Eamonn

A few years back some guy who talks funny was the Council Training Chair. (A good looking fellow I might add.)Looked at the number of people who were attending Pow Wow and the time, effort, organization that went into it. The truth was that while the Council had a few hard line Pow Wowers, it just wasn't or didn't seem worth the effort. Ours is a small Council and we watched as the attendance went down and down. So with the approval of the training committee it was removed from the Council calender. Needless to say the hard line Pow wowers were very unhappy and were thinking about deporting this good looking fellow!! A year or two back, the new guy tried to resurrect it, but only 25 Cub Scouters turned up. When the attendance isn't there, it makes offering the variety of classes hard and the cost gets out of hand. While local Schools were happy to donate the school we had to pay for the janitorial and security staff. I don't know if our area is just different but it seems the parents we have today who serve as Den Leaders just either don't have the time or are unwilling to make the time to attend events like this. Of course I heard how in the good old days Pow Wows were the high point of the Cub Scouter's season; hundreds of Cub Scouter's, meals fit for a king, wonderful crafts, Pow Wow Books that had hundreds of pages!! Sadly I just couldn't make it work!! I went under cover for a year or so, avoiding the beady gaze of upset Pow Wowers. I slid by cover of night into Cub Scout Round Table meetings, all the time waiting to be hit by a flying cup cake!! Thankfully that never happened. I think if Pow Wow is ever going to make a come back it will need to be done as cluster WB courses are done, with Councils (small councils like ours) each taking a year. But I have noticed with WB, Cub Scouters don't seem as willing as Boy Scouters to travel. Eamonn.

" by some in our troop as a way of getting the point across that we are a unified group and we don't go off on separate excursions for convenience sake - either go with the troop or don't go." It might turn out that for some reason getting the little Lads away just isn't going to work. I know at this time the Ship couldn't be involved in two long events over the summer that needed adult leaders from the Ship. This is just a fact. I can't change it and I'm not going to beat myself up because of it. Still the idea of not doing it (trying to get everyone to a long term summer event) to prove or make a point doesn't seem in keeping with serving the Scouts in the Troop. The unified troop idea is a nice one, but can come back to bite you on the tail. Back in the day (I'm sorry!!) My Father-in-law was the SM of a local Troop. He worked at the local rolling mill. At that time the biggest employer in the area. Most of the Scouts had Dads who also worked in the mill. Come summer the mill shut down for a week. This was when Jim (My Father-in-law, God rest him.) organized summer camp. It was also the time when many of the Scouts families went away on vacation. The Troop was never very large, I think it never went much above 12 or 15 Scouts. I kinda think the idea of organizing a separate event never ever crossed Jim's mind. His thinking was this is what we are doing take it or leave it!! Sadly some Scouts who were in the Troop for a very long time never got to attend a long term summer camp. Just because everyone had their vacation at the same time. This year a big problem the Ship has is that we have Scouts doing or hoping to do all sorts of things over the summer at different times and different places. Some are applying for SEAL -They are waiting till April to see if they have been accepted. Many are working at different Council Summer camps, a couple are working as Sea Dawgs at the camp we went to last summer, add graduations and graduation parties into the mix, then add band camp, football camp, family vacations and family commitments into the mix and there is no way I can come up with a date for a week long event that is a good fit for everyone. A couple have friends in other Ships and will join them on the friends Ship for a long cruise, a couple are going away with the Boy Scout Troop they belong to. Sure I'd love to see us all go to the same place at the same time (Hey we look great in our Sea Scout uniforms!) But I know this might never happen. Still if the Scouts are having fun and are participating in new adventures, facing new challenges and maybe I have done a little something to help facilitate this? I think maybe I might be on the right track. As the Troop ages, many of the older Scouts will want to toddle off and participate in some of the more adventurous activities and camps, when that happens the unified Troop idea goes out with the dish water. We are here to serve the kids we have in our units, we might not be able to serve all of them all the time, but we can do our best. At times making points only gets in the way. Eamonn.

