Another Dead Crew

[ThunderingWind]

As we all know it time to re-charter. I received my packet from the Council the first Thursday of October.

1) Sent out e-mail notices to all members (youth and adults). Reminded boys that were now 18 that they need to
determine how they are registering this year. Also asked adults how they were registering if also in a dual/multiple membership
status. Non-registered parents also got the e-mail as a reminder if I had an address. One Yes Response from Youth, one from Adult (me)

2) Followed up one week later with post cards in the mail. No Responses

3) Followed up with phone calls one week after post cards. No responses Most were "I need to check with my parents." And this is even from the boys that are in the co-located Troop.

So none of my committee has responded, the Senior Advisor has not responded, the COR has not responded. That leaves me, an Associate Advisor, and one youth.

I sure hope I can get National to approve a Lone Crew so my son and I can stay in the program.

[smtroop168]

This is the number one problem I hear about Venture Crews....sustainability from year to year.

Never heard of Lone Crew. We have a discussion about Lone Scouts in the Forum. Same deal? I thought they were Council approved not National?

My DE says Lone Scout requests he's heard of are just because the parent doesn't like the unit leaders but with 35 troops in our district he's hard pressed not to tell the parent to find another unit.

[ThunderingWind]

This would drop my District to 1 Crew, down from 4. The one remaining is not very viable. The youth just will not commit to the program.

From a Council level, I think we will be down 4 from 15 after re-charter. Then add back three special Crews that are not a major part of the process.

Without a Crew, my son will not be able to serve on the TLC/VOA and represent the Council at the Area VOA.

I did not have this problem in Ozark Trails Council or Crossroads of America Council.

[kwildman]

I would personally call each of these youths and ask them to be honest with you on why they are not rechartering. I wouldnt bother with the adults that have kids in the crew because they most likely are dropping because the kids are. Most likely you will find that they were not getting what they wanted out of the Crew.

Probably, too late to fix it but you may find that there is something that you can change that would bring the kids back. I can't believe that there were not any warning signs that things were going in this direction such as a drop in meeting attendance, poor participation in outings, etc. There should be no reason that the adviser hasn't responded perhaps the problem starts at the top?

[AquilaNegra2]

My DE says Lone Scout requests he's heard of are just because the parent doesn't like the unit leaders but with 35 troops in our district he's hard pressed not to tell the parent to find another unit.

We did LS for a couple of years. Homeschooling is an automatic qualifier (though I see the phrase "whose parents do not want them in a youth group" recently added). It wasn't about the unit leaders, but about the boys. Every parent knows their child best (or should), and a peer group situation isn't always the best way to go for every child. We moved them into a troop when they were ready. LS was the right decision at the time. Your DE ought to give the parents of these LSers a little more credit.

[smtroop168]

[quote="AquilaNegra2"]Your DE ought to give the parents of these LSers a little more credit.

I think he does but these were not homeschool kids. The unit leaders wanted to the scout to actually follow the requirements and Mom didn't think he needed to.

[AquilaNegra2]

Your DE ought to give the parents of these LSers a little more credit.

I think he does but these were not homeschool kids. The unit leaders wanted to the scout to actually follow the requirements and Mom didn't think he needed to.

Ah. Overzealous parent + mama's boy is not a good combination.

[ThunderingWind]

I would personally call each of these youths and ask them to be honest with you on why they are not rechartering. I wouldnt bother with the adults that have kids in the crew because they most likely are dropping because the kids are. Most likely you will find that they were not getting what they wanted out of the Crew.

Probably, too late to fix it but you may find that there is something that you can change that would bring the kids back. I can't believe that there were not any warning signs that things were going in this direction such as a drop in meeting attendance, poor participation in outings, etc. There should be no reason that the adviser hasn't responded perhaps the problem starts at the top?

I will be calling everyone as it is rquired per the re-charter instructions if someone is leaving the unit.

As to "warning signs," this can viewed as hit and miss. A few are now Freshman in college adn they were our leaders. The Freshamn that joined in the spring are more timid than seesm normal. We get a vaaried mix of attendance at the "close to home events" and they always vote to support the bigger events by attending but only vote to attend as individuals as part of the Event Provisional Crew. Then nobody signs up.

I am bothered that my Advisor and Committee Chair have not responded.

[wagionvigil]

There is a Crew in Tyrone that seems active also Indiana.I spent the weekend with the ADV from Tyrone You two would get along great He was a Combat Lifesaver in the sand Box.

[ThunderingWind]

There is a Crew in Tyrone that seems active also Indiana.I spent the weekend with the ADV from Tyrone You two would get along great He was a Combat Lifesaver in the sand Box.

Who?

[wagionvigil]

Sent you an email