Eamonn

Will have to re-check, but I think the use of propane lanterns is not allowed. Eamonn.

"So how do you get a troop that is not full uniform if it is not required..." Isn't that where Leadership comes into play? The first step is to do everything possible to make sure that everyone has a uniform. Everyone has lots of ideas of how to go about this. When I was a Scoutmaster, I found that having a Scout Bank, where the Scouts could pay in whatever they wanted each week worked well for us. Today when OJ outgrows a uniform we give it to a friend that has four boys in Scouting. The next step is in creating an atmosphere in which they want to wear their uniforms. Ken Blanchard in the One Minute Manager, makes a very good observation, that most times we only catch people doing things wrong. He suggests that we start looking for opportunities to catch people doing things right. Rather then giving someone a hard time for not wearing the uniform, give all those that are wearing it a pat on the back. "Hey Tim, you look great tonight" Or at the Scoutmasters minute "I want to congratulate the Owl Patrol on all being in uniform tonight." These pats on the back are very important. So important that we as adults need to go out of our way to look for and find things that the Scouts are doing right. I'm also a big fan of Reflections. This is where the Scouts tell how they are feeling. The Leader needs to know how to ask leading questions that can't be answered with a yes or no answer: "Hey Guys,thanks for showing up to the whatever you did a great job, but how could we have done it better? Everyone is given a chance to answer, there are no right or wrong answers and the leader keeps his mouth shut. "How could we have looked better?" The PLC can be a great tool in getting Scouts to wear their uniforms. The goal has to be to have them to want to wear it. Making them is not giving them the choices that we are all about. Eamonn.

You bring the cookies. I'll make the tea. Look forward to it. (Sorry no crumpets.) Eamonn.

I know this is going to come off sounding bad. But other then my being asked to step in at the last minute, what happens to the course is out of my hands. I am no longer the Council Training Chair and I no longer sit on the training committee. One big thing that I left out of my posting was that the JLTC Scoutmaster, is the guy that we had last year. I was still Training Chair then. I wasn't overjoyed at his performance and voiced my misgiving at that time to the Boy Scout Training Chair. He informed me that he had agreed that the Scoutmaster could run the course twice.I wasn't happy and offered to run the course. The Boy Scout Training Chair. Said that he had given his word and he gave me his assurance that he would be there to keep an eye on the JLTC Scoutmaster and make sure that he had lots of help. Sure enough at the first meeting all sorts of people were there: The Council Training Chair, The Boy Scout Training Chair and The Program Director. Some of the problem is in a way my fault. We had a Chap who had ran the course for years. He was a very grumpy sort. The Scouts didn't like him much, but JLTC was his bag. My first year as Council Training Chair, he ran the course. Then due to problems at home he stepped down. We were unable to find anyone so we sent our Scouts to attend the course at the Council next door. When the Boy Scout Training Chair. Said that he had found this Chap who we have or don't have now? I wasn't overjoyed, as I knew him from his being a Unit Commissioner in the District and much as I hate to say it. It was a case of somebody being better then no one. While I do care what happens to the Scouts that are signed up, there is a Council Training Chair, a Council Boy Scout Training Chair, two ASM'S and the Program Director to decide what is going to happen. I was just asked to help and I think that while it might still be possible to pull something off I very much doubt if it would be a JLTC. Eamonn.

Have to check my schedule, but maybe OJ and I could look in. I'm safe at Civil War sites. Eamonn.

It seems to be working at least in our District. At Election Time, the rep from one troop oversees the election in another troop. When OJ, who is Vice Chief Admin. needs to send something out to the units he has all the reps in a group and one hit of the send button and they ought to have it. Eamonn

Thanks, You guys are great. Eamonn.

For two guys who don't know squat. We are on the same page. Eamonn

At the last Jamboree the nice old fellow who was our Commissioner was a little unhappy with our Jambo-Rig. Which we took from the guide book. The problem that he had was that with only one gas bottle and two stoves with 3 feet hoses, one stove is very tight. Can you buy longer hoses that are safe? Eamonn

John, While this is a little bit off topic. Something that you brought up in your last post does I think need to be drawn out and looked at. As you may know I have been involved in Wood Badge Training for some little while. In the old Boy Scout course a lot of time was spent on Reflections. It took me a little time to work out where this is in the new course. It is there and a big deal is made of the fact that Feed Back Is A Gift. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Specific course does touch on reflections. During the time I was a Scoutmaster (11 years.) I found reflections to be one of the most useful tools in my toolbox. The idea of some quite time where we reflected on an activity or something that had or maybe hadn't worked well gave everyone an insight on what had happened and how people were feeling. I for one would stack the reflection process up against any list of bylaws or troop rules any-day of the week. Eamonn.

