Eamonn

Our Sea Scouts tease me a lot for always seeming to be getting on at them to drink lots of water and put on more sun screen!! Sometimes I don't even have to say a word and they hit me with "I know drink more water and lather up" Before last years Jambo I thought it was important, but having seen so many Scouts in pain due to not drinking enough, I'm now like a broken record. This summer on the personal equipment list we added a big floppy hat and sun glasses. Next year we are adding T-shirts with sleeves!! One Lad brought only sleeveless black T-shirts. He is a big Lad (XXL) I'm not very big and wear a med or a large shirt, but we squeezed him into a large. Some of our Scouts especially the girls thought I was being a little over the top when I told them to check the color of their urine!! Eamonn.

Sadly I don't see it as something to cheer about. It shows bad planning on my part and it seems all that good stuff I was supposed to know about being Prepared got lost along the way. My vision when we started was to have a bunch of about 20 -24 older kids and just go out and have fun on the water. I was worried when we got 30 Scouts. Now I'm really worried. I never wanted to do much more than just provide a program that would be fun to a small group. I really like the idea of knowing each and every Scout and I fear this is going to get to get lost. If these youth join and then don't get what they expect to get, they will be gone and at this age they will be gone for good. I really don't want to the one who ruins what could be a good thing for them, because we can't deliver the goods Eamonn.

I really don't think such a BSA list is in existence. The reason being that there are just too many tools and different sized motors. Different places, states and sites may have different rules. The tools your state allows young people to use might not be allowed if the project is being done on school property. Our Camp allows youth members to use lawn mowers but they are not allowed to use weed whackers. The use of all power tools does require adult supervision. Finding out what the local rulings are should be included in the planning part of the Eagle Leadership Service Project. Knowing what is and isn't allowed is part of leadership. Having the Scout check with the local Council and the organization that is receiving the project is the best way to go. Eamonn.

As you may know the movement to have Ducks allowed to become members of the BSA has been pushed by William Blue and G.W.Teal. They have both pledged unlimited funding to ensure each and every flyway is represented on the National Council. They ask that you give them a ring them on the 1-800 number 800-RINGNECK. Reports of a testing of the Duckreach program and decoy Ducks have been greatly exaggerated.The reports of faux fowl have ruffled a lot of feathers. Blue Bill is on record as saying the story in the New York Times headlined Wildfowling Tales is not true he goes on to say that the ducks he represents are real ducks and that no WonderDucks,Mallard Machines or Mojo Mallards are represented. He also states that he has no affiliations with the newly found DSA or the DSA magazine "Duck Calls". Eamonn.

I kind of touched on this some time back. My big concern is that we are just growing in size way too fast. For those who are new. A couple of Boy Scouts met a couple of Sea Scouts at the Jambo. They thought it would be a cool program. We chartered the Ship in November of 2005. Most of the Sea Scouts are also Boy Scouts, we do have a few ex-scouts, a few girls and a couple of Lads who never were Scouts or girls. Add this lot up and we have 32 Sea Scouts. Sea Scouting has a requirement that each Sea Scout has to introduce a new recruit. The guys we have working at Summer Camp have gone wild. They have been wearing dress uniforms to colors and really selling the program. One Lad came to the house today. He'd asked if I had any membership applications. I hadn't asked how many? When he arrived he said he wanted 20!! One retiring Boy Scout Activities Chair, had been up at camp and the Sea Scouts worked on him!! He phoned with an offer of a boat, his services and five more members. It seems that we have approx. 40 prospects. I know that not all of them are going to join. But there is no way we can manage a Ship of 50 Sea Scouts. Sadly we are the only Sea Scout Ship in the Council, we have one in West Virginia and there is one in Pittsburgh, about 45 miles away(I don't know how active they are, the West Virginia Ship is really active, but its a good 90 minute drive.) The general feeling that I got when I said we were starting the Ship, from the Scouter's in the Council was that I was off my rocker!! OK I admit I'm enjoying rubbing their nose in it!! Still I'm unsure what to do with so many Scouts? I really don't want to turn them away. I don't believe in waiting lists. I'm not going to go through all the hassle of starting another Ship and even if I did I don't know where I'd find the adult leadership? I'm not doing anything to recruit new members, even though I'd like to see a few more girls!! I don't have the time to split the Ship and run two meeting. We don't have a SE and the DE is about as much use pockets in your underwear. In fact the new general feeling seems to be "You knew this was going to happen and you asked for it!!" Sure I knew it was a good idea. But I didn't think we would grow this big, this fast. This year we only lost one Lad to college, next year we should lose four more.(They can remain on the charter but aren't going to be that active-This years loss has gone to North Dakota, he might be around for some activities.) We still have 4 more weeks of camp left, if the Camp Staff "Press Gang" keeps this up. I think we will have no alternative but to start another Ship and hope in time that we find the adults. Eamonn.

