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Recruiting Leaders through the Madison Plan

The Madison Plan creates a structure in committees that helps guarantee strong, shared leadership in units, especially Cub Scout packs. Each pack function (fundraising, Blue and Gold, derby day, pack campout, summertime activities, etc.) has a committee with one parent from each grade level (5 people in all). The parents stay on the same committee throughout their sons' unit experience. The theory is the experienced parents of older boys guide the less experienced parents of the younger boys in how to run the activity. Adding new people each year ensures new ideas get added to the pot. 

CUB SCOUTING WITH THE "MADISON PLAN"
Cub Scouting with the "Madison Plan" is a way for you and your Pack to organize the Scouting year and a way to get maximum participation from all of the parents in the Pack. In order for the plan to work, the leadership of the pack must change their mindset. What the mindset must be is that *every parent of every Scout is willing to do something to help the program, they just do not know what!* In addition, the attitude of the Pack leadership must be that *every parent will sign up to help with an activity, or they will be assigned one.*

Here is the "Madison Plan" and how it works:

Step 1. Make sure you have a working pack committee. (Recruit, recruit, recruit!!)

Step 2. List all of the annual activities of the unit (i.e., School Night for Scouting, Pinewood Derby, Blue and Gold, Pack Campout, Summertime Activities, Scout Fair, Popcorn sales).

Step 3. Write up a job description for each of these events. Include details such as "complete by" dates, tasks to be accomplished, list of items to be brought/purchased for event and create an Event Committee.

Step 4. Assign 5 parents to each Event Committee (one parent from each grade level).  Den leaders should not be on the Event committees as they have enough obligations already (Note: watch out because the the Den Leaders will try to sign up and the parents in the den will let them.  Put your foot down and make the parents step up to the plate and volunteer).  These are good roles for parents who do not want a full-year commitment but can do a diligent, organized job, and maintain focused enthusiasm during a limited campaign.  Parents stay on the same committee for five years. If they wish to switch committees, they must make arrangements with another parent from another committee to replace them and report the change to the Pack. The Pack committee should not switch the committees around. Tiger parents observe and help the first year and the parents of Webelos should be heading up and running the committee.  

Step 5. Create folders for the various committees that explain the duties of the committee and what has taken place in previous years. The folders are to be used as guidelines and can be changed and improved at the committees' discretion. We find it is easy to get parents involved when they know that some record has been kept on each activity. It also serves as some source history for the Pack.

Step 6. Have the "Chairperson" of the Activity (usually the Webelos parent, because they have several years experience in the activity) attend the Pack Committee meeting *at least* two months before the event, to get the folder and instructions? Then, one of the committee members need to attend the following months Pack Committee meetings to report on progress and/or get advice and help with resources.  Consider scheduling at least one of the Event Committee's meetings during the pack annual calendar meeting before or after the Pack Committee meeting (e.g., the Blue and Gold committee can meet before or after the January Pack Committee meeting).  This not only gives the parents on the committee lots of notice, but allows the Pack Committee members to easily attend the Event Committee meetings and not have to commit to another evening.  The Event Committee can meet on additional nights if needed.  

Step 7. Be sure that the Event committees adds their respective plans, results, and recommendations to the folder and reports to the Pack committee meeting the month after the event.

*Remember, parents always want to do something, they just do not know what.*This plan is a good way to get them involved. It is a good idea to use the Parent and Family Talent Survey Sheets to make assignments.

Some parents do not want to be assigned, so some packs pass around a form in April and May and the parents sign up for the activity they want to do.

*This plan is best if planned at the Annual Program Planning Conference and printed in a form that all parent receive a copy of at the September Pack Meeting or Join Scouting Night*

Adapted from a post from the Cub-Scout-Talk list serve (original post).....

Cub Scout Monthly Themes through 2011

Cub Scout Program Themes

SEPTEMBER 2009 - CUB SCOUT POCKETS - Character Connection: Compassion

What can possibly be in a Cub Scout's pocket? What is in a boy's pocket can tell a lot about who he is and what he likes. The boys can share and show off their collections and maybe even start a new one! Put some marbles in the boy's pockets and teach him how to play the game of marbles. Pick an interest of the boys and go on a field trip to explore and learn about it. Maybe a trip to a rock quarry in search of fossils, or a nature hike around the den meeting site to pick up items. This is also a great month to educate the boys on what can go on their uniform and then make some goals to accomplish their rank advancement, special awards, belt loops and pins, and involvement in camps and council events. This might be a good month to work on the Collecting or Marbles belt loop and pin.

