cajuncody

As I was looking through my scout prayer collection for a field trip prayer I came across one that seemed just right for where this thread has been and is going. I am going to put it here so some may want to skip the rest of this message. Kristi Scout Law Prayer Dear Lord, Bless all those everywhere who contribute to shape the hearts, minds and bodies of young people. Let us remember what they have taught and apply it daily. When facing deceit and dishonesty, let us be Trustworthy. If we see hypocrisy and faithlessness, let us be Loyal. Where disregard of others and mere materialism prevail, let us be Helpful. When we find people in despair, let us be Friendly. In an atmosphere of ill manner, let us be Courteous. Where some measure manliness in brutality and crudeness, let us be Kind. Though lawbreaking and rule-scoffing are common, let us be Obedient. While others grumble and grouch, let us be Cheerful. In an environment blighted by waste and extravagance, let us be Thrifty. When confronted with danger and temptation, let us be Brave. As we see filth and pollution everywhere, let us be Clean. While witnessing impiety, let us remember to be Reverent. In short, in a world that has for generation after generation lamented the lack of good examples, let us, as Scouts, stand out, grow up, and be real adults. Amen.

don't forget the first ever National Pinewood Derby. If my son (fingers crossed) gets his car chosen to go you can bet we will be there with bells on. Kristi

I do not know if this is what you were looking for but it would seem to fit. From my personal collection: Dear God, give us thankful hearts. Keep us from complaining. Help us get along with each other. Keep us cheerful when things go wrong and our plans are upset. We pray that we may grow in love and understanding of one another. Amen Kristi

Ah, the good ole U S of A. Where every man is innocent until the media gets ahold of it. With all the media hype you would think that this man had been caught in the office closet with a Cub Scout by the police with video cameras and expert witnesses standing around taking notes. Nothing has been proven, no trial has been had, but thanks to "Good Reporting" (sarcasam intended) we are all reading his guilt, not as alleged but as tried and proven in print. Now, this is not to say that I am standing up for this man, I don't know him and I wouldn't want to if this is proven true, but come on, just because the media says it does it have to be true? Should we all take a nice walk and ask OJ? ( for Eamonn's sake I had better add Simpson to this) As a scout leader if any parents question me I will just tell them the same. No one has a right to judge another by the media. If he is guilty then punish him, not the BSA. I have my YPT and was planning to show the video next meeting anyway. You can't hold the organazation responsible for what someone does on their own time. No where have I read that any of this alleged activity took place on BSA time or on BSA computers, just that the computer was turned over by the BSA. At least "try um" before you "hang um". Kristi(This message has been edited by cajuncody)

I have my Baloo info as I just completed it last month. Do you need Appendix E Cub Scout Pack Campout Planning Calendar or Appendix F Cub Scout Outdoor Program Checklist? Let me know which and where to send it and I will scan it in and email it to you. Or check out http://www.buckskin.org/Resources/Forms/Forms.htm Look at the bottom under Cub Scouts. Kristi(This message has been edited by cajuncody)