Hi Julian, Welcome. Scouting in the USA can be a little hard to understand. We have Cub Scouting for the younger boys. They join at about 7 years old and remain in Cub Scouting until they are about ten and half years old. The Boys belong to dens (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos Scout) The Dens meet weekly and come together once a month for a pack meeting. As a rule the adults are all volunteers. At about ten and a half years old the boys move into the Boy Scout Troop. Boy Scout Troops are all male and the upper age limit is 18 years old. Troops tend to meet weekly. Many try and have one outdoor activity a month with a week or more at camp during the summer. Nearly all the adults are volunteers. Venturing is a coed program for youth aged from 14 -21. Venturing units are called Crews. Sea Scouting is part of Venturing, it is also open to male and females. Sea Scout units are called Ships. Again just about all the adults in the programs are volunteers. The USA is broken down by geographical areas into Regions, the regions are broken down into Areas and the Areas are broken down into Councils, the Councils are then broken down into Districts. Most things outside of the unit happen at the District or Council level. Depending on size each Council has a Scout Executive who is a professional he has a staff of other professionals who serve the Districts (District Executives) Nearly all the training's offered are run by volunteers. A good place to find out more about the BSA is at the BSA web site: http://www.scouting.org/ I'm a little unsure if this is the information you wanted? Please feel free to ask, I'm sure we can help make your presentation really great. Eamonn. (I happen to live in an area with a fair sized Polish population -Even one of our local churches has a Sunday Mass each week in Polish.)

Thanks Beav!! We call it a Pathfinder program. I have to be careful what I say!! This Pathfinder program is led by a super nice Lad from the Ship. He is 18 and really does his best to work with this group. Sadly it seems that the group is just to large for him and his assistant to manage. As we know holding the attention of a large group of young Lads this age can be very hard. Talking with the Lad from the Ship he says some weeks are better than others -depending on the group. Some SM's visit and see young Scouts not paying attention and goofing off and blame the staff. I know that I run the risk of being an old stick in the mud. But ... (you knew it was coming!!) I see learning the basics as being way too important to pass off to someone who might not do a good job. I see First Class as being the key to open new adventures and challenges. I'm saddened to see Scouts who hold back from doing things or joining activities just because they don't have the skills. If (and hopefully it's not?) this T-2-1 is some kind of fast track program ? I would want no part of it. Get the little guys to camp. Let them have fun. Work on a couple of MB's. Come home with a few targets from the ranges, a basket or two. This past weekend our flotilla held the Winter Training Weekend. One Ship is offering Camp Able. It seems that a couple of Scouts from our Ship seem interested. I'm not saying very much (You know how hard that is for me!!) The flyer reads: Make Able Sea Scout rank in one week! Course Description: You will be taught each of the mandatory and electives the Able Sea Scout rank. This course will include engines (safety and trouble shooting); Marlinspike seamanship (splicing); navigation (dead-reckoning and piloting); safety; radio telephone procedures; anchoring; and rules-of-the-road. You will be in a classroom situation on "odd" days but at sea during "even" days putting your newly acquired skills to use maneuvering sailing vessels ranging in size from 30 to 39 feet. I might not be the brightest light on the Christmas Tree, but covering all that to any degree of proficiency in a week? I know when I was 15 or 16, years old I couldn't do it. The sad thing is that some of the parents are now looking at me and wondering why their kid is still working on Ordinary having been in the Ship for a year. If there is any way Lisa can arrange to get these little Lads away to camp for a week I think she should go for it. I think I'd want to know all the details: Who was running, how big a staff, the program, before I'd sign up for this T-2-1. Scouts who come home with a paper saying that they have passed all these requirements when they really don't know the stuff are unable to participate in the real adventures that Scouting can offer and that is a real shame. Eamonn.

Over the past few months I have seen "Eagle Scout coordinator" mentioned. This is new to me. What does an Eagle Scout coordinator do? Doesn't this take away from the SM's role? Is this something that some units have added or is there such a position? Eamonn

I have never heard of a T-2-1? I know what a summer camp is!! If I was unable to twist the arms of a few "Willing adults" maybe the T-2-1 might be an easy sale. (Less Time.) As long as you feel that the adults are not brain dead and have some training having them accompany and stay with the Scouts, ought not be a big deal!! I like the idea that these little Lads get a full summer camp under there belt and get to participate in all the fun and joys that a summer camp holds. But we the adults need to remember that we have to work to pay for our hobby and if we have obligations at home they have too come first. As far as our reservation goes? I'm happy to leave it with the Scouts!! They know that the longer they wait, the bigger the chance is that they will be unable to get the dates that they want. Part of the problem has been them waiting for dates of summer camps where they will be working this year -Part is -I think they are waiting to see if they get a better offer. Eamonn.

