Eagle732

Took a little digging but I figured out how to update/correct the information.(This message has been edited by Eagle732)

JM, That's exactly what we do. The drivers list attached to the TP and highlight any name that could possibly be driving. Just like with the rest of the BS we just work around it so we can take the boys camping. Council will need to start tracking and asking for proof of CPR/AED, First Aid etc.

CPR AND AED trained adult required for boating and climbing. OK, I'm already AED trained, what am I going to use for an AED?! Jumper cables and the car battery that I'm carrying in my kayak or my rope bag?! More required training, more expense and more burdens on the adult leaders. For now first aid and wilderness first aid are "recommended". Any bets on how long before that's mandatory too? I'm all for training but when is enough, enough. It sure is easy for some Professional Scouter to sit in his cushy office and make up more rules without thinking about the time, money and effort it costs us volunteers. The last I checked, CPR/AED and First Aid classes cost money, and they ain't cheap. Hey, maybe we'll be able to do them online.

If he is denied Eagle at the local level he can appeal all the way to National. At that point he will be awarded Eagle if their past record of overturning appeals is any indication.

21 days instead of 14 for TP's out of council? Hope our council doesn't hold us to that. Heck our meeting hall is out of council (by about 1/4 mile)! and most of our camping is done out of council. Most of our drivers are parents of Scouts attending and we usually don't get a commitment from the Scouts until the week before. Even then the roster can change until the time we leave. Do they really think a boy run program can plan that far in advance? Non- attending point of contact is good info to know. In council permits not needed is good (unless your doing something fun like canoeing, climbing, etc.) We'll continue submitting permits as usual. Guessing who's driving and how many are going then submitting the best information we have in the time requested.

We recharter on December 31. Most Webs cross around the end of Feb. to the beginning of March. Our guys pay 3 months prorated pack dues and the total recharter fee. They or their new troop pays the transfer fee after the cross. We use to have people complaining about paying all year for 3 months in the pack so this seemed to be the fairest way to handle it.

Each troop has its own style and like Seattle says this is Cub Scouts or maybe Webelos 3. Sounds like it's time to move on. Check out troops nearby and find one that your son likes. You can't change the troop, so change troops!

That list would have over 2 million names!

Abel, let me tell you what maintaining a high (reasonably high) standard got me. Instead of reworking his Eagle project the scout decided to do an end run and quit the troop without telling anyone. He joined a troop with a brand new SM and CC and got his weak project immediately approved. 3 weeks later he had his EBOR and was approved. Lots of leadership was shown, I'm sure! Congratulations! Funny thing, yesterday I was talking with the head of the vet. group that Instant Eagle did his project with. He couldn't understand why the scout hadn't been by to pick up the collected items. I had to explain to him that once the organization signed off on the project the scout had no further obligation as the project was considered completed. He gave me a puzzled look and said that he was under the impression that the scout would continue to collect and deliver items for 6 months. Sorry, seems you were taken!

Is there a published list of names all Eagles? It would be interesting to see if some infamous names are still on there.

I didn't think so, but was wondering if your comment was a reply to my post. The EBOR can decide what it wants but when it gets appealed eventually the scout will get his medal. I have seen it time and time again to the point that I believe the Eagle rank has been cheapened. And that's from a dad who's son just earned Eagle last month. Sounds like a spin off: What outrageous violations have you seen in earning the rank of Eagle that resulted in EBOR denials which ended up being overturned on appeal?

Abel, So are you saying the SM shouldn't review and decide if an Eagle project is appropriate before it it's completed and the scout goes to the EBOR?

Sounds like great fun! Who did you donate the socks too?

Yea, I (the SM) just had a situation very similar to yours. Scout has a project of collecting items for the needy through a veterans organization. He agrees to make 6 table top size (16" sq.) collection boxes, set them at different locations, collect from them for 6 months, sort and deliver items to the local shelter, hold a fundraiser for the box materials and to purchase items needed but not collected. Great project, he gets approval on his concept. Six months later the scout has his project final write up ready for signatures. I review it and see the project has changed substantially. Now the project consists of making a 4 collection boxes, setting them out at 4 locations, instead of the scout and his crew collecting now the veterans org. collect, sort and deliver (with no supervision from the scout), there is no fundraiser since now the vets are buying materials for the box construction and no purchasing of needed items not collected. My questions to the scout were; 1. Do you think this rises to the level of an Eagle project? His answer was yes. 2. How will you show leadership and how many people will be involved in your project? His answer "me and my dad and mom". I disagreed and would not sign off on the project until changes were made. My suggestion to the scout was to rethink his project. Involve more people so he could show leadership. Also that he should go back to his original concept, or rewrite the project with at least that much work, if not more. I also again reinforced my belief that I pass on to all prospective Eagle and that is; you only get to do one Eagle project, make it count. Do something you can be proud of, something 30 years from now when someone asks what you did for an Eagle project you be proud of what you did. So what do you think the scout did?

