Eamonn

While I'm not as a rule a big fan of on line training's. Last night everyone was out. I was home alone with Rory and Joe. Having spent the day attending a really bad Safe Boating Course. The course was bad because the presenter presented what he thought we needed. We were in Pittsburgh and I'm sure most of the people he has attend this course are power boaters who will do their boating on the rivers. He skipped sailing,hardly touched on navigation and to make matters worse told long stories which were OK at first but after a while I sat there thinking "Oh No!! Not another one." With nothing worth turning on the TV for I thought I'd check up on "Ethical Abuse". I had never ever heard of this before. So I took the on line YP Training. It makes no mention of it. I spend a week at Philmont attending a conference on delivering commissioner service. The course was for volunteers serving as District and Council commissioners. One Lady seemed to want to make everything into a YP issue. For example one role play was a commissioner visiting a Troop in camp and finding the leaders sitting around the camp having a beer. I think we all know that Beer and Scouts don't mix and I agree that they shouldn't. This Lady wanted to turn this into a yp issue. Maybe the time has come for all Youth Protection Training to be done on line? That way everyone will get the same information, without the additions of what the presenter feels. Nothing will be missed. When questions are asked the on line training can be used as a reference. Youth Protection Training is a BSA Training it should be presented as just that. If CO have other or require other training's that's fine and dandy. Most of the confusion about this seems to come from things that just are not in the Training. I never ever thought I'd say this but "Long Live On Line Training's" Eamonn.

Can't help thinking that the Question is a little bit wrong. Maybe -What can be done and who will do it might be a little better? The DE needs to meet with the Executive Officer from the PTO. The first step has got to be finding out if the PTO wants to remain the CO? If they are not interested? Building or rebuilding a Pack with no real foundation is just asking for trouble. Allowing this Pack to fade away might be for the best? Restarting it with a new active CO would be better for everyone. If they want to remain the CO, the next step has to be to get the District Membership Committee /Chair up to date and ready to move. Provide them with all the information about the Pack. Anything and everything that is known about the Pack. Have a member of the Membership Committee meet with the Pack Committee if there is one. If there isn't see if ex-members can attend a meeting? At this meeting start forming a Nominating Committee and planning a recruitment drive. Either someone from the Membership Committee or the Pack Committee could say something at the next PTO and explain that this Pack belongs to them and that their pack is facing some very serious problems. Sadly if nothing works the Pack will die. The District doesn't have and shouldn't have a long list of people waiting in the wings waiting to be asked to serve as leaders. The selection of leaders has to come from the Pack Committee and the CO. Saving the Pack is not going to be easy. They will need lots of help from all the committees that make up the District Committee. Leaders will need Trained. They might need help understanding and making a budget. They might need to know about camps and camping along with what District activities are open to them. They might need someone from the District Committee to tag along when they do the "Ask" inviting someone to serve. (District Committee members are trained not to come away empty handed!!) They certainly are going to need a working unit commissioner. Districts can do a lot, but at the end of the day it has to be a partnership the CO and the BSA,we just don't have the man-power to run each and every unit that falls on hard times. Eamonn.

I really feel that this thread is going no where fast. Yes I know it's in the Issues and Politics area! So I'm going to close the thread. Eamonn.

Who to report what too? Is at times confusing. If the abuse has to do with or is somehow connected to Scouts and Scouting? Sure the SE and the CO are the people to talk with. If I seen a kid who I thought was being abused at home by someone who wasn't involved in Scouting, I'd look in the phone-book for the numbers of abuse hotlines. I'm familiar with: Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse,Neglect and Emotional Abuse - I can't remember ever hearing about ethical abuse ? Ea.

It seems to me that this pops up every few months. As a group I think after a while we get a feel for what someone is going to say /post. I tend to ramble on -A lot!! FScouter will quote from the good books! OGE in my opinion seems to impart words of wisdom, which most of the time I tend to agree with. I know some people don't like the "Quotes from the good books". I do and think it's useful, especially for anyone who might be new to Scouting. Many of us have pet peeves or things that seem to get us going! I really dislike the "My Troop" I'm happy to try and ignore some of the forum members! I think we are so far apart that nothing I'll post will develop into any more than "I'm right -Your wrong" type argument. While I am a moderator and maybe ought not voice an opinion? I for the most part think the moderator team does a good job. I know of other Scouting Forums where any posting which doesn't seem to be in line with BSA rules and guidelines results in all sorts of consequences!! I'll admit that I don't follow every thread. Maybe I should? At the end of the day in a Scouting forum I'd like to think that the Oath and Law would guide us. But as we all know the Oath and Law is a work in progress and states "Do My Best". Eamonn.

