starwolfmom

One of my first acts as new Cubmaster was to promote the Scouting for Food drive, that was held in our council on March 25 (was it March 25 everywhere?)

We handed out the blue tags we got from council already stapled to grocery sacks (donated by a local grocery store). Each Scout got 10 sacks and we explained the process.

Out of 30 boys in the pack, we had eight boys participate, bringing in nearly 400 items for the Red Cross Food Distribution Center. It wasn't quite the participation I had hoped for, but it was our first time doing it and I'm proud of the Scouts that did take part.

Another plus: we also encouraged participation in our minor-league team's Scout Day at the ballpark and 12 boys and their parents signed up for that. In the past we had only one or two who went. So that's another sign of progress.

Elizabeth

Just a question for context: the original poster wrote: "He usually ends up on the receiving end of being picked on/bullied by some of the other scouts his age." Are these "other scouts" being held back for advancement because of their behavior? Is the Scoutmaster conferencing with them because of THEIR un-Scoutlike behavior?

As the parent of a boy on the autism spectrum (not a Scout, although our troop does have an autistic Scout), I can tell you that often, kids on the spectrum pick up their social cues from those around them. If this Scout is picked on and bullied by other Scouts his own age, it's no wonder he then turns around and does the same to younger Scouts. Obviously, it must be okay to do because these other Scouts are doing it to him.

I don't think it's fair to delay his advancement for lack of Scout spirit when it appears to be a pervasive issue in the troop. I'd recommend a discussion with all the boys of the troop about the kinds of unScoutlike behaviors you are seeing, not just in this boy, but in others.

By the way, in either the June or August issue of Scouting, I'll have an article on working with boys on the autism spectrum that may provide additional insight into this.

Elizabeth

MArkS--That "having fun at pack meetings" comment made me laugh. In our pack, for the past two years, our dens have done NOTHING as individual dens at pack meetings other than taking turns with the opening flag ceremony (totally uninspired ceremonies--they're always the same).

Here's what our schedule has looked like so far this year:

September--opening meeting. boys ran around while Cubmaster made announcements to the parents. Then each den met in a corner so parents could meet the den leaders and get information about when den meetings were, and uniform info.

October--hayride and campfire at local stable that does this stuff. There were no den skits or songs at the campfire. Kids just roasted hotdogs, made s'mores, and ran around like wild men. CM made announcements.

November--Awards given, presentation of raptors by local wildlife rescue organization (way cool, by the way--owls and eagles and hawks).

December--Christmas carol program for cub families and "special guests." Pinewood derby cars handed out. We used to carol at a local nursing home and have a can drive at the same time, but we stopped doing this a few years ago.

January--Pinewood derby.

February--Blue and gold banquet. WEbelos crossed over to Boy Scouts with cool OA ceremonies team involvement.

March--we're doing a raingutter regatta. At my suggestion (first act as CM) we will be participating in Scouting for Food--first time ever for this pack--and handing out the door tags and explaining the program at this pack meeting.

April--We've scheduled a pizza party at a local restaurant owned by the dad of one of our boys. Awards will be given and announcements made, but the restaurant doesn't really lend itself to any other activities.

May--Pack cookout (or cook-in, depending on the weather), and boys move up to the next rank.

That's it until September. We currently have no summer pack activities. If boys want to do Cub day camp, they can, but it's not really pushed. Usually, the boys attending are my son, the ACM's son, and two or three other boys from our den.

I'd love to encourage our den leaders to have their boys prepare a song or skit or even a report on what they've been doing to present at the pack meetings, but that will be a major paradigm shift for them. As a parent, my impression of our pack meetings has been that they are a race against the clock to get everything done and get out of the building as quickly as possible. When I hear about the fun things other packs are doing (songs and skits, father-son cake auctions, etc.) I feel sad.

I asked the ACM when the next pack leader's meeting was scheduled, and there isn't one. She had one parent (Wolf den leader, I think) volunteer her house for a meeting, but that's as far as planning has gone. I think I might be able to whip up some enthusiasm among the adults, but we've got to get them together first.

Elizabeth

Many of you have heard me complain about our pack's do-nothing cubmaster, who even admitted in front of a crowd of new Cubs and parents in September that he "just read the announcements" and that the real work was done by one of the other leaders (who is Webelos leader, treasurer, assistant Cubmaster, etc.). Back in the fall, I wasn't sure whether I should volunteer to be committee chair (we don't actually HAVE a committee, much less a chair) or Cubmaster.

