Ticket Update 2013

  In looking at posts from last year, I found a post about my 2012 Goals that I created.  These are based around my Wood Badge Training.  I realized that I have not communicated an update for a very very long time.

Please read the post so you get the gist of what I was trying to carry out with these ticket items.

1)Lose Weight: Target date missed by a mile.  I really wanted to lose weight.  I am basically the same as I was then.  I went on Medifast for 90 days and really lost weight.  However, in the end, I did not meet my goal.  I know what I need to do, I just need to do it.

2) Get new Cubmaster  & Ast Cubmaster.  I got a Cubmaster and she’s off to Wood Badge 2013. (Which as of this posting the 2nd weekend is this weekend. She is an Owl!)  I did not get an ACM, but that’s ok.   The switchover was on April 6th.

3) Training Plan for Pioneer District.  I am still working on that.  This weekend actually we are holding ITOLS at the Camporee.  The District stopped doing that about 10 years ago.  The Council via a Task Force is working on getting more people Trained.  So, this is a work in process.  I am happy with the way this is going overall.   I have also teamed-up with another District to put on/host a Cubscout Den/Pack Training Day in the fall.  They did it last year and I was very happy of how it went.

4) The Bobwhite Patrol of W1-492-11 and getting their Beads!  Very happy to report that six out of seven earned their Beads.  One Bobwhite went onto staff W1-492-12 as a Troop Guide.  Very happy!

As for the other goals that were not a Ticket Item.  I have signed up as a Merit Badge Counselor for Ham Radio, Chess and Graphic Arts.  I am playing more with my Ham Radio.  Last year during a Cubmaster Hike during JOTA I brought the Radio with me and we worked a few stations.

So, two of my ticket items were met and finished.  Two are needing work.   Wood Badge  is never over.  You complete a ticket, create a new one and move on.

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How to Train a Leader Reflection Pt#4

There is just so much to know about being a Den Leader that it can really be daunting.   I so wish I was a Vulcan and could Mind-Meld with the incoming Den Leader.  One of the better sites, though a tad outdated in some of it’s listed requirements of Training, from Merit Badge.org.  This is outside the Planning Guides for the Pack & Den for lesson plans.

As it really stands now, the BSA considers the Den Leaders & Cubmaster as Direct Contact Leaders.  Not the Committee or Committee Chair. They need training.  Youth Protection Training is a fact and you cannot be a Leader without it.   This training is all about how to put on a program for the youth.  Right now, all online training will in the eyes of the BSA, will cover you to be considered “Trained” for your position.  There is no BALOO or OWLS online.  Training online is good for only one thing.  Getting some information to the person who needs it.  It is really just a basic introduction to Scouting.  Real Training needs to be in front of a skilled Scouter Trainer.  Someone who knows the position and has been through the fire.

Training is also ongoing.  Do you want a surgeon operating on you that has skills from when they graduated in 1975?  NO!  You want the latest info crammed into their head!  Same for Scouting.  On going training is University of Scouting, BALOO, OWLS and even Nap on Safely!

I have basically taken all the training that there is for Cubscout Leaders.  I have also taken First Aid, AED & CPR training from the Red Cross and recertified!  I also took Wilderness First Aid.  Now THAT is a very fun class!  I would suggest the Red Cross version over the WMI version only because it is $100 cheaper!

As part of my goal as Cubmaster, I worked to get my Den Leaders and Committee Members “TRAINED!”  They are, basically.  A few have taken it upon themselves to go to the University of Scouting for the past few years.  EVERYONE NEEDS TO GO!

That to me along with not getting people to BALOO & OWLS (outside my one Webelos II Den Leader who crossed over last year) was a big failure for me.   I generally believe that the Den Leaders are great people.  They DO their Best!  Between Family, Work, Scouts, Scout related meetings/outings and sports, they just were crunched for time.   As I have said, some made it.

