Eamonn

We have a golf outing. Bad thing is that most of the volunteers are either working. (It's on a Monday when the CCC is not open.) The price tag at $175.00 a head is a little more than most of the local leaders want to spend. This year I have booked an Irish band. A pal of mine owns a winery, so we are having a dance in a barn. Some of the younger adult leaders also have the set up to DJ. Tickets are $25.00. The band is donating their time, as are the D's. I own the barn and will provide nibbles. We are getting a lot of the wine for nothing. My hope is that we can get about 200 people. Our cost per head will be a little under $5.00.. More than just the cash my hope is that everyone will come together and have a good time. Ea. No children and no uniforms!!

For the record I haven't posted either! Last time there was a thread about Druids, Dave Steele and myself ended up in hot water. Hi Dave! Eamonn.

Not sure! However I think this is a meeting where all the units in the District along with the District Committee members get to meet with the Council Key 3. We have done this in the past with varying results! A couple of times the Council Key 3 met with the District Key 3 and we came up with an agenda, the meeting ended with a time for questions and answers. This seemed to work. Other times the Council Key just came gave a little speech and asked for any questions or concerns. Sadly this just became a Beat-up on the Council Key 3 meeting, where nothing of any real good came out of it. Eamonn.

In the thread "What are your units/councils doing for families in need?" I posted about the way things have changed in the small town where I live. To be really honest, I don't actually live in the town, I live mid-way between two small towns. But my mailing address is for one. I'm new to the area, having only lived here for 25 years. HWMBO was born here, her parents, grandparents and I'm not sure how many "Great, Greats" She can go back. There are roads, schools and a park named after her relatives on her Grandmothers side of the family. I like where I live. I love the area and the people. It's just a nice place. Driving is kind of hazardous, as you need one hand to wave at the people who are out and about. Failing to wave? Is seen as being anti-social. We have next to no crime. The headline in the local paper a while back was all about some kids who were skateboarding near the gazebo in the center of town! A long time back in the 1870's the town really boomed.It manufactured the largest pipe in the world in the largest pipe mill anywhere. Within a six mile radius there are 35 churches! (I just looked that up and was really surprised!) Some guide books say that the best example of Edwardian architecture anywhere in the US can be found in our small little town. Having owned the local "Watering Hole" and eatery and being involved in local business organizations I know a good many people in the area. Sadly over the past 25 years I have witnessed the death of our down town area. Local stores are unable to compete with the malls and the big chain stores. Many of the local mid-sized businesses have also closed. The people who owned and operated these either just got too old and their kids had no interest in working that hard or the market for what they were doing just wasn't there anymore. Even within the past few months our local Dodge car dealer lost his dealership. He is a super older guy who has always supported the community and was my Community FOS Chairman for about ten years. The loss of people like him, like the guys who owned local businesses has had an effect on the Council. At one time these were the people who not only supported grass roots Scouting, working with churches and organizations that chartered units, they also sat on the Council Executive Board. Most of these people were no nonsense types. Ask for something and they either knew where to get it, made or wrote a check so it could be got. When I look at our Executive Board today, these guys are gone. They have been replaced by people who work for big companies who say that their managers need to serve on Boards that serve the community. These guys need to be on the board, mainly because it looks good on their resume. Sure, most of them are willing to pay the expected donation ($1,200) For this they do get to attend the big fund raising dinner. Some will turn out for one of the many golf outings that the Council has. But a little while back, when things looked really bad and the Council was thinking of selling a camp. I challenged the board members to match my donation of $5,000. We had at that time sixty board members of which only two were willing to kick n the five grand. The CPA who was a board member was asked to do an audit of the Council books. He did a wonderful job. But the Council wasn't happy when he presented a bill for almost $10,000! I do find myself getting a little annoyed having people who have never met a Boy Scout sit on a board which can decide the fate of a Council that so many people have worked so hard for over the years -For some a lifetime. I know that we can't turn back the clock. I'm just nor sure how long we can keep milking the people who are already giving so much not just in their hard earned cash but also their time and energy. I hate popcorn, I never eat the stuff! I don't need to attend a $150.00 a plate dinner, that I can prepare much better! (I hate spending $8.00 for a beer!) While I understand the need for FOS presentations, I really no longer feel that I can do them, knowing that in the past mismanagement has not used the money wisely. I do still feel that we can and do perform a much needed service. I'm still willing to pay my fair share. I know all too well that I have been blessed in fact had more than my fair share of blessings! I do worry that if the guys at the top are more worried about their resumes? What happens to the guys who are doing all the work? Ea.

