AnnLaurelB

Update: The short answer to "How'd it go?" is: It would have gone a lot more smoothly if the CC had let people other than her 2 henchhens be involved in the planning. However, B&G WAS accomplished, and it was fine. The long answer: Had I reported about the time issue? It was a big brouhahah; the CC sent out an Agenda for B&G that had the actual program lasting from 12:00 to 3:30. Not even kidding. That did not include set-up or clean-up. The Trustee Chair of the church called me and said, "When will you be done? We have some A/V training that afternoon." I told him the clean-up was slated to go until 4:30. He said, "Um...you're getting in there at 9:00. Surely you can be done in 6 hours?" I forwarded that to the CC, and she replied to the Trustee Chair that basically he could pound sand. She didn't realize with whom she was dealing; the TC outranks even the pastor. He called our CORep and said, "I don't like her. 6 hours is enough. Have them out by 3:00." So the CORep emailed the CC and said, "You know, 3 1/2 hours is really pushing peoples' attention. Can we scale this back any?" She pretty much told HIM to pound sand, as well, but he insisted that the program be cut back to 3:00. Her response? She called everyone and moved the start time to 11:00 so that she'd still have a 3 1/2 hour program. That being said, Friday night during set up, OH the grumbling about the time issue (why???). What gobsmacked me was when she said, "But I am NOT cutting ANY of the Opening Ceremony! I have spent over $200 on JUST THAT, so we are DOING IT!" Wait. What? $200 on JUST the Opening? For 16 Cubs? Some of you I'm sure know the ceremony: Akela tells 2 braves to go capture the blue of the sky and the gold of the sun. That's why Cub Scout colors are blue and gold. Why $200? Because she bought a fake campfire and 3 complete Indian costumes. Um... we could have FAKED the campfire, and I could have BORROWED Indian costumes from the local community theatre. But I was excluded from the planning. The funny thing is that even if we'd started at 12:00, we would have had plenty of time to do EVERYTHING she wanted to, IF she'd allowed me to run the platform (which is kind of the CM's JOB). But no, it was the "Hi! I'm your CC!" variety show. And the Awards were COMPLETELY mixed up (that was the other gal's doing). One poor kid had been missing stuff for MONTHS with excuse after excuse, and he finally got everything, BUT HIS NAME IS "BOB", NOT ~BILL~. His name was wrong on EVERY award. Also, another kid seems to ALWAYS be the one she shorts when she "only has 2" of something. His grandma heard her telling the kid, "I'll get it to you," and she said, "WHY is it always MY kid?" And she had a point. Why always him? She was upset enough that the CC had to come join the conversation with the grandma and the henchhen. I was doing my best to schmooze the room while it was going on, but I overheard both the CC and the Awards hen bawk bawk bawking about how it was the DL's fault, it was the ScoutShop's fault, it was ScoutTrack's fault. Blah, blah. What they don't seem to understand is that a simple (sincere!) "Oh, my gosh! I am SO sorry! I will order it the moment I get home!" But they both copped HUGE attitudes with these parents, and it was really, really ugly. The ~idea~ I think she was going for, for the Banquet ... I get it! I do! She seems to have this UberBanquet in her head that she wants to see happen, and there's no room for deviation. But you have to allow for some flexibility. And she SHOULD have let me in on the planning process (but you can't tell this gal anything). I have attended roughly 4,793 church potlucks in my life, and I'm here to tell you that you MUST create STATIONS! You CANNOT have one ONE-sided line shuffling along, while EVERY person struggles with the freakin' croutons! If I had been ALLOWED any input, I could have set up the service to go at least twice as quickly. I know that kitchen, and I know that facility. There was NO reason the meal line should have taken the tortuous amount of time that it did. But she INSISTED that it be done like that. I know it sounds like it was a disaster, but it was "fine". I just know that it could have been better, and there was NO reason for the CC to create rancor with the Trustee Chair and the CORep. That was unnecessary. But it did strengthen the CORep's resolve to get rid of them. I sent a de-briefing email to him and the pastor, but I haven't heard back WHEN exactly they're going to dismiss them. I think they're trying to figure out whom to name as CC in this gal's place. But it IS going to happen!

15 1/2 more days... 15 1/2 more days... 15 1/2 more days... ;0)

HAHahahahah! Yep! Watch the southern sky! I declined to call the CC last night, citing Kid Choir and Wed night church duties. Tonight, she has a Den meeting, and I'm ... um ... I dunno yet. Tomorrow is my church's Ladies' Retreat. I didn't say I was GOING; I just said, "The 10th-11th is my church's Ladies' Retreat." I will HAVE to see her on Sunday (Methodists are always a week late on Scout Sunday -- never have figured that out). Not sure how I'll escape her after that. Maybe she won't stay for services after the ceremony. Monday night her henchhen will be at my Den meeting, showing my Bears what they'll be doing at the Banquet. She's got some ceremony she wants them to do. I have been left in the dark about it. The CC just "decreed" that this that & the other ceremonies would take place, and she and her 2 minions are "handling" it. Monday will be a lot of smiling and nodding. This #2 gal is very pushy, herself. I'm not thrilled with the idea of being a captive audience ... at my own house, no less. Ugh. Then 12 days to lay low until the B&G on the 25th.