"we were approved as leaders because it's perceived that we are good role models and teachers." I agree 100% with that statement. The Twinkie was supposed to be in fun. (Maybe because I deal with people who do seem to eat really strange things in my real job.) I do feel that when we try and impose our will on the Scouts we serve in matters that should be dealt with by the Scouts parents we cross the line. I'm all for us teaching and providing the Scouts with good information. I can inform a Scout that sitting indoors playing video games is not good for him or her. But what they do with the information is up to them. I can inform them about eating healthy, but if at home all they are offered is what is offered. I have no choice but to accept that is the way it is. Taking a kid to camp and trying to make him or her what they don't eat at home is akin to teaching a pig to sing. While maybe when dealing with young Cub Scouts, making sure they brush their teeth might be OK. It might be OK to remind younger Boy Scouts. But when they reach 13 or older, I just expect them to brush their teeth. It should be something they do everyday and I think if by this age they haven't made this part of their daily routine. The fault lies with their parents not the BSA. When we are away for a weekend I go to great lengths to ensure that we offer religious services for our Scouts. If one of the Roman Catholic Scouts tells me that he isn't going and in fact rarely attends mass. I feel I have done my bit by making the services available. If the family don't attend church, me frog marching the Scout to Mass is not right. Just about all of our Scouts have cell phones and Ipods. They received them from their parents. As a Ship we have established a non-written agreement about the use of these things (Which by the way the Scouts seem to adhere to far better than the adults.) I have informed everyone that the Ship accepts no responsibility if these got lost or broken. Yes we have had some get lost. My feelings are that if the parents didn't want their kids to have these things? They wouldn't have bought them in the first place. OJ, suffers from allergies. He has pills he can take. Since he was about 13 I have been happy for him to take them when he fells he needs them. I as his parent didn't want or need an adult to supervise this. Some Scouter's seem unhappy with this! But as he is my kid, I set the rules for my kid. "1. Keep myself physically fit 2. Make ethical choices over their lifetime 3. Help other people at all times 4. Eat only Twinkies if that makes you happy - you're not MY kid" Now circle the word that it seems most Scouter's seem to not understand? Ea.

BrentAllen, Thanks for the info. But I can't help thinking a program like this seems to be saying "I don't trust my kid". He is now 18 and is seen to be an adult !! I'm a lot happier telling him how much I do trust him and how very proud I am of him for choosing not to do things that he knows to be wrong. Maybe? If I thought he was doing drugs or stuff that he shouldn't I might be tempted to look at a program like the one mentioned. I did a lot of things that I shouldn't have done when I was a teenager. The fact I'm still around is proof that I got away with it (My Irish mother was never one to spare the rod!!) But having a kid sitting playing video games, when the tapes cost ?? and then complaining that the kid is addicted? What ever happened to "Turn that thing off and take the dog for a walk?" Ea.

When Her Who Must Be Obeyed and yours truly were first married the plan was to have 3 kids preferably all boys!! HWMBO didn't want any girls!! We ended up with one! He waited for six years and until I had borrowed a lot of money!! Sad thing was as happy as I was when he was born, I soon came to the realization that this person in my arms holding my finger didn't come with instructions! Over the years we did what we thought was right. We housed him ,fed him, helped to get him educated, I like to think we tried to teach him values, right from wrong and all that good stuff. Most of all both HWMBO just love him. At times we don't like some of the things he does or has done. Right now he has a growth on his chin which looks just silly to me. But it's his chin. Strange to look back and think of the things I used to do. Yes I remember holding his feet and blowing raspberries on the bottom of them! Today if that big smelly size 14 foot came near me I'd run a mile! Bedtime was always a special time when I was home. We would say his prayers with the list of "God Bless" getting longer and longer at times just to squeeze another couple of minutes before the light went out. Sadly over time us saying his prayers became "Did you say your prayers and brush your teeth?" Till in time I didn't even ask. At some time or some stage it was up to him to say his prayers and make sure he had brushed his teeth. When he was a Webelos Scout, I march the entire den to the shower house and tell them to get a shower and not to forget to brush their teeth. Now with the Ship they know what time we get up at and what time I think the lights should go out. I do know and have met the family of each and every Scout. The way the do things at their home is not the same way as I do things. If dinner time in their home is a slice of pizza and a can of Jolt in front of the TV. that's up to them! How they raise their kids is their business. I see our Scouts for a couple of weekends a month and for a ninety minute meeting on a Monday. While I like to think that maybe some of the stuff we do and maybe the example I set has some sort of an impact? I know at the end of the day they will return home to their families. I'm not any sort of an expert in child rearing or parenting, I'm not the Scouts Doctor. If the parent is happy feeding their kid a diet of Twinkies I can't change it.Of course when we go away he or she will need to bring their own supply of Twinkies!! I can't and have never tried to make Scouts eat stuff that they say they don't like. I'm happy to comply with the reasonable wishes of the parents. Sometimes it seems to me that we forget that we are not the parents of the Scouts we serve. Eamonn.

