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Post by ScoutMom on Jul 12, 2009 0:30:37 GMT -6
Do these people not understand that it is futile to resist me??? Apparently some of them need more education.
We had our Scout cook out/Swim Party this afternoon. Of course, you all know what I wanted to talk about. First of all.... we were SUPPOSED to get our kits for the Raingutter Regatta (we have ours, but the others needed kits). The Regatta is on August 15th and I stressed that folks needed enough TIME to make these boats in order for us to have good participation. So, no boats today. I suggested moving the Regatta since people now will not be able to get the boat kits until August.
So..... with the Regatta in mind, and our Pack's propensity for putting things off to the last minute, I brought up the fact that I wanted to get an EARLY start on the PWD this year. I was told that July was too early to even THINK about the PWD. Yes, well.... that might be true, but it was not to early to start PLANNING for the workshop/shops that I wanted to have. The Cubmaster gives me his speech again about not wanting all the cars to look alike. I assure him that the cars can all be VERY individualistic, but EVERY car can go FASTER-- no matter what the design is. I proposed starting PWD in September, but was told that was way too early.
So, my question to you all is: am I being too much of a fanatic? What would be a good time for the boys to get their PWD car kits? Is September too early for kit distribution? Is October too early for a basic workshop? I was thinking one workshop in October to tell them how to do things and then a follow up in early December or early January to check progress and do fine tuning. Not having ever done any kind of work shop I am just guessing at these time frames. But, I do not want to leave things to the last minute. I was told that if the kits are passed out too early then people may "lose" them or forget about them. If I let these people have their way, they would pass out the kits two weeks before the Derby and that would be it. There is a certain faction that does not want us to have a competitive Derby and I do not understand it. Well.... I sort of do. One set of leaders: their kid always used to win. The Cubmaster: they never try for speed, they only go for unusual design, so speed is not important to them.
I don't want to drive people crazy with this, but I don't want to back down much, either. I need to stand pretty firm to get the workshop on the pack agenda. I don't know how I am going to convince them to get the kits ordered and get them distributed in a reasonable time frame. But, knowing what a "reasonable time frame" is would be a good starting point. What do ya'll think?
Thanks! Teresa
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Post by fatdaddy on Jul 12, 2009 19:31:21 GMT -6
Run a workshop on your own. I know purchasing kits for the families may not be in your budget, but let tem know ahead of time they can wait for their car kit from the pack, or purchase on of their own and start early. Gauge your responses and plan accordingly. If people sincerely want to be competitive, they will take the opportunity given to them and purchase an extra kit. If you get no response, wait til it gets later, then broach the subject again. Don't let the leaders tell you what the kids want, leave that choice to the kids and their own parents. The problem with BSA leadership in some places tends to be people thinking it's like being the boss at a company, when it's more like just being a planner and information source than anythhing else. You're a forceful woman, show em how it's done!!! If you need help, I'll do what I can from here!
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Post by Evolution on Jul 12, 2009 21:02:33 GMT -6
I know I offered many times. Last year for kids to come over and I would help them, the leadership bucked the idean but when we were winning everything again they called us cheaters and then changed the rules for this coimings yéars race. What they did not realiZe is we were not even planning on running this year and had planned on letting someone else win, but the new rules are going to make it easier for us to win and by a much bigger margin. I told my son that he can race and now I am planning on running in the adult class.
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Post by fatdaddy on Jul 12, 2009 21:08:39 GMT -6
Haha, man stupid people drive me crazy. Kick em around Steve
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Post by steepslope on Jul 12, 2009 21:39:03 GMT -6
Teresa,
You are the PWD Chair correct? I guess the first question is when is your PWD. We usually run ours in March with car kit distribution in December. It seems that 3 months is enough time to run several workshops, complete the cars and run the race. What we have done in the past is schedule times during those months for scouts to bring in their cars and get them cut. We cut the cars to their individual design. None of the cars end up looking alike.
If you want to start early I would put an informational packet together complete with things you have learned, online retailers, and of course this website.
What I suggest as far as scheduling is to work backwards from your the last PWD event this upcoming year. Weather that is district or council. District is as far as we can go. Your pack PWD date might already be set so you should schedule a chance for everyone to come in and run a practice session a least a week before your PWD. Then schedule your workshops and informational sessions. If you can get those dates set then you should be left with a date when the kits should be distributed.
Remember, the cubmaster is not in charge of how you run your committee. If you can get the cars distributed a reasonable time in advance you should be able to run things, as long as it doesn't interfere with other scheduled events, the way you believe is in the best interest of the scouts.
Hope this isn't to confusing. If you have more questions feel free to ask. I am the cubmaster for our pack and Jay and I run the PWD.
