htusa31

Ok so update time.. We are at the end of the year and things kinda got skewed a bit. My SPL got a whiff of perfume and gasoline. He essentially went AWOL. My patrol leader is trying to do what he can but with his ADHD (I knew nothing about) it has proved difficult. My most senior kid I put into a troop guide position so that he could guide the new kids and direct the older ones (especially the SPL). He pretty much took over SPL leader positions. The straw that broke the camels back for me, was our group fundraiser. He promised to show. The day off I received no phone calls, no texts nothing..... I am still pretty ticked about it. Oh and he is ALWAYS late. 15 minutes late at the earliest. I got the troop together and explained accountability and being on time. (prepared) The others seemed to get it, and they tried to show on time. A few were early the rest were only 5 minutes late. I figured some of it has to do with spring and summer coming and just being tired of the daily grind. I told them to take the summer recharge (except for our summer trip) and we will see your guys in the fall. So this summer Im going to write out a program and then hopefully meet with my senior scout(troop guide) and put us back on course. I am hoping for a few more boys to get things rolling correctly. I had fun, wished I could of done more but at least we are trying. If you had a SPL like mine, would you give them service for going AWOL and not doing their job?? He has been missing for roughly 2 months. I dont feel he has earned it.

Agreed.

Let me rephrase. "I told them it is ok to download free music from the internet. As long as it from a reputable source and the source is giving it away for free. For example: Amazon. One day Amazon decides to give away Adele's "Hello". Then and only then is it ok to download for free. They understood what I was saying. One said "So you mean no P2P, or torrents etc... ?" He was pretty bummed about it, though I still think he will download it anyway.

We just did this for the entire troop. I had to lead it as no one in the troop even knew about it. I did mine in groups of three. Each older boy above grade 8, covered two topics for the EDGE method. It was kinda hard using the EDGE to teach a boy to understand the rules for being online. The boy in the under 8 did one of the simplier topics. I told them to write a paragraph explaining what they are covering and develop three questions behind each subject to ask the troop. Then let someone ask and correct them if they are wrong. It went ok. Most of my kids already understood the rules of being online. The only one they questioned was the media ownership. Some thought it was ok to download music for free. I told them it is but only if they are giving it away. Treat the internet buying like a store, you cant just take a CD/DVD and walk out. You have to pay for it. One mom didnt agree with the not looking at questionable images, and that boys will be boys. I told her that is why we are covering it. That stuff is not healthy and doesnt keep the boys mind "clean". He will then objectify women etc... Not to mention its against the law. She disagreed. I told her to make the adjustment as needed but I couldnt give the boy his Cyber Chip. She is still not happy about it. I really tried to help her understand but at this point I dont care. Until he is 18, its illegal and stupid. Im sure she will try to go up the ladder with it. Look lady I dont make the rules I just follow them. As for the recharge all of mine did it in two week periods, if I get new boys Ill put them through the course but on the same date we will all watch the video and call it done.

Agreed. I dont think its going to go any further. If we do anything with anyone. It will be my guy/girl calling their guy/girl. I know we made plans but with my recent knowledge from the District Unit Commissioner probably not. Agreed. There will be no merger FYI. Just a rogue mom who thinks she runs things. I am staying far far away!!!! Im going to bet that she figured new SM (I met her at the first round table I went to) easy target. I almost bit... almost.

Ok so another update. WOW!!! Is all that I have for this update. The dissolving troop is not dissolving. Its just pruning the few bad limbs. Initial contact was the travel coordinator chair at the dissolving troop (she has a few boys in the troop) Anyways between our conversations, she said she was told to reach out and see about moving the boys to our troop. She was to use this trip as a test to see if they boys would mesh well. I went through the proper procedures, submitted our troops travel permit(our TC currently has no PC knowledge). I submitted our tax exempt info etc... I sent a text to their TC to make sure they had submitted their info. She said oh I need to get with SM, to make sure we are actually doing this. Wait what??? You mean you havent cleared it with your SM first?? I finally get a number for the SM and give him a call. He tells me he has zero knowledge of dissolving the troop. I explain to him the situation and tell him what is really going on. After I finish he just said "Oh well let me tell you about our TC. She is not completely stable, she thinks that since her boys (kids) run the troop that if she leaves the troop will just disappear. I refuse to come to any round table meetings and such when she is around (she is a pack leader too). So I am sorry she caused all of this." He said the entire committee, district unit chair, and leaders are trying to encourage her to leave as her and her boys are not positive energy. They have tried multiple times to teach them how the troop works and patrol method etc.. They simply refuse to do any of that and most meetings are just glorified gym class. I told the SM that I should of reached out sooner, I assumed since I was talking to a committee chair that she would of gotten the approvals from every one else. After we talked about getting together (already went to dinner and made co-troop plans once she leaves) and assured one another that we are together in this etc... I have made a pretty good scouting friend out of this, and found a bad apple. Yes I was reluctant to believe anyone at that troop, but once the district unit chair (40 years of service) called and told me what was going on. I now know who to believe. I am staying far away until she leaves. She has sent me multiple emails asking about our meetings and I keep ignoring her. I am hoping she will go away. This is all I need......

