Since my last post we have had a couple of good training sessions in Committee Meeting. We trained on Den Cheifs (what they are and how to use them) a couple of months ago. We then requested District Den Chief Training, and the District quickly provided it for us. I worked with the Scoutmaster, and we had six Boy Scouts from 1510 get trained at the event. That was awesome. So I followed that up with another committee training session on proper use of Den Chiefs. The Den Leaders seem pleased with the results they see in the dens. The Boys Scouts seem much more confident in their duties, as well.
For diversity, I'm pleased to report that we invited our unit's first eagle scout to the Blue & Gold Banquet in February, and he came! (He's about 85 years old.) He was the perfect guest of honor for our Hundred Years of Scouting celebration, and he made it really special.
Also on the subject of diversity, I am happy about the way our Pinewood Derby was a very inclusive event. We allowed boys who are not normally part of our group to participate, and I think it was a great experience for those families. While we haven't been able to recruit all of these boys, I think we were able to create a lot of possitive contact with families outside of out usual congregation. We didn't go to great lengths to make this happen, but we invite anyone we meet, and our open participation policy bears great fruit.
Pack meeting planning has definitely improved as we follow the BSA suggested planning process. We continue planning Pack Meetings in advance at Committee Meeting, and it seems to be going smoothly. I don't feel like I'm on my own putting the program together.
I have slacked a little in my efforts toward recruiting. My attention has been directed elsewhere, I suppose. What's neat is that others have begun doing recruiting as well! And I will return my focus to that subject soon, as I have some work to do on my ticket in that area.
I will also get working on the "service" item on my ticket by the end of summer, as I will likely have completed three other ticket items by then.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
December Space Derby Was Outstanding
The Space Derby was so fun! We turned out the lights, gave everybody glowsticks, lit the tracks with Christmas lights, and the whole thing was like Space Mountain. The boys had fun racing, and the little brothers and sisters had lots of fun playing with glow sticks.
Ms. Connell gave a wonderful presentation on Hanukah. The "diversity guest" ticket item is really enriching our pack meetings. We'll definitely have to keep this going after I get beaded.
The pack meeting was a little crazy, and ran a little long (as race nights tend to do), but I think it was definitely a success. I'm finding that I'm going to need to delegate some of the recruiting responsibilities on Pack Meeting Night, because I cannot give new families the attention they need while I'm running the show. We had two new families there, but I had my hands so full with final adjustments to advancements, responding to people's requests, keeping things in order and preparing certificates for racers. I couldn't be calm and clear and unfrenzied, even though I desperately wanted to make a good impression and help them get oriented. I need to delegate welcoming new families to our excellent committee chair.
I'm seeing how I really need to recruit another leader that would enjoy helping to run the pack meeting show with me. My assistant, Judy, is awesone and I adore her, but she does not enjoy the spotlight. So it would be good to add another person to our team. That way when I eventually move on to other things (hopefully in the distant future) there will be someone who already knows how to keep things moving and thriving.
Ms. Connell gave a wonderful presentation on Hanukah. The "diversity guest" ticket item is really enriching our pack meetings. We'll definitely have to keep this going after I get beaded.
The pack meeting was a little crazy, and ran a little long (as race nights tend to do), but I think it was definitely a success. I'm finding that I'm going to need to delegate some of the recruiting responsibilities on Pack Meeting Night, because I cannot give new families the attention they need while I'm running the show. We had two new families there, but I had my hands so full with final adjustments to advancements, responding to people's requests, keeping things in order and preparing certificates for racers. I couldn't be calm and clear and unfrenzied, even though I desperately wanted to make a good impression and help them get oriented. I need to delegate welcoming new families to our excellent committee chair.
I'm seeing how I really need to recruit another leader that would enjoy helping to run the pack meeting show with me. My assistant, Judy, is awesone and I adore her, but she does not enjoy the spotlight. So it would be good to add another person to our team. That way when I eventually move on to other things (hopefully in the distant future) there will be someone who already knows how to keep things moving and thriving.
