Consulting Successful Groups

Consulting Successful Groups
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I am a Troop Leader in Peterborough, ON, and also an AAC for Troop.

In 2010 White Pine Council held a series of Town Hall Meetings including one on July 8 for Kawartha Waterways Area (Peterborough, ON and surrounding). The main topic was related to Camp Properties, but there was general discussion as well. Towards the end I made the suggestion that Council should talk to successful Groups (we certainly have those in Kawartha Waterways !) to find out what they are doing right. The Council Youth Commissioner David Millie seemed to think it was a good idea, and said he would look into it.

Since then there have been a couple of Growth Symposiums (I could'nt make the local one unfortunately), but I understand that this really did not come up.

Scouts Canada absolutely should be consulting successful groups and sections -- we are the ones "in the trenches" working with the Youth. Those of us running successful programs have much to offer -- insights on what works for us and what does'nt.

In 25+ years, I do not think I have ever seen anybody beyond District/Area level visit a local Section to see what they are doing. I am sure it does happen, but it seems very rare. I certainly have not seen any Paid Staff visit any Section I have been involved with.

I challenge Scouts Canada in Ottawa and each Council to go out and talk to Groups and Sections about their successes! We make the Program run, and talking with us you may learn some things that can be shared!

Yours in Scouting,
Alan Aslett

Hey Alan

there's another thread on here somewhere about "podcasts" and that's pretty much what the podcasts were all about! There was an interview and an opportunity for questions for members that were very successful in their roles. As seen in the other thread there is talk of doing much more of this! The panel included Area commissioners, Group Commissioners, Council Youth Commissioners, Section Scouters, etc etc

I'm sorry to hear that you have never had a section visit! A huge focus of the Leadership summit was servicing. Over the weekend service scouters were given many tools to help them service effectively and I hope you see the results of this soon. I can tell you that as a CYC I've visited many sections and I know that my staff & volunteer colleagues have as well. There are tons of groups in most councils, there are more of them than I have time to visit in a year (which is why we are split further into areas for ACs to effectively support you too). Consider sending an invitation to staff/ service volunteers if there's something in particular you'd like to share. I rarely turn down an invitation to visit a group. I can't be the only one who loves section visits!

Alan, your note struck a chord with me.
I have been extremely frustrated in my experience with the organization over the past quarter century.....gee, sounds long, doesn't it?

I began my experience as a Leader in 1986 - joined an existing Troop - and in 1988 became the Scoutmaster. At that time we had 3 Leaders and 16 youths. Since then, we have steadily grown to the point where we now have 11 Leaders and 38 youths. In those years, we have managed to 'graduate' 93 Chief Scouts. We run an active program with 8 camps per year, and we incorporate extensive camping, hiking and canoeing.
23rd Sarnia has fully-enrolled Beaver, Cub, Scout and Venturer sections, essentially pushing our limits in each group. We have 38 Leaders - with an average of 8-10 years service - and only 1 of the 38 have a child in the program.

But Scouts Canada doesn't seem interested in anything we're doing.

In all those 26 years, I have never had any inquiry from either National or Provincial as to our success. About 4 years ago, I had a single query from our Region, asking "To what did we attribute our success?"....I responded with a one-page outline, listing what I thought were our strengths and why we were successful...and never heard a thing back. I guess they're not interested.

I must say, I'm somewhat refreshed at the activities coming out of National recently. Although I may not completely agree with each specific move they make, I do appreciate that they're changing - not change for the sake of change, but actually doing something different.

(Loved the full-page ad in the Business section of the Globe & Mail today; that's good stuff.....and if it's anything like the promotion that Newfoundland & Labrador have had recently......whew........We need to be ready for growth. Because it's coming. Sorry, I'm digressing....)

Alan - I, like you, am frustrated that Scouts Canada is not taking advantage of the knowledge base and experience that is already within it's house.
We'll keep plugging.

YIS
John Barker
23rd St Bartholomew's Scouts
Sarnia, ON