Eamonn

Please don't tell anyone, but I have been known to have a heavy foot. So far I have never ever had a ticket. But it is going to happen. The other night the fellow who is my ASM for the Jamboree had to leave a troop meeting early he asked if I would take his son home after the meeting. I have known the little fellow since before he was born, his mother and Her That Must Be Obeyed have been best friends since High School, the little fellow calls me Uncle Eamonn and my son calls his parents Aunt and Uncle. We have this stupid road where the speed limit seems to change every mile or so, part is 65 MPH, parts are 55 and parts are 50. Then I think that in some places it goes down as low as 35. It seems that I was doing 60 in a 50 and this little Lad went home and informed his parents that I was speeding, they of course told Her That Must Be Obeyed and she of course gave me an ear full. Needless to say my argument that it's a stupid road fell on deaf ears and the sad thing about being wrong is that you can never be right!! As a parent I know that I want my kid to be safe. I would hope that the guys who I entrust with my son and heir would go above and beyond to make sure that everything is done to keep him safe. Still what is that they say about people in glass houses?? I don't want my son in a car with anyone (including me) who has been drinking, not even one drink. Some may find it hard to believe that in the 16 years on the planet he has never been in a car with a guy who has had a drink. I do think that this guy does need to be taken behind the wood shed and someone needs to really explain to him the error of his ways in very clear no nonsense terms. I do think that at times there is a difference between speeding and dangerous driving, while in most cases they do go hand in hand. This may not always be the case. Just lately we have seen in our area new "Safety Corridors" they are stretches of road about five miles long where the fines for speeding are doubled. The posted speed is 45, I used to travel at about 50, but I now follow the posted limit. Sad to say not because I have become a better driver, I'm just really cheap. Eamonn.

How about painting them bright orange? Eamonn

I can't help thinking that we the adults are at fault. While setting the example is never ever a bad thing, we need to remember that we are here to serve the Scouts. Scouts of all ages. They are not here to serve the troop. Well they are, but part of them becoming leaders is them working this out!! Our program is dependent on us listening to the kids and providing them the tools and resources to do the activities that they want to do. While there are some older Scouts who like working with the younger Scouts and passing on the knowledge that they have, many Scouts just don't like this stuff. In fact when I talk to older Scouts they say this a lot. This can hurt us adults, we don't want to hear this, we would really like these older Lads to spent time explaining that the little rabbit comes up through the hole..... However most of the older Lads would sooner go to the Dentist!! We know that this program is supposed to provide Adventure and fun. We need to remember what is fun and adventure will change as our Lad's get older. We teach the skills that we teach so that they can be used. I see no reason for us to waste our time teaching mapping and compass if these skills are never put to some real use. The real use is finding challenging adventures where these skills are used. So who teaches the younger Scouts? All the basic skills are covered on the road to First Class Scout. The NSP or Patrols are under the watchful eye of ASM's, they offer all the Scouts the opportunity to lead the Patrol. Very often these NSP's are under the watchful eye of last years Webelos Scout Den Leader. At times this willing soul doesn't have the skills or the knowledge needed to do this job correctly. Very often this person doesn't understand that this is the Boy Scout program. If we really take a long hard look at the Scouts in the troop and look at what they are doing, we will see the need to stop looking at the troop and start looking at the Patrol. Our little Lads who cross over from the pack are in a lot of cases still in Elementary School, the demands on their time are not that great. They can attend everything that is offered. As they move through to the High School there are more and more demands on their time, depending on the boy he has to make a lot of choices. Some will put Scouting above everything else, while others may put other activities before Scouting. They still enjoy Scouts and Scouting or maybe parts of Scouts and Scouting. It can be hard for us adults who think of Scouting as being the "Cats Whiskers " To come to grips with the idea that anyone would be so foolish as to not put Scouting above everything else!! We can of course chose to do nothing for these Lads and complain that they are not living up to our expectations. Or we can do what we can to work with these Lad's. Some troops can manage this with no problem. Others have seen that a Venture Crew is the answer Many chose to do nothing. The Scoutmaster and his adult Leadership team may have the time and the capabilities of offering a program that has different activities going on for different age groups. Many troops offer a "One Size fits all" Program. I have to admit that I'm surprised at how well this works in some troops. Still I know that the program that the troop that OJ is in is not holding his attention. It isn't offering him the adventure or the challenges that he needs. While he still attends the meetings and attends the camp outs there is no adventure. He enjoys the getting away from the house and spending time with the other older Lads and they do have fun, still the adventure just isn't there. He wants the adventure and seeks the challenge, but the troop just doesn't see it. He has held POR's and not been the Patch wearer or title holder, he kept his end of what was expected from him. Sad to say the expectations weren't that high. He is lucky that his Dad knows that there are opportunities outside of the troop that will fill his need for adventure and will allow him to put his skills to work. Sad to say not all Scouts have a parent who is "In the know." At 16 going on 17 I can't help thinking that he has had a good run. The troop he belongs too has lots of ASM'S.Most are fairly new, they have crossed over with their sons within the past 2 or 3 years. Sad to say these guys don't know very much.Most have attended the training courses, but they have never been given real jobs or real responsibilities, they just tag along. There are a couple of outstanding leaders that know that some things need to change, but know as long as the SM is there nothing will ever change. They live in hope that one day the SM will step down. OJ, will remain on the troop charter, he will fit Scouting in some where between the School play, Soccer, track, his need for money, his awareness of girls, school work. I think if it wasn't for the OA he would more than lightly be gone. Attending a meeting where the expectation is that he will explain the joys of some skill that is rarely used to some little Lad who knows that the only need to learn this in order to get it signed off is not a priority for him.Attending a meeting where the goal would be to get ready for the next adventure might be more attractive. The SM is supposed to be training the Patrol Leaders. The Patrol Leaders are the guys who decided what the program will be, they plan the meetings. The SM is there to to help and support them. If the troop or the patrol is doing something that requires a skill as part of that months theme he should be the one that teaches the Patrol Leaders or goes over the skill so that they can go back and pass it on to their Patrol. Of course if we have several patrols following the same theme but at different levels, the basic skill might still be the same or in some cases might be a little more advanced he might want an ASM to work with the older guys. Some troops have gone with Patrols with mixed age groups, where the older Scout is the Patrol Leader?? (I don't know how this works if the older Scouts are always the PL's?) and I can see that the older Scout will teach the younger Scout. But if our expectation of our older Scouts is just teaching younger Scouts, I think it is never going to work. Eamonn.