This sounds like a really tough situation. Even with a really good program (I don't mean to say that you offer anything but a really good program!!) Preparing the little lads who have just crossed over to go on a big trip, would be hard. While I would think that a good leadership team would and could manage the problems that bringing such a young group away for such a long time and such a distance, I'm not sure if it's the best idea in the world. Not just for the little Lads, but for the entire group. I can't remember where you are based? But without dealing with the little Lads you already face dealing with some very tired Scouts (And Adults.)If you are not used to the heat that will be a factor. Hopefully everything will go well, but if anything goes wrong : vehicle breakdowns, illness or sickness you really will have your work cut out. Adding 7-10 Scouts who are new to the program and that maybe you don't know that well? Will make things really hard. All you need is one little Lad to start feeling homesick and down in the dumps and it can and sometimes does bring the entire group down. Much as I know I'd be very tempted to just take the little guys and see what happens, all the time hoping for the best!! I kinda think once I sat myself down and had a chat with myself I'd see it wasn't for the best. While I was chatting with myself I'd look at my options. Option One - Do nothing for these new Lads? I don't like that one! Option Two - Really look into the T-2-1 program. Option Three - If we could do the T-2-1 program? Why couldn't we send this group to summer camp for a week? I think with some prodding and a little push you could get a parent (or two) to sign up as a new leader and have him or her take them. You don't need a lot of skills to take a group to a council run summer camp. If you talk to the people who run the camp, I'm sure they would be willing to keep an eye on the group. You seem to be doing better than we are!! Our Quarterdeck choose Pamlico Sea Base,but trying to get them to commit and pay the deposit really is like herding cats!! Eamonn.

During my Scouting career, I have been fortunate enough to be involved in Wood Badge in both the UK and in the US. I have participated as a participant in the Boy Scout courses and the Cub Scouter, staffed the old Boy Scout and Cub Scout courses along with the new course. Wood Badge is special and I hope will remain special. When I think about what makes it special? That's easy - The people make it special. Not just the staff but everyone. This of course doesn't mean that the course is good or is doing what is sets out to do. Looking back to the course I directed I can now see the things that I wished I had not done. I wish I hadn't asked the person who I did ask to take care of food to do that job. He did a terrible job! It was the big thing that stood out when I read the participants course evaluations. I wish I hadn't allowed a good friend to talk me into allowing his best friend to join the staff. Removing him wasn't a joy. A couple of years before I directed a course I staffed a course, where the staff was made up of mainly people who had been involved with the old Boy Scout course, in fact there were if I remember correctly no less than five ex Wood Badge Scoutmasters. Sadly most of them were there just to see how the course had changed. Most didn't like the changes and just didn't "Get it". My big fear when I read about the creativity and dare I say "Tweaks" is that if we are not careful we are going to return to a lot of what we tried so hard to get rid of! I staffed courses where some of this stuff and nonsense had become bigger that the course itself. The popcorn and movie posters are suggested in the syllabus. I haven't kept up to date with any new changes, but making the opening lunch a B&G? If I remember correctly? Haven't we already had the Bridging Ceremony and isn't this followed by a PLC done in the round? That doesn't seem to fit.( We added an extra "Gilwell Gazette a Cub Scout one which we gave to the participants as they arrived -They were at that time role playing being Webelos Scouts.) Many parts of the course are open to a lot of good natured fun. However knowing that there is a time and place for everything is important. Standing on Gilwell Field watching the staff play around kinda gets old kinda quick. There is time for some "Add ons" at some of the meals. We added Bushgunushaka Day, for lunch we served Kielbasa, kraut,pirogies and other Slovak treats and were entertained by the Dancing Babushka's (Very much like the Dancing Gumby's) As a course director you have to deliver the syllabus as it is written. To not do so would be breaking the pledge that you took. However as the CD you develop the staff and the course. You can stress the material that you think is the most important and work with this with your staff. Making the course special -Means making it special for the participants. You might need to "Bash them over the head with a 2X4" in order to make them understand that the course isn't about them or for them -It is for the participants. Along with that I would add that it isn't about you (the CD). My screen saver on my laptop has a WB photo of me, sitting around doing nothing!! My real work at the actual course was very minimal, that is the way it is supposed to be. I had done my work in developing the staff. I do think it's a shame that I can't return and try and fix the things that I didn't get right, it's a shame that you only get one bite of the cherry. But that's the rule. I think many Councils have a Mr. Woodbadge. In fact one of my best pals seems to have become one. Sadly he is so busy doing and attending courses that he doesn't really know what is going on in the field. He argues that the BSA hasn't changed that much since he was a SM in the early 70's. I argue that many of the Cub Scouters who attend the course weren't born then!! They see things very differently than he does!! (He hates anything that might be called technology . To him it's the root of all evil!! But the younger participants grew up with this and are open to it.) As a CD you can make the course special by reading the syllabus over and over and then read it a few more times. Look at what it is really saying, get a real grasp and understanding of it. I think you will find that nothing is in there by accident, everything is there for a reason. Stress to everyone that this is just a leadership course, it isn't going to make you proficient in outdoor skills or first aid. After the course is when the participants will have a better idea of what their vision and mission really is and they need to take whatever training's they need to reach their Vision and Mission. It might be learning to tie knots or maybe becoming a Scuba instructor. Scouter's are by nature a nice bunch, all sorts of different things can make something special. Some years back I went to the Training Center at Philmont to take Delivering Commissioner Service. As a smoker I went for a smoke in the designated smoking area,over the week of course the same people who had the same dirty habit were there about the same times as I was. I met some of the most interesting people and learned as much from them as I did at the conference. I still keep in contact with some of them. We don't know what anyone will take away from a training. We can do our best to set the best example possible in every way. A good place to start if you are the CD is by taking a long hard look at your values and the Scout Oath and Law. With these as your compass it's really hard to not make it special. Eamonn.