OCTOBER 2009 - JUNGLE SAFARI - Character Connection: Resourcefulness

Help boys discover fun and adventure in the wilds of Scouting. Take them on a month-long safari. Learn why Africa is special to our founder Lord Baden-Powell. Find out how the Jungle Book story connects to Scouting. Use it and its characters to highlight den meeting games, crafts, and costumes for the pack meeting. Learn about the things you need if you are going on a safari and how would you survive. What do Scouts in Africa do? What are their uniforms like? Take a den trip to a local zoo, animal rescue facility, or wildlife refuge. Work on the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award or the Wildlife Conservation Academic belt loop and pin.

NOVEMBER 2009 - SCOUT SALUTE - Character Connection: Respect

This month Cub Scouts salute those heroes who help keep us safe and secure each and every day. Can only adults be heroes? Heroes are often ordinary kids who did something out of the ordinary! A den can decide what makes a hero and who the heroes of tomorrow might be by looking at people they know today. Learn about heroes in your own community, as well as Scouting heroes who have earned BSA heroism awards. Have your Cub Scouts invite their hometown heroes to a den or pack meeting. Perhaps your den can become "silent heroes" by performing service for others without seeking any recognition. Visit a fire station, veteran's hospital (Veterans Day is this month), police station, or teacher's classroom and learn about their heroic deeds and reciprocate with a "Scout salute" for their contributions. You might work on the Citizenship belt loop and pin.

DECEMBER 2009 - WORKS OF ART - Character Connection: Faith

December is a time of celebration and giving. This is a perfect month for involving friends in doing good deeds and creating holiday magic through art. Cub Scouts use their artistic abilities to create holiday decorations, gifts, or cards. This artwork might be put on display in nursing homes, in churches, schools, or homes, and at the pack meeting or at a meeting of the chartered organization. Boys can make cards and ornaments and share them with residents of a local nursing or retirement home, children's hospital, or community center and do a "Good Turn for America." Boys can discover different forms of art, write poems, attend a musical or performing art show, or visit a local art museum. Works of art can become gifts for family members. The Academic belt loop or pin in Art or Music could be worked on in conjunction with these projects.

JANUARY 2010 - POWER UP! - Character Connection: Responsibility

Boys explore the science of energy through solar, electrical, and wind power and how this energy is used in their everyday lives. They can explore different ways to conserve energy and protect the world we live in. Work on the Science or Weather belt loop and pin. Boys can invite friends to join in the pinewood derby and discover the power behind those little cars. What types of things are powered up by the flip of a switch? A field trip to the local water works or power plant might be part of the den's monthly plan. Finish up the month with a real power-packed pack meeting. The boys can power up by being physically fit and working on the Physical Fitness belt loop and pin.

FEBRUARY 2010 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, B.S.A. - Character Connection: Honesty

It's time to celebrate with a big birthday bash. Boy Scouts of America is 100 years old this year. Learn the history of how Scouting came to the United States. Find out about those who have given us this great Scouting legacy such as Daniel Carter Beard, James E. West, Ernest Thompson Seton, Waite Phillips, and W. D. Boyce. Let's play birthday games, make party decorations, and have birthday cake for our blue and gold banquet.

MARCH 2010 - TAKE FLIGHT - Character Connection: Courage

The Wright brothers had a lot of courage to accomplish their dream to fly. Air has power to push and pull objects so that they can fly. This month learn all about air, what it consists of, and why it is needed to fly. Learn about gravity. Make your own flying machines as you hear about the Wright Brothers and their invention. Explore different types of paper airplanes. Figure out which ones fly farther, higher, faster, longer, and why? Hold a pack-wide paper plane derby fun night! How many things can you name that can fly? Study birds and their flyways. Why do some fly in a V formation? Take flight outdoors with a den or pack kite derby this month and enjoy that air! Take a field trip to the airport, hobby shop, or a science museum. Earn the Science belt loop and pin.

APRIL 2010 - SPRING INTO ACTION - Character Connection: Positive Attitude

This month is a good time to spring into action with outdoor activities such as hikes, sports and games, cleaning up litter along ponds, parks or roadsides, or planting some trees for improved habitat. Make plaster casts of the animal tracks you find on your hike. Visit and talk with someone who works with wildlife conservation and visit a fish hatchery, zoo, animal shelter, or wildlife sanctuary. Bring along food and supplies that they might need as part of your "Good Turn for America." Build bird houses, bird baths, feeding stations, or boxes for nesting materials. Do a community service project with your chartered organization to show your positive attitude in doing your best. This would be a good month to work on the Conservation belt loop and pin.

