Staff writer
Jackie Palic of Marion doesn’t need much time to decide what her favorite memories have been from nearly two decades involved with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.
“It’s the smiles on their faces when they get their awards and when they race their Pinewood Derby cars,” she said. “Just the kids being kids.”
Palic, Pack 102’s cubmaster, got involved with Cub Scouts when her oldest son, Chad Ingels, now 26 years old, joined the organization as a second-grader. Bob Brookens asked her to be a den leader after she led a campout. She was a den leader and assistant scoutmaster until Ingels finished his time in Boy Scouts.
She took a year off from being involved with scouts, then in 2000 Keith Collett convinced her to become cubmaster for the pack. The responsibilities of a cubmaster are running pack meetings, assisting with scout advancement, organizing meetings with den leaders, and communicating with the regional district.
“You can do as little or as much as you want,” Palic said. “In the past I have been a horrible delegator.”
Recently the pack has set up committees of parents to organize events, including the Pinewood Derby and Blue and Gold Banquet.
“If everybody does a little bit, it isn’t too much for any one person,” she said.
Palic is ready to pass the mantle of cubmaster to a new leader because she is accepting more church responsibilities at St. Mark Catholic Church-Holy Family Parish, Marion, including teaching a confirmation class.
Palic still has two sons in Cub Scouts, and now she has a grandson, Ian Ingels, in Tiger Cubs.
“I’ll be there,” she said. “I’ll be supportive, but it’s time for me to step out of leadership.”
Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts have been meaningful for her family of five sons and husband, Joe, she said.
“Being a family of nothing but boys, my children really enjoy it,” Palic said.
Scouting instills good principles in boys and helps them become assets to society, she said. She also appreciates that it helps get children outdoors.
For more information or to volunteer, call Palic at (620) 382-3757.