One of the last things that participants hear at Wood Badge is that training never ends. " it IS hard to deliver a program one is ignorant about" I would say that it isn't possible to deliver the program when you are ignorant about it. However I don't think that this is the problem. The problem is that people choose to ignore the program. Not just little things but big chunks of it. I have seen the troops that meet every week for their Merit Badge classes, the troops that never make it inside of the meeting hall because there is a basket ball game going on. The list goes on. I at times wonder what program is being delivered, I know it's not Scouting. My heart goes out to the poor leader who joins a unit like this, they are trying to get things back on track, but meet with obstacles along the way.I'm big on training and know that it can go a long way to help new leaders and old leaders who are open minded enough to try doing things a different way. I don't think that we (We being the Training teams,Commissioner Service team or that group that is sometimes called the District) do enough to help the leaders over come the obstacles. The people who should be on hand to help are the Unit Commissioners. While I know that there are Districts that have great Commissioners, the quality of service can vary from outstanding to poor. Most really good leaders are serving at the unit level, so I have to wonder at the quality of service offered, there are of course some outstanding Commissioners. Looking back at what I went through, even though I was surrounded by a lot of good people who were delivering the program and who really understood how this game is played, it took me a long time to see what I was doing and where I was doing it wrong. Even at the end of eleven years I still don't think that I had it right. Now I think that I am faced with trying to do something that will make the District do more to help the poor guy who is trying to do things. I was going to say by the book, but that might be a little much? Working within what a district can do is hard. I do know that we need to beef up our Commissioner Staff and our Round-tables, I also see that we need to do more with our training teams, so they they do more than just present courses. As ever the age old question of finding the right people to do this is there. We also need to only spend time with the people who want to see the program work. We are never going to change the hearts and minds of the people who don't want to change and trying to do so it just a waste of time and effort. I can't help thinking about teaching a pig to sing. Eamonn.

http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=58269#id_64131 I wear a Wood Badge that is a mix of beads, some from England and some from the USA. The beads are the same. I did buy a new set from Gilwell not so long back and the beads are a much lighter color and the leather is really thin. I see that they are now selling one that is not on leather for the people who object to the use of animal products. Eamonn.

As ever I could be way out of order, but I can't help thinking that some people think that doing one little thing is going to change everything. Sending a handful of Scouts to JLTC,is a great idea. But without the help and support of the home troop,everything they have done at JLTC will not change anything. Telling the Troop that they are now "A boy led troop" Is a great idea. But without the help and support of all the adults, will not change anything. Having PLC meetings where the SM tells the members what is going to happen, might improve troop communications, but will not change anything. Electing SPL's and PL's is a great idea, but unless you train and support them, nothing will change. Unless you let them lead, nothing will change. There is no good Scout Fairy, talking the talk, without walking the walk, just sounds good and will not change anything. Eamonn.

