Cubmaster Mike

IMHO= In My Humble Opinion or I Make Heavy Ovens, I can never remember which

what, nobody out there uses cattle prods and 2x4s any more?

Recommend that you talk with the mother. Third parties can be skewed sometimes... one person''s view of simple wrestling can be viewed as a fight. Let her know what you have been told and ask her to explain it. She should be aware that the boy's actions are being watched and that there are expectations to be met. Work it out if you can but if she doesn't wish to discuss the matter, then you should discuss with the committee about taking any actions previously agreed upon. Good luck CMM

met with Tigers last week, webelos and wolves this week and bears next week. Then roundtable, committee meeting and two different dens meeting in my garage each week. It's a good thing I have "one hour a week" left for my paid employement... CMM

I have a Buck Tool version, but don't recommend it. The pliers/cutters start folding to the closed position if you cut more than one wire at a time. I am looking at switching to a Leatherman CMM

If the committee chair is the root of the problem, then speak with the CO about removing the committee chair. If the committee wanted one cubmaster and the chair said no, what gave the chair the authroity to outrule the group? More importantly, it sounds like this committee needs a "talking feather" meeting to air out some differences. Close the doors, get a totem and it goes around the room only once. Each person who has the totem get's to say whatever they want for as long as they want and nobody can interrupt. Everybody must agree to be completely honest and open or it won't work

adding spice should be done over the campfire....after dark.....with a flashlight.....it's not about the flavor, it's about the mystery!!!

I have had one or two interesting discussions with Cub Scouts about ham sandwiches....

Speakign for myself, we try to maintain a relationship with as many troops as possible. There are those that have a better leadership model or activity slant and we try to fit up the boys with where we think they may have the best fit. Whether or not they share the same number, it's who can offer the boys a good Scouting experience. CMM

You know what I'm talking about. The massive ramble of old ribbons on the Pack or Troop flag that start to look ratty and resemble a dust mop. You reach a point where it starts to look messy and unkept. I want to remove all the old ribbons except for those within the last few years to make room for new ones, but I also want to come up with a way to display some of our Pack history and these old ribbons. How about some ideas of what other units have done with these old ribbons?

Our Tiger planning meeting is next week. We wait until just before the start of school. I have the new Tiger parents meet me at a local park where I give them an information booklet and walk them through the Tiger program. That way the kids can play on the playground while we meet nearby. As I hand out the information I tell tham that one will need to step forward and lead but that I will work closely with them and they will have another parent as assistant. I let them chew on that while I explain the shared leadership principle and the that everybody is responsible for a meeting. I then

We found that Grey Owl Crafts is a good source. They are the official supplier of the stuff you see in the Scout catalog and they have HUGE amounts of other indian crafts and ceremonial wear in the catalog. Their ordering system is fast and their paper catalog is really cool. Here is the link to their ceremonial arrows and other crafts http://www.greyowlcrafts.com/scouting/craftprojects.htm CMM

Maybe I've been lucky, but we had a new DE that started a few months after I took over as CM. He's been good to work with and listens and supports our recrtuitment efforts. If I need flyers, I tell him the information I need on it and he gets them printed up for us. We already have the District calendar with recruitment events from now until next June and we work our pack ones around it. No complaints from me! CMM

Me either, perhaps ethicalg could explain what the issue is?

Remember we're dealing with 9-10 year olds here, not older scouts. I read your post and thought it was a story about one of our boys at first. You should sit down with the den, make sure that they all know that what happened was wrong and if it happens again what will be the consequences. Kicking somone out on the this first incident is not the way to go. I believe that letting ALL parties know that repeated bad behavior will result in progressive discipline and ultimately expulsion is a better route to go.

