ScoutNut

There is nothing in writing, either from the BSA, or in the Flag Code, which states that opening and closing ceremonies be the same. Nothing, from either source, states specifically that a flag that opens on a table, stays on the table, or that a flag that is formally carried to the opening, must be formally carried away at the closing. In the Cub Scout Leader Book, it states that varied opening and closings are best. Under the sections describing den meetings it states that most dens include a flag ceremony in their opening. It also states that a closing ceremony is usually more serious and quiet, but does NOT mention a flag ceremony specifically for the closing. If you look at the den meeting plans in the Cub Scout Program Helps, you will notice that the opening and closing activities are different. Even when the opening activity is a flag ceremony. Bottom line is that having an opening and closing, of some kind, is a good way to bring the boys together to signal a transition in the meeting. How you do your opening and closing ceremonies is absolutely up to you.

As far as I know, it is not necessary to retire the colors at the end of the meeting. I don't. We have a small, 4' flag that we use. I always start with a flag ceremony. The flag is then placed in a stand, and sat on a nearby table for the meeting. We always end with a Living Circle. After everyone is gone, I will put the flag away when I am locking up the cabinets.

If you were elected to the OA during those 5 years you were a Boy Scout, you can reestablish your membership by paying current dues to the local Lodge. The Lodge will have to first verify that you were indeed elected to OA as a youth.

Your CM is narrowminded and wrong. What about the CC. The CC is basically in charge of the spending, not the CM. Boys should cross to a Boy Scout Troop when THEY are ready. They should cross to the Troop that THEY feel is a best fit for THEM. Per BSA, one of the responsibilities of the CM is - "Help plan and conduct impressive Webelos graduation ceremonies involving parents and guardians, the Scoutmaster, the Webelos den chief, the Webelos den leader, and the troop junior leaders." Notice it does NOT state only do this if the Webelos are going to the Troop YOU like. Usually, our 5th grade Webelos are done by February. We celebrate Blue and Gold in February (the BSA birthday month). The Scouts from our Charter Org's BS Troop have put together an Indian ceremony that they preform for our Webelos at the end of our B&G. The SM from each Troop that is receiving one of our Webelos is there (along with the SPL) to welcome them. The Scouts and Scouters from the various Troops attend our B&G as guests of the Pack.

I am sorry for your problems Zandercage5. However, a question comes to mind. Since in bit over a week you will be 18, and graduating high school soon, I must assume that somewhere along the way you learned to read and do simple math. It is not rocket science to read the requirements and figure out for YOURSELF if you have the time to finish or not. How many, and which, merit badges do you still have to do? Why will you not have enough time? I take it since your Eagle project is "just about done" that you have decided to just leave it that way and not follow thru and finish? You need to have all of the requirements finished by your 18th birthday, not have received your Eagle. You can also petition for more time if you have a REALLY, REALLY, GOOD reason for not finishing by your birthday (not just couldn't get it together in time).

> The SM conference, or the lack of one, is no longer of any consequence. Your son is past that point. Your District Advancement Committee has to review all of the facts of your son's case. They have to interview all of the parties involved. That includes your son. There is no need to "prep" him. Simply tell him to be polite, and to answer their questions as honestly and completely as he can. He should be fine.

Sorry, but at least a part of the blame for this has to fall on the Pack. Per your statements, the Pack KNEW that this leader was charging outrageous den dues, and that the Pack was loosing boys because of it. Yet they did nothing because they thought the den leader was "Great". Then when the poop hit the fan, the Pack leadership caved and paid the blackmail just to sweep everything under the rug. Shame on you! You do realize that you have now set a precedent? Any parent who has done a Pack fundraiser can now come to you and demand "their" money. Have your CO contact a lawyer. With this mess they are far from done, and will need one. BTW - the amount of homework given does not equate to how good the BSA leader is. In fact, in most cases the opposite is true.

How about a year rocker to wear around/under the original patch?