Youth Protection and the trainings that we have are good and worth while. I however at times worry that some people go over the top. Of course we need to do what we can to protect the youth we serve and ourselves. If everything went as it should all the time our Scouts would never forget to go anywhere without their buddy. Adults would never ever in a million years get placed in a situation where you and a youth are the only people around. Still at times this can and does happen. I have lost count of the number of times I have stopped for a pee at camp in the mens room only to have a lone Scout stand next to me! I can't fit 3 adults and the Sea Scouts in our small boat!! When I'm giving my wise words to a Scout who has strayed from the paths of righteousness, I'm happy to do it in plain view, but there are times when what is said is best kept between the two of us. I really don't want to embarrass him or her any more than I have to. We all need to do our best to keep within the guidelines. Still when we present the training we need to be very careful we present it in such a way that it comes across as being a wise and wonderful thing not something that is going to scare the beejeebers out of people. Ea.

I do understand the term. My problem was I just didn't get what you were trying to say! "I would like to start a conversation about the C.C.S. (COOKIE CUTTER SYNDROME.) I think that we all know what I am talking about." Yes we know what the term means but in what are you trying to get at? "And for some of us we have been in touch with a Pack or Troop that fits this description. Or maybe even this is your unit. " Still don't know what? Ea.

I'm not into video games. I think because I'm not very good at them. Years back I remember being at the home of our SPL, who's parents were both involved in the Troop. At the time Atari Space Invaders was the game of choice. Steve the SPL was really good at it and could beat the pesky Space Invaders, reaching the very uppermost levels of the game. Today Steve is in charge of the training center in the UK that trains Air Traffic Controllers, he claims the skills he got from playing video games were a big help. As the parent of an 18 year old, I have paid my video game dues. Starting with Nintendo, then Super Nintendo, then Game Boy and then Play-station. While the games have been around in the house my son has never seemed to spend a lot of time playing them and the biggest problem we seem to have had is that he wants to save the game or do whatever you do? Which has delayed dinner for a couple of minutes. My being frugal (OK -Cheap!!) Might have a lot to do with this. He has had his money for about the past four or five years. He has earned it by mowing grass and doing work around the house. I don't give him an allowance. It used to be that during the summer he was able to make some real money as much as $150.00 a month for mowing the grass (It takes six or seven hours.) I did however pay for 50% of any Scouting activity he wanted to participate in or attend. Scouting helped keep both of us poor!! Jamborees and NOAC along with Philmont really did leave a lot of extra cash for new video games. The games were only allowed to be hooked up to the TV in his bedroom. Up until the Christmas before last this was a 13 inch VCR/TV Combo unit. I did upgrade it to a 20 inch LCD because I found a really good buy!! He has had his own laptop for about four or five years and I'd say he has spent more time Instant Messaging his friends and down loading really bad music (How any kid of mine could like Country and Western??) than playing video games. Zac our youngest Sea Scout does seem to be into video games. He has a new handheld whatever that can pick up wireless whatever and plays disc's about the size a super-sized silver dollar. Strange thing is that he does seem to play the games! It is in fact more of a "Hey look what I got" sorta thing. This seems to happen with cell phones. It's not so much how they are used but having the newest and latest that makes them and the owner move up in the "Cool Rankings" I thank God that so far my son has not got into alcohol or drugs. Studies have shown that certain types of cocaine can lead to addiction after only one use. While I'm still strict will him even at age 18. - Yes I want him home by 2300 and I want to know where he is going, who he is with and I still wait up for him if he is out late. Still if he wanted to try alcohol or drugs, there is very little I could do to stop him or prevent him. I have to hope my past work pays off. But I fail to understand how any parent can complain that their kid is addicted to video games? Where do they play these games? Who gives them the money for the tapes/disc's? A common cry in our home for the past 14 or 15 years has been turn that TV OFF!! Surely if as a parent you notice that your kid is stuck in the family room 23 hours a day playing games-You have to notice? The problem isn't video games -The problem is just poor parenting!! Eamonn.

