After an exciting summer of camp and fun, it’s time to get back to school and regular meetings.  Packs should have a great group of 2nd year Webelos getting ready to visit Troops right now – the sooner the better.  Cub Scout Leaders should be working with a Boy Scout Troop to do some fall camping and completing Arrow of Light requirements early.  The goal is for Packs and Troops to work together to conduct Crossover in January 2010.  Crossover in January has many advantages for transitioning Webelos –  great flow from the Holidays into something new, more time in the Troop before summer camp, and no conflicts with Spring Sports.  Troops, please invite your local Packs to visit and if possible, invite the 2nd year Webelos to meet once a month at the same time as your Troop, as a separate patrol and include them in one of your activities each time. 

Through an integrated monthly meeting time and consistent involvement with your Troop right now, the Webelos should be already integrated and comfortable with the Troop well before the January Crossover.  The formal ceremony should then be just that – a formality.  Webelos shouldn’t have to “decide” to crossover if they are already part of the Troop program as Webelos and having fun.

I will be introducing a new plan for Unit Commissioners this Fall.  I will be asking that each unit nominate and send to training one key person from their committee to become the Unit Commissioner for that unit.  Ideally, sister Troop/Pack groups should work together to have a common UC - someone familiar and integrated with both units to act as the Unit Commissioner.  On the Troop/Pack level, executive meetings would then involve the Scoutmaster/Cubmaster, Committee Chair, Chartered Organization Representative, and now the Unit Commissioner as part of the key group.  Scoutmasters/Cubmasters attend District Roundtables, Committee Chairpersons handle the Committees, COR’s meet and participate on the District Committee and with their Unit, and Unit Commissioners attend District Commissioner meetings and Unit meetings to support the scout program and Webelo Transition.  This level of integration helps ensure that District information and support flows to the units and ensures that Units are working together for a complete Cubscout to Boyscout to Venturing experience.

I look forward to working with all of you to make the 2009-2010 school year our best ever. 

Yours in Building a Better America,
Mark Scanlan, District Commissioner