Eamonn

MBC's and the darn Merit Badge list was a real pain in the neck back when I was District Chair. Had one guy who was on the list for 40 badges. The good thing was that at least this guy was still living. Better that the first few names on the list who had been dead and buried for a very long time. The list was a real mess. It had over the years been reformatted a number of times, but was so large that trying to contact everyone on the list was impossible -Not only the dead ones! But guys who had moved, quit. In the end the District Committee decided that we'd give everyone six months notice after which time the list was going to be done away with.Scouts working on a badge with a MBC could of course finish the badge. After that everyone who wanted to serve as a MBC had to apply or re-apply. The District Advancement Committee met and reviewed all the applications. It was also made clear that a post card would be sent out each year asking if they wanted to remain on the list or make any changes. Had a chat with the Council Advancement Chair about limiting the number of badges that any one person could cover? He said that limiting the number would go against the BSA. The reason he gave was that some Scouts in very rural areas just don't have enough adults to have making a limit work. So we didn't limit the number, we did make it known that the Advancement Committee recommended that people only cover five badges and if they wanted to do more than five it would be for badges where there wasn't enough MBC's. This all worked out well. The only fly in the ointment was the Council Registrar. We asked her to ensure that only names on the list be used and she said that she didn't have time to check all the cards. So once a month the Dean of Merit Badges toddled off to the Council Service Center and went over the cards. I was expecting a lot of people to squawk and make a fuss, but it didn't happen. The recommendation of only five made people think about which badges they really wanted to do, so the question about being qualified never really came up. Eamonn.

TAHAWK While there are many leaders in Boy Scouting who are willing to make the effort and take the time to acquire what I might consider the skills needed to lead a successful outdoor program. It does seem that over the past few years there has been a shift in the make up of the people who are volunteering. When I arrived here in the USA Troop leadership was much the same as it was back in the UK. Most Troops had a small group of very dedicated adults who were willing to take the load and knew what they were doing. Training and Wood Badge? From my observation, was seen as being something that was nice and a good thing but not really necessary. Maybe because in the area where I live the guys in Scouting tended to be blue collar workers and finding vacation time for both family and Scouts was hard enough without spending time at training's? Still it seemed that these guys knew what they were doing. Again in the area where I live the guys involved with Troops tended to see their role in Scouting as a life-time commitment. Once in they weren't and didn't go. Parents today foe whatever reasons seem to be afraid to let their kids out of their sight. Moms spend hours traveling to and from soccer games to watch something that they just don't understand. Parents seem willing to fudge the requirements that a Cub Scout does at home because Lord forbid another Lad get a little ahead of their son. Dads don't join Boy Scouts out of any love for Scouts, Scouting, camping or the great outdoors. Their sole reason for being there is to keep an eye on their kid. Just like the Moms who don't understand soccer, these guys don't really understand Scouting. For them the bits that they do seem to get and understand are based on advancement and the mighty Eagle Scout rank. The fast track to Eagle is merit badges. So these Watch Dogs don't see the need to learn new stuff. Why should they bother, when it's so much easier to herd the Scouts off to summer camp, Merit Badge clinics and the like? Attendance at training's like the Outdoor Skills for these guys is much like the way they see the Merit Badge Classes that their son's are pushed into. Something that you need attend, but it's OK to hide behind the "Super Scout" that each Patrol seems to have and allow him to be the driver. Some return after training with a training high. But in next to no time all the good ideas and all the yearning for new skills and new knowledge are squashed and replaced with "We don't do it that way!" Where we once had small teams that worked together we now have camp outs where at times the adults outnumber the Scouts. There was a time when I wished that we had more active parents. Now I question active doing what? How many leaders does it take to tend the fire? Isn't there more to Scouting than just using a Dutch Oven? The active Scouting life-span of these parents who sign up is about 3 to 4 years. Once their son can manage to explain to them that he is tired of being under the watchful eye of Dad and that he is bored and wants out. Both Father and son are gone and gone for good. So as not to come off sounding that all is lost. I do think that maybe it's worth the time to come up with more in-depth training for the interested leaders. I'm going to give it some thought, work on it and get back to you. Eamonn.