The new Cubmaster is right now in the middle of the W1-492-13 Wood Badge Course.  To which, I think the program will greatly benefit from.  I am very happy that she is going.  The Pack is paying for her to go.  I paid for myself.

My hope for this Pack is that more Adult Leaders take In-Person Training.  That they take BALOO and OWLS.  That they all go to U of Scouting.

Up Next is “What I tell the New Den Leaders!”

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Wood Badge for the Deaf

Just watch and understand.  (If you view on Youtube you can see the captioning if set-up correctly)
I am just blown away by this.

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Beyond Gilwell

The past few days, I have thought about what Wood Badge teaches you.
I am reminded of the tenets of Wood Badge, which I have my Challenge Coin to help.

Bring the Vision to Life.
Leading to make a difference.
Models for success.
Living the Values.
Tools of the Trade.

The goal of Wood Badge, these days as I see it, is to find something you are passionate about that you can apply the SMART method to and get is accomplished.  However, what is important to you?  Is it based upon your current Scouting Position, your home life or within your employment?  It is all of those.

Earning your Beads, is a goal.  It’s not the END GOAL!  I have written about this before.  This is my last year as Cubmaster for Pack 221.  I am now the Pioneer District Training Chair.  What do I want to do going forward.

In the past couple of days and weeks, I have come up against several challenges to what I believe is my personal goal for the Pack, District and myself.   I have been reminded what it is all about.  It’s about the Youth.  It is also about my family and those around me.

What’s the benefit to me?  Is that selfish?  I do not think so.  Scoutmaster Clarke Green recently blogged about it.  I get that sentiment, perfectly.  I know of several Scouter’s recently who have told their Units that they are stepping down.  It was for the right reasons.  I also know several Scouter’s who have stepped down from District positions, again for the right reasons.

To me, it’s Family, Work, Unit, District and then Council that gets my attention.

I have done what Council has asked because it’s what I do.  The same for the District.  The Unit is more important above all.  My family overrules all things.  There are not excuses, but reasons of why I do things.  I try to guide myself by this.

While, I cannot do everything that I want to, I do what I feel will show my family the direction I want them to take.  Scouting allows me that opportunity to make it happen.

So, what is beyond Gilwell?  Do I follow those principles?  We all know the Scout Oath and Law or the Cubscout Promise & Law of the Pack.  Do we live it personally or do we pay it lip service?

It is a constant struggle.  I will leave you with this, that I found on Scoutermom.com.  I found this Cubmaster Minute in my research for the upcoming Pack Meetings.

Make a Difference to One

A man was walking along a beach with a friend. There had been a storm the night before and thousands of starfish were stranded on the beach, unable to get back to the water.

The man began picking up starfish and throwing them back into the ocean.

His friend said, “What are you doing? There are thousands of starfish on the beach. You can’t possibly get them all back in the water. Why waste your time? You won’t make a difference.”

The man looked at his friend, picked up a starfish, and threw it back into the ocean. All he said was, “I made a difference to that one.”

In our lives, we encounter many other people and have many chances to impact their lives. Don’t wait for opportunities to make a huge impact on the world. Do what you can in your own community, and you might make an difference on someone who really needs it.

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Quail Forever!

March 19th & 20th were the beadings of Ken and Andy. They are my Peeps of the Bobwhite Patrol of the Woodbadge Course W1-492-11 in Cascade Pacific Council.  I am very proud of these Bobwhites for many different reasons.  There are a total of 6 Bobwhites within the Patrol.  Russ is slated for June and Barry is slated for April Beading Ceremonies.  The other two Bobwhites are close behind.

Every participant has their own story to write.  I am proud that I got to follow their story.  One great thing is with all the beadings that I get to go to, is to see how other Scout Units hold Arrow of Light and Court of Honor ceremony.  It’s the reflection of how each unit honors their Scouts and Leaders.  Scouting is very fun.  I look forward to having the whole Covey beaded!

Quail Forever!