Well, at our January pack meeting (which was our Pinewood Derby), it was announced that the do-nothing Cubmaster had started a new job that had evening hours that would preclude his continuing to serve as Cubmaster. The call went out (to our 35 families) that we needed someone to step up as Cubmaster--and that all the job really entailed was standing up at the pack meetings and reading the announcements!

and not one person stepped up to volunteer. I contacted our assistant Cubmaster/Webelos leader (my son is in her den), and said that if no one else stepped forward, I would do the job, but only until next February when our boys crossed over.

At our Blue and Gold banquet, it was announced that I am the new Cubmaster. I think that our "one woman show" really thinks that all I'll be doing is "reading the announcements," but if I take the job, I think there's probably more to it than that. I'm signed up for Cubmaster-specific training on March 18. (I've already done New Leader Essentials and Youth Protection Training through my position with my older son's troop).

But before March 18, what should I know about being Cubmaster? I think that one of the tasks the assistant and I have ahead of us is gearing people up to take over from us when we leave next February. I'd like to have a parents' meeting and get people committed to a variety of positions to keep the pack rolling. Right now, we have no committee chair, no COR (unless it's the assistant Cubmaster/treasurer/Webelos den leader, who is also president of the school's family council--which is our CO), no pack trainer, no separate coordinators for stuff like Pinewood Derby or Blue and Gold. We do have an awards chair, and a popcorn kernel.

Any advice for a new leader who wants to do things right?

Elizabeth

My oldest son (Life, SPL) got a tent for Christmas. It was the top item on his Christmas list.

And, while not a Christmas present, my youngest son will begin working on his Pinewood Derby car during this week of winter break from school. His dad's office is also closed this week, so he'll be able to supervise and make sure that my Cub doesn't cut any fingers off. (Unlike some cars, Dad has very little to do with our boys' PW cars. In fact, last year, Greg won "Judge's Choice" award, which I found out--after discreet inquiry--meant the car that looked most like the boy had done all the work himself.)

Elizabeth

Actually, Troop 111 in Lansing, MI, wears the red berets during our summer service tour at Mackinac Island. The only time the boys (who include boys from other troops who join our fellows to make up the service contingent of 54) wear the berets is up at Mackinac, where they serve as the Governor's Honor Guard for a week.

I have no idea where we get the berets from, but I think they look really sharp.

Elizabeth

Northwoods Scout Reservation in Michigan has the "Tribe of Mangons" and the boys get a patch and then quarter-circle pieces that go around the outside of the round patch as they move up in rank within the "Tribe." The patches are given for service projects done at camp.

Elizabeth

My son often wears a long-sleeved shirt under his short-sleeved Scout shirt. He has two: one is a dark green the same color as his Scout pants, the other is red, the color of his epaulets and neckerchief. I think either one looks good.

Elizabeth

Thanks, all. I'm thinking that committee chair is the way to go. Now I just have to break the news to my husband, and then get going.

How do I find out who our unit commissioner is? I've never seen or heard tell of any such person for our pack.

Elizabeth

Well, our second pack meeting was a little better, but not much. We went on a hayride that took us out to a campfire set up, where the boys and families roasted hot dogs, made s'mores, and ran around for an hour or so, then the wagons came back and we rode back (nice meandering path through the woods and trails). The only announcements were to keep selling popcorn, when/where to turn in money/unsold popcorn, and when the next pack meeting is.

I asked if our pack would be participating in the Council's Cub Scout Healthy Hike day, and was told that the Tigers were, but not anyone else, unless the den leaders had planned that. I was also told by the Cubmaster that if that was something I had wanted us to do, I should have said something to him sooner. He also suggested that if I wasn't happy, that maybe I should be Cubmaster and he'd be happy to turn the job over to me. When I said, I don't think it's that easy, the committee has to make that decision, he laughed and said, "what committee?"

So, do I step up and become Cubmaster or volunteer to be Committee Chairman? Training for both is coming up over the next three weeks. The reason there's no committee (I feel) is that no one has ever stood up in front of the parents and explained that we need parents to do the following jobs, x, y, and z, and it's up to you to help make a quality program for your boy. In fact, I'd bet most parents don't even know there are "committee" meetings (the CM and den leaders), so how can they even try to get involved? And don't even ask about a COR--I'm certain the PTO doesn't even KNOW they're supposed to have a rep for the pack.

I'm already secretary for my older son's Troop committee, but I am getting to the point where I think I need to help my younger son's Pack. I just don't know where I would do the most good.