All this chatter of late about veto's and firing has got me thinking. When it came down to working with ASM's. These guys were and still are some of my best pals. For the most part we were a Leadership Team, doing what was needed to be done, with the best person available leading and helping to organize whatever the activity might be. If someone for some reason was upset I seen it as my job to sort things out ASAP and get things back to normal. Committee Meetings were a little different. There were times when something had happened which upset some or all of the committee. I, most of the time knew if and when we'd messed up and was also aware that the buck stopped with me. Of course sometimes things got back to the committee which either just weren't true or had been exaggerated to be more than was. The big sin always seemed to be the condition which the meeting hall was left in. While there were times when I did feel that I was being dragged over the coals for nothing or unnecessarily. I knew deep down that this group sitting in someones living-room really did have the good of the Scouts at heart and I also knew that life was a lot better with them on my side, than it would be without it. Leaders meeting tended to happen over an adult beverage. No notes no formal anything. If someone said that they were going to do something it was taken as being done. If for some reason something came up, they would say so and someone else would step in. The Committee did have a Chair, a secretary and treasurer. Notes were always taken and read back as Minutes of the last meeting. There was some kind of fixed Agenda in place. But no one seemed to worry or be concerned if everything was covered each month. More often than not if the Chair became aware that a Committee Member was used he'd let me know ahead of time so I could report at the meeting that I knew what had happened and taken steps to fix the problem. All the adults even those who were known for getting their knickers in a twist were there for the good of the boys and the Troop. I never remember the word veto or fired being used. Ea.

Does the Ranger understand how big the project might be? Ea.

"So how do the scouts get the experience??????" They start with smaller projects that they know they can manage and complete. - Not projects that adults think look good or will show off how good they, the adults are. Like most things they need to learn to walk before they can run. Pioneering is about building and leading a project from the idea stage to the completion. Not just climbing over it. For my money done right, I'd sooner see a PL lead his Patrol through a project and show true leadership than almost anything else. As for spars. I ask local land owners if we can cut down unwanted trees and then dry them and peel them. When the Council had one of our camps logged. I asked the guys doing the work if they could save me wood of different sizes. It cost me a case of alcoholic beverages ! But they transported everything to my home. Many of the National Camp Sites in the UK did at one time have fairly good pioneering stores where Scouts could sign out the equipment needed for different projects. I loved being there in the AM when the Scouts would pick up the gear. It gave me the chance to discuss the project and every now and then give a little input. I wish more council camps on this side of the pond would offer the same sort of thing. While the start up costs are fairly high, looked after the equipment lasts well and keeps Scouts busy.

The best projects are the projects that the Scouts can master and build themselves. All to often I've seen Troops take on projects that sound great and look great on paper. But when the time comes to build the Scouts lack the knowledge and sometimes the equipment to get the job done. All to often the project isn't a favorite of the Scouts, but something an adult or group of adults think that they want to take on. Taking on too big or too complicated a project is most times doomed before it get started and having a group of adults do the work watched by a group of Scouts is one sure way for Scouts to lose any interest in pioneering. Bridges of all different types seem to be a favorite, but most of the bridges I've seen show that no one involved in the project has any understanding of anchorage.The end result is a bridge that looks like some sort of willow tree and isn't that safe. When working with Scouts and pioneering it is better to start on smaller projects that over time build on the skills that the Scouts acquire. A Lad who hasn't got the skills isn't able to fully participate in what's going on and soon becomes bored. I found that having patrols build camp gadgets for their Patrol site is a great way to put the knots and lashings they learn to good use and from there they can move on to bigger and better things. Gathering and being able to transport the equipment needed for successful pioneering takes a while and can be a big expense. Quality rope and line isn't cheap and blocks are an outrageous price. Looking after and maintaining all this gear takes a fair amount of time, especially if it's used a lot. At times whipping rope seems to be a full time job. One of the simplest projects to have Scouts do to start with is a simple Commando Bridge. It can be built by the Scouts without adult interferences, isn't complicated and wets their appetite leaving them wanting to move on and try bigger and btter things. The favorite project is the last one they built and were able to look at and say "Hey we did that by ourselves." Eamonn

