CCbytrickery

He did an excellent job speaking to the legislature. His moms should be very proud of him!

They should have a smaller, separate "reward" party for those that "participated". Calling it a Christmas party is unfair to those who cannot fit into their time schedule or choose not to help that organization.

We (as a family) don't "do" the Salvation Army, because 3 years ago, Mr CC and I were both out of work, struggling to pay rent and electric and to keep food on the table--and we could not get any help from them for the kids at Christmas. We couldn't find help anywhere--everything was filled up by mid-October. Seems kind of petty, I know, but I was upset that an organization that is supposed to help everyone was picking and choosing who they would help, and the first "out" was your zip code--because we lived in a better part of town, we were automatically removed from the help list.

The company Mr CC was temping part-time for became our guardian angels that year, and I will be forever grateful to them.

We donate our toys/funds to the children's home our church helps or local children's hospital instead.

BTW, sometimes traditions need to be broken. I no longer cook on Christmas Day (other than some orange rolls from the blue tubes--I like that tradition). We order a ton of Chinese food on Christmas eve, and have leftovers (and cheese/crackers and veggie trays, plus cookies/pies/etc) on the 25th. I am no longer stuck in the kitchen while the family is playing with new toys/video games/etc in the living room.

(This message has been edited by CCbytrickery)

We have the Cubmasters Minute, a closing prayer and then dismissal, by dens, for snack. (Because we are meeting at 7-8:30 pm, we decided that a little dessert is in order.)

Our den top sellers made just over $600 and $700 respectively. 3rd and 4th place made just over $300.

We are in a hard hit area, jobs are scarce and a lot of parents are out of work.

that our boys sold over $10000 in popcorn altogether (show n sell included) made me very happy.

We have 2 debit cards, one for the CM and one for the treasurer. Any purchases over $25 must be approved by 2 committee members. We have an account at the scout shop, that the advancement chair is on, as well.

As CC, I should have a debit card as well, but I really don't want one. Then they would expect me to go do the shopping for camping trips, etc...just because I'm a stay at home mom and everyone else works. (Never mind that I'm over an hour away from everyone else.) Sooo, every time they mention getting me onto the bank accounts, I get "busy". I still get all the reports, bank statements, etc.

Our dens are responsible for their own supplies. The parents can either buy the supplies or give money to the den leader for those (most dens charge $1 a meeting, so basically $3 a month).

Our dues are fairly low, ($45-65, depending on rank) + $10 advancement fee (covers book, necker, and slide). We charge for everything (campouts are $5-15 depending on where we're camping--includes cost of food). This might be changing, since we were down over $4000 in popcorn sales this year (guess I was a bad pk, or it could be the fact we're over 10% unemployment here).

Aww, that made me cry! Those boys were so sweet--and so happy to see dad!

"Im one of those males that believe that boys should go through some rights of passage to grow into healthy adult males. Im not talking about secret rituals with drums and war paint, although that would be cool. Im talking about the experience of going to the bathroom in the woods. Men and boys sharing the showers without the idea that it is risky or wrong and 200 men and boys sleeping together overnight in a gymnasium on their way to Philmont. Even boys skinny dipping in the stream to cool off from the 105 degree hot summer day. However, guys, those days are just about gone. If you dont thinks so, just ask your wife."

Here here!

I'm the wife, and I don't care if either the spouse or the boy are out getting grungy and stinky. Heck, just this past weekend, the spouse was out playing in the woods with his guy friends, shooting BBs at each other...

Just shower when you come home and I'm happy. Oh, and empty your pockets. I don't like finding used tissues or dead frogs.

I'm playing popcorn kernel this year, because our pack is apparently made up of our core 4 families and 80 others that are all apparently single,hard-working, no-free-time parents. /rolleyes

I set the turn in date for take orders for tomorrow. I have sent out emails, posted on the website, handed out calendars, and talked to each den at least twice. Tomorrow night, I will again visit each den and then spend the remaining time down in our "central location" with the cubmaster, for anyone who is straggling. Anyone who doesn't turn in tomorrow at the den meetings can drive the hour to come to my house on Wednesday and turn the form in to me by noon. After noon, I will no longer be accepting forms--I will be too busy getting the numbers together to turn in at Roundtable on Thursday, and packing for Cubaree that weekend. They will also not be eligible for our prizes (we chose the cash option, and bought our own).

