Purposes:
Why
do we do this, anyway?
Generally, pack meetings
are held to recognize and reward dens and individuals for their good Cub
Scouting endeavors. They are sort of pep rallies to generate enthusiasm
for the rest of the program. Let's take a closer look at some of
the common reason to put some effort into your monthly meetings. If you
think about it carefully, not much real Cub Scouting takes place at a pack
meeting but instead it is the the introduction to all the rest of the program:
the den meetings, the home and family activities, the service projects,
outdoor action, and even to the Boy Scout program. You might think of pack
meetings as the gateway to Scouting. Without pack meetings, those other
things might not happen at all.
So you better do
your best to make 'em great.
Role model
You may honestly believe
that you're doing this for all the boys in your community, but the truth
is that the person who benefits the most from your work as a as Cub Scout
leader happens to live with you. Your
Cub Scout son sees what you do, he is aware of your commitment
and attitude and he will end up copying a good portion of what he sees
and admires in you. Your first responsibility as a pack leader is
to be a good Akela to your son. So put on a good show for him. Let
him see that doing your best, planning ahead, being a good team member,
and especially having fun while doing all this: the sort of life you would
like him to emulate. Be a good role model.
Den Support
The pack meeting must provide
an arena for your dens to show their stuff. Strong dens perform regularly
at pack meetings in ceremonies, skits and other activities that can
be seen and appreciated by parents. When den leaders and Cub Scouts look
forward to their parts in an upcoming pack extravaganza the den meetings
take on a focus and excitement that just makes Cub Scouting fun. When dens
have no part in pack meetings, they tend to fill their den programs with
rank advancement - this, in turn replaces the family and parent participation.
This can weaken the whole program and structure of the pack.
Family Support
The heart and
soul of the Cub Scout program takes place in the boy's home with his family.
Activities at the pack meeting must exalt the family's part in the program.
Be generous with your recognition of the parents' contribution to the boys'
advancement and their help with all phases of the program. As a general
rule, you probably can never heap too much praise and accolades on parents.
Communication
Your highest attendance usually
occurs at pack meetings, making them excellent locations to get the word
out. The trick will be to do it without messing up the flow of fun and
idealism that you want in your pack meeting programs. Long, boring announcements
are killers so you will want to replace them with better communication
methods. Newsletters and flyers are great for explaining details like dates,
times and meeting places of upcoming events. |
 |
Posters and banners set
up around the meeting room can emphasize future activities.
It is amazing how something as simple
as a few ribbons and a small fan can draw attention to a notice on
poster board. Wrap your promotions for Service Projects, Friends of Scouting
Appeals, and Summer Camp registration in skits, run-ons and parodies of
songs or TV commercials. Use ceremonies to honor contribution of parents
and others. |
HOME
INDEX
PLAN IT
Lack of planning ruins more pack
meeting than any thing else. Plan everything down
to the last detail.
Who
is going to do what,
when, and for how long?
Get as many of the participants (the
TEAM) involved in planning as possible. This will help ensure that each
member knows his or her part and is willing to do it.
Remember to plan the little things
like pre opening activities, cheers and run-ons.
The more you plan, the more spontaneous everything will play out and the
more prepared you will be when something unexpected happens.
Write it all out and give a copy to
everyone involved.
TEAM LEADERSHIP
A whole bunch of jobs have to be
done to make a pack meeting work:
Master of Ceremonies - someone to introduce
each star performer and lead the applause.
Cheer master - someone to lead the sparklers,
the audience participation stunts and support all the acts.
Award Presenter - someone to open the
envelopes, call up the honored and conduct the ceremonies.
Director - someone to keep track of who
is up next, cue the acts, and keep the whole gang on schedule.
Stage Manager - someone to make sure
that all the props are in place, the color guard has the flags, the artificial
campfire is plugged in and the badges are ready.
Song Leader - in case the Cheer Master
isn't up to a quick round of Do Wah Ditty.
Information Manager - someone to distribute
newsletters and flyers, or stage gorilla theatricals to promote some noble
Scouting cause.
You can double up or rotate and share
some of the functions but you should involve all the Assistant Cubmasters
and most of your Pack Committee in these jobs. You will also need a few
people to do run ons, help with ceremonies, and handle the lights.
