Recharter Time. Decisions To Make.
stevejb68 on December 11, 2022 in committee, Cub Scout, Leadership
The year of 2022 is coming to an end which means that Scouting units of the Central Minnesota Council need to complete their recharters. It also means that those of us who serve as adults leaders have decisions to make.
I, for example, have roles in two local Scouting units to consider. First, do I stay on as the cubmaster of Melrose Area Cub Scout Pack 68 for another year? Second, do I remain as the scoutmaster for Troop 68 for 2023? I can tell you from personal experience that holding these two positions at the same time can be challenging. Every Monday and Tuesday is filled with meetings of these two units, plus the weekend activities.
I took on the role as cubmaster a year and a half ago as the state came out of the covid lockdown. While many Cub Scout Packs did not survive the lockdowns, Pack 68 did, but just barely. The Pack began their new program year in September 2021 with only three Cub Scouts. My first priority as cubmaster was to try to build up the membership. The Pack committee chairman and I worked to get the word out about Cub Scouting. We scheduled to visit the two school open houses in town to spread the word. We were able to increase our membership to 12 active Cub Scouts. The next step was to provide a good program.
Our scoutmaster of 2021 decided to step down from the position at the end of that year. None of the parents were stepping up to take the position. I held a meeting with the parents and the Scouts to discuss the problem. I offered to take the position for 2022 but since I was currently serving as the troop committee chair someone would have to fill that role. A new committee chair was found so I stepped into the role of scoutmaster one more time.
Now we arrive at the end of 2022 and it is time for me to decide whether I should remain in both roles. I think both units have been happy with my performance in each role, and I believe we have had a good year in both units. After all, no one has offered to take over either the cubmaster or the scoutmaster positions.
I have decided to stay on as the cubmaster for Pack 68 for one more year. The Pack committee chair and I worked hard this fall to increase the size of the Pack to 26 Scouts and I feel a responsibility to stay with the Cub Scouts at least until the fall of 2023. Hopefully, by that time, someone will step forward to take over the role so that I have a few months to work with him/her before the end of the year.
I have to mention that I have to give the Pack committee a lot of credit. They have made the role of cubmaster very easy for me through their hard work and commitment to the program. They are the main reason I will remain as the cubmaster for one more year.
I had to think harder about staying on as the scoutmaster of Troop 68 for another year. I have now been an adult leader of the troop for over 42 years. Over thirty one of those years has been as the scoutmaster. The thought has crossed my mind this fall that it is time for me to completely step away from the Boy Scout program and let the current generation take care of the troop. I keep thinking to myself, I have served my time.
The Scout Troop currently has nine active members. We have a good program in place. We will welcome two Webelos Scouts into the troop in February when they graduate into Boy Scouting. Six Scouts plan to attend the 2023 National Jamboree. We have a good committee and they have worked hard this past year to keep my duties as the scoutmaster simpler.
Unfortunately I am not that 21 year old scoutmaster any more. My body reminds me of this regularly. I still enjoy working with the Scouts, but I do not enjoy the behind the scenes work anymore. And I will be honest, some of the decisions made by the National Boy Scout office are making it harder for me to stay with the program.
Do I sign up as the scoutmaster of Troop 68 for one more year? Yes I will, for one more year. Why? The first and main reason is the boys. I want to work with them through their 2022-2023 program. The second reason is that the committee continues to be dedicated to the program. Third, there is a strong possibility that we will have someone ready to take over the role of scoutmaster in the summer of 2023.
So, it looks like I will remain as the Cubmaster of Pack 68 and the scoutmaster of Troop 68 as we move into 2023. Welcome to another year of Scouting!
Time to step down as Scoutmaster. Let go and step back.
The first responsibility of any leader is to train others to take the leadership of their organization.
If you want Troop 68 to continue to serve youth for years to come, it is your responsibility to discover and develop the leaders who will continue to guide and direct Scouts for the next 50 years.
There are plenty of other jobs you can take in the troop.
63 years as an adult leader and still going!
Mike Poretsky