Eamonn

After the last National Jamboree the Jambo Troop had a reunion. Covered dish, Bring your photos and tell funny or interesting stories. No awards or that sort of thing. We (I) invited the Scouts to get up and say what the thought about the Jambo. Some choose to not say anything!! However nearly all the Scouts who did decide to get up and talk said that they enjoyed doing new activities and the fact that they were free to go off and do what they wanted to do, when they wanted to do it. (One Lad scored a lot of brownie points by saying that Eamonn wasn't bossy and let us do our own thing!!) High Adventure is not big on the offering list for Scouts in the District I'm in. I think mainly because the adults are not interested and don't try to sell it. The Council does offer high adventure trips to Philmont and Sea Base. I have no idea why? But it seems that two of the four Districts rarely if ever get anyone to attend. The reason might be finances? The two that do go are from the wealthier end of the Council. (These trips cost over $1,200) There is one Troop that seems to base it's entire program on trips to Philmont! Boy! Oh boy are they ever a boring bunch!! Everything is Philmont this or Philmont that!! If I were to list the most popular activities that the Ship does, using attendance as the yardstick/ meter. All night bowling would come out on top, followed by activities close to home. The Scouts who attend the big and more adventurous activities do seem (At least in my mind!!) To return on a "Sea Scouting High", so far it also seems that these are the Scouts who remain in the Ship the longest and want to participate more. Of course these just might be the kind of kids that would always be the active participators? The events that have the worst attendance or get canceled most are the events I try to push on them. They really enjoy activities with other Ships, but dislike any sort of competition. Again I think they see that the competitions are something that are forced upon them. I have to admit that I think that without the competition being there and providing the framework for a lot of the events, they would want to hang out and fairly quickly become bored! But I might be wrong! Maybe there is a happy medium? I know this is going to come off sounding a little daffy but I'm going to say it anyway!! Of course when I was a kid I didn't spend my time playing video games or on the computer. If you were able to go back in time and visit the bedroom of my youth, you would find a bed, some books and a transistor radio!! I at times wish that I'd had a laptop, X-Box, DVD player, LCD TV, Ipod, the Internet, cell phone that can do so many neat things. But none of this stuff was around. My choices were stay home!! Join the local Boy's Club. Or be active in the Scouts. If I stayed home? My Mother, who believed that the Devil finds work for idle hands would have put me to work! And I was always a lazy toad. The main activity offered by the Boy's Club was boxing! I never liked being hit. So I was active in the Scouts. By no means a little angel!! I learned a lot as a lad in the Scouts that would have made BP turn in his grave!! (But I'm not going there.) Eamonn.

" the BSA standard of proficiency." Beavah, For the past day or two this BSA standard of proficiency has been on my mind. The "Standard" should be clearly defined in the requirement? Sadly I think many of us have met the SM,who takes great pride in sticking out his chest and informing us that in his Troop they do it his way and his way at times is a long way from what the requirement states. Of course on the other side of the coin we might have met the Scout with the Swimming Merit Badge and the Lifesaving Merit Badge who has a hard time passing the BSA Swim test. To date other than some Cub Scouters who were involved in the re-write of the Bear Book, I have never met and have never been involved with writing the requirements for Boy Scouts Ranks. In the past I have had a bit of a problem with people who get really involved in Frist Aid.(For my job, I have to be trained in First Aid and my ID card has me listed as a Emergency Responder - This works wonders with the PA State Police!!) Seems to me that a lot of these First Aid types go above and beyond and a little over board when it comes to what a young Scout needs to know or just meeting the requirements as they are written. Of course this just might be me? The people who write the requirements have a tough job. On one hand the requirement has to be worth while and a challenge, but on the other it has to be something a Lad can look at and say to himself "This is doable and I can do it!" If he sees it as being way over his head? Chances are that he is going to not even try. We have had lengthy threads that have talked about how basic the training is for adult leaders and how if they want to find out more or get more training they might need to look outside of the BSA or find someone in the BSA who is some kind of a specialist in that area- whatever the area might be. I'm wondering if maybe the requirements up to and including First Class should be viewed as a starting point? And seen as something to build upon? I'm in no way saying that we don't do our best to teach the Scouts what they need to know and have them show that they do indeed know what is needed to meet or pass the requirement. I think what I'm trying to say is that meeting the requirement should be seen as a beginning not an end. Ea.

