OneHour

... the old adage applies ... "It takes a village to raise a child" especially ones with single parent. Geesssh, where is the part of the Cub Promise that says "... to help other people ...?" Don't the Scout ideals live any more? Your pack should take 'em in with, as kbandit and Journey have said, "Open Arms!"

Ooooh, the classic human natural instincts, fight or flight. Some of us scouters (& scouts) get stuck in the middle where our Scout's Laws confuse us whether we should be "brave" and stay and help or be "courteous" and flee as well. Ahhhhh, such dichotomy! ... that's why I told my scouts that if I had a chance to add the 13th scout law ... it should be ... a scout is respectful! But then, even that won't help some of the posters on this forum. After all, the other 12 scout laws should have done the trick, eh? As with Packsaddle, my ignore filter goes up. Can't remember when was the last time I ventured into the Politics Forum.

We have "service den" each pack meeting. The "service den" will provide parental muscles to set up and tear down. The "service den" will conduct colors. The leads well into boy scout world where "service patrol" will be doing exactly the same chores (minus the parents)! 1 honor (color) guard does not do other boys any justice! It may be great to see the same boys marching in unison, crisp, and sharp as an ROTC Honor Guard, but why limit to one group? Why not teach it to all boys? Besides as John pointed out, it is a bear requirement and it is also a Webelos requirement.

Banana Bandana Skit This Skit has gross parts. Required: - a bandana - a banana Notes: The whole skit has a premise of mistaking 'banana' for 'bandana'. Script: magician: Hello, everyone! Welcome to the Great Mystero's Amazing Magical Bonanza! For my first trick, I need a volunteer to help me make a bandana disappear. (looking around, he choose a planted 'volunteer' that has a banana inside his shirt or pocket) The volunteer walks up onstage. magician: Thank you for helping me. For this trick, you can not watch me so let's stand back to back. magician: Now, you will need a bandana for this trick - do you have one or do you need to borrow one of mine? volunteer: (reaching in his shirt and pulling out a banana and holding it high for the audience to see) No, I brought my own. I'm ready! magician: (open bandana and wave it around) OK, first of all, open your bandana. volunteer: (peels banana) OK, it's open. magician: OK, now, fold it. volunteer: (folds banana in half) OK. magician: Now, fold it again. volunteer: Again? magician: Yes, again! volunteer: (folds banana again) OK. magician: Now, twist the banana as tightly as you can. volunteer: (twists banana into mush squeezing out his fingers) OK. magician: (holding his hand out to the side toward the audience) OK, now slap the bandana into my open hand and it will disappear! volunteer: Gladly! (squashes the banana into the magician's hand and then walks offstage) Now the magician can look disgusted at the banana or as a better ending, sticking to the saying 'The Show Must Go On', he can shove the banana mush into his mouth, show his empty hand that it is gone, and take a deep bow! From http://www.boyscouttrail.com/content/skit/banana_bandana-853.asp You can get the different boys to do each of the "folds." (This message has been edited by OneHour)

8-10 are ideal for me. 6 are too small. >10 are too many! dg98adams is right. Tigers, the parents are required to help out; however, at Wolf and Bear, you, your ADL, and one to two parent helpers will be enough to handle 8-10 boys. At webelos ages, the Den leadership can dropt to the DL and ADL (plus one helper ... namely a boy scout Den Chief). Logistically, 22 is a nightmare. To contain and actually have meaningful den meetings where the boys will be able to take turn become a Denner will be impossible in a den size of 22! Have you ever had a den bike ride with 22 boys or walking through a police department with 22 boys? You got the picture. 6 boys are too small, because where we live there is at a baseball game, basketball game, hockey, etc ... each night! Assuredly, I would have 2-3 boys out. With only 3 boys, I don't have much of a den! But with 8-10 boys, the den will continue even with a sport active group of boys! Some here will challenge me on the 8-10 boys, but it works well for me and our pack! My oldest son's den had 9 at Tiger year. At the Webelos cross over 4.5 years later, we had 8 crossed over (1 moved). Of those eight, 4 are eagle scouts, 3 moved, and 1 found other interests. My second son's den had 9 tigers. At webelos cross over, we had 8 crossed over to boy scout (1 moved). Of those eight, 4 are life scouts working on their eagles, 3 are stars, and 1 is still 1st class (about to get his star). My third son's den currently has 9. One just moved to Qatar with his family and we just gained one at Rally Night. They are Webelos. At any den meeting night for the past 3 years, we have 7-8 cubs and have a great time! In other words, they tend to stay close to each other all the way to eagles ... and it's a neat thing to see! Good luck, 1Hour(This message has been edited by OneHour)

