Eamonn

Happy Birthday Gags. I had no idea what these card are. But now I know. My son outgrew them in grade school. I remember paying out for the pokemon cards. Then there was the Pokemon games for the Game boy. These were great for him in the car. Now he plays DVD's on his laptop. (This message has been edited by Eamonn)

Hi Pack899 While I am 100% against "Planned Advancement". What I mean by that is where the Troop Leadership have this Grand Plan of who is going to advance and when they are going to do it.(Every boy Will make such and such rank, in so much time !!) The road / Trail to First Class Scout, offers our Scouts the ground work or the foundation to do so many things in Scouting, that I feel we really need to do a good job of getting the message across. However, we must treat each Scout as an individual, they do not have to much along as a group. Very often a boy will join a troop and be very active, but as things change at school, he will become more involved with Sports or music or whatever. He will be just as keen as ever on Scouts and Scouting. He just has so much more things on his plate, and may not advance at the same rate as some others in the troop. Bob White, has outlined the BSA policy. The sad thing is, that so many Adults want to try and add or subtract from something that is very clearly stated. Let each Scout do what he wants to do. Provide a program that is safe and fun and well planned. The Advancements belong to the Scouts, not the leaders or the troop. Advancement is only one of the methods of Scouting. Don't get hung up on it. Eamonn.(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

Hey Bob. That's enough my head is starting to swell. Hey Man Of Stele : "Did you Hear What Bob Said" (Joke.)

It was good to see that he is doing his own packing. At times when I'm running late Her That Must Be Obeyed, will take pity on me and pack for me. I have a heck of a time, I can never find anything. She also never puts in the much needed extras, that us big kids seem to misplace: woggles,Q-Tips, extra cell phone.

Hindsight is 20/20. As I have stated from the get go. What I did was very dumb, very, very dumb. No excuses just plain dumb I would hope that everyone would do everything that they could do, not to get caught in the position that I was. The boy did call home on my cell. His Foster parents didn't seem that interested. Only thing that they wanted to know was when he would be home. Yes I could have waited till someone from his own unit came back for him, but still that would be as someone else has already outlined, a lot of coming and going, with me still up at camp one on one with this lad. No matter where I was, as long as I was there at some later date he could/can say that I acted in an improperly. Then there is me. I have things to do and places to go (I had to attend an Eagle Court of Honor) and then there was my lunch. Her That Must Be Obeyed, does not like it when I keep her from lunch.

Don't know if this will help. Her Who Must Be Obeyed (My Lady Wife.) Has been the Treasurer for the pack that OJ, was in a a Cubscout. The Pack is chartered by the local R.C. church. As for checks there are three names on the check book, two signatures are needed to cash a check. A report is given at each pack committee meeting, with two copies given to the Charter Rep.One for him and one goes to the parish council. The pack does use the Church tax exempt number, mainly for items that are bought from the Scout Service Center, where the number is on file. So far this has seemed to keep eveyone happy. I would think that most Chartered Organizations, would not want to be bothered with cutting checks every month, just before the pack meeting.Or reimbursing Den Leaders, for money spent on crafts.

OneHour I went back and looked over some of your postings. Strange that we have the same taste in music. Strange that you on July 14th were thinking of next years summer camp. Not strange that from where I sit, you seem like a real nice fellow. Everywhere in Scouting we have volunteers who are doing their best for our kids. At times we ALL don't get everything the way it ought to be. Heck even I have been known to get it wrong. As I travel around the district and council, in which I serve. There are times when I'm amazed that the Scouts in some troops even bother to turn up. Whatever is going on at these meetings is so far away from what I see as Scouting. It is sad. What is really sad is that many of these leaders have taken all the trainings. Still even the Scouts in these units are at times exposed to what Scouting is all about, even if it is only at a district, council or national event. I would put it to you, that you have so much to offer the young people that we serve.That no matter what has happened there is a place for a person like you in Scouting. And Scouting and the youth will be all the better for you being in the program. As the Rolling Stones sing "Time is on my side, oh, yes it is...."

A Scout in foster care is left at camp without a ride home. Even though he is aware that he is breaking the rules, a leader gives the Scout a ride home in his car.(More details are in a posting: Twenty Lashes With A Wet Wood Badge.) How do you deal with the Leader?

