eagle-pete

I agree with OldGreyEagle - It's all about the beads!!! Eagle Pete

I'd just like to add one more point to the excellent afore posted suggestions - and this is really to illuminate somewhat on something Crew21_Adv touched on: Not everyone attends Wood Badge. I would also say... Not everyone should attend Wood Badge right away. Let's keep in mind that Wood Badge is *Advanced* training - meant for a Scouter who already has attended other preparatory trainings. In fact, one of the requirements to attend Wood Badge is "You must have completed Basic Training for your registered Scouting position." Typically, I don't start pushing Wood Badge until the i

I was about to suggest that you may want to seek the advise of your Troop Guide. You beat me to it. Eamonn's suggestions are excellent... I could not have put it better. I do have a few comments I'd like to add... One of the many purposes of the Ticket development process is self-reflection. All of the ticket items, including the diversity focused ticket item, should be developed from your own experiences and certainly from your own understanding of how each item relates to, and is effected by, the Scouting Program. The problem with someone offering you their ideas for a t

Sounds like you have an excellent opertunity to get a brand new committee started off on the right foot. Training is by far the BEST way to accomplish this. I agree with SueM - keep it light and don't overwhelm them. You might also consider having an experienced Scouter serve as the Troop Training Coordinator. This individual would be able to ensure that your whole committee has been scheduled for, and completed their trainings. A well-trained troop committee is an invaluable asset to your unit and will make your job that much easier and bring you closer to the light at the en

The original post only states that a unit leader made the suggestion. I apologize for the oversite. Eagle Pete

Wow.. I don't know how I missed this topic. I wish I would have posted earlier. MarkS - There's always excuses! I've heard all of them. I've gotta side with Eamon on this one, "...if the Council were ever to send me anything that even looked suspiciously like a fine, I'd be inclined to tell them where they could stick it." Let me reiterate something I have stated in other posts - Most of the leaders in the BSA are volunteers! I know of no organization that would have the gall to actually fine their volunteers for any reason. In fact, any organization which understands the va

To Forum Moderators: This is only a friendly suggestion. I noticed there have been a few announcements for upcoming Wood Badge courses in the near future which are being posted. Although I personally do not have any problem with seeing these posted in the forum, it may be beneficial to those who wish to advertise to have a separate forum for this purpose. It would afford a centralized and specific forum which forum members could easily peruse through to be able to possibly find a course in their area. Also, it may be helpful to include a geographic region in the title of t

I see your point, Knottyfox and I agree. My ceremony was held in a private camp. I first wanted to hold it at the camp where my practical course was held, but that was unavailable at the time I completed my ticket. I was fortunate to have a private camp available to me. I chose a camp because I wanted an outdoor setting and I wanted a campfire. The setting reminded me of where I began with Wood Badge. The choice was important to me. I have been to several Wood Badge ceremonies and all are good as long as the recipient feels it has significant meaning to them. I do not r

I'd like to address this issue. I apologize for the late reply. I can only offer this as food for thought. I cannot address the specifics of that troop nor the circomstances behind any behaviors illustrated in the original post. Here we go... The Wood Badge, and I am speaking of the award earned after having completed the practical course and working the ticket to the satisfaction of the participant and the Troop Guide, is a personal, soul-searching effort which yeilds its own rewards. Only the participant can truly place a value on it. Therefore you will notice there are ma

My beads are a part of my uniform, no less than the American Flag is, as far as I am concerned. I wear them simply because Wood Badge has made such a difference in how I approach scouting that in my mind, I cannot differentiate between Scouting and Wood Badge. The beads have nothing to do with show and everything to do with what they mean to me. I have some very "showy" recognition badges I can wear if I really want to show off. For example, I attended a BSA University for Scouting for three years in a row and received 3 large slides (one for each year) which fit on a bolo tie, each is

I'd like a parade and the key to the city as well... And I think I will go down to the nearest A&W and see if they will give me a discount. KIDDING! Eagle Pete

Quote from Newbie Den Leader: "Roundtables? In our district, these are pretty much relegated to information about upcoming district and council events (deadlines, paperwork, Q&A, etc.). There is no training other than a handout that covers the theme for cub scouts (this is good, but this information is also available online). The most I get out of roundtable is connecting with other leaders and getting acquainted... " Thank you, Newbie Den Leader, for making my point. This is an excerpt from Cub Scout Training Highlights: Leadership Training "Roundtables are a form of c

In response to John-in-KC, scoutldr, and anyone else who's "confuzzled": Yes, when I said "Basic" I meant to say New Leader Essentials and Position Specific training. These are the official titles of this part of BSA Training. Thank you for pointing this out. I sometimes get confuzzled myself. I agree that there are a good many supportive and reinforcement types of programs like Pow-Wow. These programs are not always promoted as an official "Training" per-se. Roundtable is often viewed as a scouters social club and the training aspect of Roundtable is sometimes left out of the e

