Eamonn

Like K.S we did a lot of "Jawing" and if there was something big coming up we would maybe have a very informal meeting at the local over a pint. Eamonn

I don't like hats. I do own the red visor cap, the blue and gold visor cap and a couple of campaign hats. Along with an assortment of caps from scout camps and scouting events. Many of the troops in the district have had troop hats made. I do feel that if the event is a formal type event that the hat/cap does add that final touch. I kind of think that they have become like t-shirts at camp; as long as they are Scouting type hats that is fine. Not just any old baseball cap. Eamonn.

One thing that I did take a long hard look at during my term as Council Training Chair. Was the cost of training's. Due to not being able to find a Scoutmaster in 2002 we did not offer a JLTC in our Council. We were able to get a couple of Scouts to Philmont and sent some to Greater Pitt. For some unknown reason the cost of JLTC had remained the same for a very long time and we were losing money. No one seemed very concerned. We were charging $85.00. Last year we did find someone who was willing to be the Scoutmaster, so we held the course just before summer camp. We put the cost up to $125.00. We did make a very small amount in part due to the council not making us pay for the use of the camp. We do not charge the staff youth or adult anything. Everyone gets two t-shirts and a neckerchief along with the patch. I can't remember what the necker cost but it wasn't a lot four or five bucks. The shirts cost a little under six dollars each and the patch is about three. We have never offered hats and mugs. Hats cost about six dollars at least that is what we paid for the ones that we had for Wood Badge. Mugs had a bigger minimum order then I thought we could sell so we didn't order them. I'm not sure if young Lads are into mugs. For Wood Badge we did put about 100 photos on a disc and put it to music and gave these away. The discs were free after a mail in rebate and the BSA owned the copyright to the music which we had paid a fee for. Only last night at roundtable one of the participants came up to me and said how much it meant to him. It is great to show it on a large screen. Eamonn

There is a very useful worksheet "Selecting Cub Scout Leadeship" That can be found on the Boy Scouts Of America web site. It is in the commissioners section. You might want to get your unit commissioner involved in your selection process. Hope this helps. Eamonn

I do try really hard to know the names of all the people in the District. Starting at Tiger Cub events I ask them their names and over the years it isn't as hard as it may seem. I have found little Lads who can't remember my name and overheard two of these little fellows talking about me as "That white haired guy who talks funny." Some you win some you ... Eamonn

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We held the first meeting. It went well. In no small way thanks to the young chap who will be the 3rd ASM. He is a super Lad. An Eagle Scout and at present the Lodge Chief. He lives for Scouting. Kind of reminds me of myself when I was his age only he is a lot more intelligent. He was a APL in the 2001 troop. Needless to say I think the world of him. He attended the last World Jamboree. At the meeting he was able to talk to the Scouts from a Scout participants point of view. The big question from the parents was uniform. I of course said that all the troop meeting that we would be holding before the event would be in uniform and that the guidelines suggest two uniforms.However they ought to remember that there was a lot of time from now to the Jambo and kids can grow a lot in that time. I have a little bit of a hard time comprehending that a parent is willing to spend almost a thousand bucks to send a boy and then worry about a $35.00 shirt. Eamonn

I think that maybe I'm reading too much into "Shared Leadership." I really don't want to go into how it does or doesn't work in the Pack or Den setting. In my days serving as Scout Leader/ Scoutmaster in England the troop was made up of 10 Patrols give or take depending on membership. There was of course a SPL along with the other youth positions.There were six active be at every meeting ASM's and six or seven ASM's that were there as needed or as they could make it. Over half of these guys were Wood Badge trained. Of the six that were at every meeting most were very skilled in what might be called Traditional Scouting. They were good at camping, cooking, knoting and that sort of thing. One was the QM. Another took care of the Troop vans.One was the Scoutmaster of a Troop that had closed. He was a great old chap who was one of those old salts that seemed to know everything. However much as he loved Scouting he wasn't that good at working with boys of Scout age. He was the head cook and in charge of the food for the adults when we went camping. The other guys were talented in different areas. One was real big into backpacking and light weight camping. When we would do the annual plan we kept the skills that were on hand in mind. So there were times when I would ask them to do what they did well and they might work with the Patrol Leaders to help prepare them to teach some skill or maybe at a camp oversee something that the troop was doing or part of the troop was doing. Still with all this going on I never handed over the leadership of the troop to them. The Scoutmasters minute at the end of each troop meeting was mine. If they were at a PLC it was by invitation and then just to go over what they would be doing or passing on the wealth of their knowledge. Eamonn

We have filled both troops and now have a waiting list. We are asking the Council next door (Penns Woods) If they will be able to take some of our lads. It seems that there has already been a lot of requests from councils to send extra troops. Last time they did open subcamp 20. I don't know what will happen in 2005. While not having any outsiders or visitors attending the Jambo might be nice. It would be a shame for us not to allow people to see Scouting at its best. I do however agree that the safety and well being of everyone must come first. Eamonn(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

