eagle90

How about some input from units sponsored by Schools (PTA's, PTO's, etc.). I think the relationship there is vastly different than a church or service organization. We get virtually no help or input from our CO. We have invited them to all of our special events including dinners and the organizational head and school superintendent and principal don' even have the courtesy to reply to the RSVP. We even gave them a donation for the use of the building of $200 in each of the last 3 years and have never even received a "Thank You". Is this typical, or just us? Any ideas on how to remedy this

Our troop requires complete summer uniforms for all campwide activities (Opening, closing, OA ceremonies, etc.)> Our camp is a Patrol Cooking camp, so we also require full uniforms for breakfast and dinner. Lunch can be Class B's. And of course, complte uniforms for traveling.

I think there is a big difference in who your chartered organization is as to the involvement of the Head of the chartered organization and the COR. In Units sponsored by PTA's, schools, etc. that I have been involved with, the Chartered Organization has ( and wants) little to do with Scouting other than signing a name on the charter once a year. In our case, they do not supply a COR, someone already on our committee must volunteer for the position. And while all the books may say the COR and CC are higher up the chart than the SM, I would be willing to bet in most units the SM has the

I totally agree with Bob. As a scoutmaster for the past 27 years I have had eagles with long hair, short hair, no hair, earrings, facial hair, other piercings, etc., and can state for a fact that each one of them met the criteria for Eagle, no less, no more. We should be concerned about their knowledge and character over and above the superficialities and individual quirks of our scouts. This man should NOT be leading a troop and instilling his rules and values on his members.

In our area those are called "Eggs on a Raft" or "Loggers Eggs". They can be made to order if you like the yolks soft or hard. It's a favorite of ours!

Hinsdale is now in the Des Plaines Valley Council headquartered in LaGrange. It was formerly in the West Suburban Council, which merged with Thatcher Woods Council a number of years ago to form the Des Plaines Valley Council. And yes, Brookfield Zoo is still great!

I understand the importance of the gay issue in Scouting, but haven't we really beat this to death already? Is this the only issue that is pertinent to the program? We have numerous different topics all related to the same issue. Something new already, please!!!

With the high cost of uniform pants and the rate that a 11-14 year old outgrows them, our troop requires that the boys wear the uniform shirt and troop neckerchief to our troop meetings with a clean, neat pair of jeans. No sweat pants, cutoffs, or jeans with holes, tears, studs, chains, etc. If they want to wear shorts, they have to be official scout shorts. They all must have a complete summer uniform to wear for Summer Camp and/or High Adventure trips. At special occasions we require them to wear the summer uniform even in the winter. They can wear sweats over them and take them off at th

OGE - Fenton High School is indeed still alive and well. I work in Bensenville, about a mile from the school. in fact, they are in the midst of rebuilding the football stadium this winter. Im a graduate of Riverside Brookfield High School, living in LaGrange Park. We were never good at any sports while I was there, but went to the state semifinals in football this year, and are 19-3 in basketball this season.

We actually have two documents. The first is a basic Orientation for new families which goes into uniforming, advancement, program, meetings, fund raising, registration, and all the "business" functions of the troop The second document is a discipline form which goes into detail up front about possible discipline problems at troop meetings, weekend campits and summer camp. It also gives the ramifications of the infraction. So far we have only had to use this policy once in 20 years or so. If you would like a copy of each, Email me your mailing address and I will gladly send one t

we have two fundraiser per year - A Pancake Breakfast in fall and a Rummage Sale in Spring. The proceeds from the Pancake breakfast go to the scouts to pay for summer camp, High Adventure, and/or weekend outings. The troop runs on the moneymade from the Rummage Sale. You'd be surprised the amount of rummage a troop of 25 families can generate year after year! We have also done the cookbook idea, with great fun and success. With all the desktop publishing and computer expertise out there now, it is easy to do it yourself and just get a local printer to print and bind it. GOOD LUCK!

Sorry I didn't answer your questin sooner, but as a good Scouter, I was out campng this past weekend! Our Troop is from suburban Chicago. We take a High Adventure trip each year, and have great retention of High School age scouts (15 as of this date!)

Does anyone have any feedback on the Laguna Station base on South Padre Island, Texas? It is run by the Rio Grande Council. The program seems outstanding. Anyone been there? I would appreciate any comments, positive or negative, and any advice. Thanks as usual for your help!

One of my pet peeves as a Scoutmaster is that each year the Scout Shops, thru National Council runs a special sale in September for Cub Scout uniforms, offering subtantially reduced prices for buying as complete uniform. They never make the same offer on the Boy scout level. Our folks could use the break too.

I would contact your Unit Commissioner. It is his job to make sure the unit is functioning as it is supposed to. The dictatorship you are describing is not healthy for either the boys or adults. In extreme cases, I would also contact my District Executive for advise.

I agree with Bob White regrading the CO being involved. Perhaps in the ideal situation that would be the case, but especially in units sponsored by PTA's, schools, etc. this is not going to happen. Our CO has someone sign our charter and that is it for the year. They don't even know we exist if not for the newsletters we send them. The Pack cannot make arbitrary rules about dual memberships. Especially when there are multiple boys per family. That is slitting their own throats eventually.

HELP!! Has anyone seen a ceremony for dedicating a new set of flags? For the first time in probably 20 years our troop has purchased a new Troop and American flag. I am looking for a short ceremony to dedicate them and put them into use. There are all kinds of ceremonies for disposing of flags, but I havent found one yet to dedicate them. I would appreciate any help you may have. THANKS!

Our Troop runs a High Adventure trip every summer and this is what keeps our high school age scouts active. We have attended the Boundary Waters in Minnesota, but go thru a private outfitter instead of Sommers. We have found the price is a few dollars a day more, but the equipment, food, and service is far superior. I can give you the name of an outfitter there who is a veteran scouter (Silver Beaver, Wood Badge, Vigil). We have also been Whitewater Rafting on the New River in West Virginia, which was fairly economical. They also encourage scouts, and their staff members are Whitewater MB

In my years as Scoutmaster I have had to replace Junior Leaders on occasion. What I have done is to counsel with them, tell them what they are doing wrong, or not doing right, and give them a time limit in which to improve (a month or so). If improvement is seen, your problem is over. If not, replace him with someone else, but try to do it tactfully so as not to sour the replaced boy on Scouting.

What is our goal here? Are we trying to keep boys out of Scouting or attract them? We have to live and change with the times, and if the fad of the day is an earring, a tattoo, or a strange hairstyle or color, so be it. Let's not deprive a boy of a great Scouting program because of our prejudices. And just maybe that boy with the earring and the blue hair may need Scouting and what we can provide more than the conservative altar boy.