I have had very little dealings with Girl Scouts or the programs that they offer. I was told that the reason why Tiger Cubs start a year later had a lot to do with little boys maturing later than little girls. I have seen some really outstanding Tiger Dens and some that were very weak. I can say the same about every other Den. It depends on the Den Leader. We have in the District a really good Troop and a new Crew, which all sprung from a successful Tiger Den. These guys and their parents have been together for a very long time, they learned how to work together while they were Tiger parents. The Tiger Den Coach as she was then is now the Troop Committee Chairperson, she is a great Scouter and a good leader.I'm really happy that when the time came she had a little boy and not a girl!! I know that she would be a good leader no matter what program. She manages a Landscaping business, I don't know how many crews she has, but they are all big guys and they know that she is the boss. Kinda like the Maggie Thatcher of landscaping!! Eamonn

I'm sorry but I don't really understand the question that you ask in your title? I also can at times be really dense when it comes to shovels and holes. The question about resources that will help with the planning of meetings is easy. The Resource guide & Program Features are good, maybe you only read the theme and need to look at the format of a troop meeting. Most Troop meetings will follow: Pre opening Activity. A game of some sort that will follow the theme. This should last about about 15 -20 minutes. Opening Ceremony. Normally something based on the Scout Oath an Law or the Flag. This should last about 3-5 minutes. Skills Instruction. Again Based on the theme. should last about 20-25 minutes. Patrol Meeting. This could be a patrol activity or time for planning what ever the patrol is doing next. Inter-patrol Activity. Again based on the theme. This could be a game or a Quiz type activity. About 20 -25 Minutes Closing. Scoutmaster's minute and some announcements from the SPL. The monthly theme came about from the Annual planning meeting. The meeting plan came from the monthly PLC meeting with short meetings after each meeting and before each Troop meetings. These before and after meetings are very informal. The After the troop meeting should be a review of what is happening next week and the before meeting could be just a "Hey guys, are you ready for tonights meeting?". It is important that each and every part of the meeting is planned and we always had a backup activity just in case. The program features are laid out thinking that the you have same age Patrols and that the troop has worked on First Class in 12 -18 months. If this isn't the case you do need to look at making the meetings work for the Scouts,and the skills that they have. If I were involved with the troop that you serve, things would be easy or easier if I held the Scoutmaster position, but even as an ASM or Committee member, I would see about calling a meeting of the leaders and the Troop Committee. At this meeting I would state the case that our Scouts lack skills and ask why? From reading what you have posted it seems to me that somehow you think that these Lads who don't have the skills are at fault. This rarely if ever is the case. Scouts don't have skills because they were never taught them or they were taught them poorly and were never given the opportunity to use them. This could be because the leaders don't have the skills? Or there is no no control about who is signing off on requirements as being passed? A well run, well organized New Scout Patrol would go a long way to eliminate a lot of these problems. Having all leaders attend all the parts of the Boy Scout Specific Training especially the Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills is a must. I think that a Patrol going to see a movie or play miniature golf is a great idea, I wish more Patrols had meetings like this away from the troop. However back to the troop meeting. Boy led, is the hardest thing that Scoutmasters have to do. The Train Them, Trust Them. Let them lead, does start with Train them. This entails a lot more than sending a handful of Lads off to JLTC. The training and support is on going and except in very extraordinary circumstances is never ending. The Scoutmaster has the job of training the PLC.Some troops have the odd weekend away with the PLC, where they work on scouting skills,but the only real time for the SM and the PLC to get together is at the PLC meeting. We have our meeting format, we now need to fill in the blanks. The pre-opening Activity. Who is in charge? The SPL. He can delegate the running of it to an ASPL or a Patrol leader. What sort of activity will it be? I like an activity that allows the Scouts to get rid of some surplus energy, allows for people to arrive early and still be doing a planned activity.If you don't plan it soon every meeting will start with Dodge Ball!! If it fits in with the theme, that's great, but I went more for fun. In the early days we gave the SPL books full of Scout games, but now with the Internet life is easy.Have your SPL take a look at: http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/direct/games/index.php?ID=97 There are a lot of ideas there. If possible try and play one at the PLC. The SM should do what he can to prompt the SPL to try new games and new ideas. The Opening. Again the SPL is in charge. It can be very simple, but does need to be planned. I think that there is nothing worse than a half hearted recitation of the Scout Oath and Law. We have so much material available that has to do with the Flag and Citizenship, to just do the Scout Oath and Law every week takes away from the true meaning of the Oath and Law. Skill Instruction.If the Patrol Leaders need help this can be done at the PLC meeting. The SPL informs the Patrol Leaders what skills they will be covering and where they will find the information that they need to cover that skill, if the SM knows that a Patrol Leader is not up to snuff on this he becomes a resource and works with that Patrol Leader or group to get them up to speed. In the case of the New Scout Patrol, the ASM or Guide will work with these Lads. If the skill is something brand new or is beyond the capabilities of the Patrol Leaders then the Leaders might want to work with the Patrols, in this case maybe a round robin might be an idea. The Patrol Meeting. At this time the Patrols should work on Patrol stuff. It might be making something or preparing something. Or both. Making plans for the weekend activity needs to be covered, but Scouts can be assigned things to bring back to the next meeting, things like menus and equipment lists. These can be covered very quickly. A lot will depend on the age of the Scouts in the Patrol. They could work on making a knot board or preparing the route for a hike. The Patrol meeting is not "Free time". The SPL will need to drive that point home at each and every PLC meeting. The ASM'S along with the SM will need to support the PL's in keeping the Patrol on task and be ready to help if asked. If a Patrol is in over their head, the SM might ask the SPL if he thinks that the Bear Patrol is doing OK? The SPL might see that the Bears are not getting it. This is causing them to get frustrated and this in turn is leading up to some of the Patrol members messing around. The Inter-Patrol Activity. This could be some sort of competition. Build a Sedan Chair and then have a race or they could have built the chair as part of the Patrol meeting. A Orienteering course that spells a word, the stuff that can be done is endless. Maybe in the early days you might want to ask a ASM too work with the SPL on Planning this depending on the activity he might or might not want to let the Patrol Leaders know what it is ahead of time. The Closing. It is very important that a meeting has an opening and a closing. I found that announcements are a pain. These can be done by the Patrol Leaders at the Patrol meeting. They have all the information from the PLC meeting. A troop newsletter informs the parents. The Scoutmaster gets a minute and no more than three minutes. The troop is dismissed and the Scoutmaster and PLC members meet for a quick reflection on the meeting that they just had. What worked and what didn't? SPL hands out the meeting plan for next week and makes sure that everyone knows what they are doing and when they are doing it. It is important that the plan is written down and that everyone knows that the SPL and the SM are available to answer any questions and will help. If everyone is a little lost there might be a meeting planned for during the week or everyone will arrive a little early next week. Leadership is learned in lots of little steps. Sure we have some really good courses that cover what the skills are, and knowing what is required is a big step. Communication or the getting and giving of information needs to be practiced. It can be helped by adults telling Scouts "Did you ask your Patrol Leader?" Understanding group needs and Characteristics can only be learned by working with the group. Knowing and understanding group resources again only works when you work with a group /Patrol. The same goes for Controlling the group. Setting the example is on going as is sharing leadership,representing the group. Counseling and manager of learning can take a very long time to develop.Problem solving and evaluation can be practiced at each and every meeting. But there is no "Quick Fix." As for the older Scouts not wanting to do stuff. If you are expecting these older Scouts to spend all their time teaching the younger Lads, it isn't going to happen. The promise we make to our Scouts (Look in the Scout Handbook) tells the Scouts about the outdoors and adventure, if you are expecting these Lads to spend all their time working with younger Scouts it is never going to happen. Looking at other troops is really of no use. Each troop has different people, it could be the troop that doesn't camp do a lot of sailing or some other activity. The job of all the members of the troop you serve is to make the troop the best show in town. Maybe you need to ease up a little bit, look at all the methods of Scouting don't just focus on Advancement. The older Scouts are not at fault,it could be that the troop has let them down. Boy led doesn't happen over night,the adults still have a very important role to play helping and supporting. We also need to allow the PLC members to do real jobs in order to learn leadership. Eamonn.

