SemperParatus

Welcome home.

Thanks for the great tips...and I love Powhatan...good luck MissMuffett.

Nice to meet you! Join in and share your experience.

Robert, Welcome to the forum and best of luck to you. you are doing many things right and, as others have said, there are several things you can be doing. You said all of your den leaders have quit. Do the dens still exist? Do the boys (and their parents) even know if the pack is still functioning. My suggestion to add to the great advice the other esteemed scouters have given is to (and I know this may take some time) call each and every scout family on your pack roster, introduce yourself and personally invite them to the next pack summertime meeting. Let them know that scouting is alive and well again in the pack and allay their fears that the dens have disintegrated. Then start hitting up the parents to join you in this opportunity to create a pack that everyon can be proud of.

Ed - you ol' rulebreaker...no soup for you!

I'm all for Brad Rutter (the recently crowned grand champion) replacing Alex Trebeck as host of Jeopardy. He has much more personality. The BSA has rules?

We usually have a guest speaker at one COH during the year - our February banquet. Used to have them more frequently but, to be honest, we started running out of ideas as to who to invite (when people start suggesting repeats, you know you are in trouble) and the boys found several of the speakers to be rather 'boring'. Stay away from local politicians, unless they were a scout and can relate that experience. We've had recent success with soldiers returning from Iraq, an astronaut, a professional baseball player, very old scouters who scouted during the 1940's, FBI director. the common denominator in all cases was that they had a scouting background and could provide concrete examples as to how scouting has helped them in their lives. Beyond 15 minutes and the scouts start yawning - unless the speaker has some visual aids. Good luck.

We had a scout that was much worse... He double-dipped his chips Refused to celebrate Festivus Killed independent George Spit one magic loogie Stole my marble rye Went beyond BO, had BBO Failed the Architecture merit badge Eventually joined the Van Buren Boys... These are times when the SM needs to step up, take control and show leadership. Counsel first, discipline second, expel third. (This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

A focused activity that engages their interest?

...and please don't hang one off the belt...

You will have the time of your life as leader of the pack. Congratulations, good luck and welcome.

I've never known a scout (or his parent) turn down a sincere offer to help them develop a scouting skill. Disconnect this from advancement issues, approach the scout (and his dad, since he may be part of the obstacle) and offer to help him improve his water skills so that he can start participating in some of the ultra-cool trips that are available to him now that he has reached the age for higher adventure. No mention of possible advancement improprieties in the past, just a sincere desire to help this scout and expand the opportunities for adventure that can be his. If he declines, you've done your part.

OneHour, Could not the possibility exist that this scout did pass the swim test 2-3 years ago (after much effort and anxiety) and the SMs at that time signed him off appropriately and since then the scout has simply chosen not to practice the skill because he does not like to swim? Example. In college I was competitive bike racer, riding in century races up and down the east coast. At the age of 22 I was involved in a very serious accident that nearly cost me my life. I have not gotten on a bike since. I can ride a bike, I just choose not to. If there was a bike riding test at summercamp, I would decline to participate. Just because this scout is not demonstrating swimming skills now is not necessarily a reason to conclude that he has never demonstrated them. Perhaps the father's anger was the result of reminding him of the torture that they experienced in getting this boy to finally pass the test one time. I would agree that if he can't pass the swim test now that his water activities should be limited in accordance with Safe Swim Defense/G2SS. However, this should have no bearing on whether or not he is 'Eagle-qualified.' Let it go.(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

From an advancement standpoint...nothing. The sign-off has already occurred and you can't go back after the BOR. From a skill development standpoint...you can offer to provide personal and discreet instruction to help this boy learn to swim (if he wants it). Making this 'secret' public will likely embarass this boy and that does not need to happen.

Well, considering you can't have a unit without one, I would say they are pretty important. An active CO that takes an 'ownership' interest in a troop, rather than merely a name, can be of great benefit in the start-up phase of a unit.

My favorite is that simpleton riding on his lawnmower, playing golf at the country club, cleaning his pool with the punch line... "I'm in debt up to my eyeballs. Can someone please help me." Must have bought too many $900 purses.