The only real way to find to rule out if the food was the cause of making people sick, is to have the food tested. While maybe the outdated food might not the cause of the illness? My feeling is that these expiration dates are put there for a reason. Sometimes the reason is just that the company feels that after such and such a date the food is no longer at its best. Not harmful, but not as good as they might like. Sometimes the container the food is in starts to deteriorate a little, the acids in the food working on the metal. The reasons for food-borne illness are many and can at times be hard to determine. When it comes to buying outdated items. Again my feeling is that the buyer needs to be given the choice. Just as our local baker sells bread that is day old at a reduced price. I kinda think if the person who was in charge of handing out the food had said something like: "Hey Bob, there's some cans of chicken that are past their expiration dates in there. They should be fine." This would give Bob the opportunity to say if he was willing to accept these cans or not. As we have seen from what has been posted so far. Some people would accept these cans thinking it was not a big deal. While others wouldn't go anywhere near them.. I have dried pasta that I've cooked long after its expiration date. When it comes down to canned food? I'd like to at least have a heads up so that I could examine and check it out before I ate it or cooked it. Even then when it comes down to feeding it to someone else's kids. I would err on the side of caution and not bother to open the cans. Ea.

Up until you mentioned bringing in the police. My feeling was that if a Lad was guilty of doing something that he ought not to have been doing. The Staff at the camp might find out what happened and then leave it up to the Troop to take it from there. Of course some SE's might use this to revoke the BSA membership of the Lad? But I'd like to think that wouldn't happen. When it comes to dealing with the police. Wow! I'm not a lawyer. However my gut feeling is once they start collecting evidence and taking statements the people giving the statements should tell the truth, which very well might include things that the guilty person admitted to them. While I have never and hope never have to deal with a situation where it looks like a Scout is going to be charged with a crime. I suppose, now that you brought it up that the best course of action would be to not allow anyone to talk to him until his parents arrive. The parents can then decide what action they want to take. If it was my kid? I kinda think I'd want a lawyer with me. Problem with that is that both my lawyers are also Scouter's. If this is more than a hypothetical situation. My heart goes out to all involved. Ea.

OK, I know that I'm biased. Still I like my Golden Retriever idea. Goldie's are known to be playful and real characters, but are also known to be wonderful Guide Dogs and seeing eye dogs. Have to admit that while I don't know anything about video games, maybe a video game hero character might fit the bill? This might appeal to Boy Scouts. I'd like to see something that maybe had a little muscle, nothing that could be taken as wimpy. Can't remember where I read it, but seem to think I seen where GEICO spent $720 million on advertising in one year. While we all know that membership happens at the local level. I think a little support from National wouldn't hurt. Some of the ideas and things that they have come up with are very good. Shame is that they seem unwilling to put any money into advertising. Maybe it's too easy to cry in the beer and point the finger at local Councils for not doing enough? Ea.

Little fellows are really strange animals. Just when you think that they don't understand or that something is above them. Several months or years later they turn around and let you know that they not only remember what went on, but will astound you with how much they got from it all. Never underestimate a boy. Ea.

He is going to be 22 next week. So far it seems that I've failed in my quest to keep him on the Left. Some people never learn! It looks like he is going to be a conservative. Must have been one parade too many! While I'm here. I want to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday. Ea.

Maybe you might mention all of this to the Program Director, so whoever is running the ceremony can preface it with an explanation Our Cub Scout camp is a little away from the Boy Scout Camp. It used to be that the second year Webelos Scouts spent their last night at camp staying with a Troop. This was also the night when the OA had their tap out/call out ceremony. I'd taken a group of Webelos Scouts to camp and after a parade of flags the little guys lined up for the OA ceremony. Being the nice, kind, thoughtful fellow that I am! I'd threatened them all to stand still and not say a word. Sure enough as soon as the ceremony started I felt my kid tugging on my arm. I gave him the look and a shush. The next tug, he got a "Don't say a word." Along with the look. The third time I gave up and asked him what he wanted. It seems one of the Indians, with his face painted blue had given OJ a long stare. It must have scared the bejebbers out of him. When I asked OJ "What's the matter?" His reply was "Dad I just peed my pants!" Brotherhood of cheerful service? Maybe in my case it ought to have been the Fatherhood with deaf ears? Ea.