You might want to be a little more specific about what tools? The G2SS has in bold print: Chainsaws and mechanical log splitters may be authorized for use only by trained individuals over the age of 18, using proper protective gear in accordance with local laws. I don't know if this helps? Eamonn.

. I only know that he failed to complete the requirements because he started those merit badges with me. So if you didn't sign the card or issue a partial? And if he didn't complete the requirements. What happened? Eamonn. (I don't know if my little gray cells are 100%)

Fuzzy Bear I found that even stored in the Tupperware Box box the plumes tend to want to work loose. I have them wrapped in cling-film. If you are going to wear them: Avoid touching or pulling on the plumes. Try not to allow them to get wet!! If they do get wet remove from the hat and allow to air dry. If you wear a rain cover on your campaign hat-remove the plume and store in a safe place (not your pocket!!) before covering. If it seems that the plumes are starting to work a little loose a gentle press with large pliers seems to help. Many have a fastener on the back which is easily lost or can break with over use. Never try and take them apart- Trying to get them back together again is almost impossible. If you really want a better chance of finding one on e-bay, go to the UK e-bay site. Eamonn.

One for each point of the Scout Law and one for camping. At least so I was informed. Eamonn

Fuzzy Bear Being as we have: Eagles. Bob Whites. Owls. And I myself as a Scout in the UK was a Kestrel, who while spending a week at that Happy Land, became a cuckoo. I see no reason why Duck ought not be a Scout. I am the proud owner of a full set of Cigarette cards that the John Player Tobacco Company put out in the early 1950's. While not PC by todays standards, it shows Boy Scout and Girl Guide Patrols. There are 50 cards in the set, but no Ducks. This might seem like Duck Discrimination, however upon further investigation I noticed that there are no Geese, Hens or Turkeys. Delving further I noted that Pigs, Cows and Sheep are also not included. It would seem that this discrimination not only applies to Ducks, domestic fowl, but all barn yard birds and animals. I suspect that this might be due to an infiltration of 4H members to the ranks of Scouting. Eamonn.

I'm not understanding the Merit Badge thing. In our Council the Council provides a computer print out of the Scouts Scouting history. It shows all the dates of rank advancement and all the Merit Badges earned. Only Merit Badge Counselors who are on the list that is approved by the District Advancement Committee are allowed to counsel Merit Badges. Once the blue card is signed by the Counselor and the Scout Leader, it's a done deal. The Scout has met the requirements. (Please note I didn't say earned the Merit Badge.) If the card has been signed by Joe Blow or anyone who has not been approved the requirements have not been met. If earning Eagle is important to this Lad I would think due to the circumstances an extension would seem in order. If he then fails to meet the requirements he will join the 95% who didn't make it. Eamonn.

eaglescouter98 Welcome to the forum. I'm really trying to say this in as nice a way as I can. But..... I would hope that if you do manage to get one? That you don't wear it with the official BSA uniform, especially not at NYLT. I was just a little Scout when the "UK Scouting Advanced Party Report" came out. So I was one of the first to wear the then new Scout Uniform. My older brother wore the old style uniform, I think I may have his old Assistant Rover Scout Leader plume in my Tupperware box. In fact I think there a few in there. They do need special care as if they are not looked after they fall apart. Eamonn.