... so I am reading that this person is both the Cubmaster and a Den Leader? If so, why? It can happen, but why tax an individual with running the pack and running a den? It should be someone else. Let's assume that you were referring to the Cubmaster position. Questions: is he/she cancelling the pack meetings? Why? No support? Was it planned by the committee? Where is the Assistant Cubmaster? Where are the supporting cast members from the pack (eg, from committee)? You are the CC. You are the boss of the committee and the CM. Where were the other den leaders who should be lending a hand at the pack meeting? Sometimes, it can be overwhelming! When I was the CM, I had to do everything (due to the lack of a strong CC). I got burned out after a while! As for fundraiser, he/she should help but not running the fund raiser. That job belongs to the committee! He/she may participate. Final question, was he/she trained? Let's assume that it is a Den Leader position. Qustions: Was he/she trained in serving as a Den Leader? Where is the Cubmaster? Shouldn't he/she make sure that the Den is running smoothly including having an assistant Den Leader, a program is set up? Is this a new den? If it is, then is there an experienced den leader who can get them started? Where are the other parents? Why are they not stepping up to help to run the den? The den duties can be split up. It will need the CM to help divide up the chores. Where is the committee in providing the support? The CM is the boss. As in any good boss, he/she needs to make sure that the Den Leader has everything that is needed to run the den. The CM needs to keep a pulse on the den to make sure that it is running and check on the leader from time to time. Hence, the needs to have the CM and the Den Leader two individuals. ... cancelling meetings, not following through, excuses, not helping with fund raisers, not attending leaders meeting ... sound like someone is overworked, underpaid, and totally overcommitting him/herself in all directions!I don't think that anyone would be trying to sabotage cub scouting. I could be wrong, but I have been there and seen it. This particular scenario plays out over and over again, especially with someone who is 1) new to the job and is overwhelmed, 2) burned out, or 3) has his/her own hidden agenda. The last one (3) is pretty obvious in terms of the negativities and conflicts that usually come with the territory. Final question, as a CC, have you talked to the person and find out what's not shown? Good luck! The hardest and most challenging leadership position is one that has to work with volunteers! YIS, 1Hour (This message has been edited by OneHour)

Thanks! JoeBob, I'm not too much worried about our guys. There are 82 of them, ranging from 11 years old to 17.4! I just want to make sure that these guys dot their "i's" and cross their "t's" when it comes to G2SS. I would embarrasse them if I hang with them or is it embarrasse myself? Hmmmm...

Has your troop done a Theme Park campout? Campout somewhere close and let the boys have one day at the Theme Park. Scouting - nothing much will be learned. Our boys are suggesting and I see nothing wrong with it. I have seen scouts at Disney, Six Flags, Sea World, etc. One or two of our die-hard scouters do not see it as a good thing. I can't find anything in G2SS that objects to it. The closest that I can come up with is 2-deep leadership. Our local schools do this every year! As long as, the boys check-in regularly? Have not done it, I'm not sure what, how to coach the boys to think about this.(This message has been edited by OneHour)

I saw it this morning and never felt prouder as a scouter in SHAC! 121 mb's ... that's a feat! Way to go, Nathaniel! So what if others think it's lame. Only the few, the proud knows what it takes! Attaining eagle is the same ... as Mike Rowe puts it the best in his letter to Eagle Scouts, "Ill just tell you straight up, that doing something extraordinary can be very lonely, and most people simply arent cut out for it. Being an Eagle Scout requires you to be different than most everyone around you, and being different is really, really hard. Thats why the award is called an accomplishment."