Thanks for the replies. I don't have any plans other than what I'm doing and going to do in Scouting. As of now I'm scheduled up till 2007 and the Jamboree. The past few weeks have been tough with four and five meetings a week. Sad to say things between me and the District Commissioner are not going well and one of us really had to go for the good of the District. The nominating committee have decided to replace him. I can't say that I'm surprised the guy is a super nice guy, in fact maybe a little too nice. He wants to please everyone and tends to be two faced when this happens. I only have a year left as District Chairman, there is talk of extending my term to five years, I don't think I will go the extra two years. I really don't do much other than Scouting, and would really not know what to do with myself. OJ,will be 17 next birthday and needs me less and less of course while he is driving on a permit he can't seem to see enough of me. I do some stuff with the church, but the people who are really involved are a little bit to holy for me. The Priest is a nice Lad, but he drinks this prune brandy imported from Poland. Sad to say I really don't have the money to do much more charity work, when we had the restaurants opened it seemed that everyone wanted money so we choose to support Ulster Project Delaware, which brings kids from the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland to the USA for a vacation and promotes religious understanding and tolerance. Her That Must Be Obeyed is a non-catholic and I am a Roman Catholic. Her Dad died from lung cancer, so we have always supported the American Cancer Society, we both are just nuts about dogs and do support two pet adoption shelters, just to show that we aren't prejudiced they work with cats as well. We have also supported local school activities in our area. Then of course there is the local council and things that pop up in the District. I love to read and will read just about anything. I dislike paperback books, somehow they seem disposable, I like real books. I keep them and when I run out of things to read will re-read them. I also like music, I can't play any instruments, but nearly always have something playing. I never liked tapes and would still prefer to buy the big old LP'S, I loved the covers and I don't know why? But for some reason I used to take more care of them then I do Cd's. I like just about any type of music, but am not too keen on modern jazz and a lot of the rap. I never bought much country and western, I do like Cash,Willie Nelson but some guy singing about his lost dog, wife,train and six pack never did much for me of course Cash was great at singing about all of them with a few jails thrown in for good measure. I think if I were to quit Scouting I would like to become really good at training dogs, they really are great animals, it is a shame that people who have them don't spend the time to train them. As I write it must be nap time I have one beside me and one behind me and both are fast asleep. They call them dumb animals? Maybe Paul Simon sends dogs off to sleep? Eamonn.