You still have not clarified what the problem is. Why are these parents dissatisfied? What do they want to change? You mention the CM, ACM, and a wife of one of them - what about the CC, the COR, and the IH of the Charter Organization? The CM, ACM, and the wife are not "in charge" of the Pack, the CC, COR, & IH are. From your last post is sounds like things have already been resolved by the CM, who took it upon himself to state it's his way or the highway. Nowhere in the Cub Scout Leader Book does it mention voting priviledges on a Pack Committee. That is because the CC, CM, DLs, and all of the rest of the Pack leadership work together, in consensus, as a TEAM, to make sure the Cub Scouts they are responsible for get the best possible BSA program.

First of all, your dens should not be shrinking each year. If you provide the boys, and their families, with a good, fun, program, not only will they stay, but they will bring in their friends too. Having your boys, and their parents, talk up Cub Scouting to their friends is one of the best recruiting tools you have! We had a den of 3 Tigers grow to 7 Wolf Cubs just thru the parents and the boys talking to their friends about how much fun they were having. Our council has tried district Spring Tiger Roundups, but they just never seem to work well. Even if we manage to have a good turnout at the event, most don't sign up with a Pack until Fall. Pack level recruitment seems to work better. We invite the boys in our school, in grades K-4, to our last Pack meeting in May. Some will sign up then (mostly siblings of current Scouts), some will wait until Fall. We have a table at school registration in early August with information and fliers for the boys in grades 1-5 for our end of August picnic and rocket shoot. The first week of school our Cubmaster and District Executive do "Boy Talks" in grades 1-5. We then hold a Roundup on the next Friday evening for any interested families. We continue to recruit throughout the year through word of mouth. This has worked well for us.

Creating a "den identity" is easy. Start with a den flag. It can be as simple as a felt banner. Have the boys help design it. They can use the squeeze bottles of fabric paint to sign their names on it. Make up a den yell. Again, let the boys help come up with something. Incorporate a nice loud Wolf howl in it somehow. HAVE FUN !!!

Welcome Wahooker! Most councils/districts have pretty much wrapped up their training for the year. Keep an eye on your council website to see when they update their training calendar for 2009-2010. Once your council publishes the new training dates, sign up for Cub Scout Leader Specific Training for Wolf/Bear Leaders. You can attend this training in any district (or even any council!). Signing up to have any council or district newsletter emailed to you is helpful also. What you can do now is to purchase a copy of the Cub Scout Leader Book, and the Wolf Handbook (your own copy), from your local Scout Shop. The Cub Scout Leader Book is pretty much the Leaders Bible. It has all of the BSA rules and regs for Cub Scouts, and lots of program and advancement info. It also has copies of forms that you will need, although most can be found at the BSA National website. The Wolf Handbook is what you and your son will be working out of for the next year. A Wolf den is run differently from how your Tiger den was run this year. Most of the rank requirements and electives are supposed to be done at home with the family. However, there are some that just fit/work better when done in the den setting. Over the summer, go thru the Wolf Handbook and pick out the requirements/electives that you want to do in the den. I noticed that your council has an annual Cub Advancement Day event. Include the activities available there in your planning. Have a newsletter for your first den meeting with a calendar of meeting dates and what you will be working on. Let your families know that they are responsible for doing the rest at home. Attend your district Roundtables to get info and help from area Cub Scout leaders. Attend your Pack Committee/Leader meetings. HAVE FUN !!!

In order to be a fully trained SM, or ASM, you need to take, Youth Protection, This is Scouting (New Leader Essentials), SM/ASM Leader Specific, and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills. These only need to be taken once. It does not matter how many times you switch from SM to ASM, and back again. I am sorry to hear you do not feel that you need to take the trainings. Perhaps you do know it all, however BSA would like the boys you will be in charge of to have an even chance of getting a decent BSA program, no matter how long you personally have been a member.

I also am wondering why you, and others, who are not either the COR, or IH, know about this and are discussing it. Per the BSA website - "If a match is found on a volunteer applicant, he or she will be sent a copy of the information and can dispute the findings. The council and the organization that sponsors the applicant's unit will then determine how to proceed, based upon BSA procedures." Nowhere that I can find does it state that any of this information should be made public knowledge, or discussed openly with everyone in the unit. As to banning him from participation in outings - Unless his conviction was of a Youth Protection type (in which case there would have been no discussion from council at all) - NO. BSA policies are very clear that parents are allowed at ALL activities that involve their children.