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Trainer’s EDGE

   On Saturday Feb 18th, I was finally able to get fully trained in “The Trainer’s EDGE“.  I was supposed to have it last year for the 2011 Wood Badge course, but I was with my family in Maui.
With all the training/meetings that I had to get ready to be a Troop Guide for Wood Badge, I was certified for the course.  It is also one way that I got to this training this year since I told my wife I missed it due to our vacation.

The training itself is valid for three years.  Outside of that, it’s valuable training.  I mainly took it because I should have last year.  I also took it because as the District Training Chair, I should have it.  It’s like being fully Trained to be a ScoutMaster.  If your going to be IT, you need the training.  Now, I can say that I am fully trained for my position.

The other reason I took it is because I can always use this type of feedback on how I present myself and trainings that I do.  It’s not just useful within the Scouting world, but also within my Corporate life.

So, what did I learn.  I learned that I need to take the conversation from my head, get it onto paper and practice, practice, practice.  Then give it to a group before the main presentation and then reflect, modify and practice.  What I think is good, isn’t that good in the end.

I gave two presentations during the training.  One was about the Training Area and the second was about patches.  The latter I had time before class to think up and produce.  The first one was given to us during the training.  The five minute talk I gave about this subject was better delivered and given than the one I had time to prepare about.  That was a great lesson.

I am including the PPT as a PDF so people can see it.  I have a lot to do to refine it down.  I am actually taking out the National Outdoor Award info from it.  Reason being, I am not in Boy Scouts , but in Cub Scouts and know that program a lot better.  I am also going to revise what is said on the screen.  Less is more and more is not good.

Overall, Trainer’s EDGE is a valuable course and one that should be taken if you find yourself up in front of people. No matter if they are Scouts or non-Scouts.

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Notes from the KYBO

Well, I didn’t have a catchy title and that’s the first thing that came to mind.  Don’t worry, I am in the kitchen having coffee and not writing this on an iPad from the KYBO.

The 100 Days of Scouting have started up again.  The orginator has started it up again and I really like reading them.  Another Scouter Josh Nay is following suit as well.  While I am not going to write everyday, since for me that is a lot.  I think it’s important to support and read these blog posts.  It is one of the reasons that I am on Twitter and have developed friendships with other Scouters to this day.  We all wear the purple patch and subscribe the to the same Kool-aid.  I learn a lot from my Internet Roundtable. (Check out the list of Scout Blogs I follow on the bottom left hand side of the website for more)

A fellow Scouter Allan Campbell last night during the Pack’s Blue & Gold received his Beads for completing his ticket.  It was a great time.  Many of the Wood Badge staff and other Wood Badgers were on hand along with several of his patrol mates.   Three things happened there that were notable.
First: I had a great insight into how another Pack does Blue & Gold, Rank advancement (A Webelos Badge and the Arrow of Light badges were handed out) happened.  Every Pack does it differently.
Second: I got to connect with a Bear Patrol Member who is an Assistant Cubmaster who had questions about his ticket.  I gave him ideas about other topics.  He is stuck since one needs to be rewritten.  Also, invited him to our Pack meetings so he can see how we do it.  It’s one of his ticket items to visit other Packs for that very reason.  A very smart ticket item.
Finally: I was made aware of another Troop that is in my immediate area that I was not too aware of.  They have 8-10 Scouts and are dying. I was invited to come to the Troop and bring the Webelos I & II.  The person who invited me is a fellow Wood Badger from the 2012 course and is trying to save it. He and I swapped info and he forwarded me an email from the SM/CC with their info as well.  I passed it along to my Webelos II DL.

Finally, one of the members of the Bobwhite Patrol that I am a Troop Guide for is just about done.  He forwarded me his last ticket item that deals directly with Training within the Troop and the record keeping/training promotion.    It is so good that I am going to swipe it and use it for the District.  It basically bugs me to no end, as does him (I take it) that people do not get trained or avail themselves to it.  In a very recent blog post from Scoutmaster Jerry, he is up the same tree about JTE.  Stay tuned for a post about what I am proposing to do within my District about Training Records.