As far as I know and I'm ashamed to admit it! Nothing! Right now it seems that the Council is having a hard time keeping its head above water and it really hasn't looked around to see what is happening. A few years back the then SE and myself were going at it! I wanted our community FOS goal to be reduced and he wanted to raise it. I live in a small town of less than 5000. When the Strip Malls came, it hurt the down town area. Then the strip malls fell on hard times and the bigger malls hurt the down town again. Then came the Wal-Marts Super Centers. We have 3 all of which I can drive to in less than 15 minutes. I went down town and counted the empty stores and reported back to the SE. He just smiled. I kinda think the stock answer is that we are doing our bit with the efforts we put into Scouting for food and that the CO's look after their own. Eamonn.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if in the next few years we see a lot more mergers here in SW-PA. Small Councils had a hard time paying their way when times were good! I was talking on the phone to a pal from a small Council. He was saying that this year they only had 300 Scouts attend Summer Camp this year. The camp site is nice, many of the staff volunteer their time to work at the camp over the summer. But the hard truth is that a camp just can't operate with only 300 Scouts. Another Council I know of here in PA is reaching less then 10% of the TAY of Cub Scout age. Another had a really wonderful capital campaign which did well, sadly most of the money raised was used in the operating budget and most of the planned capital expenditures is more than lightly never going to happen. They have tapped out all the people who are lightly to donate large sums of money. Some of these people were given promises that the Council just can't keep and the donors are a little upset. The big Metro Councils like Baltimore and GPC are still able to find funding from large corporations who have their corporate offices close at hand. The Council I serve has in the past few years gone through some very rough times. Right now there is a rumor that we might go down from four Districts to only two Districts. When our FD went a few years back, he was never replaced. Some of the professionals are wearing more than one hat, also working with the LFL program which has seen its staff cut by over 65%. We volunteers may not like to hear it but Councils do need money to survive. I'm not sure if the youth do better in a large Council? I tend to think that everything comes down to what is happening at the unit level. The guys I talk with from GPC don't seem any more or any less happy than the guys next door from the Council I'm in. Eamonn.

Couple of things that I don't understand. "She dropped the charges a month later." ? Maybe the guys who know more about these matters than I do, can help me out. I thought that once a crime had been committed and a person charged with that crime, what happens next is up to the officers of the court? Not a person? I can see how a wife might refuse to testify, but if the police have evidence of a crime aren't they supposed to bring this matter to a court who will then take what ever action it deems as being right? I also really don't understand: "(who we just paid to be a den leader)" I have never heard of a Den Leader being paid? Is this just some type of a mistake? Here is my take on what you posted: Your family and this other family went away on a camping trip. This trip was non-scouting related. Other than the fact that you are both adult leaders in the BSA. While on this trip this guy had a few too many alcoholic drinks. For some reason this husband and wife had some sort of nasty disagreement. Which was nasty enough that you felt the need to call the police. The guy was upset at you and threatened you. "the Committee chose to temporary remove him pending the outcome of his court case." Since it now seems that there isn't going to be a court case? What would have happened if he had not opted to join another unit? In the eyes of the law, he has done no wrong. I can and do see why you would be upset. I can see that the two of you might not want to work together. I owned and operated a couple of bars for over 15 years. I have witnessed the nicest guys in the world become real pains in the tail area, once they have had a few. The next day they are back to being nice guys. I would hope that this fellow doesn't drink around Scouts or at Scouting functions? He might need help of some kind? But until he accepts that he needs help, nothing is going to do much good. I am having a problem with: "If he does become a leader there, I just know that he is going to give them the same problems." How do you know? Heck, not so long ago you and him were going away for the weekend on a camping trip together! I know that I don't go away for the weekend with people I don't like! If I were you. I'd be very careful what I say to others about him. As I see it - Which might be wrong. All you have is your word against his and anything you say might be seen as gossip and maybe worse. Eamonn.

