Eamonn

By far the best DE we ever had serve in the Council I'm in was a female. Her only real Scouting experience was that her son had been through Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts ending up as an Eagle Scout. What made her the best? 1/ She knew from the get go that she didn't have the hands on Scouting experiences. So she was cleaver enough to surround herself with people who had the know how and would get the job done. 2/ She was a first class administrator. She didn't allow things to pile up on her desk and was able to keep on top of things. 3/ She kept her word. When she said that she was going to do something, she did it. 4/ She was a Local. This meant that she knew the area and knew the people. This was great when it came to the community FOS and knowing people in the community that were willing to help and would do what was asked. 5/ She was very interested in the volunteers and what was going on with them both inside and outside of Scouting. Little things like a get well card or a phone call helped make the volunteers feel that she wasn't just using them to make her look good. 6/ She was very goal oriented. She seen what the goals were, was able and willing to share them and had a great way of making people feel that they needed to be part of reaching these goals. 7/ At times she played "Good Cop" while making her bosses seem like the "Bad Cops". 8/ She was (And still is!) A very warm and very likable person. Even though she is a very classy Lady (As a DE she still drove her Mercedes) She was able to communicate at every level with all the different people in the area. She knew that little things mean a lot and was willing to go the extra mile to do these little things. This didn't mean that she was a push over. She could be tough when the situation needed her to be. She pushed the Council Service Center staff to do their job, ensuring that reports were sent out to people who needed them, minutes of meetings were ready and they did what they were supposed to do. Ea.

"So, can yeh?" Nope! But... I'm kinda happy to go along with what NJCubScouter posted. A lot of what isn't acceptable isn't written down as something that might be termed a rule but the way I see it we don't need a big book of rules. Ea

I'm not so sure that we want balanced news. Many of us tend to, in whatever form it might be in (Print, TV, Radio. Get the news that slants the way we think it should. I get a little hot under the collar whenever I happen to be channel surfing and stop at Fox News. But I have to admit that at times even I find NPR Radio a little bit unfairly biased, the other way. The local newspapers where I live are all owned and published by a family which is known to be very right wing. (Great supporters of the BSA.) I do like the BBC World Service (Not so much BBC America.) I also tend to look at what other countries post on their web sites about world news in the papers from that country. Used to like US News and World Reports but sadly that is now gone. Ea.

Looks like the Irish government has little choice but to accept a bailout from the EU, along with a few billion pounds from the British government. I'm not an economist, but I have never really been able to work out why the Irish went with the euro in the first place. I of course can see the convenience of having all the EU members using a single currency. But when Ireland seen that the UK, who is its biggest trading partner decided not to go with the euro, why the heck did it go with the euro? I was in Ireland a few weeks back and things didn't look good. The Banks there, much like the Banks here in the USA made some really dumb choices. I think in part because they bought into the idea that "We've never had it so good." Land and property prices which had soared sky high are falling and are expected to keep falling. Again much like as we have seen here in parts of the USA. Unemployment is already at over 13%. With no sign of that falling either. Things just don't look good for Ireland or the euro. The euro is going to see more problems what with the messes that Spain, Greece and Portugal are in. I might not be the brightest light on the Christmas tree, but something somewhere just isn't working and I kinda think the euro is partially to blame. Eamonn

"I think most of the trained and experienced Scouters have at least some level of aversion to "merit badge classes" as being a generally weak thing to do. Yah, sure, we allow for it sometimes at camp, but even there we recognize it's a weakening of both the spirit and intent of the program." Kinda having a bit of a hard time with bits of this. I have in the past ranted on about my strong dislike about Merit Badge classes. I have visited Troops where the entire Troop is either as a whole or broken down into different groups to work on the badge or badges of the week. - This just seems wrong to me. But having said that I do believe that a lot of the skills that we pass on do need instruction. While a lot of the time this instruction is done one on one, very often it can be done in a small group. When you take a small group of Lads who want to find out about the joys of canoeing and you teach them the "J" stroke. Is this a class? When I have a couple of Sea Scouts plotting a course and I'm watching over them is that a class? My point is that sometimes classes are not all bad. Ea.