I have no idea what "The" new uniform will look like or if there will be a new uniform? I wonder if it might be a really practical outdoor uniform? This might be a little expensive? I recently stopped wearing Cotton T-shirts and went to a "Cool-max" Shirt. I can buy a pack of six Cotton shirts for less than I pay for one "Cool-max. I wonder if it will be something that our youth members might like to wear? This might be a mistake, as trends and styles change a lot. I wonder if it will be Parent friendly? Something that Mom can pick up at a store and maybe buy on sale? I'm thinking of pants like Dickies and maybe even a shirt made by Dockers or a company like Dockers. Talking about style. Is it going to look like something that workers in fast food service might wear? I'm thinking that no way is it going to be any sort of camo! Likewise I kinda think that there isn't going to be any feathers or plumes! The neckerchief or scarve does seem to be fairly well accepted as a sign of Scouting world wide. I wonder what would happen if we did away with all the other pieces and just went with the necker? (No I'm not saying nude Scouts!!) But let the Scout choose what pants and shirt. Rank could be shown by different colors, sashes could be worn at formal events. Oh heck!! Seems like a lot of work. Let's just go with what we got!! Ea.

Boxing Day has nothing to do with the sport of boxing. Back in the day!! When the sun never set on the British empire. Large households had lots of servants. Christmas Day was a busy day for these hard workers. Cooking and looking after the family. (No this wasn't so long back! When my Mother first left Ireland, she worked as a maid in the house of a rich Doctor.) So these guys and girls waited till the day after the holiday to open their gifts which came in boxes. Even today the term "Christmas Box" is used for a Christmas Bonus or tip - Like you might leave the newspaper delivery person or the mail-man. Of course over the years things have changed. Christmas Day in England is very much a family day. In the part of London where I lived, it was common for families to go to church, the women rushed home to cook Christmas dinner (Lunch). The men went to the pub, for a couple of pints and to keep out of the way. Back home in time for the Queen's speech and an over-sized lunch, normally roast turkey and all the trimmings, followed by Christmas Pudding (Plum Duff), more adult beverages. Then everyone sat in front of the telly. Christmas Day was the biggest TV day of the year, with all sorts of special shows. Some of which legendary legendary. The ads on the TV were all for where to go on your summer holiday! (Vacation.) Of course after all that food and other stuff, everyone had a nap!! They woke up in time for tea!! Cold sandwiches, tea, and Christmas cake (Rich dark fruit cake, with marzipan and royal icing) Later in the evening drinks would be served. My Mother wasn't a drinker but she would have a glass of Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry, at Christmas. Sadly for a lot of families (Not mine!!)Spending an entire day together was just a little too much. Boxing Day was a day to go out with your friends. Everyone was eating left-over turkey!! So there was never a need to rush home!! Kind of a lazy day, no one really had anything to do or to be anyplace. Just a nice lazy laid back day. It is a National Holiday. Now I'm this side of the pond. I enjoy making sure that the cookies find a good home!! Needless to say Rory likes to help. Happy Boxing Day. Eamonn.

I think I might have read way too much into the word obligated, when MVScouter posted: " we are obligated to do uniform inspections for the units we oversee." MV,please accept my apology. I'm sorry. Most of the people I have met who serve as Commissioners are really nice people. Sadly a lot of volunteers don't know or understand the role a Commissioner plays or should I say is supposed to play. I feel almost certain that if I were to quit now. That there would be a few postings saying Commissioners are the biggest waste of space ever. If your thinking of posting such a thing? Please don't bother!! It very well could be that I might be guilty of "Over-playing" The idea of a friend to the unit? As we all know. The Commissioner is not (Well in most cases is not!!) a member of the unit. Commissioners receive their "Commission" from the Council Executive Board, on the recommendation of the District and Council Commissioners. Commissioners come in all shapes and sizes. Some are "Old Hands" who a deep knowledge of the program or programs. Some may be fairly new to Scouting and still be finding their feet. When I was serving as District Commish, I tried my best to assign new Commissioners to problem free?? Units. Our Council Commissioner is a super nice fellow, whom I really like and get along with. He however wasn't so sure when I was trying to recruit Unit Commissioners and said that a good quality for a Unit Commissioner be that they are "Warm and Cuddly"!! Many non-commissioners view the Commissioner Staff as being some sort of spy. In some ways they are right! A good Unit Commissioner does report how the unit is doing to the District Commissioner and if there are problems these get reported further along the line. Still my view of the Unit Commissioner and the other Commissioner Staff, is that they should be the resource person for the unit, who at times can offer real and impartial advise. Because he or she is not a member of the unit, it is important that he or she remembers that he or she is not a member of the unit and act like a guest. Sadly some members of the Commissioner Staff do forget and worse still some are on some kind of a Power Trip.Some come off sounding like "Know it alls". It might be worth mentioning that the Commissioner is a Friend of The Unit, not just the adult program people (Leaders.) There have been occasions when someone from the CO has requested that a Commissioner look in and see what's happening and a good Unit Commissioner will be as involved with the management side along with the program side. The idea that Mr. Unit Commissioner turns up at a meeting uninvited and informs the unit, that today is their lucky day, because today he is doing their uniform inspection! Seems not to go along with being very friendly! There are of course nice ways of asking or broaching the subject. Still if the unit doesn't want it or doesn't want him to be there the unit can tell him /her to take a hike! Of course again there are nicer ways of saying that!! At the end of the day, I'm not sure of the value of these Uniform Inspections? A unit with poor or improper uniforming is never going to invite the Commissioner to do the Inspection. A unit with great uniform standards will, but they know they are good! So maybe they just want a pat on the back. If the Commissioner goes too easy? He will be accused of wasting their time! If he gets too tough he will be accused of nit-picking. I really think educating people about correct and proper uniforming is the better road to take. If and when something is not right the warm, cuddly, friendly Commissioner will find a good time and place to bring it up in a very friendly way.