Same thing when the money is due at the end of November. They have a set date, and the next day they can drive to me. Those that don't pay don't get to play later...

My Mother in law told my husband that, because we let our then 1 year old daughter, play with toy cars, she would come out "funny". (Her words, not mine).

/blink

I really didn't know what to say when he told me that.

The council here is putting on a movie on Friday night during Cuboree. Our boys won't be attending. We're having our Campfire program, with the new boys getting their Bobcats.

Now, we do like electricity during our campouts--so that big old 60 cup coffee maker will work it's magic at 5am, and be ready for the breakfast crew at 6am!

With popcorn, the entire amount funds the pack. We use that money to cover things like activities at Pack meetings (last month we had a magician, this month the zoo is doing an outreach); subsidizing costs for camping; paying for belt loops, etc...

With Camp Cards, the Pack receives 50% of the funds (2.50 out of $5. We then split the cost with the scouts (so they get 1.25 for each card they sell); also if we do a show n sale, each boy that works gets a percentage of those sales. That money is used for camping--pays for their May campout (always a big one, one year they went to Seaworld, another time they camped on a retired battleship), or summer camps, or they can hang onto it and use it for Cubaree the next year.

Edited to add: Last year, my son made enough on camp card sales to win a free trip (from council) to Cub day camp, plus paid for all but $20 of Aquatics camp (over $140).(This message has been edited by CCbytrickery)

I want to say it's not just a BS issue (not controlling your boys, and then blaming others).

Unfortunately, we have one such leader in our Cub pack. I dread seeing the Bears attend anything. The parents and the leaders are pretty much...well, IMHO, useless.

His boys set a poor example this weekend, at our pack Pre-Cubaree campout--playing in the shooting range (our two camp sites were separated by the range); leaving the camp area without checking out with an adult and without a buddy, and using some inappropriate language/behaviors are some of the offenses from this weekend.

The DL did not take them on the A to Z hike on Saturday--he and the other parents sat at the picnic table on cell phones and filled out the sheets for the boys! The boys were running wild during this time. One boy left during late twilight (before lights out) and just told his dad he was "going with some boys"--ended up all the way across the campgrounds--and the parent was mad at my spouse and I for not knowing where his son was! The parents took up two picnic tables to eat at, and their boys one more--leaving our boys no where to sit but on the ground; then left their trash laying on the tables and benches! That's when my spouse had to firmly tell the boys to clean up (our boys had cleaned their meal mess up, and were heading out to do the A to Z hike)--and the boys did that, clean up their mess (but not their parents nor anything else).

This is not unusual behavior by them. During Pack meetings, they are rude (and the parents are just as bad) and refuse to listen. I have brought it to the CM's attention...but he thinks the guy is great and the "boys will be boys" mentality is prevalent. Amazingly enough, our 22 boys (yes, 22 in our pack) can listen to instructions, find a buddy if needed, and several brought back a small trash bag of trash from the A to Z hike, on their own.

Our RT is run a bit differently, I think, than some of y'alls. We have a 30-45 minute meeting as a whole (Boy and Cub) with Council running it, giving out council awards, info on camping, etc. Then we split into two groups--Boy Scouts in one, Cubs in the other--and each group meets for 30-45 minutes on topics relavent to that group.

I would be ok with a virtual RT, because we live outside our district (moved in August) and are 45 minutes from the RT site.

We hold onto things for about a month. The CM will announce at the next pack meeting "at the campout last month, we picked up xx and xx and xx" and hold them up. If not picked up at the end of that meeting, a notice will go to the dens that they have 2 more weeks to claim their belongings. Then either it goes to the Scout Closet, or to the donation box at our church (sponser).