We all know that training in general can always be improved. As a rule, we send new leaders off to training and they may or may not have the expectation to come away from their training having sufficient knowledge about their position to be able to function effectively. I am referring specifically to Leader Basic Training. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a Boy Scout Leader Basic Training in my district. My wife wanted to brush up on her skills and signed up for the training. She asked that I accompany her. To my welcome surprise, I found the training well-presented and

1.2 miles And our district STILL has trouble with attendance. Eagle Pete

Beyond the recognition, I am not sure what this would be good for. "Certified" generally denotes qualified.. but qualified to do what? Is this any different than "Trained"? Would a certified trainer be able to participate in programs specifically for a certified trainer? Is the destinction "Certified Trainer" a higher level of trainer than, say, a Roundtable staff member? The criteria you have listed here are not any higher than a Roundtable staff member should be, IMHO. Eagle Pete

Hey Vicki Both my CD and TG were female and they were EXCELLENT! EXCELLENT! EXCELLENT! Never let it be said that the fairer sex cannot make for GREAT staffers! Eagle Pete(This message has been edited by eagle-pete)

I did read the topic which is titled Third Bead. It did not address the subject matter which I wish to present. I just commented on a post regarding the olde tyme Wood Badgers and the "elitist" aspect of Wood Badge in the olden days when the courses were far and few in between. Only those "chosen" few were privileged to attend. And still fewer were ever chosen to serve on Staff. Happily, Wood Badge has shed this stigma and it is now being made available to more and more Scouters. This has been a blessing to so many Scout leaders and, more importantly, has helped our youth to have s

Bravo emb021! The Wood Badge Association is a great idea. Obviously, this may not work in all areas, but it appears that yours works well. I have never been in favor of "elitist" organizations. I believe they tend to foster a haughty and conceited attitude toward anyone who does not belong. I am so glad the BSA has been able to remove this aspect of Wood Badge. I am in favor of making available to all, anything which has merit and can be of benefit. Eagle Pete

Very true words, Eamonn. I wonder if it is also appropriate to ask the question, in light of your observations, "What exactly is 'Training'"? This may seem like a strange question. What I mean is what are we doing when we train Scouters? Are we pushing our propaganda? Are we trying to change the world, one unit at a time? Are we trying to "fix the problem"? Sometimes I think (and I include myself in this) that we, the trainers, look at ourselves as in a higher plane of scouting existence than the Scouter we are training. It becomes so commonplace to have a Scouter attend a tr

There are those who remember when what happened in Wood Badge was a closely guarded secret (you know who you are). This has changed. No one is told to keep Wood Badge a secret any longer However. This is one of the few (and I mean extremely few) examples I can think of to support the notion that the Wood Badge course content should be kept somewhat confidential. Now, before you all start flaming (getting out flame retardant uniform), let me first say that on the whole, I am not opposed to sharing course content with those who have not yet participated in Wood Badge. There is noth

Exactly my point, SR540Beaver. When people begin to see the benefits, the costs start to become secondary, and ways are paved to bring scouters to Wood Badge. Remember, you can't put a price on the look in the eyes of just one boy who takes Boy Scouting and runs with it. "Every boy deserves a well-trained leader" Our unit has come up with similar financial assistance programs to get those leaders trained! Eagle Pete

Lisabob I apologize; I did not mean to infer that anyone was being ignorant for not jumping right in and writing a check without thinking. I completely understand the budget issues. I had to finagle my own budget to pay for my Wood Badge course. I had also forgotten about the uniform. Probably because after I had made the financial and psychological decision to go to Wood Badge, the cost of the uniform was secondary. "In for a penny, in for a pound." Right? Plus I already had a shirt and insignia, so I didn't actually buy a full uniform all at once as you pointed out. What

Eamonn, I am not quite sure what you mean by being "unfair to Wood Badge" I do know that given where I'm at with a new Sea Scout unit, giving up three weekends to attend Wood Badge isn't something that I'd do. Still I'm going to give up one weekend and pay $175.00 to attend Sea Badge. - Maybe I'm being a little unfair to Wood Badge? How is attending Sea Badge, which directly helps your Sea Scout Unit, being unfair to anything? Besides, you have already been to Wood Badge! I don't get the correlation. gwd-scouter Let me answer your question this way... Wood Badge will not d

I was able to send emails for my ticket items to my troop guide. During some of these, my TG asked me some questions regarding what was involved in the whole experience and what the experience did for me. My ticket was quite a personal thing, and the TG did an excellent job of maintaining personal communications with me during the process of working my ticket. There was never any proof or verification required for me. IMHO, you will get out of the ticket whatever you put into it. Requiring proof infers that a participant cannot be trusted and proof is then required to award the