Until the 3 gals are notified by the CORep and the Pastor that their services will no longer be required. 16 days... 16 days... 16 days...

Good point. I promised the UC and the Rep that I'd not say anything out loud to anybody or about anybody until it was settled. I will probably just hedge and say that we have Kid Choir from 5:15 to 6:45, then church til 8:30, etc etc... "If I can't see you, you don't exist. La la la la la..." ;0)

No, the CO has been really very hands-off, which is how I got into this mess in the first place. I revived another thread on this, so I won't go into it, here. But the CC is on her way out; they're just letting her finish with B&G. My point for this thread was that I wish that some people didn't take that darned "Delivery Method" as the Scouting Bible. This CC is ~exactly~ like the Scouting Police. Exactly. I am coming to understand that it's a personality thing. I see that she must find great comfort in regulation. But there HAS to be some grace. There HAS to be some wiggle room. There HAS to be allowances for interpretation. "There is no CubScout Police... There is no CubScout Police... There is no CubScout Police..."

Oh! P.S. Last night there was a Committee meeting to plan Blue & Gold. The Scoutmaster had asked me to let him know when that meeting was to be, since we share the event of course, and we have a Web2 bridging over. The SM wanted to know what the plan was, how long he'd have to do his Court of Honor, were the Boy Scouts doing the Flag, or Cubs, or both? Did his parents need to do anything to help? What? So of course when I found out when the meeting was, I told him, and he attended. Why should he not, even if we weren't planning B&G? I find it perfectly natural for the same-Charter SM to visit the Pack Committee once in a while. Shouldn't they be connected, at least informally? Anyway, I got an email this morning from the CC, asking me "What did I know" about the SM being at the meeting. What did I know? What does that mean? I emailed back saying exactly what I said above; that he wanted to know what the plan was for B&G, so that he'd know what to expect, and I'd told him that this would be discussed at that Committee meeting. I got an email back saying, "I need you to call me." I am really, really praying that this doesn't get ugly, but I will not argue over whether I "should" have told the SM he was welcome at our Pack Comm meeting. He is welcome, just as ANY Scouter in the same Charter should be, as well as any church/Charter staff member, for that matter. I wasn't aware that Committee meetings were ever "closed". 17 days... 17 days... 17 days... 17 days... 17 days...

ScoutNut, that's the thing. That's kind of why the Wolf DL went to the Pastor and the Rep ~before~ the whole disciplinary thing went down. Because she felt that this gal was gunning for everyone who didn't agree with her procedures. The Pastor and the Rep *don't* support her. Based on what I told the two men, and what the WDL told them, AND the reputation that preceded this CC, the Rep met with the UC, and the Exec. Both of them assured him 1) that this gal HAS caused strife elsewhere in the District, and 2) that Council is aware of me working in a "challenged" area, that I have a good reputation and am well-liked. So last week the Rep told me that he and the Pastor agree that these 3 gals need to move along. However, because we're in the throes of planning Blue and Gold, and because the CC has 4 Webs that she brought with her and they'll want their ceremony with their Den leader. We didn't want to take that away from them. The plan is to date the 3 "thanks and goodbye" letters the day after the Banquet, and the Rep, Pastor, and UC will call a meeting with the 3 ladies and tell them that the church is going to step in, being the local body, etc, etc... 17 days. I just have to smile and nod for 17 more days.

(*shrugs*) I dunno. I hadn't known they had them, before. I just thought it would be cool to say, "Here's patches for ALL the Scout Sundays you've participated in!" Just 'cause, I guess. :0)

Have I mentioned that the scary-lady CC tried to have me "disciplined" for not doing the Pack Meeting Plans *exactly* as published. TELL ME, ~please~, WHERE it says that Pack Meetings MUST follow that {outline} they give out. I mean, sure, there are ideas in there. But the CC "wrote me up" and tried to "counsel" me about not presenting *precisely* what the Pack Meeting Plans said. Um ... no. As long as we cover Honesty, or Perseverance, or Whatever, and the Awards are given out in a meaningful way, and the BOYS HAVE FUN, ~THAT~ is a successful Pack meeting!

No, no, NO! ;0) Toad in the Hole is a slice of bread with a hole cut in the middle, and an egg fried in the cut-out. Then you set the little circle of bread back over the top. Lift the circle and see the "toad in the hole".

I shall try again...

We don't do snacks in Dens. Our Dens meet 6:30-7:30, so most of them have already had supper. Although my Bears noshed good a couple weeks ago when we did the Cooking Requirement together in my kitchen! Probably every other Pack meeting is a special occasion. Sept~nothing. Oct~Halloween snacks. Nov~nothing. Dec~Christmas snacks. Jan~nothing. Feb~(Blue&Gold). Etc... Usually a parent will say, "You want me to bring cookies?" (Yes!) We're small, so one parent or a Den can handle snacks for everyone at a Pack meeting. But to do it in Dens would be one more thing to worry about.

