Dual roles

[gsdad]

Is it permitted, or possible to assume the roles of DL and CM? Our CM resigned recently and we are meeting to discuss his replacement tonight. I was approached in the past about taking the role when he left, but it was not supposed to be this soon, and I don't want to abandon my boys. There are a few other issues that make me hesitant to take the role on such short notice, but I am afraid if I don't the Pack will be up the creek.

 

[King Ding Dong]

I could have written this exact post. Insist one of the parents step up as DL and become ADL and/or get a good Den Chief. You can certainly assume the role at the unit level. You will need to change your primary registration at the service center to CM. Likely will have to fill out a new app. Sending out an email soliciting a new CM will not work. You must identify some possible candidates and two or three committee members gang up on him or her and give the pitch.

[gsdad]

Herein lies the problem, the CC and most of the committee members are parents of W2s and I see no succession plan. The common theme among them is "I have six months left".

[Stosh]

My first question would be, why must you step up and abandon your boys? This is a problem that needs to be worked out by the pack committee. Either they are going to recruit a CM or a DL. In the interest of the boys (which is always my #1 consideration), you should stay with your boys and the committee starts working on the CM position. Now, if you truly wish to do CM instead of DL, I would recruit a good person to take over your boys with a good DL. Add a ADL and maybe a trained DC to insure a good experience for the boys. After that is done, go for CM. If the committee wants you as CM, you can always insist assistance in finding good DL/ADL/DC to take over your den before accepting CM. So who wins? I don't care as long as it is the boys.

[gsdad]

My first question would be, why must you step up and abandon your boys? This is a problem that needs to be worked out by the pack committee. Either they are going to recruit a CM or a DL. In the interest of the boys (which is always my #1 consideration), you should stay with your boys and the committee starts working on the CM position. Now, if you truly wish to do CM instead of DL, I would recruit a good person to take over your boys with a good DL. Add a ADL and maybe a trained DC to insure a good experience for the boys. After that is done, go for CM. If the committee wants you as CM, you can always insist assistance in finding good DL/ADL/DC to take over your den before accepting CM. So who wins? I don't care as long as it is the boys.

My sole interest is making sure the boys do not lose out with any changes.

[blw2]

I'm in a dual role position....

I volunteered to be ADL. Then the CM resigned so a friend that was a Committee Member volunteered to be CM. He then asked me to be ACM.

I have retained the duties of ADL too, but per council you can only register in one position, so I'm registered as ACM

 

I agree with others though, do one or the other but not both unless it's a really small pack.

 

Are any of the parents in the Den good ones to tap? Seems like there's always one parent who's the unofficial not in uniform pseudo-ADL. Tap that person as "it" for the DL if you want to take CM.

[King Ding Dong]

Remember that 80% of Scouting occurs at the Den level. Making sure the Dens are covered is the first priority. Women can be just as good or better at the CM position as well. It is extremely important to get the Tiger parents involved and trained. It must be made clear to the all the parents that without their involvement the Pack does not "Go". Even the single mom can do something, however small. I am a firm believer in having sign up sheets and if you have a parent that is not signed up approaching them face to face and asking what roles or positions they would like to fulfill. Do not ask them to volunteer. Make it an expectation.

[gsdad]

I am the previous year's Tiger DL, one of the other parents is the Pack secretary, another is an ACM who was previously a DL, and not a good choice for CM. I have asked others to be ADL for this year and get excuses. We have no Bear den, and I am not sure of how many incoming Tigers we will have. The pack is small(20), and will get even smaller when the W2s bridge.

[King Ding Dong]

I am the previous year's Tiger DL, one of the other parents is the Pack secretary, another is an ACM who was previously a DL, and not a good choice for CM. I have asked others to be ADL for this year and get excuses. We have no Bear den, and I am not sure of how many incoming Tigers we will have. The pack is small(20), and will get even smaller when the W2s bridge.

Ultimately it comes down to sitting all the parents of a den down and telling them they have two choices. A. Pick a DL and work out who is going to do what. Or B. Disolve the Den. Their choice, it is their children and they explain their decision to their children.

[kari_cardi]

It's a common situation in our pack, most of our leaders wear two hats and we are larger than your unit.. My concern for you isn't in being Cubmaster and DL, but that you will end up assuming CC as well since as you say the committee is counting down the months to crossover. How many of the excuses from the other parents in your den are truly valid? Do you have someone that you would really like to work with, that you can recruit more vigorously? Can you identify a parent to begin working on to be CC? If you take CM, you'll basically have to build your own committee from what you've said, and you'll want to start that process ASAP.

 

Good luck!

[gsdad]

The COR is active and helpful so I know I can count on his help to recruit more leaders. Among my list of questions is what is the exit plan of the current CC since he said he has a succession plan. I have no issues with wearing two hats as long as the program doesn't suffer.

[walk in the woods]

It's a recipe for burnout. My pack was/is about the same size. I was the CC for a number of years and filled in as CM a few times in voids. IMHO, nobody can do both for long and do both well. If you do work both positions, will your parents step up to run the Blue&Gold or Pinewood Derby or refreshments for a pack meeting?

[Eagle92]

I would not do it, you will burn out and it will hurt. Trust me on it.

[Khaliela]

Short answer is yes it's possible.

 

I was CM and DL for 2 dens w/o assistants for either for about 2 years. There wasn't an assistant CM either. Speaking from experience, I'd advice against it. It wasn't long before the Pack began relying on my for everything and "Khaliela will do it seemed to be their manta."

 

I got burnt out and crossed my son over to BS after only 1 year of Weblos and told everyone of my plan 6 moths out; Nobody believed me. When I left the pack was so used to everything being done for them that they ended up hiring a college kid to take over as CM after several months of prenatal refusals.

 

If you do this, in the long run it will hurt your pack.

[gsdad]

For the time being I will be wearing two hats. The search for a new DL is in motion. The ACM made it clear he would not take the role for only six months(his son is a W2), I was plan A, he was plan B, there was no plan C. I informed my Den first, the Pack was notified shortly afterwards. From the feedback I have received so far, this is a welcome change.

 

Now do I buy another shirt, or velco the leader position patches between meetings?