Cubmaster Mike

If the guide is in error, but the guide is the rule on how things are supposed to be- is the rule wrong or is the patch wrong or is the guide right and we have all been wrong all along but we can't be because we were all following the rules, but the rule is the guide and the guide is wrong....... I think that I just created a paradox and tore a hole in the time-space continuum.

Sorry to disagree GNX, but "WE" NRA INstructors ( I'm one too remember) do not need to shout all the time. Sure a firm voice should be used if a violation is taking place, but start with that and build up from there. I'm more concerned about the lack of smiles, the lack of encouragement, the lack of coaching. IMHO a lot of people think that "instruction" equates with "coaching." Nobody has commented yet on the lack of uniform but that bothered me too. I have a "NRA Certified Instructor" shirt, but when I am working on a Scout range, I wear the Scout uniform. I think it helps the boys id

Just got my staff appointment on Friday (archery) and my son had his youth interview on the same day. The wheels are slowly starting to roll....(This message has been edited by cubmaster mike)

Okay I have to get this off my chest. A couple of years ago I went to National Camp School and got my Shooting Sports Director certification. I paid my own way and use it to train day camp archery and BB instructors and help out at shooting sports events around the council National rule changes last year now required that every Range have both a NRA certified instructor and a separate RSO. The BSA training is no longer required at all beyond simple youth protection. I have a NRA certification as well- its part of the SSD program at NCS. The difference between the two is

Wow, Ive heard some great points to take into the ULM. There IS a checklist for the boys to use for each rank. And guess what, it is in the back of the handbook! Why change what already exists? Lets just use it. It is a good practice to have Scouts repeat the Scout Oath & Law often enough during troop meetings and other activities so that the Scouts can't help but keep them in memory. We start each meeting with the Pledge, Oath and Law, so they should have it down. Good point- you learn the Pledge of Allegiance through sheer repetition. I would expect not saying the Pledge f

great input! To answer a couple of questions, if I did not mention it before, I've only been wiht this troop for a year now. The troop does do weekly flag ceremonies, but the Oath and Law are not part of the opening or closing. I guess that since it is not said after they get tenderfoot, it gets lost. I can suggest to the SPL that he works it back into the program. Where did the review form come from? Before my time. There was a past Scoutmaster who is spoken of with both awe and sarcasm (an interesting mix) who had created a great deal of the Troop's documentation. This form

I could use some input. As one of the many ASMs in our troop it is my privilege now and then to perform a Scoutmaster conference for boys advancing a rank. Our troop has a form that the Scout fills out for his Scoutmaster conference where the Scout describes a portion of what he did for his rank. I review the form with him and then have him state the Scout Oath and Law. In the last four months I have had 2 scouts, one going for 1st Class and one going for Star that could not state either the Oath or the Law- meaning that they could only say half the Law and not all of the Oath. Perso

Wow. While I believe I have more than any others in my unit, after reading this list I feel so underdressed..... 3 complete Centennial uniforms(I mothballed my old ones when the new one came out)- 1 short sleeve troop ASM uniform 1 long sleeve UC uniform 1 short sleeve UC uniform 1 vintage 1972 Cubmaster uniform put together for the Pack's anniversary a couple of years back After this year I'll be stepping back from Unit Commish (for Cub packs) and will be concentrating within the Troop unit. I will then switch all three to troop uni CMM(This message has been edited by C

Great story! The ebb and tide of these things is huge. I was my son's Tiger leader when he joined his Pack. There were only four of them that year. When he bridged from Webelos, there were nine in his patrol, but only 2 of the remaining original four. This year the other boy dropped from the troop leaving only my son from the original four. He's sorry the others could not stick with it, but is having the time of his life and would not consider dropping. I hope he keeps that attitude.... CMM

It's interesting, but none of the patrols in my son's troop have chosen traditional names. After two rounds of patrol formation, it's obvious that they pick names for how they sound to others, not to themselves. Samples include: Starfoxes Crimson Red Permanent Assurance Mixed Berry Fruit Cup and so on The only name that I was not sure of was one that named it after the Scoutmaster. The patrol name is "The Mr. P----- Experience Patrol." Can't say why it disturbs me to name a patrol after an active leader, but it just does. But I let it go. Now whether we have patrols that real

Great ceremony. I'll file it for future use. To those scouters who find things like this embarrassing: I've been to your meetings and seen your ceremonies. Can't say I remember much from them because they are rather pedestrian. But put a ceremony like this together and Scouts and parents will remember it. As a former Cubmaster I put on many a crown, headdress, scarf and eye patch to hand out awards to make some Scout's experience memorable. And I've been to those other units, Troop and Pack, who did not do this. They are just not that memorable. My son's Scoutmaster was of th

Oh yeah, its rant time, baby. I find it hard to believe that any troop or crew would allow rampant texting and cell phones. We tell our Scouts and we would tell our crew the same if we had one (we do have a large Senior Scout patrol and the rule applies to them), is that texting and cell phones are not allowed on outings or meetings. Why allow it? Are they in business and need to talk to someone to prevent Wall Street from failing and the apocalypse from happening? I doubt it. Would I allow a Scout who was homesick to call his parents or friends and talk to them? Absolutely not.