While serving as a Scoutmaster in England,the troop camped in Holland a lot. We became very friendly with a Dutch troop. The leaders became great mates and we would visit each other for non Scouting events. It worked out really well. When we visited Kandersteg we would meet up with an American Troop, stationed in Germany their Leaders were experts on climbing and mountaineering. Again the adults became good mates, in fact I had some of them over for my wedding. When the troop visited America, our Lads spent a week living with American Scouts. Right now I'm working on trying to get an exchange program off the ground with the Venturing Crews in our District and a group in the UK. It really can be a win - win situation. We did have a few problems with a Swedish group that came over, we let them use our camping equipment and they left it in a bad state, I think the fact that it rained most of the time didn't help. I was talking to a friend of mine in the UK about the HOHO (Home Hospitality)for the 2007 Jamboree in the UK, he tells me that they are having a slight problem. The Scout Association wants all the families that will be hosting Scouts to have whatever the British youth protection clearances are before they will allow the families to host a Scout. I'm sure that they will work it all out. Eamonn.

This may seem the height of all laziness, but I think that a "Return To Top" Would be a great tool in the forum. Eamonn

We could I suppose play Baden Powell quotes for a long time. As I have posted I think some of what he said made sense then and makes sense now. Please fell free to disagree with me. (Not that you need my permission) But at the end of the day doesn't it come down to: Who owns the program? I have a lot of faith in the people who work on putting the program together and making changes as need be. I over the years have served Scouting in different programs, in different countries.I have got to know people who serve on the national level in both the UK on the Committee of the Council and here on different National Boards. These guys are good and good at what they do.Still before these guys make changes they use the resources of the entire organization, they work with hundreds of other people in Scouting, asking questions looking at ideas and field testing them. I have also over the years worked with Scouter's who inform me that "We don't do it that way," They base their not following the program on what? We tried it once and it didn't work; I don't like it. Or the classic we have never done it that way. I respect these people for the time that they put in and in a lot of cases for the skills that they might have. However to decide not to follow the program, that they signed on to deliver is wrong. I don't think that they have the right. Of course the penalty for not following the program is maybe a few raised eyebrows. The youth that belong to rebel units rarely if ever know any different. My mother was a terrible cook, I thought steak and liver were supposed to be like shoe leather (And taste the same!!) Of course the sad thing is that the youth that leave these units because they are rebel units, don't have a voice. They are gone rarely if ever to return. Eamonn.

Thanks Dale, I echo your sentiments. It has been a very tough year for me and mine. I have for a number of years had the Scout Oath and Scout Law as my guide. I know this may sound corny, but it's true. Before I would do something I would look at it and my reason for doing it. I never really thought of being Brave. When the Doctor used that terrible "C" Word in connection with Her Who Must Be Obeyed being brave took on a real meaning. Of course we all wish that it hadn't came anywhere near us, our home or my family. I am thankful she is still with me and we live in a place where we have so many resources. We are beating this thing and it has if anything brought us closer and more loving. I have over this past six months met some of the most caring professional medical staff and people under going chemotherapy and radiation therapy, I have stood in awe of these people and how very brave they are. We know that we are blessed with a son who is a good kid, at one time I thought it looked like it would be just him and I. I wasn't sure if I would be up to the task. The thought of Her That Must Be Obeyed mother moving in inspired me!! The Big Guy Upstairs is looking out for us and He will be with us when we raise a glass tomorrow and say thanks. Eamonn.

Is Summer Comp anything like Workman's Comp? It would have worked out cheaper to send my guys to Summer comp than having to pay the darn insurance. Imagine an interview: Employer: "Yes Jim, we offer Blue Cross, Blue Shield and the all new Summer Comp, this replaces the week that all the Scoutmasters called off sick every summer." Sorry Barry, I couldn't help myself. Eamonn.

