Eamonn

Reading the Thread about cheating in Georgia, got me thinking. Someone posted that we provide a program that the youth desperately need. Don't get me wrong, I'm a great supporter of Scouting and very active in Scouting. Still I'm a little unsure if the youth we serve are in desperate need of the programs we offer? The Scout-reach idea is a good one. I'm 100% behind doing everything we can to get kids who might never be Scouts or members into the BSA. This isn't easy. I was the SM of a inner-city Troop for almost 12 years, the Troop was 60% non-white, with a good number of the kids coming from subsidized housing and troubled homes. We didn't manage to retain every Lad who looked in. Some were happy doing the stuff they were doing. Which a lot of the time was just hanging out and getting into trouble.In a lot of cases I had to be content just knowing that we had given it our best shot. Much as I hate to admit it I now believe that while Scouting is for every Lad (Lass) Not every Lad is for Scouting. If a unit is to really survive, it need to be wanted. Wanted by the people in the community it is in. Sadly, at least in the Council I'm in, this fact seems to be pushed aside. We send in paid volunteers (Americore)where we think they will do some good or at times where a group like HUD will allow us in. We fudge the paper work to remain legal, having some organization who will never really get involved or care about the unit become the on paper chartering organization. The programs offered really are not like anything I would ever call "Real Scouting". Instead we offer a water down, cut and paste activity. Some units only receive the visit from the "Scout Guy" once a month. I have questioned our Scout-reach program. I'm not sure if the answers I got are just plain lies? Or based on lack of real information? When I asked why we allow charters to go through without the names of real kids on? I'm informed that "We can do this because the kids in these areas are transient." I went into the areas and this just isn't the truth. I asked why we don't have real chartered organizations charter units in the community's? I'm informed that there are none. When I visit these areas on a Sunday, I see lots of well dressed people flooding out of the local churches. I see in the newspaper the good work these churches are doing. I feel sure if we could get a toe in the door and make the right presentation we could working on building real Scouting units that the community would want and support. I suggested that we look for funds to use as seed money to get these units off the ground. Help pay for equipment, uniforms, books, training's. I was told that we can't afford it. Yet we can come up with $27,000 a year to pay the volunteer. I talked with the volunteer. He said he only gets to the units once a month, so he really doesn't get to know the kids a lot of the kids forget when he is coming. I spoke to the Director of a juvenile detention center which has on paper a Crew, which the DE is to be taking care of. He said that they were unhappy with the program as the DE never showed up.Every kid in that facility is a real kid, on a real charter, but I question if they are "Real Venturers?" Making Quality is a big boost to everyones ego. One year when our Council didn't make it our Council President called a meeting of all the District Key 3's and moaned and groaned about how embarrassed he was that he had to remain seated when all the other Council Presidents got to stand up at the National Meeting. He gave each member of the District Key 3 a contract type sheet of paper which said we would make Quality District. I was a District Commissioner at the time, our District Chairman refused to sing it and resigned. In 2004 we didn't bring in enough money and didn't really qualify to make Quality Council. Still an Ex-Council President found a way of cooking the books and we made it. In 2005 it came back to bite us in the tail and we ended the year in the red or we would have if $160,000 which should have gone into the endowment fund had gone where it was supposed to and we hadn't borrowed money from the fund. The time has come for us to stand up and face the truth. Membership in service organizations is down. Attendance at Baseball games is down. People are not going out to watch movies. Our small town had eight little league baseball teams, now they can only get two. Attendance at church services is down. Even our Soccer league which once had 325 kids, now only can muster up 200. Why should Scouting be any different? Why can't we just admit it? Eamonn.