Having owned a bar for many years, I seen a lot of fake ID's. Mainly fake Pa Driving licenses used by underage kids to try and buy alcohol. If a young person aged 19 or 20 can obtain a great looking fake? I'll bet any group who is involved with illegal activities would have no problem. As a Resident Alien, I carry my "Green Card". It is 26 years old and has never been updated. The only times I'm ever asked for it is when I'm trying to come back home to the USA after being abroad. I also carry two State issued cards that identify me as " A Essential State Worker" with emergency clearance. This has my biometrics embedded in it and is needed for me to get into any of our State Correctional Facilities. Sad thing is that the company who made all the biometric equipment has gone under. So while what we have does work for now, it's only a matter of time till it will all need replaced. Which thanks to the tough economic times we are facing might take a little while. When it comes to immigration reform. I don't see that carrying or not carrying a little card is going to make that big of a difference. I'm 100% OK with the USA doing all it can to secure the boarders. For me that only makes sense. I'm also fine with ensuring that people who come in on a temporary visa are kept tabs on and leave when they should. My problem lies with what to do with the people who have been here for years and have had children here in the USA. The kids know nothing about where their parents come from. My son is an American, he was born here, educated here and even though he has visited the UK and knows a little about what life is like in the UK, sees the UK as a nice place to visit, but he sure as heck doesn't ever want to live there. My feelings are that like it or not the only fair way to set about any real immigration reform starts with some sort of amnesty for the people who are already here. The guidelines about this would of course need to be worked out. Ea.

". But he misses out on watching his boys imitate him" You lost me. I really do not worry about advancement. In fact more often than not Scouts have to hound me to get whatever it is that needs signed, signed. Or I make a promise to myself to get things up-dated. Most of the time we are too busy doing other stuff to worry about things like records and the like. Of course when asked I do my very best to do what is needed. I have never seen the need for anyone else to get involved. This talk about "Advancement Chairs" and "Eagle Advisor's" Is really lost on me. I know the Scouts, they know me. We have a relationship which allows me to know their strengths and their weaknesses. I have organized District events where I have seen Scouts who should know stuff hang back and hide from doing things because they are embarrassed about not being able to join in. This is a real shame and I see it as very much a disservice to the Lad. Not to mention a really bad example. To date no Scout, no matter what rank who has joined the Ship has been able to tie the basic knots and most have no idea what to do with a map and a compass. Add to this that what they can cook leaves a lot to be desired and I wonder what the Troops in the area where I live spend their time doing. Sure I'm very much aware that I'm fast becoming an old relic. But without basic skills what real adventures and challenges can these Scouts really do? Then when they can't be involved in the things that do really challenge them and can't participate in the adventures they quit and we wonder why? Ea.

Much as I hate to come off sounding in any way harsh. I kinda get a little .... Shall we say nervous when someone starts asking for BSA references and guidelines. It most times means that someone is not very happy and they want to give the person who is the cause of this unhappiness a good whack along the side of the head with these references and guidelines. I'm very happy to go along with what John-in-KC posts. Some little while back I thought he was wrong (And I was right!) But when I looked into it all a bit deeper. He was right. (Which of course meant that I wasn't!) I also tend to agree with what I think Beavah might have being getting at. Advancement is something that should occur almost naturally in a unit with half decent program. It should never be the driving force of the program. Having said that I do believe that units should trust the adults that they have selected to lead. Maybe one of the ASM's might not be as tough as maybe I might be when it comes to testing a Lad. But again with a decent program, most of the stuff is going to be used time and time again and hopefully will become something that is just known. Kinda like tying your shoelaces! If I were made king of the BSA. I would maybe for a minute think about not allowing Scouts to complete MB's in house. But when I think that our role is to help and support the Scouts, I'd see this as maybe placing hurdles in their path. Again it comes down to a matter of trust. We either choose to trust the people we select or we admit that we messed up and shouldn't have selected them in the first place. The Eagle Scout project book. Over the years, I've seen the really nice, the good and the really bad. The really bad are just that. When I have been asked to cover for the District Advancement guy and a Lad has brought his project to be approved and the book is unreadable. I have in as nice a way as possible explained that this is a Leadership Service Project and communication is a leadership skill, which isn't shown by the way he is communicating in the book. I'm happy that the book can now be filled in on a computer. Like it or not a penmanship is fast becoming a lost art and for a good many Lads, they haven't used a pen for a very long time. We did have a District Advancement Chair who wanted these books to look something like the book of Kells. However the District Chairman took him out for a drink and between us we came up with some less strict guidelines that he could live with and I thought were a little more kid friendly. Lastly, as a parent I knew that I always had the option of moving my son to another Troop. He did in fact change Troops. But that was all on him. I hope that before I would give any serious thought to moving my son. I would stop and think about all the time and hard work the adult leaders in the Troop have invested in him. Sure things might not be perfect and there might be things that get up my nose. Still these unpaid volunteers, week in and week out are willing to take the time to work with my kid, who Lord knows has at times gone through stages that would try the patience of the best of Saints. Pulling my son out? To me would be the worst kind of insult. If becoming an Eagle Scout is that very important? (And I'm not sold that it is.) It's worth remembering that from the time a Lad joins until he ages out is a very long time and there really isn't any kind of a rush. Ea.

