Eamonn

Watching a unit die is never a good thing. District types are all well and good, but even they can't walk on water or change the water into wine. For a unit to survive people have to want too. I think when you say that you lost your charter, you are talking about the Chartering Organization? I don't know how things are in your area? But we have never had a real big problem finding organizations that are willing to come on board. Like a lot of things in Scouting we have CO's that are good, bad and a few that are really ugly. I would think that your DE along with members of the District Membership Committee, will be able to really help with this. The Pack has two groups of adults. The group that works with the Dens and the Committee. Both these groups need leadership. People that are not there for whatever reason can not provide the leadership that is needed. It makes no never mind how good someone once was, if they aren't there they are of no use. Let them go and make up your mind to move on. The District types do not have a reserve pool of people waiting on the side line to jump in as and when they are needed. Every once and a while a stray Scouter comes along, but this is rare. You and the members of the pack need to face up to this. It would seem to me that YOU are the person to take on the position of Pack Committee Chair. Heck!! You are doing the job anyway!! Once you have got that all cleared up. You need to see about selecting a new Cubmaster. You along with the other Committee members need to sit down away from the Den Leaders and have a brain storming meeting. List each and every name that anyone comes up with. There are no wrong answers or wrong people.Spend about 15-20 minutes listing these people. Don't get into any discussion about them. If you do you will be there all night!! I would think that you should have a list of about 20 names. Then go over the list placing the names in order. The order should be who the committee thinks would do the best job first. Not the person you think will say yes first. From your list of about 20 you should be able to discard about half of the names. You now have ten people to ask. Find a copy of the Cubmaster Job Description. Have all the members of the pack committee read it. If there are things that are special to your pack add them. Now comes the hard part - The Ask. Select two people from the pack committee, one who knows the the first ranking person on your list. Phone him or her and ask if they would be free for you both to visit them at home. Try for a good time, avoiding meal times and other busy times. Armed with the job description visit #1. Impress on him or her that he has been selected because he is the best person for the job and that you think he is the ideal person for the job. Be ready to answer any questions about training, uniform, time it will take. Try and get a firm answer then and there, if need be plead your case to his or her spouse. If the answer is a no, offer them another position either on the committee or as a leader. Then move on down the list. It might be that the person you select is already a Den Leader. In that case select a new Den Leader using the same method. If you go through all ten names and didn't get a yes, it would seem that no one really wants there to be a pack and you are just wasting your time and effort, at this point throw in the towel and move on. Please believe me asking people this way does work. Eamonn.

I was asked a few weeks back if Bob White and little old me were one and the same? I took it as a complement!! I have at times called different real people twits. I have at times posted things that I have done that would or might make me eligible to be the twit of the month. As far as I know there has only ever been one other member from the same Council as I'm from post here. I think he spends most of his time posting in another forum. I did at one time have the name of the Council in which I serve posted in my member profile. While it wouldn't be rocket science to track me down and find out all about me, I don't think that too many people will take the time, in fact I can't think that anyone would want to. Sometime back we had a professional who was a regular in the forum, sad to say someone else who posted that he was also a Professional Scouter, challenged the time the first guy was spending in this forum, so to protect his job he quit posting. I have at times by accident found out who people are and while I admit it has been a pleasant surprise, it has always been by accident. I can see the need at times for people to change the name that they use. But I fail to see any need for anyone to post using two names. My feelings about what I post here is that I will not post something that I would not be willing to say to someones face. That includes me saying that I think that they are a twit or acting like a twit. Somehow I can't see my good friend Bob ever calling anyone a twit, he is much kinder that me and I'm still not him and never have been him, in this forum or any other forum. I'm sure that he has never been me or even wanted to be me. Eamonn.