As a non-citizen, I tried hard to ensure that my son was exposed to as many patriotic activities as possible. If I ever thought that any of this might ever have anything to do with him being a Republican, we wouldn't have done it! Still I just can't see me taking him to a gay pride march. Safe thing might be to stay home and watch the telly! Ea.

acco40, I tend to agree with a lot of what you posted. As parents we do our best to pass on values to our kids and teach them right from wrong. Values are strange things and can depend on the way we see the world and how we see and do things. I have friends who beat themselves up when they miss a day at the gym. I've never been in a gym since I left school. My parents thought it was the end of the world if they missed going to Mass. I don't like to not go, but I don't see it as being the end of the world. Still in the way I see things missing Mass is bigger than not making it to the gym. Most of us will agree that some things are just not acceptable. Murder is one of these. I know and talk with guys who have murdered and been convicted. Strange as it might sound, I like some of these guys. It's not like they have a big letter "M" On their forehead. They are in jail, serving time for what they did. But when I talk and deal with them, what they done isn't the first thing I deal with. While of course being locked up isn't a picnic, many of the guys who know that this is going to be as good as it gets, make the best of it. Some might even seem to not be having such a bad time. In my book when the day comes. (Which I believe does happen.) They will answer for what they have done. I don't try and force my religion onto others. Even at home religion isn't a big topic of discussion. HWMBO is not R/C and has made it known that she is going to remain that way. When it came down to teaching my kid what was right and what wasn't. I think it was done in the right or not right context. Sin wasn't brought up. When it came down to teaching him religion sin was brought up as doing some things were not only wrong but offended God. Leaving the toilet seat up, might upset HWMBO but it wasn't really a sin. My son is now a man. While I'm still around to offer whatever help and advise I can. For the most part I feel that my job is done. I gave him what I could, now it's down to him to get on with it. I like to think I gave him what he needed to be a real man. While he now can work on his own set of values and work out what is right or wrong for himself. The idea that some things are just so wrong that they are offensive to God as he sees or believes God to be, somehow fits into all of this. Ea.

Sometimes I have a bit of a problem with the word kind. For me it comes off sounding a little sympathetic. Could be just me? I kinda think in a case like this respect might be better. I'm very willing to respect the privacy of others. I have no real interest in knowing what someone has done or not done. Everyone takes the background check, then it all comes down to a simple yes or no. If the person receives a no and is unhappy about it, then he or she needs to talk to someone who knows about it. In most cases the SE. The truth is that as a volunteer I can't do anything about it and my feeling is that I shouldn't. Yes, I've had volunteers who have come to me and said that they had a DUI at sometime and asked if that might have a bearing on if they pass the check or not? When this happens, all I can do is to tell them to see what happens. I sure as heck "don't go blabbin' gossip all over creation, whether it's about someone's youthful conviction or someone's business indiscretion or whatever da fencepost conversation of the week" Not out of any sense of kindness, just out of respect for the person and respect for myself. Ea.

This is just for fun. Seems like a lot of organizations and companies do well with mascots. Tony the Tiger looks better now then he ever has. The Michelin man hasn't given into advertising peer pressure and gone on a diet. The AFLAC duck seems that it will quack forever and I'm almost sure that the Gecko is a Brit. I never was a great Garfield fan so that partnership was a little lost on me. But maybe the time has come for us to have a mascot? A Golden Retriever might fit the bill? Or maybe a Transformer. A good one of course. But in no way wimpy. If the BSA were to have a mascot, what do you think would fit the bill? Ea.

I really do think in the real world that the line between "drumming" And coming off sounding like a smart Alack is a very fine line. It's kinda easy for us to sit at our key-boards and state how things should be. It's something else dealing with a mother who has 101 things that need doing and just wants to get them done. Sure for us Scouting is something we are passionate about, but for some parents it's just another activity that their kid has signed up for and joined. No different than soccer or baseball. I have been in a store looking for something and been unable to find it. When I ask the store worker where it is? It turns out to be right next to me. I'll admit to feeling a little silly. It's OK for the worker to point me to where I need to be /go. It's not OK if the person treats me like an idiot. (Even if it might be true!) Ea.