Wingnut If that is the case I'm really glad that I'm the District Chairman. You do bring up a very good and very valid point.(Not the one about my disissal, which I hope would be a Troop Committee decision, if I were a member of a Troop ?) Yes we do the Scouts a dis-service when we don't keep wirhin the rules. You are so right, it does confuse things. Sad to hear that you are glad that I'm not in the unit that you serve. I think that I have a lot to offer. How about if I start a poll and see how many others would have done the same thing, knowing that it was wrong? Anyway welcome to the forum, Even if you don't want me as a leader in your unit, I hope we can still be pals in the forum. Welcome

Ok- The Lemmings. There was an anti-smoking ad that showed these cute little ctitters diving off a cliff. While I have never met one, I have never met one that I didn't like. As for the ad it didn't work, - I'm still puffing away. Dave. Sad to hear that you went through all that. But: "Can You Hear Me Now?" "Can You Hear Me Now?" I bet you are a sprint man.

Don't these postings make you want to be a Scout again? Laura think about investing in a Zippo, you can relight the used matches. At the last Jamboree I took a large plastic bucket with a tight fitting lid, for each Scout. The idea was that they would not be in camp very much, so they could use it for storage and keep things dry or just keep the smelly stuff in?? As it happened we didn't get the buckets to transport the gray water to the waste disposal. We had extras so we were able to share them with the Troops camped near us. They also make great seats and the lids are giant frisbees - Just don't let it hit you - It hurts.

Bob White, While I agree with what you have posted.I have yet to see any Organizational Chart,issued by the BSA, that shows it that way. As to if I think that the BSA,is anti gay? I have no idea what "Anti" means. While we do not allow avowed homosexuals as members. To the best of my knowledge, we respect that this is a life style that they have opted to follow. We do not make any judgement on it, other then we do not think that this is a good role model for our members. I like to think that we are more Pro God, then pro religion. Over the years I have had many boys, who did not belong to any religion or sect. However they did believe that there was a God or a Supreme Being. It used to be back in England that Scout Leaders were encouraged to bring them to church with them. There are many Chartered Organizations, that are taking a much firmer stance on both of these issues. They are entitled to do so. But they are not the BSA.

Hey Dave Did they teach you that at "Charm School"? Of course, with all the fuss we make about the White Cliffs of Dover, this could well just be a Brit. thing. Just to change the subject for half a min. Do professional Scouts, have a stock option with the McDonalds Corp? They do seem to spent a lot of time there. Or is it: Police is to donuts as DE. is to .....?

I was taking the troop from London to camp in Holland. I took all the passports from the boys to make sure that they wouldn't lose them. The vans with all the equipment in, were going by road and boat. 64 Scouts and yours truly were going via Underground and rail. Trying to get 70 people on an underground train during rush hour in London, is not a lot of fun. Leaving the case with passports on the train is less fun. However a call to the London Transport Police, got the case back and we made the boat. Only after this London Transport Policeman, who was also a District Commissioner, gave me a "Good Talking too" I was only 22 at the time. A few weeks back, OJ, was at a development weekend for JLTC, I was also at the camp for a development for Wood Badge. We had not gone up to camp at the same time.(Me on Fri and him on Sat.) I was to bring him home, half way home he called me on my cell !!! Her That Must Be Obeyed, was not very happy. " Her poor baby"

Dan, You have hit the nail on the head. We have a great program, that does work. If we let it. Nearly all the people that I have met that wear a Scout uniform are the salt of the earth. Spending time and working for the good of the Kids, is more then rewarding. Why do we then work so hard on messing it up ? I can't help thinking about the Lemmings!!

Yes Paul was knighted by H.M. The Queen in 1996, for his services to music. I don't know how formal it is down under, but back in the olde country we used to call; Teachers: Were Mr. Mrs. Or Dr. Followed only by their last name, Mr. Jones. Doctors were just Dr. Jones Priests were Father Jones, most didn't use a first name. Nuns were Sister. Normally with two first names. I remember Sister Mary Matthew. I swear to this day that Lady soaked her hands in vinegar. Our school uniform was shorts, both winter and summer, and if Sister was unhappy with you she was prone to give you a slap on the bare leg. But you ought to have seen her play soccer. Many Scoutmasters (Scout Leaders after 1969) Were called Skip or skipper. Nothing else just Skip. I'm not sure if this was left over from the navy. When dealing with some one with a title, it was normal to use the title till they told you not to. We were informed when we went to the St Georges Day parade at Winsor for Queens Scouts, that if the Queen spoke to us we were to address her as Mam as in jam. Over this side of pond there seems to be a real mix up of who to call what. I call my Doctor, Priest and Attorney by their first name. OJ, calls his Scoutmaster, by his first name, yet they have two ASM's who go by Mr. His teachers are Mr. Yet his Coach is Coach Jones. This might be due to the importance that is placed on sports. Not so long back our teachers ratified a new contract. But that same week the school board named a new football coach. The new football coach was the headline in the local paper.