Thanks OneHour If this was just something that the adults had over heard as Ed states, it would still be not good. But if someone is upset it moves to the next level. Some years back in the District it seems an adult did this. The SE revoked his membership. I wasn't involved with any part of this. This Guy and the SM of The Troop were very close friends. His wife served as Treasurer for the Troop Committee. As a parent he still did what he could to help the Troop. His Son attended the 2001 NSJ, where I served as SM. I'm not really sure what role he played in the Troop, I think it was some kind of non-official Eagle Scout mentor?? But there was a falling out in the committee, someone said that they didn't think he should be there. (I agree.) The SM and some members of the Troop Committee started a campaign to get him reinstated. They asked if I would write a letter to the SE and to National. They were very unhappy with me when I said I wouldn't. In the end they were turned down flat. The term mooning seems to make this sound like fun. But when you call it indecent exposure, which is what it is. The fun just isn't there. What might be expected behaviour from a bus load of drunks is way below the standard we are trying to set for our Scout. Eamonn.

I don't see it as a Youth Protection issue. I don't see it as a prank. I see it as Unacceptable behaviour. I have to wonder how the adults found out? If a younger Scout was upset? Then it really is a problem. It needs to be dealt with ASAP and the entire Troop needs to know why it just isn't allowed. If there was an adult present that might be another problem? He might have been in the shower house trying to establish some sort of order? In which case he failed!! If he was just hanging out in the shower house, then you do have a real Youth Protection issue. The snapping with a towel might seem like a good idea but it goes against a lot of the guidelines. Eamonn.

Couple of thoughts. Never heard of a Key 4 before? All of our District Camporees are the same weekend of the same month every year. Troops know this and can use it when making an annual plan. When we (The District Committee) noticed that attendance was down, we looked at the programs we were offering!! They were really bad!! We looked at what didn't work. (Troops going back to their sites for lunch!!) We seen that there was very little planning. More that we had a theme and on Friday night a meeting was held to see if we could make it work - Most times we managed a half hearted, half miss-mashed kinda something. We looked at communication. It wasn't very good. We started to invite SPL's to R/T to help plan the events. We made sure that who ever the Activities Chairman had got to plan the event gave a full report to the District Committee before and after the event. We seen that we were trying to do everything at a set price. It didn't work. Different programs may at times cost more, so we priced the event accordingly and provided lunch in the price. I swore if I ever saw another String Burning Contest at a District Camporee I'd go nuts!! I had a hard time trying to get the District Committee to see that it was OK if some Troops were busy and couldn't attend and it was our role to offer activities that would support the Troops not get in their way. It worked we seen about 100% increase in attendance. My pet peeve is Venturers (As Crews) at Boy Scout Camporees. It's a Boy Scout event and if something needs done get a Boy Scout to do it. Sure a Venturer can pass on his skills if he has any. Let the Crews and Ships do their own thing. Eamonn.

I really don't want to bash or beat up on the professionals. Just like any group there are the good, the bad and the ugly. Part of the blame has to be taken by the Executive Boards. While maybe in some areas there are people who serve on Council Executive Boards, who really can make things happen in the Council. Either because they have the means to donate large amounts or they can influence others into doing so. Our last Council President (His term ended when mine did.) Had hoped that he could somehow talk the companies that are headquartered in the big metro council next door and donating to that Council, into realizing that a good number of their employees and customers do come from the next county. Sadly he didn't have much success. We don't in our area have the big corporations who can donate large amounts. Twenty years back the Board we had seemed to made up of a mix of volunteers and local business owners who owned small to mid-sized companies in the area. These guys knew their employees they knew what was happening in the community and while they didn't have the funds to make large donations they were willing to put their hand in their pocket and offer the services of what ever business they were in. It seems that these people have been replaced by guys who may manage a small part of a large company, but don't have the funds or the authority to do very much. It seems that we have a lot of people who sit on the board because it looks good on a resume. They may make the suggested $1,200 a year donation, but that's about it. I was a little upset when we discussed selling a Council owned camp site. -I looked around the room at the 35-40 people on the board and seen that only about 6-8 of us had ever visited the site. I don't mean never camped there I mean visited. At one time we had a very nice Lady who worked for a Hospice company as the Vice- President for membership. She was a super nice person, but never made a membership meeting and the reports that she gave to the Board came from the Field Director. Who before he got promoted was hailed by the Board as being a white knight for starting a 600 member "Venture Crew" (The School District didn't recharter it the following year and our membership was down the drain -But by then he was long gone.) This didn't seem odd to the Board as they don't know any different. Of course we all know who should be electing the Board members. Eamonn.

