Eamonn

The countdown is on. In three weeks we start NE-IV-153. This will be my first and last time as a Wood Badge course director. In fact, I have just returned from our final development weekend. The staff are really good and have all gone above and beyond. I feel certain that they will do an outstanding job. The Course is full, in fact we have permission from the Region to add a extra patrol. As most people know I am a very easy going little fellow. But as far as training goes I do insist that we follow the syllabus. We don't add anything or leave out anything. It has become one of those issues that the staff pull my leg about. Saying that they will be hit by a bolt of lightning, if they try to add or change things. For my part. Without wanting to blow my own trumpet. I have worked really hard on this, spending hours reading and re-reading the syllabus, sending E-mails, making charts along with a lot of other "Happy Stuff." As a Thank You gift to the staff, I have had a local cabinet maker make each staff member a flip chart holder. One that will hold a small desktop flip chart. The chap who is making them is one of the district training chairmen and he has cut me a break. Now here is my problem, I know that the staff are going to buy me something. I have made it known, through my mentor that I don't want anything. In the past there have been chunks of glass, some in the shape of Timmy Tenderfoot, some that look like a mountain. I have no need for this stuff and it is a waste of money. The recognition for being the course director is a certificate and a set of four beads. That is fine and dandy with me. I have asked that if they feel that they must do something, that I would prefer that they put the money towards a Campership for a Cubscout or Boy Scout who might need need it. Or make a donation to the endowment fund. Somehow I don't think that this is going to happen. Am I being a little pig headed? Should I just smile and say thanks? Eamonn

Dave, Have to admit that I was ready and set to make some smart remark when I saw the title of this thread. All in fun. As I hope you know, I try not to hurt anyone. I had not heard about this before now. Many thanks for sharing it with us. It is strange and not very kind, how quick we are at times to pass judgement on things and stuff when we can be so far off base. Eamonn

I have never had a lot to do with the Learning For Life program. In fact I think the Man Of Steele gave me more information in another thread on Venturing then I have ever been given. Dumb, as this may sound I have never had any time for the LFL. Dumb because I don't know that much about the program. Here is what I think I know and I welcome those who are wiser then I to lead me to the path of enlightenment. 1. LFL is a separate corporation. 2. Youth and Adult members do not have to make the Scout Oath. This is all fine and dandy with me. I just don't want to have anything to do with it. Just as the Civil Air Patrol or Camp Fire might be doing a really great job and are serving the needs of the youth in their organization. I have nothing to do with them. They don't any money or donations from me. So why am I providing funds for this LFL program. This program is run from the Scout Service Center. It does have staff that only work in the LFL program. While I don't know if their pay check comes from a LFL account, or if they pay rent for the use of the Service Center. I do know that in this council the LFL program is the responsibility of the Field Director. Again I don't know if he accounts for the man hours that he puts into this program. The LFL program does allow people into the program that would not be able to be leaders in any of the program areas that I support. Support with my money and time raising money. While I wish them well. I don't want to support them. It seems in this council that the programs are too close and there is a need for more accoutability. I wonder if the people who donate to the FOS, are aware that it might be possible that they are supporting a program that is not the value based organization that they think? So who does pay for LFL?(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

I tend to call everyone by their first name. While Eamonn is very common in Ireland, there are not too many in our part of PA. So everyone just calls me Eamonn. When I use my full name I use all of it; All three names. At school in England we were called by our surname only. I never did like it. I as a rule ask people what name they want to go by. Most will tell me Jim or James, and so on. I did when I was a Scoutmaster give some of the boys nick names, some stuck others didn't. All were given out of friendly leg pulling and fondness. For a number of years we had a thing where we called each other by initials. The leaders were Big E, and some of the Scouts were Small E or whatever. Some of these Lads still write to me and sign there name that way. I do make a point of shaking hands with adults and Boy Scouts, I don't with Cub Scouts. My idea of respect is more about letting people know that I value them, then what might be labeled good manners. Which are important and we need to teach our youth how to be well mannered. Eamonn

Most of the Wood Badges in the UK were made of Ash. As Ash was the most useful wood for Scouting. Or so they said. Gilwell park, as a fund raiser were selling beads made from a fallen Gilwell Oak. The money is to be used to redo or do up the White House in time for the 2007 Jambo. I hope to be there to see if they have done a good job. Eamonn By the way the beads are easy its' the thong that is a problem. Don't use shoe polish it marks your shirt. Welcome to the Forum