You might say that I'm very much a "Company Man"? I'm not for "Big Tweaks!" As we have said over the past few months, some tweaks are acceptable and maybe needed. Over the years,I have fell for the "Fastest Growing Program" and all that stuff. Last year when I brought up the decline in Venturing Membership,at an Area meeting I was told it was due to some Councils adjusting membership totals. Some Venturing Crews,were being moved to LFL. I knew that over the years the Venturing membership numbers had been? Shall we say enhanced? In fact at that time, while of course I was not happy to see the membership go down, I was happy to see that maybe at long last we might get some idea of what the real numbers were? Sadly the numbers are still going down. I do believe that a program for older youth is needed. I'm really happy that it is or can be coed. I just think that what we have doesn't work. Adding more and more Awards is not the answer, in fact it is only adding to the confusion. The first step to fixing the problem is to see if we really do have a problem? If we do? We need to admit it and see what can be done to fix it. This might mean restarting from scratch and a complete make-over. I of course know that nothing ever happens over night, but I would like to see something that works in my lifetime. Eamonn.

While I will never in a thousand years think of myself as a "Program Cop". I do feel that I am obligated to play this game by the rules. While there are some Venturing units that seem to have made Venturing work and work well. As a program it just isn't working. I have really tried to sell the program to organizations that would seem be a good fit for the areas of interest. They either seem to be happy with what they are offering already or just not interested in what we have to offer. The Crews that do seem to be making a go of it have adults who were already in Scouting. This can and does work when the adult has a special skill or area of interest. Sadly, many of the adults who get involved don't have the area of interest or the skills. Many lack a understanding of youth in this age group. This is one reason why so many new Venturing Crews are one year wonders. I'm not sure about the age group? 14 through 20? I don't know too many 19 year olds who want to hang out with 14 year olds. Still by about 18 many of the members are off to college and are not active. While maybe youth this age don't want to be pressured into chasing the mighty merit badge, they still like to work on advancement and they still like to be recognized, not having advancement as a method is a little silly. I hear a lot of people talking about the decline in both Cub Scout and Boy Scout membership. Has no one noticed the decline in Venturing membership? Has no one noticed that of the total available youth, we are just not reaching them? When do we say that the time has come to admit that what we have just isn't working and sit down and start working on plan "B"? Eamonn.

I'm happy you found it. But. Posted: Friday, 11/19/2004: 12:28:38 AM I have and I don't know where it came from a CD, which has a picture of a very old and very rusty farm tractor, the type with metal wheels. It is titled:Broad Creek Memories. The Disk only has two songs, one is Broad Creek Memories, the other is: The Eagle On His Chest.Music & Lyrics by Mike Huneke, who also sings the two songs. Produced by:Bleu Jay Productions. www.bleujay.com Don't know if this is it? Eamonn Kinda sounds like the same to me?? Eamonn.