MAY 2010 - IN THE SPOTLIGHT - Character Connection: Cooperation

It's time to perform and be in the spotlight! This month spend some time making musical instruments to be used in the pack meeting variety show. The variety show could be skits, songs, puppet shows, magic trick - you name it. Have the boys and their parents and families participate in a variety show and have some adults record the show. Dens can create posters announcing the show and make programs to let everyone know what's coming. Commercials could be videotaped by the den during their den meetings and then be shown between acts. (Get the parents involved) Take a photo for the local newspaper or a video clip for the local TV station for recognition of their achievements and put Cub Scouting in the spotlight. Visit a television, radio, or cable station to see how they prepare and produce their shows. Attend a play or musical production. The Cub Scouts can earn the Music belt loop and pin.

JUNE 2010 - HOOP-DE-DOO! - Character Connection: Health and Fitness

This is a good time to learn and play the game of basketball while you learn about sportsmanship. Have a member of the high school basketball team (preferably a Boy Scout) teach the boys the rules of basketball; then play a game in the pack with older boys and younger boys balancing each team. Play other games such as ring toss, hoop games, soap bubble contests, and hoop obstacle course. Start working on the National Summertime Pack Award or Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award. The boys will be able to earn the Basketball belt loop and pin or another Sports belt loop and pin of their choice, including the Physical Fitness belt loop and pin.

JULY 2010 - CELEBRATE FREEDOM - Character Connection: Citizenship

Celebrate America's freedom established on July 4, 1776, with patriotic songs, games, and family fun. Discover what makes America so special to us. Decide on a birthday present your pack can give to America by doing a service project and a "Good Turn for America." Participate as a den or pack in an Independence Day parade. Enjoy the beauty of our country by participating in outdoor activities. Have a pack barbeque or family gathering and share some family heritage about coming to our great nation. Design and serve a birthday cake and sing to America! Earn the Citizenship and Heritage belt loops and pins.

AUGUST 2010 - WAVES OF FUN - Character Connection: Perseverance

Jump in and make a BIG splash with fun activities that explore water and waves. There is an adventure waiting in one of Earth's final frontiers, the depths of the ocean floors. Creatures never imagined before can be found there. What kinds of animals do live there? What does the ocean floor look like? The den could discover what makes a boat float, learn about different sea vessels, and even make their own boats. The pack can celebrate this month with a beach party (no beach required) and family picnic as they enjoy the great outdoors. Top it off with a raingutter regatta. Complete the requirements for earning the National Summertime Pack Award. This is a fun month to bring a friend! This is a wonderful opportunity to teach water safety and practice the buddy system while having fun and earning the Swimming belt loop and pin.

SEPTEMBER 2010 - CUB SCOUT INVESTIGATORS - Character Connection: Resourcefulness

What happened to the cookies in the cookie jar? Let's find out. Learn techniques that the police use to solve crimes. Use microscopes, dust for fingerprints, and learn observation techniques. Visit your local police department and find out how to contact them in an emergency. Show your respect for law enforcement by thanking them for what they do. This would also be a great month to use your investigative skills to find friends to join Cub Scouts.

OCTOBER 2010 - UNDER THE BIG TOP - Character Connection: Cooperation

"Ladies and Gentlemen," welcome to the Cub Scout Circus. It will be a month of entertainment. Dens will practice stunts, skits, songs, run-ons, and cheers as part of their advancement and just for fun. They can share their talents at the monthly pack meeting, with the Cubmaster serving as ringmaster. The focus will be the magic of the circus with a center ring set up for performances. Be sure to have lots of balloons, peanuts, and popcorn for the audience, as well as spotlights on all dens as they perform.

NOVEMBER 2010 - CUB SCOUTS SPREAD THE NEWS - Character Connection: Citizenship

Cub Scouts spread the news about the fun that they are having in Cub Scouts. They learn many different ways to communicate. Plan a field trip to the local radio station, television station or newspaper office. Dens can publish articles and pictures in a den or pack newsletter or make their own commercial about a service project to be shown at the pack meeting, or on a local cable or school access channel. They can email a friend to join Cub Scouts. This would be a good month to work on Good Turn for America as well as the Communication belt loop and pin.