In a previous post Lynda J wrote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recently at a Round Table we had a dad comment that Scouting needs to market itself like sports. But to the point that there is "No Second String in Scouting and that no one sits on the bench." I hope it is ok with Lynda but I spun this off into a spring recruitment flyer for our pack. If there are no objections I am going to have it printed. I loved it. I will try to paste it here but the pictures may not come through. The clip art was of different sports, family activities, and scout symbols. The formating is off due to the copy and paste so use your imagination or email me and I will send it complete. Kristi #CUB SCOUT SPRING TRY OUTS (COME TRY US OUT!)  THERE IS NO SECOND STRING AND NO ONE SITS THE BENCH. New Trained Leadership Why sit on the bench when you can run with the Pack  New Leadership , BSA Trained New Parental Committee Come check us out at our Scout Recruitment night Thursday April 14 2005 7pm at French Broad Baptist Church Refreshments will be served   Cub Scouts is a family sport Some of our yearly activities include: Pack Family camp Pack and Paws Hike Pinewood Derby Blue and Gold Banquet Scout Cook Off Pumpkin Decorating contest Hiking Fishing Raising and Lowering the Flag at Northview District Lock in District Day Hike District Pinewood Derby District Twilight Camp Family Camp at camp Buck Toms  TIGER CUBS First Grade Boys Boys sign up with an adult partner as a team. Boys will be part of a Tiger Den. Earn Tiger Cub Badge after completing 5 achievements. Each Tiger Den has about 3-8 boys and their partners. One adult Partner will be the Tiger Den Leader. Each Tiger Den meets 3-4 times a month. Den meetings consist of ceremonies, games, crafts, songs, and skills.   WOLF AND BEAR SCOUTS Second and Third Grade Boys Second grade boys are in Wolf Dens. Third grade Boys are in Bear Dens. Each den consists of 5-8 boys Each den meets regularly (usually weekly). A parent of one of the boys is the den leader and conducts meetings on his/her schedule. The den leader is assisted by one or more assistant leaders (parents of other boys). Den meetings consist of ceremonies, games, crafts, songs, and skills. WEBELOS Fourth and Fifth Grade Boys Webelos is an 18 month program designed to prepare boys to transition into the Boy Scout program. Boys are members of a patrol consisting of 5-8 boys. Each patrol meets regularly (usually weekly). A parent of one of the boys is the den leader and conducts meetings on his/her schedule. The den leader is assisted by one or more assistant leaders (parents of other boys). Meetings consist of ceremonies, games, crafts, songs, and skills.  (This message has been edited by cajuncody)

I don't think it has to end at the school end. The Key word is "OR" For Wolf it is "In second grade or age 8" So that means that until he enters 3rd grade or turns 9 he can be a wolf. Summer is the between for grades so you could use his age. Kristi If I am wrong please be gentle.

I can only give you my district numbers that were read at our district banquet. For the last complete scouting year we had 1800 scouts and of them 17 received Eagle which was explained by the man with the numbers at 1.7%. Not sure if the numbers include cubbies or not. Just what was said. Kristi

Since my last couple of posts were "down" thought I would add this. The CC that we now have is asking to be trained. Is there specific training for cC? Finally, someone who understands!!

Laurie, You have just given me a valuable lesson. Never take someones word for it, always check to be sure. Outgoing CM told me they needed the COR to sign them and I just accepted that as fact. I do still need the COR to sign our money earning permit though and he just doesn't have time. I also have 4 new committee members registrations to be signed. I am running out of time on the Money earning app though and I have sent 4 copies home with his wife from the school and they have never come back. It is frustrating to be trying to rebuild something and have a couple of people who just won't cooperate. I have other people who are willing and able waiting for second string to be called into action. Thanks for the headsup on the boys registration, am taking them to council as soon as they open in the am. One down . . . Kristi

I need a COR that I can get boys registration signed to turn in. I have 4 boys who have been meeting with us since the begining of the year and they are not on the Charter because the COR hasn't found the time to sign the registration forms. So I guess I need to tell these boys to come back next year when this man has more time? Or maybe I should check with another interested party who has more time and is more acessable and is in the same position with the CO? I actually like the COR as a person but need some boys registered. I also need someone who doesn't expect special treatment. Yes, we do need alot of people replaced. The pack is in a death spiral. If we can't shake things up and get some people who want to do the job they volunteered for then it can't be saved. Kristi

