Does your Group have Group Leaders meetings? How often are they and who gets invited? Are they any use?

We've been having leaders meetings about once per term, sometimes twice.

All ESLs, AESLs, Activity Leaders and helpers are invited from the district, and also from neighbouring districts to try and promote common activities.

Its a great time to get together and brainstorm, then we block out camps and evenings so we have an idea of the direction for that term.

Unfortunately we don't have them. The GSL is anti them.

Apart from the group exec meetings, some sections do have their own section leader meetings.

I think that is not a good attitude - how does the GSL know that the Group is pulling together?

I think he is well aware that it isn't at the moment!!!

All the more reason to have GSL meetings - then the leaders can talk and get their issues on the table.

What the GSL is like determines the whole ethos and success of the entire group and communication is one of the most important things.

I think that he is probably trying to keep us apart.

The main issue as I see it (and I'm biased) is that some parts of the Group are happy with the "its worked for the last 10 years" method, others (me included) are in the "this is boring, let's try something new" method.

The LTY camp think anything new will require more time and effort on their part (which is probably true). The LTSN camp think if its boring why do it in the first place, do something more interesting even if it does take more time and effort.

To be honest I don't see anything changing in the near future as both sides are fairly entrenched in their views. Its more a case of who lasts out longest.

Not the best situation to be in but then you don't always get to choose.

I know how you feel - I teach swimming at my local swimming club and they won't let you change anything, even if it is much better to do something differently.

I recently moved to a different club further down the road, and I am glad I did as it is much better.

May I suggest that you consider changing groups.

In my old scout group the beaver leader moved to a nearby group as the group was stuck in the past and was not organized.

I have considered it. I'm trying to sort out some Leaders/Help to take over if/when I give up. The problem is if I go the two ABSLs will go as well. That will shut the Section down which I'm not happy about doing.

Try finding someone who would be willing and able to take over from you as leader and slowly bring them into doing the programmes and running evenings. Ask at district if there are any leaders within the district that could do it, perhaps a leader who is looking to join a group after being at district for a few years. Thats how we found our SL.

Walking away is not really a good answer...

I understand that the club situation is a bit different, and you might have exhausted all avenues first, but to advise someone to walk away from a Group like that is wrong.


Kastor - have you talked to your GSL to let him know how you feel about the situation. Failing a response from him, take it to your DC. This is why we have the structure in Scouting - to support you, the front-line leader.

I think you are taking a good direction with finding a replacement though - but it could be difficult to do so - they may see the problems your having within the Group and think that they don't want any of that hassle.

The District is already down a couple of BSLs so I don't think there are any people busting to do the job at the moment. I could swap to one of those, but I don't really want to.

Why is it wrong? A club and a group are similar in most ways, including the structure. Its never the first option you take, but when others don't work, its the most effective way.

I left the group that I helped at because it was a bit of a shambles, I am still on good terms with leaders from that group. The colony I helped at folded within a year after I left.

You should let your GSL know about it, as GSLs should be involved in trying to sort the situation out.

well, maybe not wrong - but at least offer up some suggestions on what to try first.

maybe so!

at my group we have at least 1 leaders meeting a term if not 2. all the leaders/helpers involved with beavers, cubs, scouts and explorers are invited. gives us a chance to see other leaders from other sections you might not see that often. we also get a chance to discuss numbers of people moving on and section needs and sort any problems out as will as discuss what each section has done recently.

Thats what we are lacking at our group. I hardly see, let alone speek to any of the Scout Leaders.

Hi guys, I could really get on my high horse about this topic but I keep my reply simple.

POR sets out very clearly the GSL's responsibility with regard to Group Scouters meetings. He should call these at least once a term, invite ALL section leaders and act as chairperson. If you are not doing this HOW do agree anything within the group and at Group Executive meetings.

If you get a chance go onto the the Scoutbase web site and look under POR this will give you all the info required.

Suggest that first to talk to the other section leaders, we include explorers, see what thier feelings are and if favourable all of you approach your GSL.

If that fails talk to your DC, he/she approved the appointment of your GSL to act on his/her behalf to ensure that the group is running inaccordance with POR.