Not sure how things work in Middle Georgia? I'm also a little puzzled by : "we're still struggling to get some Scouts and leaders to complete their paperwork" What paper work? In our Council. Packs recharter in January and Troops in February. When a new member joins he or she is charged the full membership fee. In our Council we add $1.00 for insurance. As a rule most new members are Cub Scouts who join in September. The Council Registrar prepares the re-chartering packets. As a rule these are ready by the end of September. These are given to the District Commissioner. He really doesn't want them and will do what he can to get rid of them PDQ!! He gives them to the UC or if the Unit doesn't have a UC he tries to off-load them to an Assistant District Commissioner. The UC meets with the Committee Chair and goes over what is needed to "Do the paper work" As a rule all that is needed is the print out that the registrar down loaded from Scoutnet, which shows who are members of the unit. Anyone who is no longer a member can be removed by putting a line through there name and other information. We provide an Overflow Sheet for new members. There is a Sheet for Quality Unit and a sheet for the unit budget. All of this is left with the CC. The UC reminds the CC that the Executive Officer does need to sign the paper, tells them that checks are needed and makes a date when he can pick up the completed packet. The CC is now left holding the packet. He or She contacts the unit leader and asks for a membership inventory of both Adults and youth members. After the list of who the members is received, the treasurer is asked to cut the check. The CC gets all the necessary signatures. Some units do ask that adults pay their own membership fee, so that might slow things down a little. There is also the matter of 83 cents per month for people who signed up early. But we charged them the full amount so we are still about $2.50 per member in the hole!! The Council popcorn sale is in November and we take the money from there. Rechartering fees and in some units Boy's Life Magazine are budget items, after asking for the first fee we never ask again. Some Councils now do this entire thing on line. We are changing next year. Back when I was a District Commissioner, I tried to get everyone to think of the packet as a "Hot Potato". Something you want to get rid of as quickly as you can. I really did everything I could to make sure that the packet was never ever in 1000 years given to the Unit Leader. These people are busy delivering the program and they lose stuff!! My goal was to get the charters in a month early, so that we (the commissioner staff) could go over the names that had been crossed out and invite them to rejoin. As a rule I took over the Council Service Center for a night and used their phones!! (They have more phones than me!!) I did spring for the pizza and as a rule a good many of us got waylaid before going home to enjoy an adult beverage. This of course was not a uniformed meeting. Eamonn

Commissioner's membership runs from one charter year to the next. Just like all volunteers. Each year the list should be presented to to the Council Executive Board for their approval. This list is normally made by the District Commissioner, working with the Council Commissioner. Eamonn

"Eamonn, you read that? He just called you 'elderly', tee hee" I think I can live with being called "Elderly" Heck at times I feel positively down right OLD!! Still packsaddle, if you had posted that you seen me in the Fossil Hall? I might be worried. Eamonn

Thank you. Eamonn

While I can't say much about what happens in other parts of the country. In our District /Council we have a number of units that are offering what I might call a cafeteria type program. Someone at sometime has chosen what parts of the program they like and will use and decided not to use parts or bits that maybe they don't like. Somehow the term Program Cop, to me seems to say that someone, someplace has the power to make them stop. As far as I know, other than the COR (And the SE in some cases) No one can arrest these "Offenders", no warnings or citations are available to issue. So there are no program cops. As for: "The cops are some of the posters in this & other forums who feel the BSA leaves no room for interpretation" If you ignore them or just don't read them you aren't going to get upset. -Try doing that to the cop that pulls you over!! Eamonn.

Have to admit to having never heard this before. At some stage I suppose if something is changed or altered enough it stops being what it once was. When someone picks up the ball, changes the shape of the ball and adds a few extra players, it isn't soccer any more it's something else. American football is like rugby, which is like, Gaelic football, which is like whatever they play in Australia. What we know as soccer today is a lot different that what was played and outlawed in the UK during the middle ages. Back when I a Lad a lot of my summer was spent in the local park with a few pals playing what we called soccer. We had a soccer ball, grass, the goals were made of four shirts, there were no sidelines, no refs, no offside, no free kicks, no penalties, no timed game. It was great fun. But was it soccer? We thought so. The Lad who joins a Boy Scout Troop, unless he has been in some other Troop accepts what is offered as being Boy Scouting. Many if not most parents are in the same boat. I'm not sure who the "Cops" might be? If they are the Commissioner Staff? I, if I'm the SM can let our UC know that I don't require or want his/her services and tell him/her to take a hike. He or She can report me and all my wrong doings to just about anyone he or she thinks will listen. If they decide to take it further, I can tell them to take a hike as well. Maybe if the CO becomes unhappy with my performance, they can tell me to take a hike. Who are these program cops? Eamonn.