Over the past few weeks I have given a lot of thought to what the Ship does and doesn't do. Something along the lines of the 360 degree reflection. But less formal? Of all the programs offered by the BSA Sea Scouting would seem to be the most ridged and in many ways because of where we do what we do requires the most disciplined. The uniforms for Ship's that opt to follow the Sea Scout manual are military uniforms. Drill is an elective for advancement. I'm told that Sea Scouting makes up about 4% of Venturing and that there are about 7,000 Sea Scouts in 500 Ships in the USA.I don't know where the person who gave me them numbers got them or if they are accurate. What we offer the youth who join is no where near as wide a range of activities as Boy Scouting offers. The program is not for everyone, only people who like messing about in or on the water. "Messing about in or on the water" does require all sorts of skills, safety equipment and discipline. Youth aged 14 -21 are under going a lot of changes. At about this age or these ages they want to know "Why?" They are at an age when they decide what activities they want to follow or not follow. They want and demand fun and adventure. We use this fun and adventure to train young people in citizenship, service, and leadership. Along the way if we are doing a good job? We also Instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law. But if the fun and adventure isn't there. They either don't join or if they have joined they quit. This doesn't seem like rocket science to me!! Sometimes I can't help thinking we forget who we are working with and for and get so wrapped up in enforcing rules and regulations which while they might seem to make sense to us adults, make no sense to the people we are trying to serve and end up acting as road blocks or hurdles. I'm at an age where some of the Scouts I had when I first became a Scouter now have sons in Troops. I'm very much aware that things have changed, times have changed. Kids are taught in a much different way than they were 25 years ago when I was trying to introduce them to the joys of English History. Of course not all the changes are for the better!! But this isn't the fault of the youth -In fact maybe it's us older folk who are to blame? After taking a long hard look at the Ship and asking myself some very tough questions, it dawned on me that we as a Ship need to kick it up a few notches. Make what we do more fun add more adventure offer more challenges. Of course we will ensure that the skills are there, after all with out the skills they can't do much.Safety and discipline are right on the top of the list. But silly rules? No way!! Ea.

OK, I'm not sold on this Video Game Addiction idea! Just because someone posted something on the WWW doesn't make it true. I'm saddened to see what great lengths some Scouter's will go to trying to find fault with a Scout. Contraband? "beware of the EARBUD. It is small like a hearing aid and can hold music downloads, and quite easily concealed. Come on!! This is the Boy Scouts of America. We talk about teaching ethical choices. A Scout is Trustworthy. We have to give him the opportunity to be trustworthy. Ea.

My brother is four years older than I. He wasn't very happy when I moved from the Pack into the Troop. Mainly because he thought I'd be a bit of a tattle-tale. The Troop was his! He just didn't want or have any need to have his little brother in on his turf. Best thing is to stop thinking of them as a pair! Think of them as two individual Sea Scouts, with different wants and needs. Your role is to serve both of them. Maybe the girl needs more help than her brother? Maybe not? Ea. (CNYScouter - Rob, one of our guys got accepted for SEAL. Are you going to the Regatta?)

I suppose in the perfect world what John-in-KC has posted would be true. Sadly not only is it not true but it just don't work!! Two deep leadership is required. The "No one on one" is the key. From the time a little Lad joins Cub Scouting we preach the buddy system. While I don't want to make a point about what happened in NC. Mainly because I'm so very happy that the Lad is safe and sound. Hindsight would say that 3 people should have been left in camp. Ideally two adults, but failing that two Scouts and an adult. During the Jamboree, we had a system when one leader from both of the Troops from the Council remained in camp at all times. Sadly the main reason was for security! I didn't mind too much, it gave me the opportunity to wash my socks!! If a lone Scout tried to return to the Troop Camp site without his buddy, I'd shoo him away telling him that he needed a buddy and in a not unkind way tell him that he needed a buddy at all times. Of course if two or more returned I was happy to have someone to chat with. Ea.

