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PTC Media Forums True North True North Show 22

True North Show 22
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10:28 am
March 24, 2010


SM Shawn

Green Bay, WI

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Sorry to get so off track, I really didn't mean too…or did I?

I talk about service, recruiting, W2S ideas and the like…I answer some more questions about the new troop, and include some more links

US Scouting Service Project – Great Resource for all things Scouting

Traditional Boy Scouting – Excellent site for those looking for scouting of yesteryear

Camping Checklist – What to pack for the type of camp-out that you are going on, in the season, and by climate, with printable lists


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Host of the True North Podcast
Co-Host of Scout Nation
Scoutmaster
Dad and Husband…

11:18 am
March 24, 2010


Kris

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posts 122
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(I moved this over to your thread)

Welcome Back Shawn!!!

Good show, you've found your groove!

I was kinda disappointed that you told the CS not to listen to your discussion about moving up to the troop. While it should fall on the Troop to do the leg work, it's not always what happens. Besides, it never hurts to have the information from the other side of the lake. If a Webelos parent knows what the troop "should" be doing they can look for it or identify it. OR, they can find someone to nudge the troop to do what needs to be done.

It is a HUGE thing with me for the Webelos to actually see what a "real" troop meeting is all about. You hit that one right on the head. But, it doesn't hurt for the troop to put on their stuff & strut for a scheduled visit, either….as long as the boys then wander back and visit a "normal" meeting.

Don't forget, DEN CHIEFS are a GREAT way to "advertise" your troop as well!!!

Great Job!!!

10:03 am
March 25, 2010


ag1024

Oklahoma

PTC Bobcat

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Shawn, perhaps you can help me with this.

I took the scoutmaster position of our troop 2 years ago. I was not in Webelos, and the pack my son was in 10 years ago did not last. I have no contacts with packs in the area. I desperately need to recruit, but do not know the ropes. I have 8 scouts and need to do some recruiting.

At that time I asked our district director for help and training for a troop to contact and recruit Webelos. He gave me a list of cub masters, but that list was out of out of date. This was in May. I was told that by then most Webelos had crossed over to troops, and that I needed to start earlier. This year I had this conversation at the beginning of March. I was told the same thing. It is too late. (We do not have Unit Commissioners in our district. It sounds like someone like this could be helpful, but we just don't have any. ) I am now told that I should have spent the entire year contacting, courting, attending, and teaching Webelos dens in order to recruit them. This is hard to hear, as my "hour" per week is pretty much full.

So how do you find packs and dens? Are the district scouters supposed to help? Is there any training course in the BSA for doing this? Any publications? I am a bit frustrated, as I do not find the saying to be true, "If you build it, they will come." I think I put on a good camping program, and our scouts advance well enough. I just don't know how to find the right people.

11:08 am
March 25, 2010


Scouter_Garry

SATX

PTC Boy Scout

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Allen,
Right now is the time to plan to look for next years crossovers. Attend the next few Cub Scout Roundtables. Ask for time on their agenda. Advertise your fall camp-outs and meetings. Make flyers for the pack representatives. Get the cubmaster's email. Go all out guerrilla recruiting. Do this again in September and October. That should get you the pack contacts, but don't forget about cold call recruiting at 5th grades this spring. Also recruit the middle schools and or Jr highs.

I was unable to find a few district commissioners information on the Oklahoma Council's websites. Every district that had a page of contacts had a district commissioner. I suggest you find out who your district commissioner is, and ask who your unit commissioner is. I know many commissioners are overloaded on units . National asks the ratio to be 3 units to each commissioner but regionally the average is as high as 8 units to each commissioner. Unfortunately this leads to some district commissioners leaving good units uncovered.

11:34 am
March 25, 2010


Kris

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Hi Allen!!!

It is so super great that you, as SM, are pursuing this!!! In my area, it is expected that the cubs will do the work or that the troop is just "automatic." While I understand the overflowing "hour a week" don't you think this might be worth it for the health of the Troop? That aside, YOU don't have to be the one doing it. Have an ASM or other committee member jump on to be your liaison. You should still do the visits…WITH some boys, but as for inital contact, let someone else do the leg work.