Please don't take this the wrong way. But is there a reason why the BPSA-USA is not recognized by the World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS)? Eamonn.

Hi Welcome to the forums. I'm a little unsure about this "work on Rank Advancements". Sure there are some requirements that do need the Scout to sit down and show that he has mastered a skill. By far the best way for him to learn the skill is having him use it, while maybe not knowing that at the same time he is working on advancing. Grab a copy of the Boy Scout Handbook and read it. When you are done take some time to think about how you can make the activities fun and interesting for the Scouts. The best way to learn how to use a map and compass is not in the Scout meeting place but by going on a hike. Knots and lashings are more fun when used as part of a pioneering project. Backwoods cooking or having a nationality theme for all the meals at a camp out adds more interest. Now that you are an adult leader take on the role of being an Imagine-er. Go out of your way to look for and find fun ways to do and present the skills. Some of them will fail, but even these can be fun and the Scouts (and you) will learn from them. I know I have posted this before but... Some years back at a meeting in our Scout Hall, I came up with the "Brilliant" idea of a knot relay. I wanted it to be different, so I gave each patrol a gal of water, a backpacking stove and a pound of Fetuchini. The idea was they had to light the stove (outside) boil the water, cook the pasta, cool it and tie the pasta using Scout knots to form a long line/rope. The race it-self went well, the Scouts really got into it. But after the found that placing handfuls of cold wet pasta down the back of each others shirts was a lot of fun. Soon there was pasta everywhere!! Clean up seemed to take for ever. The idea was a good one. Just the wrong location!! We all learn from our mistakes. In time we can look back at them and see how funny things were. Adding something or a twist to an activity can make it more fun. How about orienteering using back bearings? Eamonn.

You don't say what sort of Crew? If you have the capability to use audio and video? The girls might want to work on a short video or power point presentation to go along with the posting of the flags? Adding music shouldn't be hard. I'm sure that they could find their own but Johnny Cash, Ragged Old Flag comes to mind. As does Cash and the Song of the Patriot. Finding some way of recognizing the service men and women / Veterans in the District might be nice. Eamonn.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness . . ." Looking back over this past year. Wow!! What a year. I do want to thank all of you who have kept my family in their prayers. When I found out that the cancer that we thought we had beaten had returned to Her Who Must Be Obeyed (Jamie, my wife). I was so darn mad. Mad at everything and everyone, even God!! I think that I was more upset than she was. At times over the past few months, I looked at the refrigerator door. Once it was our private and personal gallery for the works of art that OJ had made. Thanksgiving turkeys formed by tracing his little hand, pictures of people with big eyes and only three fingers. Changed into some chaotic magnetized filing system. The magnets holding cards from Doctor's offices telling and reminding us of when and what time we should be where. Chemotherapy is no joy. Sure the staff at the Arnold Palmer Clinic, were wonderful; helpful, informative and did everything they could to be up-beat. Thankfully the chemo is now done. The Doctor who never struck me as being an optimist informs us that the cancer marker in the blood CS25 or whatever is now back in the normal range, the CAT scan shows that the enlarged lymph-nodes are shrinking and told her to go home and grow some hair. We have had to smile at the people who have commented about how good she looks!! Her "New hairstyle" and all the weight she has lost!! Over the past few months I found myself doing things I never thought I could or would ever do!! I took on the role of being the keeper of the pills, the pill pusher, the "You need to eat more" nagger. I even ventured into the depths of the laundry room!! Strange how if anything we both are now closer and seem to love each other more than we ever have. As yet I'm not sure if we have won the war, but we seem to be winning a few battles. The winning seems to be pulling me out of the dark and cheerless places I have been hiding in. With all this going on, the time I had for Scouting and the Ship was cut back. Still the memories of last summer, the warm days spent kayaking in Savannah. Remembering how happy the Scouts were as I listened to them chatting as I drove back to PA. How very proud they were of their 56 miles and how much I ached. I remembered asking myself should a 50 year old with a bad back be trying to keep up with these young adults? The truth of course is that I was as proud as they were!! Unable to leave Her Who Must Be Obeyed alone without bringing in someone to stay with her, my involvement in other areas of Scouting seemed to fade. Even Scouting magazine, which I used to read from cover to cover ended up with all the other unread and soon to be placed in the trash trade and professional magazines. I think I know that I'll never be the Scouter I once was. I'll be happy to do my best for the Ship and the Sea Scouts. I do know that I will be a better husband and partner. Again many thanks for the thoughts, prayers and kind e-mails. 2007 is now only hours away. I have no idea what it will bring. The calender is already looking kind of full! I wish you all a great year. "A boy's story is the best that is ever told. Eamonn

