CCbytrickery

I can only wish we had $26K in the bank! We are well below that, but maintain a comfortable balance--our minimum is $3K. Anything below the minimum and we don't spend the money (except for an emergency--CM/CC/Treasurer need to agree if it's an emergency). We have approximately 100 scouts.

We get our pack dues, the popcorn money, and this year, the camp card sales (which were very good-next year will be even better!). And an occasional donation.

I would not say anything. Just keep an eye on the situation and make every effort to be involved with the boys. If any problems come up, you can decide how to deal with them then.

But the boy may have learned his lesson, and this scouting situation may be the best thing that has ever happened to him. Mentor him, if possible; it could make a huge difference in his life, even though it would be a small disruption in yours.

We did our Cub Scout Day Camp this year. First year, and we were there to lead our boys. Ended up with 4 of our boys and 10 from other packs. There were 6 or 8 groups like that.

Don't have everything set up on a slow computer. Don't have one person doing all the check-ins, registrations, etc. Don't have the slow computer and the one person be the only person who knows what is going on.

The program was great, at our camp. It was the director and her lack of planning which caused so many problems.

My spouse plays Airsoft on the weekends, and I have to say, his Airsoft guns look extremely real. Black, solid looking, cartridges pop in for the BBs.

My son's water guns? Not so much. Big white, blue and orange hand pumping spraying water 35 feet.

We did water guns at the Cub Scout camp last week. The district training chair ran it, and it was planned for Friday at the camp by him. If it was wrong, it can fall on his shoulders. All I know is that I had tired, soaking wet Cubs with huge smiles on their faces at the end of the day.(This message has been edited by CCbytrickery)

One thing our district came up with was that each pack needs to send one adult for every 5 scouts registered. Our pack had 5 scouts (4 of our Tigers/upcoming Wolves and one Webelo/upcoming W2), we were required to send one adult. But two of us went (myself and the Tiger/upcoming Wolf den leader aka my spouse).

Of course, our lifeguards quit the Sunday before camp started. To go work at the aquatics camp. For pay. did I mention the lifeguards were all Venture or Boy Scouts? Yeah, way to honor that commitment you made there guys.

A treasurer here in FL was arrested for stealing $1,400 or so from his BS troop.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/28336782/detail.html

I really don't understand people sometimes.

Could she be suffering from the "it's all about me" syndrome? Could she be one of those OCD types (like me) who needs things to be certain ways in order to handle them? Could she be burnt out?

Our DISTRICT training chair is one of those people. DTC is a nice person, but unable to complete the simplest of tasks without total chaos. DTC is always putting the focus on his needs/wants/family/etc. It's never just about the boys.

We had several Tiger parents last year who had been gung-ho Girl Scouts, and I really got tired of hearing the "the GS do it this way" or "in GS, we would never do x". I spoke to them, out of earshot of anyone, and explained that they were not helping matters with the "go go GS" comments; that we were now in the cub scouts and we had to do things this way. Fewer comments come out, and they are now mainly "we played this game or did this craft" comments. (I was just a mom of a cub last year, no position in the troop--DH was the Tiger DL though.)

I just started as the CC for our pack, and before I did anything, I went to the CM and asked him what he needed from me. I researched online about things other CCs did or did not do, and about things that made their pack run smoothly. I met with another new CC (though he has been in for several years as a DL) at our summer district camp and was able to get a lot of wonderful information from him.

Part of being in the CC position is getting to know all the troop leaders, the parents and being able to bridge the communication gap between the two--that is the biggest complaint I heard from people during my research--lack of consistent communication between leaders/parents. (which I wouldn't have known was a problem if I hadn't did research) So, I made the effort at the planning meeting to talk to a few people I had not really met before and get to know them a bit better. I will continue to do so, because I cannot help them with what they need or want if I don't know them.

If she is truly that much of a problem, then you should get with your fellow leaders and the SM, and remove her from her position. I don't know how that works in the BS level. Have someone ready to step in before you take any steps, though.(This message has been edited by CCbytrickery)

When we had to replace our son's bobcat badge (new uniform shirt and could not get the old one off), the lady at the scout shop asked if we had his little white card saying he earned the badge. I had thought to bring it with me, but she said if not, she could have found out other ways.

I think if you legitimately made an error, they would owe you an apology. If you were trying to "skirt" the system by picking up a merit badge he had not earned yet, then you were in the wrong, and you should take actions appropriate to atone for your behavior.