Lisabob Been there, and gone through that! I at time get a little (Very little!) annoyed when people give me "The Look"! This "Look" comes after they have asked where OJ is? Or why he isn't where they think he should be or ought to be. The truth is that I really don't know. He is now 21 years old and does his own thing. I do try and make a joke of it by telling them that today wasn't my day to watch him!! But having said that. I do have to own up. I get a little peeved in this information age. When I have send emails to 19 different email addresses (Kids seem to have at least 22.) Left messages on cell phones, texted and gone looking for a passing pigeon who might deliver a message and still got no reply. When this happens I have been known to talk to the first person who answers the phone and unload all my sorrows and grief on them! Even at my age Mothers seem to have a soft spot for me. I think the sad brown eyes and the accent have something to do with it? As a rule my pleas are met with a "I'll box his ears and have him contact you ASAP" Hey! Whatever Works! Ea.

I'm working on the Boy Led V Patrol method. I think in all the time up until the Ship, I never had a Boy Led (Youth led) Unit. For a number of years, I thought I was following the Patrol Method, but when I really sat down and thought about it I wasn't! When I first became a Leader I was using the PLC as a messenger service! They attended the PLC and carried my ideas back to the Patrols, over time this changed and I became more of a coach. Still the play book was mine and I really wasn't allowing the PLC to do its job. One of the big problems I faced when at last I got things in order was the size of the Troop. We had 14 Patrols and I feel that the P/L's never really took the time to ask the Patrol members for their input. Even at the PLC at times it seemed that a few members ruled the roost. Of course like many things in Scouting, just when you think that you have it right and in good working order something happens and it seems that everything falls apart, leaving you the task of starting all over again. I think because the Ship was small and maybe having female members? We did a far better job of doing what the Ships members wanted to do and do it the way they wanted to have it done. Eamonn.

"the raincoat rides in the brims sweat band." A plastic raincoat in the sweat band? Doesn't this make more work for the sweat band? Sorry prairie the hat is the wrong size! I just checked on e-bay and there is a pair of BSA Leggings for sale! They'd look great with this hat! I'd think these would be a must have for all the sentimentalists and traditionalists. Ea.

Reading what others have posted about Parents not stepping up to the plate, does at times leave me feeling a little puzzled. This might be because I don't expect parents to step up to the plate. I'm happy that we select the adults who will serve the Scouts we all serve. This selection does help everyone understand what they are taking on and what they are letting themselves into! This doesn't mean that I'm going to let everyone get away with doing nothing. In fact I have a reputation for bringing adults into help and get involved. The first thing we all have to understand is that people do need to be asked. If we never ask, they will more than lightly never volunteer. Next we need to look at how we ask. Sending letters or emails, most of the time is a waste of time. As is standing in front of a group of parents. I think, that they think the person next to them will step forward and the end result is that no one moves. Asking someone face to face, not even over the phone is by far the best way to hook and reel someone in. We then need to look at what we are asking them to do. Again we need to know what we want. Standing there just asking for help doesn't get very many results. Asking someone to do a specific job works better and this works even better if we know what the person likes doing. Asking the Dad who likes to fish to organize the fishing derby will more than lightly work better than asking a person who has never gone fishing. Having a couple of parents who are NASCAR fans take on the Pine Wood Derby and so on. I hate meetings where people feel that their time has been wasted. For this reason I'm very big on having the committee meet as a committee and the leaders who deliver the program meet as leaders. This does mean more work for the SM or the CM.But such is life. The people who agree to take on something do need to be held accountable to do what they said they are going to do. Youth leaders work with the CM or the SM and people who have volunteered to take on other tasks need to work with the Committee Chair. The Chair should be following up and making sure that everything is going as it should be. Along the way offering kindly advise and a pat on the back. Once we have someone doing something it then becomes less hard to get them to do something else. The parent who does the refreshments at the Pine Wood Derby can be talked into taking care of the food at the B&G Banquet, the parent who helps drive the Scouts to camp can be talked into organizing the transportation to more camps. I had a parent who volunteered to be a "Walker" at Day Camp one year, the next year she took on the craft area and went on to become Day Camp Director. I don't ever have any expectations of the parents. I as a rule don't know enough about them or what is going on with them to be able to expect anything from them. When a Lad signs up to join a Pack or a Troop I'm just happy that he has joined. But having had someone help out once or twice does make life a heck of a lot easier when the nominating committee calls on him or her and asks for him or her to serve as a Leader. Eamonn.