Frank posts: "Here we go again." Is he talking about the Big Bang Theory? Sorry Frank, it was just to easy. Ea.

Different situations call for doing things differently. Can't say that I'm one for the "Easy Chair." But a couple of summers back, I was at our Summer camp site on a Sunday as the campers were checking in. There was this little fellow of about 13 maybe 14 leading the way followed by a person who I took for his Mum. She was loaded to the hilt. It was almost comic. Sleeping bag under one arm, pack on her back, pillow under the other arm. I couldn't stand by and watch. I went to this pair and asked the Lad where he was going, he said the name of the site, I offered to take him there. But I then went about unloading Mum and loading the Scout. Being the nice fellow that I am, I carried the pillow. A big problem I see is that adults have this idea what things are supposed to be like. Back when we had the old WB course. The staff would arrive a couple of days ahead of the participants and set up the perfect camp site. The idea being that this would serve as an example to the participants. There were of course participants who really scrutinized each and every last detail trying to pick holes, but for the most part the idea of setting up something that was as near perfect as possible wasn't a bad one. In my view it wasn't really fair. The Staff had worked for a full day on perfecting this site. The participants, some who didn't have anything like the experience of the staff had arrived at lunch time, messed around sewing patrol patches on. Moved to the site with their gear and were expected to set up camp, cook supper and be ready for the first presentation soon after. This idea that everything has to be perfect just isn't so in the real world. I've watched as Scouts have sat down and really enjoyed a meal that I wouldn't feed to my dog. Rather than say something or interfere. I just thank the Lord that I wasn't eating it with them. On the boat, the Scouts do almost all the cooking. I eaten more than my fair share of Al-dente rice and over cooked chicken. Most times the Scouts will do the clean up, but on the last day I will pitch in and help ensure that everything is ship shape. At home HWMBO tends to be a little on the bossy side, so when I'm away with Scouts I do my best to cut them a break. Everything isn't perfect, a lot of times things don't go as planned, sometimes things just go wrong. Having been around for a little while, I've learned to get past all of this and can say "That's OK!Maybe we have all learned something". Ea.

Technically the District didn't have a budget, but each and every event that the District held had a budget. Each year the members of the District Key 3 had to submit and sign off on all the budgets for the coming year. These budgets were given to the person who was organizing the events. The SE is now gone. He managed to get a job in the big metro Council next door as a FD. When that didn't work out they moved him to work in LFL in Texas along with another SE who our Executive Board fired. Seems that SE's will always find a home Deep in the heart of... Ea.

