danfoxh

WOW what a fund raiser. Being a "techno geek" I thought it might be cool to produce a slide show DVD all set to music utilizing pictures taken throughout the year. I have seen numerous versions of this idea, utilizing powerpoint, *gulp* actual slide projectors, etc.. I produced 25 of these. All with DVD packaging and covers. When we debuted the DVD at the pack meeting, we sold every single one of them, and took orders for another 50. People bought them for themselves, family members friends etc.. We sold them for $10 apiece. I dontated the materials. 19.95 for a stack of 100 cd's, $15 for 25 dvd cases. On just the inital sale, the pack made $250. Not bad for just a few hours of work. Not to mention the other fifty which i am producing this weekend. We intend on using this dvd for roundup next year at the various schools. we will not be giving it out, but throw it on a laptop computer to attract attention. Dan Hume Tucson email me with any questions danhume@vizenex.com

I am compelled to agree, and furthermore compelled not to work on the site at 3am!

Wow! what great feedback. I have made this a "dialup senstive" site. Though there are quite alot of graphics (actually less than you may think) they are all optimized for speedy page loading. Thank you for the suggestions. I will definatly impliment them. The PDF idea, i gotta say, i hadnt even considered permission slips on the internet... Dan

Our pack has decided to go to the world wide web! The site is not done by any means, in fact we just started work on it. We have big plans for the site. In the kids area there will be games, educational tools, cub scouting tools, a "kid friendly" internet search engine, rank requirement help and support, a live chat, a message board (and im considering letting the kids sign up for web based email. In the end it will be a high end database driven website. Yes we are designing it for our pack, however it is geared towards all cub scouts. Anyone will be able to sign up and enjoy the site. That being said, I would appreciate any input you folks have. What would you like to see what would encourage your boys to learn about the internet in a safe environment etc... the site can be found at www.pack224tucson.org Thanks everyone Dan

Well, I havnt posted too much but my tigers did it. They crossed over this evening with a brilliant ceremony. Our PM made a note about this being "the best tiger den in the history of the pack" and gave out something special. To most, this something special seems like worthless junk, however to us "ole timers" it brought back memories of childhood. He had collected old cub scout hats, the ones we used to wear back in the day, all yellow felt with the cub scout logo on them. Each of the boys was given one. So they will be able to wear these hats through to webelos without changing each year. I am considering taking the digital pics of the ceremony and posting them to some webspace i have if anyone is interested in seeing... I am darn proud of those boys. My sons mother cried, but shhhh dont tell anyone but i did too. I disguised it as a sneeze wiping the lone tear away.

two hours a week? I dream of that much time. Though my tiger den has won the spirit award EVERY pack meeting, and the centerpiece award at the b&g. Guess im doing something right. Looking forward to graduating them at the end of the month (hope i dont cry during that ceremony, i would loose coolness points) Dan

I believe your math to be correct. and that 1hr per week of non scouting activity can be substituted with phone calls to the PM, and den parents on any moments notice. However I must say i have everyone trained. It is now Hockey playoff season and i have not been called durring my teams games. Not that i would answer anyways, thats why i have voice mail!

One hour a week? since when? wouldnt trade it for the world though.

I have two boys five years apart, my oldest is finishing up 1st grade (tigers). I am the den leader currently. Though the PM will be leaving us at the end of next year and I am set in line to take over the pack. My youngest will be entering 1st grade, when my oldest heads to boy scouts. Thus giving me 10 consecutive years of cub Scout leadership. Add that to my own 5 years of cub scouts, and seven years of boy scouts. I guess you could say my life has been directly effected by scouting eh?

new to scouting site, not new to scouting! This year my oldest has entered the scouting realm which just has me practically in tears (sometimes not for the right reasons but you get the drift). When the words came out out of the PM's mouth "We dont have a tiger scout leader" my hand went up almost without thinking about it. Growing up my mother was my den leader, believe it or not my tiger den was the very first tiger den. We had no totems back then, we had no books, we also walked uphill to school both ways...oh wait, thats a different story. I do actually have a point. My pack is in an "economically deprived" community. But i have got to say, my tiger den rocks. My parents, tho not actually contributing to planning meetings, but what the lack in planning they make up in participation. But even with the best possible participation, the Go See It's have been challanging to say the least. As we look to graduate and get badges, On more than one occasion i have found myself asking the parent "ever take your "Joe" to the museum..Ever take him to a police station or fire station. Our den was slow to the punch on completing requirements. Mostly my fault being inexperienced in leadership role. But i think this method actually worked well. We spent alot of time bonding. As we look forward to the summer, I am proud to say i will be getting 100% retention going into wolf's. Not just my boys are returning, but every parent has asked me to make parent participation mandatory for next year. I guess what it comes down to, is we all have our own leadership styles. Some dens move faster through the requirements, some slower. But especially with the tigers (as someone stated above) their enthusiasm (and lack of embarrasment to say anything) superceeds the rest of the pack. I am so glad to give back, what I took from scouts.