Showing posts with label Troop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Troop. Show all posts

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Decisions, decisions!

Well, I am going to set up some appointments to visit my units with my ADC. The DC and ADC suggested that I get with my Pack and set up a Boy Scout Troop for the pack. Here's a little history of the Pack: The Pack originated at an elementary school. For some reason, the Pack changed chartered organizations from the elementary school to a Catholic church nearby. The Catholic church has a Venturing crew (unfortunately not meeting with two adults and two Scouts) but no Troop. Originally the Pack had no need to be associated with a Troop because the elementary school, with the exception of the 12 year olds, had no other Boy Scout age boys associated with it. As the chartered organization, the elementary school provides the building where the Pack meets. Since Boy Scouts are 12 to 18 years old it makes since that the school wouldn't have a Troop. Now that the Pack's chartered organization has an association with Boy Scout age boys I think that it would be a good idea for the Catholic church to grow a Troop. The problem is that I already have another Troop, the DC and ADC told me that I can be the UC for the Pack, Troop, and Crew associated with the Catholic church but I would have to give up the Troop I am the UC for.
I actually think I already have made my decision. It would be much easier for me to have all three units that I am the commissioner for in one building and it would be much easier for me to ensure that each unit had an excellent relationship. As I see it, the Pack would recruit from its previous chartered organization, the elementary school. The Pack will graduate its Cubs into the Troop. After the Boys in the Troop earn their Eagle Scout they can move into the Venturing Crew until they are 21. Sounds like a plan to me.
Thanx for visiting.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

The new Unit Commissioner

Back in July 2008 I was asked to be on Cub Scout Roundtable staff by the CS Roundtable Commissioner. OK, to be honest I wasn't given an option she told me that I was going to be on staff. I didn't have any problems with being on RT staff so I just let her sign me up and its been very rewarding since. What's really nice about my District is that they consider me to be a commissioner because I am on staff.
Rewind to October 2008 while I was attending Commissioner college. A good friend of mine who was an Assistant Scoutmaster on my Woodbadge course (and also in the Stake Presidency) told me that I was on the list to be called to be a Unit Commissioner (UC). At the time I had no desire to be a UC but I have never turned down a calling so I did some research on what a Unit Commissioner does. It looked great so I just sat and waited to be called but nothing ever happened.
Fast forward to March 2009. I went to my District Executive and talked to him about being a Unit Commissioner. I was very surprised that he seemed excited to have me in the position, to be honest I was stunned. I don't think that I make a very good impression on most people, so again I waited for the Stake to call me, nothing.
Fast forward again to May 2009 when I went to the DE's office and told him I was tired of waiting and gave him my adult application and asked to be assigned some units. He asked what I wanted and I told him a mix. I ended up with Pack 191, Troop 791, and Troop 17. Troop 17 is a sister unit and I am a Den Leader in Pack 17. I was surprised by Troop 17 because I had thought that 17 had someone else in mind to be their Commissioner. The leader who runs Troop 17 is away on BSA business so I will just go through the motions until I can get a hold of him to find out what's going on.
Wouldn't you know it! A couple of days later I hear through the grapevine that the Stake is going to call me to be the Unit Commissioner for two 11-year old Scouting Troops. Go figure, at least I have a head start on training.
Back on the 19th of May I completed UC Fast Start and have 9 of the 14 orientation projects completed. I have already introduced myself to the District Commissioner at a Commissioner meeting and have got the ball rolling.