We charge $50 per boy for pack dues. This covers their registration, advancement and events. We also set a Pack Goal last year for Popcorn sales. If the pack met the goal, the den with the highest per boy total got to dye my hair any color they wanted (now THAT was a sales incentive!!!) Den dues are up to the den- if they want to collect for outings, projects and crafts, or else the den leader charges the parents at craft time. This year we will bump up dues $10 per boy and give each a derby rocket, regatta boat and pinewood car. CMM

The school where we hold our pack meetings was built on top of an anthill. Therefore, anything with sugar left lying on a flat surface for more than 20 minutes attacts little buddies. We save dinner for the B&G and only serve snacks at the halloween pack meeting and at the Pinewood derby. I don't buy the story from some parents that the meeting interferes with dinner. A lot of our boys are in sports and as a coach I've never seen or heard of little Johnny missing the baseball/soccer/swim meet because "it interfered with dinner." A poor excuse at best. CMM(This message h

I encourage our Webelos to shop around. And since we live right on the border between two suburban Districts, I encourage them to visit both Districts. I make it a point of setting up several troop visits each year and inviting troops to meet with our Webelos. Some take us up on the offer. Some don't. And there is a real diffrence in the leadership style of those who do and those who don't. I want our graduating Webelos to have the best Scouting experience they can, wherever they can. We have three returning den chiefs and will add a fourth this year. Do they recruit for their own

Why are you waiting to get involved again? When I aged out and left for college I figured that I would wait until after I had kids to get involved again. 10 years later, a Silver Beaver I met on a jobsite convinced me to call my local council and get involved as a volunteer. I did and spent several years as Assistant Scoutmaster for a local troop prior to my son being born. It was a great experience. Don't miss out! Joining our virtual campfire is a good first step. CMM

I've mentioned this before- mandatory volunteers are good. Make each family take a position within the pack. Three categories- one year position working with boys (ex.- CM or DL); one year position working with adults (ex.- CC, COR, treasurer); or volunteer for two events (derby, popcorn, Scouting for Food). Talk to your District Exec for help with programs you haven't run before, or if there is another Pack nearby, find their event person and ask their advice on the event. The help is available, good luck. Recuitment? Older boys like action. If you have a Back to School night

Stop the Eagle advancement. Scout Law and Oath are being violated and with foreknowledge. There is admitted law breaking going on. This is not just a "social issue." This is something you can BE ARRESTED for. How would you feel about it is there was illegal intravenous drug use going on? I know it's an extreme example but both actions are illegal. If you're going to advance and join the cream of the crop, you can't smell like a brewery. CMM(This message has been edited by Cubmaster Mike)

I have a father-in-law named Gene, and I think he was a scout......

on the contrary ScoutNut, Religious medal programs are developed by the different faiths. Even if the Scouts do not sign off on the completion, the Scouts have reviewed and approved the program and award requirements. And the religious knot is a an official Scout insignia and sold through the Scout Supply Division. But hey, toMAYto, toMAHto. And in support of what SN also said, religious awards are worked on in the family, not in the den. It is a means of developing one's personal faith. I know that the Tiger/Wolf award for Roman Catholic (Light of Christ) is done at home and th

A couple of ideas we do: First is Fire Up for Scouting. Set up a table and display in front of the local fire station. Send out flyers to the local schools and churches. Have the station park a fire truck out in front and let the boys crawl over it while the parents sign up. Boys (and girls) and fire trucks, gotta love it. Second we do an ice cream social right after the school year starts. We send out a flyer and give each boy invitations to hand out to at least two of their friends. The pack supplies the ice cream and we ask each family to bring a topping to share. We do i

The Denner and Assistant Denner are used to give the boys one of their first tastes of responsibility. We use them to give den reports at the Pack Meetings and to accept any awards for the den (uniform inspection, scout spirit, handouts, etc.) Plus they hep corral the boys and line them up for activities (line up beind the denner). The way we work it is that the boys vote (by ballot) for a Denner and Assistant denner the first month. The Denner and Assistant receive their cords in a den ceremony. After the first month, the Assistant Denner becomes the Denner and the boys vote for a n