BadenP, I fail to see if ever and when ever I have yet to insult you or take a "Potshot" at you. To date I don't think I have ever stooped as low as to accuse you of not living by the Scout Law.I have never said that you don't know squat. I have never called you a Crybaby. To be very honest I find you conduct absolutely appalling. So far I have only squelched one person. I think that he has now gone in search of a wise Abbot and has a part time job herding cats on a very ancient bicycle. Sir you have the honor of becoming the second person squelched by me. I wish you no ill will I just no longer will waste my time on you. Eamonn.

Thanks for the input Dan, Her That Must Be Obeyed,does not like kids. She makes no bones about it. She has served as a Committee member in a pack for many years. But that's about it. She did go to Philmont with me one year, but has said if I want to go again she will drop me off and go on to Las Vegas Having someone in charge of admin is OK. I call that person the Scribe - Not one of two ASM's. I think that the thing is such a mess that I'm going to pass. I feel bad, but none of what is happening is of my doing. Eamonn(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

OGE You are of course right. I wasn't counting the Mesolithic,Neolithic or Bronze ages. Maybe because I didn't have to work at remembering names and dates. As far as I know there is no record of anyone getting an arrow in his eye or having half a dozen wifes. Eamonn

The Course is in August. The week after Summer Camp ends. One big problem would be getting the youth staff together. So many are camping with their home troop. Then there is NOAC.OJ, comes home one day and is at camp the next. As I posted they did start working on this in February - They just didn't get very far. Does anyone know if the new syllabus is out yet? And can the new course be ran over a couple of weekends? That would be a lifesaver. I don't see how the existing course can be adapted to run over weekends. We need a week and school starts at the end of August. As yet this isn't my baby. But that seems like passing the buck. Could it be that I need to start thinking out of the box?? Eamonn.

Thanks NJ, Of course with a name like Eamonn, it almost goes without saying my parents were very pro Irish and I think I was about 11 years old till I worked out that record players could play records that weren't Irish rebel songs. Mrs Red Feather, I didn't know that this was a re-run. How did I miss it the first time. I'm learning a lot of stuff and I think the presentation is both fair and true. I hope in the very near future to try and find out more about the history of our area and some of the events that shaped American History. Our District is Braddock Trail and we have Jamonville just down the road along with Fort Necessity. At the other end of the council we also have Fort Ligonier. I have to admit to being a little surprised at how little even the locals know about this time. You guys are lucky you only have a couple of hundred years of history. Pity the poor English Schoolboy. They start at about 43 AD!! Eamonn.

I was approached by the Council Boy Scout Training Chair. Last night while I was up at camp. It seems that the council ran JLTC is a real mess. The JLTC Scoutmaster seems to have lost interest and the staff development so far has been one day last February,one meeting that was canceled at the last minute and one day during an OA weekend where there wasn't any of the adult staff. The reason why I was approached was that I had called him to let him know that my son who is on staff was thinking of dropping out. I wanted him to have a word with my son. The JLTC Scoutmaster is out of town working as the Camp Director at a out of council summer camp. I was asked if I would step in. It is only a week and I do have the vacation time. So far there is 26 Scouts signed up for the course. The two ASM's are not willing to step up to the plate. I have never ran this course and have only served as a QM, a long time ago. The MIA Scoutmaster is a unit commissioner in our District. One ASM is our District Commissioner, who tells me that he only signed on to do the administrative stuff. - I'm still working on that one? The other ASM, tells me that he needs the course as it is a big part of his Wood Badge ticket. There is no Quartermaster. As yet I haven't given an answer as to what my decision will be. First I need to talk to Her That Must Be Obeyed. She would end up being home alone for a week. Which she doesn't like. Second I think that trying to get the youth staff up to snuff at such a late date is going to be next to impossible. Third I don't have much use for a ASM who sees his role as admin. Forth, so far no one has said a word about the 26 Scouts that are signed up. It seems that they are almost an after thought. I don't think the ASM admin has done any admin in that department. Looking at the options I see: 1/ Cancel the course. No winners here. 2/ I say no and the course is a shambles. 3/ I say yes and the course is still a shambles but maybe a little bit better. I upset the missing Scoutmaster and I do bodily harm to the ASM admin. In the end I lose a Unit Commissioner and a District Commissioner. I welcome any thoughts. Eamonn