donert, http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=xx&c=ds&terms=youth+drivers Is what we are talking about? It states: It is essential that adequate, safe, and responsible transportation be used for all Scouting activities. Because most accidents occur within a short distance from home, safety precautions are necessary, even on short trips. General guidelines are as follows: Seat belts are required for all occupants. All drivers must have a valid driver's license that has not been suspended or revoked for any reason. If the vehicle to be used is designed to carry more than 15 persons, including the driver (more than 10 persons, including the driver, in California), the driver must have a commercial driver's license (CDL). An adult leader (at least 21 years of age) must be in charge and accompany the group. The driver must be currently licensed and at least 18 years of age. Youth member exception: When traveling to and from an area, regional, or national Boy Scout activity or any Venturing event under the leadership of an adult (at least 21 years of age) tour leader, a youth member at least 16 years of age may be a driver, subject to the following conditions: Six months' driving experience as a licensed driver (time on a learner's permit or equivalent is not to be counted) No record of accidents or moving violations Parental permission granted to the leader, driver, and riders. There has in the past been some debate about the difference between Boy Scouts and Venturers. The rule as I read it states that: "Youth member exception: When traveling to and from an area, regional, or national Boy Scout activity or any Venturing event under the leadership of an adult (at least 21 years of age)" This leads me to ask, how often do the Boy Scouts in the Troop you serve attend "an area, regional, or national Boy Scout activity"? If a Boy Scout is not attending an event of this nature, he isn't covered by the Youth Member Exception. My son was a Scout from age 11 -18. He got his driving permit when he was 16, took and passed the driving test when he was 16 and a half. The requirement states that after the test six months have to pass. That would have made him 17. As a Boy Scout from the time he was 17 till he finished Boy Scouting at 18, he didn't attend any "an area, regional, or national Boy Scout activity" (He did drive to Sea Scouting activities,by himself and with the permission from his Skipper. Sea Scouting comes under Venturing.) It seems to me that you might be stirring up a storm in a tea-cup. The rule from National seems to be a good one -So why fix it if it isn't broken? Eamonn.

"I'm not going to join in this thread." But... A year or so back Scouting mag had a cover photo of what looked like a Boy Scout Patrol. The Scouts were sitting near a river or a waterfall. These Scouts were just too perfect!! The picture might well have been an ad for Scout Stuff!! Every Scout was super clean, with not a hair out of place. Not a speck of dirt on one of them. I forget what the cover story was about. These Scouts put the cute little Lads seen in Rockwell paintings to shame!! When I looked at it, I couldn't help thinking how phony it looked. I have the issue of Scouting mag with Willy Coronado on my desk, as yet I have not read it. Near the bottom of the page there is a story about Luge.(Which I haven't read.) Somehow at my age I kinda think I have more in common with Willy than I have with who-ever is on that sled! I hate the cold!! Ea.

Having gone through having a Scout be on the cover of the UK Scouting Mag, with his world friendship badge on the wrong pocket. (His Mum was blind.) I'm not going to join in this thread. But ... Think Wood Badge? Eamonn.

"Gateways are the Pink Flamingos of the camping world, unnecessary, out of place and out of fashion" With all the respect in the world! Bull!! Of course there is a time and place for Gateways and a time and place not to have them. Still they can be a great way of giving knots, lashings and rope-work real meaning. They can teach a lot about working as a team (Patrol) Take a look at some of the gateways John Sweet has designed they are outstanding. Scouts who get involved building them, enjoy the challenge and when they are done see the fruits of their labors. Eamonn.

