Eamonn

The main goal of any recruiting is to get more youth into our programs. Sure I know that sounds very simplistic. But we are not talking rocket science. As with most things in life there is the good news and the bad news. The good news is that every little fellow that joins is joining the most successful youth organization in the world. The bad news is that there is no free ride. Some where along the line someone has to fork over a few hard earned bucks. These few hard earned bucks are the best investment that a parent can make in their son. I'm not sure how things work in other peoples back yard? Here in our area we only ever ask a parent to fork over money for registration and re-registration one time. After the little guy is a member of the greatest youth organization in the world, all these fees are taken from the unit budget. We go out of our way to get the word out and get this little Lad along with a parent to come and sign up. The Lad is excited, keen and eager. He wants to do stuff. If the person in charge of getting the paperwork done has a long face and is apologetic about collecting the few hard earned bucks, he or she is sending the wrong message. His time would be far better spent at home watching Fear Factor on the box. As a Council we ask all units to collect the full $10.00 fee. When the unit comes to turn in the paperwork, they pay the prorated fee. Our Cub Scout rechartering is done in February. Boy's Life is up to the parent or the unit. During my term as a Cubmaster Boy's Life was a budgeted item and every Cub Scout received it. When a unit turned in the paperwork and Boy's Life was required, the unit was charged the prorated amount. Getting the word out is not cheap. Before that little Lad and his parent arrive at the sign up location, all the schools have received flyer's which the Council produced and somehow managed to get into each school. We run newspaper ads. These are very expensive. There are commercials on the TV,while these are donated the true cost if we were to pay for them in our area would be over $50,000.00. We pay for Billboards. Each and every First Grade boy received a DVD. In our small Council this is costing $3,000.00. Each school will have some enthusiastic person go in and do a boy talk. If there isn't a volunteer then this falls on a professional. There can be a lot of miles covered traveling from one School to the next and a lot of gas used. Recruiting is not cheap!! We have not as yet tried the Pinewood Derby idea. I think that it is wonderful. Then there is the $20.00!! As a parent I am happy to fork over a $20.00 bill. I don't want to mess around with someone trying to make change and all that hoopla. Just give me the form and I will fill in the details and gladly hand over my hard earned $20.00. Eamonn.

I didn't post in the thread in question. My heart goes out to all who spent time looking for the Lad and my prayers are with his family and friends. I trust both OGE and Hops Scout. I admire what they have done and are doing. Hops being a young Lad has very little to do with my admiration. He has it for the job he has and is doing. That isn't to take anything away for OGE. Eamonn.

Eamonn at 40 something to Eamonn at 18. 1/ Never give up on a friend. While you don't know it now many of your best friends share your last name. 2/ The Queens Scout Award is really something. What you did to earn it was really something. The people that helped and aided you along the way are everything. 3/ That Award shows that you have made it. You are special for just being you, but this award is special. You can quit now. You can stop. Scouts and Scouting has worked its magic. The record books will record your achievement. Tales of the clever things and tales of the dumb things you have done will be told and retold for many years. But if you stay. If you stay in you will find that the magic never fades and every day can be an adventure. 4/ Some people say that you are a "Good Kid" That's fine but remember doing good is better then being good. 5/ Right now you believe you can change the world. Never lose that idea. Just work on one person at a time. 6/ Never ever be scared to love. Love each day. Love yourself. Love what you do. But most of all love others. Not in a weak or puny way. Go for it, give it all you have got. Be passionate. 7/ Make time for yourself. Time to sit quietly alone with your thoughts. Time to reflect where you have been and where you are going. Time to say thanks to the Big Guy. And you might want to stock up on some of that Groom out gray now!! Eamonn.

