jethehiker

LauraT7 My 2 cents It sounds like its time for an all adult. meeting. Yes, invite the UC and COR also anyone else on your district training committee that will listen. Gather all the adults and let them know what you see. With the knowledge and moral support of you higher ups you should be able to get the program back together. With having adults interested in different areas you just need them to work as a team for the common cause "The Boys" Don't give up, Remember if the boys aren't enjoying activities as a troop you have a good chance of losing more before its all over. YIS jethehiker

well folks, I'm glad to see I am not alone. We are doing our planning meeting for 2002-2003 soon. And this subject has come up with what will be discussed at the meeting. We did not get many boys into the troop last year but did good this year, so when trying to determine what would be an agenda for our monthly camping trip those words seem to pop up "Done it before". However not for the new boys, and with new boy leadership and knowing what to expect some feel we could focus more on completing requirements rather then planning the trip and the camp set-up (this includes me). I to have heard the parents say but he just did that last year at the WEBELOS campout. so as AdvanceOn put it "Great, you should have no problem showing your skill once again " I think some of the problem the parents and scouts with this line of thinking is before a cub crosses over they need to be made aware of what can cross over with them and what can not. this should be done when they visit the troop for the first time when they are WEBELOS. Well , thats my 2 cents YIS jethehiker

Bob White Sorry to get off track, But I think the input from all sides in the end was worth the side tracking. I am always interested in seeing other points of view on subjects like this. I hope nighthawk found what he was looking for after all that was said. YIS jethehiker

Rooster7 & Dan I do agree that ability over age must be considered, and 15 is not to young. But unless the boy is a real exception and 110% dedicated I just don't see how he can really accomplish what is needed and really grasp a full knowledge of all the requirements for the ranks and MB's. My son will be getting his 1st class soon and has started thinking of his trail to eagle. I know with his abilities (time requirements aside) he could complete all the requirements in a year. But after listing all his needed requirements and talking with him, he understands that enjoying his accomplishments at a moderate pace would be better then rushing through them. We have an aggressive troop program, Camping every month, MB councilors within the troop that cover all the required, the resources are there. and again I ask "Whats the Hurry" does getting Eagle at 13 - 14 make the scouting experience more enjoyable ?????.

slontwovvy My Point exactly YIS jethehiker

I Don't sound off much about this stuff. BUT is there a race I was not made aware of. I am just trying to think of what good does it do if a boy blasts through the program and all the required Merit Badges to achieve Eagle so fast "Does he really learn..??" or is it best to follow the norm when achieving these things.

Hi Folks Have been without a computer for a while (Moved) but now I am back up and running. Very interesting thread. My views 1. Making a boy participate in front of his Troop is no big deal these are the guys he needs to feel comfortable with, and I believe its builds self-esteem and may lead to a boy breaking away from his natural shyness. 2. What to do with unruly boys, well depends on the time and place. If it is at night when its lights out I remind them that I get at up 5:30 AM no matter what time I fall asleep (old military habit) and so will they if they are not quiet and yes I have been known to wake up one or two. well thats my 2 cents YIS

sctmom A great source for den chiefs is the Cub summer camp commissioner. most Boy Scouts who really believe in the program join as summer camp staff and like working with Cubs. I know it works I used it as a Cubmaster. YIS jthehiker

bob Not a SM but good info . as fo ryour questions. I believe there are 7 Scout

Remember me the 1 of 6 ASM's well here is how we do it. 1. Each patrol has an ASM with a backup assigned to it , this is for guidance only. 2. Each ASM has a specific job (Monthly camping, Summer Camp, Fundraising, Advancement for specific areas, Recruitment, Equipment maintenance) just to list a few it seems to work. You just need to find everyones abilities and ask for help. dan, if you have skills that will help the program let the SM and CC know, even approach the SPL with this information. Maybe they don't know what you can do. ( I am the grubmaster, for the leaders and when we do Troop cooking) Well thats my 2cents YIS jethehiker

Good subject bob, so lets have some more input on it. I am very interested since I have maybe 4 - 5 new scouts coming in March. We have lost 2 out of 5 in the past,first year. if this can help I want to know how. YIS jethehiker

Chippewa29 I have nothing to add to this thread, I think everyone has covered it. How ever I think bob has come up with a new thread on the "First Class first year" issue so I will start it. Yis jethehiker

le Voyageur Good Idea, however the leader we did lose is the COR and the CC's son is the ASPL, so as you can see this is not an easy fix. But you are right if things were different it would be the way to go, along with the UC as a mediator. Thanks YIS Jethehiker

yarrow Did they all x-over around the sametime, if so I would say its ok , if there is a good amount of time between x-over groups you might want to look at the older Scouts progress towards eagle . Do u do any high adventure for them, I know some scouts who just hung around for the Activities , nothing wrong with that . however if its what they want maybe you can suggest they join a Venture group. Hope this helps YIS jethehiker

Hey everyone, Nice chatting with you last night will keep checking everynight J Erickson ASM Troop 543 Trailblazer District Long Island, N.Y.

Depends on the time , need at least 5 good hours of sleep and I get up at 4:30 - 5:00 A.M.

Thanks Everyone, We have done most of what you have suggested . Except for the part about getting any council involved (Leader meetings, JLT training and third party evaluation) We were hoping to resolve this on our own which is why we have not gone to anyone higher up. I do agree with " The ASM's should not gang up on the SM since will threaten his/her authority within the troop" but we feel we are backed into a corner at this point. And if something is not done soon there is a chance we can lose more Scouts & Scouters. And as for having our CC there , well thats another Thread for another time. Lets get through this first. If more detail is need I will try and make it upto the Chat on thursday. Thanks Again YIS jethehiker

Sounds like a plan

Good job paul Now all we need to do is set-up meeting times. Any Ideas.

F-Scouter Yes I do agree with you "BUT" we are losing people ( Scouts and Leaders ) due to the SM's not fulfilling his obligation to deliver a quality program to all the boys. If I were on the outside looking in I to might think your thoughts. There are things happening that you would have to see for your self before you would understand. We ASM's are acting on behalf of all the boys in the unit, with some encouragement from some parents. We do not think he is a bad SM . He on the other hand is very qualified for the position (Believes in the program, Organized, good outdoor skills and enjoys having fun). But we feel he is not up holding his responsibility to all the boys in allowing the lack of a program from continuing. Sorry if it seems like we are stepping out of bounds but we have our reasons, and to will learn from this time.

I agree with everyone , I to had this experience but not with my Pack or Troop. I was called upon by a Commissioner to help place a boy with Downs syndrome. I invited him and his parents to our Pack night and after meeting him discussed the options with his mother. We do have Challenge units (troops) in our council and after visiting some with them and talking with the leaders he was settled in to one and has been there 2 years. He just recieved his 1st class scout rank. His mother wrote the council a letter and thanked them.

No perfume here, but if you will accept one from a fellow scouter I will gladly share one of mine.

Sorry OGE dropped them for SPEED (Cable modem).

Weekender Thanks. We planned on holding a meeting the just SM and ASM's no committee or scouts. This thing as impacted all of us (Leader and Boys alike) enough. I know now what we must do. As always I knew I could count on fellow Scouters fro the correct trail to take. YIS jethehiker >3000 miles since 1977 and still treking.

OGE & jmcquillan I envy you both, we just had our COR resign and its a relief. I have been unit leader twice and have held at least 8 of the remaining positions avaiable and in both units the extent of our COR's involvement was signing my charter at thier front door as I was on my way to the council office.