Eamonn

Our district does not allow "Troop Only" Counselors. As part of my job, as District Chair. I trying to do everything possible to bring the community into Scouting, and Scouting into the community. I agree whole heartedly with scoutldr.

Yes I do mean the Wood Badge Course !!!!

In planning the course that our council is hosting later this year,NE-IV-153. I tried to find indoor accommodations, for the first three days.Sad to say we can't manage that. I went to church camps and colleges, but all were out of our price range. One church camp wanted $75.00 for a camp fire. So we are holding the first three days at our council camp, using the dining hall and kitchen there. Even doing it this way, we still have to charge $200.00 per person. Of course the bad thing is that for the following three days, we are going back to the same place, only the participants are bringing their own tents and for the most part cooking in patrols. How much did you pay to attend the course ? If we had not used the council site, we would have been over the $300.00 Any ideas how we could have done this another way? Thanks. Eamonn

scoutldr. You bring up a lot of good points. While there is prove that something was not working : Boys coming home from summer camp with Family Life merit badge, with no prep done before. We as the District Committee, and the District Advancement Committee have the responsibility to approve and review the District Merit Badge List. It was the feeling of the Advanccement Committee to set the five badge limit, which is also the limit set by the council Advancement Committee. We as a district, went one step further, adding that the appiontment was only good for one year and had to be renewed annualy. Just as an Adult Leader is, when the unit recharters. While we can not dwell in a negative past or control, what was done. We do want to move towards a positive future. I want the Scouts in my district to have a list that is up to date. Where the people on it are knowledgeable about the subject that they are the Counselor for and will follow the requirements to the letter. In discussions that we had, we thought that it would be great if more boys went "Out Of Troop" in order to work on a merit badge. While we could do nothing to ensure that this would happen. It was our feeling that we would be giving the Scout, more Life Skills, if he had to make an appiontment with someone, that he didn't really know, and present or work with that "New" person. In my own humble opinion,I wish that there was as much effort put into the requirements of reaching the rank of First Class, as these units put into churning out meaningless Merit Badges. To prove my point,My wife has a very good friend, who has two sons in one of these Troops, One of them phoned the ASM, asking if he could do the Dog Care merit badge, the boy had spent some time doing all the paperwork. The ASM, answered the phone, asked the boy if he had a dog.The boy said yes. Bring the Card over and I'll sign it. The mother, is also a Merit Badge Couselor for the Dog Care Merit Badge, but didn't want to show any favoritism. Needless to say she got me on the phone, at my office, and was not very happy.

No one will ever know, how much pain this question has caused. Our District Merit Badge List, was a stinker. It had not been up-dated for many many years. In fact when I called the first two names on the list, I found out that these people were dead and in the ground. We had one Assistant Scoutmaster who was the counselor for no less then 42 Merit Badges. Now I am aware that there are some very gifted people out there but 42 ?? We looked at the National policy, and found that there is no limit, and yes you can be the Merit Badge Counselor for your own son. Most of the Scouts who attend Summer Camp at Camp Conestoga, come home with 4 or 5 Merit Badges, but we had two troops that after summer camp had Scouts with over twenty. Guess who one of the Assistant Scoutmasters was ? We as a Council will no longer approve a Merit Badge Counselor for more then five Merit Badges. As we have the right to approve or not approve, we are within the guidelines.

Thanks Gang. I will use some of these ideas in our next District Camporee. It is a PAW (Patrol Activity Weekend) I have had a super neat patch made in the shape of a paw. Had meetings with the SPLs at two of our Round Tables, where there was a presentation on Venturing, which they sat in on. At the same time we looked at the full family of Scouting. I did have the ok, from my District Activities Chair.And The Commissioner Staff. Have to admit to being more then a little pleased with myself - Even if that does seem a little smug.

Yes it is sad. But for a great number of Scouts, it just isn't cool, to let the world know that you are a Scout. Not so long back, I sat in on an Eagle Board of Review. That night there were two boys, from different troops, but both from the same school and our town of less then 5000, neither knew that the other was a Scout. A lot of the problem is that what is cool today, might not be cool next week. I only have to look at the ever changing posters on the bedroom wall of my son, and ask what happened to the picture of so and so to hear the "Oh Dad, that was a long time ago." I like to think that "Our Boys" remain in the program because they really enjoy it, even at the cost of some leg pulling and teasing at school, from the non-scouts. We adults at every level need to do a better job of marketing our program. We need to send more stuff to the media, even if it is only the local newspaper, photos of "Our Boys" in action.