If I was in your situation. Here is what I think I would do. Go ahead with the sleep over in the church. Do all the fun stuff. Do not hold the planning meeting. Until you get the adults to work out what they are doing planning will have to wait. If the Scoutmaster is MIA? Then the Committee has to step in. They need to select a Scoutmaster and while there isn't one it is up to them to run the meetings. If there are issues with the CC, these need to be addressed and things made right as quickly as possible. If these issues are disrupting the smooth operation of the troop and can not be fixed, sad as it might be someone will have to step down. As he or she is the CC I would watch my step. When I had a minute to myself I would try to get a copy of the ages and stages video and watch it. I would remind myself that I am not going to fix the families that the Scouts come from. I am going to help provide a Scouting program. Working within whatever my position is. The Annual Planning meeting is for the SM and the PLC. Opportunities to go sailing and do other stuff are all well and good but only if this is what they want to do. I would remind myself that I need to find fun and interesting ways of passing information on to the Scouts. I will never ever use threats such as "If you don't you won't". If I'm not the Scoutmaster I will have a chat with who ever is running the troop and let him know that 16 weeks is not long enough for a Scout to be a Patrol Leader. He needs more time to find his feet and develop his leadership skills. If by chance I am near a phone I might give the Unit Commissioner a call and see how he is doing? If he or she should happen to ask how the troop is doing? I will discuss this situation with him. I might mention that having a Scoutmaster who is never at the meetings who is married to the CC just isn't working. Most of all I will remind myself that fun is the fuel of Scouting and I need to have some fun. If and when I stop having fun and it seems that my nipper isn't having fun? Maybe the time has come to do something else or be somewhere else. Eamonn.

While I can't back this up, with anything that I have ever seen or ever read. I feel sure that everyone is saddened by the events in Russia, Sudan and the disasters that happen here at home. However we as an organization are not in the disaster business. Many of our Chartered Organizations are far better equipped and have had more dealings with disasters then we have. These chartering organizations have at times mobilized the Scouts in their units to help out. Just as many units supported and continue to support our troops overseas with care packages and letters and our Scouts helped where needed after September 11th. Yes we have a stated policy of helping other people at all times and doing a good turn everyday.Working with our chartering organizations we do what we can, mostly at home and mostly by way of our prayers. Eamonn

Have to admit to not reading all the bios of all the kids. As a Troop you need to get all of your adult ducks in a row. While District people are lovable folk, they can't and hopefully won't sort this mess out for you. First you need a Scoutmaster. One who is going to lead the troop. He/she does this by working with the Patrol Leaders. As it seems the troop is very young, the Scoutmaster will need to be very supportive and train and retrain and maybe train the Patrol Leaders and the SPL time and time again. I think all the adults in the troop need to stop focusing on each Scout and where he is schooled and who his friends are and put all their energy into the program. The program works. It just needs to be delivered. Scouts want to have fun and adventure. When they see that this is available to them and that they are the instruments that make this happen, they will change things around. Without wishing to come off as sounding rude. You might want to take a long hard look at what you are doing. From your posting it seems that you are all over the place. What would happen if you just focused on one job and gave it all of your attention and effort? Eamonn

It looks like some of us will have to agree to disagree. As often happens when there is no clear answer. I hope that even with our differences of opinion, that we can agree that this is a great organization, which works best and does a better job of serving our youth members, when we all work as a team. Eamonn.