The Dens are Growing, Getting Stronger
We sent letters (a few weeks ago) to all of the cub-age boys and their parents in Bremerton Ward, inviting them to come to our pack meeting and inviting them to consider joining Cub Scouts. It was so exciting when Laura brought her son Dennis to the Pack Meeting! She filled out an application on the spot and we are in the process of getting her oriented to the scouting program. Dennis turns 11 in a few days, so we are focusing on getting him into 11-year-old Scouts.
Sam T has been faithfully attending Leia P's den meetings on Tuesday nights, but he is 11, so we are helping him transition into 11-year-old Scouts. He loves Leia's den, though, and wants to keep attending there too. We think that's great, so we're going to make him an official Den Chief as soon as he starts attending the 11-year-old Patrol.
Sister J has kindly offered to give rides to weekly patrol meetings for Sam and Dennis (if needed) as she drives her son to the meetings. That's so helpful and thoughtful!
Leia P is so reliable and committed to leading her den. I am so thankful for her! Tonight at den meeting Leia told me she would really appreciate an assitant (or two) with creative talent. She hopes to be assisted by someone who can think of fun den projects, games and activities. Likewise, having a bit of diversity in leadership will strengthen the den and make the meetings that much better. I passed that info on to the church leaders.
Jessi C is the new Den Leader for Den 1. She has been oriented, has committed to do all of her BSA online training this month, and is really hitting the ground running. We're excited to have her on our team! She hopes to recieve an assistant or two soon, as she understands that with two-deep leadership, she isn't allowed to run den meetings alone.
John P and Linsey S have done a lot for our pack over the last few months! They demonstrated a space derby for us in November, and then officiated over a space derby in December. Both pack meetings were incredibly fun and exciting, especially with the 11-year-old boys being there. They also brought an entire den of 8 Tiger Cubs (and their families) from Holy Trinity Catholic Church to participate as guests at both Pack Meetings. It was an absolutly outstanding time, and we are so grateful for what Mr P, Mr S, and their boys did for our pack.
Participating tonight at Leia P's den meeting was a new boy and his mom. Aparently, they heard about our Cub Scout program from some missionaries. Isn't that wonderful? I will meet with his family and orient them to the program. We're so glad to have this new family in the pack!
Sam T has been faithfully attending Leia P's den meetings on Tuesday nights, but he is 11, so we are helping him transition into 11-year-old Scouts. He loves Leia's den, though, and wants to keep attending there too. We think that's great, so we're going to make him an official Den Chief as soon as he starts attending the 11-year-old Patrol.
Sister J has kindly offered to give rides to weekly patrol meetings for Sam and Dennis (if needed) as she drives her son to the meetings. That's so helpful and thoughtful!
Leia P is so reliable and committed to leading her den. I am so thankful for her! Tonight at den meeting Leia told me she would really appreciate an assitant (or two) with creative talent. She hopes to be assisted by someone who can think of fun den projects, games and activities. Likewise, having a bit of diversity in leadership will strengthen the den and make the meetings that much better. I passed that info on to the church leaders.
Jessi C is the new Den Leader for Den 1. She has been oriented, has committed to do all of her BSA online training this month, and is really hitting the ground running. We're excited to have her on our team! She hopes to recieve an assistant or two soon, as she understands that with two-deep leadership, she isn't allowed to run den meetings alone.
John P and Linsey S have done a lot for our pack over the last few months! They demonstrated a space derby for us in November, and then officiated over a space derby in December. Both pack meetings were incredibly fun and exciting, especially with the 11-year-old boys being there. They also brought an entire den of 8 Tiger Cubs (and their families) from Holy Trinity Catholic Church to participate as guests at both Pack Meetings. It was an absolutly outstanding time, and we are so grateful for what Mr P, Mr S, and their boys did for our pack.
Participating tonight at Leia P's den meeting was a new boy and his mom. Aparently, they heard about our Cub Scout program from some missionaries. Isn't that wonderful? I will meet with his family and orient them to the program. We're so glad to have this new family in the pack!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
More Good Things
More good things are happening. Today I visited a new family and they signed up their boy. The dad also signed up as a leader. (I'd like to see if we can get him in as an Asst. Den Leader. That would be really good for everyone, I think. I'm so happy about this family.)