I was the Asst.District Commissioner Cub Scouts, when Pam our DE,started working for our Council. Things were in a real mess. The District Chairman, had moved to the Burgh, and really didn't have his heart in the job. The District Commissioner, was really into Scouting, she was everywhere; on staff for Cub Scout Wood Badges, working as a COPE director at some other council camp site. Everywhere, but not here. The Board was looking into doing away with Braddock Trail District. We were then the smallest district, we were then not meeting any of our goals. Things were not good. No other district had ever had a female DE. Braddock Trail, wasn't so sure at that time that we wanted one, Other then having a son, who was/is an Eagle Scout, Pam was brand new to Scouting. Within months of taking the job, the then Field Director quit. The then Scout Exec. Learned his management skills during the Spanish inquisition, and thought Ken Blanchard, did an outstanding job on the Civil War documentary on PBS. Changes were made, we got a new key 3. I was "Promoted" to District Commissioner, and we enrolled a new Chairman. Pam took all the training, She came back telling me that it made her feel old, but it was great. We are no longer the smallest district. We have earned Quality District five years in a row. Over the years she has introduced me to some of the guys that trained her, these fellows have yet to not get me anything that I have ever asked for. Yes there have been times when I have been on my high horse and Vented at them and they have lent me an ear and given me a much needed kick in the pants. They have come to our Council and spent time helping us to gain a better outlook of the program. "Charm School," does seem to be very itense. But it helped to save Braddock Trail. Sad thing is that Pam has put her name on the list for promotion. Her first Grandchild is coming into the world next month, and they live out west. When this or if this happens, I will not only lose a great DE, but I will lose my phone buddy. No matter where she ends up we have shared so much stuff, not only Scouting stuff, that she will always be a very near and dear friend. Now Dave, we have this Field Director that must have missed a few classes, can we send him back to do it again?? Eamonn

I was the Asst.District Commissioner Cub Scouts, when Pam our DE,started working for our Council. Things were in a real mess. The District Chairman, had moved to the Burgh, and really didn't have his heart in the job. The District Commissioner, was really into Scouting, she was everywhere; on staff for Cub Scout Wood Badges, working as a COPE director at some other council camp site. Everywhere, but not here. The Board was looking into doing away with Braddock Trail District. We were then the smallest district, we were then not meeting any of our goals. Things were not good. No other district had ever had a female DE. Braddock Trail, wasn't so sure at that time that we wanted one, Other then having a son, who was/is an Eagle Scout, Pam was brand new to Scouting. Within months of taking the job, the then Field Director quit. The then Scout Exec. Learned his management skills during the Spanish inquisition, and thought Ken Blanchard, did an outstanding job on the Civil War documentary on PBS. Changes were made, we got a new key 3. I was "Promoted" to District Commissioner, and we enrolled a new Chairman. Pam took all the training, She came back telling me that it made her feel old, but it was great. We are no longer the smallest district. We have earned Quality District five years in a row. Over the years she has introduced me to some of the guys that trained her, these fellows have yet to not get me anything that I have ever asked for. Yes there have been times when I have been on my high horse and Vented at them and they have lent me an ear and given me a much needed kick in the pants. They have come to our Council and spent time helping us to gain a better outlook of the program. "Charm School," does seem to be very itense. But it helped to save Braddock Trail. Sad thing is that Pam has put her name on the list for promotion. Her first Grandchild is coming into the world next month, and they live out west. When this or if this happens, I will not only lose a great DE, but I will lose my phone buddy. No matter where she ends up we have shared so much stuff, not only Scouting stuff, that she will always be a very near and dear friend. Now Dave, we have this Field Director that must have missed a few classes, can we send him back to do it again?? Eamonn

Dan, we call this a piddlelater. I'm not sure if you can use the term anymore. Hey Ed, why did they build it "IN" the latrine? (Joke) Was it peeing down outside ? With that A good night to all. Ed is not that far away, he might be bigger then me.