Beavah Looking at one requirement is not the way to go? As adults we all know that there are four steps to advancement. 1/ First, the Scout learns. Much of his learning comes from other boys in his patrol or troop and by active participation in troop program. His patrol activities are directed toward the skills he needs. Every troop hike, camping trip, or other activity offers potential learning experiences. A Scout learns to pitch a tent by pitching one, to use a compass by finding directions, and to cook a meal by having to prepare and eat it. 2/Second, the Scout is tested. The specific requirements determine the kind of testing. Verbal testing is sufficient in some instances. In other instances, a Scout must demonstrate his skills by doing. 3/Third, the Scout is reviewed. The purpose of the review is to ensure that all requirements for advancement have been met. 4/Fourth, the Scout is recognized. The final step in advancement involves presentation of the badge, usually at a ceremony before the entire troop. Before we look the First Class Requirements, we need to back up and look at what has been done before. Advancement is a series of steps, where the Scout builds on what went on before. Little Beavah joins the Troop. as a Tenderfoot he goes on a camp out. On the Campout, he assists in preparing and cooking one of his patrol's meals. He tells why it is important for each patrol member to share in meal preparation and cleanup, and explain the importance of eating together. Little Beavah earns Tenderfoot and is working on Second Class Rank Requirements. Since joining,he has participated in five separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), two of which included camping overnight. He has got some idea about menus and cooking. On one Campout, he planned and cook over an open fire one hot breakfast or lunch for himself, selecting foods from the food pyramid. Explain the importance of good nutrition. Tell how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected. This entailed learning a lot of different things: He found out about the food pyramid and the importance of good nutrition. He also learned about how to transport and store food. Our Little Beavah, is now working on First Class Rank Requirements. He is working hard on requirement 3(Since joining, have participated in 10 separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), three of which included camping overnight.) All the time he is being helped and guided by older Scouts and adult leaders. He is eating helping prepare and clean up the meals at camp. Some are better than others! He can look back at what he learned when he was working on Second Class and knows if the meals are nutritious, he sees if the food is stored and has been transported correctly. He is a bright kid and sees that requirement 4 has five parts and that they are all inter-connected. 4a. States: Help plan a patrol menu for one Campout that includes at least one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner, and that requires cooking at least two of the meals. Tell how the menu includes the foods from the food pyramid and meets nutritional needs. When he looks at this. He already knows about the food pyramid. He knows about the nutritional needs. He has seen and helped with the meals at other Camp outs in the past. He is feeling that he can do this! 4b.States: Using the menu planned in requirement 4a, make a list showing the cost and food amounts needed to feed three or more boys and secure the ingredients. He might need a bit of help with this one. Just how many slices of bread are in a loaf? What does it cost? How much bread is needed for growing boys? Where does this fit into the food pyramid? He is going to need help getting to the store and bringing the stuff home and maybe repacking it so it can be transported safely to the camp out. 4c States: Tell which pans, utensils, and other gear will be needed to cook and serve these meals. He can now look back at past camp outs and see what worked and what didn't. -Maybe an extra skillet is a good idea if they are having French Toast, maybe not having a big colander or strainer is a good idea if they are having pasta? 4d.States: Explain the procedures to follow in the safe handling and storage of fresh meats, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, and other perishable food products. Tell how to properly dispose of camp garbage, cans, plastic containers, and other rubbish. This is a tough one!! Here he learns about why safe food handling is so very important. He finds out about how foods can be contaminated and how to avoid this from happening. He might even learn a little more about LNT? 4e. States: On one campout, serve as your patrol's cook. Supervise your assistant(s) in using a stove or building a cooking fire. Prepare the breakfast, lunch, and dinner planned in requirement 4a. Lead your patrol in saying grace at the meals and supervise cleanup. Having met all the other requirements and having worked through the Tenderfoot and Second Class requirements, he is now ready, prepared and able to take this one on!! The requirement can then be met by doing exactly what is stated. Maybe Our Little Beavah finds out that he really enjoys cooking and wants to think about taking the Cooking Merit Badge. He kinda knows that if he stays in Scouting chances are that he will have lots of opportunities to improve on the skills needed. But maybe he hates cooking and is really terrible at it? Not lazy, but just not interested. He has met the requirement and in the future might be happy to be the clean up guy? Eamonn.

baden, While your post also made me smile! It also says a lot about how different situations and different Scouts need to de dealt with differently. In my book a Scout sneaking a copy of Playboy is not a hanging offense. You used your knowledge of the Scout to do what you thought was best for him. Had there been a rule that said "Any Scout found with..." things might have turned out differently. Of course I'm not saying that we want or in any way condone this sort of thing at Scout Camps. A few months back I posted how I went to visit the home of one of the Ship's adult leaders. He had two sons in the ship. For Christmas he had bought the pair of them lap-top computers. One Lad said his computer was running very slow and asked if I'd look at it. The reason it was running so slow was that he had downloaded a lot of junk, illegal music which was full of spyware, games. You name it!! While I was trying to sort this out, I found that he had also downloaded some nasty porn. So there I am, in their home, it's Christmas. I have my wife, the Lads mother and a glass of wine in hand. I opted to do nothing. But a few days later I got the Lad's Dad by himself and said that he might want to take a look at the computer and have a word with his son. Sadly this was the same Lad that a little while later was found touching another Scout in a very inappropriate way and is the only Scout I have ever had to go to the Committee about. He was removed from the Ship. Ea.

