Looking For Ways To Improve Communications.

[Eamonn]

When we first started the Ship, I did all the work!!

The first few months activities, ideas and meetings were all mine!!

Now at the ripe old age of six months, I have taken a few steps back.

All of our Petty Officers (Youth Leaders) have completed Quarterdeck Training, all were elected by their fellow Sea Scouts.

We hold regular monthly Quarterdeck Meetings (A lot like a PLC)

The ideas and things that come from these meetings are really good. They are met with more than a fair share of enthusiasm, but when it comes to participating things fall a little flat.

Scouts who have said that they will do things get busy doing something else or they just seem to lose interest in doing what they once seemed to think was a good idea.

Our Purser sends out e-mails and permission forms, the Crew Leaders send out reminders, but something isn't working.

We have just started a monthly News Sheet.

I'm trying not to say or write too much.

When I do bump into any of the Scout's parents I do put in a plug for what we are doing, but I feel that it isn't my job to be phoning or e-mailing parents. If you like I have adopted a "If they build it, they will come" attitude!

The girls seem to be a lot better than the boys!! I'm starting to think that the boys who are or have been Boy Scouts have got used to not keeping commitments they have made because they "Got away" with it in the Troops they were in.

Any ideas would be welcome.

Eamonn.

[SueM]

Eamonn,

 

What about a Ship Website?? I don't usually give plugs for any particular site but try looking at www.freewebs.com It's totally free if you allow popups..but for a reasonable $10 a year, you can avoid those. They have easy to use templates and it's extremely easy to use...We built our troop site there almost 3 years ago and have used it since then. You can post pictures and any kind of info you want and everyone can access it any time for updates, etc.

 

Sue m.

[clydesdale115]

Interesting that you talk about Ship's website. Our pack has struggled with communication as well. We have 3 (count 'em - 3) websites in various stages of information. One is a dead link, one is 2 years out of date, and one even has ads at the top linking you to porn sites - I'm not joking!

 

My husband is working his Wood Badge ticket and one item is to make the Pack's website better, with more information, better communication, pictures, attaboys, and general pats on the back. First job is to get rid of the dead one and the one with the questionable ads! He's starting to make head-way and a parent in our den wants to be Webmaster - whew!

 

A Pack's situation is decidedly different from a Ship's, but the information still needs to get out - timely and accurately. A website is a good way to go. Everyone has access to the same information at the same time.

clydesdale115

[CNYScouter]

I am kind of disappointed in reading this as I was just going to PM you on how to deal with this type of situation.

 

The new ship we will be starting will be in this situation. It will be kids with no Scouting background and the Scouts I know that have expressed interested are coming from "adult run eagle mills" where everything has been done for them.

 

I know Venturing (Sea Scouts) is youth-run with adults being in a Shadow leadership role only, but I think myself and the other adult leaders will be spending a good deal of time working with the youth and helping them learn to become leaders.

 

I'm not suggesting that you step in and do everything but perhaps the adults taking a bigger role in helping some of Ship members with their roles is something to consider.

 

I am thinking about starting the first few meeting with teamwork and leadership exercises to try and get things moving.

[FScouter]

I'm starting to think that the boys who are or have been Boy Scouts have got used to not keeping commitments they have made because they "Got away" with it in the Troops they were in.

 

Yes. And perhaps the only way to correct those learned misbehaviors is to insist on new behaviors. Part of the adult guidance model. Now is when they need you to show them how proper communication is done, and to insist that it is completed.

[Eamonn]

FScouter

I'm trying!!

Our Boatswain and Boatswain's Mate are two really great kids, with parents who are behind them 100% - But at times the parents end up doing everything or pushing to make sure it's done.

We do need to ensure that everyone (Adults as well as Scouts) are held accountable for doing what they say they are going to do.

While I'm blaming a lot on communication, I think part of what we are going through is a "Storming" phase.

"Supervisors of the team during this phase may be more accessible but tend to still need to be directive in their guidance of the decision-making process and professional behavior"

Could it be that I need to be more directive?

I was with the last Troop I served for a little over 11 years -A lot of the problems were so long ago that maybe I need to slow down a little?

Eamonn.

[jr56]

Hi Eamonn,

As a former Venture Crew Advisor, I have noticed that the young ladies are years ahead of the young men in regards to emotional maturity. I saw the same thing, the young ladies would get the jobs done, it has nothing to do with the young men having been in scouts. I also noticed the same thing that you have, the kids would real enthusiastic at storming sessions, and then not follow through with the execution without being "ridden". I'm sure that there are people out there that will disagree with me, but today there are so many activities for young people to be involved with, they get too involved and just won't take the time to run a crew/ship. Just my 2 cents, if anyone out there has any ideas to motivate these young people, I'm more than happy to hear them.

[Eagledad]

>> I'm starting to think that the boys who are or have been Boy Scouts have got used to not keeping commitments they have made because they "Got away" with it in the Troops they were in.

[Eamonn]

As ever the little grey cells have been working.

I don't know if any one caught the show on PBS about teenage drivers. I missed the start of it, but they put video cameras in the cars of ten teenagers for six months.

It showed how the teens and some of their parents had the same bad habits.

I think we need to be aware even if we have little kids in the car that they are watching and will copy us.

It showed how the girls were more careful and less lightly to fall victim of peer pressure when other teens are in the car.

Near the end of the show they had some expert who made the point that 16 year olds are not adults. He got into this brain developmental thing.

I sat at home and thought "Hey I don't have a PhD and I could have worked that out for myself!!"

But thinking about my expectations from a bunch of 16 , 17 year olds is that I have been expecting them to be little adults.

They aren't -They are still teenagers!!

Going back to good old "Train Them, Trust Them, let the Lead" Maybe I'm guilty of presenting the training and not really supporting them?

Maybe not understanding them?

Sure the easy road would be for me to start sending e-mails, talk to the parents and have them get on their child.

But that's not what we are trying to pass on to our Scouts.Maybe? The end result might be more like I would like, but...

I just spent the last few years as District Chair and one of my big things was making people accountable.

We need a model for that.

1/ We Explain what is needed.

2/ They buy in and volunteer.

3/ We check to see what's happening?

4/ We receive reports and make any necessary changes.

5/ The task is completed.

6/ Everyone enjoys the party!

(Isn't there something like this in either the old TTT or the new one?)

Working with adults isn't always easy and many of them don't seem as busy as the Scouts.

Eamonn.

[scoutingagain]

"By nature boys are basically lazy and put off lesser fun priorities until last. "

 

And what percentage of female spouses of adult male scouters would make the same observation about their husband?

 

SA

[Eamonn]

Imagine the theme music from the Twilight Zone playing in the background

At our last Quarterdeck Meeting, we were almost done when four of the Petty Officers ganged up on me!!

They informed me that I wasn't helping them!!

They went on to say that they thought maybe I was trying to be too nice.

They really want a deadline to be a deadline.

(Yes I'm a sucker for a hard luck tale)

They want all activities to be prepaid.

(I'm still a sucker for a hard luck story.)

They want no refunds.

(I'll talk to the Ship's committee on that one.)

Eamonn.

[CNYScouter]

This is one area that worries me the most in starting a new Sea Scout Ship.

Where to back off and where to step in and help. (and knowing when to step in)

 

I want the Ship to be youth-led, but I know if the youth dont put effort into getting things done and too many activities get canceled because of this during this start-up stage it will fall apart.

 

The other concern I have is getting other adults to understand they need spend the time teaching the youth to do things instead of doing it themselves.

 

Where do you draw this line?