EagleInKY

Thanks for the thoughts/advice. I purposely left out some of the details in order to allow for more feedback. - We've done the log thing (although we haven't tried it in triplicate). We even gave him a dedicated notebook, to no avail. We tried the check-in/check-out list, but they would just take things without signing them out. But we're going to try again. We discussed at one time having an adult QM to partner with the scouts. That would be an excellent idea. Now if I can only find an adult .... - Another idea I had was to have the QM send out an e-mail to the entire troop a

It sounds like you are doing the right things. Sorry, I misunderstood you to say you had only visited one meeting. My mistake. I try to stay pretty buttoned up with the new guys, but depending upon how chaotic it is, sometimes these things slip through. For example, we typically have most of our guys cross over at the same time from the same pack. This year was quite different. Six boys from four different sources crossed over during a period of 2 1/2 months. So, every couple of weeks it was a new meeting for these scouts. I was caught spending a lot of time with these new parents

What is written and what is practiced in most cases is two different things. Not necessarily. Our troop meetings closely model what I described. Our "instruction" period varies. But for new scouts, it's almost always focused around basic scouting skills (i.e. early rank requirements). Im told Occasionally They will wear the regular Boy Scout uniform. This is certainly a sign of a poorly uniformed troop. We wear uniforms to every meeting unless there's a good reason. Maybe Im looking to deep into what is going on, this is the first Troop we (My son and I) seen Pe

I've got a Life Scout working on his Eagle Project. It's a very agressive project for a local school. The cost in materials is going to be approximately $1000. The school is not providing any funds. They sent a letter home with all students, but yielded very little. He's also asked troop members to donate funds, but still has very little to show. As a side note, this is a scout in a family that has caused lots of problems for our troop. The boy himself is okay, but his dad has pretty much isolated themselves from everyone else. He did everything he could to try and break up the tro

I'm dealing with an issue in my troop that has me pulling out the reamining hairs on my head. SWMBO doesn't like the sight of me baldness, so I've got to do something. Here's the deal. We're a young troop (3 years now) and growing quite nicely (27 scouts). On the surface things look great (and overall they really are). But, we have a big problem with scouts returning gear. For example, after a campout, one scout from each tent takes it home, dries it out and brings it back to his QM. The QM has a list of these scouts and their tents. Unfortuantely, between leaving the campout and

Way to go OJ!!! And congrats to you Big E and SWMBO.

Some thoughts (in order of my personal preference): 1. Do something additional for the recipient. 2. Give the money to the charity. 3. Make a plaque ("Eagle Project of Troop 123"), have a photo framed and hung at the troop's meeting place, etc. ... 99. Keep the money for the troop ... 999. Keep the money himself.

This is a pretty open-ended set of questions, but I'll try to give you a by-the-book answer. Much of this is covered in Boy Scout Fast Start training, which is offered now online. The troop meeting is broken into seven sections: - Pre-opening activity (gathering game) - Opening (Flag ceremony, scout oath/law, announcements, etc.) - Instruction/Learning - Patrol Time - Inter-patrol competition / activity - Closing - Wrap-up We wear the regular Boy Scout uniform to all troop meetings. Occasionally, due to the theme or activity, activity uniforms may be worn. We usu

Venividi - Our troop is experiencing the exact same problem, on several fronts. We just did a MB Book inventory for Summer Camp and there are 30-40 books missing. Top it off, the current Librarian never got the list of "who had what" from the old Librarian. The old librarian has a blank look on his face when asked about it.

"The district executive likes it that way" That's because scouting professionals are measured (paid) based upon numbers, both units and scouts. If he loses this unit, he'll have to get another one started somewhere. If he can just get it to hang on through recharter, he'll survive another year. I know it sounds cynical, but it's the thinking behind the trouble several councils have gotten into with inflated numbers.

I see it happening quite a bit around here. Perhaps it's because we have lots of troops, many of them relatively small (10-20 boys). I've had three scouts (two of which were brothers) leave to go to other troops. Personally, I was happy on both occasions. It took boys and/or parents who were not satisfied with our program and allowed them to pursue scouting in another venue. I'd rather they do this than just quit. I've also seen big exoduses when a group of parents band together against the SM. I've seen this happen several (around 5 or 6) times. In most cases, they've gone off and

Good luck to OJ. This will be a nice belated Father's Day gift for you, too. All my best - John

You've merged, you just haven't realized it yet. By taking them under your wing, you essentially disengaged the existing parents from any reason to step up and save the pack. The only way this pack will survive is if the CO steps up and says that they want to keep a pack, and then follows through with recruiting new Cubs and leaders. If that doesn't happen, well, what's done is done. Best of luck to you.