SR540Beaver I'm not trying to hijack the thread but... My little sister, seven years younger.When she finished university thought she needed to "Find herself"? Whatever that might mean. When I finished college Dad paid my airfare to come to the USA as part of the International Camp Counselor program. I didn't really find myself, I found Her Who Must Be Obeyed!! Pat (My sister) decided that she would go and work on a development project in India. She said it was very hot and found that the best thing to wear was mens cotton PJ's. Her main mode of transportation was a very ancient early 1940's mans bicycle. At the time she left England Punk Rock was big. Her hair was at least four different colors. She was only the second white person the villager's had ever seen. I can just imagine what they were thinking: "Hey if this is civilization? We really don't need it!!" Right now she is in Hong Kong. A very well respected and very well dressed Barrister. Eamonn. I got Her Who Must Be Obeyed. She might have ended up with him that hisses or barks. I'd never have got to be Uncle Eamonn.(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

I have not been involved with NYLT. In fact most times I get the name wrong! We do have one Lad in the Ship who is also in a Troop. He is very active with NYLT at both the Council and the Regional level. In the spring our Council offered the course over two weekends and later this summer will offer it again as a week-long course. This is only the second year we have offered the course. Last year we only had the week-long course and didn't have many takers. For the weekend course in the spring we had Scouts from other Councils join with our Scouts. Sadly we are using the same youth staff. This does eat into a lot of weekends, in fact a huge amount when you add in the development weekends. I really don't know how this Lad fits everything in. He is a Vice Chief in the Lodge, active in his Troop, in fact just had his Eagle Scout COH, active in Sea Scouts. A really bright Lad who spent a week in Washington DC taking the Presidential Class. He is working on the Ranger Award. Just keeping up with him makes me tired!! NYLT seems to really have captured his imagination, who ever presented the Training for it for the NE-Region at Camp Alpine did a first class job. Eamonn.

"that my only obligation is to bring back the same number of bodies, preferably alive" It would seem we take it one step further, we bring back the same bodies that we went with. Most parents seem happy with this. I tried to palm OJ off a few times but there were no takers. I think they heard about how much he eats!! No problem with him being picky!! I swear he has a black hole for a stomach. Eamonn.

Yes Trevorum Already there is a rumor that the Bhubaneswar Dog has been sniffing around. Eamonn.

George Harrison (To my mind the most under-rated Beatles member) Wrote: Arrive without traveling See all without looking Do all without doing. Over the past few weeks in the forum there has been a lot said about the "Uniform Police". To be very honest I really don't care!! I'm very happy to take plenty of no notice of this sort of thing. If I in my heart of hearts know that I'm doing my best to be in correct uniform and I'm working with the Scouts I serve toward that goal, everyone else can put up or shut up. When it comes to the Methods of Scouting, I think we all struggle with the Ideals. Just when we seem to be getting there the bar gets raised. I'm OK with that. But the Method that I struggle most with is Advancement. In theory it ought to be easy. The requirements are there in black and white. We know that we are not supposed to add or subtract from the requirements. So the Scout should come along do what is needed to meet the requirements and move on. Hey even a Dumbo like me ought to be able to manage that! After all it isn't rocket science. I don't see myself as a taskmaster, nor do I see myself as a easy mark. If the requirement is to swim 75 yards -The Scout has to swim 75 yards. If he is having a hard time and still covers the 75 yards, he has met the requirement, but I try to encourage him to practice and get better. Sadly if he doesn't and next time out he is unable to swim 75 yards, he has still met the requirements. All we as adults can do is provide the encouragement for him to improve. I have to own up to at times becoming a little upset at the people who seem to want everyone to feel good and hand out badges, awards and whatever just because the Lad has turned up. I think this doesn't provide the challenge that Scouts need (Yes need!) And misses the mark when it comes to ethics. Some of the Scouts in the Ship are a little upset, because we have adopted the idea that this is a new program, a new day and are asking everyone to start over. If the Sea Scout manual states "Meet the Requirements of the Swimming Merit Badge" we are asking that they meet the requirements even if in Boy Scouts they have earned the badge. Of course most of the "Swimmers" don't have a problem with this, but we have had a few that just couldn't meet the requirements. We have yet to have a Boy Scout who can tie the knots that were required in the Boy Scouting program. I try really hard to explain to the Scouts why it is important that they really can do the stuff that they are signed off for. Some are telling me that it's a lot harder than it was in the Troops that they came from. This is sad. Surely they either could master the required skill or they couldn't? Of course I understand the "Use it or lose it" In fact this past weekend our Boatswain messed up in a knot tying competition he couldn't remember how to tie a bowline. Talking to him about it later he said that as a Boy Scout he never ever had to tie one. Knots really are not his thing, and he does tend to shy away from them, but can a Lad going on 17 who has been in Scouting ever since he was Tiger really have never been in a situation where he needed to use a bowline? Strange thing was he didn't have any problem with the double bowline?? Before we sign someone off as knowing something we ask that they try and teach it to someone else -This seems to be working. Sure I still get a fair amount of "Ea can you go over such and such with me? I've forgot!" But they are very honest about it. I'm convinced that inside of each of them is an inner light that really wants to get it right. My job is just to allow it to shine. I can do this by not pushing them. Not making Advancement a competition. Not putting them down or making a big fuss when they don't get it right or forget, but be there ready to help out where needed. I'm proud of each and every Scout in the Ship, each one has brought something to the Ship. Their advancement is just that theirs. They don't need to advance to please me. Even though I'm pleased when they do master a new skill. Eamonn.

