gsdad

I was a Lodge Officer as a youth and it was preached by our Lodge Advisor. If we weren't active and productive in our unit we heard about it.

Park the helicopter at Woodbadge and leave your son's Scouting experiences in his own hands. The fact that you mentioned being on Woodbadge staff speaks volumes. If he needs to ask for votes he is not a good candidate for the OA. The OA is not just something to add to a resume.

The OA Troop Advisor needs to remember his first responsibilty is the troop, not the OA.

My parents split up when I was a teen. It split our family in mutilple pieces. My mother was too busy trying to villify my father, my father was trying to figure out why everything he did to save their marraige failed, in the meantime we kids were left to fend for ourselves. Two of us turned out alright, one turned to dugs, my other brother passed away due to health issues, but at 29 he had no direction and was working a dead end job. I rarely speak to my brothers these days, and the way the divorce went down is the primary cause.

Since Tigers are supposed to take a shared leadership approached, assign him a Den Meeting and let him run it. See how he does.

What is your hang up with having more than two adult leaders? Your way is not necessarily the right way, it is your way. If you think you can take safely 50 Scouts on a camping trip with only two adult leaders, you are delusional. A troop can have adult leadership in camp and still function as a patrol based, boy led unit. Especially today with the emphasis on YPT, sticking to to your two man crew is reckless and irresponsible.

Not all troops are led by Green Bar Incarnate, my boyhood troop regurlay took 50 kids on a weekend campout. Two leaders just didn't cut it. I am currently a CM and we take 30 kids camping, two leaders for 30 Cubs, not gonna happen.

1. Stay out of the kitchen if you're not on the duty roster for that meal 2. If you are cooking, you're not at home, don't sample as you cook, like your fingers, the spoon, etc... 3.Kids eat first, you can manage a few more minutes. 4.No food in tent, this goes for adults too. 5.Get off your cell phone, you're hear with your child, Facebook can wait, as can the play by play to your spouse. Besides, the stories sound better when the kids tell them. 6. Your son doesn't need your help on everything, step back and enjoy watching them learn, try, and struggle. They just might surprise you. 7. We leave when everything is done, not when you're packed and ready. I've got more, but you get the point.

I atteneded a Council VOA weekend last weekend with my daughter. Friday night was quite rainy, but the kids managed to set up their tents and tough it out. Imagine my surprise when I heard some of the adults talking about how they slept in their cars because of the rain. Is this what Scouting has become? A bunch of soft old men hidingin their cars from the rain ?

Did you try talking to anyone, or trying to help? Or are you one of those speak up and not step up parents?

My wife was looking to take a committee position once the previous CC left. Once I assumed the CM role she does a lot of the behind the scenes stuff for me. I truly think there should be a Wife of Cubmaster award.

This was me last August. Find a replacement Den Leader ASAP. I am still looking for one.

As a parent of two daugters, leader in an all girls crew, and softball coach, I keep a few in my daypack. They are great for stopping bleeding of all types. My wrestling coach used them for bloody noses.

Whatever happened to changing in a sleeping bag, or under a blanket?

They resembles a Yankee baker, or reflective oven.

My boyhood troop have miner tents, and baker tents. We used to set them up together with a miner in the middle on a longer center pole for a circus tent effect. Buy a miner tent here http://beckelcanvas.com/products_view.php?products_id=41

Did they stay inside and hide from the rain all weekend, or did they don raingear and make the best of it?

As a parent of three special needs kids with varying challenges I can tell you kids adapt. Other kids will be mean, and some adults are just ignorant. Your son will adjust, and his true friends will be there for him. However, the complete tone of your email is one of a victim. The name calling on your part is also very telling. Inform the prospect Troops of your son's condition, I suspect there will not be an issue on their end. Good luck to your son.

HOW! HOW! New Scout! Are we allowed to say that anymore?

I made my opinions and feelings known to him when he sprung the costs and agenda on us at the Pack Leaders meeting. If I wasn't the CM I would have boycotted the event. I was not about to spite the boys over it. Since he already booked and paid the "entertaiment" it was too late to cancel them. He was none to pleased when I changed the flow of the evening. Although he made tried to remind me I serve the committee, when I told him I serve the boys. That is when the COR stepped in and tried to make peace. The troop his son is going to knows how he is and already asked me how to deal with him. I told them he might be different in a less demanding position, so they should keep an open mind.

The irony of it is he complained his predocessors did the same thing when his son joined as a Tiger. The surplus was a result of successful popcorn, and pizza sales. The W2 Den accounted for less than 5% of the total fundraising, and they made up 25% of of the Pack membership. The current W1DL already has a plan in place, and the BnG will finance itself through donations with minimal Pack spending, if any at all. She will also accept help, and welcome input. The CC feels as if he saved the Pack when he took over, therefore he is entitled to do as he pleases because it all falls on him. To give credit where it is due, he works his tail off for the Pack. This is partly his own doing as nobody wants to step up and help because his micro-manages everything. The entertainment was a magician who is loosely related to the CC. His "volunteers" from the audiance consisted of the son, daughter, and wife of the CC. The groans from the rest of the audiance were less than sublte. Basically, the CC made the night about himself, his bridging son, and his family.

The Pack Blue and Gold banquet was over the weekend. The CC told anyone who would listen last year the outgoing W2 Den would be planning and fundraising for it. The event was to pay for itself in the form of advertising space in the program. These were the strict instructions he gave the volunteers who put it together last year. It was pot luck, everyone went away happy, with a full belly and leftovers. Since the Pack had a surplus he decided to spend it, and in addition charge $5 per anyone over the age of 16. Long story short he turned it into a five hour gala that cost the Pack over $1000 in hall rental, food, entertainment, etc... It was his last hurrah so to speak as he is stepping down in April now that his son bridged at the B&G. Half of the younger families didn't stick around to see the bridging due it running so late, the food was horrible, and some of the parents are grumbling because the fundraising done in the fall was swaundered in their eyes.

I've been using the same pen for years so it evens out for me.

It was $17 at Staples. Seeing as I will probably be in this position for three years or more, I am OK with that.

I'm a CM at the moment and it seems the AC forgets things needed to be signed until five minutes before the Pack Meeting.