eagle90

Let's not get too hung up on job descriptions and heirarchy here. If something needs to get done at a troop meeting and the CC is willing and able to help - DO IT. We are here to offer the best program for our scouts, not to sit back and say "It's not my job. I'm a Committee Member, not an ASM". We have to realize that every situation we run in to is not an ideal situation as covered in the training material. A little common sense is needed.

Come on people - A little jealousy, I suspect. 31 people spending $210 for drinks? That can be one drink apiece! And $20 for prime rib isn't a bad price! Neither is $540 for a day of fishing. Just because we are a non-profit organization doesn't mean we have to be paupers.AS others have said, these can be equated to corporate executives. I think we have a lot more problems that are more critical than spending some bucks on a conference.

I know of a few Execs that I wouldn't mind sending up to the Maine Wilderness, but I guess that's another story.....

Years ago I was teaching a knife and ax safety demonstration at a Webelos Day. Had about six sessions to teach. Long about session 3 I closed the pocket knife, which I had just sharpened three times, a little quickly and sliced my index finger. Of course one of the little Webelos said "Mister...you're bleeding!". A quick trip to the first aid tent, a big bandage, and it was on to the 3 final sessions with a "Do as I say, not as I do" lesson!

I took over our troop when I was 22, right out of college. No one else wanted the job, the troop was in danger of folding. I am an Eage Scout who, as a junior and senior in high school, basically served as SM, as the SM at the time was an older meek and mild gentleman, dedicated, but just not an outgoing leadership type. While I didn't have the life experience, I definitley had the Scouting experience, and surounded myself with those who did have the life and parental experience. It must have worked. 35 years later, I still do the same thing. I think too many folks want the SM to be a Dr. Phil type, solving the psychological problems of every member. Just present the program and HAVE FUN! Dale

I agree with Gern. The SE dropped the ball big time. It's his/her resposibility to follow up with other authorities when something is reported to him. Otherwise, why are we reporting such incidents? A few years back I reported a domestic abuse situation to our SE. He got back to me a few days later saying he informed the school district, and they were aware of the problem and already had a case file opened. The SE was doing his job. Sounds like yours wasn't. You did your job.

We will be proposing to our Committee a $20.00 per boy gasoline surcharge For all the scouts going to Summer Camp this year. It is about a 800 mile round trip. We have already charged a $25.00 fee, but need to increase that to just break even.

MAY Scouting for Food Drive (Today) Campout with 25 mile bicycle ride on IM Canal Trail JUNE Campout aand trip to Illinois Wildlife Prairie Park Family Picnic Summer Camp Shakedoiwn Training Day JULY Sumer Camp at Lefeber Northwoods Camp Minor League Baseball Game AUGUST Whitewater Rafting on the New River in WV Family Campout at Indiana Dunes Who says things slow down during the summer? Dale

Mark S, I hate to disagree with you, but in no way should alternate reqquirements be used just because mommy doesn't want her baby to camp. Not only is it not fair to the other scouts in the unit, it is an insult to those who truly need the alternate requirements. Scouting is not for every family and we cannot save everyone.

We have several events we advertise as Family events - a Family Campout, summer minor league baseball game, winter ski trip. But all others are limited to scouts and leaders. We are fortunate in that we normally have enough leaders along on our trips, but we have told some dads who have asked to bring little sister along "No". You have to set the rules and follow them! Dale

In today's much more technical world than in 1932, I, for one, do not have the skills or knowledge to be a vocational counselor. In one of the last Eagle SM conferences I did, the candidate told me he wanted to study bio-medical physics in college. My reply was "OooooKaaay!". I don't have a clue what that is! Today schools are doing a much better job of this than in years past. My neice is in grad school for school counseling and her course work is unbelieveably tough. I'd say show a general interest, but leave the actual counseling to the professionals! Dale

What better place to do a tap out ceremony and ordeal for an honor camping society than AT CAMP? The Camp I atended as a youth and for many years as a leader, we had the tap out ceremonmy on Monday night along the beachfront, with the Indians coming across the lake in canoes carrying torches with the moonlight and stars int he background. It always was a highlight of the week. The ordeal was done on Tuesday. The non members could watch the tap out and see the ordeal candidates working around camp, but did not see any of the other ceremonies. The camp we attend now does a calling out at the closing campfire and does their ordeal at fellowship weekends.