This may or may not be related to the other thread? As I have posted a lot!! I'm not in favor of lots of rules and regulations. My thinking is that we have all we need in the Scout Oath and Law. Also I'm not wise enough or clever enough to pen a bunch of rules that would cover every situation. Our (The Ship's) youth leadership have a few rules and the like that mainly deal with the day to day running of the ship, but do not cover what actions are to be taken when someone acts outside of the Scout Law and Oath. Most of the time the youth members tend to care of what needs to done and who does what by themselves. Most times when someone gets a little out of line they deal with it without any interference from any of the adult leaders.They deal with it by telling the person what he or she should or shouldn't be doing. If I see or hear something that is wrong, I have "The Look" or might say something. Not a big deal mostly a "Don't do that!" Or "Quit it!" When something is more serious, I will take the "Offender" to one side for a chat. I try to give them time to explain why they are doing whatever it is they are doing (Or not doing) I try to listen to what they have to say and I also try to remain in the present not dealing with past sins. I will admit that at times this is hard for me. As a rule after one of our little chats we manage to come to some form of an understanding. If something was wrong and was the cause of them behaving badly I try and take steps to fix what was wrong and they agree to not behave badly. When someone does something really bad or keeps doing something that they shouldn't, I involve the parents. I meet with the Scout and the parents and we go over what has happened and come up with a plan to avoid future misdeeds. Sometimes I opt to not have the Scout at a meeting and have a word in the ear of the parent. As a rule this is something that really isn't that bad, but I think the parent needs to be aware of. (Returning a copy of Playboy that a Scout has taken to camp, to the parent and informing them that I'd prefer that their son doesn't bring anymore copies is a situation that comes to mind.) When a situation seems to be more than I can handle or is really big. Or involves continued misbehavior with no sign of improvement I have no choice but to hand it over to the Ship's Committee. While 99.9% of the time the committee will ask me what I think should be done and will follow my recommendations, which if it gets to this stage normally means removal of the Scout from the Ship, I really don't have a voice in what they decide to do. They could maybe say that I was unfair and opt to suspend the Scout for a while. In over 30 years as an adult leader I have only ever had to go to the committee one time. Most of the Scouts I have worked with seem to know when they are in the wrong and as most of them seem to want to do what they can to please me or at least not get on the wrong side of me!! They do their best to correct whatever the wrong was. I don't know how other leaders or units go about this, but this seems to work for me. Ea

"The problem with your analogy is that McCord wasn't drummed out of the service for wearing his uniform badly." You are of course right. However that wasn't the point I was trying to make. I really don't see anyone in our organization ever removing the patches from someone else's uniform as was shown in the TV show. Re: "We don't need the uniform police but someone should be around to say, "Dude, you don't wear your Scoutmaster patch on the left pocket." Each and everyone of us who chooses to serve does so on our honor. While it's OK to make someone aware that the patch is on the wrong pocket, no one has the right or the authority to tell the person to move it. As the volunteer organization that we are, giving that sort of authority would involve some sort of a hierarchy system. Which I'm sure many think would be a good thing and is needed, I however think it would harm the organization and be a turn off for new volunteers. Eamonn.

" I am a UC and in the Commissioners handbook, we are obligated to do uniform inspections for the units we oversee." I must have missed that part in the Handbook? My thinking was that Commissioners were invited to do these inspections? I know in the time I spent serving as a Commissioner these inspections were rarely done, in fact I can't remember ever doing one or have a UC report having done one. This of course might be because when I was District Commissioner I never pushed it? Back when I was Council Training Chair. I did have people come up to me and request that we (The Council) needed to present certain trainings (I think at that time there was something for Den Leader Coach?)Which they needed in order to complete the requirements for some knot. To make them happy we offered the needed training as part of Pow-Wow. These people had made getting this knot a goal. In my book that's fine and dandy. Them wanting to get it, in no way made them any less of a Scouter than the people who didn't have the goal or any more of a Scouter than those who don't care about the knots and things. As Training Chair, I went out of my way to encourage people to take training's and earn the knots that they were entitled to wear. I used the knots as the carrot! As I have posted before I have one shirt where one knot is on upside down! To date only one person has said anything! Unkind as it might be this person is an old time Commissioner, who I nicknamed Pockets. I gave him the nickname because I seen him as being as useful as pockets in your underwear! Strange thing is that this fellow was the only person who was upset when I said that we didn't need to wear uniforms for our monthly Commissioner's Meeting. As I read this thread I keep singing to myself the song from the old TV western Branded, with Chuck Connors. Each episode began with McCord (Chuck Connors) being dishonorably discharged from the service, his stripes and brass buttons removed and his sword broken in two. This made for good TV, but I hope we never reach this sort of thing in Scouting. Correct and proper uniforming is in the hands of the person wearing the uniform, some will wear it with gravy stains, some will wear the red wool jacket covered with the patch from every Camporee or event they have ever attended, some will wear every knot that is out there and some will do their best to wear it as it should be worn. - Even if one knot is upside down! Eamonn.