Scout Account monies are part of the payoff for this former leader? The one who charged the boys in her den $15/month and left them with no supplies? Sorry, but that was just silly. You should have gotten the IH of your Charter Org involved in all of this. She was stealing, from the CO, the Pack, the families, and the boys. Personally, if she was refusing to release items that belonged to my son, I would have had the police pay her a visit.

"If the action occurs again, the Scout is given a written warning. This is given to the Scout and he is given the option of keeping it to himself or in sharing it with his parents." Huh?? There is no option of weather or not to "share" this with his parents. BSA specifically states that parents should be involved, and should help deal with behavior issues. "I get an accidental email tnat the Venturing Crew was meeting for their start up. Checked it out, and this SMA has took it upon himself to start the Venturers himself." Not sure how an email can be "accidental". Also, a new BSA chartered unit is not something that can simply spring up overnight, with no notice whatever. Your DE has to be involved, adults and youth have to be registered, an organization has to sign a charter, a committee has to be formed, etc. You are telling us that you had no knowledge of any of this taking place when the Crew members are coming from your Troop? If it is your Troop's Charter Org who is chartering the Crew, why is it that the IH, or at least the COR, never mentioned this to you? "we had some boys get a little out of hand wrestling and it was witnessed by a Webelo parent that some sexual inuendos was done. .... This SMA knew what I had done, had verbally agreed with what was done and all seemed well. The next week I get a call from the Counsel office wanting the write up. He had gone to them concerned that it was not taken care of?" You also stated - "This particular Scout had been warned more than once about wrestling with the guys (especially the younger ones) and had already gone through the first step." In my opinion the "sexual innuendos" part is the most disturbing, especially because this has happened numerous times before. BSA states as part of their Youth Protection training and also in the Guide to Safe Scouting - "The unit should inform the Scout executive about all incidents that result in a physical injury or involve allegations of sexual misconduct by a youth member with another youth member." Granted, this man should not have gone behind your back. However - Perhaps this man was concerned that since this behavior had happened before nothing he stated to you at the time would make a difference. Perhaps this man was simply concerned enough about this young mans behavior that he decided to follow BSA's YP rules and contact the council. A Venturer, earning his Eagle thru his Crew, does not need the approval of, or signatures from, any member of a Boy Scout Troop. As his SM, while it might have been nice of him to let you know he was working thru his Crew, it was not required. It sounds like you and this SA have some major personality issues working together. Perhaps it would be best for everyone to talk to him, your COR, and IH about having his registration switched to only the Crew.

Yep, the $10 registration is a National fee, not a unit one. It gives them membership in any unit of the BSA for one year. Boys crossing from a Cub Scout Pack to a Boy Scout Troop fill out a new registration form, and pay a $1 transfer fee.

I agree, it is not the DE's place, or job, to threaten this person with dismissal. The DE should not have even been brought into this, likewise the rest of the leaders in your Pack. Especially at this stage. If you are the Committee Chair, you should immediately, contact your COR, and the IH of your CO (no one else), and have a meeting with them about the issue. The CO owns the Pack, and the COR and IH, ultimately, are the ones who are responsible for any hiring and firing of leaders in your Pack. The COR and IH can drop this man's membership at any time they want. IF that is what they decide, they should contact his family and let them know. THAT is the point that the SE (not the DE) should be contacted by the COR or IH, and not before. IF, for whatever reason, the COR and IH decide they want to give this man another chance and keep him on as a registered leader (in whatever position THEY choose), that also is their right to do. When they make that decision, THAT is the point that the COR or IH should contact the SE (again not the DE) and let the SE know what is going on. At this point the SE can decide to go along with the decision of the CO, or the SE can decide to release this man from his membership in the BSA irregardless of the CO's wishes. However that decision is up to the SE ONLY, not the DE.

No, they do not. Keep in mind this is considered a temporary patch, not a permanent one. The Immediate Recognition Totem (paw print, progress toward ranks, compass emblem) hangs from the button of the right pocket and covers any temporary patch worn anyway (does your son wear his totem?). This is why in Cub scouts most of the boys wear their temporary patches on a brag vest, jacket, or blanket.