I am not a child health care professional. Just a guy in Scouting. I think as a guy in Scouting it is my job to serve the Scouts placed in my care. I don't select the Scouts. I do try to get to know each Scout as an individual and use that knowledge to deliver the program to him. While there are some things that are not acceptable - Hurting others. I have yet to work with a Lad that doesn't have something going for him. While at times young people can seem to be very unkind and uncaring. It has been my experience that if a caring adult explains a problem to a group of Scouts (PLC) They will go above and beyond to find a solution and make it work. They may need help and guidance, but isn't that what being a Scoutmaster is all about? Eamonn

Needless to say I get a lot of good natured leg pulling over the July 4Th. I still can't work out how you managed it in 1776 and it took the Irish till 1922. There is a really good historical documentary on PBS "Liberty". It is on Monday night in our area. I'm learning a lot of stuff that I didn't know. Strange how when I was at school in England, our history lessons never spent a lot of time on wars that we lost. This Sunday I will light a candle for all of our guys American and English over in Iraq, hoping that they all get home safe and well as quickly as possible. Eamonn

Well said John, If I were a few (OK maybe a lot!!) Years younger I would want to sign up for the troop in which you serve. Eamonn.

I haven't seen it as yet, but have been informed that the National office has a new something or other??? Titled Peer to Peer Recruiting. When I find out more I will post the details. I was up at our Summer Camp tonight. Wearing lots of hats. The main one being that of a Dad visiting his son. Yes we spent five or six minutes together. There was also an Eagle Scout Court of Honor, and a few other things that I was involved in. During the OA tap / call out. I was a little bit away from the ceremony. The troops were all lined up and a ASM from a troop that I really like (The SM is the chap who served as my ACM) Came and stood next to me. The troop he is from were in front of us. They had a good turn out of about 25 or so Scouts. I noticed that none of the boys were being called out. When I mentioned it to him. He said that they just can't keep boys in the troop. I also noticed that his son wasn't there. This is a Scouting family. The Camp Commissioner is this ASM'S Dad. When I asked where Chris was (ASM's son) He said that he had quit the troop. I was really shocked. Chris is a super nice Lad. He was in the Jamboree troop and I would have bet my last penny that he was going to go all the way. We talked for a while. I asked if there was anything that I could do to that might bring Chris back into Scouting? This poor Dad was upset that his son was no longer in and he had tried his best to talk him into staying but Chris said it was boring and he didn't like being with the younger Scouts all the time. Camp was boring, he had taken all the merit badges that he wanted to take. I asked if they had a Venture Patrol? This ASM from our District!! Had no idea what I was talking about. It seems that the troop program has got so tied up with the new and younger Scouts that no one is doing anything for the older Lads. As yet I have no idea what I'm going to do with or for Chris. But I will be talking to the SM. What a shame here is a Lad that went through Cub Scouts, spent four years in the troop and is gone. Boy Oh Boy does that irk me. Eamonn.

Most of us look at recruiting as a one time, quick fix deal. Sure there are lots of ideas and lots of ways to get the message out there and try to bring new boys into the troop. Open House Meetings, School Sign ups. The list goes on. At the district level we have a membership committee that works on this all year round. They have all sorts of material, Videos, posters, flyer's and lots of ideas. They are there to help. Still the best way to look at making the Troop grow is over a long term. We have one troop in the district that works wonders recruiting. Every year the Scoutmaster goes into the schools, does a boy talk and signs up about ten new Scouts. Sad to say by January, these Scouts are gone. Membership is as much about retention as it is about recruiting. If you look around at the successful troops you will see they are the ones that are offering the best program. The program is what will bring new Scouts into the Troop and keep them there. The program is what is happening at each and every meeting. One sure way of delivering the program is to stop every now and then and look at the methods of Scouting. If a troop is trying to use all the methods and not over-stressing or under-stressing any of the methods chances are the troop is on the right track. It is very much like the movie the Field Of Dreams: Build it and they will come. Eamonn.