CC, I feel for you. Sadly what you describe is more common than we might like to think. I could give you one of my very long OJ, tales!! But I'll spare you that pain. The big question is what are you and your son going to do about it? Remembering that the main "Player" in all of this is your son. How would he feel about going to a new troop? Starting a new unit from scratch is really hard. I'm still trying to get things in ship shape order with the Sea Scout Ship. Of course everything and everyone starts out full of enthusiasm's. But not everyone will want to put the time and the effort into it. While the BSA will allow a new unit to start with only five youth members, if you only have five or six trying to make any activity where you don't get 100% attendance is really hard. If that percentage falls down to 50% or 25% it can be very disheartening for both the adults and the Scouts. Having no money and no equipment isn't much fun. Not to mention finding a CO. The DE and the District Membership Committee should be able to help you get started, but in what will seem a very short time they will not be there. The DE will be overjoyed at the prospect of having a new unit handed to him!! I however would make starting a new unit my very last choice. We have 93 Troops in our Council of the 93, I'll bet that there are only about a dozen that are what might be called "Text Book Units". Much as I hate to admit it there isn't one in our District. If you and your son were looking for that sort of unit in our Council, you would have to travel and your son more than lightly wouldn't have any of the Scouts in the same school as him. At times this can cause problems with dates as not all school districts follow the same calendar. If you want to stay close to home it might mean that some compromises have to made. I don't think that there is any quick fix for the Troop that you are presently in, I'm almost sure it will never be a text book type Troop. But maybe if you get involved and can help get others involved things will change. Not very fast but in time they will change. Having a face to face with the SM, might not be the way to go? Maybe working with and through the Committee and the CO might bring better results? You are not going to change things over night and you might want to pick your battles. There is also a chance that the SM is waiting for the opportunity to get the heck out of there, which would mean that someone would be selected to be the next SM. How do you and the rest of your family feel about you taking on such a large commitment? Do you have the time? How well do you get on with young people, even the older guys who have got used to just hanging out? No one can provide these answers for you. I'm sure if you think it all out you will make the right choice. Good Luck. Eamonn.

OJ along with four others from he Ship will be going. There was talk about some of them being involved with the stage shows? I'm not sure what ever came of it? I have to admit to never having had a burning desire to attend. In part because it seemed to me that a big part of it was all about patch trading and at times this trading seems more like high finance than Scouting. I have heard that each region will host a OA good turn in place of the regular NOAC next time out. Maybe because OJ is so involved? But it seems to me that our Lodge (Wagion 6) is a very big part of what Scouting is in our Council. I was deeply honored to receive Vigil honor last year. I'm certain that there are others who deserved it more than I did and having most of the officers from the Lodge as Sea Scouts in the Ship played a big part in it.Still after 28 years in the Lodge maybe it was a sympathy thing? OJ and the guys who attended the last NOAC all had a great time. Eamonn.