I was unable to open the link!! OGE, I think a Rugby and Cricket team would be more in keeping with the old Lad. I can't help thinking about Camp Fire Cheer Leaders, I don't know why that just strikes me as amusing ?? Eamonn

If you were not so involved with Scouting, what would you do with the time you now put in? Would you serve another youth organization? Or do you have a pet project or hobby that you would start or do? Eamonn

Bob is correct that you / the pack needs to contact the district and or the council. Awards in Cub Scouting are presented at a pack meeting. The Wolf and Bobcat patches are less than $2.00 each. You might have to ask the parents to pay for them. While the CO has no obligation to help I feel sure that if someone presented the case of what is happening they might help if only with some sort of a loan. What is most upsetting is how the pack ended up in this situation. A pack budget is a must. This is clearly a case of people not doing things by the book and the end result is that our Scouts suffer and leaders become disgusted. If the Cub Scouts in the pack are from a financially distressed area the Council might have funds in Scoutreach or some-other budget that might help you out. I strongly urge the members of the pack committee to attend NLE's and pay special attention to the "Who Pays For Scouting" presentation. The Cubmaster, the CC, along with the pack treasurer need to get their hands on the Cub Scout Leader book and read it. The Unit Commissioner can through the District Commissioner ask that someone from the District Finance Committee attend a pack committee meeting and explain how to plan and work with a pack budget. Eamonn

Who: In the ideal world the PLC should decide. As well as the reasons you list,a lot of PLC's just don't have enough information to make an informed decision. We do in the district have one troop that I know of that does visit other camps during the winter months. I have never gone with them so I don't know what they look at. In some cases the need to participate in a activity that one camp has and the local camp doesn't will be the driving force. When: This will depend on when the leaders are able to attend. Where: This should be part of the troop annual plan. So where ever they (The PLC) meet to do the plan. A pal of mine is an ASM in a local troop, the leaders decided that they wanted to try a new camp. We have a fair selection close to home, but they liked the look of one someplace in New York, when I asked what was so good about it? he said that they offered a lot more merit badges!! The cost was going to be about twice what the Scouts pay for our camp. The parents were not happy, the Scouts seemed to be happy with things as they were, so they ended back at our council camp. I suggested that maybe they should look at some of the Council High Adventure Bases and see if the older Scouts wanted to try one? The pal of mine looked at me and then down at his waist line, he just shook his head. He has switched to lite. Eamonn

A guy goes into an antique shop to sell his antique Axe. The storekeeper asks "Are you sure it's old?" The guy goes on to say it is and how over the years it has been a great Axe and that he has only changed the head three times and the handle four times. I like Baden Powell and do use BP quotations from time to time. I have read all sorts of books some that show him in a slightly lesser light than many of us were brought up believing. I am still a Brit, so I can call him a National Hero. I have postage stamps and tea caddies that attest to the fact that he was seen by many as a hero. Sometime back I wrote a very long posting on early Boy Scouting in the UK. It is a well known fact that BP never intended in the early years for Scouting to be a stand alone organization. He thought that existing organizations would just adopt some of his methods and have as part of their program. This in fact happened with the Church Lads Brigade and for a while with the Boys Brigade (An Organization which BP was a member of until he died) Scouting in the early days in England was a real mess, everyone was more or less doing their own thing. Needless to say things weren't going that well. I have read Aids to Scoutmastership. While the forward does contain the line: So most of these pages will be taken up with the objects of the steps rather than with the details of the steps themselves. These can be filled in by the learner according to his own ingenuity, and in harmony with the local conditions under which he is working. [signed: Baden Powell of Gilwell] We don't have to look very far to see that when he lists the qualities of a Scoutmaster he lists: (4) He then needs to promote a corporate spirit among his individuals to gain the best results. He goes on to stress: Loyalty to the movement Let the Scoutmaster remember that in addition to his duty to his boys he has a duty also to the Movement as a whole. Theirs is to teach their boys to "play the game," each in his place like bricks in a wall, by doing the same them-selves. Each has his allotted sphere of work, and the better he devotes himself to that, the better his Scouts will respond to his training. Then it is only by looking to the higher aims of the Movement, or to the effects of measures ten years hence that one can see details of to-day in their proper proportion.Where a man cannot conscientiously take the line re-quired, his one manly course is to put it straight to his Commissioner or to Headquarters, and if we cannot meet his views, then to leave the work. He goes into it in the first place with his eyes open, and it is scarcely fair if afterwards, because he finds the details do not suit him, he complains that it is the fault of the Executive. Sounds to me as if Baden is very clearly saying follow the program. I have read different accounts of how much Seton's, Woodcraft Indians influenced Baden Powell and Scouting For Boy's and have read that Baden Powell and James E. West did not see eye to eye. Over the years the program has changed, we have kept the methods of Scouting which include the ideals, we have however seen many changes. Talking only for myself, I like following the program. I like it because it works. Sure there are times when all the i's don't get dotted or the T's crossed. I even though I now serve in an administration role most of the time don't see myself as just an administrator. For example, working with a large group of other people we have over the years made a lot of improvements to our Council Camp. We as a group shared the vision that these improvements would improve the camp for the Scouts and help deliver the vision of the BSA. We were very clear in that we wanted the youth members who attended the camp to be able to have fun and that camp would be an adventure for these youth. Sure spending over $750,000 does take a lot of administration and there were members of the group that don't have very much contact with our youth members, but each and every one of the group shared in the vision. Many of these people will never be recognized for the work that they put in, the meetings they attended, the frustration they felt when things fell behind or went over budget. Some of the group will never get to attend the camp with a group of Scouts to see them enjoy and make use of the things that they worked so hard on. In fact at times when people like this are recognized, we hear complaints from those who deliver the program that because they don't work directly with the youth they don't deserve to be recognized. Scouting is reinventing itself everyday. Every-time we work with someone and they set a goal to do something they bring their skills, their personality into play. I over the years have worked with a lot of people writing their Wood Badge ticket, each person is setting down a list of goals that will improve Scouting for the kids in their area, so far I have never seen two identical tickets. When the SM meets with a Scout and they work on goals for the Scout, I like to think that we don't use cookie cutter goals, we challenge each Scout to do his best, we don't change the requirements we make them work for the individual, we follow the program. The Axe is still an Axe, we have over the last 94 years changed the handle, we have seen Cub Scouts have a big influence on what we do. We have changed the head, we now have female leaders, we have Venturing along with a myriad of other changes, some didn't work (Look at what happened when we done away with Commissioners!) and were changed back. Some are wonderful (Look at YP training's)Some are still new and will maybe in time be or need to be "Tweaked", I'm thinking of the new Wood Badge and even though I have yet to see it the new training that has replaced JLTC. Eamonn