Play that Twilight Zone theme again. After many years of seeming (At least to me.)to be the OA is the group that does everything for the Council Summer camp site. We have a Lodge Advisor who has embraced training and from the little that I have read, mainly from the OA web sites. His ideas seem to fall in line with where National sees the future direction of the Order. Thanks in part to Dim Wits like myself, the Lodge isn't involved in any of the things that you mention. I take a lot of the blame for not keeping up with the information available and having a preset idea/ mindset, that everything that they do revolved around camp. Please don't think for a minute that I am putting them down for that. The cheerful service that the Lodge does for the camp is not only appreciated but vital to it's ongoing success's. The Lodge does a Representative on the Council Camping Committee. Many of those who staff Summer Camp are OA members. As are many of those who help at and organize district Camporees.However they are not seen as OA members as they are not wearing that hat at the time.I know that sounds double dutch!! But just as I am a member of the Lodge I don't see what I do as me representing the Lodge or the OA, I see it as me doing stuff for the District or Council. I have been looking over the OA Scoutreach mentoring program and have contacted the Lodge Advisor to get that set up and off the ground. At present we do not have anyone on the District Committee that represents the Lodge, I think having people who wear that hat could without too much problem fit into some of the District Committees. Without too much thought the Camping and Activities come to mind, but expanding that I see that Membership and maybe Advancement is doable and would fit in with the stuff that I have read. - I still need to read a lot more. The Twilight Zone? At Lunch today I sat with four Scout Exes. And two Field Directors. Needless to say we were ready to solve all the problems in the world. We discussed the things that they had looked at last week at their conference.I mentioned the new Scout Reach soccer program, which is in this months Scouting Magazine. While this article talks about Spanish speaking Kids. I think that we can change it a little and make it work in our Council and work with the OA to bring home the goods. That being more youth. I live in a very small town of less then 5,000. I have been a soccer coach and our local Soccer Club has over 350 kids that play during the two seasons.Some of these are little girls and a good number are already in Cub Scouting. Still there are a lot that could be brought in. Many of the Scouts and Crew members have been playing Soccer since they were little. OJ, my son played. The oldest age group that the Club plays is under 13. He kept playing and is now the captain for his school team. I again need to read up on all of this and hope to work with the Lodge, the Council and the Soccer club to see if we can make this work. While the details are just not there yet!! The idea is a good one - Even if some of it is mine. Once we /me can start thinking of the Lodge as being more of a resource for the District, not just the improve and get ready for camp squad.Where it could go? I'm not sure but I do think it can only be a good thing. I see that I haven't answered many of your questions. The Lodge is very visible at Summer Camp, mainly because of the Tap Out ceremony. This is very impressive and is the high light of parents night. There is a Summer Camp chief at the camp and a member of the Lodge does visit every campsite and remind Ordeal members to come to the OA weekends and seal their membership. Most of the activities that are done other then the four weekends a year, have been training events for Lodge officers. OJ went to NLS and loved it, even if the trip to Alpine NJ. was a bit much for just a weekend. The Lodge does aid the Council, with donations or by buying stuff. I needed tables and chairs for the Wood Badge course last year, they paid $2,500 to buy them. They also offered a full scholarship for a OA member to attend. The dance team, which once was great and then wasn't is now making a come back!! When I was a CM I invited them to dance a the pack Blue and Gold.For the National Jamboree the Lodge makes a Jamboree Flap, and gives at no cost each participant a dozen. Last time they also sold them to the participants at cost. Eamonn

I had never seen this before. I had just read the thread about the right or wrong age for a Scout to make Eagle Scout. This is far more important. Thanks OGE. Who ever said about words having power? This hits the nail on the head. Can't help thinking that there is a lot of stuff here that could help someone trying to write a ticket. Some great goals. Eamonn

Me thinks that the accent has a lot to do with it. Her That Must Be Obeyed, tells everyone that I'm a result of President Reagan's foreign policy!! My Pal Mike tells everyone I'm just here to be an example of diversity at work in our little Council. I go have fun!! Eamonn.

Just got back a little while ago. Have to admit to feeling a bit out of place,me being the only volunteer at the event. I was also a little surprised at how many of them I knew. In fact it was a little embarrassing that I was standing next to our Scout Exec. And I had to introduce him. Approx 12-15 Councils were represented. I had been asked to make a very short power point presentation on how we run our Community Campaign, as part of the presentation that our Council gave. Those in attendance seemed interested and didn't throw anything at me which I always take as a good sign. There is a lot of new ideas in this entire area and what amounts to a new approach, which I think will make the business of bringing money into our councils a lot easier and hopefully bring in more money. I also had a handout of a family presentation that Bob White had been so kind to send to me. It got a lot of rave reviews. I have a ton of stuff to look over and see if and how it will benefit our district. Eamonn.

KS "Good Man".While maybe I might be seen as splitting hairs. I don't see that we are in the business of making good men. I think good Person and good people is a better fit. While I do admit to calling OJ "A good little Lad". Or "A great little fellow". Eamonn.

Just wondering if those that do sell popcorn set a family goal of how much popcorn each family should shoot for? If so how much? Eamonn.

Eric, I serve as the District Chairman. Eamonn. Bob, Perspective is good, uncertainty is scary.