I started with 7. If we add the boys who came back and the new crossovers that makes it 14. If we add these new boys we will be at 20-24.

Another update. We are probably going to add an additional 5-10 boys to our troop in the next 30 days. The SM of a local Troop is dissolving. He doesn't have the help and cant do it alone any more. The troops members are going with us on our monthly trip this month to see if everyone meshes. (I dont see why not) After that the boys and 2 ASM will transfer to my troop. They have been thinking about moving the boys to another local troop but they weren't convinced that troop was a good fit for their boys. Once they found out I was the SM at my troop, they said my reputation and dedication were the deciding factor. So we will see where this goes. I am sad to see a troop dissolve but happy my troop is growing.

Agreed, but if I didnt get them moving the right step then the troop ship would never be up righted. The model(s) that are being put in place, should keep the ship upright. I am hoping I dont have to train them other than a few pep talks here and there. I plan on using my individual time with them during the meetings to teach them how to lead so they will get multiple sources of guidance. One from me, one from the leaders in place. It is very nice to know that my name means well. The boys were promised things by the old SM and he was absentee a lot. One parent the nail in the coffin was when the old SM didnt show up to any fundraising events. Once they found out a new SM was in and it was a prior Troop member they knew things were going to change. (Side story about why they knew things were going to change at the end of the post.) Thats the idea. Give them a model and tell them this is not the 100% right way but one of many. Agree with that models are not 100% accurate but..... we all have to have something to mimic. Its human nature. For instance look at Tarzan, baby that grew up raised by gorillas. He modeled(mimic) after them. He had no other options. Luckily I have a very open mind and use the scientific method in most things of life. If the boys want change(formulation of a question) then I tell them to write it up(hypothesis) then bring it to me. At that point we will review it together, I will ask some questions and ask them think about how it will work and write it down.(prediction) I will then tell them to go experiment. (testing) After the initial try, we will sit down, write what went wrong and what we can do better at.(analysis) Decide if it worth another go, and etc..... My plan is for them to gain enough confidence that they will start to think how can I make this better. This is why I want them to think outside the box. I had to get them out of the rut and into the box before they would start peeking over the fence. Now they are running with it, and we will see where it goes. Ok side story. When I became Eagle. I made plaques. I made one for my grandparents, mom, dad, and the troop. The parents, had the rank pins and a picture of me on them. I had the names of the ranks engraved on black brass, with the brass being the text color. I put this all on black walnut. This wood was from a couple of trees I cut down. I rough cut and planed each board. The entire plaques were handmade from scratch. Nothing store bought, other than the pins and black brass from the engraving shop. They are really nice. My dad passed a few years ago and I have the one I gave to him. For the troop and scoutmasters. I cut the fleur-de-lis in a piece of 1 inch lexan. I put the Eagle patch and the eagle dollar coin(those were really hard to find)on a piece of black brass with the brass lettering on a black walnut board. I listed out all of the SM and ASM that helped me in the troop. The plaque hangs in the troop meeting room. This is from the parent. You are the only Eagle out of the entire troop that took the time to make something to thank the troop. I know you have passion and love for this troop. I am confident that you are going to make it better and fun again. Goes to show that the stuff you did in the past can positively(or negatively) effect the future.

Ok so Pizza Hut is asking for a 501©(3) number... Is that the church's number or something we need to apply for? We do not have a FIN, or the 501©(3)

Thanks. Figured it would blow up in my face (thinking the SPL might quit and take his 2 brothers with him), so far it has put confidence in the young man. 16 is the SPL(will become Eagle in roughly May), 14 is the ASPL(PL)