Splitting is not as easy as one think it is. We split before. 8 years ago, our troop and our neighboring troop were one. Now, we have 80 and they have 60. There was a third troop; however, they want to remain as a private troop. I have 8 ASMs to help, but 3 are ready to move on with their Eagles! My problem is that the ASMs are from the old school of boy-lead means laisez-faire. I'm not going into a debate of this; however, my take is that "if you don't teach them, don't blame them." My problem is how to spice up the troop meeting or involve the older boys so that they are willing to come to troop meetings. Ideally, they come and ready to roll up their sleeves to run the troop. Realistically, I just want them to be and feel that they are part of the troop.

Actually it works very well with the new mini requirement booklet (~$5). The requirement can be signed off on this mini booklet. All that it has are the requirements listed for each rank in a spiral bound booklet that's about 3"x4" (fits perfectly in my back pocket). With the new book or old, the scouts can keep the handbook while I pick up these mini booklets and record the advancement into TroopMaster. 1Hour ps: I have 5 of these doohickies at home. One nano for each of my 3 boys, 1 for the wife and 1 for me.

OGE, I have asked them! I have talked to them! I usually get the "lip services." I asked ... what would you gentlemen would like to do at troop meetings to keep you interested? They tend to shrug their shoulders and give me the usual "I don't know. We just like to hang out." Of the 12 troop guides/instructors, many of them are of the middle age groups (13,14,15). They do it because they need the PORs. The older ones, they completed their POR requirements! Now ... we had an election this past Monday, one of the Older Scouts won the SPL election. This is the first time that they put their names in the hat. After they complained that the troop is run by the younger scouts, I asked them point-blank, "What are you going to do about it?" We have High Adventure; as a matter of fact, we just came back for Philmont. It was this that they came to the meeting, because one of the requirements was to have 75% attendance and so many campouts. This is to ensure that they get their training in. But we don't get to do Philmont every year and it is only summer event and the months leading up to it. Outside of that ... there isn't much for the older boys to do. They do not want to teach the younger scouts especially when we have Troop Guides and Instructors. Eagle 92, I have 80 registered, but 50 active at any one troop meeting ... not bad still! If I don't find something to keep these 20+ interested, it will be down to 35-40 active at troop meeting or campouts! I have plenty of SMC with them individually and as patrols! Gern pointed out correctly. After Hi Adv, they don't want to do basic skills. They laugh at Camporees, First Aid Meets, etc. Normal campout is too boring! So I have a young troop eventhough I have about 47 13-17 years old! Bike tour through Europe is great, but $. This coming summer we have 3 crews heading to SeaBase and 1 to Alaska. That's more than enough Hi Adv? We try to have Hi Adv to each Campout but we don't have enough interests from these guys to pull it together for the monthly campout. Beavah, 32 is unusually large for us but not unusual. For the 7 years that I have been with the troop, the first 3 we recruit 20+ boys each year (adding to the 24 that the troop started out with). The next two, we have 10-12. I left last year and we had 0. This year is my 1st year as SM. Most of the orginal 24 have quit or aged out. Attrition and graduation rate is about 5-7 boys each year. Of the current 32 new boys, we lost 5 so far: 2 moved, 1 went to another troop that has 2 boys who have the same condition that the scout has, and 2 quit (1 because of father got angry), 1 because the boy never wanted to be in scout in the first place). By the way, we have done SeaBase, Boundary Water, Philmont, Double-H, Hamman Scout Ranch, Hi Adv at various summer camps, various troop-spawned Hi Adv trips. 1Hour(This message has been edited by OneHour)

This issue has been posted. I need new and fresh ideas if you have one that works. Here is the old issue: - We have about 80 scouts registered. - We have 32 new scouts of those 80 in three new patrols. - We have an SPL who has three ASPLs, one responsible for trails to first class (coordinate and manage, 2 troop guides for each patrol, 2 instructors for each patrol), the other 2 ASPLs divide the responsibility of helping the 6 patrols (namely having the PLs report to the ASPL). We have the typical set of PLC 1 historian, 1 scribe, 2 quartermasters (too large of a job for 1), and a buggler. That's 20 POR! So practically everyone has a job to do. - We have about 20 Life scouts. Some seem to be "stuck" at Life for the past 2 years. Of these 20, 13 are 15, 16, 17 range. They don't want to do anything. How do I get these older scouts to take an interest in the troop instead of "doing their time" to eagle? They finished their requirements long ago! Some are working on their projects. Some just need mbs. They tend to distract the younger scouts! Thanks, 1hour