You know ow them Brits drop dare H's

I'm with Bob on this one. Yes I can see how Scouting can put a strain on a marriage. But then so can any other hobby,that someone really gets into. I have friends that are really into golf. They play almost every day, go all over the country, spending weeks away from home. I have others that spend all sorts of money to go on hunts. One guy has just paid $6000.00 to go hunt a turkey in Texas. The airfare is on top of that. Many of these guys are away for weeks at a time. So why would six days with the Scouts be any different? Yes there are times when, Her That Must Be Obeyed, is a little unhappy about the time that spend Scouting.But we work it out.

For most BSA training I copy or download the syllabus, then glue it to index cards that have two holes punched in them and I use ring binders. I used to use one, but have found two works better for me. I then highlight the "Important Bits" in one color. The bits that I have opted to write on a flip chart are done in another color, and then there are dots to remind me to turn the page. With so many of the trainings now on disk, you can spent an entire evening play with this. It does ensure that you know what is in the syllabus.

Have not long returned home from work. Her that Must Be Obeyed, had been adding the new pathes to OJ's MB sash. I gave it the once over, counted the number of pathes.Then came across this posting. When he joined the pack, I somehow, someway ended up being Cubmaster. We both enjoyed Cubbing a lot. I became involved with the district, but stayed on with the pack. While this kind of worked, I found that when we went to do something. I was busy running it and he was being farmed out. When it came time to cross over, he chose the troop. The Scoutmaster is/was a good friend of mine and ran a tight ship. Sad to say within the year he found a better job, and was no longer able to remain as Scoutmaster. The church found a Scoutmaster, who turned the troop into a Merit Badge mill. There I was, the District Commissioner. My son is bringing home all these Merit Badges, that really have no merit whatsoever. I talked to the Scoutmaster, I talked to everyone.But nothing changed. Then about two years ago OJ, said that he wanted to change troops. When I asked him why? He said that he knew that he couldn't do the things that I did, knots and stuff and that Mr.----- was just handing out the merit badges. So he and four of his friends transfered to another troop. Yes there are still a bunch of "Unearned" patches on the sash. But the fact that he made up his mind that this was not the way to play the game. The fact that he knows that some of these are just bits of cloth, with no real meaning. Is a lesson in it self. This year at Summer camp he opted to "Redo" two of the merit badges that he thought were given to him. While there is a lot of things wrong with what has gone on. If we are trying to help kids learn to make ethical decisions. Something is Working.

I just want to check this out. I thought that MBC, did fill out an application form and needed to submit SSN. I hope that this is the case. If not I will have one very unhappy Advancement Committee. Please tell me that I'm right. Or provide a recipe for old crow.

It's Summer. Wednesday Night. Parents Night at camp. This week I took all of the District FOS Captains up to camp for supper. My thinking being that they work hard and they ought to see where the money is going. I ended up with 30. They seemed to enjoy the camp food, along with the tour of the camp. The new building and all the things that were going on. To some this was all new. A few had not been to camp for many years, in some cases not since they were in the program. The final thing was the OA tap out /call out. All real neato stuff. Then it happened two little guys dressed in really smart full uniforms got tapped. Even from where I was standing you could see the look of sheer joy on their faces. However they were both wearing OA sashes. We are a small council, so most of the adult leaders know who I am. Within minutes there was a handful of leaders around me telling me that these boys were wearing sashes, and making a big fuss about it. I have my FOS party in tow. These Leaders want to know what I'm going to do about it !! I am a lodge member, but not an officer. I tell them that they are right, someone has not played by the rules and they ought not be wearing the sashes until they complete their Ordeal. Still it is not the boys fault. They had there own troop leaders there and maybe someone from the Lodge might want to at the right time have a word. After all this is not / was not a hanging offense. The boys were not from our district. As it so happened one of the boys mothers was within earshot. She thanked me for whatI had done which was not very much. But she was not happy to see Adult Scoutmasters acting in such a way. This kind of put me on the spot. While there is a lot to be said for being right. There is also a right way of going about it. Here we have two fine looking young Lads, both as proud as peacocks. Yes they were given the the wrong advise. But they are not to blame. I do hope that when we see something that may be wrong. We do as I tell OJ, my son; "STAR" Stop Think Act Reflect.