The CM got tired of having stuff in his garage constantly, so came up with this policy.

I've taken on the role of PK this year (/sigh).

I have instituted the following policies:

1. Any popcorn orders above $50 must be paid for at the time of order. I am highly suggesting all popcorn orders be paid for at the time of order.

2. I will provide a receipt book. I am urging all to use these; the pack will cover this expense.

3. I will accept any payments--partial or full. The scouts will receive a receipt from me, and I will have both a copy of that receipt plus a notation in my little spreadsheet. (I will then hand that payment to the treasurer, who will record it in her little spreadsheet, that she and I will compare at the end of sales.) I will accept checks, cash or money orders. If a check bounces, the check writer will be given a bill for the amount of the check plus any and all fees associated with the bounced check, and must pay that bill in cash or money order.

4. All popcorn must be paid for by xx date. We have to cut a check (1) to the council by xxx date or we lose percentages of profit. I am not losing 2% profit because Johnny's parents are unable to get their act together. We have enough in the bank to cover the amount due for the popcorn, but if we dip into that, then we won't have those funds to pay for pinewood derby or campouts or the cool activity we have planned for that next pack meeting.

5. Parents assume the responsibility of this popcorn sale. If they order the popcorn from us, they are responsible for the value of this popcorn. We are not accepting popcorn back; if you get it from us, you are to return the cash value to us. Unsure about Aunt Mary's order? Make her pay for it up front.

All these rules have come about because of the issues that have occured in the past.

Also, I have Show n sell rules:

1. We will have a base of xx. This is pack money and will be returned to the pack at the end of the sells.

2. Either the treasurer, the CM or myself (CC/PK) will be by the SNS a minimum of every 90 minutes to collect extra funds. Sooner, if the parents call and say "hey, we have a buttload of cash here!!"

3. SNS slots are 90 minutes. One parent during that 90 minute timeframe will be responsible for the cash box. They will count the amount in the box when they assume responsibility, count the amount at cash pick up and count the base cash and the amount that is being picked up, and then count the amount when they turn the cash over to the next parent.

4. There will be a receipt book, which will be kept by the CM/CC/T. When there is a pickup, the cash will be sealed in an envelope, with the 2nd part of the receipt, and the outside of the envelope will be signed and dated by both the parent and the person picking up. These envelopes will be gathered and be married by the T and either the CC or CM (whoever is available) and the receipts will be checked. then the money will be deposited.

I cannot track how much we are given by people, but I can track home much we are taking to the bank, kwim? I will also be tracking the product, again with receipts; with the parents counting product at the beginning/end of their shifts. The more paper trails I lay, the easier it is for me to find a problem.

Our ACM is also the CC of the BS Troop we are associated with. I'm the CC, Popcorn Kernal (because no one would step up) and the Kitchen coordinator.(This message has been edited by CCbytrickery)

We've done fajitas on the grill. cooked the chicken, then cooked the onions/peppers in a pan on the grill.

Also, we've done spaghetti, but we had a grill with burners, for the water.

The usual: hamburgers, hot dogs, kebabs (time consuming to make, but cook fairly quick), veggies.

A friend did a pizza on the grill (but he cheated and used a boboli crust, instead of real dough).

Cold salads (though you could grill chicken/beef/corn to serve on it)

We have one every spring. We do it during our pack meeting for that month, and we hold it outside.

What we do is the boys have to make the cake with a parent (since Cubs can't use an oven, too short); the boys have to be involved in the making and decorating of the cakes. They get pretty creative with them. We've seen Hamburgers, Tie-Dyes, Spaghetti bowls, and the ever popular kitty litter cake.

They are "judged"--each boy gets a certificate for the best or most original or the most creative or whatever(whatever kind of cake it is). Then, they have to make a choice: eat, throw or take home.

They can choose to take home their cake (very few choose this--normally only the high-strung parents do this). They can eat (and share) their cake--the snack for that meeting.

Or they can throw it...at the Cubmaster or their DLs. If they choose the throwing option, they have to bring a canned food for the food bank.

