Committee or ASM?

[LauraT7]

Since joining our troop 2 years ago, I have been registered as a committee member. I told them i would serve wherever needed and took training for all positions I could. I AM the troop activities coordinator - I send the permits, make reservations, collect the health forms, register boys and adults for camp - all the "paperwork" involved in getting activities to happen. This is convenient for both me and the troop - as I participate in almost all the troop events, outings and campouts.

 

Because I am so active - it is a little confusing to the boys - who come to me to sign off on their advancements, and I tell them I can't - because I might have to sit their board someday - even though I taught them knots, stoves, scouting skills, etc. (and we now have enough adults to sit boards, that I seldom do anymore)

 

Our troop went through a major upheaval in leadership - one faction fighting against another and I stayed on the committee because I felt I was one of few votes that advocated FOR a boy-lead troop and returning to a true BSA program (from a 'boys club' history). most of the boy-lead advocates were ASM's and our temp SM, and did not have a 'vote' in some major decisions - including convincing the committee that most of those 'decisions' were not theirs to mak, anyway! LOL! We found a wonderful Dad to be SM, who is a boy-lead advocate and who even the opposing faction can grudgingly support. and most of the dissenters have moved on.

 

the thing is - now that the 'crisis' is past, I really want to leave the committee and be an ASM - my heart has always been with the boys, anyway. I kinda feel like I've 'done my time' and now I deserve the fun part. But while we have committee members - we have lots of vacant positions to fill that newbie parents aren't willing to take on just yet. They come for boards when asked, and do specific jobs, but don't want to commit to a "position". We need a secretary, the treasurer is iffy - may leave - the adult quartermaster is just learning his stuff. We have a strong CC and Adv chair.

 

is there any reason I can't be activities coordinator as an ASM? No vote - just report at meetings and SoLong - I'm outta here. (many ASM and SM attend meeting anyway - for info) I don't want to dump another job on the CC to fill - and I have a system set up so it's real easy to do. And if we're going to be truly boy-lead - I don't see why I can't teach the boys to do this job, anyway. Other than writing checks and providing Driver's license and credit cards for reservations, things you must be over a certain age to do - I don't see why an adult has to do this stuff, anyway - it ain't rocket science!

 

Committee was a good place to learn the ropes, get trained and get the feel of scouting - But I'm tired of endless arguments over selling popcorn or plants!

 

We have a number of "specialist" ASM's - but the SM wants to assign 1 ASM to each patrol as advisor, and since I'm at every meeting and event anyway, that would be ideal for me. He wants to really re-inforce our new Patrol method, and have the patrols to start doing "patrol" outings, etc. Especially as for the first time in years, we actually have enough new boys at once for a 'new scout' patrol!

 

He has an Adult ASM for the Venture Patrol and one ASM for 2 regular patrols - he needs one more for either the reg patrol or the new scouts, and we think one of the new scout parents will be ASM for their patrol.

 

So do I stick with the committee and stay activities coord?

 

or quit the committe, be an ASM and NOT be activities coord anymore?

 

or can quit the committee, stay activities coord AND and be an ASM?

[OldGreyEagle]

First, Is the Lambs Farm in Libertyville still operating? Is that near you?

 

Laura, I beleive it was William Shakespeare who wrote,

 

A Rose by any other name would still smell as sweet...

 

If you are providing a service for the troop that is needed, and you have no problem doing and you can see how to break that service down so that the boys can do it themselves with you providing the adult representation when needed, I dont think it matters much what patch (ASM or Committee Member) you wear.

 

I think your troop would be bonkers (thats a psychiatric technical term" if they didnt retain you in your present role if you became an ASM.

 

PS: If you want you can do that job in out troop, I can guarantee to the position of Activity Goddess Second Class (promotion to First Class contingent on succeddful first year, not validn in states where such warraties are implied and not stated)

(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

[Bob58]

Please wrap yourself well and mail to... any one of a dozen units that I can think of! I'm usually the last one to reach for a rule book so its easy for me to say "You've Got To Do what makes you happy & helps the troop."

 

They could benefit greatly from having you continue your current responsibilities, take on one patrol, and sit only on the boards of boys from other patrols.

 

Anyone for the Spirit of the Law? As an ealy alzheimers candidate I can't stand the Letter of the Law! (Or maybe I think its important that you do what is right for you!)