We have a saying back "Home" that comes from the game of cricket. There are times when all the stuff that you think you know, and all the tricks that you think will work - Won't or don't. We call this a "Sticky Wicket." I really don't want to go into much detail about what brought this all to a head, as there is a chance that law suits will be filed. Our District Commish. could not have handled the situation much worse from both a Council and District point of view. The guy is a super nice chap. In fact he is trying to be be too nice. He has a very big ego and is one of those types that is in this game very much for himself. He wants all the knots and dingle dangles that there ever was. He has surrounded himself with a bunch of real first class nit wits. He knows that they are nit wits as I along with a bunch of other people have told him so. The bunch includes the DE, the Scout Exec. He really does want everyone to love him. To this end he tells people what they want to hear. At times this does put the key 3 somewhere between a rock and a hard place. The guy is everywhere, doing everything but being a District Commissioner. He has taken every training under the sun. But this ego of his is just unmanageable. For example the attendance award that we give out for roundtable is now named after him. Yes he pays for it. But this came about with not a word. We now have the "His name Award Of Excellence" He works from home and does spend a tremendous amoumt of time doing stuff for Scouting. He spends more time in the Scout Service Center then most of the people who work there. So there are a great many people who think that he is doing a wonderful job. While it is fine and dandy to say let the nominating committee take care of it. I sit on the nominating committee and the average Scouter has no idea that it even exists. No matter what, as long as the powers that be are not going to take the bull by the horns, I am going to come off the bad guy in the eyes of the adults in the district. Then there is all the trouble that he can stir up after the AGM. I know it is going to be a pain. For the good of the District I will not put his name on the list to be considered for that position in 2004, and I'm thinking of having a heart to heart with him, but I don't want to make the council look bad, which means that somehow I have to put my feelings aside. As I do think that someone else not me ought to be dealing with this - Not telling me it is my District. Maybe that yellow stripe is starting to show?? A sticky wicket, if ever there was one. Eamonn

As you may know the new Wood Badge course has gone to six days. Courses are offered as a six day experience. It can start on any dat of the week. The course director may want to start on a monday in order to avoid Sunday, or start on a Sunday to avoid Saturday. This might make the course more attractive to certain religious groups. Of course he or she might just plan to start on a day that seems best for everyone. That could be any day of the week. The course is also offered as 2X3 days. Again this could be any days of the week. However in most cases, in order not to burn up most peoples vacation, two of the days are normally a Saturday and a Sunday. This means that there is two days to take off from work. Which day suits you best the Friday or the Monday? Or would it be better to take Monday one weekend and Friday the next? There are events on the course that do work better one way, then the other. But we can come back to that. Eamonn

Hi Ken Your posting gave me food for thought. Maybe because I tend to be very impulsive and rush into things. It got me thinking; what are the qualities of a good Scoutmaster? I have read all the books - Well a lot of them!! I have taken a lot of BSA training and have been a trainer for a good number of years. While there is a lot of good stuff in all of it and it is possible to learn the process of leadership. There is also take home techniques you can pick up from the training's, that will help you be a better leader. Here are some of the things that I think are very important. Do I like kids? My wife has served the BSA for many years as a committee person. She is good at what she does, but admits if left with a bunch of kids, she would go nuts. More then just like kids, I think it is important to care. A good Scoutmaster leads from the inside out. Scouts have a way of knowing who really cares. This knowledge that they have does at times make them more forgiving when we the adults mess up. Can I communicate well? A good Scoutmaster must be able to get the point across to different groups of people. Good Scoutmasters are good teachers. They can teach at the level that is needed. I also think that a good Scoutmaster is flexible and willing to accept change. Like it or not some things today are not as they were when we were Scouts. While we do not have to lower the standard we may have to go about reaching it in a different way. Our Scouts learn in a different way, they see things in a different light. We could be old stick in the muds and try to pretend that it is not happening. That would be dumb. A good sense of humor is important along with a sense of fun. Most Scouts didn't join a troop to be anything noble they joined to have fun and share adventures with other Lads. As to you not talking much - Most of the better Scoutmasters don't have to. They do work in the background leaving the people who ought to be running the troop to do their job. Being a Scoutmaster is not rocket science. If you can read the Scout Oath and Law and say to yourself "Yes this is my code and I can provide a good example." You are most of the way there. Eamonn

