awesome1_in_cc

I guess we should be thankful that we are ahead of the "curve" as we have both of our Troop's Leaders selected, the two Troops are full (all online registrations done and approved, deposits paid, etc..) and we have about 6 alternates already. We have already had our orientation meeting a couple of weeks ago with the Scouts & parents for those selected and have them started on a payment plan to make the cost easier to handle. Trust me this is a major feat for the council as in 2005 we where picking up scouts from other states at the last minute to fill slots. I think our new council leadership has really done a great job in getting this going.

Onehour, My Prayers go out to you, your family and your community. I hope you all weathered the storm O.K. and that life will return to normal as soon as possible for you. I think your explanation of the whole event being surreal is an accurate one. We live about 5 miles from the coast here in Corpus Christi and had to go thru the process of collecting the valuables we could carry in the car on Tuesday and Wednesday when the storm was projected to hit here in preparation for the evacuation. Needless to say it was a very emotional experience trying to cram as much stuff as possible into a mini van knowing you may never see your house or the remaining contents again and that your community would forever be changed. We were spared from this storm but so many of our neighbors have had their lives changed and even lost as a result of this storm. Please keep them all in your prayers and they are going to need it in the next few weeks and months. YIS

I have the one that Troop_dad posted the order form for but instead of the name on the side it has my Eagle Scout year. Mine was a gift from my Pack leaders & parents when I stepped down as Cubmaster to cross-over to a troop. Dang, I hope they did not spend that much for it!!

t4eagle137, I have to agree that the open house approach will probably not give you the results you are looking for but I wont go into the numbers on retention and the like as I think that has been covered pretty well here already. The only numbers I will give you are 300% & 18. The two numbers I listed above represent our troops increase in youth membership (300%, 12 to 40 scouts) and the time frame in which that increase occurred (18 months). That increase in membership comes from two recruiting efforts: The first is our Scouts Teaching Scouts program which is a structured program we have been doing for the last three years. The program is best described as our troop scouts teaching our area Webelos (4 ) of their WB activities pins over a 6 month period. This includes two indoor sessions (troop meetings) and two camping weekends. This program has worked so well that we have over a dozen Webelos Den leaders asking that their dens be able to take part in this years program which starts this fall. The benefits of this program are that the troop scouts are teaching the Webelos their advancement (the hook to get them to come) while also exposing them to a Scout troop and how it runs. We have found Webelos who take part in the program have a lot less anxiety when they cross-over to their new troops then those who dont. Our troop scouts also benefit by learning how to teach more effectively, realizing that they are the role models for these younger scouts and also by being able to provide leadership to younger scouts, etc. I could go on and on about the program and would be happy to share more with you if you are interested. Just e-mail me and I will let you know more. Our second approach is just as one of the other posters has suggested. BOY-to-BOY recruiting!! If you run the program as designed and have an active outdoor program you will attract boy and also retain the ones you do recruit. I hope this helps!!

I have no ideal what my troop parents do while we are away to camp? I know the Scoutmasters wife (aka my boss) really seems happy when we leave though. I know she and some other mothers get together a lot and go out to dinner, shop and what ever else they do. Our troop has two sessions of camp every year for our scouts, one of which is designed for the experienced Scouts (out of Council) and the other for our first years and less experienced campers (in Council) although both are open to all our scouts. Every year we have a parents orientation meeting in May where we go over some of the finer points of each camp and also go over some very general information on how we (the troop leadership) will handle homesickness, behavior issues, etc. We also cover what our expectations are for the parents and let them know how we will be handling the common issues that come up at camp and how they can help us with it when their sons call. Last year we also started a daily blog while we are at camp to our Troop website. We post stories and pictures daily while at camp and our parents really love this!! I actually get e-mailed if I am late posting it asking where it is. Narraticong Great story and thank you for sharing it with us. It seems like you had a great week with your scouts and that is great! I have found that moments like those with your scouts will keep you going when things are rough as Scoutmaster.