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Training in the District

On Saturday our District held three training classes.  Merit Badge Counselor, Charter Org and District Committee Trainings.  There was supposed to be the Boy Scout & Cub Scout Position training.  However, those the Boy Scout class only had two and the Cub Scout had none.  There was only ONE WALK IN for the Boy Scouts!

As Training Chair,  I looked at our records and realized that we were not trained as a District.  We only needed 95 more people trained to get to 50%.  Yuck.  (I am waiting to see what Council has for the January timeframe since that will get us the latest version after Re-Charter.  Many people will drop & get added.)

So, first up was Merit Badge Counselor Training.  Out of the normal Roundtable Crowd, there were four Scouters who I never saw before.  One lady was the Merit Badge Coordinator for his Troop.  The other was told to come and another knew she needed it.  Plus since there were changes to the Guide to Advancement & new Eagle Project Book, she wanted to make sure she got all the new info.  The forth was an ASM.  We all took it in and got a lot of great information.  The course was taught by our Advancement Chair, who is also on the Council Advancement Team.  So, great info from the top.  So, why was this different?  Well, normally this training was done at the Troop level or one on one.  Here you had 6 different Troops represented.  Basically 6 different ways on how MBC could be handeled.   The great thing is through this group learning 6 different Troops came together and learned how each other did it and what their issues were.

Charter Org Rep Training:  This was timely as there is a dust-up within our District.  We had four real Charter Org Reps at the class along with several of the normal Roundtable people.  My push for this class was to help the District reach out to the Charter Org Reps and tell them more about Boy Scouts and what everyone is supposed to do.  Our Trainer got right to the point and said, it’s about the Kids and that’s who we work for.  He pointed out that each COR is on the District Committee.  Our District Chairman was there as well and did do an invite and how he saw them and the BSA.  It was great.  We covered the basic syllabus from the BSA and also dived into very meaty topics.  Ones you would not get online.  Portland Lawsuits, Insurance, Liability…who owned what.  We had service clubs and churches represented within the class.  Great mix.   I was very happy that this class was offered.  It will be back.

District  Committee Training:
My big push for this was a lot of our Committee is new within the past year or two.  With our new Chairman, Commissioner, Program Chair, me and others….we needed this.  Our fellow Scouters in the District next to us was in a similar situation.  Plus, I knew the District Chair from Wood Badge and as being a Troop Guide together this past year.  So, while I had just gotten trained as a MBC, COR, I was really looking forward to this training.  I had asked the Scoutmaster from WE1-492-09, who is a Assistant Council Commissioner to come speak.  The Trainer worked with her to figure out what needed to be covered.

This was a great training.  We went over the basics of what a District is and how it functioned.  We did not get into breakouts since we were so small and our committees as a District are not that huge.  So, what happened was a lot of discussion between each other.  Our counterparts within Wapiti (The Great Herd from the West, as I call them) were great!   Both Districts learned from eachother about how the each did business.  We learned that we are not that different in the challenges we both face.  Membership, Retention, Finance, Programing….you name it we talked about it.

We also learned that the Commissioner Corp is highly valuable.  That they needed to be out in the Units so we can get “The Message” out to them.  That the Commissioners are there to help tell the District Committee how healthy or unhealthy the District/Units are.

It was a great day for learning at the Unit Level, District Level and Council Level.  Both the District Exec’s were there.  Each of them had words to share about what they thought was important.  Not just about their District, but as a Council.

The Wapiti District Committee: (Not all shown)

The Pioneer District Committee (Not all shown)

Finally, we did celebrate our Training that day.  As any Scout function needs to have, is a song.  Since it was the 2009 Wood Badge Scoutmaster came and spoke to us, we sang her favorite song. ROOTBEER!  Yes, we had fun.  If you cannot have fun during training….well…..