I'm not any sort of a Doctor. My heart goes out to the parents of kids who have to deal with children who really do suffer from ADD and or ADHD. While I know I might be wrong and maybe I am just plain wrong! I can't help thinking at times we fall into having trends. A local Doctor found he had high cholesterol. For about 18 months it seemed he was sending about half of his patients to be put on low cholesterol diets. From watching TV and hearing what is said at work the new disorder of the month seems to be bi-polar!! Back in 2001 Blane's Mom came to me and said that Blane didn't take his meds during the summer vacation. Blane was going to the Jambo. I'll admit my first thought was "Hey Lady don't do me any favors!" Blane was and is a super nice Lad. Sure he had some problems. He seemed unable to stand still for more than a couple of seconds, he never ever stopped talking. If you asked him how he was doing? You got a blow by blow recount of everything he'd done so far that day in more detail than you might ever need!! I really like him and was so very pleased when he became an Eagle Scout. I know how very hard it must have been for him. One day at the Jambo he was cook for his Patrol. Something wasn't going well and him and his PL were exchanging very loud words. Blane was upset and yelled "I'm ADD!" his PL yelled back "So am I!" No one had informed me that the PL was and I never knew. Sadly we have had to remove a Scout from the Ship. Andy suffers from ADD, but unlike Blane who is a nice Lad Andy isn't. I very rarely find a Lad that I just don't like, but Andy was one. I tried really hard to work with him and for him but I knew I wasn't getting through. He was rude, surly and sneaky. I tried to put myself in his shoes. I think I can understand how very frustrated he gets. I really felt sad that he seemed unable to make friends or keep friends. Sadly one night another male Scout who was sleeping woke up because Andy was fondling him. Andy's parents tried to make the argument that he hadn't taken his meds and how hard it is to get a Lad of 17 to take them. In fact they took him to the Doctor who adjusted his meds. Needless to say his Dad was very embarrassed. His Dad and I go back almost 25 years. The Ship's Committee on my recommendation decided that in the best interests of the other Scouts ADD or not this just wasn't acceptable behaviour and he needed to be removed. I have thought about this a lot. It seems in Andy's case that he just doesn't understand that his actions have consequences. Before this incident he stole some of the pants from members of the HS Track team. He left the pants, money and cell phones in the boys bathroom. He would have got away with it but the next day he wore the belt from one of the pair of pants to school. Sadly Andy has put his parents through a lot.His actions have put the marriage of his parents on the rocks, the pressure at home is unbearable all of which doesn't help the Lad. I now think that ADD and ADHD really are no different than most other challenges or handicaps. Just as I have known some deaf Scouts who were really super kids, I know some who are little toads. I think the same applies to ADD and ADHD. I'm happy to go along with whatever their parents decide is in the best interest of their kid. I not happy to accept bad manners, or un-scout like behaviour. Ea.

Ed, I don't think anyone said it had anything to do with the BSA. Scroll down the page a bit and it states: This is a private community provided by SCOUTER Network and reserved for Scouting related discussions. I think this fits in the category. Ea.

I didn't download the file. But from reading what is posted, it does seem that Peter was a little muddled. While as we all know Scouting started in the UK. Just about every country that has a Scouting program has changed or altered it to best serve the people in that country. Coming from the UK, having been all through the Scouting program from Wolf Cubs to Venture Scout, to Scout Leader and then crossing the pond to become a member of the BSA was an adjustment. While I was born and raised in London, my parents were Irish Catholics, so I attended the Catholic church and Catholic Schools. While I don't have any numbers or hard fact to back it up, it has always seemed to me that Americans are far more religious than the English. I remember a good friend of mine who was a RC Priest used to get forms from people who wanted to be God parents or get married in the church, many of the non-catholics would write C of E in the space where it asked for religion. He used to say "That covers a multitude of sins". I remember how shocked I was when I first came over here that a fast food restaurant was offering a discount on a Sunday to people who brought in a church newsletter. Of course even the church goers in the UK don't stop for a burger after church they are far more lightly to stop for a pint!! A very good pal of mine is really upset with UK Scouting for allowing gay leaders. He is a Mormon. Here in the BSA it seems any talk about allowing all the programs to go coed has a lot of Scouter's choking on their Wood Badge beads, but a great many countries have gone coed. Different Scout organizations and Associations do what they think is best for the people they serve. This doesn't make any one right and the other wrong -Just different. Eamonn.

