week to test drive one. Call it a middle-age crisis, but I can really see myself in a bright red convertible Mustang. I am selling myself on it more each day. Most reasonable people will give things a second chance, especially when they have confidence in the ability of the new leadership to put together a quality product. Forge ahead with confidence, attract other volunteers with a positive can-do attitude, and folks will notice that there is something new and different now that may be attractive. From a marketing point of view, perhaps consider calling this event by a different name than that used in prior years. That way, you can disassociate from prior disasters. Maybe refer to it by the selected theme name to capture both the unsuspecting and the jaded.

You need to sell, sell, sell. Visit every unit with an engaging presentation that wows the kids and makes them whine to their parents that they really 'gotta go' to this camp. Have the registration forms right there with you to strike while the irons hot. Promote at your roundtable to hook the adult leaders in (and their kids). Again...sell this as THE place to be. Recruit a strong group of volunteers (who will bring their own kids) selected from each unit that will be the internal sales guy/gal to promote this event. Provide them with all the promo materials, handouts, forms they will need to make the selling as easy as possible. Of course, you hopefully will have developed a great 'product' to sell. Start recruiting your activity directors now and have a big brainstorming session to flush out new ideas. Again, seek activity directors from different units and allow them to recruit their own staffs. Expanding the number of adults involved will automatically increase the number of scouts attending. Obviously, the planning should start now to make sure the product and the sales effort is given the time and attention it deserves. Good luck.

Michael Jackson

Every Memorial (Sun)Day our troop does a flag retirement ceremony on our CO grounds (following mass) as well as a 'prayer garden' of decorated crosses recognizing those veterans for which parishoners and others have requested remembrance. Throughout the year we probably collect 25 flags are so from folks who know we do this.

A $145 week-long vacation in Hawaii?...what have I been missing all of my life!?!

The great thing about scouting is that each scout can determine 'how much' is enough for them. We run 12 overnight opportunities each year plus support OA weekends, week-long summer camp and week-long high adventure trip, monthly service opportunities of 4-6 hours, daytrip/fun night every other month, assist at a half-dozen cub scout events a year, etc etc I have never heard anyone complain. We have some scouts that attend just about everything (one scout in our troop has so far accumulated 132 nights in the field in 4-years) and some that attend only a few trips a year. Most fall somewhere in between. We average a little over 75% on weekend trips, which indicates to me that we have not reached the point of 'too much'. I do believe that for some new families, it can be a bit of a shock but once they hear that there is no mandatory attendance requirements their fears are alleviated. From a scouter perspective, as SM I no longer attend every activity but with a staff of 10 ASM we usually have a presence of 3-4 members of the SM staff (plus 5-6 other adults) on any given trip to provide adequate supervision of 50 or so kids and to ensure that the scouting methods are employed. Varying the trip destinations and activities keeps the interest level up by not doing the same ol' thing. Too much of the same ol' stuff could be a problem.

Welcome Vince. Look forward to talking with you. Best of luck as Cubmaster.

Well, this is one SM that embraces the OA. OA events are added to our calendar as part of the annual planning process first along with school closings, holidays, and district/council events. Our troop then plans our year not to conflict with, at a minimum, our District's Ordeal weekend, Spring Fellowship and Fall Fellowship weekends (as well as other local OA events - regional and national OA events are not typically considered since we have no scouts involved to that level as yet). The fellowship weekends are promoted within our troop and we usually get decent attendance (75% of brothers) that does not take away from the scheduled troop trip for the month (our scouts are used to multiple scouting weekends each month). We have even scheduled a few special high-adventure trips (canoe trek - trail of the Lenni Lenape) open just to troop OA members that were very well received. OA is an expansion of our regular troop program, not a competitor.

Right now, our troop has 58 scouts with 44 going to summercamp (I really long for the earlier years when we were newly formed and enjoyed 100% attendance). We find a way to involve those not attending in the preparations, in such a way that its not just for naught. For example, this year we had a gateway building design contest with scout teams building gateways to be voted on for the design to be used at camp. Those not attending summercamp participated in the gateway building developing lashing skills and having fun. Our next two meetings will include time for attending scouts to review their planned summercamp schedules with troop leadership and present merit badge prerequisites to counselors. In the past, this occurred during an hour set aside prior to the normal troop meeting. This year, we'll be doing it during troop meeting time. Those not attending summercamp have elected to clean and inspect our troop canoes, paddles and pfds in advance of an August canoe trip during this portion of the meeting. Get the group of non-summercamp attendees together and ask them what they want to do during this time. The troop meetings should be as much about what they want to do as about the others prepping for summercamp.