Keep in mind this is considered a temporary patch, not a permanent one. The Immediate Recognition Totem (paw print, progress toward ranks, compass emblem) hangs from the button of the right pocket and covers any temporary patch worn anyway (does your son wear his totem?). This is why in Cub scouts most of the boys wear their temporary patches on a brag vest, jacket, or blanket.

You stated this will be open to the public. If so, why have activities that are only for scouts? Is the public supposed to just walk around and look? That does not sound like a lot of fun for non-Scouts! It sure would not get me out there. I would include activities that EVERYONE, can have fun doing. This means that you need activities for all ages and skill levels.

The only thing our Troop does during the summer is 1 week of summer camp. Other than that they shut down.

Before you start sending 2+ text messages each week, make sure you have the ok from the people you will be texting. Not everyone has unlimited texting. My daughter was just complaining to me yesterday about people sending her unnecessary text messages and wasting her minutes and messages. Personally, I would be a bit upset to get 2 den meeting reminders, of any kind, within hours of each other. I have an automatic email meeting reminder that goes out 2 days before. If that is not enough, oh well. I can not (and will not) drag them bodily to the meetings.

By the way - Weather or not your Pack camps has no impact on the Cubmasters job. While being "Master of Ceremonies" is one of the major aspects of the Cubmaster's job, it is by no means the ONLY one. From the BSA National website - The Cubmaster's responsibilities are to - Conduct a pack program according to the policies of the BSA. Complete Cubmaster Fast Start Training and position-specific Basic Leader Training. Attend monthly roundtables. Plan and help carry out the Cub Scout program in the pack. This includes leading the monthly pack meeting, with the help of other leaders. Help the pack committee with a year-round recruitment plan for recruiting boys into Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouting, and Webelos Scouting. Know about and use the appropriate and available literature, including Boys' Life and Scouting magazines, Cub Scout Program Helps, and the Webelos Leader Guide. See that the pack program, leaders, and Cub Scouts positively reflect the interests and objectives of the chartered organization and the BSA. Work with the pack committee on (1) program ideas, (2) selecting and recruiting adult leaders, and (3) establishing a budget plan. Guide and support den leaders. See that they receive the required training for their positions. Help organize Webelos dens and encourage graduation into a Boy Scout troop. Help establish and maintain good relationships with Boy Scout troops. Maintain good relationships with parents and guardians. Seek their support and include them in activities. Involve male relatives such as uncles and grandfathers so that Cub Scouts will have additional male role models. See that Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts receive a quality, year-round program filled with fun and activities that qualify the dens and pack for the National Summertime Pack Award. Guide Cub Scouts in goodwill and conservation projects. See that the responsibilities specified for the assistant Cubmaster are carried out. Help the pack committee chair conduct the annual pack program planning conference and the monthly pack leaders' meetings. Work as a team with the pack committee chair to cultivate, educate, and motivate all pack leaders and parents or guardians in Cub Scouting. Take part in the charter review meeting and annual charter presentation ceremony. Request den chiefs for all dens and, after selection, see that they are trained. Recognize the den chiefs at pack meetings. Conduct an impressive graduation ceremony for Tiger Cubs. Meet with the unit commissioner, Webelos den leader, and Scoutmaster to establish plans for the Webelos Scouts' transition to Boy Scouting. Help plan and conduct impressive Webelos graduation ceremonies involving parents and guardians, the Scoutmaster, the Webelos den chief, the Webelos den leader, and the troop junior leaders. Conduct impressive Arrow of Light Award ceremonies. Encourage high advancement standards for all Cub Scouts. Help bring families together at joint activities for Webelos dens (or packs) and Boy Scout troops. Support the policies of the BSA.

BSA will not allow you to register as both a den leader and a cubmaster. In order to charter/recharter a Pack MUST have a registered cubmaster. If you plan on taking on the CM role, that is the position you should be registered in. The patches you wear on your uniform should reflect your registered position. I would recommend that if you want to continue working at the den level, as well as being the registered Cubmaster, you step down from den leader to assistant den leader, and ask one of the other parents to take on the role of den leader.