The last thread got a little off track. Im going to try and keep this one as my primary update thread. I am a little over a month into being SM, and here is where we stand. I am working on getting to completely boy led. It has taken some doing but I think I am almost there. I sat down with my SPL, ASPL(PL) and only ASM (at the time, I have brought the others up to speed) I told the SPL, ASPL, that this is their troop. They are going to run this troop. The SM, ASM's, are here to help you run it. You (the boys)are doing the planning and the leading. I asked them what they thought a typical meeting consisted of. They said tying a few knots, working on a merit badge, and then talking about school, life etc.. They said they wait for the SM to tell them what to do. (this is what they have typically been doing) I told them that SM run was changing ASAP. I expect them to keep up with the time. Start and end the meeting on time. I only want to talk (unless they need help) when its SM's Minute which should be the last 5 minutes of a meeting.(part of that is clean up) I then gave them a list of things to do around the area and told them to plan one thing a month. Ill update the list with new stuff and for them to ask their troop what they want to do. I then gave them a blank calendar, (I already plugged in the fundraising events planned), told them to plan it out and that from here on out they plan the events. They tell me when and where, then I will hand off. I said Ill let them know if I can get enough help to do what they want that month, but I need at least a months notice for a event. Informed them that if they want these trips paid for they will need to come up with fundraising ideas and plug them in as well. I gave them a list of approved fundraising events and items to sell. (items that will be the most beneficial) They have hung the calendar in the meeting room, for all to reference what we are doing.(their idea) As for the meeting, I said to come up with things to do that month that pertain to trip they are taking. For instance, they wanted to go to the aquarium this month. They are now planning things that involve mammal study, reptile study, fishing, scuba, what to do when lost in a city type city situation(providing everyone with a map), potential first aid situations, they are planning out the schedule etc... I am excited to see what else they come up with. (again all their idea) I then led the next meeting after this chat, showing them how one can be properly run. (They are young and needed a model to go by, think the E.D.G.E. method.) I told them this is not the perfect way but just an example. I let them run the next meeting(2nd meeting since chat) and then had them write down what they though went wrong and how they can fix it. The next meeting(3rd meeting since chat), is completely theirs to run. Pretty sure it will go smoothly. I am amazed at their level of confidence in leading now. I just had to teach them how and push them out the door. I have already seen the younger Scouts start to look up to the leaders. They are already going to them for answers etc.... I think now I can pull each boy one by one and go over some of their requirements again to make sure we are on the same page. Ohhhh..... I guess the word got out about me running the troop. I had 3 new/2 returning (5 total)boys show up over the past few meetings. They said they heard that we are doing some fun stuff and they want in. So now I have 13 total boys. Troop is growing. In April we have a boy cross over, and then in May another. Should have 15 by the end of May. I think I may have them split into two patrols at that point. Things are happening quick.

Ok so meeting was good but kinda disappointing. I only had 4 parents show up. Anyhoo, 2 of the parents that filled the committee were there. I appointed one of them as fundraising chair person. Just said I cant handle it. I will get info on fundraising but I want you to check into it. I then handed her 4 different fundraisers info sheets. (some from me, some from the council). She said awesome I was hoping you would give it to me and she didnt say it sarcastically. She has already setup the pancake breakfast at Applebees. Just need to make the deposits to hold the spots. I took Stosh's advice and said we can defray some cost with fundraising but some will need to be paid in cash/check for each trip. I told them I cant commit to week long trips yet with my younger kids, but I am here to try and do more fun activities but I need parents help to do so. I cant do it alone. I told them of potential trips we are thinking about and I think I got the attention for help. I also said any trips that we do are family invited. So if you want the entire family to go just let me know. I encourage families to go on any and all trips we take. I said I will more than likely bring my family as well. Scouting is more than just boy, its family. My other ASM took the new Weblos parents and told them about out Troop. He got two parents to commit to ASM once the boys cross over. (April and August) I got my troop boys together before the meeting and told them that we have potential new recruits and to remember that feeling of being new. The SPL got the idea and quickly got on top of things. They went over the Scout ranking. Also taught or retaught them the square knot. They went over their favorite merit badges and what they liked about them. I asked them about some potential trips (ideas for NASA space museum, caving, etc..) They took it from there rehashing the fun they all had. We also started doing the Citizen in the World merit badge. While it was not persay "fun" it was part of our normal meetings. We then had a knot relay, split into two teams of three. The Webols tied the square knot, while the older boys tied the taut line and two half hitches. Winner only received bragging rights but they enjoyed it. I had a guy that was entering scouts after I was leaving. He came back and signed up to be an ASM. So I have more help on that front as well. I think with my joining I have pumped some new life into the troop and we are on our way back to having fun. Thanks for the help. Ill keep everyone updated.

I gave my boys a copy of the new requirements to look at and use if they decide too. I have my book from when I was in Scouting the 10th edition I think. It has all of my advancements signed off, all the way down to my Eagle Board. I find it a a cherished memto of being in scouting. One boy said hey if we get the new book will you sign off on our stuff like that so we can keep it in one book? I told him absolutely. He said he wanted to keep it all together like I did, as it would be nice to go back and remember when he got his advancements.