Confused Jamboree Mom

[halo]

Hi all: Great info on this site, BTW.

Anyways, my son has been registered through our local council to attend Jamboree since March of last year. We've received nothing (except monthly invoices) and have had exactly 3 meetings in the past year to announce fundraisers. He hasn't even been assigned to a troop yet.

What exactly should he have received by now and what can I do to get things moving? Is there a way he can attend besdies through his council?

TIA

Scout Mom in Idaho

[t305spl]

The only other way he can attend is to hook up with another council and go down with their Jamboree Troop or send him as staff(must be 16). I dont think we can help to much to get his council moving, contact your Council Scout Executive and speak with him directly. If you dont like what he says call another council and get him in a Jamboree Troop in the other council. By now he should have had a Jamboree Troop Meeting(got some info. there), the 2005 National Scout Jamboree Catalog, and the rest is up to your council. Talk to them and let us know what happens.

Welcome to the Boards.

[wagionvigil]

Contact your council TODAY!!!

[scoutchallenge]

Our council is sending 6 troops back East. They currently have monthly "Jamboree Committee" meetings with about 50 adults present. The boys have already spent 1 of 3 weekends at our local camp, a second is set for April and then again in June. Attendence is required. Additionally each patrol has met as a patrol twice and the patrol leaders have met twice also, like a regular troops PLC. I list all this only because it is in such sharp contrast to your situation. Your council must have some planning completed. I would recommend that you consider joining the Jamboree Committee. I did and have found that there are lots of things I would never know had I not joined. Also it lets me see how involved the SM and ASM's for the troops are. I trust that this is going to be one of the most remembered trips for my boys

In the end it's really about what the boy gets out of the trip. I hope that they all come home from a wonderful experiance

[halo]

Just wanted to let you know absolutely nothing has changed. No catalog, not confirmation, no returned phone calls, from both my council and national. Nothing. The two other councils nearby are full and are not taking any more scouts. As of right now, if nothing happens by the end of the week, we'll be pulling my son. How am I supposed to entrust his safety for 3 weeks to people who won't return my phone calls?

[t305spl]

CHANGE to another COUNCIL JAMBO TROOP NOW.

[wagionvigil]

If your son is over 16 he could apply and go as staff.

[halo]

The national office called back and claimed they couldn't verify if my son was registered or not since it's the council's responsibility to maintain the list of participants. They even claimed that the catalogs were only mailed last week bulk mail and only a few people were just receiving them. I asked how were the catalogs mailed from national if they didn't know which boys were registered. She never answered my question.

Why is this whole thing such a PITA? When I'm on the phone with them I literally become dumbfounded because of the crap spewing out of their mouths. It's literally one lie after the other. Thank God my son's troop is not like that.

I thank everyone for their support here. We are pulling my son out of the Jamboree. I don't trust anyone enough to entrust with my son's life for three weeks. I figure if he's interested, he can attend as staff at the 2010 one when he's old enough to do it on his own.

[wagionvigil]

This is your councils jamboree committees fault and ultimately the council leaderships fault Totally!!! remember the buck stops at the council execs desk.

I have editd this to make it more acceptable to some.

[riverwalk]

halo, there are other examples too, of one way communication. Fortunately for me, this year turns out not to be a good year for me to attend the NJ. But I started last year, asking them about Staff positions. I even asked my Council. I'm still waiting for their answer.

I've had similar experiences with my interest in International activities. I'm fortunate to work for the City where National is located. Now, their security is getting tighter, but I go in and seek information whenever I think it's useful. In the International case (which is also one of the roles I wanted at NJ), I asked National's International folks how I might get involved more locally, as my Council had not responded to me as much as I thought they might. Well, the International group sent their Secretary out (she did later send me some needed materials), to tell me to work with my local Council. Hmmm, okay, we're back to square one kinda sorta. So I suggest you go see somebody, and don't give up. Many organizations we deal with in our lives, become a "faceless" bureacracy somewhere out of reach. They often respond better when a real person is standing amongst 'em.

[wagionvigil]

As far as staff goes. You download an applictaion and fill it out and send to YOUR council. YOUR council then sends it to National and If a region position on to Region. Once at National you should get a notice they have your application.

[riverwalk]

Thanks, and I sure didn't do that.

[RWSmith]

Halo,

Check your e-mail.

[wagionvigil]

There are still alot of staff positions open.

[West]

What if the region you applied for is diffrent then the one your council is in? Should I send it to someone in that region as well?

[wagionvigil]

It wouldn't hurt

[commish3]

I shutter when I hear phrases like "the councils fault". It gives the impression that the "council" is something other than a label that represents a collection of groups and individuals that all have different tasks and responsibilities. The key word being different.

Halo your difficulty is not with "the council" it is a lack of communication with the local council's Jamboree Committee, which is made of several unit and district level VOLUNTEERS and 1 professional advisor.

Since the Jamboree only happens once every 4 years it's quite likely that many of these folks have little or no experience and are going to have a few "learning" moments as they do this.

I appreciate your frustration. I am on national staff and cannot get my staff representative at the national office to return my call. But I do not blame "national" for one persons lack of communication. Nor should you be directing your frustration at "council". There are many people who make up the council who have nothing to do with the jamboree.

Now as far as your personal situation and remedy. If you have determined that you are not going to send him to Jambo this year then there is very little I can suggest for you to do, except to say it is unfortunate. Your son is going to miss a great scouting experience. If you decide otherwise let me know I will will give you some suggestions to get back on track.

I am not surprised that he does not have a troop yet. If the jambo troops in your council have not been fully recruited it is quite possible that the contingency leaders have not determined the troop make up yet. If they have only recently been fully recruited the leaders probably just need a little time to balance the patrol make-up and announce the troops. It is unfortunate that was not explained to you before now.

[halo]

Commish:

I appreciate your thoughts, and yes, technically, it's not the "council's" fault. The Registrar, the DEs and other volunteers have nothing to do with what is going. But I have to respectfully disagree. While it may not be "council's fault" for bad behavior of 4 individual's (which is more than a lack of communication, it's false communication), the ultimate responsibility lies within the council. (The Scout Executive is very aware what is occurring). In any organization, an employee/volunteer represents the organization. If that employee/volunteer makes misrepresentations, the organization is responsible.

[commish3]

I am sorry to hear that halo. You seem willing to admit it is not everyone's fault, and yet still willing to blame everyone. Even if the SE was aware of the situation the SE's job is not to control each committee. The Jamboree committee chair is where your problem and your solution resides.

[halo]

How do I get him to resolve them then? These are the answers I'm trying to find out, because nothing I've done works.

What do I do when the Jamboree Chairman doesn't return calls for three months, literally runs out of a room when you enter it and doesn't attend a district klondike (which he was the chairman of)? Committee meetings are held at a location 40 miles from my house at the same time as my younger son's Cub Scout Den meetings.