Hi again. I have formed a functioning committee and had them approved by the CO and COR so now I am stepping back to the right side of the line that I crossed. Now that I am back within my realm of power I have a new and interesting question. How does a pack go about getting a new and more involved COR. Over the past few weeks I have found our COR to be difficult to contact and to busy to get anything done for the pack. On top of that he has a son who is a bear who never comes to the meetings and only shows up for parties and pinewood derby. AT pinewood derby they brought a questionable car but insisted on racing it anyway much to the chargrin of other parents who felt cheated. Then in the middle of the race the CORs family insited that another families cars be reweighed because they were running just as fast as theirs and they didn't think that should be possible. They expect special treatment and for their son to advance but he never comes to the meetings or outings. The only time I see him is at school on the mornings that he helps raise the flag. There is another member of the church who would be willing to be cor. What is the proper proceedure for switching? Kristi sill forming

But that is the problem. We don't have a CC and the COR just found out he was COR when I called him with the info on the charter. The CC listed on the Charter moved out of the area. The COR and the CO don't know what their responsibilities are. I am working with the DE to educate them but I really need some support from other members of the pack. I can't do it all my self, nor would I want too plus as you all have pointed out it isn't my problem. If we don't get a committee quick and get rid of this guy we may not be able to pull out of this downward spiral. Of course I could go back to being den leader. The shame is that is about all that is left now. The den has stayed with me. Kristi(This message has been edited by cajuncody)

I agree, he could do some good somewhere else. However, here in our pack and community he is not well received. He is very controlling. He serves as a camp site host at our council summer camps and does very well with boy scouts since it is boy run. He is an Eagle Scout so he knows how the program is supposed to runbut just doesn't do it that way with cubs. With money missing though it has soured alot of people. Add on top of that the constant interuption of our meetings and the fact that he said "Since I am no longer CM that makes me CC right?" to a group of parents at the last meeting. They are the ones who left. If he would just move on and let us recover. Kristi

Ok, maybe I was a little vague. I am not a den leader any more. I am on our pack charter as the CM. The former CM is no where on our charter. The committee members listed on the charter left 3 years ago with their boys. The former CM has been doing everything. He retired, passed the pack to me at our blue and gold. THe DE told me that the merit award was for his work with Day camp, that was even stated at the award ceremony. This is no great and fine leader. We have pack money missing. We have adults who wittnessed him spending pack money by a pack check on personal items. He has nearly cost us our charter. I am losing families because they aren't interested in listening to him talk for half the meeting time every time we meet. He won't pass on financial records he says he just knows whether or not we have money, no bank statements. The CO doesn't want him around but doesn't want the responsibility of telling him to go away as the pastor is new. I have 25 boys whose parents have said will rejoin when he is gone. As for Day Camp, our district day camp is a joke. Out of all scouts in our area (these numbers were read at roundtable) 4% attend our day camp. Everyone else goes somewhere else. Last daycamp I was bumming wood kits from Lowes because he failed to have a back up plan and the shooting sports guy didn't show up. District and Council are paying to send me to Day Camp School so that I can replace him in the directors chair. This isn't the personal quest of mine that it sounds like. I want my son and all the boys to have a good experience in scouts and he didn't provide it then he retired. You can't run the pack if you aren't a member, which he isn't. I have spoken with the CO to get a new COR so that we may properly form a committee but I need something functioning until then. We are broke so we need a treasurer and fundraising chair. Other than a recruitment chair that is all I have done so far. CO wants recomendations for CC as they know nothing about us as people. I may be out of line but it is only to get us back in sight of the line. Kristi

Neither the COR or the CO appointed him. We didn't have a committee so I have formed a temp one with the adults we have available who are willing to help. I was hoping by getting a committee we can get on a better footing with the CO and not lose our charter. The former CM is the biggest reason we may lose it. I have asked a parent to fill in as CC until we progress (great parent with 5 children 1 wolf, twin future tigers and a year old boy with a sister thrown in to keep it interesting). He could bring longevity to the position and can get along with anyone. Plus with that many children we know he can mediate disputes. I have been thinking of asking the former CM to be Activities Chair to make the transistion to non leadership easier but I don't think the parents will go for it and neither will the CO. Kristi