Great to have you back. Eamonn

FScouter, is right on the money. I didn't recruit the District Commissioner. In fact due to a very sad, bad situation that was very poorly handled. Along with some other stuff. Our Scout Exec. Has now asked me to replace the District Commissioner. I have to admit to not being happy and have talked to the Council key 3. They say "It is my district." I don't and have never seen it that way. They say that I can use the Nominating Committee to get rid of him. Again I think that if the Council has the last word. It is the Council Executive Committee that approves all commissioners. It ought to be up to them (Yes I do sit on that committee.) to "Fire" him. However it does seem that the buck has stopped with me and I will conform to the wishes of the Council key 3. When the Nominating Committee meets in a early September, his name will not be on the list for District Commissioner. Needless to say everyone will think that I got rid of him, and I will feel that I have used the Nominating Committee as a screen. My feeling like a real cad, is something that I can live with, as I do know that in the long run the District will be better served without this chap as the District Commish. To make matters worse the Scout Exec. Has got to the DE. and at the end of the day she works for him. But she has started telling me about all the good things that he has done. There are times when I really want the next two years to be over PDQ. Something that I never say, as a rule I love every minute of every day. Yes there are times when this job sucks.

If the Man Of Steele is having a hard time with 30 years, I'm having a harder time with 40 years. I kind of, sort of. Have a hard time with the word Favorite. I tend to get caught up in what is going on today and not spend that much time looking back. Having said that Scouts and Scouting has done so much for me. As a kid I was way to busy with Scouting, to get into too much trouble. As an adult I met my wife at a Scout camp 3500 miles away from "Home." I have lost count of how many little fellows that I have watched become Lads and then grow into young and now maybe not so young men. Memories of smiles and good times, memories of things that didn't go as planned. Memories of Lad who ran away from home and arrived on my door step at 2:00 AM. Nearly all my best friends are in Scouting, together we have shared times both good and sad. Along the way there have been ranks earned and awards received. There have been places of great splendor and beauty. Still the fondest memories are of people. People who I have looked up to and people who have looked up to me. In some cases I like to think that maybe I have reached out to them, in others I know I could have done more and taken more time and maybe talked less and listened more. Today I sat at the back of the Lodge circle and watched as my son was in the limelight. He stood there a proud young Lad, his friends and peers watching as he was installed as an officer in the Lodge. Some of the other proud parents were busy with photos, but I was happy to sit back and enjoy what was his proud moment. But no matter how proud he was. There was one Dad sitting back so much prouder, adding one more favorite memory. Eamonn

Have just returned from a OA weekend. I don't get to go too as many as I would like. But this weekend OJ, my son was being installed as PVC. So I managed to get away for the weekend. Have to admit that I really do enjoy these weekends.While we do get a fair amount of work done, there is still ample time for shooting the breeze and good natured leg pulling. This weekend we bused some of the Ordeal members to our other campsite and set them to work clearing bush and tidying the place up. One little fellow caught my eye, he was the only non-white lad there. We do not have a very diverse population. This little fellow had been adopted from somewhere in South America. He was like a Timex watch, he just kept working and working. Even after lunch, when the others were starting to slack off this little chap kept up the pace. We bused them all back to camp. I didn't see anything more of him till Mass. He was there. I kind of got the idea that he didn't know what he was doing. The other lads from his troop were directing him. But I paid no never mind. At breakfast this morning, he came and sat at the table where I was. I told him that I thought that he had worked really hard yesterday and that he had done a good job. We chatted for a while. He said that he had gone to the catholic services last night. I said that I'd seen him. He went on to say that he wasn't catholic, but wanted to know what the other service was. I asked if he meant the Protestant sevices? He looked a bit puzzled and "No, I'm a Methodist" I said that I felt sure that the Protestants would have fit him in. He said "But I drunk wine, my Mom is going to kill me!!" Please don't turn this into a religious debate it is just a cute story about a real nice kid.

While it may sound a little bit to easy, the best way to get the job done, is to tell the person what you want. I'm thinking that this camporee chair. Has never chaired a camporee before? If that is the case it is up to "His Boss" to tell him. This might be best done at a committee meeting. Maybe the District Activities Chair. could call a meeting and go over the plans, at the same time offering wise words from the wise. A lot will depend on what was asked of this chap. He may well be doing exactly what was asked of him? We have much the same problem, only worse!! Our Fall camporee is in the hands of a Venture Crew. Kind of - Sort of my idea. Some of the stuff that they think that we are going to do is a little too far off the wall. My hope is that when they meet with the SPL's at our next roundtable, the SPL's will sort them out. If not. We ask anyone who is organizing a district event to attend the district meeting. At that time we have the final word.