Tonight I stopped by the Wolf/Bear Den Leader's house at the end of meeting time to find that nobody was home. A couple of moms had returned and were wondering where their boys were. There had been no mention to them of an excursion! (I was surprised, because we had talked about this in training at Committee Meeting recently.) I apologized and promised that it wouldn't happen again. We waited, and soon the boys and the Den Leaders walked happily back to the Den Leader's house. After the boys departed I talked to the Den Leader. After telling him that we had four new boys for his den (YEA!), I explained that the parents tonight had been concerned, and that parents always need to know where their boys are. So it's good that I was there tonight, and I hope this will not happen again. It mustn't. Tomorrow I will call the council and find out exactly what kind of excursions need tour permits.
I'm finding that new families are uncomfortable with Den Meetings at leader's houses. It's just how things are nowadays, I guess.
Tonight I stopped by the Wolf/Bear Den Leader's house at the end of meeting time to find that nobody was home. A couple of moms had returned and were wondering where their boys were. There had been no mention to them of an excursion! (I was surprised, because we had talked about this in training at Committee Meeting recently.) I apologized and promised that it wouldn't happen again. We waited, and soon the boys and the Den Leaders walked happily back to the Den Leader's house. After the boys departed I talked to the Den Leader. After telling him that we had four new boys for his den (YEA!), I explained that the parents tonight had been concerned, and that parents always need to know where their boys are. So it's good that I was there tonight, and I hope this will not happen again. It mustn't. Tomorrow I will call the council and find out exactly what kind of excursions need tour permits.
I'm finding that new families are uncomfortable with Den Meetings at leader's houses. It's just how things are nowadays, I guess.
Friday, November 20, 2009
November Pack Meeting Was a Huge Success
I have great news: last night's Pack Meeting was really excellent. It was a lot of fun having the cubs from Packs 510 and 542, along with special guests: the Tigers from Pack 549 and the Raven Patrol from Troop 510 all together.
The room already happened to be decorated for Memorial Day: awesome! And John P brought lots of real flags used by the Navy and put them up as well for his "American Moment". (He did such a great job! I learned a lot about our flags.) So the room looked AWESOME. I think that was such a blessing, as I had brought up in Committee Meeting that I'd sure like us to get a Decorations Committee. But nothing came of it, unfortunately. (I will keep trying.)
We made care-packages for deployed servicemen. That went well. I was realy obsessed with making it go well. I even made a huge cardboard flying saucer for the intro to the space derby demonstration.
Susan H, who called from the newspaper announcement, brought her son Justin and her whole family, and we had an induction ceremony for them. I'm so excied about that. We're going to send one of the care-packages to Mr. H, who is a military doctor in Afganistan.
I stapled awards and advancements to big photos of real military medals. They looked awesome. We gave authentic noisy military cheers: "Hip hip hooray!"
We planned according to BSA guidelines -- wrapping up final plans at committee meeting. I planned a gathering activity (I always do, and we are guided to do so by BSA), and it was so obvious how well it worked. As boys arrived, they began to run. So we immediately got out the gathering activity, and soon there was a charming circle of boys busily at work doing word-searches and drawing pictures. (It was vital to have that, especially this month, as there were about seven Tigers visiting. I was thinking: "Look at that!".)
During a transition, I could sense we needed to refocus, so we went right into a fun song. That worked well.
The meeting ran just over an hour, including gathering. I think it could have been a tiny bit shorter, but I think we did really really well, and I think the families had a good time. (I just think 45 minutes is a good goal for most pack meetings, for the sake of the mommies holding small children.)
I just want to work so hard so we can have a big well-attended pack meeting like that every time with our own cubs and webelos. I hope we can find more and more families to join us. We need a thriving pack. And it will lead to a thriving troop in a few years. And that will be the troop my own sons will be part of.