I like to think Scouter's are nice people. We do what we do because we like kids and want to grow and do well.Just about all of us will go out of our way to do what we can to help a Scout. Staying with the "Pull Ups" that were mentioned in the other thread. I read "Show improvement" as just that. The Scout should do a little better or a lot better than he did 30 days ago. I don't see where it says go from 2 to 3. He just has to do better than he did a month ago. This to my mind is not a tweak or any sort of an adaptation. We have a Troop in the District that automatically gives Scouts who were Webelos Scouts their Tenderfoot Rank. This to my way of thinking is not helping the Scouts, it doesn't help them grow or do any better. In fact it seems to send the wrong message from the very start. Another Troop has set the number of pull ups needed. (I can't remember the number.) This is also not the way I see it should be done. Some things seem very clear to me? If the requirement states demonstrate and tie six knots. The number of knots isn't 4 it's 6. There is a judgment call as to when the Scout ties the knots. Do you sign him off the on the night that you have spend many happy hours working with him? Or do you wait a while and then see if he remembers how to tie the knots? I'll admit I'm for waiting a week, but I am also very forgiving. I'll do everything I can to help him get it right even if he needs to have several attempts at each knot. The 20 night requirement for the Camping MB is questioned a lot. "What is camping? I don't see any real rush. A Scout will spend 20 nights in a tent long before he reaches the age of 18.Many Scouts will have the 20 nights in within a couple of years. A few years back a new SM called me unsure what to do. He had a Scout who was working on the cooking requirements for First Class. It seems that the Scout did a great job of cooking but when it came to lunch he forgot to lead the patrol in saying grace.He did so at breakfast and dinner. My advise was for him to talk with the Scout and tell him that as a rule we do say grace before every meal and at the next camp out have him make up the requirement. Again not following the letter of the requirement, but doing what was best for the Scout. Some units have a moment of silent prayer before meals. Is this "Saying grace"? I don't see this as adapting the program. Where as the unit that decides that they are never going to say grace is adapting the program. As we try to serve the Scouts in the program we at times do have to do what is best for the Scout. As a parent I have seen OJ come home with a ton of math homework. He has at times moaned and groaned that he can't do it and doesn't understand it. I could very easily have him sit down and write the answers that I come up with (Who knows I might even get them right!!) I could leave him alone and let him struggle, becoming more and more frustrated. Or I can step in and go over one or two of the questions with him explaining how to do it. Of course the hard and fast truth is that he really hasn't done all his homework, I have helped him. But isn't trying to help him grasp and understand the reason for the homework? Sure the grade is important. But if that was the only important thing I could do all of his homework. Sure him getting it all wrong might send a message to the teacher that he or she isn't doing that great a job of teaching? But in my eyes I'm doing what is best, but not abusing the system. Eamonn.

Ken Hager of Section NE-4B was elected to serve as the 2007 Northeast Region Chief earlier today at the National Planning Meeting in Dallas, TX. Congratulations to Ken as he leads the Northeast Region into the 2007 year. Ken Hager is an Eagle Scout from Troop 610 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania and is always found doing something that involves Scouting. Currently, Ken is the Section NE-4B Chief in his second term, just following his two-year term as Lodge Chief of Wagion Lodge #6. Recently in his home lodge, Ken was presented with the Thunderbird Award, being only the 102 person to ever receive the honor. He has attended the past two NOACs and was a member of the 2006 NOAC Shows Staff at Michigan State University. Ken hopes to some day become a schoolteacher in his hometown, and will be working towards that goal at California University of Pennsylvania in the fall. Ken is looking forward to an awesome year for the Northeast Region! From : http://www.northeast.oa-bsa.org/ Ken was just a little fellow when he went as a Scout to the 2001 National Jamboree. I was knew I was very fortunate to have such a great Lad in the Jamboree Troop. Over the years Ken and OJ became very good friends and I watched as Ken grew into the great "Kid" he is. Back in 2005 I was honored when he again joined me at the National Jamboree, this time as the JASM. I really am overjoyed to see one of "My" boys do so well and I'm sure he will serve the region well as Chief. Eamonn.