Her Who Must Be Obeyed complains about my cold feet !! Wonder how she would feel cuddling up to a 16 foot long snake? 2,000 Guests -Good job Hindus don't drink -I'd hate to pay that bar tab. Eamonn.

One great thing about my accent is nearly everyone I call knows it's me. One of my many pet peeves is people who allow very young kids to answer the phone!! As a rule if I'm calling anyone I don't know I give them my name and some sort of reason or identification as to why I'm calling. I do make Scout related calls from my office and at times do have the PA make them for me. She is good and normally starts with "Eamonn from Boy Scouts asked me to call you with regard to...." Of course these calls show up on peoples caller ID as being from where I'm at. I normally copy parents on E-mails, they seem to check them more frequently than the kids and only have one E-Mail address. I do have to admit that I used to visit the MSN Scout Chat Room and at times did feel a little uneasy when there was only a youth member and myself in the chat room. In fact myself and Dave Steele at one time did discuss this (Hi Dave if you are lurking!!) To be very honest I'm not always sure if OJ is in or not. We do have caller ID at home, but I have a hard time keeping up with who OJ is seeing and of course the name is name on the phone bill, not always the caller, some of the kids that call OJ have different names as their parents have remarried. I try very hard not to treat the Sea Scouts as little kids. If we are talking about Sea Scout stuff I don't as a rule involve their parents. If I'm giving details of a trip I will ask to go over it with their parents, even though I have used parent permission forms, E-mails and they all have my cell phone number. They also seem to know that we are always about an hour later getting back than when I say?? In which case the lucky Scout sitting next to me gets to call everyone on my cell. Lately I've noticed that the Scouts tend to text message each other more than call each other. I'm not good at texting, it's too hard on my thumbs. I can text OJ from my computer and I get him to forward it to all the Sea Scouts, he has all the info in his cell phone. Eamonn.

I think when we take other peoples kids away we have a responsibility to make sure that they don't hungry. We do teach Scouts about the values of eating right and planning menus that are well balanced. There are a few foods that I just will not eat. Nothing that I can't live without or push to one side (One is Brussels sprouts the other is peanut butter -Yuck!!) Some summer camps are now offering an alternative entre along with the regular menu. Sadly the alternative that our Council offers is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Over the years we have had Scouts who for one reason or another have not eaten what is on the menu. Normally one item, so they just don't take that item. I feel almost 100% sure I would not be doing a fast food run for this Lad. If and only if all he ate was something that was on hand or wasn't a real hassle (Fruit Loops!!) I would be fine with that. However I would expect him to participate in the Patrol activities: Cooking and Clear-up along with the other Scouts. Being a picky eater isn't a reason to be a lazy toad. In all the years I have been in Scouting we have never prevented a Scout from attending an event because of him being a picky eater. I have an 18 year old Sea Scout who doesn't eat or drink anything green. I'll remember that when he is 21 and it's Saint Patrick's Day. Eamonn.

