1st Anniversary & Next 100 Days

Feb 11th is the first anniversary of this blog.  I recently re-posted my first blog on starting it.  A lot has happened in the past year.  I did not know if it would catch on or if I would just be blogging to see myself blog.  I have learned a lot and met a lot of great new friends.

This next year is already shaping up to be a very good one.  When I started, I was working towards getting my Woodbadge Beads.  Now, I am on staff for the Spring 2011 course.  I was in my first year as Cub Master and now fully into my second year.  There is a lot of knowledge that comes with being the Visual Focal Point of a Pack.  I sometime wish I was the guy behind the Curtain as in the Wizard of Oz.  I would not however trade it for anything.

I have said that I would be Cub Master for a total of four years, until Elliot crosses over from Webelos II in 2013.  My hope is to find a replacement or replacements during his upcoming Webelos I year (2011-2012).  My original plan was to be Cub Master for two years and then be the Webelos Den Leader for the remaining time. What I have found out is being Cub Master was a better choice for the pack.  The current Bear Den Leaders are top notch and really work well with the boys.  This is a better course of action than I had thought.   What a difference a year makes….

So, what is up for the next 100 Days of Scouting.

Because 2010 was the 100th Anniversary of Scouting, several Scouters started blogging what they did the first, second and last 100 days of the year.  They are starting up again for this first 100 days.  They start on Feb 8th.  I am starting up again as well.

My plans?

While I might not blog everyday, I will work to make that happen.  I have the Woodbadge Course and a Cubscout Camporee that will be new to me.  My son will become a Webelos in June and my daughter will continue as a Girl Scout Daisy.  There are other items that are in the planning stages, but too soon to announce.

Two things already on my mind for planning of Pack events are Summertime Pack Award and the Annual Planning Committee Meeting.  For Summertime Pack Award, I have already floated the idea for a Bike Rodeo Fundraiser event for Nothingbutnets with the help of our local Troop.  Another event will be a Disc Golf all day event (or several hours).  This will get the boys out doing something that they kind of know, but learn a new skill.  Also, it will allow the new/current Webelos to get the Disc Golf Beltloop for the Athelete Pin.  The third event has yet to be decided.  However, I am wanting to do a hike.

Annual Pack Committee Planning Meeting:  For the past two years, I basically setup what happens.  Taking in all the normal things that a Pack does during the year and then filling in the blanks.  It’s a tough job.  Each year I asked for input.  I got good feedback and used it.  For this next year, I am going to work on delegation.  While, I owe the ceremonies and Pack Meetings, other events need to be chaired by others.  Need to start the transition sooner than later.

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Great Pack Meetings

This meeting was one of the best.  We got a lot done.  Den Chiefs inducted & First Aid stations!  I wanted to do this for two months, and it finally worked out. You know when a meeting is working or not working during the meeting.  During this one, I was floating.  It worked out so well! It’s all because of the great Pack Committee and Den Leaders and those who helped out.

Now onto Crossover, Pinewood Derby, Snow Day and everything else that is fun.

 

Oh, and several people loved my new hat!  I am allowed to have this much fun?

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Your Scouting Journey

Today I flew to Washington DC for a three day conference for my company.  Sadly, I will not be able to go into DC and go sightseeing.  My one target would be the Boy Scout Memorial.  I didn’t see that last time I was here.

During my 4.5 hour flight I watched two movies.  The first was “Google Me“.  It is about a man named Jim Killeen.  The crux of the movie is for him to find and visit several people with his name.   His travels led him to Ireland, Australia, New York City, Missouri and other locations.  Along the way he asked several basic questions and wanted to see what the other Jim’s were like.  Were they like him.

The second movie was “The Buddha” with Richard Gere as the narrator.  This movie was about his life and times.  I only got through the first part before I switched to several Podcasts.  Needed a break.  However, I was pretty taken aback about how Buddha came to be.  Meaning from Birth and his upbringing for the first 30 years before he started out on his own.

Alvin Townley who wrote two books about Scouting had a similar journey.  In these books, Alvin traveled the Globe talking to many Scouts about their journey within Scouting and their everyday life.