Last year, one of the boys brought an ice cream "cake" that he had added sour cream to--so when it melted in the heat, it got really funky--guess whose husband got hit with that one? yeah, he stunk. But the boys love it, the food bank scores (usually, the parents bring more than one food item--the dad with that funky cake brought in a full case of soups), and it is a fun way to end the "official" year.

Camp card sales. Sell for $5 each; the troop gets back 2.50. We took the 2.50 and split it, so the boy got 1.25 and the troop 1.25. Each show n sell that the boy worked netted a percentage of the profits.

Also, there were prizes for selling a certain number of cards; 60 got you a cub day camp, for example. There were free trips to Webelos resident camp, etc.

My son earned enough to go to cub day camp for free (the prize) and paid for all but $24 of aquatics camp.

The ones we had this year had 4 tear off tabs: $5 off $50 purchase @ Publix; $5 off $20 purchase Tropical Smoothie; $10 off $30 purchase @ army/navy store; and buy 1 get 1 dinner 1/2 off at the local Brazilian steak house. Plus, 8 repeatable offers on the back: Chilis--free chips & salsa w/entree purchase; Adventure Landing bogo mini-golf; Larry's subs-free drink w/purchase; Cici's 2 meals for10.99; Lee's chicken--bogo bbq sandwich; Skate Station, free game tokens; Goodyear discounted lube/oil/filter; Pump it up, bogo.

We used old spice jars. Those kind that come on the wooden racks? Perfect size for a couple of bandaids, gauze, alcohol and iodine pads and a safety pin. Took some leather cording and tied around the lip, then a loop on the other end, so they could thread them on their carbiners.

(I had the spice jars left from a housewarming gift from many years ago.)

/high fives to those Scouts!

We promoted the Outdoor activity award and the Leave no trace for our (now Wolf, then Tiger) den. We worked on them throughout last year.

We tell the parents to look in the books or online for optional items (such as belt loops, awards, etc) and to do the paperwork if their Scout earns them.

One of our parents is making a quilt with clothing from her son's years. She is adding the neckers as part of it.

Another parent is making throw pillows for the bed, using the neckers for one side, and a color coded cloth on the other (orange for tiger, yellow for wolf, etc)

One group I spoke with did give me a great idea, that we will implement next year during campouts, etc.

Get colored wristbands. Give each group a different color (i.e. Tiger group 1 gets orange, Tiger group 2 gets purple, Wolf group 1 gets red, etc).

They get them every day at check in. The parents have to drop them off with the check in group, they get their wristbands, and then proceed to their group area. (We had 10X10 tarp shelters set up for each group). The check in group has a sheet of who has signed in, the group leaders know the kids have signed in, and any staff member can tell at a glance if a scout is away from his group, and where they need to go.

Our daycamp had a tot lot, but they couldn't find anyone to run it, so the nurse who is supposed to stay in the first aid station ended up watching them for most of the time.

1. Do preregistration and orientation. Communicate. Our daycamp did prereg, but didn't keep on its "must prereg two weeks in advance" stance, so they had people registering the first day of camp. It was a mess. No one knew what was going on, no one knew what kids went where--not even the staff.

My husband and I both showed up for the orientation the day before--where the camp director spent an hour playing with his daughter, talking about his daughter and about what he was doing there. Not a word about what we need to do or anything. Only after we started asking questions, did he respond--and then it was more about him than the boys.

2. People just drove up and dropped their kids off. They checked in with their leader at their appointed site. Not a great idea. The first day, there were kids wandering everywhere--back to the archery and bb ranges, down by the lake--and no one was watching them.

3. No early arrivals. Don't accept the kids, you can be there curbside, and stop parents as soon as they open the door. There was no one there to watch them.

For aquatics camp, they do have before/after care, and DS will be attending both. We had to pay an extra $30 for the week, but it's worth it.

4. Tell them. We start at 8:30, have your kids there at 8:15 (or whatever times you want) and pick up starts at 4:45, be there by 5. Do your closing ceremony at 4:30, and take the last few minutes to pack them up.