I'm not sure if I'm qualified to answer these questions -But my opinion on the subject. "Clearly, Boy Scouts promise to follow Gods law (Im assuming the Judeo-Christian-Muslim God)" I for one don't see it that clearly!! As a practicing Roman Catholic, who was born and raised a Roman Catholic, I think we don't follow a literal interpretation of the Bible. Talking with friends in other religions they seem to put a lot more or read a lot more into "The Word" than we do or at least I do. I'm in agreement with Trevorum, when he states: "Thus, "God" is NOT defined as the Judeo-Christian-Islamic deity. Any god is acceptable. Indeed, even faiths without a supreme deity (as Buddhism) are just fine. Therefore, the remainder of your thought experiment is invalid, since the Bible has no special place in BSA. "Who sets the policy at the national level?" National Policy is set by the National Council. The National Council is made up of volunteers. All over the country there are volunteers from different walks of life who advise the National Council. The Relationships Division of the BSA works very closely with representatives from different Chartering Organizations. I think we shouldn't be surprised when these representatives present arguments that are in line with the thinking of the organizations they represent. When we look at the list of organizations that Charter BSA units, we see that a good many of them do not condone homosexuality. One might argue that if you want to change the policy of the BSA you need to work on the organizations that charter the units. The BSA is following the wishes of the majority. I'm not so sure that the homosexual ruling has as much to do with "Divine Laws" As it has to do with: "Serve Americas communities and families with its quality, values-based program." At this time I'm not sure if the Gay or homosexual family is the example we want to set for the youth who belong to our program. As I say this is just my take on this. I'm happy with it. My big problem is trying to get the Sea Scouts to Baltimore next week for a piloting course. I can walk and chew gum, but anything more than that is a challenge. Eamonn.

"Does anyone know why training is put on haitus during the summer"? While it would be nice if Training's were presented each and every month. I can't see it happening. BSA Training's are presented by volunteers, many who belong to units and have families. The fact is they are busy during the summer, with the units they serve and with their families. You might want to find out who your District Training Chairman is and see if there is a way of doing a one-on -one training for you, better yet would be if you knew of a couple of others who would want to take the training as well. As a Den Leader you more than lightly find it is better to try and do things at the District level, rather than the Council level. The on-line material is good, but reading the Cub Scout Leader Book is something that would really help, both you and the Cub Scouts you will be serving. Eamonn.

Someone E-mailed this to me. I liked it: Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4 star generals at Arlington National Cemetery. His marker gives his name, rank (PVT) and service (USMC). Nothing else. Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys? Well, following is the amazing answer: In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces often in rear echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. There is only one higher Naval award... the Medal Of Honor. If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery. Dialog from "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson": His guest was Lee Marvin. Johnny said, "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima...and that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded. "Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the bottom and they gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi. Bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys getting' shot hauling you down. But,Johnny, at Iwo I served under the bravest man I ever knew... We both got the cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. That dumb guy actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach. Bullets flying by, with mortar rounds landing everywhere and he stood there as the main target of gunfire so that he could get his men to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men's safety was more important than his own life. That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said, where'd they get you Lee?' Well Bob... if you make it home be fore me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!" Johnny, I'm not lying, Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew. The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo." On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who just passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another of those you would least suspect of being anything but what he now portrays to our youth. But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat-proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long-sleeved sweater on TV, to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat After the war Mr. Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and therefore a pacifist. Vowing to never harm another human and also dedicating the rest of his life to trying to help lead children on the right path in life. He hid away the tattoos and his past life and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm. America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did; they quietly go about their day-to-day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy. Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst. Often, they are the ones you'd least suspect, but would most like to have! on your side if anything ever happened. Take the time to thank anyone that has fought for our freedom. With encouragement they could be the next Captain Kangaroo or Mr. Rogers Eamonn.

