Double Duty (or: Biting off more than you can chew.)

In the other scout-related blogs I read, I don't often see people telling stories about things that don't work. Here I'd like to include a few things like that when they happen to me or our pack.

I made a mistake this year. Yes, really, it can happen to anyone. At the beginning of the year, the leader of our Webelos 1 den had to withdraw from pack leadership because his son decided to devote his attention to another activity. A perfectly acceptable reason for both of them to leave the scouts; that isn't the issue. The issue here is now we have a Webelos den with 4 boys, one of them is my son, and no leader. At the time, we also had a Bear den with no leader, but that was solved. We were in desperate need of several committee positions also.

Here's where I went a little crazy. I decided that I could lead the Webelos den. Here's my justification:

1. Its just four boys.
2. I was their Asst. Den Leader when they were Bears. It'll be fun!
   
3. I have to be there on Monday nights anyway, I might as well run the meetings.
4. Maybe I'll find an assistant along the way.

Yea, right. First, since its just four boys and we've been together for more than a year, its harder to get and keep on topic. The work load of a Webelos leader is more than that of a Bear leader. Since parents step out of the way and let the boys be more like Boy Scouts, I'm missing that extra bit of discipline that their mere presence provides.

I think my time would be spent better being a Cubmaster on Den meeting nights and visiting all of the dens. I should be helping with all dens, not running one by myself. I could use that time to make sure all of the programs are running smoothly and working on pack meeting plans. I would be better off assisting the Webelos leader and helping plan and carry out Webelos outdoor activities and Webelos to Boy Scout transition.

The result?

As a Webelos leader, I feel the den is working. We're on our way and will complete all of the requirements. But, it could be better.

As a Cubmaster, I'm not on top of the program where I belong. Sure, I get the job done, but I'm not excelling. The program and the pack meetings aren't what I would like them to be. I'm not setting the example for the other leaders and I'm not having as much fun as we should have as leaders.

The moral of the story: Don't skimp on Den Leaders. The committee can function without a membership chair or awards chair, but the Den can't function without a Den Leader. Committee is important, but direct-contact leaders are a requirement.