svendzoid, I do not want to offend you in any way or squash your enthusiasm but I suspect that if you did manage to get on the CEB that you would not be "welcomed with open arms" by the current members. Maybe I'm speaking from my own personal experience with my local council's board and the way they operate but they appear to be an "ol boys club". Just last month I was asked by our new SE to sit in on a popcorn "steering committee" to brain storm how we could continue the sales increases we have been lucky enough to have over the last several years. My invitation was extended as I was the ditrict chairman for our councils largest district the last several years and our district had pretty good increases each of those years. I was thrilled to be invited and had a long list of things that I felt would help us (both the council and units) do even better many of which came straight from the unit leaders in my district. I had written these items up in a nice proposal format, brought copies for everyone to the meeting, etc. As I arrived at the meeting I found that this meeting consisted of several of our CEB members, our new SE, our new ASE and myself. The first question I recieved was from one of our board members who asked "what are you doing here?" to which I promptly repled "I was invited...." I spent most of the rest of the meeting having to explain why I was "Qualified" to be there and the list of ideals ended up on the cutting room flooro to speak. As a side note, the ASE did ask that I send it to him as he thought some were pretty good. For the record, I am almost twice your age and have been involved in scouting for almost 30 years if you combine my time as a youth and Adult leader. Also, as the son of a ASE, I have seen the "behind the scenes" politics that goes on in Scouting and the scouting program has never been a "one hour a week" gig for me or my family but a way of life. I have and continue to serve at the unit at District levels, etc.. As I said in my opening comments please don't be offended but you may not be welcomed if you do "push" your way (if that is even possible)onto the board and worse than that the whole experience may ZAP some or all of your enthusiasm. IMHO this enthusiasm could be better served in the trenches. After all, in the trenches is where the "rubber meets the road" and offers you the best chance at making positive changes for our youth, increasing membership, etc. I will disagree with you on one point. I believe the only way to increase membership is at the District and unit levels in that a quality program = Increased members. Best of luck!! (This message has been edited by awesome1_in_cc)

ManyHats, Tell your husband to stop worring about it. Yes, in my neck of the woods we have leaders with a chest full of knots but I promise that doesn't mean they are better leaders than those of us out in trenches. I hate to say that because adult leader reconition is important but around here some of these guys are refered to as "Man Scouts". These are guys that jump into jobs, earn the award and move to the next job, whatever it is to start working on their next knot. I have to confess that I have been presented several "knots" myself and many more I refused to sign the paperwork for as they are not important to me. I wear only one on my uniform and that is my red, white and blue knot which represents my Eagle award. With that said, I would highly recommed your husband look at the requirements for these awards because IMHO the requirements for these awards should be the step by step for sucess of every leader to run a great unit. Have fun and keep moving forward with the scouts in mind. (This message has been edited by awesome1_in_cc)

DugDirt, I completely agree with you that the FOS campain needs to be more wide spread and not just directed at the current membership which it does in most Councils I know about. Most FOS campains that I have seen have serval phases where they target a specific market in each phase. The Unit presentations are almost always the last "market" they try to reach but it is also the only one most volunteers see. Let me also applogize for my "over the top" remark about "keeping your mouth shut". That was out of line and comes from 5 years of watching and fighting the effects to the program of a poorly funded council. I wish you the best and may I make a suggestion to your Scout Pants problem. Maybe the unit could use their revenue from Popcorn sales to purchase these for the scouts. Just an ideal!!(This message has been edited by awesome1_in_cc)

DugDirt, If you are ashamed to hold an FOS presentation every year then DON'T DO IT!!! But please keep your mouth shut when your local camp is falling down around you, there is no staff to support you and your local programs are basically junk!! The BSA takes MONEY to operate just like any other buisness. What other organization can you join for $11 a year? Sure lets stop FOS and charge everyone $75 per quarter to be members, that should rid us of the nasty ole FOS. Downside is membership will also be null!! Please don't get me wrong, giving of your time is VERY VERY important and for that I say thank you!! My point is that the BSA is a buisness just like anything else and it requires money to operate. My question is where do think it should come from?