I'm a little unsure what we are talking about? I read the thread about "Shirt Loops". I opted not to post in it. Why? One reason was that I didn't want to be branded a member of the non-existent "Uniform Police" Another was what I was going to post might be taken as being unkind. So I let it go. I was very unhappy with the way the thread on the Silver Buffalo went, but being as it was in the "Issues and Politics" area, I just stopped reading. When someone posts something that is wrong, I'm not talking about an opinion but for example "Where can I take my Troop bungee jumping?" Some is going to post that bungee jumping is allowed by the BSA. The person who posts that bungee jumping isn't OK is stating a fact. This isn't being unkind. To my mind they are performing a service. However if they were to post: "Eamonn don't be a big twit taking Scouts bungee jumping is an idiotic thing to do and you need to have your head examined." They have crossed the line. Then we have the person who will post that bungee jumping is fine if you don't do it as a Scouting unit and say how much their unit enjoys a good day of bungee jumping. About a month or so back I was presenting the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Specific Training. As part of the introduction to the course I informed the participants that everything they need to know was covered in publications that the BSA has published and just about everything we were going to cover could be found in the Scoutmaster and Boy Scout Handbooks. Most of the Scouter's in the forum have the materials at home to look up the answer to any Scouting related question. Loops are covered in the Insignia Guide which is covered in the Rules and Bye-laws. Bungee Jumps are in the G2SS. We could I suppose just not discuss anything and just offer the reference to where the right answer might be found. Eamonn.

One of the things that holds our Sea Scout Ship back a little is me. While I like to think that I'm good (OK maybe a little better than good. - Hows that for ego!!) At Scouting type outdoor skills. I don't have much know how when it comes to boats, sailing,and even basic Sea Scouting skills. While other Sea Scout Ships and Sea Scouters have gone above and beyond to help the Ship and myself. I have to admit that when I read the Sea Scouting manual I found a lot of the material very dry. Sure I seen that it was needed but I was over whelmed by it and this led to maybe me being a little scared of it, which led to me not looking beyond what was on the printed page and not looking for imaginative ways of getting the material off the page and into events that would hold the interest of the Scouts. Throw in the fact that we started in November when there wasn't much opportunity to put the theory into practice. We as a Ship found the Sea Scout Training weekend offered by Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla really useful. Not only for the training but also as a way of allowing our Sea Scouts to see that they belonged to a family of Sea Scouts. I'm a little unsure why but it somehow seems that Sea Scouters and Sea Scouts seem to be more friendly and more willing to reach out and help each other than in the other program areas. Of course that might just be us. We are a friendly group who are not afraid to ask for help. Chesapeake Sea Scout Flotilla holds Henry I. Nygard Regatta, sponsored by the National Capital Area Council Sea Scout Squadron held over Memorial Day Weekend each year tests the seamanship skills of Sea Scout Ships from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Florida. Sea Scouts compete in: Life Ring Toss, Heaving Line, Navigation, Sailing, Bos'n Chairlift, Scuttlebutt, Canoeing, First Aid, Knots, Splicing, Pulling Boat, Drill, Inspection, Powder Monkey Race, Swimming, and Signaling. We took the regatta boarding manual and the instructions for each event and used it for our weekly meetings. This in it's own way gave us something to work toward. Over the holiday we participated. The standard was very high. Some of the things that the other Ships could do in some of the events was just mind boggling.( I thought our Scouts were fast doing the Bos'n Chairlift in 24 Seconds, the team that won were under 15 seconds!) What was really nice that even though it was a competitive event, the competition didn't prevent the Scouts from being Scouts. Even before events Scouts from other Ships were helping our Scouts, giving them pointers and helping them practice. The even was very well organized. The location and facilities were just great. We did place in a couple of events but didn't come home with any trophies. At the next Quarterdeck meeting I will find out if they want to return next year. So far every Scout I've spoken with has said that they had fun and can't wait to return. Details of the event can be found at: http://www.seascout.net/chesapeake/special_events/Regatta_Boarding_Manual_2005.pdf Even if you never plan on attending, we found it a very useful tool in presenting the program to our Scouts. Two weeks from now we off to Ohiopyle and then we travel to Georgia. Eamonn.

While the ideas that emb021 has offered are very good. I don't think being that you are all brand new to Sea Scouting this is going to work. I don't think (I don't know??) as yet the skills are there. Then there is the equipment that would be needed. For our first meeting we kept it to more of an informational meeting. We invited a old time Skipper to talk about what could be done. I think maybe you need to come up with a really great activity for your first time out. I was talking with a Skipper over the weekend and he said every September they do a recruiting drive and follow it with White Water Rafting. They use a outfitter and need no special equipment and while the new Scouts need no special skills, it provides enough excitement to hold the Scouts interest. Eamonn.