Have to admit to being in two minds about the New Scout Patrol. It can and does work. However it does need a lot of work to get running well. Back in England, the Cub Scouts moved into the troop on their 11th birthday. There was in my time a Link Badge, that they could earn. One of the requirements was attending troop and patrol meetings. As the Pack, Troop and Venture Unit were all part of one Scout Group, it was the norm that a boy (Then) would remain in the same Scout Group all the time that he was in Scouting. So we never had the big influx of new Scouts. Most packs did try to get at least 2 or 3 Cubs to cross over at the same time. For the most part the Scouts knew the Cub Scouts, and the Patrol Leaders Council would place these little guys in the patrol that needed them. The need would be because the Scouts would be joining the Venture unit when they were 16. Once in a patrol, more often then not that would be "His Patrol" all the time that he was in the troop. I'm not sure why but there seemed to be a lot more Patrol Camping. That is where the patrol went away as a patrol not as part of the troop. Then there is over here. In fact I think that we do not install near enough Patrol Pride. I do agree with Bob White, that breaking up a Patrol for any reason is normally wrong. The only time we had to do it was when we were starting a new patrol. Still that was there and here is here. As long as we have a group of boys coming into the troop all at the same time and being that most of them may be pals to start with, the New Scout Patrol is a good idea and does work. Eamonn

I don't want to get started on Monty Phython, or I wiil be here all night. Mike F. If and when it gets to hot in your neck of the woods, you can join our district activity committee anytime. Back to the camporee. While a litte bit away from your theme you might want to do a google on Nero. We have a crew that is doing this stuff, it is more "Lord Of The Rings" But they make some real neat weapons and armor. Eamonn

It seems that I have been on the district committee for ever!! We are a very small district with only 46 units. At this time we have only 28 Unit Commissioners to provide commissioner service to the entire district. Much as I hate to admit it I just don't have time to look in on units. I do make every effort to attend any and every event that I'm invited to. February is a busy month with all the Blue and Gold banquets. By the end of the month I don't want to look at another piece of fried chicken. As District Commissioner, I didn't visit too many unit meetings. I left this to the Unit Commissioner and if need be the Assistant District Commissioner. My feeling was "Why have a dog and bark yourself?" I did where and when possible try and get around to visit as many of the Executive Officers and Charter Reps. At present I do try to get to all of our roundtables. Most of the time I do wear a uniform, but at times I make a point of not wearing it. The reason for this is that the Chap who I hope will be our next District Chair, is not a uniformed member, and I can't see him wearing one. If a unit is in need of help, we do sent in the troops. But it is my feeling that it is up to the unit to provide the program. We the District Committee are only a support service. Both the District Commissioner and myself get all sorts of reports from the council and the District Commissioner has monthly meetings with his staff, he then reports to the District Committee meeting. Wearing my other hat as Council Training Chair. I have a inventory of training for every unit in the council, which I share with the District Training Chairs. They can see who needs training and do what they can to provide it. I have never felt the need to attend unit outings. I do look in or stay and sometimes even organize District Camporees, and do visit our district Cub Scout events. I also try and make it up to the council camp whenever any of our units are in camp. Just to make sure everyone is happy. Most of the time I try to go with our DE. We hold the district meeting at camp the week that we have the most units up there. There are times when being the District Chair. is not a lot of fun. When this happens you will hear me say how much I would like to go back and run a troop or a pack. I know this sounds very aloof. However I do take great pride in knowing almost every youth in the district by name and do try to keep up to date with where they are and what they are doing. I just feel that me visiting units amounts to interference. (I know the Adults too - Some better then others!!)

As I said in the other thread, I do think that the new requirements are good. At times we tend to forget the idea that Scouts and Scouting is really an outdoor activity for all our youth. These new requirements will help to prepare these little guys to enter the troop more prepared then in the past. On the down side, I do have some concerns that when the Leader who signed up as a Tiger Parent and has stuck it out as a Den Leader with their son sees this, they might think that they do not have the skills to carry on. I can't wait till Bob White, wins his bet with his Lady wife to get his take on this.(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

Have to admit to feeling kind of smug. I knew Who said it. I do think that OGE, makes a wonderful point. Her That Must Be Obeyed, seems to spend half the day telling #1 Son to pull up them pants, My dear mother spend half her time teling me that my platform shoes would ruin my feet, all the time "Spiders from Mars" played on. Eamonn

Dave there are a few recordings of this, the best one is by the Dubliners. I have used it a few times over the years. At the risk of being a little bit "Off Color": Last year a camp Mountain Run, (Bucktail Council.) I was staffing a Wood Badge course. Bucktail have a first class camp with lots of new state of the art buildings. One staffer thought it would be a good idea to post the cute training slogans on the mirror over the hand basin. You know the kind; "If it's not for the boys, it's for the birds, and that type of thing. You could read the solgan of the day from the urinal. All went well till one day, when answering a call of nature, I read the slogan of the day. It read: "The future of Scouting is in your hands." If you try and down load the song it is called the Brick Layers song or the sick note.

