Is there such thing as Pack Executive Committee ?

[WestCoastScouter]

We have some divisions in our Pack Committee...

 

At our last meeting the CC announced that "Per discussions with the Executive Committee... which is me, the CM, and the ACM" we have decided that ....."

 

Is there such a thing as an Executive Committee for a pack ? I cant find where such a thing exists? or is this just a way for them to make decisions without discussing/vetting them with the entire Pack Committee ?

[OldGreyEagle]

Actually, the Cub Master and the Assistant Cub Master are not on the Committee, so I guess the "Executive Committee" would have to be where they would be.

 

Not going to find the term "Executive COmmittee" in any BSA literature on units

 

What did they decide?

[WestCoastScouter]

They handpicked the incoming CM... (no discussions with the Committee, and our COR never comes to meetings.) Others were interested in being CM.

[OldGreyEagle]

Well, if its a consolation, picking the new Cubmaster or Scoutmaster etc is not the function of the Committee. Selection of adult leaders is the COR's job and if they appoint whoever the Committee Chair says to, there is not a lot of room for the Committee to do much.

 

Now, the BSA has literature about how to do Leader Selection and the process to be sure the best candidate is selected and that is done by the COmmittee, but in the end, its the COR's job and anyway its done is the way its done for that unit

[WestCoastScouter]

... so you see my point.. the COR is supposed to be educated and to select the CM. The outgoing CC, CM and ACM "meet as the Executive Committee" ??? and do the handpicking ? vs. getting imput from all parents and leaders... Lets just call it the last minute annointing as they walk out the door... so as to keep their grasp on power.

[OldGreyEagle]

Well, what they did was not the normal way to do it but however the way it is done, the COR makes the decision and thats it.

 

You would think the COR would want to know who is interested, what the qualifications of the interested people are and all that, yet if the COR does what your "Executive Committee" says. then you have a new Cubmaster. appointed in accordance with the BSA rules as the COR appointed him.

 

BTW, that also means only the COR can "fire" the cubmaster, or any other adult leader

 

 

[emb021]

As noted, the BSA literature makes no mention of executive committees within unit committees.

 

Executive Committees are always composed of a subset of an organizations officers. If it existed, an exec committtee of a unit committee would comprise the CC and other top 'officers' of the committee. But the CM and ACM aren't members of the committee, so can't be members of an exec committee.

 

Bottomline, your CC needs to be trained on how pack committees operate...

[SSScout]

" In democracy, it's your vote that counts. In feudalism, it's the Count that votes."

==Mogens Jallberg==

 

Methinks the PC had best regain it's authority or declare it lost.

[DYB-Mike]

Lets just call it the last minute annointing as they walk out the door... so as to keep their grasp on power.

 

Interesting. What power are they maintaining and why do you think they want it? Do you think the new CM is not up to the job? You dont say how your pack operates maybe they just want to insure that the pack continues to offer a good program.

 

Have they also anointed a new CC and ACM?

 

Do you or others know the COR? Have other committee members tried to contact him/her to express their concerns?

 

YIS

Mike

 

[MNBob]

Well, if its a consolation, picking the new Cubmaster or Scoutmaster etc is not the function of the Committee. Selection of adult leaders is the COR's job

Where do you find that responsibility listed?

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/AboutCubScouts/ThePack/chorr.aspx

 

Pack Committee

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/AboutCubScouts/ThePack/pcomm.aspx

Regardless of the size of the pack committee, these responsibilities must be performed:

- Make recommendations to the chartered organization for final approval of pack leadership.

- Recruit the Cubmaster and one or more assistant Cubmasters, with the chartered organization's approval.

 

To me that points to the CO as ultimately being responsible for selecting leaders with help from the COR and the Pack Committee.

 

[Beavah]

Yah, folks here sometimes have some unusual notions about leader selection.

 

Now it is entirely true that da process can be set up by the CO however the CO wants it done, eh? Might be a religious calling, might be a committee election, might be selection by lot.

 

Generally speakin', however, the BSA recommends that either the unit committee or an ad hoc subcommittee do the selecting and recruiting of new leaders, and recommend 'em for approval to the COR/IH. If the CO expressed no particular preference, I would expect the unit committee to make the decision and pass it along to the COR for approval. Though personally, in bigger units I sorta like a nominatin' committee to do it, with a follow-up committee approval. Makes for more frank and private discussion.

 

When yeh get this sort of thing goin' on, it's best if someone be the adult in the room, eh?

 

Unless there are some real problems in da pack, I'd be reluctant to go against the recommendation of the current CM, ACM, and CC, eh? Odds are they know the boys, the families, the adults, and the BSA program better than anyone else.

 

At the same time, yeh thank the fellows for all their hard work and their input, tell 'em you value their recommendation, but it's important that all of the committee discuss it and buy in. And then yeh go ahead and do that in good and cheerful humor. Maybe yeh turf it to a subcommittee, or maybe yeh have an approval vote or somethin' else. Keep it focused on havin' a fair and mature method of choosing/screening or confirming a choice, rather than on personalities and individuals.

 

This is one of those areas where havin' Bylaws in place ahead of time avoids this kind of silly argument, because it spells out a process and makes it harder for a couple folks to hijack it.

 

Beavah(This message has been edited by Beavah)

[MNBob]

I've quickly picked up on most of the acronyms but I have to ask, what does IH stand for?

[FScouter]

"This is one of those areas where havin' Bylaws in place ahead of time avoids this kind of silly argument, because it spells out a process and makes it harder for a couple folks to hijack it."

 

Or, one can simply refer to the Troop Committee Guidebook or the Cub Scout Leader Book, which have a good process already spelled out.

[WestCoastScouter]

I'll elaborate on the issue. Our pack has grown due to the work of two former scout dads, one was even an Eagle. I am a Bear DL and see a huge difference on how these two leaders of Tigers and Wolves vs. past years. Thus we have 4x a many younger boys than Webelos... The Tigers, Wolves, Bears meet 3x a month, while the Webelos meet 1x a month.

 

There have been disagreements over the past year with the CC and CM, and these two "younger boy" DL dads. These DL's have helped us grow from 40 boys to well over 60 boys. They are the ones that volunteer to do the recruitment, plan the campout, ect. And a vast majority of us on the Pack Committee wanted one of them, either one, as the incoming CM, as our current CM departs as his son bridges out.

 

Thus when it was "announced" that thie "Executive Committee" had met and selected one of the current Webelos-1 Dads as the new CM. This gentleman has been a 50% attendee to Pack Commitee meetings, has never been a DL or worked with boys, and is rather introverted.

 

We all assumed that we would discuss and vote on who to recommend. We all know that the COR, who has NEVER attended any function is clueless, and just signs whatever papers are brought to his house.

 

Many of us took this as a last snub on us younger leaders... Should we consider breaking off and forming our own Pack ?? If we do.. the curent pack would be left without any Tigers, Wolves, or Bears...

[DYB-Mike]

MNBob, that one eluded me for a while as well. Its Institutional (or Institution?) Head, the top banana at the Charter Organization. The COR, Charter Organization Representative, is the IHs liaison to the pack or troop.

 

YIS

Mike