Eamonn

My copy of the Scout Handbook is in my car and I'm feeling lazy! As I see my role, when it comes to working with our youth members, I'm going to try to do my best to get them to do their best. I'm not an idiot! (Well maybe sometimes!) I can read, or I could if I wasn't so lazy. A few years back at Philmont I had the misfortune to get stuck with a first class twit. This guy went on and on about how "His Scouts" did much the same stuff as he'd done when he was serving in Vietnam. I tuned him out after a while. I was left wondering if he belonged to the same youth organization as I did? Or if he was training kids for some kind of SAS unit? On the other side of the coin. A co-worker of HWMBO looked in the house yesterday with her son who is just 13. A nice kid. His Mom asked me what was there for him to do after he got his Eagle? It seems that he only has his project left to do. I mumbled on about Palms and the OA. I was cooking a smoked salmon quiche, which was about done. I removed it from the oven, the Lad was in the kitchen. I said something about cooking at camp. He said that in his Troop all the Scouts always cook for themselves and they eat a lot of hot-dogs. It was very windy yesterday and one of the tarps I use to cover one of the small sail boats has come loose. I invited the Lad to come and give me a hand re-tie it. On the way to the boat I said that maybe one day he could maybe come sailing with the Ship and that the guys from the ship were using the local YMCA pool later in the afternoon, if he wanted to come and join them. He said that he'd pass as he couldn't swim. I said that the YMCA instructor was a really nice Lady and I was sure that if he wanted that she would work with him. He said that he didn't like swimming and didn't need it now! I do feel that somewhere between the GI -Joe at Philmont and the SM of this soon to be Eagle Scout, there has to be a happy medium. I have never and hope that I never have been one to say "OK Scouts get your books out, today we are working on ..." I'll bet that in a month or so in the forum we are going to see a lot of people posting about the poor quality of the MBC at the summer camps they go to. Camps where the only real requirement to get the badge is to show up each and every day. This is a shame. Strange thing is that when I talk with Scouts when the attend an ESBOR and I ask which MB's they enjoyed the most? As a rule they tend to mention the MB's that were and are the most challenging. I have yet to have a Scout say that Finger Printing was top of his list. We wonder why we can't retain Lads after they are 14 or 15 years old? I in my infinite wisdom! Think a lot of this has to do with us not challenging them to do their best and use the skills that they should know and should have learned in order to go out and be involved in new and exciting activities. The requirements are OK. They are a good way (A method) of providing the ground work for opening the door for new and exciting activities and challenges. However when we allow Advancement to be the entire program and Advancement to be what we are all about, we mess up. Sure every kid likes to be recognized for what he has done. Most kids enjoy basking in the lime light when they are called up at a COH or wear a sash covered in badges. But this isn't the only thing we are about. I feel bad that the little 13 year old soon to be Eagle, will more than lightly get his project done and because he hasn't learned any of the real skills needed to join in th bigger and better activities that we can and should be offering, he will quit. I don't in any way see myself or set myself up as the gatekeeper of the good name of the standards that some people think they need to defend to keep the BSA and Eagle Scout as it once was? (If it ever was??) I see my role as using advancement as a tool for us (Leaders and youth leaders) to be able to provide situations where the things they learn are put to use. I don't care if the Boatswains Chair knot is required or not! Knowing how to tie it and using it can be a lot of fun. I don't see a hot dog and a pack of noodles as being a meal. But I also don't see any real need for Scouts to have to cook a Thanksgiving Dinner at camp -Unless of course that's what they want to do. We need to stop looking at the requirements as being the be all and end all of what we are about. If we were to put as much effort into offering new and exciting challenges for the youth we are supposed to be serving as we do into minimizing or stretching the requirements. I feel we would keep the older Scouts around for longer, they would then have more and more opportunities to learn and use all that good leadership stuff we are always going on about along with all that other good stuff. (I think I'm now ranting! So I'll stop!) Eamonn.

"I am also just fed up and want people to know how she screwed us and the boys so badly!" "They have been paying all of this money each month for several years" I can see how you might be upset. But if this person has gone, the best thing to do is let go of it and move on, wanting people to know is not serving any real purpose. I'm a little confused. If this Den Leader served for several years and no one said anything about the dues (Which I do think are so high that they are just silly.)Why all the fuss now that she is no longer there? The time to fix what was wrong, is long gone. If you believe that a crime has been committed? Call the police and report it. As for what to tell the parents? Tell them the truth. Either you are going to do something? In which case tell them what. Or you are going to do nothing. If that's the case tell them that it was all very sad and that the Pack is moving on having learned from the mistakes it has made. Eamonn.