I really don't mean to hijack the thread. But... I just recently (Within about the last year.) Joined the HNT (Hostage Negotiation Team) Where I work. Hostage? While I am being trained to do my bit as a team member if and when a hostage situation situation should pop up. But so far the things I have had to deal with have more to do with guys doing something stupid and backing themselves into a no win situation. I try my best to "Talk them down" before other less friendly action is taken. When I interviewed to join the team I was asked how I would feel if I was asked to maybe talk someone to a spot where our rifle team could get a clear shot and maybe kill the hostage taker? I had a real hard time with this one. I have never killed anyone or anything more than the odd fly in my life. I did answer the question by saying that if this was the only way to ensure the safety of the hostages I felt sure that I wouldn't have a problem. I do in fact feel that I could and would do so if ordered. But I'm sure that I might have some sleepless nights after. Maybe? Rather than dwelling on making mistakes it might be better to dwell on ways to avoid them? I have used STAR a lot with my son and with Scouts. S = Stop T = Think A = Act R = Reflect. Ea.

Not sure if this is a good fit or not? There once was a very wise old American Indian Chief. Well known for his great wisdom. A young Brave thought that he would put this wise man to the test. He got a young live bird and hid it behind his back. Went to the Chief and asked "What do I have behind my back?" The Chief was able to see the feathers falling from the bird. So he answered "A bird." The young Brave thought that he would now be able to catch the wise Chief by asking if the bird was dead or alive. Knowing that if he said alive all he had to do was squeeze his fist and kill the bird. So he asked the Chief "Is the bird dead or alive?" The wise Chief looked him in the eye and said "The future my son lies in your hands" Ea.

I have been around for a while. So far I've never met a Lad who joined Scouts because he felt that he was in need of a character overhaul. Most join to have fun. Those who don't as a rule don't stay and when what we offer stops being fun a good many will quit. Exactly what fun is? Can at times be hard to explain. Fun isn't something that is done at the expense of others. But I'll own up to at times, what might be called playful teasing and leg pulling. Of course there is some risk involved in this and when it gets out of hand it can become something that is seen as hazing or bullying. There is some element of risk in a lot of what we do. If we were to take all the risk out of everything we might have a hard time offering a program that is challenging and fun. I have had the misfortune to be around people who seem to want to make a big deal about just about everything. Some have somehow managed to read a heck of a lot more into YP than I ever have. Some take great joy in preaching that this or that is some kind of a gray area and left to them campfires would be nothing but nursery rhymes. I do take the Oath and Law to heart, I hope that I always do my best to be kind. I take the safety and well being of the kids in my charge very much to heart. I again hope that I'd never place any child in unnecessary danger. While I don't agree that "Boys will be Boys" is ever a good reason for bad or misconduct, I do believe that "Boys will be boys" and that this is an important part of growing up and part of what is needed to become an adult. Ea.

Catchy Phrases seem to come and go. A lot depends on what is the in Catchy Phrase at the time. Many of us have lived through the "Where's the Beef" - "A little dab will do you" and "Isn't that special!" Right now where I work the "Hows that working out for you?" Is in. Back when I took WB I thought that I would gladly murder the next person who said "Check your resources" I was on staff for one WB course where another staff member armed with a selection of these catchy phrases printed in big bold letter went around sticking them all over the place. You know the type "If it's not for the boys, it's for the birds" And so on. One morning I went to the mens room and was having a pee. The Catchy Phrase Staffer had stuck again. I looked up at the mirror, only to read "The Future is in your hands" I didn't "Go There" deciding that this indeed was a gray area. Ea.