Scout acting or better yet dressed as a duck goes into a Sheetz type store (convenience, gas type store!! Lots of quacking and duck type noise's along with a silly walk. Sales person very politely asks: "Can I help you?" Duck replies "I'd like a pound of grapes please." Sales person: "I'm sorry this is Sheetz we don't sell grapes." Duck waddles out making lots of quacks and duck sounds. Duck returns -Lots of sounds and the silly walk. Sales person very politely asks: "Can I help you?" Duck replies "I'd like a pound of grapes please." Sales person: "I'm sorry this is Sheetz we don't sell grapes." Duck waddles out making lots of quacks and duck sounds. Do this two or three more times. Each time the sales person is getting more and more annoyed! Duck returns asking for a pound of grapes. Sales person has lost it!! He is really upset he looks at the duck and says: "What is the matter with you? Every day you come in here asking for a pound of grapes!! Everyday you come back asking for grapes, we don't sell grapes, we have never sold grapes, we never will sell grapes. If you ever come back in here and ask for a pound of grapes I'm going to nail those big Webbed feet of your's to the floor!! Duck leaves. Duck returns before he can say a word the sales person starts: "No not you again!! I told you yesterday we don't sell grapes, we never have sold grapes, but everyday you come in asking for grapes. The Duck looks at him and says "Can I have a pound of nails please?" A lot of over acting on the part of the Duck really helps. Eamonn. (Your Turn)

This subject seems to crop up every now and then. I'm with the Beav, in that I haven't noticed it get out of hand as of late. Some people might take a reply to something that has been posted as being unkind? When this was never the intention. Some of us know that others will disagree with whatever we post and would disagree if we were named Saint Peter. This is a strong case of "Taking Plenty Of No Notice" If someone is really getting up someones nose!! There is always the "Ignore this user" thing. I have only ever used it once, and that fellow has got on his bike and gone back to the Abbot. I would hope that we somehow manage to stike a balance. Sure there are the threads about issues that are very serious and near to someones heart. But we also spend time looking and talking about fun things. Eamonn.

I enjoy a good laugh as much as anyone. Over the years I've sat around many a camp fire and listened to the tales of pranks that will live on for ever. I have been involved in a good many pranks, some were really funny at the time, but are not worth retelling, some have been added to the camp fire list of tales. A lot of the best stories are about pranks that others have pulled on me!! I know that I'm big enough and that I'm able to laugh at myself. I do get a little worried when pranks take on a life of their own and people try to repeat them and improve on them. Things like stealing Lodge signs from Conclaves and NOAC, might seem like harmless fun, but it is still theft. Even at Wood Badge when I was CD, we had Saint Bushskinowski Day. We added all sorts of sausages and cabbage to the menu and Bubski Dancers, even if the music sounded more Greek than anything else and a pirogi eating contest. This was all done at times when it didn't interfere with the course and was just for fun. There can be a very fine line from what is a prank and what might be something that isn't very kind. I don't see this as being PC, just careful. Eamonn.

Beaver This past trip that we did made me very aware that I was having a hard time keeping up with the Scouts. Sure we got to where we wanted to be, but at times I found the going really tough. The ideal situation would be for a younger adult to lead them or go with them, not an old codger like myself with a very bad back. Sadly as yet we haven't found this younger leader and it kinda looks like we will have to "Grow" one. I really do hope you didn't find my posting to be upsetting or in any way rude. Please know that was never my intention. At the end of the day I like to think we all do what we can to provide the fun, adventure and challenges that keep the Scouts in Scouting. One of the really nice things about Scouting is that there is a job or role for anyone who can spare the time. Right now I don't feel as if I'm the right person to be looking after young Scouts, they have far too many needs and have parents!! I suppose I could do it? But for the present I'm happier with the older kids. The time each of us spends serving the Scouts is no more important than the time everyone spends. At the end of the day we have promised to do our best. Knowing what our limitations are does help meet this end. Eamonn.