Back when OJ was a Webelos Scout, I had taken the Den away to camp for the day. I know that we were supposed to working on one of the outdoor pins? Which one? I can't remember! Due to some really bad planning on my part! Things didn't go as good as maybe the could have or should have. We started the day by looking for life in a small stream that runs through the Camp (Buck Run). Needless to say it soon became a wonderful water fight. OJ, fell in the water which was very cold, he also managed to lose a shoe. I'd ordered owl pellets from a company in Colorado. Along with the pellets came sheets of paper that had pictures of bones and other things that the owl might have eaten. I had of course brought plastic tweezers and rubber gloves for everyone, but these were left in someones car! OJ was having a grand old time sorting through his owl pellet when he got thirsty. H found a near by tap and filled his unwashed hands with a nice drink of cold water! We made foil packs for lunch. Over-cooked hamburger with crunchy carrots. We ended the day with a game of camp cricket, a mix of cricket, rounders and maybe baseball. We left the camp, stopped for ice cream and made our way home. I don't think we'd gone a mile till all the kids were sleeping. When we got home HWMBO asked me what we'd done? I said nothing much. But the truth was I'd enjoyed a wonderful day with my kid and his pals. Ea.

My boss along with a handful of inmates and myself were shooting the breeze the other day. The topic of conversation was a familiar one. Who is getting out? When are they going? Some of the inmates were "Maxing out". Having served their full sentence, others were hoping or waiting for parole. When the inmates left, I reminded my boss that when I had started working for the Department of Corrections that he had shown me an Excel File on his computer, with page after page full of names of inmates that he had worked with in the 12 years he'd been on the job. He said that it was strange to think of the number of lives we touch just doing our job. This got me thinking of the number of lives we touch, just by being Scouting volunteers. Many of us can name the Scouts who went on to become Eagle Scouts or the Lads who just couldn't seem to help it but seemed to have a knack for landing in hot water. Somewhere between these two groups are a lot of other Lads who were maybe only around for a little while, maybe Lads we only worked with for a very short while? Scouts who maybe we took to a Jamboree or worked on a Merit Badge with, Scouts who quit Scouting after a year or two. Nearly all the Scouts I have had come before an ESBOR have said that they think that in time they will return to Scouts either as some kind of a leader or just as a parent. I know that they might have a long road ahead of them before that ever happens and that life has a way of getting in the way of even the best of intentions. At times when I think of the responsibility that we take on working with these young people and trying to set a good example. I get a little scared! I know that I'm not that good. Most of the time, I tend to get so caught up in what we are doing that any of the good stuff and all the "Purpose" gets pushed back. I'd like to say to a back burner, but the truth is, sometimes it doesn't even get to the stove! Now in my early fifties (Man that hurts!!) I'm starting to think that I'm becoming set in my ways. I'm not as easy going as I like to think I am, I'm not as open minded or adaptable as I like to be. I'm not a lot of the things I'd like to be. I'm just left being me. Last Sunday we were out flying kites in the hope of recruiting new Tiger Cubs. The little fellows looked so darn cute. They were so excited with the cheap kites! I laughed at the mother who was trying to help get her son's kite up, running through the wet and slightly muddy grass with four inch heels on! I of course have no idea if these little guys will stay the course or not? I don't know if maybe they will find something in Scouting that will spark their interest and this interest will lead to?? It's kinda nice to think that for almost 100 years, volunteers have tried to do their best to help kids become better people. It's kinda scary to think of the number of lives we touch, just doing what we do. Eamonn.