As yet I haven't read the book and I missed the hour long prime time NBC special. I have seen snip-bits of the interview he gave and seen the bit that he did on the CBS Sunday Morning Show. With only that to go on? It might be unfair to offer any opinion about the book. The parts I have seen have dealt with his drinking. He talks about knowing that he was drinking too much, but doesn't go so far as to admit that he was an alcoholic. He was asked who was really in charge? And what was the real role of the VP? He seemed to side step this question and talks about how Dick Cheney offered to not run with him in the second election. He seemed to not want to talk about water boarding only saying that he asked the attorneys if it was legal and they said it was. A few years back Front Line on PBS stated that the attorneys he asked were hand picked in order to offer the opinion that was at that time felt to be needed. If any mention of Karl Rove has been made? I missed it. I would be interested to find out more about how much influence Rove had? I find myself between the devil and the Deep Blue Sea. I do believe that some great leaders don't have to be all that bright or have a deep knowledge about everything. So picking and having experts at hand who do have the know how and who can offer expert advise is important. George W. Never seemed to be that intelligent. I do however think that some of the people he had around him were very intelligent. My problem lies with the fact that I didn't like them and felt a great mistrust about many of them. I'm waiting for Barns and Noble to send me a coupon for 50% off till I buy the book. By then I should have finished The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest. Ea.

I believe that there is a time and a place for most things. A lot of jokes are made at the expense of others. In England they tell Irish jokes. In the area where I live they tell Polish jokes. My Republican friends tell jokes about the Democrats and so it goes on. While each of us makes up our own mind as to what is acceptable and what isn't. I do at times get a little miffed at things I see as taking correctness to what I perceive as too high a level. For example I was informed the other week while at an instructor course for work that Flip Charts are no longer to be called Flip Charts as the word Flip can be seen as a put down. - I do think we can take all of this sort of thing a little too far. Re: this joke. I could maybe see a late night TV show using this joke and chances are that no one is going to get that upset. But being as it was posted here under the heading it was placed under? I think it was a little less than appropriate. Ea.

When the tea party members first started to appear, I thought they were a bit of a joke. I seen them as a group that just weren't very happy. But they didn't seem able to agree among themselves exactly what it was they were unhappy about, of course many of them seemed unhappy about just about everything. I really don't think that highly of Sarah [edited] Palin. I'm unable to understand what she is really all about, where she is coming from? And other than seemingly enjoying being in the limelight where she might be heading? Looking at the past couple of elections as an outsider. These elections have been mudded by an over whelming amount of TV ads that just didn't tell the real truth and seemed to be more about just kicking people who had been elected out and replacing them with someone -Anyone, just because. While I do dislike Sarah Palin [oops, edited again]. I have to admit that she has found a great way of communicating with the group that are the most dissatisfied, the middle class. It doesn't seem to matter if what she is saying is true or not, she comes across as not being one of "Them Politicians" But the nice lady you talk to while you wait to pick up your kids from school. While I still see the Tea Party as being a flash in the pan. I will admit that they have come further and done better than I ever thought they would. My hope is that maybe, just maybe they will take a stand against some of the pork barrel spending that goes on. But I think if they haven't already been "Got at" It isn't going to be long till they are got at and fall in line with what has gone on for a very long time. I'm starting to think that President Barack Obama is only going to get to serve one term as president. Which I see as a shame. The guy came into a real mess and while maybe he has made a few mistakes? Has tried to get things moving in the right direction. As of right now I don't see anyone standing out as a clear replacement from either party. I don't see Ms.Palin ever serving as President. One more interview with Katie Couric would bring her bid to a swift end. Ea. Edited to change Sandra's name to Sarah (I know he knew better than that), Pack (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Looking at the US National Debt Clock http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/ It kinda seems that my part of this debt is about $44,372.91. If the government were willing to make a deal. I'd be willing to pay $45,000 if they promised that I'd never have to pay anymore taxes ever. Ea.