Some years back when I became a District Commissioner, I was invited to sit on our Council Executive Board. Then someone said that District Commissioners weren't supposed to be on the board and I received a letter thanking me for my past services. Not having to attend another meeting and pay for a very bad dinner, didn't upset me in the least. At that time I was very close to our District Chairman, so both of us being there wasn't that important. Our District Chair and the SE got into a very nasty and heated argument over finical goals. Sadly our Chairman lost his temper and used some Anglo-Saxon terms to inform the SE what he could do. Soon after that he quit Scouting. I took his place on the board. The nominating committee met and nominated me to be the District Chair. The term of office is three years. My three years ended last December. In January the board gave me a gift and once again thanked me for my past services. I was happy to move on for lots of different reasons. Knowing that my time would soon be up as District Chair. I'd started the Sea Scout Ship and was really happy to be back with the youth members. We had a new DE who to my mind was (is) as useful as pockets in my underwear and has the communication skills of a dead frog. I seemed as District Chairman to spend a lot of time trying to prevent, shall we say unacceptable things from happening in the District, mainly in the area of membership. This time last year it became very clear that the Council was in very deep financial trouble. A lot of finger pointing was done. The local United Way had just informed us that they were not going to fund any organization that had an endowment fund, so we and 38 other organizations were going to be de-funded over the next 3 years. We had been receiving a little under $90,000 a year. So last year we lost $30,000. The numbers seemed to show that we had lost a lot of money at Summer Camp. We were going to end the year $250,000 in the red. The board met and cuts were discussed. However the feeling was that we didn't want to cut the level of service and the board agreed that we all as a board had to do more to bring more money in. Not as hard as it sounds because there was a golf outing that brings in $100,000. This money had gone into the endowment fund, but was now being ear-marked to go into the general fund. So that meant that we only needed to come up with $150,000 plus the $30,000 that we knew we were not receiving from the UW. I know how bad this is going to sound!! But, I was happy to be out of there and not on the board. I still get a lot of the reports as I sit on the area committee. As a District Chairman, I had my own way of doing things. I used the year end membership numbers as a goal, but used the numbers from rechartering as the real numbers. I tracked each units membership and in some ways bullied everyone into ensuring that we met our year end goal. I met with our Community FOS Chair once a month and we went over the reports. At any given time we knew how the campaign was coming along. But once my term was over, there was no need for me to do so. One reason was I was busy with the Ship, the other being that no one asked me!! Here we are seven months later. I don't have the District Membership numbers, but from what I hearing they are worse than bad. In fact all the Districts seem to be in sad shape. While some of the Council ran fund raising events have done a little better than last year, they don't come any where near to making up the shortfall. Our SE has found a job in another Council (Hey Ed you have a new Director of Field Services.) I kinda like the SE. I was his ticket counselor for his WB.I hate to admit it but I feel he knows how bad things really are and is jumping ship before everything hits the fan. Before we can (not me!!) get a search committee together we are supposed to do a feasibility study into a council merger. On one side of us we have a big Metro Council and on the other we have a very large (in geographic terms) sprawling rural Council, which just replaced their SE because of his lack of fund raising availability. I hate to seem full of doom and gloom, but things just don't seem to be going well. Events both District and Council don't seem very well attended. The Training Team is falling apart. Cub Scout Resident Camp has had to be cut back due to lack of Cub Campers. Units seem to be folding and the only new Unit in the Council within the last year is the Sea Scout Ship. The Ship, the Sea Scouts and little old me can carry on, no matter what happens. I'm not sure if a merger is a good or a bad thing. I don't like the idea of being part of the big metro council, their turnover of staff is horrendous. We as volunteers in the Council all seem to know each other and either manage to get along or avoid those we can't get along with!! We have a very attractive endowment fund. Our big camp is in a state park, so we don't own the land. We have the most active Lodge in our Section and we have some really outstanding and knowledgeable volunteers. It would be a shame to see us lose our identity, but I'm starting to think that this really is the beginning of the end. I'm sure many of us will still keep the faith and continue to serve the youth in our communities. After all a change of CSP isn't the end of the world. Eamonn.

acco40 It remains the same. Eamonn.

Sounds like next time they go, your going to have to go with them? A pal of mine just sent me some wonderful photos of NT. Looks great but next year I hope we can do something that isn't powered by me!! I'm hoping we can do Sea Base. Glad everyone is safe and had a good time. Eamonn.