I'm going to disagree with the previous two posters (Oren & Lynda) who are on the opposite extremes (handle it yourself or pass the buck to council). I'm also contradicting my own earlier post to some degree. The process is quite clear. The Committee Chairman is responsible for recruiting leaders and submitting them to the CO for approval and then to council. If the CO doesn't want to approve them, then the council doesn't matter. And, even if the CO is okay with them, he could be turned down by the council/national. So, follow the process, and see what happens.

Welcome to the forum. Many of us can certainly understand your concern about the time commitment. Many spouses feel like "scouting widows/widowers" at times. But the pay you receive is great - not my monetary standards, but by the smiles in their faces and the impact you see on them years down the road. Keep the faith, you'll be paid great dividends.

Ooh, ooh, let me try. I love word games. If you were to ask me "what does it mean to take part in a basketball game?". I would say it would mean I was a player on a team, suited up to play the game. I might be a bench warmer, but I would be there, with my team, doing what was asked of me. I would not take it to mean that I was a cheerleader, a fan, selling drinks in the concession stand, selling tickets, promoting the game, picking uniforms, or any other behind the scenes administrative stuff. Now, if you asked me "what does it mean to take part in running a basketball gam

Welcome to our virtual roundtable Tom. We look forward to getting to know you better. It's great to hear that things are going well and you and your son are enjoying the trip together.

You're right Ed. The "you can't count Eagle service project hours for Star and Life" is a "Scouting Urban Legend" that many of us have fallen for. I only found out the policy after a scout challenged me (politely) on why there's such a stupid rule. I did some checking, only to find out there was no such rule. I went back and apoligized to the scout for being duped. I now know the truty.

I've had a similar situation with a lad in my troop. I've written about him before. Dad doesn't like me much. Seems I took "control" away from him somehow. Long story, I won't go into it now. I'm now pretty upfront with this boy (he's 14). He's starting to work on his Eagle Project. He'd bring me the plan, I reviewed it, gave him some feedback. He'd bring it back, with some changes, but not everything. This continued for a while. I'm pretty sure I know what was happening. Dad was telling him that he didn't have to do what I said, that he had everything he needed. The only thing

Our guys still do this every once in a while. Don't limit yourself. You can include cheese, mushrooms, garlic, any kind of spice and lipton onion soup for flavoring. Get the heavy ziplock freezer bags. Squeeze all the air out of the one with the eggs in it. Then put them inside another bag. This helps keep the bags from melting on the side of the pot. Keep rotating them around the pot, so one doesn't get stuck to the side. Bring flour tortillas and make it an omlette wrap. Mmmm, good. Well, it's not Bob Evans, but it does pretty good.

Did he fill out an adult application to be the adult partner? If not, I'd make sure he did. My guess is the council would then give you some guidance. Contacting your DE for advise is good. I do not think I would allow this man around the den until things were worked out. This may be one of those difficult times as a leader where we have to confront a parent and find out what's going on. This should be the responsibility of the Committee Chairman.

Tough dealing with parents, isn't it. Welcome to the forums, I think you'll find some good advice here. There's a number of ways to reduce the appearance of favoritism of your son. It sounds like you are already doing the basic one, that of not signing off any of his requirements. To take it a step farther, don't do anything outside of the troop setting that you wouldn't do with any other scout. This may sound harsh, but I don't push my son to advance, nor do I sit him down and force him to work on his Eagle project plans. Now, if he asks for help, that's fine, but I don't push.

Welcome to the forum. We always like having youth in here who can give their perspective on things. My family loves the SC coast. Charleston is a beautiful city. Our troop is coming down to Patriot's Point next winter.

Bill, Welcome to the forum. I'm sure you'll find the campfire warm and the conversation lively. We look forward to getting to know you better.

(Feeling the tug on his shirt sleeve, EiKY slips back into the room with his buddy, Barry). "Gee, Barry, I was trying to stay out of this." Okay, do I agree with what this troop is doing and do I think they are adding a requirement? No, I don't agree with what they are doing because I believe they are adding a requirement. BUT, is this worth splitting a good troop or making a federal case out of? No way. Is it worth running off a good SM? Nope! If the troop is as successful as gilski indicates it is, I'd stick with it. I'd try to get the system changed, at least to the point