"so that the AIG tycoons can pass the money they stole from da taxpayer down to their children without paying a dime." I was over in Ireland a couple of weeks ago. Things are not good there. The economy is in tatters. Just about everyday I was there the headlines seemed to be about the good for nothing, so and so bankers who had allowed the mess to happen. While maybe some of what was said and printed might very well have been over the top? When we seen the mess that the bankers on this side of the pond got us into. There just didn't seem to be the same feelings of anger or outrage. I'm not wise enough or clever enough to know what might have been the outcome if we hadn't had the bail-out? But if we are going to be upset surely it makes more sense to be upset at the people who got us into the mess in the first place, not the people who tried to fix the problem. We now face two years of the republicans doing their best to make the President look like a real twit, while at the same time trying to work out what to do with Palin. It seems that shipping her off to Alaska is no longer an option. Maybe Ambassador to Nauru? Ea

"Price: $24.95." Wow! New handbooks for a Ship of 30. That hurts. Ea.

I'm not by nature, what might be termed a "Political Animal". While it kinda seems clear to me that the voters were trying to send a message to the politicians at both the State and the National level. I think things are going to not be any better and in fact will be worse. For just about all my life I have either been on the very far Left or Left of center. At times, much as I maybe hate to admit it, I have and do fall into "I'm all right Jack" And am maybe not as caring as I feel I maybe should be. While some things are important to me. There does seem to be a lot of hot political items that I fail to see the fuss about. I fail to see why Gay Marriage is such a hot item. My employer (Pennsylvania State) offer Health Insurance to all Domestic Partners, be they same sex partners or not. Lots of heterosexual couples choose not to get married. So I'm not sure what the big deal is? Yes I do know at times that gay couples do feel that they are treated unfairly, but I think the laws that deal with the areas where they feel that they are not being treated fairly are the ones that need looked at. While I know the Devil is in the details and I admit to having not read all the stuff that is in the new Health Care Law. I do feel that every civilized country should provide Heath care to all the people who live there. - Maybe the health care that was passed went about it the wrong way? Maybe it went too far? Maybe now that things have changed in Washington DC, it will be tweaked and made more acceptable for everyone? Who knows? I do like the idea of less interferences into my life. If that is the same thing as less government, then I'm all for it. I don't need a governing body to take the toys out of my happy meal because they deem that the toy leads to fat kids. Heck I'm responsible enough to not let my kids eat at these places if I believe they will do harm. I do want to feel that I have control over things that effect me. I'm OK paying the extra cost involved for a PPO health care plan, so I'm not tied to what a HMO might impose on me. I wish I could only pay for the TV channels I want. The truth is that I don't watch Home Shopping, anything on Fox or the fat nun saying the Rosary. I was upset earlier this year with all the changes that went on in the banks. I moved my accounts to Credit Unions. The PSECU seemed like a good fit, until I tried depositing money into my accounts. They don't even have deposit tickets in the check books. So I'm left mailing checks in to them and then waiting for the checks to clear. This can take a fair amount of time. When I called and asked them about this. The nice Lady on the phone informed me that they do have some ATM'S that do accept deposits. Together we looked on line and found that the closest one to me was 43 miles from where I live. I opened another account with a Credit Union just 3 miles from where I live. The problem there was that the Cash Card they offer only works in PA and at this time they are unwilling to make any changes. The transit authority in Pittsburgh is informing everyone that they are going to have to raise fares and maybe cut some services. Needless to say this upsets a lot of the people who use the services. I don't have the choice of riding the bus or the train. The last bus went through our little town in the year when I was born. No one offered me any sort of relief when gas went over $3.00 a gal. I was still expected to get myself to work. Still the guys in Harrisburg are hoping to find a way of helping these bus riders. -It just seems unfair to me. Can I have a bus please? Talking about Harrisburg. Both Houses and the Governor are now Republican. The Governor ran on a platform of not raising taxes. Being as the State already has a big deficit, I'm unsure how he hopes to do this? My bet is that he will be true to his word and not raise our State Taxes. But I feel sure that we will see huge increases in local and county taxes. Does it really matter who takes my hard earned cash? Once it's gone, it's gone. My problem is that no one seems to really want to take the time to really find out what the little guy on the street is really feeling or thinking. It makes little difference if it's the guy in D.C. The guys at the State or even the guys elected to the local school boards. I just don't see anything changing anytime soon. Ea.