The only way I think they may have a reason for bringing in other troop leaders is if they were searching for information, but it should have been something like "Hey, Tom...have you noticed any other leaders doing anything inappropriate, like signing off of advancement when the boys haven't earned it?" They shouldn't have used your name in that conversation, and each of those conversations should have been done privately.

The next step is moving from blowing up the plane to blowing up the terminal where people are waiting in security. How will they protect us from that?

That is us this week.

Hot and muggy and smoky. Until today. Right before camp ended--severe thunderstorm hit. Got the kids into the chapel and dismissed them from there.

We rotate through packs, so one month it's Tigers, the next Wolves, etc.

Our committee meetings are usually attended by the CM, ACM, CC, secretary, treasurer and the DLs. The ADLs are welcome, and some do attend. I've never seen a parent just come to attend, but I don't think we would throw them out if they did.

We do have "closed door" meetings, usually with the CC, CM and treasurer (and secretary if she's available). Those are for items that do not need to become common knowledge, like if someone is having a problem with a scout or if the scout is having financial trouble.

BasementDweller

I am not looking to butt heads with the CM. He is a terrific guy, leads my husband's Sunday school group and will have 2 boys in the pack next year. You say that the CC handles finances and administration and the CM handles the Program...but those two things have to work hand in hand.

Once again, I will restate: I was asking what YOUR CC does in their position.

Whenever I have started a new job, I would talk to my coworkers, and get their input on what the position entailed, and help evolve the position if I saw an opportunity.

When I stepped up in my daughter's band booster group, and took on the VP role 2 years ago, I talked to the former VP. (Of course, he was a ghost VP, only showing up for the required meetings and signing whatever was put in front of him.) The VP position went from being a nothing job to being the person responsible for uniforms, volunteers, concession stand sales and chaperones...and went from being short chaperones and volunteers every game/trip to being overstocked every game/trip..and went from earing less than $500 per game in concessions to over $1000--with a few simple changes that I made. This freed up the treasurer so that he could actually be a treasurer, and the president was able to spend more time on fixing things in the program and less on phone calls, begging for help.

So why wouldn't I take the time to inquire what other CCs are doing in their positions? Maybe one of them has a program they use that would save some time that they are willing to share, or an idea for a fundraiser that wouldn't work for their group but may for ours, and they may be willing to share it.

So far, I've learned that 83Eagle has a CC that is not very involved and that jrdalys has a CC that is very involved. I've also learned that BD and ScoutNut come across as discourteous and rude to people who are asking for help...so I'll take their advice with a grain of salt and move on.

Thank you to all of you who have responded. I appreciate your input.

Thanks for the replies.

Scoutnut, I have done the training. I have an idea of what the BSA would like a CC to do, but I appreciate your input.

I guess I am searching more for a "what our guy does" than a "what is in the rules book" kind of answer. Some groups(I've been told) have the CC only chair meetings, and some groups have the CC work hand in hand with the CM.

I will be the type that works with CM, and will take on whatever responsibilities that he needs me to handle. And I'm the type of person who has to have everything in its place and all the I's need to be dotted and the T's need to be crossed and I need to know everything and have a plan and.. Well, you get the idea. The poor CM, he has no idea what I'm like... /shakes head

As I posted in my introduction, I was nominated into the committee chair position by a very tricksy CM. I am meeting with the former CC and the CM next week, where they are supposed to give me the information on what she did and how she did it. There are some things that I'm sure I'll change, and there are things that I'll probably not mess with, but.....

My question is this: what does your CC do? What responsibilities fall under that heading? Are there things you wish your CC would step up and do, or are there things that the CC should keep his nose out of?

I don't want to step on toes, nor do I want to seem clueless...so I figure that the more information I walk in to the meeting with, the better off I'll be...kwim?

The problem with studies like this is that they cannot determine exactly what caused the final results of the study. It only shows that divorce MAY play a part in a child's behavior. Some children are going to be behind in school, withdrawn, angry--whether the parents are married or divorced has no bearing on the matter. Some children will excel in school, be outgoing and cheerful--whether the parents are married or divorced.

The study cannot show that little Suzy would have grown up to be a lawyer, with a house in the suburbs, married to her childhood sweetheart and has 3 children and a dog and a cat, had her parents not divorced. The study can only show what that little Suzy has grown up to be a drug addict, living in squalor, with 5 kids that she has lost to the system and no clue who the fathers could be, because her parents divorced.

