Eamonn

Loving Parents are not always loved by all. Keeping the Outing in Scouting is good. There are times when if Pletch the Scout stayed out it might seem better! A Scout never loses anything. Proof can be found by the little Lad yelling "Someone stole my underwear!" Eamonn.

BSAChaplain, Well Welcome back and welcome to the forum. Some things may have changed. I however believe that if you take a group of Lads off camping, it makes little difference where they are from and what the date is!! The equipment is better than it used to be, but Fun is timeless and universal. Eamonn. PS I love the zoo that you have (This message has been edited by Eamonn)

In uniform and wearing a soccer ball hat on his head? I will have to work on that one!! "He was 'that obnoxious guy' that many people hate to see at any ball game" I kinda think that maybe he might be obnoxious all the time. There was nothing that you could do and maybe trying to do something would have resulted in a very ugly scene. I would say a prayer and thank the Big Guy Upstairs that this twit wasn't part of the pack that I serve. If you are really upset you could send a letter to the Cubmaster and Pack Committee Chair. Of the pack he was with. But I think they already know. If they haven't taken any action I think a letter isn't going to do much. If you are very upset you could write to the Scout Executive. That might open a very big can of worms - I don't think I would want to go there. Eamonn

I don't know the history of charters in Scouting. They are not used in the UK. Some churches may sponsor Scout Group, but many are self sponsored. While I'm not sure a good many countries especially those countries that were part of the British Commonwealth used what was going on in England as the model for there own Scouting Association. James E. West, was far more of an organizer than Baden Powell. The early days of Scouting in the UK were very disorganized. Even to this day I think we have more professional Scouter's in the small council that I'm in than there is in the UK. Eamonn.

Let me try and remember: -- how much free time do you have with your family? We arrived after lunch on Sunday attended a Scouts Own Service and a Campfire. The Conferences start after breakfast on Monday. If Her That Must Be Obeyed and Son were in camp we ate all meals as a family. Sessions end at 4:00 ??? Wednesday is a "Free Day" No conferences. You and family can do what you like. We visited volcano!! There are activities in the evening for the entire family if you want to participate. " how many uniforms do you need since you're there for a week? I took two. Most of the day you are wearing the Activity Uniform. "-- is there any hiking involved for those attending training sessions? Not unless it is stated in the material. The most walking we did was when we visited the Volcano. My son did a very short overnight hike, more of a longish walk. All his kit was taken up by a truck. -- do you have a months-long "training/get-in-shape" program I/my wife (never been to camp!)/my son (a 10-year-old Webelos who will be a boy scout and who loves camping) can follow between now and the mid-summer when we go? No.-- a camp checklist for Philmont? They will send you a list. It changes depending what conference you attend. -- how to get Philmont to respond to my local council contact???!!! Give them a phone call - They will send everything to you. You might need to get it signed by your District Training Chair. Going to Philmont as a part of a crew and doing the trek and attending the conference center are worlds apart. Eamonn

With the information that you have posted, I fail to see how anyone could offer any advise. Eamonn

I know that when it comes time for rechartering you will need to sort this out. Eamonn

Maybe cheffy will back me up on this? For a good number of years when I owned a restaurant people would come in, sit down look at the menu and ask "Whats Good?" I never knew the right answer. Philmont does a good job with the conferences that they offer. In 2000 I was a District Commissioner, so I attended the conference on the Delivery of Commissioner Service. I would love to sit in on the Strictly For Scoutmasters Conference, but I am unsure if I will ever be a Scoutmaster again? I would have liked to attend the Key 3 Conference but was never able to convince the other two thirds of the team that it was worth the time and the money. It is a great place, the training is good, the staff are exceptional, but only you know in what direction you are heading. You need to look at the list and find what is the best fit for you. When people asked me "What's good?" I always said the mushroom soup - I like mushroom soup. Eamonn.

I seem to get roped into more than my fair share of FOS presentations. I think the reason is that I'm there anyway and may as well do something. I'm there because people invite me as the District Chairman and we as a key 3 try to attend every event that we are invited too. We rarely if ever all get to attend the same event. Even if we are invited to attend, we do insist that we have also been invited to do a FOS presentation. The unit has to want the presentation. I have to admit to not liking B&G's for the presentation, there is way too much other stuff going on, but being as we take what we are given, we just go with the flow. I think it is very important that the FOS guy remembers that he is a guest. No way should the FOS presentation be the main event. While I have used video presentations for community groups (Elks, Lions and Rotary) I have never used them in a unit. It seems a little too much to ask and the set up takes to long. I try to keep the entire presentation to about ten minutes. I don't know about revving up excitement? I try to make sure that I believe what I'm saying and talk from the heart. I never apologize for asking them for money - Because I'm not sorry. I want everyone to know how vital Friends of Scouting is. I always use Friends of Scouting, never FOS. I use my Sunday manners, using please and thank you a lot. In fact you can't over use Please and Thank You. I don't ask for an amount. I tell the truth that the Council spends $125.00 a year per Scout to deliver the program at its present level.I remember to tell them that this is a voluntary program. We understand that every family has its own unique financial resources and responsibilities. We simply ask that they look at the value of scouting not only to their family but to their community and make a pledge that reflects that value. I don't try to go into details of how the money is spent. I don't know all the details. One year I talked about the cost of buying a new tent for camp. I later found out that a company donates the money for so many new tents each year!! I do smile. I do wear full uniform. Where possible I try to involve the Scouts. Most of all I do try to stress the value of Scouting. I avoid bad mouthing any one or any group. When I'm done I have an adult collect the cards and before I leave or they leave we announce how much was collected or pledged. I thank the Leaders for inviting me and allowing me to take up so much of their valuable time. I tell them what a great job they have done, while gently reminding the guys who were busy doing something that they too can fill in a card before I leave. Eamonn