As a family, we just have never had time to go door to door, but I have had a great deal of success, when I owned my own business having my suppliers support Scouting by buying it by the case. Yes at that time my son was the hero, but I think everyone knew what was going on. In our district every unit now sells popcorn, they are aware of how vital it is to the life of the council. I have a friend with no kids, who is a beer salesman, a few years back he took five cases to give out as gifts to his customers, mainly small bar owners, a lot of them used it as a freebe on the bar and just loved it. His boss then started to give it to all his sales staff, and some of the bar owners wanted to buy it. This year we sold 98 cases. The council has a drawing with your name going in the hat for every five boxes you sell, the prize is a trip to Disney. We have never won.

johnmbowen: You are so right when you say teach. We try very hard to do so using Age Approriate activities. Cub Scouts need to think what they are doing is cool, and this in time and age can be moved on to the next step.

Scouts and Scouting have always been very important to me, and even as a young boy Scouts was "My Thing" For three years I coached soccer, a super game which I love to watch, play and talk about. At the same time I was also a Cubmaster. Many a time a boy would come to me and say that he had to leave early or come late to the Cub Scout meeting,due to soccer, but not once did a boy come and say, that he had to leave soccer early or late due to a Scout meeting. Some people will complain about the cost of a Scout uniform and the cost of Scouting. But think nothing of buying soccer boots that cost over $100.00 And yes kids feet grow too. However, we must never lose sight of our mission. Scouting is here for all the boys, and ought to be here when they need / want it. Boys like hops -scout, can work it out, others will, but it may take time. Leaders like evmori, will help them. Dan, the BSA, is NEVER BETTER OFF, EVEN WHEN WE LOSE ONE BOY.(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

I had to stop by the Service Center, this afternoon. While I was there I found out that the DE, from the "Affluent area", had given her notice and was hoping to start a new career in real estate. Have to admit to feeling a bit sad, she was with us for four and a half years. When I spoke with her she said that I knew it was coming !! Well I didn't. We are a small council, but not that small. She wasn't from my district. It is a real shame, not only for her, but also for Scouting, all the time and money that was spent on training, is now gone, and we start all over again unless we hire from within. I pull all of our DEs legs about wearing the "Darth Vader" patch. Strange thing is that the chap who was the DE, for that district moved up to another council, was unhappy so he quit,but is still in Scouting as a Council Training Chair. not that far from us. These are strange times. Eamonn

Silver-Shark: Your Site is One Of The Best That I Have Seen. A Lot Of Westmoreland Fayetteers ??? Are Less Then Happy With Ours.

What a great Web Site. I'm E-mailing our Scout Exec. A link. Maybe he will take the hint. Some super ideas for making a few bucks. I love the idea of the Supermarket and the Cookout, not just cash, but great marketing. The big chain in our area is Giant Eagle, this is getting better and better. Many Thanks.

Some years back when I was in "Cubbing" We had the Cub Scouts, make a small first aid kit, in the canister that a 35mm Film comes in, two small holes and a curtain ring, allowed it to be used as a woggle. Nothing very high tech, in it : A couple of band aids, a quarter (Make that two now) A safety pin. Paper with the Boys name and phone number, along with the leaders phone number. The Cub Scouts thought it was cool. It came from a book, but I can't remember which one. Maybe someone else can help with my poor memory.

$60,000 ? How well insured is your Boss ? (Joke !!) We Have: Golf Outings (Lots !!) Two Council Dinners @ $150.00 A plate (Yes there is a cash bar. No Scouts in sight.) A Trap Shoot. District Outstanding Citizen Dinner ($75.00 A plate) Donate $100.00 for the CSP, with the Scout Law of the year on it) Have done a deal with Seven Springs Ski resort they are holding a "Comic Night" for the Council. The two dinners do well, don't have the numbers at hand but off the top of my head it is close to $120,000. Trap Shoot is new, only year 2 or 3, but growing, but brings in approx $20,000. We are also very lucky to have Mr Eberly.who is a great friend of the Council, and we have named the Scout and Cub Scout Camp the Eberly Reservation, God Bless him.

Have just returned from a council FOS meeting. Sad to say things are not looking good. While the Assistant Scout Exec, did his best to paint a rosy picture and pat everyone on the back. The real picture is that we are down about 20% as a council. I work for a very large company, and due to a glitch, my department was charged with some of the expenses from another, but while the glitch was being found, things were very tense. It just didn't seem that way tonight. We as a district, and myself as someone who likes to get the job done and move on, take these goals to heart. At this time we have made our District goal, are close to the community goal (86%) but not making the family goal. Plans are in hand to "Make up the difference" by enlarging the amount from the district and community. History shows that thanks to some outstanding community captains, we do a better then fair job. In the past the key 3 have set the goals, but this year without any discussion, the Scout Exec.rewrote them. We are the smallest district, and yet there is only $250.00 difference, between us and a district that is almost twice our size and in a more affluent area. Who are miles away from reaching any goal. When I mentioned this and said that these goals ought to be done on membership. This was shot down. The reason given, was that we can do it !! How do other councils set district FOS goals ?? And am I wrong in thinking that any DE, who has been on the job for a while (All of our DE's are senior DE's) who is not doing everything that can be done to meet these goals, ought to be in fear of what ?? Please do not for a minute think that I'm trying to get anyone fired, or have a thing about the council needing the money. I do think that we need to find some fair way of setting the goals. How the money is spent? Could be the topic for another thread, but it's late. Eamonn

Wow. I now feel utterly inadequate. Did anyone mention a mirror ? Not very high tech - but useful.

