dsteele

You just made the mistake of offering a professional an opportunity for free advertising. However, I can not (nor will I) tell a lie. So I can personally guarantee that this is a true story. I was a DE, SDE, SDE m/p and District Director in a class 600 council. For more information on council classifications, ask the question in the council relations forum. I'll be happy to answer. A class 600 council is a medium size council. One of it's summer camps was lauded as a premier camping facility. They have two of everything and it's a very nice piece of property. I never particul

Gsmom -- thanks for 'fessing up. Now I don't have to be the brunt of the jokes. Okay, actually I find the people on these boards to be very friendly and respectable. KWC, it sounds like you and your family really managed to dodge the bullet and that it went a long way toward easing your son's fears of big storms. If I can share a funny story . . . (of course I can. You can scroll past it if you'd like and I'll neverk know.) When I took emergency preparedness merit badge, the cold war was at it's height. One of the topics was how to survive a nuclear (although I think they sti

So, ozemu, what IS that sfuff? It looks and tastes like motor oil to me. Kraft may own it, but it isn't cheese. Of course neither is American cheese, but that's a horse under a different wrapper. DS

Ox and Dale -- Again, welcome! Pardon me if I'm a bit distracted. I'm watching Katie Curic doing the Tonight Show while I'm writing this. Contrary to the opinion of those who sited me for writing while on vacation, I do have a life. I'm glad to see (God it pains me to call you this) young people getting involved in commissioner roles. The resources need to be read and you've both agreed to that. My point is (and I think you'll agree) that Scouting can be learned, but passion must be self-driven. You've both demonstrated your passion in a single post. Good job guys! I sha

If there's anything my wife and I or the youth and units of the Southeast Wisconsin Council can do to help you or anyone else effected by the disasters, please let us know. We'll do all we can. I'm glad to hear you're okay, hops! DS How about KWC? I hope it's just a lack of power. I have been near enough to enough tornados to know their power. But the power of Scouting is made of sterner stuff. If you need anything, let us know. I'm sure someone can provide it or the means to get it. DS

Hi Hops! I'm assuming you were directing your question to KWC57 -- who lives in Oklahoma City. KWC I hope you're okay as well as your family. To answer Hop's question, I'm in Wisconsin and all we had were some high winds, but no tornados in my neck of the woods. I've been through several, however, and they're never fun. One went over our heads and ripped our Baker tent (which had no floor) off the ground and sent it flying about half a mile. The only reason we were okay, other than being scared and wet, was because our Scoutmaster had us camp in a gully that day. KWC57, are

Bob: I must confess that I'm at home ill and don't have my advancement guidelines in front of me. But I am glad you asked for clarification. I did not, by any means, intend to contradict BSA advancement policies. I believe the phrase "A Scout is tested" is used in the advancement guidelines. Like I said, I don't have it in front of me. What I meant when I said I wasn't going to get involved in the debate was that I wasn't about to argue what "tested" means. To some it means he ought to know all the knots, have the fire-building skills, and so forth. I think what you and I

I'm going to throw in my two cents here (not in disagreement with anyone in particular, so don't get jumpy ) I think that there is a process in place that is designed to make sure That the "powers that be" are all in agreement that what we have before us is, in thought and deed (I didn't say knots!) is a true Eagle Scout. The Scoutmaster conducts a Scoutmaster conference. In my opinion (I'm not quoting chapter and verse, so feel free to disagree) the Scoutmaster is one of the people most knowledgeable about the candidate's worthiness and readiness for the rank. The Scoutmaster als

JB brings up an excellent point as well. It happens to be one I've been either making or trying to make for years (with varying degrees of success.) A unit commissioner does not have to have any Scouting experience. Granted, it's probably best if he/she does, but nowhere is it written as a requirement. I happen to think that lists of Eagle Scouts from the past is an excellent source. Let me quickly point out, however, that "inexperienced" unit commissioners will need immediate training and training that is beyond commissioner basic. They'll need New Leader Essentials and any of t

OX: Welcome to the forums. I hope you'll enjoy them and get good stuff out of them. Mark, thanks for the kind mention. I try. Talking about lawyers in the troop -- When I was a Scoutmaster, I recruited a corporate attorney to be the committee chair. He did a good job. The only problem was that he takled in his sleep about his cases. The cases he talked about happened to be a nationally visible product liability law suite, so at least his midnight discussions with himself were interesting. I did, however, wish for thicker walls on my tent. DS

Homesickness is a real issue. Responses vary by Scout. When I was an assistant camp director, I generally didn't allow Scouts (or staff) to call home. This was a tenant I learned at camp school. I made only one exception for a camper. We had a first year camper who had a single mom. Apparently his Dad, when the parents divorced charged the boy with "taking care of his mother." Well, by the time we made it to Tuesday, the kid was worried sick about her. I talked to him and could see that he wasn't home-sick, but was afraid of Mom living on her own. I let him call and she assured hi