Wise words Bob. I think part of the problem is my own mindset. As you know I had given a lot of thought to stepping down, when Pam retired. Mainly because I thought that it wouldn't be fair to the new guy that I hold such strong opinions about his boss. I thought that the poor Lad would be stuck between a rock and a hard place. The big problem with this was that I wasn't giving the new guy any credit for having any intelligence of his own. I think that within a very short time he all by himself will find out how the land lies. I had promised myself that I would be good and really try not to say too much about his boss. While losing Pam is a big blow for me. I have come to terms with it. She choose to go, and it is in her best interest. When she is gone, which she will be and there's not a thing that I can do to change that. I can sit around and cry in my tea-cup or I can do what I can for the new guy, which I hope will help the District. Two meetings with the guy is great. As I say the Lad seemed really nice. Beards come and beards go!! I am not interested in how he looks. I do hope that when needed he will present himself as a professional who works for a great organization. Like it or not he is a salesman. I was ready to do everything that could be done to get him off to a good start. Sure we would have to "Pick up sticks" to get him accepted by all the people who serve in the district. Sure I knew that after eight years of dealing with someone that they knew, liked and even loved a newbie would have his work cut out. I didn't expect it to start with one member of the key3!! I didn't expect a member of the key3 to go out of his way to find fault. As for his friend moving from where he is at to come here with him. I think it is just two young 23 year old guys having a new adventure. I don't need or want anyone reading something into something that as far as I know just isn't there. Yet I have to admit that the thought did cross my mind. And I feel bad for even thinking it. If this twit of a District Commissioner has made up his mind that this isn't going to work before we even get started, I'm worried that he will say stuff which at this time no one has any reason to believe has any truth and hurt this new Lad. Replacing the District Commissioner is an option, but his appointment runs till January. Eamonn.

Seems that New York has been welcoming a lot of Texans this week. Welcome to the forums. Eamonn. (A misplaced Anglo/Irish Lad that the good folk of Pennsylvania welcomed a little time back.)

The count down is on. On October 1st, we lose our DE and the new one starts. After eight years of working hand in hand and becoming life long friends and at times partners in crime, there is very little that the current DE and I don't share. We met the new Chap at lunch a few weeks back. He seems like a very nice young chap. This will be his first real job since graduating. After he had left we (DE and I.) Compared notes. I found nothing wrong with him. She didn't like his wimpy handshake and his little beard. Other then that he was fine. Our District Commissioner was up at camp on the day that we had the meeting. I invited the new DE up to camp to meet the District Commissioner. I told him that he didn't need to wear a uniform. He arrived dressed casually. I done the introductions. The District Commissioner all of a sudden got really busy, doing a garbage run. I was a little upset. He just didn't want to spend any time with this new DE. Talking to Pam, our DE,she said that she had met with the District Commissioner last night and he said that he didn't like the new guy. He didn't like the little beard! The District Commissioner has a beard!! He didn't like the handshake and it seems that he was wearing a choker. I never noticed it and OJ wears one a lot, so it isn't a big deal. Pam went on to say that the new guy had called her and they were going to meet, I was welcome if I was free. She went on to say that the new DE would be looking for a house. I said that seemed a bit much for a single guy in a new area in a new job. She said that he was moving with his friend. The friend is male. We (Pam and I) both had the same thought. While I feel sure that the new guy is 100% a Scout. I am worried what will happen if the District Commissioner finds out? It seems that he just isn't willing to give this guy a chance. Not sure what I ought to do or if I should do anything. Eamonn.

Photo, take a look at your notes and you will see that Mentoring is a big and very important part of the Leadership skills passed on at Wood Badge. It could be that I'm reading something that isn't there? The message that I'm seeing is that we the adults are trying to make Boy's into men. I see what we are trying to do as helping young people make ethical choices over their lifetime. I was raised in an Irish Catholic family, with a stay at home Mother.My Catholic education in England, was in the early days delivered by females, mostly Nuns. With the greatest respect in the world these Ladies were tough old birds. The system at that time didn't seem to promote females moving into the top positions. At home, my Mother was also a tough old bird. She was the disciplinarian. I somehow think that my Father never lived up to her expectations in that department. He was however very much the head of the household. He was the bread winner and made all the important decisions.Her role at home was to "Keep House" and look after him and us kids. As I grew up the task of educating me, seemed to pass on to nearly all male masters, not counting the female German teacher who spoke German with a Scottish accent!! As part of the plan to make us men, we played Rugby, Cricket and had very little to do with females. At that time, where I lived after school activities were limited to either the Boy Scouts or the Boys Club. I don't like being hit, so I opted for the Boy Scouts. I was to young to pay much attention at that time, but thinking back to the bathroom facilities, women didn't seem to be welcome. Scouting was very much like playing Rugby. We were an all male, rough around the edges club. Even at college it seemed that women were in short supply. Both as faculty members and as dates!! Somehow I grew up with the idea that because I was a male I was better then girls. I never ever seen my Dad wash a dish, do laundry, change a diaper. He sure as heck was nor a "Girlie man". Women were put on this earth to serve me. Which was fine, but I hadn't had any dealings with them. - Boy was I in for an eye opener!! Where I work, while the CEO and many of the top positions are held by males, all of my immediate superiors are female and are very good at what they do. I don't think that they do a better or worse job that a male could do. Her That Must Be Obeyed, is a tough old bird. She doesn't allow OJ or me to get away with much. I am a far better cook then she is, she knows far more about the workings of our cars then I do. We treat each other with love and respect. Due to my almost all male upbringing,I had a hard time getting used to the idea that males and females are equal. OJ, takes this for granted, but for me it was a behavior that had to be learned. If we are really in the business of helping young people to make ethical decisions over the course of their life times we need to get off this male and female train. A good leader is a good leader, and a bad leader is a bad leader, it makes no difference if they are male or female. Eamonn.

