Eamonn

Sad to say friend of mine is the course director for a Wood Badge course this fall and is having a hard time recruiting a staff. He asked me if I would be interested? I said that I thought three courses in three years was a bit much, but if he got really stuck that I would ask Her That Must Be Obeyed and if I got the green light there I would. I really think that he needs to go out and recruit people who have never staffed before. As it is he has the guy who was my mentor as SPL. He has four beads and my friend will have his fourth bead, that in my opinion is one "Four Beader" too many. However I won't leave him in the lurch. I have too much vacation time anyway. Eamonn

Laurie, As you know I think very highly of you as a really nice person and as someone who is doing a great job for our kids. So far I haven't been able to entice you to join our District. Heck all you have to do is move and find new employment and new schools - It's not like I'm asking a lot!! I am overjoyed that you have been selected. My hope is that it is a really memorable evening and that you have someone take photos so that you can treasure it for a long time. I also have some good news I just found out that I will be presented with the International Scouter Award on Thursday at our recognition dinner. I think that I'm the first one ever in our Council. Eamonn. PS I hope they play the 1812 overture.

Matua, Seems like you are between a rock and a hard place. Wearing your District hat it would be better for you as part of the key 3 (Or is it still a key 2?) To put yot effort into supporting the Rotary Race, if they need and want your support. On the other hand if the committee for the unit that you are involved with see this as a way of earning a few dollars.. I suppose in the end it would come down to who would be asked to part with their money. If the unit is going to ask the same people who support the Rotary Race which supports the Council / District. You ought to steer clear. If it is a different bunch that would never ever run in the Rotary Race or use any of those who might donate to the Rotary Race and you feel 200% sure that you are in no way hurting the Council/District it might be OK. That is all Eamonn logic and isn't worth very much. Eamonn

Matua Maybe I'm being a little dense, but I don't see you making that much money? You pay out $200.00 to the race people. Pay for 100 t-shirts. Even at $5.00 each that is another $500.00 and then have to pay for the food after the event. Looks like a big outlay. Then if Rotary is already sponsoring a race for the Scouts, would you be asking the same people again? Eamonn

Darn it! Now that I can't wear my camo. Her That Must Be Obeyed will be able to find me. - Shucks. Eamonn.

The District has a new Dean of Merit Badges. I recruited him. He seems like a nice enough fellow, he has all the programs on his laptop, which I swear he sleeps with. He has been very busy up-dating the merit badge list adding new counselors and making it available in every which way and in every format known to man. To be very honest even though he is a nice fellow he is a bit of a pest. He keeps coming up with questions and he phones me. I tell him that he ought to be calling the Advancement Chair. But so far it hasn't sunk in. The other day he called and asked "Who ever checks that the merit badge counselor on the card is OK?" I said that I didn't know. So the next day I called the Service Center and asked. We have a really nice Lady who has been with the Council for a coons age. She knows everything, I am not sure what her job title is but she takes care of the store and does a lot of other stuff. Anyone buying stuff would more then lightly go through her. I asked "Who checks the cards against the list?" She wasn't happy and informed me that she doesn't have the time to check all the blue cards and that it is up to the district. Being as I like her a lot I didn't want to argue with her. After all she is the one that finds and orders me all the stuff that I need. I called the Dean back and informed him that no one was checking. He now wants to check every merit badge saying that he is going to do a check every week or so. I admire his commitment, but I don't know what we would tell a Scout who has worked on a merit badge and gone to a non-approved counselor? Does the Lad forfeit the badge? Does the Scoutmaster go to jail and not pass go? Who checks in your Council? Eamonn.

By the way that would make it a two car funeral. Eamonn

I smiled when I read this remembering the tale of the Man Of Steele and his rain suit. I bought a rain suit in 1974 from Scout Shops in the UK. It is bright orange and made of nylon and does make you sweat. I found a rain suit on sale in a store and took it to the last Jamboree. On the Sunday when it poured down rain I walked with the Roman Catholic Scouts from Troop 429 to mass. All the way saying a prayer that it would be a quick mass. When I seen the Swiss Guards I knew that I was out of luck. Worse still the rain suit was useless I was soaked. I have gone and invested in a gortex rain suit but so far have not had the chance to wear it. Eamonn

Please Don't Thank Me. Thank The BSA And The Guide To Safe Scouting. You Can Read It on Line. If You Care Anything About The Scouts In Your Den You Will Follow it. Eamonn

