Jackdaws

I could have written this exact post but I am having a problem with the actual scout registrations.   No one from the council tells you anything.  After last year and discovering that our pack wasn't re-charted when I attempted to complete a tour permit.  I have been watching the council like a hawk.   We only had about a week to resolve it.  Luckily we did.  I don't understand how come the council will not give a courtesy call to a leader of a pack that has been around for 20 years?   This should be forwarded by the register to the DE and then they contact the pack.  Did we get anything?  Nope nada zilch! 

We have also had to had several leaders fill out their applications multiple times.   And had to pay for their applications multiple times.  Now I am running into them dropping a Webelos 2 scout that has been on the roster since he was a Wolf.  No notice or anything.   

Our council has like 1 lady for 15,000 scouts and adults.  I really think she could use an assistant or something... 

I am going to the council  here in a moment to drop off more adult applications.  I almost have to stand there and watch her put them in to confirm its handled.  I am going to ask if there is supposed to be a notification process or something.  If I do not get a satisfactory answer I am going to the DE about it.  There really should be some kind of checks and balances system somewhere. 

LOL!  I may have typed them both.  I have to get up at 2am to be at work at 3 am and I am really dragging today. 

I would like to wear fewer hats.  I guess I am wanting to try and whip this pack into shape.  Our previous CC ran it into the ground financially and we are trying to recover from that.  Size is not an issue, we are on of the larger if not the largest in our district just had poor money management. 

The boys were running in the actual campsite.  One boy tripped on a guy line and another actually fell into a tent(presumably he tripped on something)  It was pretty dark out there unless you were in the actual campfire circle. 

I am all for wearing them down.  The 3 mile hike they did earlier that day certainly wore my son out.  He claimed his feet were going to fall off. 

Sorry to post and dash.  Things got busy at work.  

Thank you all for the replies.  For those wondering I wear many hats w/in the pack.  Not only am I the BALOO I am also the awards chair and pack trainer.  I was a Tiger and Wolf den leader the 1st two years then I stepped down to join the committee.  I also assist with district training so I have my scouting plate full.  Almost too full.

My child has been reprimanded by other adults and I have not lost my cool.  I know my child doesn't listen all the time.  He is an 8 year old boy so I don't expect others to be perfect but repeated warnings by multiple adults about the platforms is inexcusable. 

I feel much better about the situation after reading your replies and speaking with our packs other BALOO and future CM (he will take over in February).  He said he also got some flack from other parents when he called lights out early due to the boys running around the campsite (that's rule #1 is no running) at night no less.  He warned them and then after it happened again, he called them all into the campfire circle and said that since they couldn't follow the rules they were going to bed early.  It was only about 15 min. early but they couldn't follow instructions so there were consequences for their actions. My son had been in our tent for about 20 min before that winding down and reading his bible.  I was honesty surprised that the other parents were upset about it.   Really people?  The boys broke the 1st cardinal rule and did it in the dark no less and you are upset?  We have already determined that the rules will be more strictly enforced for next month's campout.  As someone said if they can't follow the rules they will be asked to leave the campsite.  If you wish to go camping and let your child run wild then they should go camping on their own. 

Part of me wants to make up a list of the camp ground rules and ask that the kids and parents sign it.  That can be their 1st warning.  Of course that would be when my child decides to run in camp and everyone else would jump all over it. KWIM?

Thanks again!

Susan

Just curious to see if you follow the must be 7 or in the 1st grade rule.  We have a new Tiger scout who just turned 6 back in August  yet he is in the 1st grade.  

Please bear with me as this might be rambling.

Reason I bring this up is, I had a little run in with his mother this weekend while doing our camping 101 trip.  At our local council camp there are wooden platforms with tubular frames to support the canvas tents they use for Boy Scout summer camp. 

Our CM specifically told everyone Friday night that the platforms are strictly off limits.  I had to tell several boys several times to get off the platforms.   The Tiger in question was repeatedly told about 5 times in about a 10-15 min. span to get off the platform and to definitely not swing on the poles.  I warned him that if he does it again, he is done and will have to go sit down.  Well he did it again and so I told him to go and sit at his tent.  Not 5 min. later his mom comes up to me and asks if I made her son go sit down by himself, I said yes I did as he was repeatedly warned to not be on the platforms.  She then starts in with "If you have a problem with my child then you need to come to me!"  I told her that I had asked him several times to follow instructions to not be on it.  She claims that he told her that I made  him go sit down and he was over there for 40 min. I said that was not true as it hadn't been but about 5 min. I had another adult standing there the whole time while I was warning him and when she approached me.  The mom said he shouldn't have been sent to sit by himself as he isn't that old.  She said "he JUST turned 6 and he shouldn't be left alone."  I told her that I thought she would be over near the tent, she actually was in the "kitchen" which is not even 20 yards from their tent.  The said platform he was playing on was a good 40 yards away from the kitchen.  So I naturally got defensive and said he was not following safety instructions and I asked that he sit down.  There are consequences to your actions.   The other adult who was with me started on the mom and said that she was rude to my child (apparently while I was away from the site assisting another district with part of their camporee.)  The other adult said that when the mom said that we were Troop 123(not real#'s) that my son corrected her and said it was Pack 123.  She supposedly said for my son to stop sassing her.  She of course denies this.  The two ladies argue about it for a min. finally I said "Sorry if you feel like you don't like that I made your child sit down but he was asked repeatedly to not swing/play on the platform.  And it looks like you said something to my child and I said something to yours so lets just leave it be and move on.  If you don't like it then you need to speak with the CM"  Well of course she went running to him.  I told him what happened and that I apologized(half heartedly just to get her to go away) but I was not going to take any crap from this lady.  I have invested a lot of time and money volunteering for this pack and that as the BALOO my name was on that tour permit and if something gets damaged I have to answer for it.   If she can't take someone getting on to her child who according to her is young and can't be left alone (even though there were almost 30 people within 30 yards of him) then maybe she isn't ready for Cub Scouts.  She is a elementary school teacher so she should know what her son is and isn't capable of following.  If you feel that your child is too young then he should be at  your hip at all times.  Plus I am sure that she disciplines her students and makes them sit out of activities w/o consulting the child's parents.  So how should this be any different?  She didn't like my son's response, did I tell her that she should have spoken to me about it 1st?  Nope. 

I feel that he is too young to actually be in scouts.  Yes, he maybe in the 1st grade but just barely.   I spent the rest of my weekend ticked off about it.   I still am somewhat. 

I am sure some of you will say it was wrong for me to make a child go sit down by himself.  I had no clue that he was THAT young.  I could tell that he was really small.  But I just don't think he is ready to go camping like that.  Maybe my only consolation is that they have now completed the camping requirement and hopefully won't go on anymore.  But I doubt that will be the case.  This mom seems like she would be one to make him go just to spite me.  

If you made it this far, thanks for letting me vent.  And I appreciate any information on how to handle this situation or to keep it from happening again. 

I just checked ebay and there really isn't any on there.  I am kind of surprised at that.  I would maybe check at roundtables or join a patch trading group on Facebook.  Every once in a while someone will have a stash of Cub Scout patches they offer up. 

Sadly this happens during our pack meetings. It has gotten a little better with us. Being that you have actually handed out a paper saying what the rules are and they still will not follow them, then either you or the Cub Master might have to get up and stop the ceremony and warn the parents about the noise level and ask for some respect for the boys so they can enjoy their moment. Maybe remind them that #11 of the Cub Scout 12 core values is about respect.

Hope this helps,

Susan