From where I live it was just over 1,500 miles. From Martinsburg, WV Mapquest gives the Distance as: 1694.97 miles and 26 hours and 56 minutes. We had two drivers, HWMBO and myself. We left home on Friday night and drove through the night staying mostly on I-70. We did overdo it a bit that first day, not stopping until we reached Oklahoma. After that we kinda put the Trip-ticket that we got from AAA to one side and did our own thing. We arrived in Cimarron at lunch time the day before the conference was to start. Something I wouldn't do again! The hotel in Cimarron leaves a lot to be desired and getting to Philmont early on the Sunday has no real benefit. I know some people think the world of Cimarron,but nice as it is you can walk around the entire town in less than 30 minutes. We left Philmont after breakfast on Saturday and spent the next week doing our own thing. With gas being what it is? Maybe it would be cheaper to fly and rent a car? We did the trip in a car that was maybe a little to small (1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class)But We took a lot more stuff than we really needed. One couple flew in and when the conference was done rented a RV for a week. At the time we went I was self-employed, most of our family vacations had been spent going home to visit my family in England. Which meant spending a lot of time drinking tea!! Not much fun!! Of course at night we found places that served something other than tea. This year I'm thinking of driving out to California or should I say HWMBO is thinking that we will drive out to California. Sad thing is that since she became ill she isn't able to drive. I don't mind driving,in fact I really enjoy it, but she isn't the best co-pilot. Ea. Eamonn.

Barry, Your last post made me smile. I have a very close and dear friend Larry. A truly wonderful man. He finished school at 16 and trained as a tractor mechanic, in Ireland moved to London and worked his tail off. He now own a very large VW and Mercedes dealership in London. He has two daughters. One is now a medical doctor the other a vet. Some years back I met with him for a pint. He was having a bad day at home, which he blamed on the fact that he was the only male in the house. He looked at me with sad brown eyes and said" You know Eamonn even the the darn cats in the house are girls!" I have to say that I really do enjoy having the girls in the ship. Having never had a daughter and only ever having had one son, the girls do add a lot to help make my life more interesting and fun. Jamie and I will celebrate 25 years of being married in January, we met back in 1977. I know that she has a better understanding of me than I have of her. As you know I playfully refer to her as SWMBO = She Who Must Be Obeyed. It comes from Rumpole of the Bailey; a series of books written by John Mortimer whose main character is Horace Rumpole, a barrister in London, England. Rumpole always referred to his wife as She Who Must Be Obeyed. While there are times when I don't know or understand her! I do know and understand how lost I'd be without her. Eamonn.

If I was still serving at the District level, I'd have my beady little eye on you both!! Be very careful!! Every District has someone like me!! Every District has openings for people like you and your Hubby. People like me do not take no for an answer!! Be afraid, be really afraid!! Take time to think about what you really enjoy doing. Don't feel you have to join the Troop, just because Junior is joining!! Think about how much time you have and how much you are willing to commit. Practice saying "NO!!" The list of things you could do is almost endless. Some roles take a lot of time and involve a lot of time spent at meetings. Some might be just something that needs done once a year for a few weeks. (I'm thinking of maybe School Sign-up coordinator) If you like working with adults? Maybe joining the District Training team? Having a word with the Troop Committee Chair is the best way to find out what the needs of the Troop Committee are. Ea.

Hi Barry, Re: "I am not sure what answer you are looking for," Heck!! I'm not sure what the question is!! I kinda guess that each older generation thinks that the kids of today have things a little to easy and are not as responsible as we might have been. At times I when things don't go as I think they should, I'm guilty of beating myself up looking at what maybe I failed to do? When in fact any real blame is not mine, but does belong fairly and squarely at the feet of someone not doing what they should have done. I do of course do my best to remember that we are dealing with young people and while life is better when everyone pulls their weight, doing what they should, this is an educational game where we learn as much from what goes wrong as we do from things that go well. Eamonn.