If you could take little Suzy and put her in two different scenarios, THEN you could tell exactly what factors come into play in changing her life. Unless you do so, you have a biased study.

I was raised in a 2 parent home, until my mother died when I was 8; before she died I was withdrawn and had few friends--that did not change or get worse after she died--that is just the way I was. My father remarried, a few years later, to a woman that was incredibly vicious to me. He divorced her 2 years later, not because of what she did to me, but because she cheated on him. I was happier after they divorced, although he could have cared less about my feelings.

Does divorce hurt kids? Yes. Sometimes, though, it is better for the long term.

But it is still not on you or anyone else to judge this sin--doesn't Christianity preach love and forgiveness and helping one another? Or is that only if you fit into that rigid mold of perfectness, that so many avid churchgoers seem to hold as the only way to be?

Eagledad,

Would it have been less of a sin to stay with my exhusband, who verbally and physically abused me and my daughter, than to divorce him?

Would she have been better served by watching him kick me repeatedly, because I didn't have his dinner ready when he came home, no matter what time it was?

You want to use the bible as a moral instruction manual? You may want to read Exodus 21:15-17; or Deuteronomy 22:23-24 or 22:13-21.

It's not on you to determine my sin. That's between me and my God.

No, mine is still just a quarter of the page.

DH says to check your resolution, maybe it is set too low and the side bar isn't scaling.

BasementDweller,

You're thinking hunks of steak, like you get on your plate at Longhorn, right?

Skewers--3-4 pieces of 1 oz steak, grape tomatoes, bell peppers, onions. Other skewers with zucchini or other squash, other veggies. (conversely, just saute the zucchini and other veggies in a pan on the grill, makes it easier to serve group style).

1 lb of steak feeds 3 adults. I pay $3.99 lb for flank steak at BJs, just tenderize and marinate before skewering. BTW, ground beef is the same price.

This is not something I would serve for 90 people. This would be for the smaller camp-outs, where we have less than 40 go. Sorry I didn't give you the exact number I would serve this to.

On our pack campouts, Friday nights the families are responsible for their own dinner. The pack provides dessert, usually several different cobblers cooked in dutch ovens.

We did chicken fajitas, for almost 90. It was pretty easy, cooking the chicken on the grill, cooking peppers and onions in a skillet on the grill burner. Toppings: salsas, cheese, black beans, tomatoes, lettuce, onions and olives.

Taco bar: ground beef, cheese, etc.

Also have done chili, and served spaghetti noodles, so people could make "cincinnati chili" or just plain noodles (in the case of my son).

Lunches we have made just sandwiches (choice of breads, meats, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustards) and chips.

Of course, hot dogs and hamburgers, for both meals.

Always fruits and salads available.

Breakfasts, we have made pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, biscuits. Always fruit and one "sweet" per boy (pecan roll or honey bun or something similar)...and the boys HATE it when I'm on breakfast duty because I enforce the one sweet rule.

Next year, I am kitchen coordinator, and have been searching for meals as well. I think we're doing a beef stew (fairly easy to make, and my recipe uses salsa so I don't have to cut up onions or tomatoes, and if it's mild, the scouts can eat it).

Also, I'm thinking of doing pulled pork at home, freezing it, and then reheating for dinner on Saturday night. Served with buns, bbq sauce, homemade vinegar based coleslaw (made on site).

Another option that has come up is to do turkeys at home, and freeze. Reheat and serve on Saturday night. Make some mashed potatoes and stuffing to go with.

Chicken--cut into pieces, rolled in ranch powder and grilled OR Marinate in teriyaki sauce, and make "Minute" rice with some baby corn and sugar snapped peas.

Steak skewers (unskewer before givign to boys), cuts back on the amount of meat needed per person.

I am going to try to do as much of the prep work as possible at home.

Edited to add: I got some really awesome information off of this website: http://www.bsatroop680.org/documents/Cooking/default.htm

(This message has been edited by CCbytrickery)

Aww, ScoutLass. you made me shed a little tear. (Easy enough to do these days, but still..)

I think it's perfectly fine to have a leader run an event. Would I hand over the reins of an event that involves a potentially large sum of money to a NEW leader? No. The Tiger leader can help plan a camp trip instead. EDITED TO ADD: I notice you did mention he was not a "new" to the troop leader; however, I would still recommend not handing over complete control to one person. Too easy for bad things to happen.

The only people who should be handling funds and the bank account are the treasurer, CM, and CC. No new bank accounts associated with pack funds should be opened BY ANYONE other than the treasurer and CM.