I like to think that by nature I'm a happy fellow. I think the world of Scouting,along with the District and Council in which I serve.I never really gave a lot of thought to my style of leadership? I think over the last eight years serving as a District Key3 member, I have tried to rally the people behind/beside me into meeting the needs and goals of the District. At times my pride and ego have been the driving forces. Making Quality District, has been at times had as much to do with "Beating" the other Districts along with at times the need to "Rub the noses" of some professionals in it.Almost a I'll show you!! Along with the District hat, I have tried to find something else that is fun, that I wanted to do. Jamboree Scoutmaster or Wood Badge staff member have filled that need. My on going battles with a Field Director who in my opinion was a twit,did in some strange way make leading the District a lot more fun. I really did have a over whelming desire to rub his nose in it.My being right and him being wrong, my need to keep him in his place,meant that we (The District) had to show that what we were doing was right and worked and everything that he wanted was wrong and a load of twaddle. It worked, we are the most successful district in the Council. I have to admit to really enjoying hearing reports where he came up with some hair brained plan and would inform his staff "Don't tell Eamonn." We as a family are totally submerged in Scouting. OJ,wants to go as far as he can in the OA. He has his eye on being the National Chief!! I don't know much about the workings of the OA,I have reminded him that he would have to run for Lodge Chief first!! He knows that when it comes to Scouting and participating in any Scout activity, he has our full support. We will make him do his bit, but when it comes to time and cash we will be there for him. Her Who Must Be Obeyed, while spending most of Her time supporting me and OJ, working in the background; taking messages, getting me to where I'm supposed to be on time!! Is also involved, serving on the Commissioner Staff and has for several years Chaired the Council Recognition Dinner. If I were to be really honest, she knows more about what I'm doing than I do. When she became ill last year, I had a hard time shifting gears. I wasn't used to being the supportive half of our relationship and I wasn't prepared to have to put her first, before Scouting. It now looks as if this unhappy episode is about over, and while the next few years we will walk on egg shells, the outlook is a good one.Still the past few months have made me sit up and re-examine my priorities. I have just come home from having my back mended. The Quacks say that in six weeks I will be better than before. I thought I would use the time to really get things sorted out. My District Chairman position expires in 359 days. We are a Quality District, yet again. Plans for 2005 are in good order.The FOS campaign kicks off next week, there are a few soft spots but we are working on them. Sad to say we will lose 3 units and will need to start at least 4 this year. I have two but at this time the other two are not even a twinkle. Rechartering is going on and I'm waiting to see what the numbers are, so I can gear up for the never ending recruitment. The 2005 Jamboree Troop, is coming along well. We have a great group of Lads and the leaders are good. Along with the troop there is a big group of adults from both our Council and District as staff members, OJ will be working with this group. I will as soon as more information becomes available be busy working on the World Jamboree in 2007. All this stuff going on and yet somehow, I seem to lack the needed enthusiasm's I think that I need to get the job done. The twit of a Field Director,left in October. As did my right hand-man, who was a female and the best darn DE ever. The Nominating Committee have replaced the District Commissioner. The new guy is a friend of mine. He has never really ever proved himself to be a great leader, but we are hoping that he will understand what Commissioner Service is all about, something the previous failed to really grasp. I really did try to help him, but he was bigger than the program, in fact he was his own program. The new DE seems to be working out OK, I don't have the same friendship nor the same level of communication with him as I did with Pam, our old DE. It could be that I'm just having a case of the winter blues? But right now I feel that I'm just going through the motions. While I know this is going to sound juvenile, as things are now I don't have any of my old District Pals to play with!! Some have moved on to work as Council whatevers. Some have decided that they need a "Time Out", they are hiding on a unit charter someplace, not doing very much and some have just quit. It is common knowledge that our Scout Executive is trying to get promoted out of our Council, this year. We are friendly and get on OK, but we have never became very close. I don't blame him for wanting to better himself,he is closing in on the big 50 and like me is looking at providing enough money for his retirement. The new Field Director, is doing a good job of avoiding me. He does seem to be cracking the whip and seems to be coming down hard on the DE's. Sad to say he is threatening them, which is no way to get them to perform. Still that is none of my business. I have heard reports about some of the "creative" things that have been done in other Districts in order to make the year end membership goals, but none of this "Creativity" has been used in our District, I don't think they would even try. Everything in the District restarts next week after the Christmas break. I am going to see if Her That Must Be Obeyed, will give me time off for good behavior to attend R/T as well as a couple of other meetings. Still right now my heart just isn't it. I could very easily, get through the next 359 days not going above and beyond. But that isn't me and sure as heck isn't me doing my best. I welcome any ideas that you might have that would help me shake off this feeling of lack luster. Thanks. Eamonn

Does this mean that I'm in with the in crowd and didn't know it? Kwell Old Eamonn.