The room already happened to be decorated for Memorial Day: awesome! And John P brought lots of real flags used by the Navy and put them up as well for his "American Moment". (He did such a great job! I learned a lot about our flags.) So the room looked AWESOME. I think that was such a blessing, as I had brought up in Committee Meeting that I'd sure like us to get a Decorations Committee. But nothing came of it, unfortunately. (I will keep trying.)
We made care-packages for deployed servicemen. That went well. I was realy obsessed with making it go well. I even made a huge cardboard flying saucer for the intro to the space derby demonstration.
Susan H, who called from the newspaper announcement, brought her son Justin and her whole family, and we had an induction ceremony for them. I'm so excied about that. We're going to send one of the care-packages to Mr. H, who is a military doctor in Afganistan.
I stapled awards and advancements to big photos of real military medals. They looked awesome. We gave authentic noisy military cheers: "Hip hip hooray!"
We planned according to BSA guidelines -- wrapping up final plans at committee meeting. I planned a gathering activity (I always do, and we are guided to do so by BSA), and it was so obvious how well it worked. As boys arrived, they began to run. So we immediately got out the gathering activity, and soon there was a charming circle of boys busily at work doing word-searches and drawing pictures. (It was vital to have that, especially this month, as there were about seven Tigers visiting. I was thinking: "Look at that!".)
During a transition, I could sense we needed to refocus, so we went right into a fun song. That worked well.
The meeting ran just over an hour, including gathering. I think it could have been a tiny bit shorter, but I think we did really really well, and I think the families had a good time. (I just think 45 minutes is a good goal for most pack meetings, for the sake of the mommies holding small children.)
I just want to work so hard so we can have a big well-attended pack meeting like that every time with our own cubs and webelos. I hope we can find more and more families to join us. We need a thriving pack. And it will lead to a thriving troop in a few years. And that will be the troop my own sons will be part of.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
To Do's
Some things I need to get done:
- Plan the specifics for the pack meeting Thursday
- Contact all parents via email and ask them to bring an item to put into 4 care packages for soldiers. (That's an easy way to remind parents about the meeting, too.) Tell the visiting Tiger Den about that, too.
- Plan training specifics for Committee Meeting tomorrow.
Recruiting Update
Yesterday I visited a mom who called and would like to get her son into Cubs. It was a great experience. I created a few documents to help with orienting new parents. I found a neat presentation that I can learn to do from the Boy Scout website -- it's moving and uplifting and motivating. I discovered some materials I'd like to have on hand to give to parents when we meet them.
I learned a lot from the questions that the mom asked. She asked if any of the other boys are not LDS. (Not yet, but hopefully that is about to change.) She asked if we would be using scouting to proselyte. (Honestly, no.) She asked if religion is taught in the den meetings. (The weekly meeting plans are set by the BSA, so I really don't think that would happen. I will look into this, though, as I know the General Primary Presidency has suggested that some Faith In God items can be addressed in Den Meetings.) How much do scout shirts cost? (I don't know!)
I'd like to suggest to our Committee that soon we consider moving Den Meetings to the church building. I think new families will find that more comfortable. These days, it's hard to sell to a new family the idea of leaving your boy at a stranger's house.
Today I called and left messages for two families with boys of scout age on our roster. Then I wrote a letter to three families -- a recruiting letter that aims to help them catch the vision of scouting -- and invited them to come to pack meeting next week.
I learned a lot from the questions that the mom asked. She asked if any of the other boys are not LDS. (Not yet, but hopefully that is about to change.) She asked if we would be using scouting to proselyte. (Honestly, no.) She asked if religion is taught in the den meetings. (The weekly meeting plans are set by the BSA, so I really don't think that would happen. I will look into this, though, as I know the General Primary Presidency has suggested that some Faith In God items can be addressed in Den Meetings.) How much do scout shirts cost? (I don't know!)
I'd like to suggest to our Committee that soon we consider moving Den Meetings to the church building. I think new families will find that more comfortable. These days, it's hard to sell to a new family the idea of leaving your boy at a stranger's house.
Today I called and left messages for two families with boys of scout age on our roster. Then I wrote a letter to three families -- a recruiting letter that aims to help them catch the vision of scouting -- and invited them to come to pack meeting next week.
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