Have to admit to not knowing what this Cookie Cutter Syndrome is? For as long as I can remember, I have been me! Like most people I have good days and some that are not so good. Times when I'm like a bear (No not that type which I am anyway!!) with a sore tail? Times when the birds fill the trees and God is in his Heaven and nothing seems to go wrong. I have my faults and good points. Much of what I have just said can also be said of Scouting units. I have often marveled at how much one member can change a unit. One new Scout with a lot of pals can make or break a unit. When things go well, he or she is inviting new members and the birds sing. Sadly if he or she decides to quit he or she can take a lot of pals along. All Scout units have peaks and valleys. Some might be riding high for a long time, but no unit remains on the peak for ever. Scouts age out, Leaders come and go, areas and communities change. The best we can try for is to act as steward's of the units /Districts /Councils we serve. We don't own the unit or the program. We are in fact just passing. The real test isn't really what we do today, next month or next year! But when we are gone, have we left the unit with what it needs for the future? Strong units are always changing and reinventing themselves. New members; youth and adult are welcomed and made to feel useful. It is at times hard for old codgers like me to take the time to listen to what they have to say and even harder to allow them to do things their way and not mine. At times this might even mean stepping down and taking a back seat, removing a few of the hats that we wear. I can't wait for the day when a young 25 year old takes over as Skipper and I'm demoted to playing with the fiberglass -If he or she will let me. We live in a time of change, how we deal with it is up to each of us. I don't have the answers to why membership is on the decline. But I can't help thinking of the story that we used to use at the end of the old Cub Scout Leader Training's about the boy throwing starfish back in the sea. Someone told him he was wasting his time, he couldn't save all the starfish. He replied that he knew he couldn't save them all but he could save the one he had just returned to the sea. I can do what I can for the youth in the Ship and I can serve the Ship and the community by doing everything I can to ensure it will be around long after I go where I go? (Maybe harp lessons are in order or maybe I should stock up on ice water?) Ea

Baden, I know it wasn't my sexy knees that dazzled the nominating committee. Really a case of "Who I knew". Having been active in the business community, active in the chamber and the local Civic Industrial Society had a lot to do with my being the District Chair. All Board members were expected to donate at the $1,500 a year level. Most did. My knowing who to ask and when to ask did go a long way to improving our community FOS, as well as getting people out to attend other events -Most of which were not free!! I do think my having a Scouting background helped a lot. Sadly the District next door recruited a local business type person as District Chair, who just didn't have the time for the job and wasn't willing to make the time. While I'm very much more a program type person. Whatever that might mean. We do have a handful of people who donate mega bucks ($100,000 a year) without them I'm unsure where we would be? Many units have lots of volunteer help, maybe too much? While other units have a hard time even finding Den Leaders or a SM. I really don't think we should be judging anyone for how or what they do to support the program. I don't give as much money to FOS as I used too. I think I spend more on the Ship than I used to donate, only now it's in smaller amounts and not one big check. Ea.

I like the list that scottteng provided the link to. For the Jamboree we had boxes with legs. When the pots and pans were taken out they became food storage boxes. We never had boxes with legs, our Patrol boxes were just big wooden boxes with wooden blocks to keep them off the ground. Patrol members were encouraged to bring their own mugs, plates and silverware. Many just left this stuff in the box. Boxes with too much stuff in that is never used need to be sorted out and the gear that is never used should be taken out. Trying to get the Scouts to wash something they haven't used is like hard work!! Having a few metal or enamel plates that fit over the big pot is a good idea. They can place food on the plate to keep warm. Do warn the scouts about how badly steam can burn. These boxes were the Patrol boxes. While we did a camp inspection each morning to check that everything was ship shape and tried to ensure that the gear was clean and dry before we left camp, sometimes things did get put away maybe not as clean and not as dry as maybe they should have been!! This isn't good. At the end of the season??? The Quartermasters would go through each box with a couple from each Patrol and remove all the extra bags of sugar and bottles of ketchup!! The gear we used for light-weight camping and back packing wasn't Patrol equipment. This was seen as being Troop equipment and under the watchful eye of the Troop QM. Pete our QM had worked in the stores for the RAF and at times I think he forgot that he was dealing with Scouts. Of course like most Scouter's his bark was far worse than his bite!! I did notice that the list doesn't mention stoves. We have found the coleman twin burner works as well as anything and if you use the big bottles of propane are not that expensive to run. Of course for light weight camping small backing stoves were used. As a rule we didn't use these at Patrol weekends, in part because we used to use wood fires a lot and the temptation to use the fuel to get the fire going was just too great!! Ea.