So, where is this all going?  A  blog that I wrote about doing something different where I traveled to another Council and spoke at a Round table, I am reminded of the quote I used from Baden-Powell.

“When you join a Patrol you become part of a worldwide brotherhood in which every member has promised to keep the Scout Law. Because of this it doesn’t matter if they speak different languages, are of different colours or hold different religious beliefs. When you meet Scouts at large gatherings, remember that they are your brothers and show by your actions that you regard them as friends.”

We are all brothers (and sisters) because of Scouting.  We have a common bond and link to each other.  Like Jim Killeen, we have brothers worldwide.  Like Buddha, we have a journey that we are on.  And like Alvin, his stories about Scouts that use the Scout Spirit to guide them on their journey.

All of this got me thinking.  What is my journey?  Why am I in Scouts?  During my first Wood Badge Staff meeting this last weekend, I was asked what is my memory of Scouting.

My stock answer is Bad Crafts.  I am a victim of a craft project gone wrong as a Wolf Cub in 1976.  Full story is that the Den Mother had us use a Folgers Coffee Can for a Card Holder for Mother’s Day.  It was a can that we took off both top and bottom tin lids with a bottle opener.  Thus having jagged edges.  Then wrapping green yarn around the walls.  This was made possible by us putting our hands through the jagged edges many many times.  The edges were pushed back, but not enough.  I got scrapped up kinda bad. Because of this experience I ended up leaving Cub Scouts.  Yes, I did Pinewood Derby.  I did get my Bobcat.  I did not get my Wolf.  Cub Scouts was not FUN for me.

While this much shorter explanation got a huge chortle out of a few of my fellow Wood Badgers, it is my story.  I am not ashamed of it.  It’s not what I wanted looking back at it now.  However, it’s my journey within Scouting.

However, that is really just the beginning.  I leaped into being the Tiger Den Leader and Cub Master because I needed to make sure that any boy within my Den and Pack did not leave because of Bad Crafts, being bored or not having fun.  If they left because they really did not enjoy it and wanted to play Sports or sing, take Tae Kwon Do or something else that they were passionate about. Great.  I get and understand that.

Since becoming the Cubmaster, I knew that the basic training within MyScouting.org was not enough.  I am a training junkie.  I am a trainer within my company.  I search out training.  Because of this, I have taken the BALOO, OWLS & ITOLS BSA Training.  I have also been certified in First Aid and CPR by the Red Cross.  I have gone to two Pow-Wows and a Training Adtravaganza.  At the latter, I was able to learn more about being a Cubmaster, ceremonies, Blue & Gold, Awards, Packmaster and how to hold cool Pack Meetings.

I also went to and completed my Wood Badge course.  I learned a lot.  I am now on staff for the 2011 course.

This is all well and good. YAH…. I am Trained. I got the patch!  Is that it?  Is this all there is?

Nope, my journey is only really beginning.  I have a lot to learn.  My future goals in training? I want to be a Merit Badge Counselor, Assistant Scoutmaster, District Trainer for Cubscout Leaders plus more.  I want to go to Philmont Training Center and take classes.

But, how do I do all of this?  How do I learn? Who can I learn from?

Those are great questions to have.  Which leads me back to Jim Killeen in Google Me.  He went out and found people with his name.  Can I do something similar? I wonder.

What if I somehow visited Scouters that I have met over Twitter & Facebook and asked them their journey? (or maybe they could come to me?)  How could I do this?   Would they want to?  Do I have to cook a Peach Cobbler in a Dutch Oven to tempt them?  Will they do it for a cool bead? What if I asked them to teach me something that they thing is the most important thing in their Scouting life?

Interesting………..

What’s your Scout Journey?

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WE1-492-11

Today starts the first Staff meeting of WE1-492-11 for the Cascade Pacific Council’s Spring Wood Badge course.  While I am and always will be a Beaver, it is now a time to come together with all the other Patrols and deliver the message to others.  Today, we are at Gilwell getting prepared for our soon to be fellow Wood Badgers.

In honor of our Course Scoutmaster:

If the only thing you remember from your honeymoon is the herd of Antelope you drove by in Wyoming…
You Might Be A Wood Badger!