In another thread there was talk about youth members attending an adult leaders meeting. I had never heard of such a meeting. It might be that I'm out of touch but I never felt the need for such a meeting.I always seen myself as the guy who was in charge of trainining the Patrol Leaders, they came up with the plan and the program. The ASM was there to perform the duties that I asked him too. Yes there were ASM's that had skills that we put to use. Maybe if we were doing something that one of the ASM's was good at I would ask him to take charge of that. Or if we were doing some skill at the PLC that the patrol leaders would pass on to their patrols and the ASM was better at teaching this skill then I might be, he would at my request do this. This idea of shared leadership is a new one to me.How does it work? What becomes of the Scoutmaster? Eamonn

At this time our Council or District does not offer anything like a Merit Badge College. At first glance I am not sold on the idea. However if it was set up right and wasn't a do one get one free rype deal I could learn to live with it. If it was passed by the District Committee I would have no choice. We have in the past taled about support for District and Council events and activities. I at times think that there may be too many District and Council events and we might be getting in the way of the unit program. If a unit has plans for doing something when there is such an event I would say that the unit must always come first. We District people are only here to support the units. Having said all that I have to admit to being a little upset when information is not passed on. At times the unit leader will have ideas that are set in stone and he or she will not even let the unit members know what is going on. We have seen this with the Jamboree the Scoutmaster makes up his mind that he doesn't like something and the Scouts never get to hear about it or if they do it is too late. I don't know why your Troop is not going. But I wonder if this is coming from the adults or the PLC. Merit Badges ought to be earned by the Scout in an area that he might have an interest in. Maybe the fault is with the way the event is being sold. It might be better if the registration was not by troop and left open to the Scout. This might be a lot more work for the people who are in charge, but I would bring it to their attention. Eamonn

Base the program on the National Jamboree program. A Merit Badge Midway. Action Areas. Areas of interest. Serve only one meal a day in the dining hall. Have the other meals cooked in the patrol site. Find out who trains the staff at Philmont and kidnap that person. Eamonn(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

Just a couple of thoughts. Baden Powell wanted to be called B-P. My sister Patricia a barriister who is in line to become a high court judge wants to be called Pattie. Even when she was called to the bar it was as Pattie. Kings and Queens tend to go by a first name. I have no idea what the last names of any of the Nuns at Holy Cross school were. My brother is John at home we call him Sean, when he was about 15 he wanted people to call him John now only family call him Sean. We both call each other Mick. He is the only person who calls me Mick. I did have a nickname in school which only the people that I was friends at school with still use. I get upset when people call OJ Ollie. I do answer to Ea. My mother was Mary she was the oldest but everyone called her Babs. Our Dogs have middle names but answer to their first names or the sound of the can opener. While we were being coached to meet the Queen at the Queens Scout service at St Georges in Windsor we were told that if the Queen spoke to us we were to address her as mam like in jam. This works best if you have an English accent. My Wife hates her middle name and never uses it. I do tend to call the patients that I work with by Mr or Mrs when we meet then I tend to use Sir and Mam (As in jam) Even though they may have asked me to call them by their first name. However when we re-meet I call them by what they want to be called. When I phone a Doctors office even if the Doc and I are close friends I always ask the office staff for Doctor Whathisname. As I said just some thoughts. Eamonn

OJ is staffing the Bike-athon in Action area D. I will serve as Scoutmaster for one of the two troops that we are sending. We have just about filled both troops and are ready to send the first payment to National. We had a meeting last night and someone had the patch it is nice. I have been trying to talk some of the Venturers into applying to go on staff or even to try out for the Jamboree Band. Eamonn.

This is Great news. I have this little thing that I do when I put my beads on. I stop for a little while and think of all the fun that I have had at Wood Badge and all the super people that I have met and make a little promise that I will pass it on. Wear your beads with pride and well done. Eamonn

Me thinks that we have about worn this thread out. Could be time to have a dose of cotton gin. We could ask Jenny to serve it but she is always in such a spin. Eamonn

Ok so it has been a while since I was a Scoutmaster. Still here is my take on how things work. I am the Scoutmaster. The other leaders are there to assist me. I ask them to do what I deem needs to be done to implement the program and the activities that have been planned by the PLC. If there are sensitive issues these need to be looked at by the Troop Committee not a leaders meeting. We in fact never ever held a formal leaders meeting. I just asked people to do what needed doing or we talked about it when there was time. While the troop adult Quartermaster was invited to attend the PLC He was the only adult and I had prewarned him that his job was to say as little as possible. Eamonn