KEEP IT
MOVING
A successful pack meeting grabs and
holds the attention of everyone there: the Tigers, Cub Scouts and Webelos
as well as the parents, and siblings. You do this with short fast-moving
bits. You change the mood of the audience with every dramatic and comedic
trick you can borrow or copy or invent. Keep the pace changing with faster
or slower sparklers or audience participation gags. Use the entire room
so that if someone leads a song from the north end of the hall, the following
den skit enters from the south-east corner. Move the center of attention
around with action, sound and lighting.
Dead time is a killer. Make sure that
when one bit is finished, the next participant is ready with a cheer, a
magic trick or presentation. Don't let them sit still for the entire meeting
- sprinkle in lots of stunts that get everyone standing, jumping, applauding
and shouting.
BUILDING
BLOCKS
Pack meetings are constructed from
a variety of building blocks that you should use effectively. Here are
some of the common ones:
Ceremonies
- Main elements of your program. Build everything else around
these. The openings and closings frame the program. Advancement and graduations
are your highlights.
Den
presentations - Headline acts. Set these up carefully so
that they can not fail. Good den presentations build pack membership and
retain good den leaders.
Games
- Bundles of FUN for everyone. Involve parents and all family
members. These are the activities that will be remembered long after the
meeting.
Sparklers
- Mood changers. Use these to build excitement and
intensity or to settle things down for a more serious bit.
Songs
- More effective mood changers. Songs can be just plain
fun or can make a closing ceremony very special.
Costumes
- Great for setting up the theme of the month. You don't
have to be in uniform every meeting.
Promotion
- Create enthusiasm for upcoming special events. Think of
TV commercials, movie trailers or circus parades.
Visitors - New
families, someone from the Chartered Organization or a neighboring Scout
Troop should be introduced with proper fanfare and even a special cheer.
Caution:
be careful about letting them speak.
FLOW and
MOOD SETTING
Each part of the meeting sets a tone
or mood that will carry on to the next part. The opening ceremony will
catch the attention of the audience and things usually begin in a subdued
and attentive mood. You usually want to build the fun and excitement before
you bring on a high-light event like a den skit. You can do this with sparklers,
audience participation stunts, and games. If things get a bit
dull, liven them up with cheers and run-ons. If the boys get too rambunctious,
use a song or story to bring the mood down to earth. You may want
to set a serious tone for a graduation ceremony or a closing so choose
your stunts and gimmicks accordingly. A good team of leaders can, with
a bit of practice, become expert at this.
VARIETY
Variety and surprise can do a lot
to make your meetings successful. Vary the pace throughout each meeting
and vary the elements, themes and moods from month to month. When the boys
and parents start wondering what will this crazy bunch of leaders do next,
then you have reached top form.
HOME
INDEX
Put a priority on your awards.
Is there some awards like belt loops that could be given at the Den meetings
then the CM could mention their names at the Pack meeting or in the newsletter.
Break up the awards with skits. I had a rule never give more than two sets
of awards without a skit or song to break them up. There is nothing wrong
with starting the meeting with giving the Tigers their paws. [ Tiger
Paws were an old form of recognition. Bill ]
Have story or song to introduce the
award. I once had an American Indian (he preferred that over Native American)
father who started everyone in a Indian Celebration Dance during the Wolves
awards. The parents are still talking about that one.
Get all the Scouts involved. Get them
to say a cheer or the Scouts name when he and his parents are called up.
"CRY OF THE WOLF, STRENGTH OF THE BEAR, WEBELOS"
Another thing I did at the beginning
of the meeting is I told the Scouts when I hold my arms straight out, they
were to clap, but if I held them up then the were to clap and cheer LOUDLY
while stomping their feet. Then we practiced a little (actually a lot).
When things like announcements, awards or uniform inspections got a little
long, I would raise my arms. Keeps them on their toes and they get to do
what the do best.
The important thing here is put yourself
in their shoes, does this seem boring? then change it or get rid of it.
This Scouting stuff has got to be FUN, FUN, FUN. It takes a little practice
but once you get the hang of it you will keep their attention most of the
meeting and you will only need one leader up front. With that many ACMs,
you all plan different parts of the meeting.
SCOUTS-L Barry Runnels "Mighty"
Pack 339
