Continuing on my last post…

So, his side deals have cost him a troop, and probably a pack. In the past 3 years, he has held up the re-chartering process, too, by not completing his YPT. We called him, emailed him, stopped in and did everything to get him to complete it. He got it done, but it’s going to be another drawn out process once it expires again.

A couple of years ago, the local Elk’s Lodge asked us to do a Flag Day Ceremony for them. We obliged. A few months later, they invited us to a dinner to say thanks. We obliged. The Exalted Ruler of the Elk’s asked me at that dinner how we were doing with our Charter. Good was my reply, we want to stay where we are. He gave me his card, and that was the end of it. They called again this year to do the ceremony…once again, we obliged. This time, they were even happier that we came, more so than the last two times we were there…and the previous two times, they were ecstatic.

So, the CC of the troop and I started talking about how much the Elk’s liked for us to come to there for Flag Day. I mentioned about George (the Exalted Ruler) talking to me months before about our happiness with the Moose. That was the first hint at things to come.

The second hint of things to come, was the next troop meeting…we walked into the hall at the Moose Lodge, only to find a banquet going on. Yup, we got bumped, but didn’t even get a call this time. The banquet attendees finished up, and got done in time for our meeting, but left the hall a mess, so the boys had to clean up their mess before they could start their meeting.

The third hint, on the next week, was more people in our meeting space. It’s not that we don’t welcome visitors, but these weren’t visitors…they were diners  who were drinking…in our hall, while we were trying to have a meeting. For pete’s sake, at least stand and put your hand on your heart when you see the flag. Combine that with one of the morning cleaning people complaining about our poor job of setting up the dining room, we just about had enough.

We left for camp, and the CC and I decided that once I got back from camp, we would start preliminary discussions about the possible move of the CO. Well, that didn’t happen for a while…for the simple fact that we…got…bumped…every…night…of…August. Yup, no meetings for a month. That was the final hint.

I called George on Thursday, met with him on Friday, and we made a handshake agreement 2 hours later…contingent upon 3 things. 1.) We could move troop meeting nights, 2.) the whole troop approved it, and 3.) approval from the Elks.

Well, the email went out on Saturday morning, and by noon, I had 100% support of the parents on making the move AND switching meeting nights. The following Wednesday, the Elk’s Board of Trustees approved the chartering of Troop 1363.

One bonus that we got out of it, was our Court of Honor. We were supposed to have it at the Moose Lodge on the 6th of October, but our CR couldn’t give me a confirmation, so we didn’t know if we would have a CoH. I mentioned this to George, he pulled out the Elk’s calendar, and low and behold, the hall was available for the same night. “Consider it yours for the night” he said, and we accepted.

We had our Court of Honor on that night, and it went over really well. The parents were excited, as was the new CR. Well, he wasn’t the CR yet, as we are still chartered with the Moose, but that will be changing in the next week. We presented the scouts with their awards, did a special Arrow of Light ceremony for one new scout, enrolled him and did the crossover, and made his dad one of my new ASMs. My last presentation of the night was for George…a neckerchief, a woggle, our troop numerals and a Chartered Organization Representative patch…that really made his night.

One thing that I neglected in all of this…our new CR is a Silver Beaver, Woodbadger, District Award of Merit, former DE, for UC and former District Commissioner. His wife has an equally impressive resume. They are the parents of an Eagle. So, I think that we are getting a pretty sweet deal…

So, let’s recap…

* We have a more than qualified new CR
* We have a CO that wants us there
* We have a new, larger facility that we will be the only ones in the building on troop meeting nights

I just can’t see how this is going to be a great thing for the troop, and it will help us grow.

I used to be a Moose, but I think that I will soon be an Elk…