As the son of a professional, I can tell you that FOS is a critical part of the job for the DE's and meeting or not meeting their goals can have good or negative impact on their careers. That said, in our district the presentations are handled by volunteers and most of the time the DE's are not even there. I have had the "we don't want to hold the FOS presentation" discussion with my unit leader leaders every year for they last 5 years as Cubmaster and now as a Scoutmaster. Most of these unit leaders feel the same way as Gold Winger in that they already give a lot of time and energy so why are you asking me for more. My answer to them is simple, it is called "Friends of Scouting" for a reason. Who else is going to keep our councils financially secure and enable the BSA to continue to offer programs for our kids? If we are counting on organizations such as the United way and the like to help fund the BSA programs, then we are in serious trouble? Every year I look my leaders in eye and tell them straight up, If not us then who? Keep in mind I WILL NEVER use "strong arm" tatics to get donations as it is a personal matter on to give or not and how much but I will continue to explain why it is important for us to continue to set the correct example for our unit parents and even scouts.

Trevorum, So you don't believe that ACLU and other organizations by their actions of fighting the BSA in courts all over this country to have us removed from DOD installations, removed from schools that we too help pay for, taking our chartered sponsors to court to stop them from chartering BSA units is not trying to shut us down? Once a charter is lost, do you believe these organizations give a hoot if those kids find other units to join? The BSA and our chartered sponsors are spending tons of money each year to defend themselves from these "attacks" by those who disagree with our membership standards and I guess I am simple minded because I can't see how the diversion of funds from the program to fight court battles is helping us provide a quality character education program for our youth. On the flip side, with the amount of time, energy & money that these organizations are spending trying to "change" the BSA movement, they could do a world of great things for Americas youth. I don't see this a fight for "what's best for Americas youth" because these organizations could be truly changing lifes with the resources they are spending fighting the BSA. I have to ask the following question, where does one person's right begin and another person's rights end? I certainly believe that these organizations and their members have every right to associate with those who share the same values as they do but don't I have the same rights? And as far as the argument about changing with the times, I have to say no thank you. I don't know if it is the fact that our kids are not safe in schools, today's youth seem to lack personal control or responsibility, courts telling us how to raise our kids, etc. but I long for a time long ago. Sincerely, Awesome1_in_cc

Trevorum, Maybe the word "attack" is strong, but that is my belief. There are outside sources that wish for the BSA movement to either conform to their wishes regarding membership or they want us shut down. Thats is the simple truth as I see it. (This message has been edited by awesome1_in_cc)

Merlyn, I could not agree with you more!! Since you see it as your right to membership based on the BSA receiving tax payer money for the program, then I agree we should work harder to procure private funding. Once we do that for councils nationwide, you will have no argument left. Sincerely, Awesome1_in_cc (This message has been edited by awesome1_in_cc)

WOW!! I just stumbled on this thread and couldn't believe what I was reading. IMHO, Merlyn does have some valid points regarding how we get funding as an organization. We (the BSA organization as a whole) have to be above board and honest in our dealings, otherwise it undermines the whole organization as what we stand for. I'm sure we all know that: A) The BSA is a "private" organization who has the right to set its own membership requirements. B) As a result of point A, we really should have no dilutions of getting funding from State or Federal sources but will need to rely upon those private individuals who believe in the program we are teaching. C) We are under attack from those who feel they are being excluded and have a "right" to participate in our program. Last time I checked, the US constitution grants all citizens the right to pursue happiness, but not join the BSA. Why are we wasting our time, trying to change people like Merlyn who believe differently then we do? We should be out in the streets drumming up support for the program and the values the BSA stands for. I promise you that Merlyn can come up with thousands of things that the BSA has done wrong and will at every chance he has. But please remember that for every thing the BSA has done wrong, there are thousands more things that we have done right. We have influenced millions of young men over a 98 year history, but we have so many more now that need us. Long story short, Merlyn has his opinions of us as and organization and that is perfectly fine. We should not be using our talents and resources trying to change him or challenge him on every little point, but spend it trying to protect the program we love. My path forward from this is to send a check to Los Padres Council!!

Knight, Great story!! As unit leaders, moments like that seem few and far between but are none the less sweet. It just goes to show what kind of impact we unit leaders can have (both good and bad)on these young men's life.