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January's Region 4 Burning Question is two parts:

A) What does your service unit team gain by holding regularly scheduled leaders' meetings?

B) Waht do your leaders lose by not attending leaders' meetings?

Deb Holmes, Mascenic: 

A)  We gain an understanding of what is new and coming up for events and activities through the service unit.  It gives us an opportunity to think about what we want to do as a group, share ideas from one troop to an other and talk through any issues that one person might have.  It's a great "sounding board" for problems/issues the individual leaders might be experiencing. 

B) They don't stay current with what's happening in the service Unit.  Our SU tries to hold an event each month and without attending one fo these meetings--you may miss something very interesting.

Melissa Greenwood, Contoocook Valley:  Holding regularly scheduled monthly meetings really capitalizes the T in Servie Unit Team, and also in Teamwork! Corny, I know but so true--unfortunaetly there are a few who never attend, as my SU secretary, Stacey Kolk said," they are the ones who do not usually participate in the events, and if they are the ones who just showup, partake and leave, so offers of set up, break down, clean up mean they are not involved in the team work."  Every effort has been made to include these folks, every time, to no avail.  But the good news is they are the minority--we've had increasing regular attendance at our SU team meetings, they are fun-relaxed, jovial meetings, business gets taken care of, but in a friendly way.  Increased attendance has happened due to word of mouth, plus refreshmetns and doorprizes don't hurt! (bribery works for me!)  I also am big on recognitions--I'v e also been sending out birthday cards to all SU Team members and Leaders from the SUT.  I think little touches some times carry a lot of weight!  Our SU Team gains the opportunity to explore and adventure pehaps a bit more  in the world of Girl Scotuing by interacting with others within our SU and without...we are very different women and men, with lots of different ideas and experiences and most of all tons of knowledge to share with each other!  Our round table discussions are fabulous!  Brainstorming is awesome! We get each other wound up and energized to do our best and work a little harder for all of our girls!  Yep, we feed of of each other!

B) So, so much...even though they receive a copy of the agenda and the minutes from our monthly meetings, and emails with updates and new info to share, they lose out on the friendship, the brainstorming, the effects of being in a group of like minded individuals working towards a common goal--a very powerful thing indeed!  The folks who do not attend usually don't participate at all, even when email feedback is requested!  So, they leave themselves out of the democratic decision making process, they are out of the loop, and don't gain.  They also don't get a chance to win fabulous doorprizes!

Liz Tentarelli, Sunapee Keasage:  As our team is just a SUM, a registrar and a local trainer not affilitated with a troop, we learn what the leaders are struggling with, what help we can give them and which of the multi-troop activities we are considering have leader support.  We also gain a sense of wheather the new leaders are feeling positive about their experience, as they may say thmgs during discussion with other leaders taht they might not say one-on-one to us.

B)  They do NOT lose information.   The SUM sends out detailed minutes with decsions made at the meeting.  Of course, they do miss out on having input to those decisions!  They also miss the opportunity to network with leaders from other towns.

Stacey Kolk, Contoocook Valley:  This year our leaders' meetings have been terrific.  Personally, it's very important (and fun) to get to know the other troop leaders in our community.  We often use one another for referrals and resources.  We all come to the table with different skill sets and knowledge and a leaders' meeting is the perfect palce to share and educate one another.  I love to hear what other troops are doing and often get many great ideas.  It's an opportunity to exchange council program information (i.e. Who attended what programs and how they liked them), get ideas about badge work, and hear suggestions about any trouble spots a troop may be having. I really enjoy talking with some of the leaders of the older girls who have been leaders for many years and have experienced some of the same concerns that I am experiencing now (i.e. As the girls get older, what are some tips to keep them interested in scouting).  I always get some great advice!  Aslo, leaders meetings are great for planning Service Unit trips or ceremonies.  We brain storm ideas for our cookie Kickoff, Thinkinkg Day, GS birthday celebration together.  It's fun to get together with other troops, the girls love it, and usually those ideas/events begin with an idea at a leaders meeting.   The admisitrative work that goes on is important too.  : )  It's much easier to talk about new forms, policies, etc. in person than via the telephone or email.   And lastly, our meetings can be really fun, Melissa always has a wacky door prize!

B)  Those leaders lose the camaraderie experienced by the rest of us!  Also, they probably miss out on hearing about local resources that leaders share at meetings.  The leaders who do not attend are usually not part of the planning of Service Unit events, and oftern they are the ones that do not participate in those events as well.  There is probably a connection there (if leaders were partaking in the plannning, they would be more invested in having their girls attend the events).  In addition, they miss the "business" end of the meeting.  They would then need to find the time to meet with Melissa and get updated.

Joan Hagar, Gap Mountain:  Networking, friendship, combined knowledge of experience, community planning and teamwork. 

B) By not attending, leaders feel lost and unconnected to the community, they lose the chance to exchange ideas with other experienced leaders "who have been there".  Basically, the total opposite of the answer to "a".