dewASM

Can you be both the Unit Commissioner for a troop and a committee member?

thanks

dew

ps She is also the SM's wife

Thanks so much for all the info. I will carefully consider all the suggestions and spend some time discussing it with the troop.

I have already purchased the troop program books as well as SM handbook, troop committee book. Do need to purchase SPL book and a fieldbook but this will be done long before the grant is considered. I have most of the paperwork done for the checking account just waiting for people to go in and fill out the signature cards.

We are a young troop with limited camping experience (and as predicted, mostly small vehicles) so I will take a cautious, slow and steady approach to acquiring equipment. I do think several things such as a good first aid kit and our flags need to be a priority. Some things like tents we can probably use the Scouts and borrow a few to try before we purchase.

thanks again for all the input and I'll let you know how it goes.

We are in the process of starting a new troop. Which, of course means, we have nothing but 10 boys, some committed parents and a ton of enthusiasm can't forget a new charter organization that seems really interested!

We are thinking about submitting a grant request to a local charitable organization to buy some essential equipment. What would you all consider the most important pieces of TROOP equipment? If I am creating a wish list, what should be on it?

thanks for your input

I had to chuckle as I read this thread. I am battling a SM and his committee member wife to get our troop back to boy led and patrol method. And they are the MOST trained members of our organization. She is active on the council level and is involved in wood badge training. He is both trained and a trainer. We haven't had an election in two years and in that time their SPL son has never planned nor led a meeting. Our boys have not been camping since summer camp in August.

I spoke to our DE who told me to work with the boys who have had leader training. You guessed it. The SPL who does nothing.

Meetings are not in anyway planned. They consist mostly of announcements and "go do something". There is no patrol leader council it is a small troop (in no small part do to the SM). But I think the 13 boys we do have could be involved in planning, execution and decision making.

My point is that training cannot possible fix a problem unless the problem is ignorance. People who chose not to follow the program for whatever reason will never be changed with more training. In fact training only empowers them to laud their status over others.

Since we are in a rural area and the closest troop is over 30 miles away, I keep plugging away. But keep in mind that training is not a magic bullet.