I'm asked every now and then if I would ever move back to live in the UK? When I'm asked, I explain that if and when change happens and your not around to see it and accept it, the change and the changes can all add up and be too much. It's been over a quarter of a century since I lived and Scouted in the UK. During that time there has been a lot of change and changes. While I was still living there, I was aware that many of the class barriers that were once so strong were starting to crumble. I find the idea that anyone would think that the peoples of the UK hold any sense of" embarrassment sine we had to get involved with 2 of their wars and currently provide the bulk of NATO forces". To be more than ludicrous. Comments like that put down and dishonor all the brave men and women in Europe who died during the great wars and do nothing to create any sort of harmony. The young people and most of the middle aged people living in England today don't dwell on what happened 66 years ago. Like it or not for many young people living in England the dates 1939 to 1945, hold as much significance as the year 1066. Just another date in a very long history. It has however been my experience and my opinion that as a people the English are not as foot loose and fancy free with rules, regulations and that sort of thing as many Americans can be and are known to be. I don't have any vast experience of working with BSA Troops in the UK or in Europe. One year at Kandersteg we met up with a wonderful BSA Troop who were the nicest group. They were stationed somewhere in Germany. This was back in 1976. I found it odd that no one in the group spoke any German and from conversations it seemed that they had no dealings with the German people. doing everything on base. Just outside Cobham in Surrey there was a BSA Troop connected to an American School in the area. While I didn't notice it at the time, I now think that most of the Scouts came from very well to do families, with parents who worked at the American Embassy. The Troop was 100% BSA. I can't understand why an American BSA Troop would have a CC who isn't an American? Just sounds a little odd. As for having ASM's at Troop Committee Meetings? Why? The role of an ASM is just as the name says an Assistant to the Scout Master. ASM's should have no need to attend Troop Committee Meetings. If the SM is having a problem then the problem is his to sort out and fix. ASM's are not and as far as I know have never been Committee Members. Sure, some units have meetings where almost ant Tom, Dick or Harry can attend and chirp up. But that's not what the "Good Book" says. A lot of English people will follow all the rules as they are laid down, no matter what, or even if the rules seem or appear silly. Things are different and things are done differently. When we were first married we lived in England. We were invited to a Bar-B-Que. HWMBO came down wearing jeans and a t-shirt. She a little put out when I said that she needed to go and dress for a dinner party. Sure enough when we arrived all the men were in suits and the women were in white blouses, complete with pearls and little black skirts. Committee Chairs are free to seek advise from who ever they might want to seek it from be it the old SM or the guy in the pub down the road. Much as I hate to look like an old book thumper. I think I read someplace that Commissioners weren't supposed to serve at the unit level. While maybe a unit commissioner might get by? I'm not so sure if someone who serves as an ADC should. The bottom line for me here isn't the Committee Chair. It has more to do with the SM not doing his job and standing up to the committee. Eamonn.

Offering Training's at camp does have a lot going for it. The big one being that the people who might be in need of the training's are there. Still something just doesn't sit well with me. 1/ Is this the right time and the right place? Do we attend Summer Camp to take care of the Scouts in our charge or take training? 2/ I'm not sure how it is elsewhere, but our Camp doesn't charge adult leaders to attend camp. There is some kind of ratio, I can't remember exactly how it works. But is it fair that the camp pays a staff member to train adults when the salary /pay is coming from the camp budget? I think not. Paying someone to present adult leader training, might very well be a bridge that we might not want to cross? While maybe it's a stretch? But it might mean that a Council is taking on more liability than it might like, being as the person presenting the training is an employee of the Council. Summer Camp is all about and for the campers, these add ons only cloud the real reason why we are there. Ea.

My thinking is that if I hired someone to do a job and then they went off doing stuff that had nothing to do with the job at hand. I wouldn't be very happy. If the guys involved with training or membership want to come up to the camp and do a few sessions? That's up to them. But taking a camp staff member away from his job. I think not. Ea.

I did this for one summer. The camp was sectioned into 3 areas, each with a Commish. Day one was very much a meet and greet and try to ensure that everyone got to where they were to be. Each day the Commish Staff visited all the sites for a daily site inspection and a chat with the SM's. I remember drinking a lot of really bad coffee! There was a fair amount of sorting out little problems. The Commish acts as the eyes and ears of the camp and reports back to the program and Camp Directors. Ea.

This mix up is not in my book a hanging offense. In fact I'm surprised that went anywhere, let alone as far as it has gone. I have never worked in our local Scout Shop and have to say that I don't know all the ins and outs that go into selling a badge. I kinda think that in a perfect world it should go something like: Hi Mr. Scout Shop person, how are you? I need to buy a merit badge for my son. "Hi, Mr.towerflower, I'm fine. Give me a minute while I just get on Scout-net and check it out." From there it ought to have been plain sailing. If the badge was in the system? Then the guy in the Scout Shop should have been happy to take your money and send you with badge in hand down the road. If it wasn't? Then he ought to have made some sort of an apology and sent you to find out why it wasn't in the system. I'm kinda at a loss as to know what you expect the forum members to say to you? I kinda think you don't want anyone to say "Hey Buddy, you messed up. Now just take your medicine!" I really don't think anyone is going to say that the both the Committee Chair and the Advancement Chair are terrible people who need to be let go. At the end of the day, I'm guessing that you and the committee will sort this all out and the guy from the District and the Council have more pressing things to think about and worry about than a merit badge. Everyone has a life to lead. Ea.