I used freebie web hosting services that cater to BSA troops, even on Scouter.com and TOPO. The problem of freebie sites is that they are limited in resources (storage space, etc.). Worst of all, some sites are loaded with advertisements that it becomes quite irritating! So far, we settle down with gmail groups (sites.google.com). It has what we need, including an online calendar. Best of all, no ads. Sometimes, it is good to go with a private space and create your own site and have your troop's site published in Scouter.com, your District website, and/or your Council's website or directory. You can control your site a whole lot better. Just add the annual cost to your troop fee. It shouldn't be more than $2- $3 per scout per year! Good Luck, 1Hour ps: one other thing, if you go with a small ISP or webhosting group, if they tank, you will have to start all over. These hosting groups, sometimes, do not keep up with their "non-profit" servers; as a result, the sites will go up and down ... few ... not many. These site owners are doing this with the best intentions. Keeping these servers up takes money and time that they may not have.(This message has been edited by OneHour)

I'm very proud of you all and congratulations Dr. Leever ... you have taught the boys well! You all validated the reason why I continue my involvement in scouting. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/6550184.html I have always told our scouts that they learn first aid, cpr, and these life-long skills for a reason ... to help us adults! 1Hour ********************** Boy Scouts humble about heroics By PEGGY O'HARE HOUSTON CHRONICLE July 28, 2009, 12:28AM Houston dentist and Boy Scouts troop leader Don Leever had never been so sick and miserable, not even while recovering from heart surgery. The higher that he and eight Boy Scouts climbed in the Colorado wilderness, the sicker Leever became. Thinking it was altitude sickness, Leever, 58, an experienced hiker, stubbornly pushed himself to keep going. But by Thursday, Leever could no longer stand or walk, having been unable to keep food or water down in his stomach for four days straight. After the Boy Scouts and their adult chaperones carried Leever partially down a mountain to safety using a stretcher fashioned from trekking poles and bear rope paramedics discovered Leever's blood sugar was sky high and airlifted him to a Durango, Colo., hospital, where a potential diabetic condition emerged as the culprit. Now back in Houston, 15 pounds lighter from his ordeal, Leever praised the Boy Scouts from Troop 642 at their home base at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church for their quick response and perseverance under challenging conditions. They led me like a little puppy dog and put me on the stretcher, Leever said Monday while gathered with the teens at the troop's scout hut on the church's grounds. They were carrying me, and it was pretty awesome to see everybody sharing the load and not a word of complaint. Leever, who has served as the trooper's Scoutmaster since 1993 and underwent a full physical several months before the hike, said he has no doubt the Boy Scouts and other adults on his crew saved his life. If they had not done what they did, I wouldn't be here, he said. I told them that. (Doctors) told me I was probably two hours from being gone. The eight Boy Scouts who helped carry Leever to safety were Tommy Wilkinson and Daniel Miller, both 16, and Austin AJ Riddle, 14, all Memorial High School students; Scott Orth, 16, of Sugar Land; Stratford High School student Michael Herzberg, 15; Strake Jesuit College Preparatory student Tyler Fleming, 14; Sam Steakley, 14, a student at Awty International School; and John Cameron Carter, 15, a student at the High School for Performing and Visual Arts. All are Life Scouts, ranking just one level below Eagle Scouts, the highest level of achievement. They and Leever's son, Dustin Leever, 27, assisted orthopedic surgeon Scott Orth, the father of one of the scouts, and dentist Arthur Grove, who led the rescue effort. The Boy Scouts were humble about their efforts Monday. We feel great that he's safe now and he's healthy, Riddle said of their scoutmaster, who was released from the hospital Saturday . We just did what we had to do. More than 60 scouts and adults affiliated with the troop set out July 19 for a High Adventure trip in Colorado's Weminuche Wilderness . Don Leever and his crew of eight Boy Scouts climbed up to 12,600 feet and had begun their descent when Leever's condition became critical Thursday.(This message has been edited by OneHour)