As long as the county say that this is what they need I don't have a problem with it. Eamonn.

I have been out of Cub Scouting for a while, and have not kept up to date with all the changes. When I was CM, we had monthly meetings of the Leaders. This meeting was held about a week before the pack meeting. I used the meeting to find out what the dens would be doing at the pack meeting. As some of the Den Leaders couldn't make the R/T meeting we covered that.The Den Leader Coach (Yes I know that's gone.) was on hand with ideas for next months theme.I covered pack events with the Den Leaders things like the Pack Picnic,Pack outings, the fishing derby, B&G Banquet, Pine-wood Derby. Dens gave me any tour permits or paper work that I would pass on to the committee. We dealt with requests for money. It was a very useful meeting. The pack committee took care of pack management, I gave them all the stuff that I had collected from the Den Leaders. Each meeting took about an hour, I think trying to do all this at one time would take way too much time. The Pack Committee also discussed how the leaders were doing, something that we would never be able to do with them there. Eamonn.

I was saddened by a posting the other week where a Scoutmaster stated that he didn't have the time to find out why a Scout wasn't attending meetings. I really enjoy the time I spend in Scouting. I think the thing I enjoy most is that allows me to have relationships with all sorts of people. I really do believe in what we are trying to do and where we are going. Along the way I have a lot of fun and more than my fair share of enjoyment. One of the relationships I valued the most was with the new lad who was joining the Troop. Some of these I knew because of their involvement in Cub Scouting, or their parents involvement in Scouting, others may have had an older brother in the troop. I really wanted to know as much as I could about this "New Kid." I knew that if he stuck around he would be doing a lot of stuff with the troop, in most cases away from his home and family. I thought it was very important that they knew who this Scoutmaster guy was.This guy who would take their son away and allow him to participate in activities that might seem risky to a parent. I made it a very important part of my job as Scoutmaster to go and visit each and every Scout at his home. This visit gave me a better understanding of the boy and what his home life was like. It gave the parents an opportunity to give me the "Once Over", ask whatever questions that they might have and hopefully put to rest any concerns that they might have. This meeting had lots of other benefits, but the main thing was it was the start of a relationship. Once a Lad joined the troop, it was very much like he had joined a family. We over time got to know each other, we shared times of great happiness, we worked through times when things didn't go as they should. Occasionally things for the Scout got really rough and the troop became some sort of a refuge. Some Lads seen being a troop member as the most important thing happening in their life at that time, while others were happy to just have Scouts and Scouting as just one more thing that they did. I as the Scoutmaster knew these kids,I like to think this knowledge allowed me to serve them better. While it might be wrong, I thought that these Scouts were my friends, I didn't lead them with threats or bribes. I know a lot of what they did, they did to please me. I shared in their accomplishments, I shared in their enjoyment. I always seen what I did as a privilege. When a Scout wasn't coming to meetings, I wanted to know why. Sure there were Lads who for one reason or another decided that they just wanted out. If there was something that we were doing or there was something going on that I didn't know about, I needed to know so I could correct it. At times I used the relationship that I had with the Lads parents to bring him back. Most times my message was just "Hey we are still here and please know that you will always be welcomed back." As I say I was really sad to read that a Scoutmaster didn't have the time. I don't know what his circumstances are and maybe he has good reason for not having the time. I am in no way setting myself up as Judge and jury, I'm not in his shoes. I do think that after all the time and effort we put into recruiting and knowing the good that can be done to not let a Lad know that he is welcome back is a shame. Eamonn.