We have these little calibration weights... ...FAT lot of good it did us. It didn't matter that OUR scale was calibrated with "perfect" weights. What mattered was when the boys went to turn in for District last year, most of them were OVER on the host Pack's scale. We sat there for HOURS, trying to get our boys' cars under. It was horrible. You just can't predict one set of scales over another.

I pm'd Moosetracker; I've asked for 4. Two for still-Cubs who were there that Sunday, and two for my now-Boy Scouts who bridged out. EagleMom, if you have 2 more, I could give them to the Patrol Leader and ... whatever the other guy is called... in the Troop that I remember was there. I'd be happy to pay you something for them, or I have some neat local patches leftover, and would be glad to trade for those, as well, if you collect. Please pm me and let me know! Thanks!!!

I never knew there were Badges for Scout Sunday. Scoutstuff has 2012, of course, and 2011 is still available, but I'd like to get a few for 2010 for the boys who were at that one, too. Does anyone have any laying around they'd sell or trade?

(*applause*) Thanks. I ~would~ like to strike the balance next year (when I'll lead my son/Webs1) between being the Big Fish in the Pack (flag ceremonies, being in charge of stuff when camping, etc...) and "Boy Scouts Lite". I like "Boy Scouts Lite". T-shirt!! ;0)

Okay, gotcha; I hadn't looked that hard at it, yet. I just noticed it was one of the Bear choices. I'll make up a little flyer and give it to the families and see if anyone's interested! Thanks, everyone!

Wow! All good stuff, gang; thank you! Jay said, "...there is no purpose to WEBELOS if they aren't going to become Boy Scouts..." This is true, I think, but what if this 4th grade year is the only Scouting experience the boy gets? I hope it's still FUN, even if it's geared to moving on to Boy Scouts. That's my goal, anyway. I have asked about Den Chiefs, but the Troop that's chartered by our CO only has like 5 guys, and no one's interested in hanging out with the Cub Scouts, I guess. I have been in contact with another Pack, who similarly has a Troop attached to the same CO, one county over. They're very nice; I might see if any of their Boy Scouts need service hours or would like to be a Chief. I was hoping that the two boys I bridged out last May would want to come back and be DC's, but so far they haven't been very active. You know, part of what prompted my question was that I ran into one of those moms at the store the other day. Evidently, she thought that Boy Scouts would be, as has been described, "Webelos 3". She kept saying, "They don't DO anything but plan camping trips." Anyway, thanks for all of your input, everyone. I want the Webs to WANT to move on to the Troop!

Tampa, thank you. The Web/Cub/Boy Scout thing aside, the idea that you're making ~memories~ for these kids is a great reminder of why we do this. When one of my little guys wasn't going to come back because the treasurer barked at his mother, I was like, "You know what?" Their family has it hard enough without tactless people chasing them off. I think some of that kid's funnest times are at my house during Den meetings. Absolutely. It should always be fun, or at least enjoyable on some level, or what's the point? We have to make them WANT to come back!

Oooh! I forgot to ask: I'm looking at the list of Emblems, and there isn't one for Jehovah's Witness. I have one JW boy in my Den; would God & Me be okay for that? God & Me Emblem shows for "all other Christian faiths".

I gotz muh Bears, and we need to do our Emblems of Faith thingummy. I'm thinking Feb is a good time to do that over 3 Den meetings because the weather will be nasty, and we'll be stuck indoors. I looked at scoutstuff.org, and I see the leader book and student books. One for everyone, of course. What else would I need? I can't seem to find a peek-inside anywhere, and I don't know anyone who's done God & Me before. Any tips?

SeattlePioneer; An added factor in our Pack's case is that we seem to get 1st year Cub Scouts AS Web1's; three years in a row, now. So with Web1's with NO Cub Scout experience, they're perfectly happy to come fishing at the kid's pond, or go bowling with the Pack, because they *haven't* done it, already. My Bear son, on the other hand, has been fishing at the kid's pond like 5 times, now, and is ready for something else. So I do agree it depends on your guys. Luckily, I do get along very well with the Scoutmaster, and it will be easy to plug my Web1's (next year) into some of the Troop's activities.

That's AWESOME!

I agree with TwoCub. There are lots of people who might be willing to do "behind the scenes" stuff, but who would die at the thought of m.c.'ing a Pack meeting. I know when I read the description of CM (vs that of CC, especially, since our Pack needed both), I said, "That's for me!" I get the feeling from my scarylady CC that she'd just as soon be CM too, which sounds like your one-man-show kind of thing. You have to have SOME checks and balances! I'm really hoping you can find a fun, involved-most-of-the-time parent who, while they may not want to make phone calls or be up in front of people, if they were Asst CM, they could just be the "back-up" for events. Also, if there's another adult going, "Hey, Joe. Are we meeting at the church, or at the nursing home? And what's the plan?", then the CM would be forced to go, "Ohhh, yeaaaah," and held accountable.