CUBS?? Try it at your next Round Table, have the key 3 lead it. Eamonn

OK before someone informs me that I have the I.Q. of a gnat and that I can't organize a one car funeral. I have been there, did that and got a ton of T-shirts. I have organized Scouting events for every age group including Cub Scouts. I do have to admit that there are a few changes in the Cub Scout program that I may not be up to speed on but I have been involved in Cub Scouting and Cub Scout Leader Training for a number of years. Along with my Scout Wood Badge I was a participant on one of the last Cub Scout Wood Badges offered. Now that we have that out of the way. Let's take a look at some of the basics. The Methods Of Boy Scouting: Ideals: The ideals are spelled out in the Scout Oath,the Scout Law, the Scout motto and the Scout Slogan. The Boy Scout measures himself against these ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and as he reaches for them he has some control over what and who he becomes. Patrols: The Patrol method gives Boy Scouts an experience in group living and participating citizenship. It places responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it. The Patrol method allows Scouts to interact in small groups where members can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine Troop activities through elected representatives. Outdoors: Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoor setting that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one and other. It is in the outdoors that the skills and activities practiced at the Troop meetings come alive with purpose. Advancement: Boy Scouting provides Scouts with a series of surmountable obstacles and steps to overcoming them through the advancement method. The Boy Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The Boy Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps build and gain self confidence. The steps in the advancement system help the Boy Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others. Associations With Adults: Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders can be positive role models for the members of the troop.In many cases a Scoutmaster who is willing to listen to boys and encourage them,and take a sincere interest in them can make a profound difference in their lives. Personal Growth: As boys plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. The good turn plays a major part in personal growth, as does the religious awards program is also a large factor in personal growth. Frequent personal conferences with the Scoutmaster can help each Scout to determine his growth toward Scouting's aims. Leadership Development: The program encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills. Each boy has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership. Understanding the concepts of leadership help a boy understand the leadership role of others and guides him toward citizenship. Uniform: The uniform creates a positive image and shows a commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. Cub Scouts are not little Boy Scouts in Blue uniforms. They have their own set of methods. Methods Of Cub Scouting: The Ideals: Much the same as the Boy Scout. However we now have a different Law and a promise. As has been pointed out the Law is the Law of the Pack. The Den: Unlike the Patrol method which helps foster leadership the Den is more about belonging to a group and learning in the group. Advancement: Unlike the Boy Scout who plans his own advancement. In Cub Scouting it is used to help family understanding as Cub Scouts and family members work together toward the Cub Scouts advancement. Family Involvement: Family involvement is an essential part of Cub Scouting. Activities: These include Songs, skits, games, outings and events where the boys learn new skills and have fun. Home and Neighborhood Centered: many of the activities can be done at home and the program by design is presented in the area that the Cub Scout knows and feels comfortable in. Uniform: The Cub Scout uniform still shows membership and does help build loyalty and self respect along with pride. Please note that the Outdoors is not a method of Cub Scouting. Yes outdoor activities are encouraged and promoted and learning can and does take place in the outdoors. These activities are to be held with family members and in the local area. Den Leaders are a vital part of the program but they are not Scoutmasters. Cub Scouts are still busy doing things with the family. So I would vote NO to Den camping. (This message has been edited by Eamonn)

Spider, He sounds like a little Toad!! I think that is very commendable that you are doing everything that you can to be as objective as possible and maybe keep this Lad in the troop. I'm not so sure if I would allow anyone to take away the Scoutmaster Conference from me if I was the Scoutmaster. I happen to believe that this is my job. You sound like a very level headed fellow and I get the feeling that if anything you would give this Lad a lot more opportunity to start on the right path then anyone else might. Still maybe the best thing for everyone would be if he could join another local troop. Eamonn

I am making a note for our training next year. "If you are unsure how well you will do pack some heat" (Just joking) Eamonn

We went with a warm body and the most votes. Eamonn

I am going to post this and duck!! National send me a free copy!!! I think this is the first thing that I have ever got for free without asking first. I was a little disappointed in the cover But I didn't know that there were choices. As yet I have only flipped through it and will try to make time to give it a good read. Eamonn.

That great Tiger Cub Den that we had became the Wolf Den and none of the parents were willing to step up to the plate. As Tiger Parents they had taken turns leading the Tiger Den in a theme for a month. So I put it to them that they could all be Den Leaders. I signed them up that way, mainly to ensure that they got the full Scouting Magazine. They sat in as part of the annual planning meeting and divied up who was going to take each month. As ever the more interested and involved parents started to take the lead do more and more. This won't work every time but it did wonders for pack 155. Eamonn.

