I've been a Scoutmaster for about six months now, and I'm running into some challenges that are making me question whether this role is right for me. Here's the situation:

Recently, I discovered a PLC (Patrol Leaders' Council) was scheduled for 6 PM on Sunday, December 1st - right at the end of Thanksgiving weekend. Usually, these meetings happen before our regular troop meetings, but our SPL scheduled this one separately because she can't make the next troop meeting. When I mentioned I couldn't attend because I'd be traveling back from Thanksgiving, our Assistant Scoutmaster and Committee Chair told me I needed to change my travel plans to be there, saying my attendance is "highly recommended."

This isn't the first time this has happened. These same adults previously asked me to cancel my pre-planned (and paid-for) family vacation to attend summer camp. The troop is going a week earlier than usual because our normal week wasn't available, and this new date conflicts with my vacation. They've told me I'm "disappointing the troop" by not attending.

I've been upfront about my priorities: family comes first, then work, and then Scouts. My wife's executive job already requires her to travel most weekdays, and I have a demanding career myself. I'm not willing to sacrifice family time or rearrange existing plans for Scout activities.

So, I have two questions:

1. How should I handle this PLC situation?

2. When did Scouting become something demanding this level of personal sacrifice?

I'm starting to wonder if I'm cut out for this Scoutmaster role. Thoughts?