"Can't the moderators kill this thread? The guy's just getting his jollies picking a fight. Clearly, he is not a scouter and has no business on this forum." I can't speak for the other Moderators. While maybe pinkpooj does have his own agenda? I however feel that nearly all of the replies are of help to others who might be lurking or just passing through. A few years back a great kid from the District I serve nearly quit Scouts. He had staffed a JLTC training and the guy in charge stated that in order to be a Scout you had to be a Christian. At the time this Lad was going through a phase, like many of us may have gone through? Where he was questioning anything and everything. In fact he did kinda step back, remaining on a Troop charter, but not doing very much. He did after a while join the Ship. We talked. He said that he did believe that there was "Something" maybe some kind of higher power that he wanted to believe in. He just didn't go for the all the church stuff and the rigmarole that went with it. He started reading books about different religions and after a while seemed to take a liking to becoming a Wicca follower. I was in the shower the other night when he stopped by the house with his Mother to say that everything was done apart from the BOR for him to become an Eagle Scout. My hope by not killing this thread, is that maybe guys like the one who told him that you have to be a Christian will see it and maybe not make the same mistake? pinkpooj You are of course free to believe or not believe in anything you like. My hope is that maybe before you decide for sure that you are really an Atheist, that you take the time to look at some of the other religions or beliefs that are out there. It might be that there is one that you find that suits you? Of course maybe you will decide that you really are an Atheist? My bigger hope is that in time you will look back at the time you spent as a Lad in Scouts and look kindly on the good people who gave up their time with no reward to work with you and for you? Right now you remember the 3 foot flame, but if you take the time maybe you will see that these men and women were good people who cared about other people. Maybe in time? You will see that they weren't in any way bigots, just people who were trying to live by the golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Lots of different religions use different words to say this, but as I see things; it amounts to much the same thing. If you do decide that you are going to remain an Atheist? You might decide to adopt this golden rule as something to live by.) Eamonn.

Do you mean Dirt? Ea

I kinds, sorta agree with where you are coming from. But... There is adding to requirements and adding to requirements! Our Council, every few months has a Program Group Meeting. All the different committees get together for a quick big meeting and then break off into their own meetings. A couple of years back I spent one of the most miserable nights of my Scouting life! I was asked by the SE if I'd chair the meeting of the Council Advancement Committee. I can't remember why? Anyway -The four District Advancement Chairs were there. Guys who'd being doing this for eons. The guy wearing the Scout Shirt and the blue jeans started off by going on how he liked to see at least 180 hours work on an Eagle Scout Service Project. It kinda went down hill from there. When he said that all the Scouts working on the project should be in full uniform. While he sat sitting there in his blue jeans and Scout shirt, I nearly lost it. These guys were not out in any way to help or support the Scouts. While I'm sure that they had the best intentions in the world. They had set themselves up as some kind of "Defender of the good name of the BSA" (At least as they seen it.) They seemed to take great joy in trying to place obstacles and hurdles in the path of the kids that we all are supposed to serve. On this board we do at times make a big fuss about these extras. My feeling is that maybe we know a little too much. The face of Scouting to the average parent is Mr. Jones the Scoutmaster. - What he says goes! (Good or bad). In a recent thread there was something about a Troop that had added a hike to some requirement or another. I might not agree with this, I might see it as being wrong, but to the Scouts and the parents of the Scouts in that Troop ? That's just the way it is. Ea.

There is a lot of what has been posted that seems a little odd to me. Could be that I'm missing something? jshupe391, I know I might be totally wrong. But it seems to me that you dislike this guy far more than you have said. I know if I were a WB Troop Guide and a SM wanted to use starting a Crew as a Ticket item? I'd point out that this really wasn't acceptable as the Ticket is supposed to be position specific. As far as starting a new unit? No one person can just start a new unit. There are a lot more people involved. If this ASM had been talking to the Scouts in the Troop about it? I kinda think that if I were the SM, I'd know about it. I can't help wondering where you were? And how come you didn't know what was going on? If the Crew has started and the son is doing his Eagle as a Venturer? Then that's up to the boy. No one has done anything wrong. Maybe it's time that you and this guy had a face to face meeting to discuss the fact that the two of you just don't get along? Having the CC, COR and maybe a U/C might not be a bad idea? The ideal answer as I see it would be for you to look after the Troop and leave him to look after the Crew. You will of course need to find a new ticket item! (One that has to do with the Troop!) Eamonn

A very good friend of mine used to be one of the instructors for PDL 1 From about 2000 until the cuts were made at National. (Has now moved to work as an SE) He never mentioned anything about DE's taking Volunteer Training's. I have here on my desk the big red BSA District Operations File and the New Unit Organization Process File that was given out at the PDL 1 Training's. Eamonn.

When I was a young'un we cooked our oatmeal (Porridge) in a Hay Box. It worked great for cooking. I kinda think it might work for keeping things cool. http://www.lostvalley.org/haybox1.html Ea.

Troops and Crews who are near SWPA might want to check out: http://www.wilderness-voyageurs.com/knotweed.htm We were going to do this last year but the date was the day after most of our guys were at their prom. Wilderness Voyagers are very Scout -Friendly. Eamonn.