I think we help because we can. We as Scouts are honor bound. Politics just don't play any part. Many of us in this forum are Christian, again I think as Christians are bound to go out and help those in need. I have to wonder if the young Lad living in one of these countries who has been indoctrinated to hate the west and western values is questioning his values when he sees the American Military personal land with aid. I wonder if he is asking where is Osama Bin Laden? What is he doing to help? The USA is the only true world super power,we who live here are so very fortunate, what we give in aid seems to always be more and always seems to be the first to arrive. But I am so proud to live in the land that is first and does more. The cost of a few cartons of cigarettes is not going to hurt me. The inter-net has made making even small donation a two minute chore. I think I seen that it costs twenty dollars to buy the antibiotics needed to keep a kid alive. It's a no brainer. That along with a few prayers, I'm happy to give. Eamonn

A little while back there were several threads about knots and beads. I am all for us recognizing people who step up to the plate and help deliver the program. Of course we never get the full story about the unsung heroes, the guy or girl that gives a lifetime of service,but stays away from the limelight. The Den Leader, who is the single mom and is busy enough without the pressures of Scouting. Just before the holiday our District lost a great guy. He had been the Cubmaster of a local pack for 30 years. He had severed on the District Committee. He had got involved when his son became a Webelos Scout and never left. I really liked him, he would invite me to the pack B&G and then tease me when I arrived with Her That Must Be Obeyed, telling me that I was a real cheapskate only taking her because the dinner was free. I have no idea how many little fellows passed through pack 183. I do know that here was a man who was as good as his word. I knew if he said that he was going to do something it would be done and done well. A few years back he missed a District meeting, the next day he phoned to apologize, here he was a man in his seventies looking after his mother a lady in her nineties suffering from Alzheimer's. Our organization is filled with people who share common values,but there isn't a hall large enough on this planet that could accommodate the names of all those who deserve to be in a Hall of fame. Eamonn.

"But lets remember, bad policies usually developed over time from a series of good intentions." Barry, my old China I can't help thinking that you have never posted anything as wise. I used to think that the "Rule Makers" and those that added home made extra requirements, were not only wrong but were also guilty of being evil!! Last year I posted my dealings with our Council Advancement Committee. I sat and listened to the "I like a project to be at least 100 hours." I went to bat for a Lad who had completed the requirements, but got busy taking a paramedic course, that was the same night as his troop meeting, they failed him for not showing Scout Spirit!! Life would be easier if these guys were evil. But they are not!! To sit back and ask them where they are getting this mambo-jumbo, can and does at times ruffle a few feathers. To try to undo what at one time seemed so righteous can and does open cans of worms. I believe in Scouting, I hold fast to the idea that the rank of Eagle is a rank of the highest esteem. I'm still enough of an old fuddy duddy that feels good that not every Scout will make it!! I'm not sure if that thinking is good,but for now I can't help feeling that when I'm invited to sit in on a Eagle BOR, that the Lad or Lads who will take that board are very special. I can't fault the Lad for the mistakes that his leaders or MB counselors may have made and we as a District let slide by.Before the Lad is invited to attend the BOR, these are checked, the paper work is checked. The project was approved and all those who needed to sign have signed. I learn a lot each and every time I'm invited to sit on a Eagle BOR, not just about the Scout but about what sort of job we are doing. In Eamonn's big book of Scouting, everything come down to the ideals of Scouting. The path to Eagle Scout offers each Scout the opportunities to find out what these are and put them to work, the path does necessitate the need to set and reach goals. We are blessed by belonging to an organization that has such a clear cut and powerful oath and law. I see my role as a member of an Eagle Scout BOR member, of helping the Scout and the Board understand that this oath and law, was behind each goal. If these words have really taken hold and if this Scout can see that these words will be his guide.I can't but help think that all of us have been part of something truly wonderful. Eamonn

I really don't have any strong feelings about the uniform that we now have one way or the other. Kinda like the engraving on a dollar bill!! I never really take time to look at the dollar bill, I just know that it is a dollar bill and use it. As an organization our expectations of the uniform are really unrealistic. Some want a super smart "Dress" Uniform, while others would like to see a "Activity" uniform. What we have at present seems to meet the needs of most troops and the level of activity that they are participating in. When the activity level becomes more advanced or more specialized, the unit members tend to buy the specialized equipment and clothing that they need. The moan and groan I hear most often, is not about the uniform but about the cost of the uniform.I don't know much about the price of clothes,but I think $66+ for a shirt and a pair of shorts does seem high, and rarely if ever do I see them on sale. I think we need to look at what we are "In the business of", which to my way of thinking is covered in the Vision and Mission statements. We are not very good at retailing or manufacturing, so why can't we find a company like L.L Bean, that is good at manufacturing and selling clothes and let them become the BSA uniform supplier? I don't know if this would result in any savings? Or if this is even possible? It might mean that National would have to increase the fees. I don't think that we will ever be able to compete with the Wal-Marts or K-marts,but our uniform prices are getting a bit too high. Eamonn.