One thing about Scouting is that if you don't like the way things are done in one troop for a buck you can move to another! I'm wondering what "it" is that your SM is doing? Does he work with a group of boys mentoring them and trying to help them through the program? Is he spending countless hours taking the boys camping and attending meetings? Does he spend his own money for transportation, equipment, and supplies? You say that all Scouts have to agree with the new bylaws. Well no they don't, they can easily go somewhere else. You say these bylaws were approved by the committee, apparently they agreed or they would not have passed new bylaws. What type of committee does your troop have? Is it an open committee with all parents voting or a appointed committee where only actual committee members attend and vote? (I know what the book says but the title says "Troop Committee GUIDELINES" and thus IMO it can be treated as a guide not a steadfast rule). Are you part of the committee? Inquiring minds want to know

This velcro idea can become more trouble than it's worth if taken to the extreme. That is why in my OP I specified my intent to use it just for Scout's POR patches. My reasons for doing this: Saves wear on uniforms Saves sewing a different patch on every 6 months Prevents Scouts from wearing a POR patch after their term has expired Saves money by reusing patches Saves wear on patches and increases their life by removing them before washing the uniform The best part about this is that it's not mandatory, if you don't want to do it then just sew the patches on as always,.

"The Scoutmaster is not actually a member of the Committee, and has no vote" Page 33 of the 1998 edition of the Troop Committee Guidebook. However as a SM I vote on the Committee and in fact they look to me for guidance on many issues.

A little internet research on Hughes Estate Sales shows they seem to be a fairly substantial outfit. From your website: "Hughes Estate Sales provides professional residential liquidation services. We conduct sales of personal property and entire estates. We work with families who need professionals who are knowledgeable about values so they can get as much as possible from the estate. We're able do this because we have over 70 years of combined experience taking care of families and their belongings." Maybe you could contact one of our members who is knowledgable in patch collecting to help you do your research for a reasonable fee.

Velcro Attach-A-Patch is sold in four colors; Desert Tan (matches Boy Scout uniform), Black, Sage and Foliage Green.

One thing we started a few years ago was a flat fee figured in for food for each trip. $13 is added to the cost of the trip for a weekend's food (B, L, D, B). Patrols know they have to make their menus up so they don't exceed that amount. Grubmasters are then reimbursed for food at $13 X number of parol members camping.

By the way, all of my ideas are helpful and my opinions are always correct

83 don't be depressed! The REAL problem is we have a group of very opinionated people here. This might not be such a bad thing if it is done in a Scout like manner. But sometimes it can get ugly and very un-Scout like. Hopefully we take some information we find here and it helps our programs. If not this site is an entire waste of time.

$150 or $180 a year for dues! Wow we need to charge more! My troop charges $50 a year which includes registration, Boys Life and rank, merit badges, etc. Also new Scouts get a handbook, necker and slide, and unit, council strip. We also provide a sleeping bag, for each Scout and have all the equipment that most troops have. We charge a fee for camping that covers the cost for the trip including food, camping fees and sometimes a couple of bucks for gas. Usually trips cost about $25 per Scout. We rarely do fundraising, only when we need to purchase new equipment like tents. We do have some donors who help support a few Scouts that can't afford even the meager amount we charge. Frankly, the new Journey to Excellence budget requirement has us looking at our dues structure. Maybe we won't be offering BL as part of the dues. Other than that we're in good financial shape. So what does your unit charge for dues and what does it cover?

Not too often we get BOTH sides of a story!

Scouts are lazy and can't or don't want to sew their own patches on, sorry to break the news to you 92. Ever wonder why the Scout Shops all sell Badge Magic? My recently retired Lt. Col. / ASM got me thinking about doing this when I saw him in uniform.