Elizabeth

Madkins asked if I was satisfied during my son's Bear year. Well, actually, no I wasn't, but it was the CM's first year and I was willing to cut him some slack. But after reading on this board what good pack meetings can be like, I just got more and more frustrated.

When the pack had a meeting at the local laser tag emporium, and I pointed out before the meeting that this violated the G2SS, I was brushed off and told that the council had approved the tour permit, so it must be okay.

I'm involved in my older son's troop as a committee member and part of the Webelos-to-Scout transition team (mostly with trying to get boys from my younger son's pack interested in joining our troop), but more and more, I'm thinking that maybe I need to pull back on involvement in number 1 son's troop and get involved in number 3 son's pack. (Number 2 son is not a Scout--I also have an almost-3-year-old daughter).

What was that Eamonn was saying about "busy people"? Sigh.

Elizabeth

Last night was our pack's first pack meeting of the year, held one week after Cub Scout registration night at our school. If I were the parent of a new boy, instead of a first year Webelos Scout, I probably would be thinking twice about having my son in this pack.

Our Webelos 1 den leader, who is also the treasurer (and probably our COR, too, since she's president of the PTO), was signing up new Scouts, taking money, and handing out information packets. Boys were running around--most of them not in uniform (I could see the new guys not having their uniforms yet, but only three or four of the returning Scouts were in any part of their uniform). In fact, one little guy (a friend of my son) is new to the pack and showed up with his shirt, neckerchief, slide, and hat on. By the time the meeting ended and he saw that almost no one else was in uniform, he had taken them all off so he would look like the rest of the boys. I was so sad.

Our Cubmaster finally got the meeting started about 15 minutes late. There was no opening flag ceremony or anything. He was not in uniform--just jeans and a "Tommy Jeans" t-shirt. He admitted to the assembled families that while he was the Cubmaster, he really just stood up there to make announcements and keep the boys in line, but that the "little lady at the table over there" (our treasurer/Web 1 den leader) was the person who really kept things running. Just what to say to inspire confidence, right?

He talked about pack meetings and den meetings, and popcorn (on and on about popcorn). He told everyone when the next pack meeting was (it's a hayride/bonfire in two weeks--and I can GUARANTEE you that there is no "program" planned because we did it last year). Then he pointed out corners of the gym for the various dens to meet and get to know one another, and when folks had finished meeting with their dens, that was it for the evening.

Our den has four new boys in it, but our den leader only popped over for about 30 seconds to make sure the new folks knew where the Scout store was for buying uniforms and books, and that folks had the den newsletter. (Our first den meeting isn't until October 13, and we're only having two den meetings, plus the pack meeting, each month. How she thinks she's going to get all the Webelos achievements done on that schedule is beyond me!) The boys goofed around with each other and we went home. Total elapsed time--30 minutes.

I was not inspired. I was disgusted. My husband just laughed at me and said, "There's probably an opening for an assistant Cubmaster, honey." I think what they really need is a committee chair (right now, the Cubmaster is the committee chair). Not that the committee was even mentioned last night--just listed in the newsletter we got. Of course, there was no notice of when the committee meetings are, or that parents are invited (because I can assure you, no one has ever brought that little factoid up in the two years this guy has been Cubmaster).

So, how do I jump in and try to help make this pack into something I can be proud that my son is part of? (My oldest boy, a Life Scout and SPL of his troop, came out of this pack through a different Cubmaster, and believe me, it was a different pack back them.)

Any suggestions? Thanks for listening to my rant.

Elizabeth

Our troop from Lansing, Michigan will be going to the War of 1812 re-enactment at Fort George, Niagara on the Lake, Canada, the weekend of September 16-18. Our Scouts went for the first time last year and had a great time. I know that the event draws Scouts from Canada, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, so I was curious whether any of the good folks on this forum participate in this weekend.

Thanks.

Elizabeth

One of our Scouts, a boy with autism and mental retardation, for his Eagle project, built a receptacle that is located on the property of a local car wash, where people can deposit their worn-out flags. The troop then collects them and retires them when we go up to Mackinac Island in the summer for our Governor's Honor Guard service. We also retire them at spring and fall camporees.

Today, several members of our troop were at the local mall (at their invitation) for a Flag Day presentation. The Scout who built the flag depository spoke about his project (with help from our SPL). The SPL talked about how flags are retired, and also told about the experience of raising and lowering the garrison flag up at the fort on Mackinac Island. And my son (troop ASPL) spoke about our troop's recent service project putting flags on the graves of all the veterans at our local Catholic cemetery on the Friday before Memorial Day. The mall was also handing out small flags to mall patrons in return for a pledge to display the flag on Flag Day and Independence Day.