We had at one time a very gifted Scouter posting in the forum. I posted something that I'd done wrong. He PM'd me asking me to stress the point that what I had done was wrong. He thought that I had a responsibility to ensure that others in the forum got the message that what I'd done was wrong. I did what he asked. I know that some of those who post feel that they have an obligation to give people the correct and proper information. I don't have any problem with that what so ever. In fact I really like when they post the resourse where they found what ever it was. At times this comes off as sounding high handed or even sanctimonious. I don't think anyone wants to come off sounding that way. Scouting should be fun. Not just for the kids but for the adults. I know that when I with our Scouts or Scouting pals I have a blast. Sometimes when I look back I wonder what the heck was so funny? The Scouting world isn't going to come to a grinding halt, because the kids were out on a hike and the leaders cooked supper. Little Timmy will still be a great kid when the school play is over and he returns to the Scout meetings. Standing on my head will put the knot that is on my uniform upside-down right but will make the rest of them wrong?? Eamonn.

" Six more days of School Six more days in this old dump and we'll be home tomorrow! Five more days in ...." I love spring, going out over the fields with Rory, even when there is still a frost in the air is about as close to heaven as I'm ever going to get. But summer was made for kids. Summer is the best time to be a kid. OJ, along with a good number of his fellow Ship-mates will be working at summer camp, dealing with all the joys and sorrows that being on staff brings. They will bask in the warm days and the Independence that being away from home brings. Camp will become their world, no TV, No newspapers, no teachers, no parents. We have a busy summer. A regatta this weekend, OA weekend the week after, Conclave, Canoeing trip on the Mon. Sailing the Chesapeake a week kayaking in Georgia and a hike in the Laural Hill Mountains along with days sailing at Yough Park Dam. Some of the guys are off to NOAC. So all in all they have a busy summer. I hope we find time to slow down and enjoy the simple joys of summer. Sitting on the river bank with bare feet in the cold water. A big bowl of ice cream, a ride on a roller-coaster. Reading a book under a nice shade tree. Last year we had the Jamboree. Talking with the kids that went, they seem OK not remembering the heat and the stuff that didn't work. All of them want to go back. This summer is going to be great. I know that I'm really looking forward to it. Sadly poor Rory will be spending a little more time than he might like in the Pampered Puppy Palace. But I'll do what I can to make up for it. Eamonn. Have a happy and safe holiday.

My thinking -For what it's worth!! Slow Down!! The Chartering Organization should be around long after you have gone. It's their unit!!! Trying to fill names on paper just to push the charter through will come back and bite you on the tail. At the end of the day the more the CO feels that they have ownership and a stake in the Ship the more they will be willing to do for the Ship. Eamonn.

Scouting units seem to have peaks and valleys. Even the "Best Troop" in the District ten years ago might be going through a rough patch today. Starting a new unit or trying to breathe life into an old one can be really tough. All the stuff we learn at Wood Badge really starts to make sense!! Sure we start with high hopes and great dreams. The dream seems to touch everyone we come into contact with.(The Forming Stage) While we might be a little less than comfortable with what follows (The Storming Stage) We need to know that not only is this normal, but is important if we are to see the unit grow and become a team. The time spent in the Storming Stage can feel very much like "BANG. Right into that wall." We as Scouter's can belong or be involved with different groups that at different stages. The Troop Committee, might be at one place, the Troop leaders at another, different patrols and the PLC somewhere else. Some groups never leave the storming stage. Some groups move through it fairly quickly. If we are very lucky we will move on to the performing stage. These high-performing teams are able to function as a unit as they find ways to get the job done smoothly and effectively without inappropriate conflict or the need for external supervision. Just when we think we have it down pat. Something changes and "BANG. Right into that wall." Again. At times it's very easy to sit at the keyboard and offer advise about how it should work. But the truth is we are not there in real time. Sure we can offer what the book says or methods of Scouting. But if you are in a new unit where no one has any idea of what they need to be doing. You don't have much alternative but to use the directive style of leadership. Right now with the Ship, we have a fair amount of new Scouts who are full of the dream. Some of the Scouts who have been in for the entire ride (All six months!!) Are starting to show their true colors. We have had a couple drop out, they seen that this wasn't what they thought it was. I have to admit that at times I'm fairly hard on myself and do beat myself up about some of this. When this happens I try and work back-wards!! First I think it's important that we remember that the journey is more (Yes more) important than the destination. Having the people we work with adults and Scouts know that we can work together, going through whatever comes along is very important.While the end result is what we aimed for is great, once we are there very little is learned. Still it's very nice!! I fall back on the ideals of Scouting a lot. This tends to remind me why I do this and why at times I put up with things that just don't seem to ever work. I really like and try to use the methods, but when all else fails I really like the idea that: "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. With this in mind I can make the methods goals and keep plodding along. I also have a lot of faith in myself!! (I know how bad that sounds.) I'm going to do what I think is best for the kids I'm trying to serve. I really couldn't care less what other people in Scouting think. My values are in line with the values of the BSA. I really do care about each and every kid in the unit, I want them to get as much out of the time they spend in Scouting as they can. Eamonn.