Most if not all the Cub Scouters that I have met at Cub Scout Training's have said that they have not only come away with clearer picture of what being a leader is about but they go on to say that it was fun. While we stick to the syllabus it is presented in an up beat way. We also add a lot of pizzazz, with the fun songs candy handouts and that sort of thing. Still none of these things are as good as having someone who knows what he or she is talking about and has a deep love and understanding of the program present it. While not everyone is capable of doing this. Good trainers are worth their weight in gold. Our Council has never had a big problem getting Cub Scouters to training. The real callenge is the unit that has the Leader who has been there doing it all wrong for a coons age. He or she is running a program that may slightly resemble what might be taken for Scouting. He or she is scared to attend as they deep down know what they are doing isn't right and by not going can pretend that it's not there. To make matters worse even if some of the other leaders attend they never get the chance to try doing it right. Almost like the little kid that covers his eyes and says "I can't see you." Eamonn

I'm starting to think that the other members of the forum are Looming over me. Eamonn

This is going to sound kind of tough. You need to send the parent a Registered Letter demanding payment. Along with a copy of the letter via normal mail. Inform the parent that if arrangements for payment in full are not made within seven days that you will turn it over to a collection agency and they will incur the costs. Add the cost of the registered letter to the amount owed. As leaders we are in the program business not the collection business. It is not fair to who ever will be out of pocket to have to pay this. Selling the popcorn and not turning in the money is out and out thievery. Eamonn(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

Dave as you go bobbin up the stairs (I thought your house was a ranch?) If you sing a song does this make you a Singer Bobbin? Eamonn ps. You might need that eye in your next job. I'm just ragging you!!

While I agree that other peoples children should do what their parents want or wish them to do and I don't like crossing them when it comes down to me and my name and what I want to be called this is up to me. I don't want to be called Mr. Lastname. As this is something that is mine the wishes of others just do not come into play. I will call you what you want to be called. I would hope that people would extend me the same consideration.Going against my wishes is not being polite. Eamonn

Scout Execs. and Professional Scouters are just like any other group of people. Doing what they do for a living. I know a lot of nurses who go the extra mile. I also know others who do what they have to do and can't wait till their shift is over. The same can be said about any profession. Just because someone is a Scout Exec. does not mean that they are intelligent any more then it indicates that they are a moron. While the lot of a Scout Exec. may be hard at the end of the day it is what he or she is paid to do. Heck, there aren't hoards of people running around PA. Saying what a great job I do and when I mess up people get very sick and can die. Yet I don't get paid as much as our Scout Exec. I do agree that many of the volunteers don't really know what is going on at certain levels in the Council. Not that it is a secret it at times is just something that is happening. Ask the right person and they will chew your ear off. Working with the Council Executive Board is at times hard and yes some board members are a real pain. Some have their own agenda and little pet projects and again some of these board members are the most intelligent of people some are not. Even at the Board level we at times don't know what is "Coming Down" from the Region or the National level. Some time back the Man Of Steele asked us what we expected from our professional staff. There was a lot of good ideas. Of course the really dreadful thing about having a bad Scout Exec. Is that the volunteers hired him/her. Of course Field Directors are a different kettle of fish - But we won't even go there. Eamonn

So I picked up the 15 seater van last night. The guy owns and runs a used car lot. His son is signed up for the next jambo. So he cut me a break on the cost. We met at Micky D's at 7:00. Only 11 Crew Members turned up. This could be due to the fact that it was so darn cold and the telly was telling people not to go out unless they had to and to cover all body parts. The Van didn't have a CD player so I had thrown a few tapes in. It turned out that there were two Johnny Cash tapes and these guys thought that "Don't Take Your Guns To Town" was really very corny. It was only about a 45 min drive. I just drove listening to the banter and general chit chat going on. I had almost forgot how much I enjoy just being a fly on the wall hearing young people just chit chat. It really is a very happy sound even over Johnny Cash. Once there they sorted out all the paper work and who was doing what, some were Snow Boarding some Skiing others Tubing. I was all dressed up for the cold but had spied a nice fireplace and the coffee shop.However they thought that I ought to at least try something so I said that I would give tubing a bash. Never done it before. So I went with a couple of the girls hoping that if I was going to wimp out it wouldn't be anywhere near the guys. Man Oh Man was it cold 5F, which is not good for displaced Englishmen. We are more with the mad dogs that go out in the mid day sun. I did a few runs on my tube which is a lot of fun and needs no skill what so ever. I turned it over a couple of times trying to get high air on a small mound. But by lunch time I was very very cold and aware that I'm no longer 21 or 31 0r even 41. So I found a nice table in the lodge and held court. There were about 300 youth members at this even from our council. Over the afternoon other Scouters came and shot the breeze with me. The Crew was in and out trying to warm up and make sure that I was still alive. I sat sitting there just watching a whole bunch of young people all dress up in winter garb. They all seemed to have red rosy cheeks from the cold but they all looked really happy. By about 6:00 everyone had suffered enough of the cold so we loaded the van and drove home them singing "Don't take Your Guns To Town" I had a great time. I miss not spending more time with our kids. They want me to go back next year I think only to see if I can really get some high air and they can watch their District Chair bury his oversized nose in the snow. Eamonn

After a good hose down I think you will find more material if not you could Fabric ate some. Eamonn