The thread on Wood Badge shortcomings got my little Gray cells working. I have seen the video that explains why they changed Wood Badge, but can't remember what was said. I remember a group of us talking about the change before we had any idea of what it would be. A group of us who knew nothing decided that they were changing it to break up the good old boys. Strange thing was that nearly everyone in the group had served on at least a couple of courses, and we never seen ourselves as being these good old boys. The first course that I was invited to serve on, had two new guys, the second had two new guys. I thought that you weren't allowed to have more than two new guys. The only Cub Scout Wood Badge was better we had four of us who had never served on a Cub Scout Wood Badge. The Course our Council hosted in 2003 only had five people who had served before. My first time staffing the new 21st Century Course, the Course Director was really worried and he invited six ex-course directors to serve. It didn't work, they kept trying to look at both course and compare them. They were all Boy Scout Wood Badge Staffers. At the end of the course a few of them swore that they were done. As I watched people unload their gear at the development weekends, I seen laptop computers, overhead projectors and projectors for power point presentations. I remember that when I was a young Scoutmaster I made fun of the leaders who used a clipboard, I unkindly called them "Clipboard Cowboys." I remembered all the work that I had put in to a felt board presentation at the Cub Scout course. There even seemed to be a kind of snob thing going on. Like wine snobs, only with who could out tech the other guy. What ever happened to the Knot Snob? I liked the knot snob, I liked it better when I came away with some new rope trick, finding out how a jump drive works, just isn't the same. There is still a lot of fun in the new course, I still can't help thinking that we could have come up with a more challenging more Scoutcraft like Patrol project. I'm not going into detail because I don't want to give the game away!! Maybe I do now qualify as one of the good old boys? I would love to have one more shot at directing a course - Who knows maybe I'll get it right. But I'm out to pasture, who knows in 20 years from now I can be really boring. Eamonn

I don't think that getting one will be a big problem. I just wanted to make everyone aware so that no little Lad is turned away at the gate. I don't know what you have do in PA. To get a non-driver ID, but I'm very friendly with our school superintendents, so I feel sure that they will do what they can to help. Eamonn

Looking at the participants for NE-IV-153, Boy Scouter's were not in the majority. 22 Cub Scouter's 8 Venturers. 9 District Types (Commissioners and District Committee members) 3 Council Types (Scout Executive and Board members 6 Boy Scouter's. Being as only six participants were actively involved in the Boy Scout program and 26 will more than lightly never use the Patrol method, why change the course for the few. Maybe we should be looking at Specific Training and its shortcoming? Eamonn

The December National Jamboree Bulletin #11 states that everyone on the bus will need a photo ID. Some of the younger Scouts might not have a student ID. To the best of my knowledge this is something new, I know we didn't have them in 2001. Eamonn

Back when we were looking for a troop for OJ. The pack had arranged for the Webelos Scout Den to visit different troops in the area. One troop had everyone sitting in a very small very cramped room, while some wise and learned gave a very long and boring lecture on edible plants. All good stuff but boring and the meeting hall was terrible. The next troop was a lot more friendly but no one seemed to know who was doing what. When I asked about what plans they had for their next outdoor activity, I was informed that they didn't plan things for the winter. The next troop was trying to get the SPL to run the show, but he seemed a little unsure of himself, but they invited us to their winter activity. OJ, really liked the SM and that was the troop he joined. Sad to say the SM was only there for about a year. Things went down hill really fast after he left and OJ transfered to the troop that had the plants, they had found a new meeting place. Eamonn.