 

Keep on Scoutin'!

[mk9750]

Laura,

 

Congrats on the shift your Troop is making!

 

A few humble opinions:

 

1) It sounds to me like you are doing the CC job now. All of the things you describe is 90% of our CC's duties. I guess I shouldn't claim we do it right, but the way we do it, you'd be the acting CC in our Troop!

 

2) You mentioned that because you could sit on B of R, you shouldn't test boys on Scout Skills. In our Troop, we push boys to seek out 1st class and older Scouts to do this testing. However, the Scoutmaster in our Troop is responsible for approving anyone who signs off requirements, and if you showed knowledge in a topic, you would be approved to test skills on anyone in the Troop other than your own son. As the B of R is not a retest, there should be no conflict.

 

3)My view is that you very well could do the activities tasks you describe as an ASM (although I still think those are really CC duties). I think spreading the chores around is a good idea, but anyone who has talent for a task and is willing ought to be considered to do so. If you aren't stepping on anyone's toes by doing both, I'd say go for it!

 

Keep on Scouting!

 

Mark

[evmori]

laura,

Go for it! And if your current Troop won't let you, I've got a place in my Troop for you!

 

Ed Mori

Scoutmaster

Troop 1

1 Peter 4:10

[ASM1]

Fill out the adult application and consider yourself an Assistant Scoutmaster. Your deserve it!

 

ASM1

[ASM1]

Laura, I almost forgot, next time your at roundtable get with your training coordinator and sign up for Wood Badge training. You will love it, and you will be elite trained to be a leader. I think your a natural.

 

ASM1

I once was a Fox....

 

[LauraT7]

OGE - Lambs farm IS still going strong - it's right off the interstate, before you pass 6 flags.... It's about an hour east of me but still there.

 

mk9750 - We DO want to get the older boys to "sign off" and test the younger ones - problem is that the "older boys" weren't properly trained in the first place and should not have been passed on many requirements. In the past, they were passed on a requirement if they DID it - doesn't mean they KNOW it. Our boys can tie a bowline if I do it first - but if I ask them again next week - most have forgotten. At our last Klondike, Our boys were told by a nameless scouter that their knots and lashing skills "sucked". It may be true, but we ARE trying to remedy that. So our troop policy for now is that an ASM must witness testing (even if the boys teach & test) & sign off on requirements.

 

ASM1 - I was going to take WoodBadge - but in our area, they do it in 2 3-day weekends,(starting friday MORNING) and it was really tough for me to get fridays off. Since I've been laid off - I have loads of time on my hands - but by the time Woodbadge comes around in August - I hope to be working again. Since whatever job I get, I AM going to request time out to go to camp with the boys in July - I think I'm going to have to postpone WoodBadge for another year. I'll get there someday, though!

I am signed up for outdoor leader skills weekend in May, though!

_______

 

Thanks for all your input and encouragement - I'm going to call our Committee Chair tonite and resign - and move over to ASM!

 

Laura

 

 

[scoutldr]

The best way to learn a topic or skill is to have to teach it! Tell the older scouts that, by virtue of being First Class or above, their obligation is to become a teacher, not a learner. (By having to teach, they will have to learn it themselves, but don't tell them that!) That's the way they train surgeons...watch one, do one, teach one.

[mk9750]

Laura,

scoutldr is absolutely right. When we have identified an older guy who is weak on a Scout skill, he is the first person we send young guys to to be taught and tested. We also follow up with the older guy to let him know we will be very disappointed if his new protege' doesn't learn well. Practically always causes the older guy to study even harder than the boy who wants to pass the requirement.

 

scoutldr also mentioned the see one, do one, teach one method of learning. I try not to make absolute statements, but there is no better way to get a person to learn than using this method. And the beauty of it is that it works better with younger people.

 

See ya!

 

Mark

[Sparkie]

Hi LauraT!! I made it, boy is it nice here! (This is what i've been looking for!) Anyway, it was my impression that ASMs could not sit on Bds. of Review, i don't know if that makes a difference to you or not. Hopefully someone will correct me if i'm wrong.

 

Sparkie

 

 

[Glenn]

Laura,

 

Just wanted to let you know that what you are planning on doing (Outdoor activity coordinator and ASM) can be done. I have been doing that for a year now. Sometimes it gets hectic, but it is worth it to me to be able to work with the boys AND fill a position the troop needed.