I did get the keys. The equipment and money are still MIA. He talks for 30 min at every meeting instead of letting us have den meetings. We don't have "pack meetings", the boys never sing or do skits we learn in dens. Many many other problems. We are now down to 12 boys. 2 left last week because he is still here after retiring. He doesn't respect the church where we meet. He has interupted their meetings out of spite when they use the room we usually do . He has been rude to parents and boys. He is just not what a CM should have been and runs everything himself. No committee in the past because he ran it his way. Now I am forming a committee because he retired and he self proclaims himself Committee chair. Kristi(This message has been edited by cajuncody)

Our former CM (yup still the lousy one) announced at the last meeting (just jumped right in) that HE had made a "bracket" for our race. It is like football teams use in a championship, you know, a bunch of lines eliminating teams at each championship game. I said thanks but no thanks that we would be using the Near Perfect N system so he asked the parents would they rather know right away who was still in the race or not know the winner till the end. They all want to know right away who is still in the race. But if we use his bracket it will be a single elimination, not even double. The second fastest car could be eliminated in the first race if chance puts it up against the fastest. If we use this method it will only end in mad parents and unfair results. Don't get me wrong, the parents want him gone but due to the way he explained his "bracket" they want to use it tomorrow. I guess it is just another thing I will have to put my foot down on tomorrow. stressed in TN Kristi

How much can one pack endure. Last night was the district awards banquet. Our "former" CM (yeah the lousy one) was given the "District Award of Merit" for all of his years of service and running Day camp for 5 years. He goes up there and our district commish says that "He retired as the CM and is now serving to the committe of pack ___" DOH!!! We don't want him, he was not asked to serve on the committee and I am still putting a temp committee together. Why does this man think he can just name himself to the committee?? Why can't he realize that the CO doesn't want him? Why can't he realize that the pack doesn't want him? Why can't he just go AWAY!!! So, at our pinewood derby tomorrow I am going to ask every single parent if they want him on the committee (technicality) so that I don't look like it is just me wanting him gone, then I will just tell him that he is no longer needed in the pack and he shouldn't come back. I shouldn't have to do this but it seems to be the only way. Can anyone suggest a good way to "show him the door"? Kristi

Well, being from TN where Frist is also from, I can tell you that he actually does support the BSA. AND he has already announced that he isn't running again. He is considered by all of us here to be a fine person. He is also a doctor and it was well publisized when he helped an accident victum on the side of a Florida road while in office. He also does alot of volunteer work and donates time to work in 3rd world countries helping those who can't get medical care (even against the wishes of other federal offices). I can neither confirm nor deny wether he himself was a scout but if he wasn't, he should have been. He has the support of alot of scouters here in TN. Kristi