Ed, they didn't just combine the courses they changed them completely. This is where people think that there is a shortfall. The old Cub Scout Leader Trainer Course equipped those who participated to be a Cub Scout Trainer. It really didn't have much to do with being a Cubmaster or a Den Leader. The old Boy Scout Wood Badge, gave the participants the skills they needed to operate a troop using the Patrol Method. The new course is not about the program it is about leadership. Eamonn

It's a class 3 medical form. One size fits all. Eamonn

Thanks OGE, The little guy now has a middle name Calhoun. I'm going to see if Won Ton Ton, the dog that saved Hollywood is available. Rory Calhoun, yes it sounds good. Poor little fellow has had a busy day and is now napping, as is everyone else. - Boy this is a fun filled house. Eamonn

Dan, There really is no longer an "Outpost Hike".In the ideal world the first part of the course should be offered with the participants staying / Sleeping indoors. Most courses offered are now the 2X3 day courses. I have served on the staff of a six day course where we did play "Musical Campsites". The Course uses the troop setting, but does not use all the methods of Scouting or Cub Scouting or Venturing. I had nothing to do with the development of the course so I can't say why things were done the way they were. I do think that in trying to please everyone and keep everyone happy, they may have gone a little bit astray. In all honesty, I think some of the "Scouty Stuff" does take away from trying to teach leadership. The Bridging Ceremony adds nothing and while the Patrol names do promote team spirit and the song is fun, they could easily have been left out. (UK Wood Badge, no longer has patrols.) Still if you are going to split the course participants into teams that are of a workable size and allow every team member the opportunity to lead the team the Boy Scout Patrol does fit the bill. I have heard that the license agreement with Ken Blanchard does run out at some time. Because of my involvement in Wood Badge, I did read all the books that he has put out. I asked the staff of the course I directed to read them. Some did, some didn't. Of those that did there were a few like me who said that while the books weren't going to be life changing, they did get them thinking, a few of those that read them said they thought it was a load of twaddle. In order to be allowed to be a course director,I had to attend the Course Directors Conference, our Region offers this in October at Camp Alpine in New Jersey. It was there that they handed out the Course Guide /Syllabus. They had just covered the size of the staff and said that we needed approx 22-28 Staff members, they said that each Staff member would need a copy of the syllabus. When we went to pick up our copies they gave me six!! They said that we weren't allowed to copy them!! When we all (Not just me!!) made a fuss they came up with a list of pages that couldn't be copied. There were in fact only about six pages that we weren't allowed to copy, nearly all to do with Team Development. It seems that the BSA is going to use the Tuckman material, when the present license agreement runs out. I have not seen the new JLTC material, I have seen some of the stuff that OJ brought home from the OA,NLS (National Leadership Seminar.) He is still working on completing his ticket for this. I think Wood Badge is good and the course material is good. My big fear or area of concern is that we are going to end up with a big group of people trained in leadership, but lacking the practical skills that people who serve at unit level need. In another thread it was mentioned that we might be guilty of having too much training. I know trying to get people to give up more time is always a problem. Still I do feel that we send people out into the real world wearing a Trained Patch, when they have more questions than answers. We cover so much is so little time that a lot of the material just doesn't compute. When the new Boy Scout specific training came out, I read the syllabus and viewed the videos. I met with the Council Boy Scout Training Chair and we went over all the material again. He then called all the District Guys in to go over it, I attended this meeting. Each and every time I found that I had missed something from the other time. Sure everything is in there, but there is just too much too take in at once. I have attended the Boy Scout Outdoor training's and they are better than what we had, but we are never going to teach all the skills in a weekend. We promise our Boy Scouts fun and adventure. We need leaders that can teach the PLC skills that are needed for them to follow / plan programs that are fun, adventurous and challenge our youth members. A weekend course where we cover all the skills needed for First Class is a good idea and sure a person with a Scouting background can sail through it, but a person who wasn't a Scout and never had the opportunity to use these skills, will have a hard time. I still think that Scoutcraft is what we should be good at and if we don't have leaders who can pass on their knowledge the program suffers. We have started offering Scout Skills training at Summer camp. While the Scouts are busy doing what they are doing we ask an experienced Scouter who is skilled at something to invite other Scouter's to come and learn from him. So far it is working well, we have found that many of the guys who already have the skills are coming and taking on the teaching role. Of course we have the "Show Offs" who want to impress the unskilled guys. The unskilled guys need to learn the basics and the show off wants to skip this and show how great he is!! I really hate to see Scouts hang back from doing fun stuff because there isn't anyone in their troop who has the skills that they need to learn. Eamonn.