Nice catch, eisley. I forgot about the swim test stuff. If the boys attended summer camp and took a swim test, you can use the same status they earned then. Or you can work with your local YMCA or other pool facility to get them through it. DS

Rootbeer, welcome back to Scouting. I'm sure you were missed. Excellent point about professional Scouters -- we aren't in it for the money. If you find a professional who isn't in it for the love of the Boy Scouts of America, consult your wrist watch. Their tenure won't be long. DS

I'll second that! DS

I saw this thread yesterday and figured you would have some responses by now. However, since you don't, I'll respond as well as I can. You may still have to contact your local council service center. As you pointed out, it is the weekend, and I don't have all my resources at home. I have my current copy of ProSpeak and my binder on Scouting Accident and Sickness Insurance from Mutual of Ohmaha -- exciting weekend reading for a profesional, but I don't have all of the other stuff here. The first thing you need to worry about is meeting the standards of Two Deep Leadership. It appe

Isn't it amazing that will all this workplace diversity and comraderie that no one has admitted to being a lawyer and no one but me has admitted to being a current BSA professional? I'd love to have a lawyer respond . . . it might draw some of the heat away from the professional service of the BSA. Okay, I'm taking my tongue out of me cheek now. No cheap lawyer jokes, please. DS

Sounds like a cool troop, Eamonn. I would echo that the most important was the time your leaders devoted to Scouting. Sure it was fun for them as well, but the benefits to youth far outweigh the fun and frustration experienced with adults. I have a weird question for you. I know that Vegamite is more Australian than British, but is there any truth to my theory that the stuff is actually motor oil? It sure tastes like it! Ds

I'm a big believer in the spirit of the law -- when it's one that isn't a safety issue or an important policy. You guys are playing a crucial role in Scouting and should follow your district leadership. If they have no problem with your registrations, I certainly don't. As I said, I've never been in a district or council where all commissioners were only commmissioners and had no role in units. My point was simply that, to help commissioners do their jobs by providing all information to them, commissioners need to have their primary registration be as a commissioner. If yo

Eamonn -- Technically, yes, your district is out of line. However, I've never been "in line" in the districts or councils I've served over the years. Just as a Field Director isn't supposed to have his/her own district (that's what a district director is,) an Assistant Districtt Commissioner isn't supposed to have his/her own units. They're both supervisory positions. An assistant district commissioner is supposed to advise about 5 unit commissioners or serve some other administrative funtion as decreed by the district commissioner. Reality differs. I've most often seen ADC's us

Mark: I don't think you implied that I fake being sick to get off work. If I did, I certainly wouldn't reply to stuff on these forums when I do. As to taking the summers off, it was a troop tradition. Let me tell you why I took on the Scoutmaster role in the first place. It has nothing to do with taking the summers off from our usual meeting schedule (which I think all but one troop in the district did and does.) I think the reason most troops in that council take the summer off is that there are about 17 actually nice days in northeast Michigan and everyone is too busy rolling

It's about dang time they said it. Notice that I didn't say I agree with it or not. Actually, I do. We need commissioners and we need them to be as impartial as possible. I'll probably see that one in quotes somewhere. Before anyone jumps on me, let me just say that the reason I am glad is systematic. I want commissioners to receive every mailing that goes out to unit leadership. How else can we expect them to be good spokesmen and knolwedgeable? However, in the case of the unit commissioner who's old unit pays his/her registration fees as a committee member, they aren't

Thanks, Bob. But actually I was serious. Our ranger needs the indian pumps. The ones out there are broken. Thanks for all that you guys do for Scouting. I mean it. DS(This message has been edited by dsteele)

Hmmm . . . I don't think a water bucket is going to work on this one. I wish I had ordered those indian pumps like the ranger asked me to. DS

I still talk to my Scoutmaster on a fairly regular basis. He's told me he really appreciates it, and I enjoy thanking him. He was a firm and strong leader who always displayed the ideals of Scouting. He was a bit anti-council, but my Dad eventually recruited him to the executive board of the council and he started to change his tune. You see, my old Scoutmaster used to joke that I wasn't born -- I was issued from National. Without his influence, and time, I never would have earned (I said earned) Eagle at the age of 13. I never would have earned the Ronald Reagan (full tuition schola

Mark: I wish everyone saw it your way and did what your troop does. Most do take the summer "off." I wish it were otherwise. However, when I was a Scoutmaster, I do have to admit that I enjoyed my summers without regular troop meetings. Once I took the guys to camp for a week, I was more than content to wait for August to resume regular meetings. DS