Elizabeth

This year, the adult leader who was coordinating summer camp provided each Scout with a note listing pre-requisites (if any) for the MBs he had chosen to pursue at camp. For instance, my son chose Environmental Science, so this week, he is researching and writing his report on an endangered species so that he can take it with him to camp.

Most of our guys select MBs like riflery, archery, swimming, sailing, etc., that will be fun and keep them outside.

Elizabeth

I can't pass up a trivia contest to save my life! I got 15 of 17 correct.

Thanks for posting this link.

Elizabeth

In our troop, if there is money left in a Scout's account when he leaves the troop (either by aging out or not rechartering), the first step is to put the remaining funds into a younger sibling's account (if there is one), and then, if not, the money goes into the troop's campership fund.

Elizabeth

that's my guys' favorite part, too! (the whole "war games" section, in fact). They're 14, 12, and 9. My husband thinks the movie is kind of hokey, but I love it, and so do the boys.

In fact, my Life Scout said, "I'd love to be part of that troop!"

Elizabeth

My wonderful husband got me the DVD of "Follow Me Boys" for Valentine's Day (after not getting it for me for Christmas--he may be slow, but he comes through in the end!).

Well, I didn't want to watch it until my 14 yo Life Scout son could watch it, too. Finally, this weekend, we did.

He LOVES it! (So do his younger brothers). For the rest of the weekend, you could hear him singing or whistling "Follow Me, Boys" until his dad told him to stop.

We haven't had a chance to watch the special feature, "Looking back with Lem's boys," but we want to, and then I'm sure he'll want to watch the movie again.

Elizabeth

The Cub Scout to Boy Scout transition can be tough on micromanaging parents. When my son was a Cub, the Cubmaster (and father of a boy in my son's den) was an utter control freak. His meetings started at 6:30 p.m. on the dot, and ended at 8 p.m. on the dot. He brooked no nonsense from the boys, and everything in the pack ran like a well-oiled machine.

At crossover, 8 of the 9 boys in my son's den crossed over to the same troop. The troop practices boy-led programming and the patrol method (not always very well, but as everyone has pointed out, young lads are a work in progress). The dad/cubmaster just couldn't handle the chaos, and he voiced his disappointment to some of the other parents, and of course, his boy picked up on his disappointment.

Within three months, all but two boys from that Webelos 2 den had quit the troop. That was four years ago. The two who stayed? They are now the SPL and ASPL (my son) of the troop, and loving every minute of their Scouting experience.

Elizabeth

I don't know if our pack really follows the "Ideal Year of Scouting" plan, but fall popcorn is our one and only fundraiser. With about 30-35 boys in the pack, we sold about $16,000 in popcorn this year. (We were fifth in the council.)

I don't know what our new Cubmaster's policy is, but the old cubmaster always gave folks the option that if they didn't want to sell popcorn, they could write a check for (x dollars) and be covered for the year's activities. (and don't get on my case that it wasn't the cubmaster's place to make policy--in our pack, the CM is also the CC and the committee is the den leaders.)

Elizabeth

Our troop dramatically increased attendance at PLC meetings when we moved them to an hour and 15 minutes before the first meeting of the months, and included pizza and pop for all the boys who attend. The boys don't need to plan for another meeting (Monday is already reserved for Scouts) and pizza and teenage boys is a natural attraction.

Elizabeth

There is an incredible website with tons of information, called Working with Scouts with DisAbilities. It's part of the Marin council's web site. The address is:

www.boyscouts-marin.org/wwswd/index.htm

You'll find lots of articles, information and links there regarding a variety of disabilities.

Elizabeth

Judy -- I was a Girl Scout, too, but my oldest Scouting memory wasn't from Girl Scouts.

I have a brother 7 years older than I am, and he was a Boy Scout extraordinaire. I adored him. Two of my memories include watching him dance around a campfire in Indian regalia and being amazed that THAT was my brother! And second, going to pick him up from (I think) a jamboree, and being overwhelmed by the seeming "millions" of Scouts, and watching some of them go across a kind of a rope bridge strung between two trees.

Fuzzy, distant memories, but still there. Now, I watch my oldest son in his Indian regalia and get a lump in my throat (he doesn't dance--at least not yet--but he does impress the heck out of Cub Scouts at crossover ceremonies performed by his OA group).

Elizabeth

Child Care -- I know in our troop, quite a few of the boys have much younger siblings and are getting experience that they can put to good use some day when they become fathers.

Elizabeth