PACK 474 Overview

Page Updated - 11-23-04

Lincoln School PTO Pack 474

Operating Guidelines 

Written:  Sept. 1987

Updated: Aug. 1995

Updated: Sept. 2002

Updated: Nov. 2004

Pack Meetings will start promptly at 7:00 pm on the third Tuesday of each month and run until approximately 8:00 pm. Meetings will be held in the Lincoln School gym. We will attempt to complete meetings close to 8:00 pm. At least one parent is expected to attend each meeting. It is extremely important for a parent to be present when your son receives an award. Pack meetings are not a baby-sitting service. You should not expect to drop off your son and leave. Please recognize that Pack Meetings are primarily oriented for the Scout. If you must bring siblings, be prepared to have things to keep them busy, such as crayons and coloring books, or quiet toys. Children will not be allowed to run around the gym or roam the halls. You are responsible for keeping your children quiet (Scout included) during skits/ demonstrations, songs, and awards. It is important that each Scout is given due respect when they are in front of the Pack. Please arrive on time: the gym doors may only be kept unlocked from 6:30 pm until 7:15 pm.

Uniforms will be worn when attending Pack meetings.  A uniform shirt with appropriate patches and scarf is all that is needed.  Hats, belts, pants, shorts, socks, etc are optional.  Most boys wear blue jeans with their uniform shirt.  Uniforms may be purchased at the BSA service Center (330 S. 84th Street).  When purchasing the uniform patches ask for assistance so you are sure to get the proper ones.  Patch locations are included in all Scout handbooks.

Den Meetings normally will be held weekly. Den Leaders will notify parents of the day, time/ and location of the meetings. Generally these meetings will cover the items outlined in the monthly theme.

Pack 474 is sponsored by an organization called the “Lincoln Elementary School PTO”. This relationship was established on February 1st, 2005 with the re-charter of the Pack.  Previous to that, the Pack was chartered by the "Friends of Lincoln School Scouting" from 1987 until 2004.  The Pack is 44 years old, and was first chartered on October 1, 1960.

Committee Meetings will be held at 7:30 pm on the Tuesday one week prior to me Pack Meeting (bi-monthly), The location will be published on the website  www.cubscouts.org. Important developments will be disseminated to parents at the Pack Meeting each month. The focus of these committee meetings will be to plan the Pack program and to prepare for the Pack meetings and various Pack outings.

All Families will be required to have at least one parent hold a position or assist in some fashion in the Pack program. There are numerous Pack positions that require limited amounts of commitment and work. Distributing the many jobs among many people will keep the workload light for everyone. Being involved in your son's Scouting program is one of the best ways to get to know your son's friends and their parents; a key for a healthy drug-free environment.  Remember that YOU assist your scout throughout his "Cub" years with the requirements found within his handbook.  Without YOU, the scout will not advance.  You are "AKELA."

Chairpersons responsible for major activities, such as the Fund Raisers, Holiday Party, Winter Outing, Blue and Gold Dinner, Pinewood Derby, and the Picnic, are required to attend a committee meeting prior to the activity. The meeting will be to give the Pack Committee a preview of the activity plans, to get approval to proceed and to finalize that the activity is ready to go and secure any last minute help to ensure the activity's success. Chairpersons will receive the committee folder from the previous year(s) which should include recent planning notes and cost summaries. A summary report is expected to be handed in at the conclusion of the event.

Pack Committee Positions are open to anyone who has an interest in Lincoln School Cub Scouting- committee members consist of: Committee Chair, Asst. Committee Chair, and Cubmaster. Asst, Cubmaster(s), Den Leaders, Webelos Den Leaders, Awards Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Tiger Cub Coordinator, Chartering Organization Head, and parents at large. Pack decisions are to be made by the Pack Committee when a quorum is present.

Pack Expenses are funded by annual fund raising activities, which will vary from year to year. An annual budget is prepared and approved by the Pack Committee based on the expected number of Scouts and net income from the fundraisers. Families choosing not to participate in the fundraisers are expected to make arrangements to pay the full budgeted cost as early as possible. Families whose sons do not meet the minimum fund raising amount will be required to Fund the difference. No one will be denied membership for financial hardship. Arrangements can be made and will be kept confidential. See the Committee Chairperson. The only other expenses your family continues to be responsible for are the Pack annual $ 7.00 fee, your son’s uniform and a Boy’s Life magazine subscription, (should you choose to order the magazine.)

Den Expenses are budgeted each year and Den Leaders are expected to turn in receipts for reimbursement. The maximum allotted amount at the present time is $10 per Scout. The Pack does have a state tax exempt number/ please see the treasurer to get it. Please use it if you make purchases.

Awards will only be purchased by the Awards Chairperson and will be presented at the Pack Meeting- In the event that a Scout misses the Pack Meeting when the award is scheduled to be presented, it will be awarded at the next Pack Meeting, unless arrangements are made with the Awards Chairperson, Special advancement ceremonies for Scouts achieving rank advancement will be held at The Blue and Gold Banquet. This means that awards will be presented when earned, but the rank advancement ceremony will be done only once a year to make the ceremony more meaningful. Scouts should be encouraged to complete the requirements for Wolf and Bear by the Blue and Gold Banquet so that all boys in a den will participate in the ceremony at the banquet together,

Two Deep Leadership is required at all den meetings. This means that each den must have as a minimum two registered Den Leaders and that at least two adults are present at the den meetings. This is a national Boy Scouts of America policy. We wish to follow this requirement to ensure the safety of our Scouts and never put anyone in a position that could appear to be compromising.

Training is The best way to become familiar with the Cub Scout program and to be prepared to present a quality program for our Scouts- Training is available in several varieties: Basic Leader Training (1 day / 8:00 am-2:00 pm), Roundtables (on the first Thursday evening of each month, 7:00-9:00 pm, held at the First Congregational Church. 1511 Church Street}, Webelos Leaders Outdoor Training (two evenings and one weekend In either spring or fall.


PACK (General) MEETING DATES

Usually the third Tuesday of the month from September to May


PACK LEADERS MEETING DATES

The second Tuesday of the month

* most often the times for the meetings will be 7:00 - 8:30 (1-1/2 hour max.) unless we vote to extend one.


INFO SECTION

We (Pack 474) are in the "Iron Horse" District.  See this link for details: http://www.milwaukeeboyscouts.org/districts.htm#ironhorse 


EXPECTATIONS - Training and Uniforms

  • I wish to reiterate that I expect at least one of your Den Leaders be "trained" by the Scout Office as soon as possible.

    http://www.milwaukeeboyscouts.org/districts/ironhorse/training.htm

     
  • During our "Pack meetings" and "Pack outings" that at least one of you (LEADERS) wear an "official" Boy Scout uniform shirt.  Patch placement can be found HERE


Cubmaster Pack 474
Joseph E. Devereaux