TundraHawk

fotoscout, we have yet to have a heart to heart with the leaders/committee or the parents. I plan to have a serious heart to heart with our leaders this next week. The problem with our volunteers (not including my husband or myself) is that they don't see a problem with our pack...they feel that things are running fine. One of our most active volunteers has said it would be best if the pack just folded. The meeting I want to have with the parents at the end of the month will be the discussion you mentioned in your post (ie, without everyone's help there will be no pack for your scouts). I think the reaction I'll get from a majority of the parents will be positive. I have a good relationship with many of them, and I know scouting is very important to most of their boys. In regards to recruiting adults...I think I'll be able to encourage some along with our parent meeting, but I know that won't be enough. If anything, I'm hoping to plant a seed with them in regards to volunteering. My husband was a military recruiter, and the BSA method is very familiar to how he did his job. FB - thanks for your perspective. I don't know if I'm overwhelmed per se, but I am getting incredibly frustrated. I haven't been doing other people's jobs but have picked up (some) of the slack where we don't have volunteers in order for the program to continue...mentoring the den leaders when needed (CM job), organizing a parent meeting for a leaderless den to find new leaders (CC or CM?). My husband (a DL) has, on several occasions, organized pack meetings. These are just a few examples. We could have kept strictly in our lanes, but if someone didn't step in to the above situations it would be detrimental to the program. I'm hoping I'm making sense. I know we could just not do something (like organize a pack meeting), and then that month we'd fail to have one. Yes, that might make a few parents sit up and take notice, but it is ultimately hurting the boys.

Semper -- thanks so much for the welcome. I've been lurking for a while and feel a bit awkward that my first post is a vent/plea for help. Y'all, however, have so much experience and wisdom in regards to scouting that I felt I could turn to this group. Although I'd be considered a newbie to scouting by many (only 1 1/2yrs as a volunteer), I hope to be able to contribute more to the board in the future. Your posts have really helped to put things into perspective. I never thought of our finding a new CO as starting anew, and we definitely have an advantage in regards to having a good base of boys, funds, equipment, etc. We have our pack committee meeting next week. Our district commissioner is supposed to be in attendance, and I'm hoping our DE will be able to attend and give us guidance as well (if not at this meeting, then in the near future). At our Jan pack meeting, I'm hoping to talk to the parents (away from the boys) about our situation, while the boys are busy with games that the den leaders will oversee. Ideally, I'd like to set up a parent's meeting on a separate night, but I know the turnout will be higher on pack night. You mentioned me taking the role of CC. Actually, our current CC has asked my husband on several occasions to approach me on taking the position. I did say yes, but then our CC left without saying anything more about it...I guess he changed his mind and decided to keep the position?? Strangely, right before our CC left he nominated me for CM and told me that I was a unanimous choice with our committee, only for me to find out that NONE of our committee members knew about this nomination, let alone a unanimous vote. (another topic for another time) I have no problems taking on a leadership role but would definitely feel more comfortable in a behind-the-scenes role, perhaps as CC. The thought of getting up to run a pack meeting makes my stomach turn inside out. LOL Eamonn -- My wording concerning our charter did sound sort of strange, didn't it? (Reading it now I see myself running around looking for our "lost" charter) Our pack is one that is being affected by the recent ruling involving the ACLU and military sponsorship of scouting units. We have a few groups who are interested in chartering us, which is wonderful news. Right now our paperwork is stuck in military red tape, but it will get figured out in the end I am sure. Your approach to selecting leadership is spot on. Unfortunately, in the past our pack hasn't selected its leaders...simply accepted anyone who volunteered. This has hurt us quite a bit. Our problems are coupled with the fact that later in the year nearly 100% of our dads will be deployed overseas. Although a few moms are willing to help, most see scouting as a "guy thing" and are reluctant to lend a hand. I want to impress upon them that they are valuable to our pack, and that we will not have a pack if most (if not all) are not willing to step up and help in some way.

Thanks, Semper. Both my husband and I are dedicated to the pack and for doing what it takes to turn it around, but we also know that we can't do it alone. Although council is aware of several of our problems, I don't think they know the depth of them. I appreciate your insight.

When do you realize that it is time to move on and change packs? I have been struggling with this decision for several months and keep holding onto our current pack, more out of guilt than anything. I so want to see this pack succeed but know I cannot do it alone, and it cannot succeed with only one or two dedicated volunteers. We have such a great group of boys, and they deserve an active and strong program. I feel that if I step down, I am not only giving up but failing them. I've been heavily involved with our pack for nearly a year, and it is going down like the Titanic. Currently I serve as a committee member (for two positions) and assist my husband, who is a den leader. Inadvertently, I've found myself at the center of pack communications - if someone needs something or has a question (committee members, den leaders, and parents) they turn to me. Here's just a sampling of what's going on: - We've lost our charter. We are in the midst of finding another, but it isn't locked in yet. - Our CC is away for the next few months, and no one was put in place to fill in for the CC. He has been our main leadership for the pack (see below). - We have no Cubmaster and haven't since the beginning of the school year (hence no supervision/guidance for the den leaders, and our pack meetings dismal). - We've lost a number of scouts in all the dens, except the one that my husband leads. - The leaders for one of our dens stepped down yesterday. - There is very little to no interest from the parents to volunteer. - Most of volunteers that we do currently have are so engrossed in their own scouting job that they dont look to see the bigger picture or dont care about other problems in the pack if those problems dont impact their son or their job within the pack. If something goes wrong, a few will place the blame on someone else and won't take responsibilities for their actions. We arent a team just a bunch of individuals doing our own thing. When I read over the above, it seems like only a fool would stay with the pack. I truly worry for the pack if my family leaves they would be minus another DL, ADL, committee member (and two of the most experienced folks in the pack). The CC even said that the pack would fold if we left. As much as I would like to think that his statement is a gross exaggeration, I think it holds some truth. If anyone has any advice or words of wisdom, I would love to hear them.