Cubmaster doing things committee doesn't like

[Tami the Mom]

I am stuck between these two and need some help. Our Cubmaster likes to do everyone's job. He thinks he is our one and only capable leader, so he goes to every den meeting of every den. He handles every fundraiser and service project. He tries to take over leader and committee meetings. As assistant, my ability to reign him in is limited. The big problem is the rising tension between him and our committee chair, who happens to be my sister.

 

This all came to a bubble last night at our first leader meeting of the new year.

 

1. He told the new Tiger leaders to just purchase whatever supplies they needed, and the pack would reimburse them with receipts. This is directly against what we decided last year.

 

2. He told us last year that the food pantry nearly refused to accept our SFF donations, so we worked out another plan- to aim our flyers toward baby needs and donate to the Community Maternity Services, also a food pantry, but specifically for low-income mom's to be. Now he says the food pantry was never a problem, we can go there any time.

 

3. After our sign-up night last week, he took the new applications home with him. Fine, except the next day he turned them over to council, without letting our CC or COR sign off the new leaders! He just went ahead and signed for them!

 

So what do we do? Our CC is flipping mad. She wouldn't have had a problem signing off on anyone, but he just took the papers and signed her name without asking. She's ready to tell him to stick the whole pack where he can't see it. Unfortunately he just started his Wood Badge, so he needs to stay on for another 18 months. Plus, we don't have anyone to take over for him anyway.

 

And advice or thoughts?

[nldscout]

I would not let the fact that he just started wood badge affect the committee's decision one bit. Have him come to next committee meeting and have CC and committee try and work it out. If not start looking for a new CM.

[SemperParatus]

Forgery is a crime. I would prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.

 

Your Pack should find itself a new CM ASAP...this one is off his rocker.

[Cubmaster Jerry]

First of all, Semp is right. The fact that he forged someone's name is a huge red flag with bright blinking lights and a siren.

 

Clearly this guy does not understand his responsibilities, or at least doesn't want to work within them.

 

How does the rest of the Committee feel? It is the committee's responsibility (usually through delegative authority from the CO) to maintain quality leadership, including the Cubmaster. If the committee feels that he is not doing his job or otherwise hampering the program, they have the right to fire him.

 

If you choose to do this, understand that, assuming you don't have someone to step up to be CM, the CC is next in line to handle those responsibilities on an interm basis, not the ACM. That doesn't mean that the CC can't delegate them to you as the ACM

[redfox420]

One thing I might add from experience (not personal, but close), don't let the fact that you might get asked to step up keep you from doing something about this guy. If everything you've said is true, this guy needs to go, sooner better than later.

[FScouter]

Item # 1 is straight out of the Cub Scout Leader book.

[madkins007]

There is a possibility that good training, like Woodbadge, will straighten him out.

 

How did you get to this point? Who 'hired' him? Who works well with him and can tell him to straighten up effectively? Who else can you ask to step in?

 

At this stage, I'd work on options- how can you get him 'fixed' (assuming he can be repaired), and/or who else can do the job well if necessary?

[KoreaScouter]

The Cubmaster serves at the pleasure of the committee/CO. If they're not "pleased", they can remove him from the position by verbal notification. You don't need a smoking gun, or a list of "exhibits" as evidence, either. If you do this, though, make sure you have a replacement on deck.

 

When I was a Pack committee chair, we had to remove both a Cubmaster and treasurer within the space of a few weeks. A little turbulent, but best for us in the long run.

 

Good luck

 

KS

[ScoutNut]

The first thing your sister (CC) should do is high-tail it over to council & let them know her signature was forged & re-sign those apps. Then she should get the COR & go pay a personal visit to the CM. Don't wait another month for the next committee meeting, do it now. They need to take control of the situation ASAP.

 

There is every chance that what what he is doing is not malicious, just what he thinks he should be doing. Maybe he thinks he is actually helping. Let him know that signing someone else's name is WRONG. They both (CC & COR) need to let him know what the issues are & how he is overstepping his position (& undermining theirs). They also need to be very clear that his behavior must stop.

 

 

[FScouter]

Sounds like a very enthusiastic leader. We need enthusiastic leaders. The challenge is to keep him enthusiastic in his CM responsibilities.

 

I'd look at those non-CM things he is doing and delegate them to others. If the CC is upset about turning in new apps, why did the CC not take charge of that? Why was the CC not at the recruitment collecting apps? Is there a fundraising person on the committee? If not, then it's not surprising the CM has stepped in to plan those events.

 

Rather than talk about replacing the CM, perhaps the CC and committee should take a more active role in delegating the non-CM work the CM has assumed.