Here is a petition that I received from a local scouter regarding this. Kristi Because you have already signed our "Save the Scouts" petition > and support the Boy Scouts of America, we wanted to alert you > to key legislation that would prevent organizations like the > ACLU from destroying this proud organization. > > + + Key legislation about to be announced! > > The "Support Our Scouts Act of 2005" is due to be announced > any day, and would ensure that the Boy Scouts are treated fairly > by guaranteeing their right to equal access to public facilities, > forums and programs. It would also protect them from senseless > attacks by groups like the ACLU. > > When this bill is introduced, Grassfire wants to be there with > 500,000 petitions in a massive show of citizen support! > > Right now we have 385,000 petitions, and we are calling on > friends like you to help push us past the goal as soon as possible. > > Here's how you can help... > > + + Action Item #1--ALERT YOUR FRIENDS > > Please forward this message to 20-30 of your friends and > family--urging them to stand up for the Boy Scouts in by > clicking here: > > http://www.grassfire.org/2/petition.asp?PID=97131'>http://www.grassfire.org/2/petition.asp?PID=97131'>http://www.grassfire.org/2/petition.asp?PID=97131 > > Given the state of today's culture with the lack of father's in > many homes, growing drug use and violence among our teenage > boys, and numerous other pitfalls, the Boy Scouts may be more > important than ever to the health of our society. > > But unless grassroots America stands up on behalf of this proud > organization that has instilled honesty, integrity and character in > more than 110 million boys over the years, we may soon lose > their outstanding influence. > > Thanks for your outstanding effort on behalf of the Scouts! > > Grassfire.org Alliance > > P.S. Remember, when this legislation is introduced, Grassfire > wants to be there with your petition and those of your friends > and family! > > Strike a blow for the Scouts by forwarding this message to 20-30 > of your friends and family today! > > + + Sign our "Save the Scouts" petition: > > http://www.grassfire.org/2/petition.asp?PID=97131 > > + + For more on this and other key issues Grassfire is battling: > > http://www.grassfire.org > > + + Show your support with our patriotic magnets: > > http://www.grassfire.org/9026/offer.asp?rid=97131 > > + + Comments? Questions? > > http://www.grassfire.org/email.asp?ind=10 > > + + + + + > Grassfire.org Alliance is a non-profit 501©4 issues advocacy > organization > dedicated to equipping our 1.5 million-strong network of grassroots > conservatives with the tools that give you a real impact on the key > issues of our day. Gifts to Grassfire.org are not tax deductible.

I would be happy to call the activities people at council but they refered me to the SE as HE was the one the Derby info was sent to and He is the one who is supposed to take the car. He didn't pass the info on to the folks incharge of activities. He pushed it to the side of his desk. Kristi

I need the contact info for the ACLU. You see there is this kid at school and he almost always is the last person picked for sides in any game. This has to be discrimination and since it happens in school it has to stop. We should sue the school and have a computer randomly assign numbers to kids and pull them for any and all team sports or games. This religious cult of choosing sides should stop now or someones feelings are going to get hurt. I agree with those who think the ACLU is picking on the BSA. Why? WEll no one here has posted one story of the ACLU fighting the schools who have an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Atheletes). If schools can have those why not scouts? What is next, will my son not be allowed to wear his cub uniform to school because it is mixing church and state?

Council, hrumph, council is on my list right now, more so than the SM who wants no ladies on camp outs. Here is why Heard about the National Pinewood Derby this year? No one in my district had including the Round Table Commish. Wanna know why? SE received the flyer but couldn't "find" a sponser or a place to race so he just didn't bother. Now all packs have already built their cars and District races are coming up and I found out about the national race. Plenty of people are ticked that we weren't informed, plenty of packs would have provided a track and somewhere to have the race. Now it is too late. Now the SE says, "Gosh, I didn't think anyone would mind, send in some cars and I will pick one to go" Council stinks, I would rather deal with District folks. If council is that way what should I expect from National. Kristi

Where there are boys there will always be a mother. I would like to think that there will never come a time when my son will not need me but that just isn't true because I spend a good part of every day teaching him self reliance. A boy led troop is a marvel to behold and I have high hopes of one day seeing my son in one (oldest is a wolf) but I won't be content to just hear about it when he comes home. The problem nowadays isn't that parents are too involved with their kids, it is just the opposite. A lot of Parents only learn about grades when the report card comes home. Not me, I am at the school everyday with the Cubs raising and lowering the flag. Most teachers and students know me by my first name. If there is a problem I want to be one of the first to know it, not the last. Scouts should be no different. If, as a mom/leader, I am trained and following the program and not interfering then there is no reason that I shouldn't go and be welcomed around the campfire. There is no reason that a mom shouldn't be invited to camps simply for the purpose of observing their children. Now if June Cleaver shows up and starts turning down sheets and cooking for the boys then something should be said but just to assume that a mom will do that is wrong. Independance is a great thing and I think all boys should learn it but parental involvement should never be compromised. Families are different, unless it is a family camp then participation could be limited to a parent or guardian. Kristi