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Out Moving

I learned yesterday that our Pack got the 2010 Quality Unit Award.
We also got the 100% Boys Life as well.  The latter is generally easy.  The Quality Unit Award is a bit harder only because there are goals to be meet.

To me, it means that the Pack Committee and Den Leaders are working together to bring a quality program to the boys.  Yes, it is another patch to put on the uniform.  It however symbolizes that that unit is doing something correct.  It’s doing something above and beyond the normal.  It also means that the Leadership within the Unit is actively looking for other things to do.  If you do different things, then there is not a chance of the unit getting stuck.  Remember Scouting is a Movement, not an Organizations.  Organizations sit still.  Scouts are constantly moving….Keep it Moving!  Scouts has OUT in their name.  OUT MOVING!

I am looking forward to the Journey to Excellence for 2011.   I suspect once the year is completed we will be scoring pretty high.

One of the other awards that I knew we got, but finally got the certificate/ribbons was the Summertime Pack Award.  Along with it, which I did not know was the National Den Award.  I am very happy to have both.

The Summertime Pack Award is really a good program that should be used at every Pack.  It keeps the Scouting Spirit alive and the boys reminded about Scouting.  It also is a great recruiting tool for the Kindergartners and others who want to join.  Having this program will also allow the perspective parents to see what the Pack does.  We have earned it for the second time for my three years in the Pack.  I plan to earn it each year.

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Doing something different.

“When you join a Patrol you become part of a worldwide brotherhood in which every member has promised to keep the Scout Law. Because of this it doesn’t matter if they speak different languages, are of different colours or hold different religious beliefs. When you meet Scouts at large gatherings, remember that they are your brothers and show by your actions that you regard them as friends.”

- Lord Robert Baden-Powell, Founder of Scouting

So, I met this guy on the Internet awhile back and then met him for coffee in real life. No, this isn’t Match.com and yes WE BOTH HAVE TAKEN YOUTH PROTECTION.

I recently went back to Sandpoint, ID to the Inland Northwest Council to help my friend Scoutmaster Phil complete a Wood Badge ticket item.  This ticket item was to bring in two outside speakers to the round table.

Not only is Phil a Scoutmaster, but he is also the Round Table Commissioner.  So, this ticket was right up his alley.  Phil went to the Inland Northwest’s Wood Badge course during Fall of 2010.  He is a Bobwhite.

The crux of the night was talking about additional training, beyond YPT and Position based training.   There was an Eagle Scout who talked about NYLT and what it is, why boys should go and what they will get out of it.  I was asked to talk about Wood Badge and my experinces.  Phil rounded out by talking about “World Wide Round Table”.  Which I actually call the Virtual Round Table.

While I was there for the other topics and to help out my friend, I was  there to see how “Other” Scouters did Round table.  Not just going to another District within my council, but in a totally different Council.Baden-Powell believed that if boys had a common understanding as Scouts that when they grew into adults they would be able to relate and not cause War but create Peace.  I am just continuing that legacy.
While both the NYLT and Wood Badge talks went as expected, it was Phil’s talk about the Virtual Roundtable and how we learn on our own.  Phil related on how he listens to all the PTCMEDIA and Clarke Green Podcasts as well as reading blogs.  Both he and I spoke about the MISS Show, Scoutermom, Cubmaster Chris, True North, Scoutmaster Jerry.  The Melrose Troop Videos were talked about as well.    Phil explained that he uses these resources to better his position and help the boys have a better experience.   The handouts included links to this sites and to the US Scouting Service Project, Boyscout Trail, BALOO and many Cubscout areas.  Phil also burned several of his favorite Podcasts to CD and handed them out to everyone who attended.  His goal was to introduce them to other ways to learn.  Things that they can do on their own.

The whole experience was great.  Not only did I get to see Phil and meet his family, but also see how other Scouters do Scouting.   I learned how other Roundtables, Districts and Councils operate.  I realized what our problems are, happen in other locations.  I was able to let them know that as well.  What I have issues with, they had issues with.  Coming to roundtable is not about getting the requirement for a Leadership Knot.  It’s about undestanding.  I did.