Welcome to the forum. Echoing EIKY, there is no limit on the number of ADL's, although I have never seen more than 2 ADLs in a den just as an observation. Take assessment of your gifts and time and ask yourself how might you help your pack/den in a way that would be most fulfilling for you. There are many roles to play in a pack and there may be an area for which you feel particular interest. Good luck to you and your family and I hope you enjoy these precious scouting years.

"What most persons consider as virtue, after the age of 40 is simply a loss of energy." - Voltaire I too am dreading those darn high school graduation ceremonies.

Welcome to the forum and good luck as cubmaster...it was the funnest scouting role I ever played. I guess I am a little confused as to why there is any left-over snack money. Snacks are pretty inexpensive and easily budgeted from week to week. I can't understand how there could be an accumulation of funds here, unless snack money was being collected and no snacks were being bought. Favortism is never a fun thing to see and experience. It is an unfortunate part of our humanity. I agree that shining a bright light upon it and criticizing the den leaders in this instance would not be appropriate. However, maybe a suggestion to the leaders that perhaps unspent funds could be returned to the scouts in the form of practical scouting gear (the next rank's handbooks, hat, slide, knife, etc.) could ease the way for uniform gifting. Have fun!

CAS, Having sat through scores of committee meetings, it is very easy to see how well-intentioned, but bad decisions can sometimes be made. I would not let this one instance sour the strong working relationship you and the CC have developed in service to our youth. I am certain the committee was not of the mind-set of 'let's undermine the authority of our SM' but rather to try and provide some glimmer of a scouting outlet for this boy. Their hearts were probably in the right place, while their minds may have, in your opinion, been on vacation. Overall, I think the disciplinary action taken was reasonable. The fact that the committee lessened one of your recommended actions should not be construed as undermining your authority, especially given that they accepted all of the others. I suspect their thought process was that they did not want to completely shut down the possibility of scouting in this boy's life. Even so, the odds are very good that this boy's scouting career is done. His actions were publicly criticized, his parents are probably intensely embarassed, his punishment is relatively severe and the work that will be required of him to earn the confidence of his fellow scouts and adult leaders will make things very difficult for him. No, he won't be back. But, if he does return, the scrutiny that he will feel will ultimately force him out. My advise to you is to accept the committee's decision and move on. Put this behind you as quickly as possible and focus on your program. Release the feelings of resentment you have for the committee and its decision and allow yourself some peace.

Speaking of teenagers, cars and complete absurdity... My cousin's son, who was 14 at the time, decided to take his father's Dodge Viper out for a joy ride while his parents were out for the afternoon. Only a few miles from the house, his excessive speed caused him to lose control, crossing the center line and crashing into another car which was driven by their next door neighbor. Both cars were totalled, the boy was not injured and the neighbor was flown to shock trauma (since has recuperated from his injuries). The boy just turned 16 recently, and while he will not be able to get his license for a couple of more years due to probation, his parents celebrated the occasion by buying the boy his own Dodge Viper (interestingly, insurance replaced the father's Viper). Talk about a crazy, mixed-up world. Some folks just have no sense at all.

We usually get the bulk of our crossovers in March and April. It works out nice because they do have the opportunity to get the hang of things before summer camp.

We'll do them any number of different places...on a camping trip (in camp but away from the activity)...troop meeting (at one end of the hall during gathering and ending times)...before or after a meeting where the parent remains in sight. As our troop grows, I have asked more ASMs to perform conferences if the scout is okay with that. As part of the training of ASMs on conference conduct, I have with the scout's permission had ASMs join us for the conference. In such cases, we may retire to a separate room at our CO's facility.

I would suggest inviting the SM (or one of his assistants) to a den meeting over the next few months. I suspect he would be happy to discuss with your group 'what they can expect' and answer any questions the scouts and parents may have. If the SM turns down your offer, that would be a sure sign to possibly check out other troops. (This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

Palm trees waving in the breeze...the gentle lapping of the blue waves on the golden sand beaches...the warmth of the sun kissing my bare feet...the rustling of grass skirts...as I slowly fall away into deep slumber... Boy, do I feel better. Thanks Kahuna! I agree that some folks enjoy kickin in a little twist at the end of their posts just to add an ever-so-slight insult. I suppose it makes them feel a little better about themselves. A shame.