At dinner last night I had to choose between the Irish grilled trout and the Irish roasted spring rack of lamb. OK! I cheated, I had the trout and took the lamb home with me for lunch today. Sadly we don't always get the opportunity to do everything that we might like. I can't help but feel that there is a life lesson in what is happening! What would happen if you asked the District to change the date? I'm sure other units must be in a similar situation. Failing that asking the Scouts what they want to do, explaining that maybe doing both would be very expensive and finding adult leadership more than lightly is going to make both not possible. The annual plan is a good tool, but nothing says it can't be changed if there is a need. Eamonn.

I don't know if it's true in every Council? But "Staff-hood" that is serving on camp staff in our Council means you have joined some sort of elite club. "The few, the proud, the staffers!" Looking around at the active Scouter's in the Council, many seem to have served on the camp staff. Many of my best friends in the Council are the guys I spent the summer with back in the day. I was pleased when OJ decided to become a club member. Of course I had the odd moan and groan. I lost my mowing service!Picking him up and dropping him off was at times a pain. Till he took one of the cars to camp, once he took the car I worried about him driving and showing off!! I do think that he learned a lot about how to get on with other people while he was working at camp, he seen how different Troops do things and got a better idea of what works and what didn't. Sadly it seems this year that him and his merry little gang that last year were very much the old guard will not be returning this year. Needless to say they seem to think the camp will fall apart without them being there! But we know that just isn't true. The camp will reinvent itself and little Lads like your son will step up to the plate and in time become the old guard. You know from past experiences that when he arrives home he will be very tired, very hungry and the washer will need to go into over-drive. I have to admit that not having my guy around for the summer was hard on me. I really missed him. But I'm one of those odd balls who hated to see school restart. I enjoyed the time we spent over the summer. I'm sure in about ten years I'll hear what sort of mischief and what sort of trouble they really got into!! At the end of the day it does come back to "Roots and Wings" Summer is the best time to be a boy, I'm really envious!! Wouldn't it be great to be looking forward to a summer at camp with no parents, spending time with your pals doing what we like to do? I wish him well and hope you don't miss him too much. Even when you have to mow your own grass!! Ea.

Thanks OGE. I now understand why I was always in hot water! Ea.

I used to laugh at some of the old photos of District Committee meetings that appeared in BSA publications. A room full of people sitting about eight to a table, each table with a big place card saying what committee was at that table. Strange thing was that in all the photos there never seemed to be a table marked for COR's? Selecting the right people to serve on the District Committee isn't easy. I found when I was District Chair that people don't like long boring meetings!! In fact having them attend a meeting when nothing at the meeting has anything to do with them is a waste of time and they burn out real quick. While filling the big important positions is important, having people who are willing to do one specific task worked best for us. I was happy to leave a lot of the details to the people who were responsible for doing what needed done. The computer in the service center churned out enough reports that kept everyone up to date with what was going on, having someone attend a meeting to give the report when there wasn't a problem was just silly. The agenda was crafted in such a way that unless something was going on that committee didn't need to be at the meeting. The finance committee started meeting in December, planning the FOS campaigns their work was done in March. The advancement committee recruited people to sit on Eagle Scout BOR's, managed the Merit Badge list and unless the reports showed that there was a problem with a unit not advancing, we rarely seen them. Often the Camping and activities committee would ask a unit scouter to help organize or organize an event, that person would give a report to the District committee and maybe an end report, we thanked him or her for their services and they returned to their unit. If it came to light that a unit wasn't camping someone would try and find out why and what if anything we could do to help. By far the hardest people to recruit were unit commissioners! Trying to fill that gap is almost impossible! Right now I'm not in the position to take on any more that what I'm doing with the Ship. If for some reason the Ship should fail? I think the time will have come for me to hang up my beads and take a break. Maybe a long break!! Ea.