Welcome to the forum. We are a diverse bunch, we don't always agree, but what fun would it be if we did? I have yet to find a forum member who is wrong all the time or one that is right all the time!! Yes I have goofed at times. We for the most part are all doing what we can to serve the youth where we live. At times we are on the Scouting "High" and at times, the uniform is almost on it's way to the Goodwill Store. Most of us get over it!! At times we vent here in the hope that some kind and wise person will strike the cord we need to keep going at times we try to be the striker!! Eamonn.

I'm not sure if it is just me, but hero's don't seem to last as long as they used too. Her That Must Be Obeyed, was going through boxes of papers the other day and she came across a signed photo of the Lone Ranger, he was one of her hero's not Clayton whatever his name was but the Lone Ranger. We don't have, as far as I know TV shows like that. The Scout Association in the UK have just selected a guy who is a TV celebrity as their new Chief Scout. He was a presenter of a magazine type show aimed at young people. He had also had shows where he traveled around the world. He had been a Cub Scout.Since he came on board there have been celebrity soccer matches at Gilwell Park and events that will draw the media. Before this it seemed that the one big requirement for Chief Scout was that you looked good in a kilt. Just last week I received a directory of people who serve on the Northeast Region. These people were all gifted people who might be called heavy hitters in business and industry, many were and are CEO's of well known companies in just about every sort of business. I was really very honored to know that while at a much lesser level I was joining such a esteemed group of people. Looking at myself I have never seen myself as a hero and I don't have the knees for kilt wearing. I like to see me as a friendly sort of chap and over the years it does seem that people take a liking to me. Of course there are those who don't like me and those who can't stand me. We each will leave a legacy behind, I share in the vision of all the great people who have served before me, that list would include my old leaders and would wind it's way back to the vision of Baden Powell and the people listed. The vision is alive in the dens, packs, troops and crews. The people who serve with our kids are delivering the vision. The people who serve at the District and Council level are doing what they can to support the units in their area. At every level we are joined by other organizations who share our values and share our vision. The people at the Regional level are supporting the councils. I know people who serve on the National board and I am humbled at their knowledge of this program and how it works. I know people who are employed at the National level and their commitment to this organization is an example to us all. Maybe some sort of hero would be good for marketing, but the delivery of the vision of Scouting lies with the people who work with the youth members. Tom Cruise as Chief Scout would look great at photo opportunities, but would do little or nothing to improve the quality of the den, pack, troop or crew meeting. Sad to say the attacks we face come from people who don't share or don't understand our values. Many of these people or groups are happy to spend time and energy attacking the BSA. I have to wonder why instead of just devoting their time to attacking us they don't start their own youth organizations? Flat membership can be traced back to problems at the unit level. If each and every leader seen the delivery of the vision and mission of the BSA as their number one priority, I know that membership would go through the roof, of course if each and every parent seen that we were at every level making Scouts and Scouting the best show in town, they would want to do more to support our efforts. If community leaders and more business leaders seen the impact that we can have when we deliver the Vision and mission of the BSA, they would want to join this winning team. We do have many people who might be seen as heroes on our team already, many of these were in Scouting as a youth. While I agree we can do better than a ill mannered cat as a spokesperson, I am happy to allow the heroes of Scouting be the youth members that we serve. Eamonn

Hi and Welcome to the forum, Most of us are really that sure on how Scouting in Hong Kong works. I know at one time it was very similar to Scouting in the UK. I don't know if this is still the case? In England in order to earn a Proficiency Badge, in most cases you had to work with the Badge Examiner. There were three types of Proficiency Badges: Interest Badges, which the Examiner could be a little flexible with the requirements, Pursuit Badges, where you had to do and understand different activities in order to earn the badge and Service Badges, where the Examiner really had to make sure that all the requirements were met. Could it be that you are now working on the more difficult Badges and that because these seem more difficult you are just having a hard time with them? Scouting is a strange game, all of us in every country promise to do our best, when we think we have given our best it comes back and challenges us to do better or try harder. While some people know us and have a good idea of what we are capable of, the truth is that the only person who knows if we have really given our best, is ourselves. Some people go through life only doing the minimum that is needed, they don't break any of the rules but they never take that extra step. They are good people, but with a little more effort they could be be great people. Could it be that your SL is trying to push you in order to move you from just being good to the next level. If you think that you are being treated badly or what is happening you might want to have a chat with your SL. You will need to pick the right time and place, you will need to keep your cool and be polite and respectful. If you are not comfortable with talking to the SL maybe you could try talking with the GSL. What ever happens, don't give up Scouting is not only about badges you along with your Patrol are supposed to be having fun, try and look on the bright side of things. Eamonn.