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Cubmaster 101

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) 4 th Year as Cubmaster of Pack 374 – Sana Clara County Council Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner

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Cubmaster 101

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  1. Cubmaster 101 Presented by Bill Bates Cubmaster, Pack 374 – Santa Clara County Council

  2. Who am I? (Okay, a bit of a brag page) • Involved in BSA for almost 25 years (Eagle Scout) • 4th Year as Cubmaster of Pack 374 – Sana Clara County Council • Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner • Have planned 47 Pack meetings (been at 57, as an adult more as a scout) • Dad of a Webelos II and Bear Scout

  3. What this presentation is not… • Short! (We will run out of time…) • The “right way” to be a Cubmaster • Learning how to manage conflict • The presentation of your dreams! (Well, I guess maybe…)

  4. What this presentation is… • What I believe the basics are • Nothing more than tips and suggestions • Situations and experiences that I learned from • A pointer to good online resources • Hopefully, a time where we can share ideas

  5. Agenda • Intro • What is the Cubmaster’s job? • What is a Pack Meeting? • The Pack Meeting Plan (Agenda) • Den Duties (Assignments) • Do you know what your dens are doing? • Do you have a monthly leader meeting? • Working with the Pack Committee • Working with the Charter Organization • Recruiting (Scouts and Leaders) • Event Planning • Diplomacy and Crisis Management • Who is your Unit Commissioner or DE? • Leader Training • Webelos • Communication

  6. Cubmaster… • The Ruler of the Pack (no, but many will think you are) • The Glue that holds everyone together • The energy that keep the pack running • The grease the keeps things smooth • The face of the pack • The one everyone blames • The chief evangelist!

  7. Cubmaster’s Job • Read The Cub Scout Leader Book • Check out the New Cubmaster Brochure • Responsible for Pack Program (not by yourself) • Chief Goofball and Crisis Negotiator • Plan the Monthly Pack Meeting • Cultivate a strong Webelos program • Have your finger on The Pulse of the pack • Have a regular leader/planning meeting • Build and cultivate relationships (scouts, families, schools and more) • Work with your Committee Chair, Charter Rep, District Executive (DE) and Unit Commissioner

  8. Use Your Resources • Can’t sing? • Find it hard to be silly? • Bad at planning? • Don’t think you are very creative? Use Your Leaders and Families!!!! But… Leave your comfort zone and Have Fun!!!

  9. What is a Pack Meeting?(Oh my, soooo many words….) • The monthly pack meeting brings together boys from every den, their leaders, and their families, to participate in a large-scale event that serves as a showcase for everything the boys have learned and done in their individual den meetings. • The pack meeting gives the boys a larger experience beyond their own den, and helps them to connect their individual activities to the entire Cub Scouting program.

  10. Meetings are boooooring! • A monthly show for your pack families!!! (Cub Fest, The Big Show, Cub Theatre) • There should be: • Songs • Skits • Jokes • Awards • Rank advancement • Short announcements (use a newsletter) • FUN!!!!! • Mix it up! Some families have been there for years!

  11. You NEED an agenda!!! • Consistency is good; but change is also okay (find a balance) • Keep it simple • Keep it as short as possible (90 min in my world 75 boys and 11 dens) • Be flexible! • Have a copy on hand • Get every den involved • Get parents and leaders involved • Cubmaster is the Ringmaster not the star of the show!

  12. Pack Meeting Tips • Always have a Plan B • Did you confirm the guest (or verify that they had been confirmed)? • Always have an agenda! (Did I already say that?) • Set expectations (Stage Area, Behavior for scouts AND guests) • Does every boy get something? (Bead program) • Do adults get something? (Bead program, thank you gift) • Do you have a treasure/goodie box?

  13. Den Duties (Assignments) • This is what I use: • Gathering & Setup • Opening • Prayer • Song • Skit • Spotlight Den • Den Choice (Song, Skit, Cheer) • Jokes or Run-ons • Closing & Cleanup

  14. Monthly Den Duties • Publish the duties ahead of time • Remind leaders at your leader meeting • Come up with an easy rotation • Send email reminders! • Be ready to fill/change as needed • I give my dens 5 minutes each (they can use less) • Get every den involved!! • Public speaking is an important life skill! • Keep what works, change what doesn’t!

  15. What Are Your Dens Doing? • Where and When do they meet? • Do you ever visit them? • What Go See It trips are they going on? • Have they filed a Tour Permit? • Are the scouts earning awards and advancing? • Have you asked about any problems? • Do Den Leaders have assistants? Den Chiefs?