 

 

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Called to the Carpet

  On Sunday our Pack Committee Meeting.  It was a good meeting.  We have an agenda that we plow through.  Figuring out what needs to get done, by who and when.  Some discussion about events and projects that we want done.  There are reports on all the den activity and progress.

During this meeting I had to defend my stance on why the new boys were getting their Bobcats.  Point was that generally none of the current boys really could give you the Cubscout Promise or Law of the Pack.  Yes, it’s pretty sad.  Most of the boys cannot say it without prompting with some more than others. That is why I started having it with the Opening Flag and doing it at every chance we get.

Within the Pack, when Elliot was a Tiger,  all we did was the pledge, flag, awards and a brief talk and maybe a game.  That was all we really did.   So, for the most part I followed the agenda of the meetings but I kept putting in stuff that I wanted to see.  Remember, I was only a Wolf and I this is the start of my fourth year in the Pack and third as Cubmaster.  So, I have learned a lot of what I want to do from Roundtable, Wood Badge, Pow-Wow, PTCMEDIA and surfing the Internet.  I still have a lot to learn and do.

Towards the middle of the year, I started to inject the Promise and Law as much as I could.  Hindsight, I should have done it earlier and and required at all meetings.  At the end of the year, I had placed it in the Pack Meetings and now require it at all openings.

Back to the defensive stance.  I explained that as our tradition the boys getting the Bobcat will get it.  I will ask them several questions, but slacked on the Promise & Law.  I got questioned on why.  I explained that Tigers generally cannot recite it.  Once in a great while a Tiger can.  I walk them through the sign, motto, handshake, WEBELOS and then had it out.  This year is a tad different since I am going talk them through the Promise and Law.

A few Committee Members got on me about how their son could not recite it publically cause they do not know it.  I explained that is why I am doing it at Openings and that I am getting back to what a Tradition Pack SHOULD BE!  They all understand and agree that it needs to be done.  However, a debate ensued of “Did they earn the Bobcat?”  I explained that in the Tiger meetings we went through all of it, having them repeat it several times, asking them what each line ment.  Several of the less shy boys stepped up and explained  what they thought it meant.  So, we did go through the whole process.

Then, it came.  I got called to the carpet.  I was asked by the Committee Chair as Cubmaster to recite the Promise and Law.  He did it right there. Crap….my worst fear.  Asked for the Promise and Law…..  On the Carpet and failed.  Yes, it’s something that I just have not worked at, and it should be something that I should know by heart.  My Committee Chair does.

So, I am starting to practice the Promise and Law.  If the Cubscouts are required, then the Leaders will be required as well.

Yours in Scouting….

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Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience

COPE is:

Objectives include building teams, solving problems, making decisions, and developing trust, communication, leadership, planning, and self-esteem as team members cooperate to achieve goals.

If you have been to Wood Badge, you have gone through this.  COPE is not just for Scouters. It’s for everyone.   Now, when you think of a COPE course, your thinking of harnese, helmets and walking on high wires or falling backwards and overcoming your fears.  Yup, that’s COPE.  But during the Webelos Woods this weekend, I went on a LOW-COPE course.  Man, it was amazing.  Forget all the touchy feely Corp junk.  We are not into finding a Brand or coming up with a Mission Statement!  This is TEAM BUILDING and not one that includes hanging out with your Boss at a Strip Joint!

When I first heard of the Low-Cope course that was going to be put on at Webelos Woods, I thought…..great.  Walking on ropes on the ground. Dumb stuff.  Wow, I was not ready for what I had coming.  I did look on the bright side and go into it saying that I would do it.  These were simple games and exercises made to have everyone gain confidence in themselves and their Team Mates.  It broke down walls, physically put our physical safety in someones hands (literally) and work together brainstorming ideas to get a common goal.

I seriously think that Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice” needed some of this.  My main thing about the weekend for me was to break down barriers, stretch myself in ways I had not done and think of others.

This was one way to do this.

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