Wow. My Council just started accepting applications at the end of January and the fee is set at $3,800.

Same here. Signed up in January, paid the $100 bucks, and got a letter and patch. The letter said wear the patch and we'll let you know later about staff. Nothing yet.

I am on Facebook. I am also in my neighborhood, my home, my church and elsewhere. I never know when I am going to run into a Scouting family or other group- I also serve as President of the Swim Team and am active on Church committees and have been a school PFC president. My actions in public are always on display. Am I a saint? Heck no, I have TWO closets full of skeletons. But a number of years ago as my involvement increased in outside groups, I noticed that my actions were observed by others whether I liked it or not. If I did something that hurt the reputation of one my groups, I wou

It's two things and I dealt with this a couple of years back. Our Pack does a big Blue and Gold Arrow of Light ceremony with native american headresses, drums and bells. The boys receive their Arrow of Light and are recognized as graduating from the Pack. Then the boys go back for desert with theri dens and families while a bridge is set up for crossover. The two ceremonies are separate and distinct. Those boys who are crossing over are then called up along with the selected troops. Webelos who are not crossing over stay with their family. One year I had a family decide not to move o

Forgot to mention- I also blow a mean duck call. :-) CMM

Bugling was my very first merit badge earned. My counselor made us play all the calls from memory and play them WELL. At our Courts of Honor, we had a bugler as part of the ceremony. I also served at summer camp as a bugler for the camp for several weeks over the years. Position of Responsibility? you bet. At camp, I had to be up early and down to the assembly meadow to blow reveille in the morning, to the colors, all mess calls, retreat, tattoo, taps, etc. Camp time was based upon the bugle calls. Fast forward from the 70s and early 80s to 2008- Camporee does not have a bugler

Heres an advancement question for you all- My sons new to his troop. The troop uses the new boy program. The boys are placed in new boy patrols with a troop guide for the first year. They are guided through the program with the goal of making first class at the end of the first year. Since February, my son earned Scout in April, Tenderfoot in June and Second Class in September. But the troop only hands out advancement at Courts Of Honor held at specific times of the year.. As a result, my son received his Scout badge in June at the first Court of Honor (Tenderfoot was earned later that

When am I planning on changing to the new uniform? Right away. As a Commissioner it is important to set the example. The new uniforms are not cheap, but this forum gave me the benefit of finding out a few months in advance so I could save my money for this purchase. It will mean a week's worth of evenings re-sewing badges after work and the kids go to bed, but that's a small drop in the bucket of time spent doing other things. There are plenty of adults wearing the old uniform. They will wave their hand and say it's too expensive while holding a $4.00 latte. But they will

I use badge magic to place a patch properly when lins will not do, then hand sew it in place. I have removed badges and followed the instructions for adhesive removal as shown on the badge magic website and it works as promised. Taking badges to tailors to sew them on? I don't consider myself an oldster but as a Scout it was expected that we sew our own uniforms. Matter of fact, at the old Troop Leader Development course in the late 70s, when you showed up, you were given a patch and expected to sew it onto your uniform for that week of camp.

Has anyone heard about embroidering services to combine veteran years with unit numbers in the updated colors? CMM

Int he past we have had something similar. A cub scout wanted to build a car with his father but was not going to be at the derby due to an out of town soccer tournament. Since the Cub wanted to buld a car, we decided not to deprive him. The car was built and registered in his absence. It was raced and competed for design awards but was not allowed to win a speed trophy. We had no compaints from his den or parents. CMM

Yes we have a set of by-laws. It sets out the following: Requirements for leadership positions How to fill an empty leader position What the pack provides for each boy What dues covers The uniforming expectation Behavior guidelines and diciplinary procedures I found a lot online when I wrote them as one of my Woodbadge tickets. You can check out the docuemtn at our website, http://www.cubpack420.org CMM

We give plaques to den leaders and certificates to committee members at the Pack Graduation in June. The plaques run about $10 each and the certificates are about $2. Total cost is about 60-70 dollars. May seem like a lot but we feel that the uniformed leaders are worth it.