Typically, in our store sales, we have one person who brings a set amount of change for use, along with a set amount of product. The adult at the sale counts the product and all money, and signs a form. When that adult leaves, she/he counts the product and money again (including any money from sales or donations), signs the form and has the incoming adult recount and sign. At night, the person in charge comes to collect the money and any product left.

If it is a order sale, where orders are taken and paid for, and then later delivered OR if it is a product sale, i.e. where the boys sign out 20 camp cards or 25 candy bars and then return leftover product and/or money, only the treasurer can take the money. The scouts/parents have to sign out product and in the money/leftovers.

The CM and treasurer handle the scout accounts, but the CC can be involved. I am not, at this time, because I am just starting the position, and the CM and I are figuring out exactly what he needs me to do/be.

Your Tiger leader is doing something that makes me go HMMMM, what is he hiding? There is something not quite right about his actions. I would get the CM and treasurer in on a meeting and request all candy sale records, including sales records (which should have been kept--a requirement of being a nonprofit organization). If he fails to produce them, I would discuss removing him from the position, as he is not following proper procedures, and this could lead to a potential sticky situation for your pack.(This message has been edited by CCbytrickery)

This year, we had some..issues..getting some of the Tiger stuff done. We had to improvise. Not making a mobile, but...we'll make a family tree with leaves and all. Not going to discuss milk types, but...the boys made ice cream, one milk and one with a soy base. As long as they tried, they got signed off on. But they had to attend or make up the requirement with their parent on their own.

As long as they tried their best, they succeeded. At least in my book.

as a pack:

We have the boys earn their badges during the year, and present them after the Webelos 2 bridge over. The Bears and Wolves get their badges in one pack meeting, and the Tigers in another (anyone earning Bobcat does so during the year, at the pack meetings). If they've earned it, they get it; if not, they can try to get it over the summer. If they don't try to finish it, they just move up come the fall, and don't get their badge.

At the beginning of the next year, in the fall, our first meeting starts with the "moving up" into the next level of scouting. We do a big potluck, all families are invited. The Bears move up to Webelos, etc (officially, even though they've started being that level over the summer). That way, all the new boys who join are welcomed into that level along with all the old boys.

They cannot wear the new hats or sliders until they "level up" that fall. It gives the parents 3 months to try to upgrade the uniform, new book, etc. Makes it a bit easier if you can get those things in July, and only have to worry about school clothes and supplies come August, kwim?

My .02:

We require our boys to be in pack t-shirts (they get one with their yearly registration dues) for den meetings and pack camp outings...it just makes it easier to track which boys belong to our pack, kwim?

We prefer, but do not require, a full uniform for pack meetings and at any pack event, i.e. going caroling to the local nursing homes during the holidays, selling popcorn, etc.

We do require at least the shirt, with all the required patches attached, hat, slider and neckercheif.

Sometimes the family cannot afford the pants, socks and belt. We do have some donations of outgrown clothes, but not many, and we are not a pack with a large financial base.

To push for a uniform because of photo ops and PR seems to be a bit shallow to me. I'd rather my boys be in t-shirts and showing compassion and leadership than in a full uniform and posing for photos. Wearing a uniform does not a Scout make, but the actions do.

I wish we had gotten one when we started last year! We did receive some paperwork, and they went over some things via a slideshow, but it wasn't enough information.

1. Contact information--CM, and the DL/ADL for the troop the cub is in.

2. Is there a pack website? We have one, where you can download forms, pay for trips/dues/etc via paypal, see photos, find the calendar,etc.

3. Uniform policy. Do the boys need to be in full uniform every meeting or is a pack tshirt ok for den but not pack meetings?

4. How to volunteer. Is the pack in need of a popcorn kernal or ADL? Is there a parent who can help with derby cars, etc?

5. Who the committee members are. Need to know who to pay campouts to, who to talk to if there is an advancement problem, etc.

6. Pack rules. *no cell phones out at meetings or none at all; no gum in meetings, etc. Things like that that can apply to everyone.

7. Things the pack can use. Do you need craft supplies? camping gear?

8. Is there a fund to help those who need it? (to pay for campouts or dues or uniforms) One thing we are trying to start this year is to have our Tigers give their sliders/neckercheifs/hats to the incoming Tigers, to help defray some of that start up cost. Then next year, if they are still in good condition, they can go down to the next set of Tigers, and our Wolves will turn their Wolf gear to the upcoming Wolves.

I'm sure I'll think of more.