It strikes me as being a little odd that many people will wear the BSA shirt but not the pants or shorts. No matter what uniform you opt to wear, be it the Field Uniform or the Activity Uniform. Unless you have the BSA pants or shorts and socks, you are not in uniform. At the National Jamboree, we ask the Scouts to bring two complete Field Uniforms, and enough Scout socks and shorts for ten days. We allow time and provide the equipment for the Scouts to do laundry or as happened in 2001 a kind parent took a car full back to the motel and did it for them. The participants wear the activity uniform most of the time and wear the Field uniform for meals, ceremonies and traveling. Most summer camps are six days so having the right amount of uniforms really ought not be a problem. Why not include the cost of the extra uniforms in the camp fee? Eamonn.

Sounds like a great camp. Where there is little fellows and water, safety is number one. Cub Scouts are a lot of fun, but can if you let them wear you out. You might do well to remember that a Scout is Cheerful. A lot of people forget that Cub Scouts are Cub Scouts, they at times want them to be small Boy Scouts in blue uniforms. This is not so. Boys of Cub Scout age see the world in a different light then boys of Boy Scout age. They are not as strong or as well coordinated as Boy Scouts. While safety is always in the forefront the best way to deal with these little Lads is to Keep it Simple, Make it Fun. I am sure you will really enjoy working with these guys and will learn a lot from them. They will see you as someone who is really cool and someone that that they will want to be like. The example you set will have a lot to do with the sort of Boy Scout that they will become. Eamonn.

Sir If you are going to tell others in this forum that I don't know squat and have been rude to people in threads in which I didn't even post. Please make the effort to get my name right. It has two N'S not two M's Eamonn

OJ, will be 16 soon. Our Council Scout Reservation is in a state park. The Cub Scout Camp is about a mile from the Boy Scout Camp. Up until this year the Cub Scouts used the same swimming pool and trading post as the Boy Scouts and all of the Cub Scout Parent and Son camps are held at the Boy Scout camp. OJ, has been going to camp there since he was eight. He goes there for OA weekends, JLTC and has over the years been dragged up there by me for all sorts of meetings and whatever. While I think he has a love of the Camp, there is no excitement in going there. Sad to say the Scoutmasters in our District are not a very adventurous bunch. Summer Camp, at good old Camp Conestoga is just about the highlight and the highpoint of their Scouting year. While I wouldn't be as rude as to say that they are lazy, I think that most of them are going because that's where they went as Scouts and that's where they always go!! The camp has tried to cater for the older Scouts by offering activities more age appropriate?? However these were all away from the camp site and were way overpriced. The Council took the price of a week at camp and added on the "Extras". The final price tag was over $300.00. This seemed a little much for a week away, when away was only 30 minutes from home. There has been no real effort to improve the facilities at the site to make it more "Older Scout Friendly." Everything is geared to Merit Badges, but after about the third summer, most of the Scouts have done the merit badges that they are interested in or want and most of the staff are the same age as the older Scouts. While there is no policy, it does seem that the Council expects units to camp at the Council camp year after year. In fact most troops sign up for the same site and the same week next year before they leave. So much for the PLC?? A pal of mine who lives at the other end of the Council, used to camp at the Camp that belongs to Greater Pittsburgh. (Their site is in our Council) Another pal of mine who is on the camping committee was very upset when this chap received the Silver Beaver, to his way of thinking camping away from the council was not supporting the council. OJ, has attended the National Jamboree and been a family member at Philmont. He has just out grown our camp. He is going on staff at the next National Jamboree and wants to do the OA Trail thing at Philmont. Depending on how things work out he also wants to be a staff member at the World Jamboree in 2007. I'm not sure if this ties into this thread or not. - But. A few months back I wrote to every Venturer in the District offering to help organize a Super Activity for 2006. In my letter I suggested Sea base, Kandersteg, Gilwell Park and Philmont. I only received one reply. The president of one Crew said that there were two Lads that were interested in going to Philmont. I'm not sure what the answer is or if I'm asking the right questions. It could be that I was aiming a little too high. I know almost all of these older Scouts / Venturers. I think the only thing keeping them in Scouting is the OA. My big fear is that one day I will wake up to find them as Leaders not going anywhere for summer camp other then the Council Camp - Because that's where they always went. Eamonn