moosetracker

I'm from NH, and just saw another intro from NH.. So we are multiplying here! I have been in scouting since my son started as a tiger. He is now a 19 year old adult leader and Eagle scout.. I left the troop about 6 months ago, but didn't find anywhere of interest to put my free time, so I am now going back at the district level in training. My son & husband are still in the troop, but they are both at district level in advancement, my husband is about to take over the advancement chair position, my son & he have been on the Eagle board for a few years. This seems like a very active forum. So I am excited about joining.

Hi, Just stopped in to post my own introduction, and could not pass up the opportunity to say hi to a fellow New Hampshire scout. What district are you out of. I am from Wannalancit, but I live in the Massabesic region.. More about that on my own intro.. Welcome you, Welcome me..

I have been in 4 scouting units since being in scouts. I have learned to believe strongly in the CO's importance. The first CO had a quiet but supportive role.. If the troop needed aid in camperships or some help they were there, the rep had a son in the pack. (We had a good Pack) The second CO sponsered themselves.. Yep, totally against the policy, but they made up a buisness as a front, just for the purpose of sponsering themselves. After we left the council made them find a true CO. (The Troop made up their own rules against BS policy, some very unfair to the boys) The third CO just found someone, and they never communicated except to sign the charter each year. Up to this point I never knew what the purpose of the CO was for, and I was the Committee Chair. (Even as CC I nor our tiny committee, could get the SM to get training, do a BS program rather then a boys Club or follow BS rules.. He felt in charge while we were nags. Parent involvement was small) The fourth is where I truely learned the CO responsibility. This sponser appointed a rep that was a spitefire, she attended the committee meetings and other events, took an intrest in us but made sure we followed the rules and protocol and were running the best units possible. She passed away a few years back and the the council and our units made sure her funneral was given so much honor it would rival a military or government funeral. With her absence the units have tumbled from strong parental involvement and being the leading unit in the district, to both the Pack & troop being close to folding, from large parental involvement to very little. Similar to my third example, the SM feels he's in charge, and does not have to listen to the committee. All I can say is a strong CO is essential to the strength of the unit.. If the DE had suggestions it should be looked at as a possibility, but the units involvement is very important, and should not just leap at the first opportunity. They should make sure that the CO realize that their responsiblity is a strong relationship with the units and the units should make sure that is obvious by initially being involved in forming that relationship. Not take a backseat an let the DE hook them up with someone so they have a signature on a piece of paper.