Plan for culture change as new cubmaster

[Tiger Foot]

I can't thank you all enough. I was feeling pretty beat down when I posted this. Not at all sure I wanted to take this on, ready to move on.

 

It's so nice to be able to get objective, outside, helpful and encouraging advice and experience. Thank you.

[Tiger Foot]

Hello Everyone... Sorry to bring an old post back to life, but I wanted to share an update, and maybe crow a bit.  It started out as a slog, but our 2017-2018 program year wound up great.

We did lose scouts when we decided to raise dues.  I expected that, but I think it was okay.  It cleaned out a lot of the people who were really using us as a babysitting service.  I feel a little bad to say it, but people find tome and money for the things that are important to them.  And scouting just wasn't important to the families that left.  But most families, when they saw a budget and a breakdown of what we spend per scout each year, and where it goes... and how it still leaves us short if we only ran on dues, were more than receptive.  We had great turn outs and effort for all our fundraising this year.  So much so that we are gifting an AED to our local camp, buy the next years neckerchief slide for all scouts, cover the fee for all the adult volunteers going to resident camp this summer, AND, we almost have enough for a new PWD Track.  It was amazing to watch the remaining parents go from disinterested to engaged as the year progressed.

I stopped all the blah blah at meeting starts... Instead we did a few quick jokes or a skit and then broke into dens.  Including the pledge, Oath, Law, and a joke or two, we'd be into dens meetings in 5-10 minutes max.  Kids LOVED it.  We did have some snafu's as parents had to retrain themselves a bit.  All info went out via the facebook page and scoutbook.  But eventually it was all good.  Now when people say they missed something, they also tell me 'I forgot to check my email'.  Awesome.

I know you guys said not to worry about JTE, but it turns out that if you focus on running an engaging and active pack... JTE takes care of itself anyway.  We hit gold without even thinking about it.  And I was kind of amazed.  I sat down one morning with lots of coffee and one of my ACMs.  We were prepared to take all day to fill out the paperwork.  Hah!  I'm not sure what was so hard about it... we were done in an hour.  We actually had to wait a while for council to get its ducks in a row to finish it.  Even with the big drop in membership, getting our leaders trained, and getting kids to more activities more than off set it.

I've got a whole list of great stuff we managed to do.  And I have to thank you all again here for the great advice.  I didn't take all of it, but I took most of it, and it worked...

It worked so well, that I'm actually stepping down and leaving the pack!  One of the ACMs and myself are restarting a pack that went defunct several years ago in our own town.  We'll pull a few kids and leaders with us, but everyone is on board.  We've had more parents step up and take on various leadership roles so we won't be leaving gaping holes.  They have great systems and people in place now, and even though there's always more that can be done... it's a strong, committed team with supportive engaged parents!

So I'm headed to a new pack with my sons and their friends.  I'm excited that we'll be doing service projects and activities in our town, for their friends, families, and neighbors.  And the town is super excited too.  The masonic lodge is sponsoring us.  The American Legion has already asked us to march in their parades and help place flags around town and on local graves next year.  The town manager wants us to march in the fall festival and sell popcorn and meat sticks afterwards.  The Masons are giving us the entire 3rd floor of their building.  The principal at the elementary school, the town, the legion, and the fire department have all offered space as well.  I look around and see near endless opportunities for service projects.  And I'm really hoping that by having a pack right in town again, more would be scouts will be able to join us.

What started off as a mountain of problems has become an embarrassment of riches, LOL.  Now we'll have two solid packs in our district!  Even better... I'm just going to be the ACM in my new pack, and my former ACM is taking over as cubmaster.  And 2 of the other leaders coming with us are also joining us us for some more training:  We're all 'headed back to Gillwill' this summer!

Scouter life is good!  Thank you thank you thank you all for your advice and encouragement!