Leaderboard

I have worked in not-for-profit management my entire career and know the local market for human service CEO's very well (a metropolitan area of 1.5 million). A couple of comments related to Scouting executive salaries, at least in our region. The Scouting CEO position probably ranks in the top 10% of local not-for-profit social service CEO positions. The Scout executive has been paid much higher especially in relation to the overall budget of the organization. A few years ago, the local newspaper did an investigative report and found that the salary at the time was significantly higher t

After drifting away from it, our PLC has set "Return to Patrol Method" as a goal for this year. We bought more stoves and refreshed the gear, building patrol boxes that have the same contents so every Patrol can operate distinctly and without disadvantage from another. It's a great start. And it's been working great, but ... on outings I think us adults have sidestepped a part of the Patrol Method that I think maybe the Scouts "just get". Here's the crux: A patrol "should be" 6-8 Scouts. We went with 10, to improve the odds that 4-8 would attend outings. For meetings, this has been

I'm just not a fan of the idea that everybody gets credit for everything and everybody succeeds. I believe that jf a candidate for anything is allowed to progress no matter how hard or little they work, or claim completion for tasks that were compled by someone else (ie. mom or dad) they don't deserve to progress. If they are allowed they lessen the value of the accomplishment for everyone else.

Fully disagree. EBORs do not exist to change advancement expectations at the end after years of failure by troops and many, many adults. I agree that every Eagle scout should be able to light a lantern and do basic 1st class scouting skills. I disagree that it's okay to try to enforce it right at the end. ... EBORs are more of a friendly conversation similar to the SMC, but done by other adults. Now ... if you want to assert all BORs should be youth or non-troop. We can talk. If you want to say the advancement program, shoudl be drastically different, fine. I just disagree th

A scouter can be taught! @curious_scouter, Regarding that sanity check, let me hand down what my advisor told me when I was an Advisor dealing with all manner of cross-talk regarding how to do my job, and I asked, "Am I right, or am I crazy." He said, "Oh, you may very well be crazy, but you are certainly right!" If I were you, I'd get the "cooler boys" a patrol of two totem for their flag. What's going to happen if that pair are the only boys from their patrol who show up on activities ready to scout at full tilt and give other patrols a run for their money? Other scouts as

I stopped the mix and mash approach and did exactly as you suggest, @curious_scouter. The small patrols enjoyed it because it's a lot easier to cook and clean for 2 or 3 than 8. I said it's their choice. Nobody ever wanted to camp as a single person patrol, 2 worked if they were good friends, 3 or 4 was always a good experience. I should add it was more of a struggle to get the adults to agree with this. Now that I'm no longer SM, some old adult-think has crept back in. Mix and match patrols, "advancement" meetings. In some other thread someone brought up the best check on a plan: will it

I figure a Scoutmasters needs at least 3 years to start to understand the general workings of Patrol Method. And a lifetime to really know how those workings push young adults to grow in character. Seems you reached that 3 year mark. We also built our patrol around 10 scouts with the idea that at least half would show at campouts. But, we often had 2 man patrols and even 1 man patrols once in a while. We found the scouts like 1 and 2 man patrols because the individualism is adventure and they look forward to the challenges. And, we found the other patrols will look after them. Our 1 man a

"If I had more time, I would have written a shorter email requirement."

Late at night. Forgot this channel is not just about EBORs. It just came up because of comment about Eagle scouts not having skills. But the point is the same. BORs are not the point to fix advancement failures. BORs are the time to find out the troop is having trouble. I do 100% agree the advancement program needs drastic redesign. I'd be up for something significantly different. ... The most fundamental part I'd like to see is the scout-facing advancement requirements be at least half the number of words.

To my Brother Scouters and Guides: Cecil Rhodes said at the end of his life (and I, in my turn, feel the truth of it), "So much to do and so little time to do it." No one can hope to see the consummation, as well as the start, of a big venture within the short span of one life-time. I have had an extraordinary experience in seeing the development of Scouting from its beginning up to its present stage. But there is a vast job before it. The Movement is only now getting into its stride. (When I speak of Scouting I include in it Guiding also.) The one part which I can claim as mine towa

OK......so it's not acceptable for someone to be turned down for advancement at the BOR. Then why have one in the first place. We're not talking about a child were talking about someone who aspires to be a Life Scout. But, if everybody gets a trophy and a first place ribbon for showing up, so be it, but I don't like it. This is the very reason there are Eagle Scouts who can't light a lantern, or heaven forbid they had to change a mantle. This is also how so many Scouts strut around with every merit badge and earned them in two years. Its OK for a kid to be stressed at a BOR........thats h

I think you're on the right track and your understanding of the patrol method is strong. BP wanted to work with a teenagers natural desire to create tight knit little groups of friends. I'll add one thought that reinforces yours: Let your scouts figure it out. Especially the small number of scouts in a patrol situation. What do they want to do, what are pros and cons of their decision? I spent alot of my time as an ASM and as an NYLT Course Director asking "What do you want to do?" to my Scouts.

Scout-led. 'nuff said.

Well - That explains the focus on FOS, popcorn, and camp cards. Guess all of our fair share is needed to support their lifestyles