T164Scoutmaster

I have a couple questions before I post a response! Does your troop only hold elections for spl once a year or has teh same scout been elected both times? Does your troop follow the boy led agenda? Are there any posisitons in your troop that are not being adequately fullfilled or need to be revamped? Thanks!

Oh Boy, you are hitting a nail with my hammer. 1993 I helped to resurrect a troop of papaer names and with the help of some great leaders and a support system we brought the troop to 35 active 40 registered in four years. When I left the area it wasn't but two years and the troop folded. The early days are the hardest and it takes a lot of work. If you have never had to deal with less then 12 kids you really have nothing to say as it is a whole new ball of wax. Well here it is now 2007 and I find myself back in the middle of resurrecting this troop what once was the oldest continuous registered troop in NH if Not New England (original Charter 1915)was up until July un chartered for the last 5 years. Currently we have eight registered kids all 12 and under. The only leadership is my assistant scoutmasters that were all my scouts from before. Why have 2 patrols? First it is what the Senior Patrol Leaders wants. The Senior Patrol Leader is the designated leader of the Boy Run Troop. After all it should be the Boys running the troop. The Senior Patrol leader had a great reasoning why he thought it prudent. "so there will be more available leaders with some experience to run for SPL when he leaves" That takes insight and shows responsibility and loyalty to the troop. Robert Baden Powel Said the Ideal Troop is 32 youth. He also said that a troop is not a troop wihtout at least 2 patrols. The founder of our organization recognized that part of the learning process within the scouting movement was to create an atmosphere where boys strive to be better and learn from their mistakes. Inter patrol activities and competition is how this is accomplished. The younger boys are more inquisisitve and always strive to be better then the older boys (my experience here.) It is tough to see a program work this way with small patrol sizes, but creates an excellent opportunity to stress the ideal patrol of eight scouts and an excellent opportunity to do a recruitment drive offer a prize or reward for the first patrol to get to eight. I currently have 2 patrols. The grouping of the patrol happened on it self. The Troop elected its SPL and the SPL chose his ASPL they were the start of one patrol the other 4 11 year olds were in the same weblos as the spl and ASPL so they chose to be their own patrol and the remaining two scouts 12 year olds opted to join the SPL and ASPL. It worked out that way. The decision should be decided by the boys how it is to work out. give them some ideas but let htem choose how the plan is activated. The leadership Corps is a great idea too bad the higher ups don't see the use for it. The boys can do some great things if you let them. Recruiter strips are a good incentive. have a sit down conversation with your SPL and ask for three differen't plans to split up the troop, have him use the troop to figure out his plans then let the troop vote on which plan they like. I hope it all works out for you. Look forward to teh results!