I learned that Roundtable has to be fun.  At Phil’s Roundtable, they had an opening game, an attendance jar full of glass rocks (more later) and songs.

They have fun and do not have breakouts.  We have breakouts for cubscout and boyscouts and have fun too.  The glass jar is there to motivate people to come.  When the jar fills up with Glass Rocks, then the next meeting they get CHEESCAKE!   It took them four meetings to fill it up and they were on their way for another one very soon.  How cool is that?  Yes, our Cubscout breakout gets snacks, but wouldn’t it be cool if we did that for EVERYONE?

Would I like to change up our Roundtable?  Sure, I have been going our Roundtable for about 2.5 years.  I only missed three times. Once for Wood Badge and another two times for Den meeting outings.  I know if it’s not broke don’t change it.  But, let’s change it to add more exciting stuff to it….

I challenge you if geographically possible to go to another District and see their Roundtable.

 

Yours in Scouting

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Great Expectations in Scouting

What a great weekend.  Saturday I learned all I wanted to know about Girl Scout Cookies.  Very different from Trails End Popcorn.  My daughter Rachel is a Daisy and is selling cookies for the first time. I get the whole reason behind selling.  It’s the same as selling popcorn, trees or wreaths within Scouts.  It builds character, confidence and public speaking abilities. The rules and operational supply chain of how Cookies works is amazing.  Hats off to those Cookie Moms who do it.  Seriously!

This weekend I also was able to talk with my Unit Commissioner at the Troop recycling area.  She is also the ASM at the Troop.  I got introduced to the SM (who I knew) and other ASMs.  I also got to meet our Den Chiefs for the year the second time I visited.  I brought my son along to help with the tree.  He was quickly welcomed by the Troop and immediatley started helping with the burn barrel.  Boys and Fire!

The great thing I got out of my meeting at the Tree Recycling is that I learned a lot about the Troop and it’s operations.   I also realized that I knew the Den Chief’s Dads already from Roundtable. Go figure.  The Dads are the Cubmasters in other Packs, but the boys are in the Troop.

Finally, our Pack Committee Meeting…  I had sent out an email reminding everyone and got a few replies of people not coming.  Ok, I get that.  But, to me, it seemed not a lot of people were coming to the meeting.  I do not get much joy out of having meetings for meetings sake.  But, this is important.  My wife even told me that I should cancel since no one was gunna show.

Boy, was I very happy!  My two Tiger Den Leaders showed, Unit Commissioner & Den Chief ASM!    (Not going to call out others since I know they read this blog).

We got down to business and worked out the First Aid Pack Meeting. DONE BOOM! YEAH!  Got it all taken care of.  Splints, 10 Essentials, Emergency Kits, Hiking Accidents, BLOOD….oh and and a Ambulance will be there.  One of the Den Leaders is a Physicians Assistant who has connections.  Confirmed the schedule with the Ambulance company as we sat there. BINGO!

He also asked if we wanted a Helicopter.  UM…he was serious too!  Mental note of “JULY SUMMERTIME PACK EVENT!”

During the meeting and afterwards, both Tiger Den Leaders asked about Wood Badge.  I explained to them what it was generally.  One was already wanting to go and asked if it was too late to sign-up.  The other said, if he’s doing it, then I am doing it.

This was a great meeting.  It’s meetings like this that remind me that the pack that I am in is COOL.  We do great things for the boys that will help them in the long run.  The pack is FUN.  It’s not death by powerpoint.  I know that there are Packs that just cannot pull it together due to stupid adult politics. Those are the packs that get the “Big fat slice of Suck” speech.  (If you wanna know where I got that, go here and search under the MISS SHOW.  It’s there…just gotta look.)

Overall, it was a great weekend.  My expectations of scouting are great.  The boys will have Great Fun.

Baden-Powell said:

“It is important to arrange games and competition so
that all Scouts of the troop take part.”

“Scouting is a game for boys under the leadership of
boys under the direction of a man.”

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3 things to do

It’s a new year, and way over 99 years to go to the 200th Anniversary. So, let’s get started. I have three non-Pack 221 related projects on board.  This is what happens when you keep going to Roundtables and networking with Scouters in the Council, your home District and other Districts.