"a bigger point for many parents and organizations is the point about being an appropriate role model and adult mentor." I have at times given some thought to; how good a role model am I? Lord knows that I'm no angel. I have however come to the conclusion that while I may not be perfect, I'm not all bad. I do have several vices. There are people within this organization who think that because of these vices I really ought not be around our youth members. While I'm OK following policy any kid who has been in my home knows that it wasn't the Marlboro Man who filled the ashtrays and that I'm not feeding Leprechauns shots of Irish whiskey. I have never made a point of re-telling others about HWMBO and I get up to in our bedroom, but I feel sure that most kids today know and are aware that OJ didn't arrive via a stork who left him under a gooseberry bush. I have had the opportunity to talk with several men who have been convicted of abusing and molesting children. (Both boys and girls.) While, like a good many of the convicts I chat with, a lot of these guys protest their innocence. So far none of the guys I have talked with have said that they are gay. Most are guys who are married with children. In a lot of cases they were convicted for sexually abusing their own kids in some cases they started the abuse with their own children and then moved on to abuse other kids. It is rare for an inmate to admit that he is gay or homosexual. As this can put a target on his back. Homosexual activity is not allowed in the jails where I work. This doesn't mean that it doesn't go on and very often the guys caught claim that they are not gay or homosexual and that they just needed "An outlet." While right now I can sit back and claim that I'm 100% straight and don't and never have found another male to be sexually attractive,I'm not sure what might happen if I was locked up in a totally all male environment for a number of years? There was an episode of Nature on PBS a few years back, about a troop of gorillas. When there were no females around they engaged in homosexual activities, but when some females joined the group this activity stopped. Living in a very small town, people do seem to talk (Gossip?)About others. At times some people can rightly or wrongly be branded as not being a good role model. A lot of how truthful or real this is? Can depend on which side of the story you hear from who and which side you want to take. This sort of thing can at times make things like the selection of adult leaders difficult. Is the guy who has an ex-wife who claims that he isn't paying child support a guy we want as a youth leader? Who do we believe? If? This is true is he a better role model than one of two guys who have set up home together and are sharing a loving caring relationship? Nearly all the people I have met in Scouting don't wear their sex or their sexual preferences on their sleeves. I would hope that it would make no difference if the adult was gay or not. I have over the years had Scouts and older Sea Scouts talk about sex. I have had younger Scouts ask me about masturbation. This did and still does put me out of my comfort zone. I have tried to be as honest as I can be, telling them what I believe to be true. While not wanting or ever going into it too much. When I have been driving a group of older Sea Scouts they have brought up things like abortion and homosexuality. For the most part I try my best to just let them talk and allow the subject to play out. But when I'm asked directly I do offer my opinion, letting them know that it is just that my opinion and nothing more. We all would agree that there is no room in our organization for people who abuse others, in any way. I have served as a Sea Scout Leader for a co-ed group. I have treated the female Sea Scouts with the same respect as I treat the male Sea Scouts. I feel safe enough in my own skin and with my own sexuality to be able to say that So and So is a "Good looking kid". It makes no difference if the kid is male or female. My hope would be that when we select people to serve as youth leaders that we select people who do really care about the youth that they will be serving. No person who really cares about kids is ever going to do anything that will intentionally harm or abuse them, it makes no difference what so ever what their sexual preference is. As to the role model thing? All we can do is our best. Some people will see us for what we are, while there are others who fail to see the good in anyone. Ea.

"What consequences are there if somebody doesn't?" The ticket is part of the course, if someone doesn't complete the ticket within the time frame, they haven't completed the course. However... If the person feels that they have a good reason for getting it done on time, they should talk to their ticket counselor who can if possible talk to the CD who can allow an extension. The old Cub Scout WB ticket had to be all about adult leader training. Which was at times very hard on the participants. They might have had a ticket item about an event that for some reason they couldn't attend or the event might be canceled. This meant contacting the Cubmaster and having the ticket item changed. Sometimes, being as the course was a Regional course, this was hard. I had a couple of participants who had ticket items to do with a Pow Wow that was canceled. The CM was in the Transatlantic Council when she led the course. But when we tried to find her, we couldn't. In the end the participants just said "Forget it." And just gave up. They never completed their tickets and never completed the course. I had one guy who while working on his ticket had the misfortune of having his house burn down. I as CD did of course allow him an extension. He completed the course a few months late, but was good to go. Receiving his beads and all that good stuff. We have had participants who after the course have quit scouting for a while, without completing the course, they will if they decide that that want to complete the course have to restart it from the beginning. This goes along with the ticket items being SMART goals. Ea.

Steak and kidney Pie. - Yum! Ea.

