cubmaster 101 presented by bill bates cubmaster, pack 374 – santa clara county council
TRANSCRIPT
Cubmaster 101
Presented by Bill Bates
Cubmaster, Pack 374 – Santa Clara County Council
Who am I? (Okay, a bit of a brag page)
Involved in BSA for almost 25 years (Eagle Scout)Involved in BSA for almost 25 years (Eagle Scout)
33rdrd Year as Cubmaster of Pack 374 – Sana Clara Year as Cubmaster of Pack 374 – Sana Clara County CouncilCounty Council
Have planned 35 Pack meetings (been at 45, as an Have planned 35 Pack meetings (been at 45, as an adult more as a scout)adult more as a scout)
Dad of a Webelos I and Dad of a Webelos I and Wolf Scout Wolf Scout
What this presentation is not…
Lots of slidesLots of slides
The “right way” to be a CubmasterThe “right way” to be a Cubmaster
Learning how to manage conflictLearning how to manage conflict
The presentation of your dreams! (Well, I The presentation of your dreams! (Well, I guess maybe…)guess maybe…)
What this presentation is…
What I believe the basics areWhat I believe the basics are
Nothing more than tips and suggestionsNothing more than tips and suggestions
Situations and experiences that I learned fromSituations and experiences that I learned from
A pointer to good online resourcesA pointer to good online resources
Hopefully, a time where we can share ideasHopefully, a time where we can share ideas
Agenda
IntroIntro
What is the Cubmaster’s job?What is the Cubmaster’s job?
What is a Pack Meeting?What is a Pack Meeting?
The Pack Meeting Plan (Agenda)The Pack Meeting Plan (Agenda)
Den Duties (Assignments)Den Duties (Assignments)
Do you know what your dens Do you know what your dens are doing? are doing?
Do you have a monthly leader Do you have a monthly leader meeting?meeting?
Working with the Pack Working with the Pack CommitteeCommittee
Working with the Charter Working with the Charter OrganizationOrganization
Recruiting (Scouts and Recruiting (Scouts and Leaders)Leaders)
Event PlanningEvent Planning
Diplomacy and Crisis Diplomacy and Crisis ManagementManagement
Who is your Unit Who is your Unit Commissioner or DE?Commissioner or DE?
Leader TrainingLeader Training
WebelosWebelos
CommunicationCommunication
Cubmaster…
The Ruler of the Pack (no, but many will think The Ruler of the Pack (no, but many will think you are)you are)
The Glue that holds everyone togetherThe Glue that holds everyone together
The energy that keep the pack runningThe energy that keep the pack running
The grease the keeps things smoothThe grease the keeps things smooth
The face of the packThe face of the pack
The one everyone blamesThe one everyone blames
The chief evangelist!The chief evangelist!
Cubmaster’s Job
Read The Cub Scout Leader BookRead The Cub Scout Leader Book
Check out the New Cubmaster BrochureCheck out the New Cubmaster Brochure
Responsible for Pack Program (not by yourself)Responsible for Pack Program (not by yourself)
Chief Goofball and Crisis NegotiatorChief Goofball and Crisis Negotiator
Plan the Monthly Pack MeetingPlan the Monthly Pack Meeting
Cultivate a strong Webelos programCultivate a strong Webelos program
Have your finger on The Pulse of the packHave your finger on The Pulse of the pack
Have a regular leader/planning meetingHave a regular leader/planning meeting
Build and cultivate relationships (scouts, families, schools and Build and cultivate relationships (scouts, families, schools and more)more)
Work with your Committee Chair, Charter Rep, District Executive Work with your Committee Chair, Charter Rep, District Executive (DE) and Unit Commissioner(DE) and Unit Commissioner
Use Your Resources
• Can’t sing?Can’t sing?
• Find it hard to be silly?Find it hard to be silly?
• Bad at planning?Bad at planning?
• Don’t think you are very creative?Don’t think you are very creative?