 

 

 

 

 

I some how volunteered to help out with Friends of Scouting in my District.  Which when I look back at it,  I think great I get to give a dumb speech to parents who already went through Popcorn, Re-chartering and paying Pack related dues.

Not so fast…..  It’s not a dumb speech.  It’s an important speech.  The talk itself can be boring, but you need to inject yourself into it.  Bring it to life for those you are speaking to.  Yes, it’s about 10 minutes, and public speaking is one of the most feared things to do.

As the Cub master, it is my position to be the public spokesman and Master of Ceremonies for all things pack related.  So, why can’t I do FOS?   I know a lot about the Cub Scout program and Scouting in general.  I get myself involed with re-chartering and the basic details of the Pack finances.  I also attend as many roundtables as I possible can.  I have gone to Wood Badge and Pow-wow to learn a lot more about how to have fun.  I can do this.

Every District has there challenges. Raising money is tough.  However, if you are  Enthusiastic about Scouting and can inject it into the 10 min talk, then the FOS speech will go well.

Secondly:

I am off to a Roundtable in the Inland Northwest Council.  I am actually going to help out on a Wood Badge ticket for , Phil Peck a Bobwhite!   He will be able to knock out one ticket item in one night!  I am pretty excited!

The two things that I am going to talk about is my experince with Wood Badge and how I learn about Scouting.  Meaning, podcasts, blogs, twitter, facebook, websites & forums.  This will becoming from the Cubscout perspective and from a Scouter outside the District and Council.

I am very excited to do this for several reasons.  I get to help a fellow Wood Badger finish a ticket item.  I get to see how Scouters operate in another Council. I also get to talk about Scouting and all the various ways I use the Internet to learn.  It is because of the Internet that I met Phil via Twitter.  I was on business in his town and was able to meet up for coffee at Starbucks.  I think we met for an hour, but there are so many similarities it was like we knew each other for a long time.

Finally, and not least….

 

 

 

WOOD BADGE WE1-492-11.  It is in April/May for Cascade Pacific Council!  We are currently half way to getting a FULL group of Wonderful Scouters!

Our first meeting as Staffers is on January 15th.  This is a huge honor for myself.  In talking to those who staffed it in the past, they learn more about Wood Badge than going through the first time.  Love that.  Bring on the Kool-aid.

The only sticking point that I forsee in this whole Wood Badge course is that Scoutmaster Jerry is there with me.  I think he is angling for………… some medium sized water animal that builds dams and lodges…….

I will be happy with whatever patrol I get, since they will be mentored by a BEAVER!

Yours in Scouting…….

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2010 Year in Review

There are now 5 days left within the 100th Scout Anniversary Year. For me, there are many great things that our Unit has done and that I have completed.

• Earned our 2nd Summertime Pack Event Award (since I took over)
• Earned 2009 Quality Unit Award.
• Submitted 2010 Quality Unit Award.
• All boys who started the Fall of 2009 advanced to next rank in 2010
• Campout at Scouter’s Mtn for entire Unit & great Crossover too!
• Sledding on Mt Hood @ CPCBSA Snow Lodge
• Many boys earned Leave No Trace
• Several Cub scout Outdoor Activity Award
• Two Cub Scouts earned World Conservation Award
• Gained seven new Den Leaders & Committee Members.
• Nominated now Webelos Den Leader for Unit Scouter of the Year
• Held 1st ever Rain gutter Regatta for final Pack Meeting.
• Two Parent meetings during Pack meetings.
• Unit earned Council’s Centennial Shoulder Patch.
• Many Scouts/Scouters earned the 100th Year of Celebration Patch & Ribbons.
• Completed my Wood Badge ticket and was beaded.
• Summer Camp for unit!
• Webelos I went to Webelos Woods.
• Webelos I Den Leader and I got BALOO, ITOL & OWLS trained!
• We re-chartered!
• Gained 8 tigers for 2010-2011 year!
• Tigers on track to get Arrow of Light in 2 months at the rate they are going! STRONG
• Got Den Chiefs for 2010-2011
• Got new Unit Commissioner…I still love our former UC!
• Three Scouters went to Pow-wow.
• Taught at Pow-wow!
• Asked/accepted to staff Wood Badge 2011!
• Treasurer re-designed and moved website to new home!