Any other Midwest Scouters going to the Grant Pilgrimage in Galena, IL this coming weekend? About 3,000+ scouts and scouters are expected. If anyone else is going maybe we can arrange a face-to-face meetings sometime during the weekend! We are camping at the Palace Campgrounds. Dale Troop 90

In our troop, the SPL is elected to a one year term. We have not done speeches, but we are considering this for this year, as there is no one candidate who stands out over the others. It should be a close election! Patrol leaders are appointed and are reviewed yearly. We can and have removed patrol leaders and SPL's for non-performance and a lack of judgement issues.

Jersey John - Thats exactly what we do. We request donations from our families and friends and fill up the gym. It's 100% profit except for the classified ads we run and the Krispie Kreme's for the workers! We also make it fun with a special traveling trophy to the family who donates the weidest, oddest, strangest item. This is the first event we normally have after the crossover and is a good way for the new families to meet with and work with our veterans. You'd be amazed at the amount of rummage you can collect year after year!

We also had a successful fund raiser, our Annual Ruimmage Sale. We filled he school gym with everyone's rummage. The only expense is about $150 in classified ads. We made over $2,250 in one day's work. It also help clean out our members attics and basements, and is a good fellowship activity. The leftovers are donated to the Cancer Federation, so there are more benefits there also.

Last year at Sea Base on Munson Island, we were making Spaghetti, and overdid the water on the sauce, turning out like soup. We looked in the P-Box and found some canned chicken, corn, a little pancake batter to thicken, and anything else we could find in there to give it a little flavor. We then added some of the fresh snapper and mahi mahi we caught that day, and it all ended up like a fish chowder. The Scouts and our adventure mate loved it!

How about the patrol who soaped the INSIDE of the spaghetti pot and put water in to boil. They realized their mistake as when the water boiled the suds just about put out their fire. PL said he should be more specific when telling his kids to "soap the pot".!

Just last weekend we were cabin camping and were deep frying turkeys. The last one was a 15 pound bird. There is a thermometer you must put into the oil to keep the oil about 340 degrees, but when the leader put the thermometer in, he inadvertently stuck it into the bird instead of the oil. It kept registering about 280, so he kept firing up the propane more and more to get it to the desired 340. When he finally realized what he had done, the oil was at about 450, and the 15 lb. turkey was a little petrified and looked like a 3 pound chicken! Of course we will never let him forget this!

Very appropriate post, GWD. Our Committee just decided to do the same thing this year at camp. In spite of our camp's outstanding program, they were very weak in the new scout program last year, and we feel we can do a better job ourselves. I too will be intereted in some advice, schedules, program, etc. Dale

As much as we like to think that Scouting is for everyone and this boy needs it probably more than most, you cannot let one boy ruin Scouting for the other 20+ boys in the troop. If the parent doesn't want to accompany his/her son, I wouldn't hesitate saying "Good-Bye". We cannot be everything to everybody. Sorry if this sounds harsh. Dale

37 Scouts 4 Patrols 1 SM 4 ASM's 21 Committee Members 1 ASM serves as Advancement Chairman 1 ASM serves as Training Chairman 1 ASM serves as Eagle Coach 1 ASM undesignated

Congratulations, Chippewa. Sounds like you are doing everyting right! We also had an Eagle COH this week and another one scheduled for May. One of the guests asked me "Do your scouts always look this good?" RIIIIGHT!!!

By the way, We do have a similar situation this year with our SPL. He is aging out this year, and has been the best SPL I have seen in 30+ years. And the pickings seem slim behind him! We want to phony up his credentials and make him 14 again! But someone will come through and do the job.

I agree with Trev - troops seem to rejuvenate themselves. A few years ago we were 75% high schoolers, and in one year I saw 9 seniors graduate and age out of the troop. 6 of them Eagles, all PL's 5 had been SPL. I flet the same way. "What are we gonna do?" But it works out. Someone who you may not even think about steps up and things move on. We are now, just a few years later, completely opposite, with 20 crossovers or first year scouts. Hang in there! Dale