Beavah, What you said seemed to make a lot of sense. I like the idea of facing the people who I might be helping. But more and more this isn't the case. Donations to causes I deem worthy are made either by check and mailed or on line with the good old Visa card. I find it a little upsetting that others are happy to not try and do everything that we can to help people who need it. While there are loop holes and at times some people do abuse programs that are in place to help and aid others. Harming and hurting the people who do need the help, because of the abusers is not the way to go. I feel very blessed that I have never had to use any of the social programs offered. I don't really know how they work. It's a little to easy for me with the best health insurance that is available to look down my nose at the socialized medical programs offered by other countries. I'm sure if I was one of the working poor and didn't have the benefit of Blue Cross Blue Shield, with co-payments that more than lightly cost more to collect that they are worth, or I had to pay the full price for that wonder drug and not the $5.00 I now pay, my view would be different. OJ has never had to face the stigma of people knowing that he is waiting for a free school lunch or knowing that the lunch might be his only meal of the day. It's all to easy to point fingers at parents who have problems with drugs, booze and mothers who have unprotected sex with multiple partners, but pointing fingers at the kids is in my view just not right. It isn't the kids fault. Of course my donating a few bucks locally that ensures poor families receive a Christmas dinner and the kids get a toy is nice and makes me feel good, but I don't live in the poorer part of Philadelphia, where the crime rate is high and kids who join gangs and deal drugs don't live very long. I can't fix the problems there. We as a nation need to fix the problems and treat the symptoms. If this means spending more money and higher taxes. I'm willing to pay my share. Eamonn.

Gold Winger While I think I would have worded the point you made a little differently! Looking back, I'm not sure if I was a good kid? Or if I was just afraid or maybe scared of what the consequences might have been had I got out of line. My mother wasn't well versed in the bible, but she did know about sparing the rod! Corporal punishment Was on the way out when I went to school, but the school I attended still had it and there was a pecking order, depending on the severity of the misconduct as to which master got to cane you. I'm happy that those days are gone. I still don't see myself as being a good person. At times I obey laws and rules not because I think they are right, but out of fear of the consequences. I'm a little unsure if some (And by no means not all!) Of the youth of today grasp the idea that there is a consequence for what they do? Or if maybe we older folks have gone too far ensuring that there isn't any real consequence? We at times seem happy to accept and even reward assignments that clearly do not meet any standard. Look for reasons or excuses that make bad behaviour not seem so bad. A friend of Her Who Must Be Obeyed was talking with us yesterday, saying how tired she was due to the fact that she was up half the night doing her son's senior project for school! I said it would be a cold day in you know where before I'd do such a thing for OJ! The idea that this kid now thinks that he can get away with not doing something that was his to do and now maybe thinks he has somehow beaten the system, upsets me. I of course think the mother is a first class twit for doing it! But I of course don't know why she would do something that in my view is so clearly wrong? At times in the Ship Scouts will tell me that something is "Nearly right"!! They at times think I'm a real pain, when I explain that "Nearly right" is still wrong and isn't acceptable! It doesn't matter if this has to do with navigation or teasing another Scout. If it's not right then it's wrong! When we are away there is a list of who is to do what, that the youth make. I try not to get involved, but when things are not as they should be, sometimes I have to stick my big nose in. I really am and do try to be nice, but I tend to go to the list and see who hasn't done what they were supposed to do. I point this out to the Boatswain and ask him to see what can be done to put whatever it is that is not right as it should be. A lot of times I hear that "This" isn't fair, or that isn't my fault or even though the list is very clear I hear that it wasn't their job. I would expect this sort of thing from younger Scouts, but have a hard time accepting it from 16 and 17 year olds. Our female Leader at times wants to jump in and do whatever it is that hasn't been done. She says that she gets fed up with the fuss!! I of course try and tell her that this isn't the way we do things. She really has a hard time allowing the Scouts (One is her Son.) sort things out for themselves and take responsibility for what they are supposed to be doing or have done. Eamonn.

FScouter, If I have this right? I think you are asking: 1/ " Do adults think much about what it is they hope to accomplish by serving as an adult Scout leader?" 2/ " What is it they want to accomplish?" 3/ "Do many adult leaders think much about the Mission?" Let me deal with #3 first. I'll admit that a lot of the time I get so caught up in what it is I'm doing, that I do at times push all the important and purposeful stuff to the back burner on a very low heat. As for #2 I'm happy to try and do my best to help the BSA meet the aims of Scouting. In Eamonn's little world I see this as being about helping the youth we serve be able to take care of themselves and care for others. Number 1 seems to be the same as #2? As for the "we are there for the Scouts". I think a lot of times when it is said it is meant to point out or reinforce the fact that the adults are here to serve the youth. There are a lot of Scouting functions where there are no youth around!! I have attended a lot of training's, dinners, golf outings and the like where there are no youth members. A good many of these events are a lot of fun for the adults and speaking for myself at times it's nice not to have a gang of kids around!! Still at the end of the day the end result be it better trained leaders or a few dollars raised is for good of the kids and will help further the aims of Scouting. Ea.

December 26th? That's Boxing Day! Ea.