Use Your Leaders and Families!!!!Use Your Leaders and Families!!!!But… Leave your comfort zone
and Have Fun!!!But… Leave your comfort zone
and Have Fun!!!
What is a Pack Meeting?(Oh my, soooo many words….)
• The monthly pack meeting brings together The monthly pack meeting brings together boys from every den, their leaders, and their boys from every den, their leaders, and their families, to participate in a large-scale event families, to participate in a large-scale event that serves as a showcase for everything the that serves as a showcase for everything the boys have learned and done in their individual boys have learned and done in their individual den meetings. den meetings.
• The pack meeting gives the boys a larger The pack meeting gives the boys a larger experience beyond their own den, and helps experience beyond their own den, and helps them to connect their individual activities to them to connect their individual activities to the entire Cub Scouting program.the entire Cub Scouting program.
Meetings are boooooring!
• A monthly show for your pack families!!! A monthly show for your pack families!!! (Cub Fest, The Big Show, Cub Theatre)(Cub Fest, The Big Show, Cub Theatre)
• There should be:There should be:
– SongsSongs
– SkitsSkits
– JokesJokes
– AwardsAwards
– Rank advancementRank advancement
– Short announcements (use a newsletter)Short announcements (use a newsletter)
– FUN!!!!!FUN!!!!!
• Mix it up! Some families have been there for years!Mix it up! Some families have been there for years!
You NEED an agenda!!!
• Consistency is good; but change is also okay (find a Consistency is good; but change is also okay (find a balance)balance)
• Keep it simpleKeep it simple
• Keep it as short as possible (90 min in my world 70 boys Keep it as short as possible (90 min in my world 70 boys and 9 dens – soon to be 10)and 9 dens – soon to be 10)
• Be flexible!Be flexible!
• Have a copy on handHave a copy on hand
• Get every den involvedGet every den involved
• Get parents and leaders involvedGet parents and leaders involved
• Cubmaster is the Ringmaster Cubmaster is the Ringmaster not the starnot the star of the show! of the show!
Pack Meeting Tips
• Always have a Plan BAlways have a Plan B
• Did you confirm the guest (or verify that they had Did you confirm the guest (or verify that they had been confirmed)?been confirmed)?
• Always have an agenda!Always have an agenda!
• Set expectations (Stage Area, Behavior for scouts Set expectations (Stage Area, Behavior for scouts AND guests)AND guests)
• Does every boy get something? (Bead program)Does every boy get something? (Bead program)
• Do adults get something? (Bead program, thank Do adults get something? (Bead program, thank you gift)you gift)
• Do you have a treasure/goodie box?Do you have a treasure/goodie box?
Den Duties (Assignments)
• This is what I use:This is what I use:
– Gathering & SetupGathering & Setup
– OpeningOpening
– PrayerPrayer
– SongSong
– SkitSkit
– Spotlight DenSpotlight Den
– Den Choice (Song, Skit, Cheer)Den Choice (Song, Skit, Cheer)
– Jokes or Run-onsJokes or Run-ons
– Closing & CleanupClosing & Cleanup
Monthly Den Duties
• Publish the duties ahead of timePublish the duties ahead of time
• Remind leaders at your leader meetingRemind leaders at your leader meeting
• Come up with an easy rotationCome up with an easy rotation
• Send email reminders!Send email reminders!
• Be ready to fill/change as neededBe ready to fill/change as needed
• I give my dens 5 minutes each (they can use less)I give my dens 5 minutes each (they can use less)
• Get every den involved!!Get every den involved!!
– Public speaking is an important life skill!Public speaking is an important life skill!
• Keep what works, change what doesn’t!Keep what works, change what doesn’t!
What Are Your Dens Doing?
• Where and When do they meet?Where and When do they meet?
• Do you ever visit them?Do you ever visit them?
• What Go See It trips are they going on?What Go See It trips are they going on?
• Have they files a Tour Permit?Have they files a Tour Permit?
• Are the scouts earning awards and advancing?Are the scouts earning awards and advancing?
• Have you asked about any problems?Have you asked about any problems?