I'm still unsure about this. But OGE,does bring a few items to light that are worth thinking about. Some time, maybe in the not too distant future we may be looking at new ways to bring in the odd buck. While I am not a great collector of Scouting stuff, I do pay the odd visit to E-bay and only the other day there was a Scout watch with the Scouts all drinking a Coke, pictured on the watch face. I don't know if we paid anything for using that darn cat-Garfield (I didn't like him!!) Or if we got a cut of all the dolls and stuff? I seem to remember a Garfield, in a Cub Scout uniform that could be stuck on a window, it wasn't a full uniform !!! Many of our members are not happy with our uniforms, how would we feel if a company like Columbia, made the uniforms and donated them, as long as the company logo was on the uniform? Some of our Scout Camps are getting a fair amount of money from the NRA, to help offset the cost of the shooting sports that we offer. While they don't have big signs telling what they have done, they are still doing it. (I am anti Garfield, but not anti NRA!!) This does seem to be a win, win for both us and them. Then there is the National Supply. I tend to think that we need to sell it off. We are not in the supply business, and we are not very good at it. Maybe a company like L.L.Bean, along with Barns and Noble, would do a better job. I really do think that as time passes, we are going to see the BSA, going into partnership with a lot more outsiders. Still I hope we never see the Walt Disney Arrow Of Light. Eamonn

Wow!! "cyber-professional" !!! I have a CPA - However a CPS - That is impressive. Eamonn

Have just seen in an E-mail from Gilwell Park, that the English Scout Association has allowed a chain of photographic store to "Sponsor," the photographer Badge. The name of the company will be on the patch. The company is doing all sorts of nice things for both the Association and providing books and the like for the Scouts. I know in the past the BSA,has done deals with soft drink firms, but this seems to be a little more then this. What do you think about the BSA, allowing for profit companies sponsor some Merit Badges? And what Companies would you suggest, for what Merit Badge? I'm not completely sold on the idea. But I don't know how much the company is paying. Or all the details. However, just for the heck of it, I will get the ball rolling with, maybe Crest toothpaste might sponser the Dentistry Merit Badge.

I don't know where I have been. This is the first time that I have seen these. At this first glance, I think that they are really good. Who knows, maybe now we will get a better turn out for the Webelos Den Leader Outdoor Training's. Eamonn

Reading some of what has been said, has me more mixed up then ever, - If that is possible!! Please bear with me if some of this sounds kind of odd. I went through the English education system. (Where the school day started at 8:50 AM) Most of us as we get older, tend to look back on the time that we spend in school, with very fond or very bad memories. I thank the Good Lord,that I can look back with mostly fond memories. That isn't to say it was good it might be that at times, I was able to make the best of a bad job or rise above it. Back then and back there it seems that we as kids were under a constant threat. "Don't do this and you will be in dentetion." Or if you get caught doing this you will be hit. Corporal punisnment was big in them days. While many will state, "It never did us any harm." And in my case it didn't!! It is still wrong. We were expected to: Sit, Listen and Learn. For the most part we took in, what they gave out. Which does work in areas such as math and the like. It does little to help make people think for themselves. If the taking in of information and retaining it, is what education is. Then this does work. If we want people who can think for themselves, we may need to look at alternative ways of getting the message across. I just love the last paragraph of LauraT7's posting, where she states that "Their interest in anything expands" While some of the ideas out there about how to teach our kids are new and untested, I do think that maybe the need to be given a chance. If there is a way to get education so that it falls in line with that last paragraph, we would have such a great system.

Yes Sir, reading every slide is a no no. I also dislike it when I'm given a handout and someone reads that word for word. As far as handouts go it is a real good idea if you can have these pre-punched, with a sheet that acts as a cover. While I do really like the new Wood Badge Course, and have made a promise to follow the Staff Guide.(National wants to see if the course works, and they can't really do that if everyone is doing their own thing!!) I do miss the 30 day meeting. It was nice to see the participants in person and find out what their needs were. I was talking with the Wood Badge coordinator, for Greater Pitt. And he tells me that they had a person show up for the course that was blind. Sad to say the person had not let them know before hand. We do send out all sorts of forms, but not everyone is happy giving out all their information.