Dave
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Post by gpraceman on Jul 12, 2009 22:24:28 GMT -6
Teresa,
When is your race scheduled for? January? If so, I do also think that starting in September is quite a bit early. Kids' attention spans can be pretty short, but sometimes I think parents' attention spans are even shorter.
We'd have our pack race at the end of January and have kits and rules handed out at the November pack meeting. Some parents thought that was a bit early, but it gave plenty of time to work on cars (if they had the inclination to start early). Also, there were generally more people at the November meeting than the December meeting, so there would be fewer stragglers to get kits out to.
What I have found is that a great majority of the parents would not even start thinking of the PWD until the holidays were over. So, that is why we would not hold our workshops until the two or three weekends leading up to the race. This worked out well for our pack and we generally had good workshop participation. From the November pack meeting until the race, there was plenty of time to get trophies ordered, people organized and other details hammered out.
Just be careful about being too pushy, as that might have the opposite effect you are looking for. Enthusiasm, being organized and most of all looking to make it a fun event are things that will help make your PWD the event that the everyone looks forward to the most each year.
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Post by ScoutMom on Jul 12, 2009 22:36:44 GMT -6
Hey, I am the PWD Chair! That means I am in charge, right??? Ok! Glad to know that. Our Pack PWD is in January-- I think like January 23rd (whatever that Saturday is). This year it was January 30th and we got the kits on January 15th. Of course, we already had ours, and Ethan had his car pretty much done by then. I think at the very latest the kids should have the kits by the meeting before Thanksgiving, with a work shop the first or second week of December. That sounds VERY reasonable to me. Personally, we will start working on Ethan's car in September, as soon as he gets settled in at school.
We have a committee meeting the first week end in August and I guess that I will list my "demands" at that time (nicely) to the leadership. Right now, I have about 10 PWD kits (yeah, I am obsessive). I would not mind distributing some of them to people who are interested in getting an early start. I am going to offer to help out with recruitment in August and am going to play up the PWD while recruiting.
Keep the advice coming! Looks like I am going to have to do this work shop pretty much single handed-- but I am not going to give up! I will prevail! LOL!
Teresa
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Post by gpraceman on Jul 12, 2009 23:02:50 GMT -6
I think at the very latest the kids should have the kits by the meeting before Thanksgiving, with a work shop the first or second week of December. I'm with you on distributing the kits (and rules) in November. But, I'm less than optimistic about how well attended a December workshop will end up. Unfortunately, most parents will procrastinate and think of excuses (holidays, too busy, etc.) for not starting early, so do try to give plenty of opportunity for workshops in the weekends you have between New Years and your race. I'd recommend keeping the time slots as wide open for these as you can (we'd typically run from 10am to 4pm) to allow people to come and go as they needed. If you are not going to get much help in running the workshops, I would make sure to state "no drop-offs". Kids must be accompanied by an adult. You are there to help, not babysit. I think that is a good rule regardless. After all, it is supposed to be a joint project. We have a committee meeting the first week end in August and I guess that I will list my "demands" at that time (nicely) to the leadership. Well, definitely get the kit distribution date, workshops dates and the race date on the pack calendar as early as you can. Then give them a little breather before you hammer them with the nitty gritty details starting the Nov committee meeting.
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Post by Bubba on Jul 13, 2009 21:03:39 GMT -6
...What would be a good time for the boys to get their PWD car kits? Is September too early for kit distribution? Is October too early for a basic workshop? I was thinking one workshop in October to tell them how to do things and then a follow up in early December or early January to check progress and do fine tuning. Not having ever done any kind of work shop I am just guessing at these time frames. I don't want to drive people crazy with this, but I don't want to back down much, either. I need to stand pretty firm to get the workshop on the pack agenda. I don't know how I am going to convince them to get the kits ordered and get them distributed in a reasonable time frame. But, knowing what a "reasonable time frame" is would be a good starting point. What do ya'll think? Thanks! Teresa FWIW, we usually have our Pack PWD on the 3rd or 4th Saturday in January. I usually hand out the kits (with race schedule, rules, and workshop flyers wrapped around and held on with a rubber band) at the Pack Meeting right before Thanksgiving. I take a couple quick moments at the Pack meeting to describe the attachments and tee up the workshop dates (usually 2 or 3 Saturdays in December and a follow up in January). My thinking with handing out before Thanksgiving is that some boys (unfortunately) split holiday's with each parent (or with grandparents), and this provides maximum opportunity for the boys to work on the project with their Dads / Grandpas / etc. This "kinda early, but not too early" approach seems to fit a pretty good number of the parents. Those who tend to procrastinate hit the January workshop, the real "enthusiasts" talk to me ahead of the workshop dates and kit handouts anyway. Bubba
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