I never seem to make the time to go to the movies. I did go more this year than in past years. Yes I think I went twice. Anyway we all gave each other piles of movies. I was up late last night watching a double feature (Boy does that make me seem old!! I watched two Tom Hanks movies: The Terminal. Which was good but not as good as I thought it was going to be.I also watched; Cath me if you can, which was far better than I thought it was going to be. Eamonn.

Her Who Must Be Obeyed surprised me with a seven week old pure breed Golden Retriever. I think that there is a method to her madness I have to have yet another surgery on my back, next week. The little guy who we have called Rory, will get me up and moving!! Sad to say our other two dogs don't seemed overjoyed with the new addition. We are still looking for a middle name for him. Eamonn

I don't know how it works in other Councils or Districts. Training comes under Program. Our Vice President of Program selects the Council Training Chairman. He selects Council Training Chairs to cover all the program areas. The Districts are requested to select: A District Training Chair. A Cub Scout Training Chair. A Boy Scout Training Chair and a Venturing Training Chair. While the Districts can ask the Council Training Chair to help them in with the selection, they normally don't. This of course means that the Council Training Chair. has little or no say who he is going to work with. This happy band meets a few times a year to discuss dates of training, up date records, report on past training's,look at the needs that each District has and plan Council Training events. JLTC, Pow Wow, Trainer Development Conference and any other council wide events. The District Guys have the tools that they need. Whatever that might be AV Equipment, books, handouts and the date of the training. They need now to recruit a staff. This is where things to get really iffy. The District Training Chairman, working with the District whatever (Boy Scout, Cub Scout..) Chairman, should be developing people to be trainers. Getting them to the Trainer Development Conference. Nearer the date there should be planning meetings to plan for that training, going over the material, seeing who is doing what. Sad to say this doesn't always happen. I think what is happening is that someone asks someone to present a session at a training is given the syllabus and told when to be where. Most of the people have are asked to present are busy people to start with, busy working delivering the program to the youth in whatever program. There are a few that are asked because we know that they are not busy - Which begs the question why are they not busy? At present Trainer is not a recognized BSA position. I'm wondering if things would be better if Trainer were to become a registered position and each trainer were given so many units to cover. May be a lot more than a Unit Commissioner say 6 -8. He or she could visit the unit, promote training and see what was happening in the real world. Eamonn

The Wood Badge course is a leadership course open to anyone who has taken the specific training for the position that they hold. A District Committee member who had taken the District Training Workshop can attend Wood Badge. This Committee person may never ever had any contact with youth members, never ever camped in their life. Will attending Wood Badge give this person the tools he or she needs to do the day to day work that the position requires? No of course not. It will help them do a better job leading the team that they are in and have a better understanding of how a team works. Wood badge, uses the Troop setting because it works for the course, it isn't there to groom people for specific positions. In another thread someone said that the Trainers at a Boy Scout Specific training didn't know the answers to questions about Learning for Life or Venturing. Why would they need to know this stuff? Joe Blow was selected to present a Boy Scout training, he may never had any dealings with Venturing or the LFL programs. I freely admit that I don't know squat about Exploring. I have never had any dealings with the program. The old Wood Badge courses were specific courses. The Cub Scout Leader Trainer, managed at the Regional level, trained Cub Scouter's to be trainers. The Boy Scout course used the 11 leadership skills to teach Boy Scouter's how to use these skills to run a troop. It really did stress the Patrol Method. I'm not sure why National changed things. I do know that very few Cub Scouter's attended Wood Badge, and a lot of people who serve in non Boy Scout or Cub Scout levels either didn't know which course to attend or just didn't attend any. The tools that Wood Badge participants come away with are Leadership tools, which apply to leading any group. If you don't know how to tie a square knot at the beginning of the course, the chances are that you still will not be able to tie one at the end of the course. Sure some of the tools can be used in leading any group. Still when it comes to the methods that each program uses, these are covered in the specific courses and are looked at in Fast Start, and NLE course. Then they are really looked at in depth in each of the specific courses. Wood Badge course Directors do their best to recruit as diverse as staff as possible. Trying to make sure that every program is covered. I tried to recruit a good mix of male and females as well as a group that had served at every level, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing as well as people who serve at the administrative level. I wasn't able to find a Varsity Scouter. Our course was a cluster course, recruiting participants and staff from six Councils. When I checked none of the Councils had a Varsity unit. None of the staff knew very much about Varsity Scouting. We ended up just making the literature that was available from National available to the participants. Sad to say when the participants filled out the course evaluation forms they said that they wanted more information about Varsity Scouting. I have to ask why? None of them served in a Varsity unit, in fact there wasn't one in any of the Councils that they came from. The course is based on a lot of the stuff that Ken Blanchard has wrote. Participants that have taken management training have seen the material offered in some form. These guys are tough to deal with. They have attended a course that in most cases their boss has paid big bucks for. The presenters are professional presenters, the facilities are far better than what most councils can provide. I remember a little while back our company thought it would be a great idea to send us all to see a workshop production of Fish, A remarkable way to boost morale and Improve results. This was was about a four hour presentation. I was surprised when I found out that it cost $328.00 to send each one of us. The going rate for Wood Badge courses in our area seems to be from $180 -$225 and this covers food for six days and a lot of add ons. Most Wood Badge staffers are volunteers and do have a real day job. I think once people stop thinking of Wood Badge as the things that it isn't and start seeing it for what it is, we will see that it works. Sure there are things that I hope will be improved and I along with every other person that has directed a course have sent close out reports to the Region, with suggestions. A lot of the items that I sent in came from the evaluations that the participants did. Eamonn