John Rooster is a big Lad and has shown that he can hold his own. We can look at things differently and agree to disagree. From his past postings he has many qualities that I admire and respect. fotoscout I'm not sure if you have attended the 21st Century Wood Badge Course? If you have, you might want to look over your notes.Coaching and Mentoring is a troop presentation on the course. It provides a very good outline of the difference between Coaching and Mentoring and goes on to describe ways in which the skills of Coaching and Mentoring can be used to lead teams and individuals.Isn't that what we all do on a daily basis? Eamonn

I can't help thinking how strange it is that people who are so big on "Male Mentors" belong to an organization that was founded by a man who was raised by his mother, due to his father dying when he was very young. Have we not already taken the "Next Logical Step" With female Venturers? Last time I looked they were members of the Boy Scouts Of America. Please be so kind as to explain to me what areas you think men mentors do a better job then women. Thanks. Eamonn

The unknown Scout or Scouter in uniform is just that unknown. I can look at his uniform and "Read It" I might respect the fact that he is wearing it, more so if everything is in order. I might be impressed by the uniform. In some ways it is like looking at the cover of a Scouting Magazine. While there is a certain kindred spirit, I think it falls short of respect. For me to really respect someone I have to know something about him or her. At times the outward signs can be misleading. In our District we have a tiny little fellow, who is a real work horse. I know that if I want or need something he will not only do it but do it well. While I respect him for that, my respect is far greater knowing that he is 72 and looks after his mother. I like all the Lads who will be attending the Jamboree, but there is one Lad who paid for it in full, when I spoke with his Mom, she informed me that he had saved the money from his paper route and from clearing snow. Nearly $1,000.00 is a heck of a lot of papers and snow!! We have families in the District where everyone is involved in the program, one has both parents and all four boys. I asked them if they needed help to pay for Wood Badge and they didn't accept. I have a lot of really good friends in Scouting, they all have their failings, just as I have mine. Still I have found that the more we know about each other and the more we understand each other, the more we can respect each other. Eamonn.

I never went to see it when it was first released. I am not into blood and gore movies. I even close my eyes for the last part of Brave Heart. I did enjoy the Patriot. I was very surprised when I looked in on OJ and his pals they were slowing it down in order to see the part where the guy gets his head blown off. I must have missed that part as I don't remember closing my eyes. Needless to say I got teased about the Brits getting a whopping. I have to admit that I have always thought about movies as entertainment. While some have a message they were made to make money. I don't think that the Passion was released during the first week of Lent by accident. It was part of a marketing strategy. Eamonn.

I do take my little French coffee press with me to camp. But it is little. I have been looking at the new Coleman Drip Coffee maker. It sells for a little under $40.00 and from looking at it. It seems to fit on top of a two burner stove. Has anyone tried using one? Eamonn.

I feel very strongly that those who paid the Jamboree fee ought to be the ones who get to do the stuff. They paid for it. I am not a great collector of patches and Scouting memorabilia. I think that anyone who makes the effort to visit the Jamboree should be able to buy whatever souvenirs that are on sale. Sure I like the idea that the Jamboree participants have their own special patch, but I see no reason why a patch for all those that visit and are willing to pay for a visitors patch can't be made available. I also wonder how long it will take for the participant patch to go on sale on E-bay? Eamonn. PS. We will be Jamboree troop 412.

As I have made mention of, this is my last year in my current position. We will have the new DE on board in October. He of course has never been involved in a District FOS campaign, so I feel honor bound to do everything that I can to help him start off on the right foot. Who knows one day he might become a Field Director and it would be great knowing that some other Council has a Field Director who knows where the Field really is. Eamonn