Eagledad

I agree as a society we are loosing the moral compass. I think we have been for a long time. Until the 1940s, many if not most families had a bible laying around because it was an easy common book to own. Most folks before that time actually learn to read using the bible. It didn't mater is you beleived in God or not, you learned a moral direction based from one main source. That gave society as a whole a basic moral direction that most everyone agreed. We don't have that common source today for moral guidence. There is not one basic direction that society as a whole can point and say that is

>>I still cannot tell if you support that process or not. Your troop has unwritten guidlines, which pretty much means you have none. The BSA has written guidelines that are inter-related with other elements of the program. Which do you suggest for gwd to do?

>>Personally, I look forward to that week away from the world. A week to get away from ringing cell phones, clacking keyboards, and the glare of computer screens and watch the glare of the sun coming up. I look forward to a week of listening to bird songs in the morning and sounds of boys having a good time during the day, the lapping of water in the creeks, streams and lakes, and the ever-present tree frogs at night.

>>I think what we have here is a failure to communicate.I am more than happy to explain how and why we I have done things in relationship to the scouting program. But you should be courteous enough to ask what it is I do, and ask what I think, rather than consistently "tell" me. Because you constantly misprepresent me, and that is a very unfair way to discuss a topic?>"As far as the topic of THIS thread goes. Do you agree that according to the BSA program...The PLC determines the qualifications for being an SPL and that the youth elect him, and the SPL slects all other youth leders

>>For one thing I do not see where the BSA program supports "waiting for the scout to be ready to lead". They have 7.5 years to learn and practice leadership skills and the sooner they start the more they will learn. We start teaching leadership skills when they come to their first meeting. They don't realize that is what is happening, but that doesn't stop them from starting the trek.

>>"However, it does reference one important issue that may make a difference. This author states that servant leadership won't work when tasks need to be done. The author is incorrect. He treats Servant Leadership as a method equlivalent to directing, coaching, persuading and delegating, When if fact Servant Leadership is a phiosophy (appraoach) within which the styles of leadership (directing, coaching, persuading and delegating) are used.

>>My experiences do not support that view. I have seen and experienced a number of troop programs that went from adult run or chaos where no one lead, into a boy run troop and using the Patrol Method in about 18 months.

>>And how is this really a boy-led program when it is nothing more than the boys learning what it takes to follow the SM's directives?

>>Of course a good servant leader is a follower. As I mentioned in the patrol-method model I presented earlier, each group is part of other focus groups. The patrol members are the main focus. The PL works to meet the needs of the members, but at the same time the troop-staff of boys are working to meet the needs of the PL's, and the adults are working to meet the needs of the troop-staff.

>>It never ceases to amaze me that just when I begin to despair over something happening in our Troop, something comes along to revive my spirits.

>>This is why troops who routinely inject New Scouts into Experienced Patrols commonly complain about not being able to get the patrol method to work well. It's not that the patrol method doesn't work, it is that the leaders do not realize that every time the patrol make-up is altered it will diminish the ability of patrol for a period of time.

>>TLT should not be a long lecture from the Scoutmaster. It should be an oppportunity to get the boys talking and thinking about how youth leadership works in a troop and what role the adults play in it.

>>I would strongly disagree with Beavah that the leadership skills a scout learns cannot be applied outside of scouting. In fact I think horse hockey would be putting it mildly.

Burnout is the number one cause of scouts leaving the BSA. Do what you have to do to maintain program quality. We told all parents that Den leaders would not assist in any other activity. Some did because they enjoyed doing it, but we gave them the out if they needed it. Also, most of the new adult leaders come from these voluntiers. So the more you can pull in, the better chances of them joining the staff.

>>I like the idea of having the parents reach in instead, maybe give the boys/parents the option of letting the boy do it if he wants,

I think it is pretty cool and the boys will love it. These kinds of things are why I love this scouting stuff. Barry

>> The scout is elected to ASPL for a 1/2 year term (June COH-Dec COH or vice versa) and then automatically moves up to SPL for the next 6 months.>> This is an exceedingly interesting approach. At first glance, I really like it.

>> One of the few things that ol' packsaddle and I agree on: Cubmaster is hands-down the best job in Scouting. I'd do it again if anybody asked.

Hi All There are all kinds of reasons why some parents tend to hover and all units have to deal with it to some degree. We slowly learned to be specific at the beginning when the families visit the troop about the objectives of a boy run program. We describe the program as taking the adult out it as much as possible so the scout learns independence and self initiative. Its even in the parents manual we give when the families join and go through training. So, when the situation comes up, we only had to point them back to that purpose written in the manual, and generally the parents stand b

>>However you were given a copy of the minutes so that you were not left in the dark. Also, you should have had your Assistant Den Leader, or one of the other den parents, attend the meeting in your stead to represent your den. That way you would have had someone to offer up your den's side of things.

>>I would also guess the other Troop's "more traditional" program means no women. Which I think you would prefer.

>>(Just as an aside, our SPL/ASPL serve for a full year rather than 6 months - I wonder how typical that is?)

Hi All This is not a knock against my good friend John-In-KC, but his post kind of brings modern day scouting to a sobering perspective. In a request by someone for the training needed to be a good CM, John listed a few things off: CM Specific Tiger Specific Wolf/Bear Specific Webelos Specific BALOO Safe Swim Defense Round Table Pow-wow Den Chief training All in one hour a week, and John didnt even include Fast Start and Youth Protection which are be taken on line. I was worn out just reading his list, but then John added the perfect Cub Scout finish. KISMI

Hi Lisabob I cant really say if this is the right thing for your son because I dont know your son or the troop well enough. What I do know is this: I think 14 is young for a mature troop program. Its not that they cant handle it, they can. But they just dont seem to gain from the experience as much as the 15 year old. Most scouts who truly run for SPL the first time are nervous and unsure of themselves. I have found that while the SPL experience doesnt change the boys personality, it magnifies it a lot. In the good troops, the experience is exhausting. In the bad tro

>>No one in the troop knows this, but I am bisexual. And based off of past experiences, I do not think this would go over very well with the boys, as well as some adults.