I try to visit all of the Troops that are in camp. As a rule the DE and I pop in just to say Hi and see if everyone is happy. Our guys must think that they are the Wise Men?? I don't see much evidence of Shepherding. Eamonn

I was lucky in that we had our own HQ with a office. So all the books and that sort of thing were there. I'm not sure why but all the business seem to be done in the kitchen?? As it was in down town London I had no need to take a car. Unlike now when at times the trunk (Boot) is a mobile office. I used to ride the bus so hauling a huge amount of gear was a real pain. I did always carry the books with the meeting plans for every meeting that we ever had. Over 11 years of meeting plans. This was a true lifesaver. We used it a PLC's to rate the meeting and the games, activities that we done and played and at times dug up and re-cycled old ideas. Also at times when things weren't going too well the SPL would dive in and come out with something. Be it a game or whatever. Eamonn

Away Nakka Nakka Nay Away Nakka Nakka Nay Etok,Etok,Etok. (Repeat Verse) Quack,Quack,Quack (While hopping to the right) Quack,Quack,Quack (While hopping to the left) This is done three times,gradually getting faster with each repeat. On the final yell Swoosh and fall to the ground. It is not possible to do this and not laugh. Eamonn

It could be that I am starting to become one of the old fogies?? My idea about Scouting is not rocket science. While we are aware of the purpose and all that safety stuff, uniform stuff, advancement stuff and some other stuff. I 99.9% of the time enjoy what I'm doing be it with a bunch of young people or a bunch of adults. While I may be in some stage of "Growing Up" I still think that this is fun. I kind of like the idea that this forum and all of us who post and use the forum are still "Growing Up". Sure we can help each other with the "Stuff" and maybe along the way make friends. I for one don't give a tinkers about dead Greeks. Rub my nose in it wizards or Gay rights. While there may be a place for this I kinda think that we have a lot of the "Stuff" that we could be looking at and the end result could be that the youth in my district, your district and Crew and Pack and Troop and kids who have yet to join will end up with a balanced program where the Stuff has been discussed and new and novel ideas of how to have more fun are in the forefront. Very few of us will be able to change what some nitwit of a judge is doing. We do have the opportunity to maybe work with a Lad who will one day replace the nitwit. Eamonn. I still think that two fortnights is a good idea. But I will still play if the politics returns and just like a moth to the flame....

48 days would be better. Eamonn I nearly forgot Thank You

We used to have a script. It didn't work. Now we have a fun filled, pizza munching, Adult beverage consuming training for the presenters and we invite each unit to send a Unit FOS Chair. Behind the pizza and fun there is a training. In fact it is very well attended. Of course there isn't a youth or a uniform in sight. Some of the Unit Chairs are not on the charter. We cover what is needed to fill out a FOS card. How the billing works and all that boring stuff. Then we have someone do a presentation. Most of the gang do it from the heart but we have given them information to help them out: How many youth in the council along with odd facts, such as how much a new tent for camp costs. The Unit FOS Chair is a new idea. We give the units the choice of named cards or blank cards. Either way he or she is to see that the cards end up in the hands of the people and the right people if they opt for the named cards. (These have the amount donated last year on them.) We also give them pens to distribute. They also organize the collection of the cards. It is working out well we still have some money to come in but are at 114% of our goal. Eamonn

Welcome back to the forums. Bob White has the answer covered in his posting. Sad to say it might be that this Lad who is doing the bullying might need some time to think about correcting his ways. It sounds as if you have a good working committee. What action is to be taken is up to them. It seems as if your son and this Lad have some sort of ongoing beef. You might want to find out what it is. Be prepared to find out that maybe just maybe your son is not as blameless as it sounds in your posting. Strange as it may sound it could be that the Lads are friends who can do stuff together up to a point and then something just goes wrong and they end up at each others throat. Many if not most of those who post here have a son in the program and while we love the heck out of them, seeing them do things with their peers is too see them in a different light. Please don't think that I'm taking sides I'm not. My son is a great Lad who wears angel wings when his Grandmother is around. Is polite to adults and goes out of his way to be helpful. However when he is with his pals the Sunday manners are not with him or he does things without thinking. As a new Scoutmaster you would be doing a great service to both the troop and yourself to get your hands on all of the books that pertain to your role in Scouting and read them. Lots of Scoutmasters spend hard earned money on the books and never read them. Again if I were you I would follow the wise words of Bob White. Eamonn

OGE I will present the idea to Jerry. I think he might go with it. Eamonn

I think I have got it now. We used to call them Rope Weaves. There was a plan in the UK Scouting Mag. Some years back. Eamonn