Wow! We had a fast start training session last night at 5 of the 6 leaders showed up for training. Yippee!!!
Although 2 of my leaders were making jokes all the way through the meeting, I think they both learned something new and I think they will use what they learned. I am hoping to have the best trained YMP in the Stake. I think we are on track to make that happen. Unfortunately my Venture Crew Leader didn't make it. :-(
Anyway, we are on our way.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Sunday, March 12, 2006
The Talk
I finally decided that I would need to sit down with our Venture Crew Advisor and talk about his responsibilities after 2 un-organized activities. I went right over to his house after one of our activities and we talked.
I found out that he really wasn't sure what his responsibilities were and he didn't want to step on my toes because of my "YMP" calling. I told him that I really didn't want to step on his toes either but things really weren't being organized. So, as we discussed it, I told him that I would like him to take charge of Wednesday activities and that I am a resource he can use. I told him that I wanted him to plan the activities and then I handed him a worksheet that helped him plan what he needed to do. This worksheet is a 2 year plan that a Priests Quorum/Venture Crew can follow that will make sure that each member earns their DTG award and earn the Religious Life Bronze award. So, after giving that plan to the Venture Crew Advisor he started so see what was expected. He started almost immediately to plan the next few activities. We talked about many different ideas and many plans for the future. In a matter of a half an hour we had all of the Wednesday activities scheduled all the way to June. It was great.
At the end, I offered him assistance with his children during our scheduled Wednesday activities. He declined the help and I think he got the message that he really shouldn't bring them along to our meetings. So, all in all, it was successful.
We had a "low-adventure" activity this last weekend. It was in my backyard but we had a lot of fun. It gave us a chance, again, to get to know the boys and for them to get to know us. The activity was a success but we didn't get anything "important" accomplished. We will plan our next campout better so that we get some of those "important" things scheduled and completed. For example, we should work in some DTG requirement or some Venturing requirement and we should have a spiritual message prepared. We will do better next time.
I found out that he really wasn't sure what his responsibilities were and he didn't want to step on my toes because of my "YMP" calling. I told him that I really didn't want to step on his toes either but things really weren't being organized. So, as we discussed it, I told him that I would like him to take charge of Wednesday activities and that I am a resource he can use. I told him that I wanted him to plan the activities and then I handed him a worksheet that helped him plan what he needed to do. This worksheet is a 2 year plan that a Priests Quorum/Venture Crew can follow that will make sure that each member earns their DTG award and earn the Religious Life Bronze award. So, after giving that plan to the Venture Crew Advisor he started so see what was expected. He started almost immediately to plan the next few activities. We talked about many different ideas and many plans for the future. In a matter of a half an hour we had all of the Wednesday activities scheduled all the way to June. It was great.
At the end, I offered him assistance with his children during our scheduled Wednesday activities. He declined the help and I think he got the message that he really shouldn't bring them along to our meetings. So, all in all, it was successful.
We had a "low-adventure" activity this last weekend. It was in my backyard but we had a lot of fun. It gave us a chance, again, to get to know the boys and for them to get to know us. The activity was a success but we didn't get anything "important" accomplished. We will plan our next campout better so that we get some of those "important" things scheduled and completed. For example, we should work in some DTG requirement or some Venturing requirement and we should have a spiritual message prepared. We will do better next time.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Tough Love
Over the last few weeks I have started to notice that our Venture Crew Advisor has not been planning any activities for our Venture Crew on Wednesday. He is even bringing one of his kids to the Venture Crew meeting. He usually sits in the back of the room and watch the activity unfold. He is fairly young (10 years older than the YM) and that may be part of the issue. He may feel more like a YM than one of the leaders.
This Wednesday I didn't have anything planned so I emailed the VCA to see what he had planned. He really didn't have any good ideas. So, I told him to talk to some of the crew members and see if they could work on some merit badges.
I arrived at the Wednesday activity with a backup plan but I was going to sit back and see what he did. Usually I had something planned just in case nothing else was planned and I usually ran the activities. This time, I wasn't going to do anything.
The time was turned to the Crew President and he sat there and asked what we were doing. They all looked to me and I looked to the Crew Advisor and asked him what he had planned. He just sat there with his child on his lap and shrugged his shoulders. There was a awkward pause as everyone could see that nothing was planned for today. The President actually did a great job of saving the silence by deciding to plan our next campout. He turned the time over to the Crew member in charge of the campout and they planned what they were going to eat and stuff.
After they were done, again, there was a pause on what we were going to do. I asked the Crew Advisor again and asked if he had anything. Again, a shrug.
I finished by going over a bunch of activities that were coming up that I thought they could participate in such as the "Fathers and Sons" activity and the "Scout - O - Rama". We then finalized the "Snow Sports" merit badge with a couple of the YM that were working on the badge.
Anyway, I hope he felt awkward and embarrassed that he didn't have anything planned. As bad as it went, I really still don't think he understands his roll as the Crew Advisor. I really feel that I am going to have to go over to his house and talk to him about his duties and how a Wednesday activity should be run. Then, I'll make sure he knows that he is in charge and that I'm not going to be planning the Wednesday activities any more.
Anyway, I tried "Tough Love" by letting the activity flop but I don't think he felt that it was his fault. We will see.
This Wednesday I didn't have anything planned so I emailed the VCA to see what he had planned. He really didn't have any good ideas. So, I told him to talk to some of the crew members and see if they could work on some merit badges.
I arrived at the Wednesday activity with a backup plan but I was going to sit back and see what he did. Usually I had something planned just in case nothing else was planned and I usually ran the activities. This time, I wasn't going to do anything.
The time was turned to the Crew President and he sat there and asked what we were doing. They all looked to me and I looked to the Crew Advisor and asked him what he had planned. He just sat there with his child on his lap and shrugged his shoulders. There was a awkward pause as everyone could see that nothing was planned for today. The President actually did a great job of saving the silence by deciding to plan our next campout. He turned the time over to the Crew member in charge of the campout and they planned what they were going to eat and stuff.
After they were done, again, there was a pause on what we were going to do. I asked the Crew Advisor again and asked if he had anything. Again, a shrug.
I finished by going over a bunch of activities that were coming up that I thought they could participate in such as the "Fathers and Sons" activity and the "Scout - O - Rama". We then finalized the "Snow Sports" merit badge with a couple of the YM that were working on the badge.
Anyway, I hope he felt awkward and embarrassed that he didn't have anything planned. As bad as it went, I really still don't think he understands his roll as the Crew Advisor. I really feel that I am going to have to go over to his house and talk to him about his duties and how a Wednesday activity should be run. Then, I'll make sure he knows that he is in charge and that I'm not going to be planning the Wednesday activities any more.
Anyway, I tried "Tough Love" by letting the activity flop but I don't think he felt that it was his fault. We will see.
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