This calendar year has seen many firsts for our Pack, since my son and I joined in 2008. Being new to Scouting, it has been a blast. Our Pack is strong, pretty stable and thus far sustainable with both those who volunteer and with membership. It has been a great year.

For me personally, I realized that I need to continue to work on how to put on good Pack Meetings. I have started creating an agenda and sharing it with Den Leaders & Committee based off the 2010 Pack & Den Guide Training from BSA National. I have also stepped out of my comfort zone and started singing and playing the Native American Flute. 2011 seems to working itself up into a good year. Already have the Bear Den Leaders registering for Summercamp. I am working to go to Philmont Training Center in July for “Strictly for Cubmasters”. Will be taking what I have learned this past year and focusing in on 2011-2012.

My goal for the Summertime Pack Award events is to have them in place by April. My hope is to have input from the whole pack as what we want to do. Then hopefully get a parents to help staff/put on the events on! We are already planning a Bike Rodeo for June. So much done, so much to do…so much fun!

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Giving Back

Today’s blog post was written on 12/23/10.  I say that because I updated my Facebook & Twitter status saying I was not going to post anything or use a computer on 12/24/10.  Christmas Eve Day.  I am going to be with my family and not you!

So, Merry Christmas.  Read the blog and then log off the Internet and be with your family.  The Internet will be here when you get back.

During this time we are all caught up in the Gimme Gimme theme.  I fall victim of it as well.  There are things that I want and not need.  I hope that I get them.  However, I am grateful as to what people want to give me.  Right now, my list is centered around…..Scouting related items. (Go figure.)  I have done my shopping and most just needs to be wrapped.  Our family will have a good Christmas.

However, I know that not all will be well for many families.  Many families are hungary, cold and not sure what do to.  We do not see them in public.  They are  not able to be seen, since they look like us.  Our Pack does Scouting for Food and Good Will/Good Turn.  My first year we did Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army.

However, that is it.  Yes, we do a few conservation projects and practice Leave No Trace.  But, I figure we could do more.

I just sent an email to our Committee Chair and Treasurer asking that we create a Community Service Chair position within the Pack.   If it’s one, two or three people who chair it, fine.  My goal is to have someone/or people think up and help coordinate community service projects.  Main point is THINK UP IDEAS!

http://www.handsonportland.org/HomePage/index.php/home.html

Looking at this link stirred up so many different possibilities and options.
The whole Pack does not have to go out enmasse and thwart evil-doers, it can be a Den or those who want/can do something that weekend or weeknight to get out and do it.  It’s easier for Webelos than Tigers to get home at 9pm from chairity work.  But, if a couple of boys from each den want to go…great.  If they bring their sisters in Girl Scouts…perfect! It’s Scouting…

I knew that when my son joined Scouting that he would be part of an organization that shows that it cares.  While Scouting is about nature, first aid, conservation, doing good deeds daily, Leave No Trace, hiking, camping, den yells, crafts, funny jokes, stories by a campfire and doing your best.

What I am after is one of the core principles of Scouting, which is giving back.  The Cub Scout Promise has “To help other people,” and the Law of the Pack has “The Cub Scout gives goodwill.

Since I am the Cub Master and in charge of the Program, its my duty to help guide the boys in ways that will show them what these words mean and that they are not hollow.

Hopefully, I am doing that.  Hopefully it is getting through.  I know that the parents do have the same goals as I do.  I know that the Den Leaders have the same goals.  In the upcoming year, I know that we can reach out more to those who need help.

So, in this time of year, Give Back.  Do something.  Our family holds a yearly Holiday Brunch that we invited many friends over.  Each year we ask that they bring canned food and/or an unwrapped toy.  After the party we go to two locations to to donate the food and toys.  It’s a little thing, but it will help those in need.

Merry Christmas.  Now…..logoff and be with your Family.  Or go do something about helping someone.

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