Working on the assumption "you can't fix stupid" and if we buy into the idea that: "the majority of people who take from the govt. don't really need it, and/or wouldn't need it if they simply made responsible choices in their lives." I have to wonder what we do with these Stupid people who have made bad choices? Do we bring back the Work House? Oliver Twist is one of my favorite books!! At present the cost of locking someone up in PA runs at about $40,000 a year, with some forced labor we might be able to bring that cost down. What if we make it so that they don't have the same choices? Sterilization or maybe some form of a chastity belt? Take away the food stamps and free school lunch? Replace it with a bowl of gruel? Do we turn these stupid people who are unable to make the good or right choices out on the street to become beggars? Boy that would help the crime rate!! Heck if these people are not really any good? Why bother? We could just line them up and shoot them all! Isn't one of the reasons that we as Scouter's spend our time working with youth to help the next generation be able to make good choices? If a Scout is indeed really kind? If we really take "To help other people at all times" to heart? Don't we have an obligation to look after and do what we can to help these stupid people who seem unable to make good choices? "Is it not to give your bread to those in need, and to let the poor who have no resting-place come into your house? to put a robe on the unclothed one when you see him, and not to keep your eyes shut for fear of seeing his flesh?" Isaiah 58:7 Eamonn.

Doing the right thing, because it's the right thing to do, is a lot of what we are about. There really are no "Higher Ups" or Ranks for adults in Scouting. While of course there are or should be friendly people who can offer wise words of advise and wisdom. A Scoutmaster doesn't outrank a Cubmaster and the District Commissioner doesn't outrank the Scoutmaster. This means that no one is going to tell or order the person with something on his or her uniform that it needs to be removed. At the end of the day it always comes back to the Scout Oath and Law. If the person wearing the patch knows that he isn't entitled to wear it? Is he really living the Scout Oath and Law? My feeling is that he answers to this when he is alone and reflecting on the example he sets for the Scouts he serves. Ea.

Back when the world was young, I used to count my chickens before they were hatched!! The announcement would be made about the fun filled, action packed, adventurous weekend that was coming up. A stir of excitement would fill the meeting hall. The SPL would ask how many of you think you are going? A sea of hands would be raised up. The members of the PLC, stuck out their chests full of pride on having come up with such a wonderful idea. God was in his heaven and all was right with the world. Sadly sometimes before the meeting hall was cleared some of those who only minutes before had raised their hand, were starting to have second thoughts and were saying that they weren't sure. I think that a lot of Scouts do caught up in the excitement of the moment. Organizing and selling an event does involve real leadership skills. Planning: Long before the event is announced it needs to be looked at. The questions "Is this something we want to do?" And "Why are we doing this?" need to be asked. Dates need to be checked and if there are conflicts these need to be looked at. Some might be a big deal, some might only involve and effect only one or two Scouts. Sometimes the PLC feels that they have to do something that they have done before, even if it it isn't such a great idea! At times this falls under the "We always do it" and sometimes they are just a lazy parliament of toads and doing something that has been done before is the easy way out. A lot of times I have found that the events we have the worst turn out for are the events I have tried to push through! Events that I thought they needed. They however don't feel that they have any "Ownership" in the event. Communication./ Marketing. Everyone needs to know the: What, Where, When, How much? They also need to know "What's in it for me?" Different units communicate differently. With the Ship I found that e-mails are a waste of time. The early communications are one way and require little or no feed back, closer to the event these communications need to be two way communications. In the Ship the Quarterdeck has ruled that we need the cash and permission forms in at least ten days ahead of Ship's events. Some other events have requirements that need money and forms in a lot sooner. Our Winter Training Weekend in January requires the forms and cash in by mid. October. How we sell an event or market it does make a big difference. Most times if the ideas and the planning has been done by the youth members this is not a big deal. Deadlines: The Quarterdeck does set deadlines for when forms and payment is required. We also have minimum numbers that are needed for an event to take place. If not enough people sign up we cancel the event. Last minute sign-ups are accepted if the Boatswain or the person in charge of the even is OK with it and it doesn't mean adding extra vehicles. Depending on what has been spent and how full the vehicles are, the QD is in charge of refunds. Most times they ask that Scout who decides that he or she isn't going to come up with a replacement or he will lose his money. Evaluations: After the event the QD looks at what worked and what didn't. What can be improved? Do we ever want to do this again? We use a rating system of 1 - 10 and this is recorded in the Ships log. The youth in the Ship are not good at knowing what they are doing. Sometimes because they get hit at the last minute with something from school or from another organization. Sometimes they like to wait to see if they are going to get a better offer! We canceled the trip last summer because not enough Scouts paid the deposits needed by the date set. I was unwilling to give up nine days vacation, drive 1,200 miles bring a female leader with us for only five Scouts. Of course I did feel bad for the five that didn't get to go, but they seen the thinking behind it and agreed with me. Some of the other Scouts did over the summer mention that they wished that they had signed up and had nothing to do!! The QD did plan at the last minute a weekend trip on the water. Eamonn.