http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=ba&c=ja This is the form that is needed to release your Son. With all the security at the Jamboree and on Army bases, I think (I don't know)that picking someone up would be a real pain. Last Jamboree we had a Lad, his Dad worked in the Boy's Life exhibit (Carving neckerchief slides)He wanted to pick his son up. The paper work was easy. Getting Son and kit to where he was at was hard. Maybe if you can see if his kit can go with the troop back to California and all you need is him and what he can hand carry, life would be easier. Our Council does not have any rules about who goes where. But you might want to check. Getting cars on to the site is a real hassle. We had the mother of one Scout at the last Jamboree, who was in a wheel chair. She wanted to visit her son. We asked about Jamboree Handicapped Transportation, I think the guide said it was available - No one seemed to know. In the end they did allow her to drive onto the site but she had to come in the back way. I very much doubt if that will be allowed this time. I feel sure that you can make it work, it might just take some work. Eamonn.

You might want to have a chat with the person he works with at his school. Here in PA. Students work very closely with a teacher who is assigned to look after them. It is also very important that the goal of Eagle Rank is his goal. While we do all we can for each and every Scout, we do need to ensure that we are helping them reach their goals and we are not forcing our goals on them. It might be that this Lad is happy doing what he is doing and could rebel against any applied pressure. About 95% of our Scouts never reach the Eagle Scout rank. They still get a lot out of the program and Scouting. Eamonn.

GT is a very excellent Scouter. We served on a course a couple of years back. I really do hope that this course does get off the ground. This might be the last Juniata Valley Council Course?? Please tell him that I said Hello!! Eamonn (Any change of bringing Biddle off the farm?)

Glad to see that you joined. We are hoping to have a forum I'm not sure what you would call it? It's not a reunion as we have never met? Maybe meet up? At the Jambo. I will be camping with troop 412 in the NE Region, Hops is there, Bobwhite will be there, Beaver is bringing the cookies. My little Lad (only 60 pounds heavier than the old man!!) Will be staffing in the NER Action Center. Should be a really nice get to know each other. Eamonn

How about that box game where you have to remove parts of the body. I can't remember the name I think it has the word surgeon in it and it might be made by Mattel?? Eamonn

"One of the problems we have is that our SM and ASM are very long-term Scouters. SMs training came back in the 1960s and ASMs were scouts in the troop when they were kids and have been with the troop ever since (35+ years) and run the troop the way it was done back then. " Hi and Welcome, I hate to have to say this but... IMHO You are knocking your head against a brick wall. Wood Badge back in the 1960's was as much about the Patrol as it was in the 70's, 80's and most part of the 90's. This SM knows how it should be and has chosen not to do it. I bet that the CO along with a lot of the parents think that he is Mr. Scouting. The choice you have is what do you want your son to get out of being a Scout? The Easy Eagle? I hope not. Scouting is not only about advancement. The only way a troop like this stops doing what it is doing is when it's not there anymore. The way to make it go away is not to be part of it. Eamonn. Hey Bob- Nice to see your name. I would have loved to read your take on this.

When I was a kid in London the Milkman delivered the milk. On top of each pint of milk there was the cream. The cream will always rise to the top. I would use what I heard to really go out of my way to make sure that the troop really is the Best Show In Town!! (Then in a very un-scout-like way I would watch as they ate my dust.) Eamonn.

Welcome, Pull up a log and make yourself comfortable. Eamonn.

Who do you want to lead your Scouts? Are you willing to settle for anyone who can be in someway made to take on a role that maybe they are totally unsuited for? Get a nominating committee together and select the people that you need. Eamonn

Small world, we were there in 2000!!! OJ had a great time. He was 11 at the time - Now his feet are bigger than size 11. Eamonn.

No. Eamonn.

Back in the day... We paid for four per Scout per year. We set the limit after a year when we got hit really hard. Eamonn.

We had this a few years back. Nothing to do with any church. Two brothers decided that they wanted to belong too two Troops. It seems that this is OK with National. However our SE made a Council Rule that all youth can only belong to one Troop, Pack or Crew. Strange thing was that one Troop was an active out and about Troop and the other was a Merit Badge Mill. Eamonn.

I thought I did!! Eamonn.

I have yet to see any Venturing songs. You can of course change songs to fit. House of the rising crew? Eamonn.

Fred lived in our council and is sad to say buried in our Council. We had to get special permission from the Fred Rogers Foundation in order to use his likeness. Eamonn