I think that evmori, has hit the nail on the head.

Our Council, is the host Council for our Wood Badge cluster course, which is to be held in September and October, this year. With myself as the Scoutmaster. This week we managed to get past the magic number, and now have enough deposits paid, that it really looks as if this is going to happen. I don't think that I have been as happy since the birth of my son. Of course the Big thing now is to ensure that in approx 28 months time, there will be a whole lot of people who are just as thrilled as you are now. Over the years, I have got a lot out of Wood Badge, met a great number of really great people, and had more fun then you can swing a stick at. Everytime, I put my beads over my head, I think back to those times. And just as someone once told me to smile before answering the phone, taking that little bit of time, does empower me to go out and really play this game. Eamonn

Much as I hate to have to admit it, there was a time when I was a young leader, when I went out of my way to find the loop holes, and play all the angles. I'm not sure if coming from a big city (London) had anything to do with this. But I had an ego as big as the Great Outdoors. Needless to say I never looked at what I was doing as cheating, but I sure as heck bent the rules, as much as they could be bent. I can now say with hindsight, that I never gave a thought to the example that I was setting, in fact at that time I was in Scouting for one person and one person only - Me. While I never went as far as is stated in the examples, I did make sure if it was a patrol event, that we had a made - up patrol that would win, the others were there just in preperation for next years event. The boys in the Troop, would get upset and yes there were boys crying, when we didn't win. It took me a long time to learn the idea of true leadership and I'm still working on servant leadership. To this day I remain very goal oriented, and still like to be on the winning team. But thanks to Scouting and my religion, I now try to do my best to lead by helping others, where as I used to use them. Still it took a long time to get there, and I'm indebted to a lot of people who stuck with me and didn't give up. They were true leaders.

Welcome to Troop 1. It is a shame that you are not a Bear or a Cuckoo.

It seems to me, and this is just my opinion. The BSA rules on Liquid Fuels, are very clear. If there is a rule in your council, that you don't understand or for some reason do not agree with, talk with whoever is in charge of that committee. With the Fuel question, ask your district camping chair. to find out why you can't use Liquid Fuels at your council camp. After making a finding, if you still do not like the answer, you can again go through the proper committees to try and see if it can be changed. You may not win, but you will have a better understanding of why the rule is in place. Our council runs a really nice camp in Somerset Pa. A typical BSA, camp. For some time there has been a move to add a high rope COPE course. Something that I think would be great for the older Scouts. However, the camp is within a State Park, and while the council is prepared to cover the liability for Scout use. We would have no way of preventing non-Scout use. When we were given the " Liability Line ?" We moved our question from the camping committee, to the properties committee, they went to Omaha Mutual, our insurance carrier. After much dialogue, the properties committee (Which has a district rep. on it) still said that it was not to be, due to the liability. While, the main focus of any unit leader ought to be leading his / her unit, one way to understand what and why things are going on, is to get involved. Maybe in a few years, there will be a different committee, who will be willing to look at things in a different light. One thing that we have to remember is that We are the District, and We are the Council and yes We are the National Council, it too is made up of people just like you and me. At the start of each day we all put our socks on, one at a time. Even those who might stay at the Holiday Inn or where ever.

Some Great Stuff Here. Thanks. Eamonn

I have given some thought to some of the things that you said, and like it or not anyone who presents a BSA, is to follow the syllabus. There is no shame in saying "I don't know." Or "I will look that up and get back to you." In cases where the BSA rules and regulations are not clear, there is always the Scout Exec. You might want to get a copy of: Rules And Regulations of the Boy Scouts Of America (57-492)and a copy of Charter and Bylaws Of The Boy Scouts Of America(57-491) If you go to Article VII. Youth Members General Classifications. Section 1. You will find in Clause 1. A description of the requirements to be an active youth member. It does not mention a word about a uniform.

Much as I hate to admit it, our District Camporees, have become in the most part, very boring. While one or two have been out of this world, and the boys really enjoyed them, numbers are down and at my meetings with the Senior Patrol Leaders, they have let me have it with both barrels. They, and I have to agree, do not want to see yet another, build a fire and burn through the string race, or build and race a stretcher activity. Please, Please, let me know what was the best activity that your Scouts really enjoyed and still rave about, that was done at a District or Council Camporee. Hopefully, I can present these ideas to my bunch, and get them off my back. Thanks, Eamonn