For a while (About five years) The Troop I led went through a bit of silliness. A very good pal of mine was /is a very big fellow. His name is Martin. I called him "Big M. He called me big E, after a while I started calling the P/Ls Small "C" for Colin Small S for Stephen and so on. After a while this died out and I became just Ea (A). A few of the Sea Scouts still call me Skipper or Skip, even though I'm no longer the Skipper. I never liked being called Mr. Walsh. But at work I insist on the inmates calling me Mr. In fact I go out of my way to not allow them to call or even know my first name. My reasoning for this is that there isn't that many Eamonns in the phone book and I don't want an inmate who I may have had to discipline sending his pals around to my house to pay a visit! Also, I was talking with an inmate who was in for credit card theft and he was telling me how easy it is to steal someones identity. At times when I have 20 or 30 inmates in a class I do want to change my name. These guys have never learned what it is to have to wait. They think they know what they want and want it now. Eamonn

Most people who have ever worked with teenagers know what a tough time they are going through. At this age they have a very strong sense of what is right and what is wrong. Some might call this Justice? They are experimenting, trying new ideas, new ways of doing and looking at things and maybe some things that the shouldn't. Handing the Lad the policy as it is written? Will and has in the cases I've had to deal with only makes things worse. The teenager sees it as not being fair and it ends up being like a red flag to a bull. Most of the young adults that I have worked with in this area are not so much really questioning if there is or isn't a higher power. They seem more concerned about the rites and ceremonies that churches have. Comments like "I don't need to go to church to pray" are common. But if the Lad that Lisabob is talking about doesn't attend a church, he might not be questioning the rites and ceremonies. He might be questioning if there really is a higher power? If I were the adult that the Lad came too. I think I'd be very honest. I'd explain that when I was about his age, I went through very much what he is going through. In my case I joined the Young Socialists Party and was going to save the world! I'd strongly recommend to the Lad that before he decides that he really is agnostic that he takes the time to look at other religions and faiths. Most of the young people who have come to me feel that they have been force fed Christianity and the Bible and really had no choice in what religion they have. While he is searching for and looking at different religions, I really don't think the A word is the right word. Eamonn.

Hi ntrog8r and Welcome. I don't know, but sometimes wonder if the training that is offered is by design. That is to say, what is needed to deliver the program? I see no need for me ever to take the training needed to go up the Orinoco River on a long pole, as I have no plans to do so and if I had? I wouldn't be taking a group of Boy Scouts with me. I have been around for a while. I've seen the people who have returned to Scouting who have the skills in place, some are very expert in some areas because they use the skills in the real world to earn a living or maybe they have pursued and practiced them. I have also seen the people who are new to Scouting, new to just about everything that we do. But these people want to learn and go about doing everything they can to gain the knowledge and know how. There is also another group. Maybe this group think of themselves as old dogs who are too old to learn new tricks? But these people never seem to want to learn the skills. They can be found at trainings, they enjoy hanging out and the fellowship that can be found with a group of Scouter's, but when it comes to the practical stuff? They seem happy to allow everyone else to step forward while they hang back and treat it all as some kind of a joke. Troops use these people as drivers and if they do have a special skill as MBC's. Sadly some of these people get greatness thrust upon them for one reason or another and end up as SM's. With no real skills and not much real understanding of the program, they fall back on stuff they know - Merit Badges! Troop meetings become merit badge classes. They rely on District Camporees and summer camp to provide the outdoor method of Scouting. Advanced training? Heck these guys never got the basics! So any advanced training would be just a waste of time. I am not and never have been for mandatory training, but if it turns out that training is ever made mandatory? We need to take a long hard look at the early training's, ensuring that everyone has the skills needed. Eamonn.

