December’s Pack meeting: FRIDAY, Dec. 18th

·         Door duty: Connie’s Wolf Den #11*

·         Gathering: Each den will build a sculpture with the materials provided.

·         Opening: Darren’s Bear Den #14*

·         (Finishing creating/exhibiting sculptures if needed)

·         Awards/Recognition**: Assistant cub master Adam Yee

·         Skit/game: Laurie’s Den 16

·         PWD cars and directions will be distributed***

·         Invitations for B&G distributed to be returned by Jan’s pack

·         Lock-in balance money due ($15/scout) to Catherine

·         Pack T-shirts for new scouts (this year and those who joined last year): see Mary-Ann during pack mtg to get correct size—they are same design but may run smaller

*Evidently Laurie mis-typed in last month’s committee notes so there might be a discrepancy as to which dens have opening and which have door, but has been corrected above.

**The scouting for food patches will be announced but distributed by the den leaders, who will also give out the patches from summer camp.  (As usual, all items of recognition for scouts must be submitted by their den leader to Mary-Ann via email by the Friday before the Pack meeting, which is Dec. 11^th this month.)

***We will be using the council PWD rules, which are stricter than previous years.  Please read them carefully.  They will be posted on the website as well.  (Darren will look into having a demonstration for new scouts at the den level rather than at the end of a pack meeting.)

Harry Cross/status of Pack 188:

·          Harry Cross is the liaison from the church to our Pack.  He attended the committee meeting to sign leader apps and check the status of our Pack. (Unfortunately, he arrived late so although we had a good turnout some of you may have left without hearing all of his concerns).

·          Mary-Ann reviewed the actual number of new scouts/leaders.  She is still waiting on an application from some new leaders.  Of course, those new leaders (who haven’t already done so) will have to be trained in February.

·          Harry pointed out that there are local camping grounds Webelos might be interested in utilizing for an overnight campout off of Brown Road that can lend itself to bike riding the Henry Hudson trail.  This makes it much easier for those families who must come & go due to sports and other commitments.  Contact Harry or Robert DeMarco for more information.

·          Harry also mentioned that Sun, Feb. 14^th is scout Sunday at Morganville United Methodist and Pastor Marv has once again invited us to participate. We hope to have a good turnout, especially since this marks the 100^th year of scouting.  Attendance was low last year and he would like to see an improvement.  When Laurie pointed out that the 14^th is Chinese New Year, Cathy mentioned the 3-day weekend from President’s day and Mary-Ann pointed out Valentine’s Day, he said he would talk to Pastor Marv about possibly changing the date.  (We also mentioned the following week is the B&G while the weekend before is the lock-in.  Still, we felt the 7^th might have a better response; scouts could go even if they are tired from the Friday night Franklin Institute lock-in.

·          Harry Cross has been personally involved with cub scouts and boy scouts for the last 12 years with his own sons.  Some issues were brought up that need to be discussed.  Since Harry is our liaison to the church (our sponsoring organization), if he feels we are not conforming to the BSA Policies, we could lose our charter.  Unfortunately, he took a strong stance on several things:

o         Den leaders must be trained and in uniform.  They must be apparent at all meetings.

o         At the tiger level, the ratio of scouts to adult partner must be 1:1 at all functions (den mtgs, pack mtgs go-see-its, etc.)  (Parents who find it necessary to leave must take their scout with them)  In additions, each Tiger adult should, in fact, be taking a turn to run a monthly den meeting and a go-see-it. Please let the committee know if this is a problem.

o         Every den (all levels) should have a minimum of 2 meetings per month.  A go-see or trip that includes the majority of the den is an acceptable replacement although at wolf or above it really should be in addition to a meeting.

o         Any leader who is not following the BSA policies by doing these things needs to be confronted by the cub master to follow the rules or be asked to step down. 

o         It is great that we were able to form tiger dens with families that have been in scouting with older siblings because they know the ropes but if they do not follow the policies then they are setting a bad example and must be approached.

o         Parents have older scouts but either never had a tiger or simply don’t remember, must be reminded how the tiger year is different than all other years. It is meant to introduce the boy to scouting and teach the parents that it is a joint activity for them to share and have time together. It is NOT a drop-off.

January:

·          Committee meeting: Jan 11^th at church – ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS/LEADERS NEED TO ATTEND as many of the issues that Harry raised need to be discussed with more of you in attendance. Start time will be 7:30 pm.

·          Weigh-in:

o         A new scale needs to be purchased as the current one is not consistent.  Laurie will look into the scout shops’ as well as Bed, Bath & Beyond.

o         We need to correct the problem of the long lines at weigh-in and a never-ending pack meeting the day before the races.  Mary-Ann suggested having a deadline to weigh cars in from 7-7:30 on the 21^st but Cathy said the line would be awful.  With help from Harry Cross, the committee came up with a solution we will be implementing this year.  The week before the PWD, Laurie will have the scale and let everyone know what days/times it is available for a preliminary weigh-in.  If you wish to leave your car after weighing it at this time, you will be allowed.  Otherwise, you will need to bring it back on the assigned day for your rank, weigh it and leave it. (Example: Webeleos I&II  Mon, Jan 18^th, Bears: Jan 19^th, Wolves & Tigers: Jan 20^th )  The days and times are still to be finalized; Laurie and Mary-Ann will look into what days/nights will work.

·           Pack: Thursday, Jan 21^st

o         Opening: Eagles

o         Connie: speaker-approx. 45 min

o         All dens: Voting on most original for all other dens

·          PWD Friday, Jan.22^nd

o         Cathy: refreshments—will have to charge this year due to funds

o         Laurie: Geodisc dome-newspapers, staplers, masking tape & other games if need be

o         Schedule of races TBD and will be announced in December newsletter

o         Need new photographer for scouts w/ their car*

Looking ahead:

·          John brought up the idea that was suggested at round table—having the Friends of scouting come to the B&G, but Laurie and Mary-An felt it might put people off to pay for a lunch celebration and be asked for more money.  They both felt waiting until March’s Pack meeting would be better. Other leaders that were present were in agreement.

·          John mentioned that the Helps books are being done away with, as are the monthly themes.  He offered a web site for good ideas: www.scouting.org/cubscouts2010

·          The committee felt the low turnout for scout camp this year was due to the council’s failure to have a representative come talk about it.  We all remember how enthused scouts were the years before.  Mary-Ann suggested that John mention it at the next Round table.

·          February is B&G where scouts are supposed to celebrate earning their rank by finishing ALL requirements.*  Mary-Ann questioned the status of those dens whose leaders were present and they all said they were on track.  (*Families members are invited to attend to honor this achievement and congratulate those scouts who are crossing over to boy scouts.  Also each den will perform a skit.  The invitations will include a price for each person.  Lunch is included but we ask all families to bring a dessert that would feed a dozen people.  No other awards are given that month; they will be held and distributed at March’s Pack meeting instead.)

·          Dens should be presenting skits, songs, jokes, den projects, etc. at monthly Pack meetings.

·          We still are working on a volunteer list but now thinking of a more direct approach as Harry suggested. (Mary-Ann was thinking of a parent meeting while entertaining the scouts with games for this month or next, but should parents be approached at the den level?  Laurie thought if John, Adam and/or Mary-Ann had the opportunity to go to each den, there would be better results.)

·          If there is anything a leader or parents would like to discuss please come to the next committee meeting.  It is a great place to have your voice heard, your concerns addressed, and ideas shared.