We go to a different summercamp just about every year. Next year's camp alternatives are investigated by a nominating team of scouts and adults typically in June/July. We usually visit camps for a day and try to come up with a list of 3 options to present to the PLC in September. Next year's camp destination is selected by the PLC and approved by the Committee in September. The week is selected at that time so as to finalize the annual calendar. Initial hold money is paid in September. Everyone in the troop knows where we will be going after the release of the calendar in late September. But most know beforehand anyway. Depending on when initial deposits are due (some camps require deposits as early as Feb. 1), we'll start promoting summer camp in January or February (usually kicked off at the winter COH). Some camps have promotional videos they can provide. Cost and deposit information is provided then along with information that is particularly noteworthy about the camp. We also schedule time in February and March (again depending on deposit requirements) for the SPL and SM to visit dens that have committed to our troop to share basic information about scouting and 'sell' summercamp. Real preparations usually begin in May. We provide a packet of information (typically available from the summer camp) that includes the basics about the camp, what to pack, and the schedule of merit badges and activities. Information on merit badge prerequisites are provided with the instruction to begin working on them now. At the June meetings, scouts bring their merit badge selections and planned schedule in where the SM and SPL review to make sure the scout meets the eligibility requirements of the camp and their are no conflicts. Also, during the June meetings, we have counselors attend meetings to review and sign-off on any prerequisites that the scouts have completed. The June PLC meeting is usually entirely about summercamp, where the BIG duty chart is prepared to ensure a fair rotation of duties (waiters, fireguards, latrines am/pm, G-men am/pm, colorguard, etc.) throughout the week. July is our typical summer camp month.

Great enthusiasm is infectious. The trinkets and junk they bring home from the week will slowly be forgotten...but their memories of that crazy den leader can live on for decades. Get INTO your den name, flag, and cheer. Get into character. Pick them up when they are dragging. Be that flying pig you've always wanted to be (complete with snout and wings and a loud oink oink). Carry a fun sack with you throughout the day for those times when they may need a pick-me-up. Examples of sack stuff...a mister to cool them down, some candy, a frisbee, rubber chicken, balls of any kind, use your imagination and your sons. Remember, you are now a veteran day camper. Good luck and stay cool.

Very sad. Sorry to hear about the loss. Hope they are found soon.

...get off of the launch pad ... We did the whole rocket launch/ Space Explo thing as a troop. A local model rocketry club essentially sponsored the whole thing for us. We got to see some massive projectiles go into orbit after our little Estes dingies (all provided free of charge by the club) were shot off. Club members came to several troop meetings to explain rocket science to the boys and help with the models. It really was a highlight that year. Next time, try hooking up with a local rocket club - they can be very helpful and really know their stuff, plus I think they had about 6 launch pads set up for use. Those folks will bend over backwards to snag a new convert to model rocketry.

Yes. Sorry flamingeye. I'm a frayed I've become a real noose-ance here.

T, You win...I'm at the end of my rope...running away...heading bowline on a lark...hopefully I won't be upbraided by the moderating team for being underhanded...I've always tried to be overhanded...

We just mark the driving section... "Scouts will be transported to and from event by own parent/guardian" Our Council has always accepted/approved that.

T, As long as he re-fuses to string them along, Flamingeye should be able to pull this off without a hitch.

CRG8, IMO the uniform has no bearing here. While I would agree that it could be of some benefit that service projects were public displays of well uniformed scouts happily whistling while they work, many projects are dirty and messy outdoor work where I would never suggest the field uniform be worn. Likewise, some projects at Star/Life level may be private endeavors (e.g., writing letters to our servicemen) which really are never seen by the public at all, but of wonderful service nonetheless. I do not consider the wearing of the uniform to be necessary in the completion of the service project advancment requirement (and judging from the literal wording of the requirement, neither does the BSA). Maybe a Troop neckerchief over the robe would be a nice touch though :

Troop 8 in Ann Arbor, Michigan used to do a cable access TV show as well. Does Bob Geier frequent this forum (I've seen him on Scouts L)? Maybe a few words of wisdom on doing this locally?

Always have...always will.

Great idea T...that should help him rope in some new customers, especially if his ad has some sissel to it.

Welcome, flamingeye - we've been waiting for you to join us. Would you mind sitting over on the other side of the fire...conjunctivitis is very contagious.

Yeahea... Saturday Night Live...featuring all of our favorite skits like Fred the Flea, Banana Bandanna, A New York Mugging...I can just hear the networks shaking in their wingtips now.

Did you try Tandy Leather? - they should be online.

I think it all depends entirely on the people involved.