Do not give up, keep chipping away. I have been ScOUTing since I was 8, now the wrong side of 50. I recently moved into a new county, new district and new group which was a shambles. 12 months on and the group is running as it should be and expanding.

Good ScOUTing

Mang

Welcome to Scout Forum!

May I divert you to the New Member Introductions board.

Hi Keith

Done it

Mang

I noticed after I posted it that you just had posted it (if that makes any sense to you).

New Member here, I am a SL and proud of it and what I do for the youths that have come up from being in Beavers and Cubs or just come straight into Scouts.

Sadly like whats been mention here, we gone from being part of a team as in BSL, CSL and SSL to being torn apart by one person in our group. I am now going to call upon the DC my grief with this Leader....

A petty example of this is that we share a Scout HQ.... we have a Den that Beavers and my Scouts are not allowed in ... But sadly the Cub Leader lets them enter... As part of POR Leaders alone with a youth should at the best of time be a NOGO!!!! hence when I was in the Den and two cubs came running into it, I told them to exit.. sadly there Leader was outside and didnt back me up.... this Leader now wants me to remove a notice board that covers the windows of the den... They have been there longer than me in scouting and so using her friends who are higher in the District and back her up, too tell me to take the notice board down...

Its been up nearly a year now.

This Board promotes what my scouts are doing in scouting, badge work etc... Other have mention how good it is and even other district leaders have help them with ideas etc.... when we have district meets ....

My scouts painted it black, a single scout painted all four patrol names.. he was so proud of his work... he only just come up from cubs...

The point is that I feel I got to make a stand over this.. the leader in question sadly her hubby is our GSL so hence I am going to the DC over this....

any comments or advice please..

Have you actually spoken to the GSL, maybe with the other leaders who are in the same mind as you?

As for us, we have started, in the last couple terms, to have meetings with the other sections. There have been divideds between the beavers and us Scouts and the cubs. We still have the friction but atleast these meetings have now improved the moving on between sections (ie in the last 2 years we have had 5 come up from our cubs and about 10 from other cub packs!!).

There is still a very long way to go for us, but atleast we are on the right track.

Sorry to hear of your troubles, I don't get it though what exactly is his problem with your noticeboard?

Welcome to Scout Forum.

In my group, part of the group are related (GSL, Asst. Treasurer and ABSL) and luckily, I have had no problems as such with any of them. If a problem occured, I would contact my GSL (in most cases), otherwise the DC and hope he can sort out the problem.

As for the situation with the den and the cubs, its not really on, if a leader undermines a fellow leader on anything. If any leader has read the POR document, no leader should be left alone with a child (I think its on the yellow card too).

as said in other post...ei ho ei ho, it's off to the Group Leaders meeting I go...

:)

Enjoy it.

Don't fall asleep

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!

thats what you do in the pub afterwards after a few pints!!

Have the meeting IN the pub, that way, there is no transition between, and you can start drinking earlier!!!

I can't end up in the pub if we don't even have the meetings in the first place - then again......

We used to have our sectional meetings (weekly) in the pub after Scouts...dont remember discussing Scouts too much though.

Try inviting them for a drink one evening, then talk about scouting for a little bit.

We always have a leaders meeting 2 weeks before the exec meeting that way any issues from the leaders meeting can be taken to the exec we have 6 a year. We discuss all subjects relating to each section fundraisng ideas and any problems we are having. As long as someone from each section attends it is good. We always meet after a section meeting and so far so good! :D

I'm going to have another go at getting Group Leader's meetings going. The problem is the GSL says he's too busy and no-one else seems that bothered. All the sections just trundle on in their on sweet way and don't talk to each other much at all.

if the GSL is "too busy" to do his job, then the DC needs to be aware of that...

Bit tricky really. The GSL is on the District Exec. Not very easy to go up to the DC and say the GSL isn't doing his job.

I don't get to see the DC much anyway maybe four times a year and none of those are to talk to (things like St. George's parade).

Phoning him up directly would be a bit too undiplomatic.

Why is it tricky to call...if he cannot be bothered then he should resign.

I have a PLC tonght, Group Leaders on 9th, anniversary camp committee meeting on the 14th and the exec on the 18th.

Busy month for me then!