Some good ways to make contact: Go to Round Tables, attend/volunteer at District/Council Cub Events (bring some boys with you!) & maybe even volunteer for a district/council event committee. The more visable YOU are, the easier it will be for you to find them and for them to find you.

Unit Commissioners are a good tool, but as you stated, they aren't always present. I as a parent went out and did the leg work. Now, somehow, I've ended up heading a Webelos to Scout team.

Keep in mind that the end of Bears/beginning of Webelos is when CS start to loose interest or change interest. If you can get your boys in THEN to convince these younger folks there's a reason to stick around…maybe even donate a Den Chief, then you look REAL good!

You might check out MISS Show #8 as we discussed the whole Webelos to Scout transition from both angles. Maybe you can get some pointers from there as well…give you more of a "whole picture" view.

Good Luck!!!

12:49 pm
March 25, 2010


SM Shawn

Green Bay, WI

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I will throw in a couple of ideas here, hopefully to get you ahead of the curve…

*Contact the Council Registrar and ask for contact information for ALL Webelos in your district. Yes, I said all…I know that there is no issues in my council with calling and saying "My name is Shawn Cleary, I am the Scoutmaster for Troop 1363. I was wondering if you could pull a list of all of the eligble 4th and 5th grade boys, so I can make contacts with the for recruiting." I don't know how things in your district run, but the DD should have been able to access that list and given you the most updated information…once again, the Council Registrar can get you that, too.

*Explore the possibility of starting a Cub Pack in your area…if there is interest, you may have something there. I am not saying to start one on your own, but with the DD's help, gauge the interest.

*I notice that you mention your UC. Contact the District Commissioner to find out if one can be assigned, and if not, well, then, at least you know. If you do get one assigned, make sure that they are helping you, and not hindering you or telling you that your program needs to do this or that…you already know what your program needs, and you don't need someone to show you that. The UC should be there to guide, mentor and advise you…and maybe give out some contact information on other units in the area.

*Start earlier….when I say that, I mean, start that contact with the boys who are BEARS right now…depending on the "Scouting Year", they may be Webelos as soon as June. [Our pack has a scouting year of June 1st to May 31st. A Cub Scout is a Tiger on May 31st and a Wolf on the first, we do this for Resident Camp purposes]. My middle son is a Bear, and I have started the contact and "Selling Boys Scouts" already to his den…the Webelos to Scout [W2S] Transition starts the day that they signup as a Tiger. That is one thing that I noticed in your post…"you were too late" because of crossovers.

*Each year, the council will have counts of boys who were Webelos, but don't show up on a Boy Scout roster. What happened to these boys? They didn't cross, and that may be a chance for you to make some contacts. If your council has a "why didn't you join Boy Scouts" call-back night, see if you can get on that team to make those calls

*Advertise, Advertise, Advertise….flyers, TV, radio…get your name and troop out there. Help an old lady cross the street? Call the newspaper…ok, maybe not that extreme, but get out there in the community. Adopt a Park, pick up trash…do something to be visible. And do it with your uniforms on and the Troop Flag flying nearby. Get business cards made and get a website. Google Apps site is $10 per year, and includes 50 email addresses…but then use the email address. Contact the fraternal orders, the VFW, the Rotary clubs…they always have opportunities to help in the community, and may make donations to help subsidize your troop activities.

I don't know all of the dynamics of your troop, but Den Chiefs don't sound like they work for you. Only in the sense with a smaller troop, you may already be stretched a bit thin. But that is always an option, if you have interest from your scouts.

It really is about service…once you believe it, the scouts believe it and then things fall into place.

Are you going to be able to turn it around in a couple of months? Chances aren't good…but if you stay the course, your program will flourish.

Hope this helps

Host of the True North Podcast
Co-Host of Scout Nation
Scoutmaster
Dad and Husband…
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