Cha`o Nhan! Welcome! It's great to hear that scouting is allowed again in Vietnam! I remembered how fun it was! It was different 35 years ago! Wow ... it has been a long time since I last saw our country! I will forward your address to one or two of the Vietnamese scouts in our troop. Hopefully, they will exchange emails with you. Me^'n, 1Hour

I would invite the local scoutmaster or SPL (preferred) to administer the Scout's Oath and Laws in front of the whole Pack.

I would invite the local scoutmaster or SPL (preferred) to administer the Scout's Oath and Laws in front of the whole Pack.

1/2 pvc pipe cut 1" length, hot-glued microchip that my former company threw out, hot-glued couple rolly eyes, and tossed in a curly wire, computer bug neckerchief slide ... my oldest and his buddies used to wear all the time throughout cub years!

... to continue my response from the other thread: For the past summers, our Pack have: - attended District's Day Camp - had a sleepover at the Battleship Texas - had a sleepover at the zoo - had a sleepover at NASA - attended Astros baseball game - had a swim party at the local pool - held a "water blast" at the local park where the cubs brought their water guns and blasted the adults or each other. We also had the local fire truck there to do their fire talk and then blasted the Pack with their big water gun. - held a chess tournament vs. the cubmaster (earning their chess blt loop) - held aquanaut pin day for Web and swimming blt loop/pin for others - held a hike at the local state parks ... lots more to see in terms of plants and animals during warm season - held a bike rodeo That's all that I could think right now. 1Hour I forgot ... we also have: - held a Pack's night at the movie outdoor (showing "Down and Derby") ... or one could show "Follow Me, Boys" - joined a local community open air concert night - celebrated July 4th together ... at local community fireworks show - planned a Saturday picnic at the park and/or State Park - participated in Memorial Day parade - participated in a company sponsored beach clean up

... have them registered and participate as the Pack committee member, then they will have full voting rights! Den Leaders do not have a vote. CM and Committee members have a vote in our Pack, but as in other pack, our committee gets really involved at the beginning of the year and then tapper off toward the middle of the year where our Den leaders have a vote just to have enough voting members!

For the past summers, our Pack have: - attended District's Day Camp - had a sleepover at the Battleship Texas - had a sleepover at the zoo - had a sleepover at NASA - attended Astros baseball game - had a swim party at the local pool - held a "water blast" at the local park where the cubs brought their water guns and blasted the adults or each other. We also had the local fire truck there to do their fire talk and then blasted the Pack with their big water gun. - held a chess tournament vs. the cubmaster (earning their chess blt loop) - held aquanaut pin day for Web and swimming blt loop/pin for others - held a hike at the local state parks ... lots more to see in terms of plants and animals during warm season - held a bike rodeo That's all that I could think right now. 1Hour

Lost my cool to an adult, yes. Apologized to the whole troop and went on a self-banishment for a year ... wait ... that's call a vacation, right? Recently, yelled at the top of my lungs to stop a whole bunch of them from pushing each other in line. I had to ... there were 60 scouts and 40 parents around ... the noise level was extremely loud. They had to hear me somehow! It takes a better man to apologize and admits to his mistake.

I just found this fact out recently ... so much for being a SM. Apparently, the COR and the CC were planning to talk to the person about the issue. He admitted to having been convicted and served. His app was not turned in. The crime was not at all "light." It is not public information nor being discussed publicly. Please note the name was not mentioned nor the crime. The converstation that the COR and CC that will have will be behind closed door. Btw, not knowing this fact, to me, he is a perfectly fine individual. Very tough on his kids, but not at other kids, but then who isn't tough on their own?

One parent asks if he can help. After a background check, it turns out that he has been convicted of a felony and served time many, many years ago. My inclination is "no thank you." I do believe that it is up to the Committee and the Charter Org, correct? ... and by some mirracles, the gentleman is allowed to function as a part of the Committee, I can still request for him not to participate on our outings ... can I? Thanks!