• Do Den Leaders have assistants? Den Chiefs?Do Den Leaders have assistants? Den Chiefs?
Do You Have a Leader Meeting?
• Having a regular leader meeting is worth itHaving a regular leader meeting is worth it
• Make every den have a representativeMake every den have a representative
• Make it face-to-faceMake it face-to-face
• Get Den Leader feedback on recent eventsGet Den Leader feedback on recent events
• Plan for upcoming eventsPlan for upcoming events
• Get a report on den healthGet a report on den health
• Help resolve issuesHelp resolve issues
• Gather feedback for the Pack CommitteeGather feedback for the Pack Committee
Working with the Pack
Committee• Attend the monthly Committee MeetingAttend the monthly Committee Meeting
• Give a Cubmaster ReportGive a Cubmaster Report
• Work hand-in-hand with your Committee Work hand-in-hand with your Committee Chair!!!Chair!!!
• Let them handle the Business of the PackLet them handle the Business of the Pack
• Help recruit new membersHelp recruit new members
• Have a New Parent Welcome ProgramHave a New Parent Welcome Program
Working with Your Charter
Organization• Build a relationship with your Institutional Build a relationship with your Institutional
Head (IH) if possibleHead (IH) if possible
• Try to attend some Charter Org eventsTry to attend some Charter Org events
• Look into doing a yearly Service Project Look into doing a yearly Service Project
• Build a relationship with your Charter Build a relationship with your Charter Organization RepresentativeOrganization Representative
• Remember the Charter Organization basically Remember the Charter Organization basically owns the packowns the pack
Recruiting
• Make sure you have a recruiting program for Make sure you have a recruiting program for new scoutsnew scouts
• Have you been assigned a school or two?Have you been assigned a school or two?
• Know your territory!Know your territory!
• Help identify potential leaders and event hostsHelp identify potential leaders and event hosts
• Can you help in leader recruitment?Can you help in leader recruitment?
• Make families feel welcome!Make families feel welcome!
• Return phone calls and email!!!Return phone calls and email!!!
Event Planning (and Attending)
• DO NOT do it all yourself!!!DO NOT do it all yourself!!!
• Don’t be afraid to let events failDon’t be afraid to let events fail
• Do you know who your event hosts are?Do you know who your event hosts are?
• You do NOT have to attend every pack event You do NOT have to attend every pack event (there is only so much of you to go around)(there is only so much of you to go around)
• Spend some time with your own family while Spend some time with your own family while at events (even the Cubmaster gets to enjoy at events (even the Cubmaster gets to enjoy the event)the event)
• Make sure you get some food!Make sure you get some food!
Boy Behavior
• Become familiar with the normal behavior for Become familiar with the normal behavior for each age groupeach age group
• Do not be afraid to set expectations (make Do not be afraid to set expectations (make sure you are clear)sure you are clear)
• Do not be afraid to reprimand (but be calm Do not be afraid to reprimand (but be calm and fair)and fair)
• Make sure your leaders understand this as wellMake sure your leaders understand this as well
• Have you tried a Pack Theme of the Year?Have you tried a Pack Theme of the Year?
• The boys CAN do it!The boys CAN do it!
Diplomacy and Crisis
Management• As in any family, problems and tense situations As in any family, problems and tense situations
can arisecan arise
• Be careful not to jump in too fastBe careful not to jump in too fast
• Try to listen as much as possibleTry to listen as much as possible
• Folks WILL come to you looking for solutionsFolks WILL come to you looking for solutions
• People can get very nasty, do your best not to People can get very nasty, do your best not to respond in kindrespond in kind
• Don’t be afraid to go to your Unit Commissioner, Don’t be afraid to go to your Unit Commissioner, DE, Charter Organization Rep or others for help!DE, Charter Organization Rep or others for help!
Your Unit Commissioner and DE
• Have you met them? You NEED to do that!Have you met them? You NEED to do that!