btps, I really do feel your pain.Nearly all of the Scoutmasters that serve in our District have been around for a very long time. Trying to enthuse them is hard work. Somethings that have worked and are working for us are: Inviting the SPL's to attend and plan the Camporees. The SM, normally gives them a ride. Food. We invite people to bring a certain food. Chili went well, so did Wild Game. Bringing in outside speakers. We have had the local Drug and Alcohol guys come in and talk about drugs. We have had different fund raising companies come in and go over how their programs work. Some of the food guys bring food!! We got rid of the long drawn out announcements and use a news sheet. We now have been working our way through the District Committee, asking the chairs to talk about their area. The camping chair had a rough ride with people moaning about different things about Summer camp. We also have a mail box for each unit, if they don't pick up their mail the unit commissioner is in charge of delivering it. It is a hard job and I wish you all the best of luck. Eamonn.

Dan, This is the session at Commissioner School where they learn about Unit Visitation,it provides the participants with insights on effective unit visits,what to look for and how to be a help-not a hindrance. Commissioner Training takes place at the College of Commissioner Science. The college borrows terminology from higher education. Session topics become "courses" with course numbers. Courses in the "Curriculum" are divided into three program levels. Bachelor's Program. Master's Program. Doctor's Program. The Bachelor's Program Courses are: BCS 101 Introduction to Commissioner Science. BCS 102 Unit Charter Renewal. BCS 103 The Commissioner and the District. BCS 104 Unit Visitation. BCS 105 Practical Solutions to Common Unit Needs. BCS 106 A Commissioner's Priorities. BCS 107 Youth Protection Training. BCS 108 Effective Roundtables I BCS 109 Effective Roundtables II All this is followed by MCS. The Doctor of commissioner science degree requires the satisfactory development of a thesis or a research project on any topic of value to Scouting in the local Council. It has to be a minimum of twenty double-spaced, typed pages (81/2-by-11-inch white paper) I did mine on International Scouting. One Commissioner from our Council did a really good one on holding the interest of the old Scout. He covered all sorts of off the wall awards that older Scouts could work on and resources where they could go or get information. We normally make copies and send these out to the Scoutmasters, what happens after that - Well ... Eamonn.

Looking at the Continuing Education For Commissioners (7 30176 33615 2) It seems to be laid out very well and could very easily be lifted on to a power point presentation. At the risk of seeming "Sugar coated" you could add a very short role play of what it isn't. I see a spy, dark glasses, raincoat with collar turned up and a note book.It need only eat up a couple of minutes and would help drive the point home as well as being a little fun. Eamonn

It really looks as if the Eamonn and Unc fan club is foundering. I thought that there was something fishy about them!! I am a big fan of Hops and OGE. I think that we are all guests here. Terry, Hops and OGE are more than tolerant and do if you ask me show very good judgment. Way to go Guys, keep up the good work. Eamonn.