Exibar

sorry for re-viving an old thread. but it took me a while to find something on the handshake. I too, had the experience that the original poster had. I was with the Troop telling the kids different things and somehow the handshake came up. The older boys used their pinky, but one of the tenderfoots said they've never seen such thing. He promptly grabbed his book and showed me the picture... I told him "well what do ya know! Must be an oldtimer scout handshake then" and I pointed to the grey in my beard. Mike B

Thank you everyone for the advise and information. Please keep it coming, it's helping more than you guys know! I will be attending upcoming Patrol meetings, and Committee meetings and plan on being more active with the Troop than in the past. I've always had a good relationship with the troop as CubMaster and I'm looking forward to taking on this new role. But I want to make sure that the boys get the the leadership from the adults that they deserve and need. But, not so much that the adults are leading everything. Pack212scouter you hit it right on target to my feelings. The troop should be boy-lead, but not boy-run. The adults shouldn't just sit back and watch the kids do whatever for an hour during the patrol meetings then head home. Much like a good Director would handle his employees, he should guide the boys to the right direction, ask them questions like "what are your patrol's objectives this month". I'm currently hearing more and more from parents. I dont' know all the answers but some things just seem not right to me. I'm going to go ahead and enroll in the ScoutMaster training to get the basics down. BoyScouts surely is a different world than the CubScout pack, that's for sure! Mike B

I've been CM for the past 4 years now, and I'm finding that come crossover when my boy crosses over the local troop wants me as TroopMaster. This is all well and good, and I'm happy to take on this role. But, the troop is boy-led, probably the most boy-led troop I've ever seen or heard of. The adults basically just sit back and let the boys do everything, even to the point of major failure. Many of my past Webelos scouts want to leave the troop because of this, there is ZERO guidance from the current leaders. I feel that the boys need guidance, either from the older scouts or from the adult leaders. I"m sure that there are others here in the same situation, or that have gone through this. I'm seeking advise from others that have gone through this, but I'll take any web links, or guides as well. I have until March next year, and I plan on attending some of the current boyscout meetings to get the feel for the way they do things. I'm already getting a ton of feedback from the parents and boys that have crossed over in the past 4 years, and I have a great relationship with most of the Adult leaders in the BS troop. I'm also planning on asking the boys about their thoughts of Boy-Scouts. Trying to be as general as possible as I don't want my question to bias their answer in any way. I just need the facts of what's going on, and how I can help the Troop be as successful as possible. I don't want to start a thread on the merits of adult lead or boy-lead troops, there are plenty of those already. I just need help with the transition :-) thanks all! Mike B

I agree, if a Webelos scout is missing pack and/or den meetings to participate in some other activity, ANY other activity on a regular basis they are not fulfilling the requirements for AOL. I generally have my DLs draw the line at 60% attendance for this achievement. I understand that if the boy has to miss one or two meetings due to something else that is fine. I also understand that boys get sick and cannot attend. If the boy is sick and cannot attend, those absenses are forgiven and don't count against th eAOL requirements. BUT, if a boy misses den/pack meetings to go play a sport, it's HIS choice and he's NOT choosing scouts and may not get his AOL due to it. Mike B