• You WANT your Council Office to know you (at You WANT your Council Office to know you (at least your name)least your name)
• Invite them to pack functionsInvite them to pack functions
• Is your Unit Commissioner on your email list?Is your Unit Commissioner on your email list?
Leader Training
• Your goal is to encourage EVERY leader to be Your goal is to encourage EVERY leader to be trainedtrained
• You NEED to be trainedYou NEED to be trained
• Mandatory training for direct contact leaders Mandatory training for direct contact leaders is coming…is coming…
• Do you have a pack trainer?Do you have a pack trainer?
• Do you have any training for parents?Do you have any training for parents?
• Know who has/has not been trainedKnow who has/has not been trained
• Look into Wood Badge… It is THAT good!Look into Wood Badge… It is THAT good!
Webelos
• What are the Troops in your area?What are the Troops in your area?
• Do you know who the Scoutmasters are?Do you know who the Scoutmasters are?
• Roundtable and Council/District events are Roundtable and Council/District events are good places to make contactsgood places to make contacts
• Where are your Webelos bridging to?Where are your Webelos bridging to?
• Are you making sure that Webelos is a strong Are you making sure that Webelos is a strong program?program?
• How many of your Webelos Bridge?How many of your Webelos Bridge?
Communication
• Do you have an email list?Do you have an email list?
• Do use use online groups?Do use use online groups?
• Do you have a website?Do you have a website?
• You REALLY need a Pack Newsletter!You REALLY need a Pack Newsletter!
• Do you have a yearly calendar?Do you have a yearly calendar?
• How often do you communicate to your pack?How often do you communicate to your pack?
• How much face-to-face time do you have with How much face-to-face time do you have with pack families?pack families?
Have Fun
• Just an hour a week, right? (Yeah, a Scout Just an hour a week, right? (Yeah, a Scout Hour!)Hour!)
• Don’t do this for your son, the boys or the Don’t do this for your son, the boys or the pack… Do it for YOU!pack… Do it for YOU!
• If you are not having fun, you need to change If you are not having fun, you need to change thingsthings
• If you do it right, you will be compensated more If you do it right, you will be compensated more than you ever expected! than you ever expected!
Everyone needs help and ideas!Great Resources!
Resources
• Complete your Training!!!Complete your Training!!!
• Wood BadgeWood Badge
• Monthly District RoundtableMonthly District Roundtable
• Pow-Wow/University of Scouting (duh…)Pow-Wow/University of Scouting (duh…)
• Cub Scout Talk Yahoo! GroupCub Scout Talk Yahoo! Group
• Cubmaster Chat Yahoo! GroupCubmaster Chat Yahoo! Group
• Scouting.org WebsiteScouting.org Website
• Your Counsel Website (and possible email list)Your Counsel Website (and possible email list)
Great online Resources
• Pack Meeting Info from BSA: Pack Meeting Info from BSA:
– http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Activities/pack.aspxhttp://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Activities/pack.aspx
– Simple Pack Meeting Planning Document:Simple Pack Meeting Planning Document:
• http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34-37.pdfhttp://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34-37.pdf
– Some of my examples:Some of my examples:
• http://leaders.cubpack374.org/powwow/ http://leaders.cubpack374.org/powwow/
– My website for Pack 374 LeadersMy website for Pack 374 Leaders
• http://leaders.cubpack374.org/ http://leaders.cubpack374.org/
Major Helps
• Baloo’s Bugle (my secret sauce)Baloo’s Bugle (my secret sauce)
– http://www.usscouts.org/bbugle.asp http://www.usscouts.org/bbugle.asp
• Cub Scout Program Helps (will be going away)Cub Scout Program Helps (will be going away)
– http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Leaders/http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Leaders/CubScoutHelps.aspx CubScoutHelps.aspx
• MacScouterMacScouter
– http://www.macscouter.com/ http://www.macscouter.com/
• The Virtual Cub Scout Leader’s Handbook The Virtual Cub Scout Leader’s Handbook
– http://webspace.webring.com/people/wu/um_10831/home.htmlhttp://webspace.webring.com/people/wu/um_10831/home.html
