normanebromleyjr

Lisabob, Thank you for your reply! And everyone else for that matter. It is so interesting to see what other packs and troops do to keep their scout spirit alive. There is not so much snow here right now. but it is plenty cold and wintery. Keep your reply's comming! Norman

I have recently had a real delema between out troop and pack about our b&g. Through this whole process I am realizing that we lack in the area of tradition and ceremony. So, I am asking all of you to share some traditions (that you are willing to share) you perform in your troops/packs. I would very much like to start something with ours. I am just having trouble with the Idea part. Not that I would copy anyone but I could take some Idea's to the committee and I'm sure we can think of a tradition to start. Also, it is very interesting to see what other organizations do to keep the scout spirit alive. thank you, Norman

That is a great tradition! It something like that, I hope comes out of all this contriversy. That is exactly what the troop is missing (ceremony and tradition). Our troop has been in existance for realatively short period of time compared to yours. But, instead of termoil, I like to look at this as an oppurtunity to do something more for the scouts and scout spirit. Thanks for telling us about that. Norman

That is one thing that the troop is lacking. The vision to have a well thought out and performed ceremony. It almost seems like they are putting pressure on me and my committee to make the b&g better for the boys as incoming boy scouts and it doesn't matter about the celebration of completing cub scouts. I repeatedly told them that if they wanted a better induction or official cross over ceremony, go ahead. But all they want is for the pack to change the way we do b&g. My next call will be to the scoutmaster to see if we can't work together. but i've talked with him and others before and they don't give cub scouts much credit. this whole situation just eats me up, because a pack and troop should work together to train these kids in the scout way and keep them coming back. It starts in cub scouts and i take that part of being CM seriously. the troop does not. norman

They think it symbolizes a graduation into Boy Scouts. The scouts have done all the requirements to become boy scouts and they don't want to discourage any undecided boys. This is a tradition that I inherited and I understand fully that the crossing over is not the best ceremony for b&g. But, I'm left with a mess that there is no time to fix. I do think the shoulder loop idea is a good one. I wanted to have a seperate ceremony from the time this argument came up. But, the webelos parents won't budge because they've seen it done at the b&g for 4 years. Maybe it's good so we can do it the right way next year. Oh yeah, the pack is paying for the scarfs, loops and books.(This message has been edited by normanebromleyjr)

I am Cubmaster of a pack in NY and we are having a great deal of trouble with the Troop in regards to the crossing over ceremony at the Blue and Gold. Traditionally what we have done is have all the webelos II cross over to the SM and SPL who are waiting with the epilates and scarfs. Well, not all boys stay on as boy scouts. They had fun as cubs but that's enough for them. The the troop is now threatening not to attend our blue and gold unless we only let the boys who have signed registration papers cross over the bridge. They say they want more of an induction into Boy Scout theme to it. "It should be more special that they are moving on." I told them that we've been doing the same way for so long, how do you tell kids that have seen scouts cross that bridge for four years that they can't. They don't seem to be budging. I also said that if they want to make it special, there are plenty of ceremonies for them to perform at the first meeting. I am between a rock and a hard place because the webelos II den leaders and parents are not receptive at all to anything being done differently. They can't see how neglecting a scout the ceremony of crossing over can be considered a positive message from boy scouts. Norman

I am Cubmaster of a pack in NY and we are having a great deal of trouble with the Troop in regards to the crossing over ceremony at the Blue and Gold. Traditionally what we have done is have all the weblos II cross over to the SM and SPL who are waiting with the epilates and scarfs. Well, not all boys stay on as boy scouts. They had fun as cubs but that's enough for them. The the troop is now threatening not to attend our blue and gold unless we only let the boys who have signed registration papers cross over the bridge. They say they want more of an induction into Boy Scout theme to it. "It should be more special that they are moving on." I told them that we've been doing the same way for so long, how do you tell kids that have seen scouts cross that bridge for four years that they can't. They don't seem to be budging. I also said that if they want to make it special, there are plenty of ceremonies for them to perform at the first meeting. I am between a rock and a hard place because the weblos II den leaders and parents are not receptive at all to anything being done differently. Norman