I'm not sure that you can convince them! After a while they will kinda fall into it and get the idea. But right out of the gate? My feeling is that the adults have to put the parents at ease. Number one is the parents do have to feel that the adults in the Troop do care and will take care of the Lad. Number two is that the parents do have to feel that the adults in the Troop know what they are doing. I don't know very much about Homeschooling, but have heard that some of the people in charge of this are using Merit Badges as part of the curriculum. This might,have some parents seeing Scouts and Scouting as something that most of us don't see it as. While some parents want their son to join Scouts for the social-interaction, some opt for Scouting because they believe that we only have "Nice little boys"! The hard truth is that we also have our fair share of "Not so nice little boys". Eamonn

Still think that there is a lot to be said for a "Fat cuddly chap with a beard."! As you know, over the years I have made a living working with diets. I would strongly suggest that before you undertake any type of serious diet that you talk with your PCP and maybe have a chat with a RD. Most people I know could and do benefit from a heart healthy diet and from working with a dietitian who can be a big help when it comes to choosing the right foods and the right sized portions. Eamonn

Advance Outdoor Leadership Training Anyone? No Thanks! My reasoning? I think the basic skills work. It is up to the person to then build upon, practice and use the basic skills in order to get better at them. The guy adding lighter-fuel to start the fire knew what he was doing and knew that it wasn't the way to go. I don't any amount of training will cure people who choose not to do things right. There are specialized courses for people who feel the want or the need to take things up a notch. Or find something that interests them, which they might want to become expert in. For the most part, the youth we lead are ready for the challenges that can be found in the outdoor merit badges. A year or two back I took the Leave No Trace Trainer Course. Many of the people attending the course had a very low opinion of Boy Scouts, the main reason given was that the leaders are challenging Scouts for activities which they are just not ready for. There are a lot of areas where I know that I'm not good enough and don't have the experience needed. When this happens and the Scouts want to become involved in this activity, I'm happy to find someone who has the know how. Eamonn.

A few years back the UK Scouting Magazine, which tends to be maybe not as serious as the USA Scouting Magazine and is for both youth and adults, asked the youth to describe their Scout Leaders. Many of the Scouts described their Scout Leader (SM) As "A fat cuddly chap with a beard". I don't remember any of the adults as being either fat or cuddly! I do remember that a good many of them were pipe smokers, cigarette smoking was looked down upon. I'm not sure why? But it seemed then that smoking a pipe was acceptable. I'm a very skinny little fellow (142 pounds or just over ten stone!) I hate looking at group pictures where everyone is in shorts! Other than my sexy knees! It looks like I have a couple of tooth-picks where my legs ought to be. For this reason I avoid wearing shorts as much as possible. Have to admit that when I looked at the photo of Mr. Mazzuca I was glad that we weren't out and I wasn't buying the adult beverages! Kinda looks like he has room for a few! Of course if he was buying? Things might be different! Ea.

I know in the past there was some discussion about what Scouts should call their Scoutmaster's? I'm just wondering what you called your SM? Back when I was a Scout most Scouts in the UK used Skip or Skipper. Eamonn.

"Hey Bobby, put that cell phone away!" "But" "No buts about it! You know we don't allow cell phones or electronic devices." "It's not a cell phone. It's my new smart phone!" "Don't you Smart Phone me! It's a doohickey!" But Skip I was just reading my Scout Handbook!" Eamonn.

I'm starting to worry! This is the second time in two days that I'm in agreement with Beavah. Eamonn.

The main job of the SM is to train the youth leaders. As I see it the only prerequisite needed is a warm body. Along with being elected by his peers. Eamonn

I'm trying to dig up a syllabus from the old course. I have this nagging feeling that Patrols do more as Patrols in the 21st Century course than they did in the old course. Sure in the old course a lot of time was spent in the Patrol site watching a couple of the more experienced people do the cooking. But I feel sure when you add in the Patrol Meeting that is held between the "Weekends" The participants do more as a Patrol. Of course I might be wrong. I'll get back to you. Eamonn

Webelos Advancement Coordinators? Have to admit to never having heard about such an animal. Did a search on the BSA web site and nothing came up. But I never can find stuff there!! I really think that a Webelos Scout Fun Coordinator might keep more of the little fellows in Scouting. Eamonn.

Wow! You talk funny!! Sounds very much like the old weather-man on channel 4, who said it would! Still have to admit to enjoying a Saturday morning in the Strip District, loading up with coffee and seafood. Still can't get Wholey's Fish Market to stock any nice kippers. Eamonn