  16. Do You Have a Leader Meeting? • Having a regular leader meeting is worth it • Make every den have a representative • Make it face-to-face • Get Den Leader feedback on recent events • Plan for upcoming events • Get a report on den health • Help resolve issues • Gather feedback for the Pack Committee

  17. Working with the Pack Committee • Attend the monthly Committee Meeting • Give a Cubmaster Report • Work hand-in-hand with your Committee Chair!!! • Let them handle the Business of the Pack • Help recruit new members • Have a New Parent Welcome Program

  18. Working with Your Charter Organization • Build a relationship with your Institutional Head (IH) if possible • Try to attend some Charter Org events • Look into doing a yearly Service Project • Build a relationship with your Charter Organization Representative • Remember the Charter Organization basically owns the pack

  19. Recruiting • Make sure you have a recruiting program for new scouts • Have you been assigned a school or two? • Know your territory! • Help identify potential leaders and event hosts • Can you help in leader recruitment? • Make families feel welcome! • Return phone calls and email!!!

  20. Event Planning (and Attending) • DO NOT do it all yourself!!! • Don’t be afraid to let events fail • Do you know who your event hosts are? • You do NOT have to attend every pack event (there is only so much of you to go around) • Spend some time with your own family while at events (even the Cubmaster gets to enjoy the event) • Make sure you get some food!

  21. Boy Behavior • Become familiar with the normal behavior for each age group • Do not be afraid to set expectations (make sure you are clear) • Do not be afraid to reprimand (but be calm and fair) • Make sure your leaders understand this as well • Have you tried a Pack Theme of the Year? • The boys CAN do it!

  22. Diplomacy and Crisis Management • As in any family, problems and tense situations can arise • Be careful not to jump in too fast • Try to listen as much as possible • Folks WILL come to you looking for solutions • People can get very nasty, do your best not to respond in kind • Don’t be afraid to go to your Unit Commissioner, DE, Charter Organization Rep or others for help!

  23. Your Unit Commissioner and DE • Have you met them? You NEED to do that! • You WANT your Council Office to know you (at least your name) • Invite them to pack functions • Is your Unit Commissioner on your email list?

  24. Leader Training • Your goal is to encourage EVERY leader to be trained • You NEED to be trained • Mandatory training for direct contact leaders is coming… • Do you have a pack trainer? • Do you have any training for parents? • Know who has/has not been trained • Look into Wood Badge… It is THAT good!

  25. Webelos • What are the Troops in your area? • Do you know who the Scoutmasters are? • Roundtable and Council/District events are good places to make contacts • Where are your Webelos bridging to? • Are you making sure that Webelos is a strong program? • How many of your Webelos Bridge?

  26. Communication • Do you have an email list? • Do use use online groups? • Do you have a website? • You REALLY need a Pack Newsletter! • Do you have a yearly calendar? • How often do you communicate to your pack? • How much face-to-face time do you have with pack families?

  27. Have Fun • Just an hour a week, right? (Yeah, a Scout Hour!) • Don’t do this for your son, the boys or the pack… Do it for YOU! • If you are not having fun, you need to change things • If you do it right, you will be compensated more than you ever expected!

  28. Great Resources! Everyone needs help and ideas!

  29. Resources • Complete your Training!!! • Wood Badge • Monthly District Roundtable • University of Scouting (duh…) • Cub Scout Talk Yahoo! Group • Cubmaster Chat Yahoo! Group • Scouting.org Website • Our Counsel Website (and email lists) • Pioneer District Website (http://www.pioneer-district.org/)

  30. Great online Resources • Pack Meeting Info from BSA: • http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Activities/pack.aspx • Simple Pack Meeting Planning Document: • http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34-37.pdf • My University of Scouting Website: • http://batescentral.com/cubmaster/ • My website for Pack 374 Leaders: • http://leaders.cubpack374.org/

  31. Major Helps • Baloo’s Bugle (my secret sauce) • http://www.usscouts.org/bbugle.asp • Cubmaster Resources from the BSA • http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Leaders/Cubmaster%20Resources.aspx • Den and Pack Meeting Resource Guides • http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Leaders/DenLeaderResources/DenandPackMeetingResourceGuide.aspx • MacScouter • http://www.macscouter.com/ • The Virtual Cub Scout Leader’s Handbook • http://webspace.webring.com/people/wu/um_10831/home.html

  32. Thank You! cubmaster@batescentral.com

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