First off, let us stopping using Boy Led!  We are making men here so let us stop labelling them as children.  I have made an effort to call them 'guys' instead of boys and Scouts at ceremonies instead of "this kid" or "this boy".  /rant

Last night we held our 6-month elections.  For the past few weeks the SPL and myself have promoted the upcoming elections and told the Scouts to fill out the Election Application we have.  Now before you start your rants, let me explain the application thing...it is a one page form that asks for name, rank, POR needs and 3 choices of positions you want.  Then a brief explanation of why you think you are the best for the #1 choice.  This information is given to the new SPL!  As Scoutmaster I will collect and record the choices of each Scout ( just so I can see what the Scouts want to do and where we might need addition help that no one signs up for) and then pass along the information to the new SPL when he is elected. 

So, last night after the new SPL was elected we sat down (while the Patrols held their Patrol Leader elections and the outgoing SPL lead the Skills Demo) and I gave him the sheets and he filled in his PLC.  By the end of the night he had the Scribe, Bugler, Chaplain Aide, Webmaster and ASPLs all chosen and ready to go to training next weekend.  The Troop Guides are the Den Chiefs crossing over with their Webelos 2 dens.  The longer list of needs like Historians, Quartermasters and Librarians will be assigned in the next few weeks once he gets his ASPLs trained and assigned their duties (we have an ASPL oversee those positions).  The final positions of Den Chief and OA Rep are given to those who want to take the training and commit to it.

In the end it was a very smooth transition.  The SPL is actually the oldest Scout in the Troop and was the ASPL for the last 6 months.  He hand picked one ASPL and took another from the sheets ( he liked what he wrote).  The Chaplain's Aide is someone who did not sign up for it but the SPL thought he would make a really good one AND he has shown interest in a PoR because he filled out the form and wanted to be PL (he did not get elected) or Scribe (went to an older Scout with more experience).  That Scout is excited because while he did not think of being a CA he wants to a) be on the PLC and b) had several ideas last night...

Now I have the toughest job of my next 6 months: take all 18 of these guys on a weekend campout and TRAIN THEM!  Thankfully I have some ASM support AND the previous SPL (and another ex-SPL) have agreed to be JASMs and teach some segments of our Troop Leader Training Weekend.  Truly Scout Led in action!

How does your Troop elections run?

YIS
Bryan

NOTE: If you are interested go to the Troop website at www.troop199.org and click on Elections for our format and forms...email if you want the word doc so you can customize to your Troop...