Having staffed the old Boy Scout, the old Cub Scout, the 21st Century course and been the CD for the 21st Century course, I can and do wear a Wood Badge with four beads. But I'd be just as happy to wear my original set with the two beads. I have enjoyed each and every course I have attended and have always come away having learned something, if not from the course itself then from some of the participants. Back when I was first asked to join a WB staff, I will admit that I thought the idea of having a third bead was something really special. I allowed myself to think that the course was going to be put on for me, just so I'd get this bead! Thankfully the SM was able to provide a much needed kick in the pants and really brought home the idea that the Staff was there to serve the participants. I'm not against awarding knots and medals. I'm happy to let those who choose to wear them go ahead and do so, I'm just as happy for those who choose not, to do their own thing. (So long as they don't become sanctimonious about it.) Many years back I was on a Service Team (Kinda like a group of Camp Masters.) For a National Camp Site in the UK. When I first joined there were a few "Overage Rover Scouts" On the Team. They took great joy in knocking any and everything that they deemed to be new or different. For some reason they disliked Wood Badge and were happy to poke fun at people who had taken WB. These guys did really know their stuff, about camping and Scout Craft. It was such a shame that when it came to WB they acted so un-scout-like. I hope I never fall into their way of thinking, but a Wood Badge is a Wood Badge and as I see it two beads is just great. Ea.

" The SM is frustrated" I been involved with this game a while and have yet to be frustrated because a Scout didn't make Eagle. For a long time my son decided that in his mind Eagle Scout didn't mean that much to him. HWMBO wasn't very happy. I decided it was his Eagle and his choice if he wanted to go for it or not. In the end, it was only when he found out that the Council would pay an extra $100.00 to Summer camp staffers that had the Eagle Scout rank, that made him complete it.He sure as heck would never have got the $100 from me! Ea.

A couple of times a week HWMBO asks me " What do you want for dinner?" The truth is that I really don't care what we have for dinner. So I reply "What have you got?" This upsets her. She tells me that I know what's in the freezer. I tell her that I don't care. So we end having chicken! I know that if I were to say that I wanted Pepper Seared Lamb Noisettes, served with dauphine potatoes, she would tell me to get a life and cook it myself! One good thing about things that you have done before is that most times it is easy and there isn't much risk involved. I think if we were to sit a group of kids down and ask them what they wanted to do? The answer would for the most be the look that you get when you catch a deer in your headlights. Or like HWMBO and I you end up with the darn chicken again. Good plans take work and need to be planned. Start by setting aside a weekend away with the PLC and working on an Annual Plan. Let everyone adults and Scouts list the things that they might like to see done over the next year. Work this list into about 12 themes, maybe less depending on what the themes are and how the Troop works. Try very hard to make it seem that the Scouts have the final word and if possible make them think that everything was there idea. The highlight of the year should be the summer trip/camp. Assign a time period to each theme. (About a month or so) Be prepared to not do what you have always done. That might mean not attending the District events, just because you are busy doing something else. At the monthly PLC meeting plan and practice what will be done at the next 4 or so Troop meetings. This might mean that the meeting isn't a sit down meeting but a meeting where the P/L's practice what they are going to be doing with their Patrols over the next few meetings or going over stuff they they think they know. The adults can bring a lot of ideas and material to the table. For example if Wild life is a theme maybe they can see if the local Game Commissioner is willing to attend a meeting or maybe the Troop can meet with him out in the woods? As Scout Leaders we need to be able to use our imaginations and look for resources a simple theme like wild Life could include use of computers, cameras, hikes, maps compass, conservation projects maybe even a summer trip to work on a bigger conservation project? Some of the activities can be used to cover some MB requirements. (We had one super weekend working on a stream. The kids had a great time splishing and splashing while examining for stream life, cleaning up around the area and planting native trees that would help stop the erosion. They also got to fish and cook what they caught, which wasn't a lot after all the splashing!) PLC's and planning do at times need a little push from the adults, but the adults do need to learn when to shut up and just listen to what the Scouts are saying. Sometimes we can't always deliver what they think they want. Our Sea Scouts wanted to go to Sea Base, but what with so much going on at school (Exams, prom, sports etc.) They just didn't have the time for the needed fund raising. So we changed it and went Kayaking down in Georgia for about one tenth of the cost. Ea.