DECEMBER 2010 - WINTER WONDERLAND - Character Connection: Positive Attitude

The excitement of the holiday season brings magic to the eyes of Cub Scouts as they prepare decorations, make gifts, and sing songs of the season. Den or pack activities may include a Good Turn field trip to bring some holiday magic to the lives of others. Northern Cub Scouts will enjoy winter games in the snow. Southern Cub Scouts might play games with paper snowballs or take to the beach for a Klondike derby in the sand. This might be a good month to work on the Ice Skating or Snow Ski and Board Sports belt loop and pin.

JANUARY 2011 - ROAD WORK AHEAD - Character Connection: Perseverance

What does it take to build our roads and bridges? Who builds our roads and what materials and equipment are used? Find out this month as you put on your construction hats and dig in! Arrange to tour road building equipment. Have a construction company foreman/owner come visit at your pack meeting. What vehicles travel the Cub Scout roads? Why not have a pinewood derby this month and find out?

FEBRUARY 2011 - TURN BACK THE CLOCK - Character Connection: Honesty

"Turn Back the Clock" and see what the world was like in the past. Learn about an era of your choice with songs, games, and transportation from the time that you choose. Whether it is the Space Age, the Wild West, rock-n-roll, or the Ice Age, each time period had something special about it. Construct a pack "time machine" to help introduce the den's era skits or demonstrations at the blue and gold banquet. Whatever you choose, find the "best" in your time period and share it with others. The boys can work on the Heritages belt loop and pin this month.

MARCH 2011 - FORCES OF NATURE - Character Connection: Faith

Behold the awesome forces of nature. Discover how wind, rain, fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, avalanches, and glaciers can alter and shape the earth. Cub Scouts learn now to prepare themselves and their families to meet the challenges associated with these forces. Each Cub Scout can work on preparing an emergency kit to keep in his home or car. Explore a different force of nature at each den meeting, creating models of these natural powers or their results. This is a good month to work on the Emergency Preparedness BSA Award and the Weather belt loop and pin.

APRIL 2011 - SCOUTING THE LAND DOWN UNDER - Character Connection: Respect

Scouting is alive and thriving in Australia. Let's learn about the earth's smallest continent, its animals, and its Scouting program. What kind of games do the boys play? What is a Joey? What kind of outdoor activities do they do in the Australian Scout program? Learn about Australian art work and ancient musical instruments. Come on mate and have a g'day. This would be a great month to work on the Language and Cultures belt loop and pin.

MAY 2011 - ACORNS TO OAKS - Character Connection: Responsibility

Nature provides a miraculous wonder in the life cycle. This month the boys can discover how plants grow from seeds. They can build and grow a terrarium or plant a garden. Here is the opportunity to assist nature by building birdhouses, bat nurseries, or squirrel feeders. This theme also can be used to assist the leaders in helping the boys learn about their own growth and health. They can make goals using a food pyramid. This would be a good month to work on the Physical Fitness belt loop and pin. All these things will help them grow strong and healthy much like a sturdy oak tree.

JUNE 2011 - CUBS IN ACTION - Character Connection: Health & Fitness

This is a great month for outdoor or indoor activities with focus on ACTION. Hikes, games, or relay races using Scout skills would all be good activities. The boys can learn and grow through sports, practicing good sportsmanship and team building. This might be a good time to work on the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award and any of the team Sports belt loops and pins.

JULY 2011 - SPLISH SPLASH - Character Connection: Courage

What could be better than a water carnival complete with games, skits, and a fishing derby? Create a water adventure trail with plenty of opportunity for boys to get wet. Stations could include a sponge toss, sprinklers, water slides, and raingutter regatta. Or plan a pack outing to a local swimming pool or beach. Be sure to teach the Cub Scouts the buddy system before you go and use Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat. Cub Scouts could work on their Swimming and Fishing belt loops and pins. The pack could also work toward the National Summertime Pack Award.

AUGUST 2011 - ON THE WILD SIDE - Character Connection: Compassion

Imagine being shipwrecked on an island of wild adventure! What kinds of wild animals and fauna might they encounter? Go on a hike and learn about the wild side that might be in your own backyard. And if that isn't enough, help the boys release some of their "wild side" fun with exciting games and creative projects. This is one month you'll enjoy the wild side. This will be a great time to invite a friend to come and join in the Scouting adventure!