Hops He retired this year. He has gone back to the caves!! I have heard that he will be working with Wilderness Voyages. That and staffing a Powder Horn course will keep him out of my way. I'll more than lightly see him at the next Area Meeting. I didn't get to the last OA weekend. OJ informs me that he was there, pony tail blowing in the wind!! Eamonn.

I have a few Gilwell Scarves. Both the 100% wool and the mixed fabric. I like the English neckers far better than the American ones as the ones from the UK are longer. To be very honest I never heard of anyone ever using starch on a neckerchief before? But the laundry room is not familiar territory. I have in a pinch rinsed mine out in washing up liquid. Some years back I was staffing the old Cub Scout course, I was rushing around trying to play catch up, when I happened to meet the Cubmaster. She stopped me, shook her head. I thought she was going to tell me to slow down, but she said "You look unloved !! Go and iron your neckerchief." Eamonn.

It kinda looks as if I seen something that never was there in the first place. If this has caused any hurt feelings or harm in any way I'm very sorry. Eamonn.

Crew21_Adv Thanks for the link. I was at the Quartermaster Bridge of Honor, for Jesse Milton our National Sea Scout Boatswain. We work fairly closely with the Ship he is in. Jess Rumburg the Northeast Region Venturing President and OJ are pals they met at the Jambo working in the same area and are working on an upcoming conclave. Jess's Advisor served on NE-IV-153 when I was Course Director. If my memory serves me right I think another Northeast Region Venturing President was also from the same Crew. Sadly I missed the Area 4 Quest, something I don't think Jerry Clark is going to let me forget anytime soon. To be very honest our Sea Scouts thought it was over priced. I had been invited to help present some of the Training but we went away that weekend. Eamonn.

The Ship members are about as ready as they ever will be to take on the task of making an Annual Plan. The Committee which is made up of nearly all parents thinks that we have had far to many conflicts this year. The last few weeks have not been good. We had Easter, Mother's Day, OA Weekend,Proms,Band Banquets and soccer tournaments. All this while we were trying to prepare for the regatta. Part of the problem is that we seem to be attracting the 16 year olds and not doing a very good job at recruiting the 14 year olds. Kind of a catch 22 as the kids we have are recruiting their pals who are their age. The Quarterdeck doesn't know it yet!! But my plan is that we will hold the Planning meeting sometime in August. Maybe September if that's what they want. I'd like to see a plan that runs from September till September. I'm in the process of trying to get the School calenders, the District and Council calenders, the OA calender, the list of what the HS Band is doing, a regular calender, the Flotillas calender,any plans that Her Who Must Be Obeyed has.Dates of local events. As yet we don't know what or where we are doing in the summer of 2007. Am I missing anything? I know that the petty officers ought to be gathering this stuff and I will ask them to do so. I want to be one step ahead in case they don't!! Eamonn

I don't see what you are doing as adding to the requirements. One of my many pet peeves is the Merit Badge Class. Where the Scouts sit and listen to someone else do the explaining or describing. This type of thing is in most cases just a waste of everyones time. Eamonn.