I can't help thinking that just as we treat each Scout as an individual, we need to do the same for adults. My big question to myself would be; "Why are they doing it like that?" Back when I was District Commissioner, I liked to think I kinda knew who the Scoutmasters were and what sort of program they offered. We have the guys who know they are doing things not as they should. They really don't care and think what they are doing is better than can be found any place. Trying to do anything with them is not going to achieve anything. However to ease my conscience, I would try and find the right time and place to have a word in the ear of the SM or who ever was in charge. I might back it up by e-mailing him /her a copy of the Board of Review Training found at http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/supplemental/18-625/index.html We have a few people who might not know that what they are doing is not the way it should be done. Again depending on my relationship with them, I would make mention of it. We also have the people who as a rule do things by the book. While I don't see them inviting youth members to sit in on a BOR, there has been an occasion when a BOR was supposed to sit and at the last minute someone has called saying that they can't make it. They have asked me to sit in. Rather than cancel the BOR and let the Scouts down I have agreed to sit in. I would say that this is very much the exception and not the rule. Commissioner Service is about knowing the people you serve. You bet there were times when I wished I could have found a phone booth and changed into my Super Commish uniform and rushed in faster than a speeding bullet to save Scouting as we know it. But that isn't the way we do things. We can try and educate those who want to be educated. We can provide the information, but what happens after that is not in our hands. As we all know the penalty for not following the program (Where no one gets hurt or harmed) is raised eyebrows or a shake of the head. If we really are a true friend of the unit, we will try to do what is best for the unit. Even if that means staying away!! If of course the DE hears that the program is not being followed and he is meeting with the IH and brings it to his attention. We are in a different ball field. So far as I know we have only ever had one unit (A Crew) which the Council (SE) refused to recharter, because he didn't feel what they were doing was in line with the values of Scouting. As a Council we have all sorts of units, that have tweaked the program. We have the Camo Guys, the Eagle Scout Mills, the Troops that never camp, You name it and I think we have it. Sure other units look at what they are doing in disbelieve. Sure the adults in charge of these units seem to think what they are doing is for the best or better than the product that is being offered. They keep doing what they do, because they can. Eamonn.

OK, I'll add my two cents. I have never seen this Stages of Morality before. When I read the BSA Vision Statement I read: "...In the future Scouting will continue to Offer young people responsible fun and adventure; Instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law; Train young people in citizenship, service, and leadership; Serve America's communities and families with its quality, values-based program. In the Mission Statement I read: The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. So looking over the "Stages of Morality which stage is the best fit? "Pre-Conventional 1. Obedience/Punishment: I do it because if I dont, Ill be punished. We might not like to admit it but a lot of what we do or don't do is from fear of the consequences. 2. Self-interest: I do it because Ill get what I want.? Again a lot of what we do is based on "What's in it for me?" Conventional 3. Conformity: I do it because Ill fit in. I see this working for good and bad. The group that gets into doing bad stuff because everyone is doing it and the group that does good stuff again because everyone is doing it. 4. Authority: I do it because its the rule, and rules are necessary for society. We need to have rules/laws. But we also need to have a way of changing rules or laws that are unfair or don't work. Post-Conventional 5. Social Contract: The rules are flexible, together we do whats best for the general welfare. Sounds wonderful but who is the We? At some time doesn't this contract become the rule? 6. Universal Principles: The rules are irrelevant. I do what is categorically right each time I make a choice. I wonder what if anything guides this choice? 7. Transcendent Principles / Saintliness: All human law and morality are irrelevant. I serve God with my whole heart. Serving God is a good thing, but as we see in the middle east when people take their own interpretation of the word of God or groups take a certain interpretation they run the risk of not serving God. As members of the BSA we take on the values of the Scout oath and Law.As Scouter's we work toward Serving America's communities and families with its quality, values-based program. If we feel that we can't do this we are of course free to not belong to the BSA and not use the value based program. Eamonn.