I have been around for a while. For a lot of the time that I have been around,I have served as "The Leader". Scoutmaster, Cubmaster .. you get the picture. I think I'm a very easy going guy. It takes a lot for me to get mad or upset. I do try and treat people the way that I like to be treated. Not just our youth members, but also the adults who work along beside me. (I like and use the term "Leadership Team"). I'm sure that I do things that upset people. I know that they do things that irk me. I've worked with the guys who wear their cell phone like some sort of a side-arm, guys who carry lap-tops everyplace. Guys who want to sit around the camp-fire all night. Guys who make the most disgusting coffee I've ever drunk. I would never in a million years tell an adult that he had to leave his cell phone in his car. - I have asked that they put it on vibrate when we are doing something where the phone would be a distraction. When I'm tired I normally start dropping a few hints that it's about time we all hit the sack! But after a "Hey I don't know about you guys? But I'm going to bed!" I'm happy to toddle off leaving them to do what they will. -If they are a little loud? I don't have a problem asking them to keep it down and reminding them that the Scouts are asleep. When it's time to get up? - It's time to get up. No one has ever questioned this or not got up. When we went to camp for two weeks, we worked out a roster of who would be off which night. I as a rule was happy to remain in camp. What the other adults did or got up to on their night off was up to them. It was never a problem. The area where the adults camped was not supposed to be a Scout friendly area! Some of the adult tents were a bit of a mess. But I never seen it as my job to tell them or even ask them to tidy it up. We did of course police the area at the end of our stay and try to leave it in better condition than when we arrived. For the most part we all knew what we were good at and when it came to needing someone to do something the person who did it best just did it. If someone had nothing to do, they just gave a hand as needed. Everyone was expected to set a good example to the youth. Adults are just that adults and need to be treated as such. I might be the SM, but I never seen that as me being boss. When the coffee got too bad I made sure I was the first one up and made the coffee. Eamonn.

"A DE's performance should be rated on how "active" each unit is in their district. What does scouting DO in their immediate community? How many public events / service projects does each unit participate in annually? What is the retention and advancement percentage in each unit? What percentage of units participate in district and council events, camps, day camps, camp-o-rees, etc...? These are all measures of what scouting DOES for the boys and for the community. The DE has no more control over these types of metrics than they do over who gives and how much $$ they give" I'm going to have to very much disagree. The only thing a unit has to do is to recharter in a timely manner. Mr. Scoutmaster or Miss Cubmaster does not have to attend or support any District activity. The CO approves the adult leaders. If the CO is happy? That's all that counts. In the District I serve we have Troops that each year recharter with the minimum number of Scouts. They ave being doing this for years. The names change each and every year. The SM is a very nice fellow, just not a good leader and for some reason the kids that join don't stay. The pastor of the church that charters the Troop thinks that the SM walks on water. The SM is WB trained. He just doesn't get "It" and never will get "It". When I was District Commissioner I send the best UC we had to try and help him. -It didn't work. What could a DE do? Absolutely nothing. Volunteers deliver the program or what they see as being the program. As long as no one is getting hurt or harmed a unit can tell the DE and the rest of the District team that they are not welcome and to go away and no bother or interfere. On the other hand a DE who is out and about meeting with people from he business community can work on having them support the program by donating money or materials. He can meet with organizations who might be willing to start and support new units. Will every call be successful? No! Of course it won't. But the DE can control how many calls he or she makes. He or She can belong to organizations that have a history of supporting youth organizations. By belonging to some of the service organizations he or she will meet with and network with the people who can make things happen. I don't need a DE to hang out at the District Pine Wood Derby. We have a lot of volunteers to take care of that. I'd far sooner him or her meet with people who are willing to help expand the District or support the District. No one wants or likes a cheat. Cheating and telling lies is never a good thing. Most times when a DE or a SE does this sort of thing it has a way of coming back and biting someone on the tail. We all expect the professionals who work for us and with us to be stand up people. Because they work for this organization that we believe is a value based organization, it really hurts when they let us down. Paper units, false reports, and any sort of skulduggery should not and must not be tolerated. But when it comes to the delivery of the program? The DE (Working as a DE) is about as much use as pockets in your underwear. Eamonn.

Jerry Clark who is a moderator on that other Scouting Forum. Merit Badge. com Works or used to work at Laurel Caverns. They do a lot of work with Scout groups. You might want to e-mail the caves or post the question on that other forum. Eamonn. PS. I think this might be covered in some of the stuff the caves has posted either on their site or in the agreement that that the parents sign. A word of warning. They are really hot about having all the paper work in order - Permission forms signed dated all the sort of thing.(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

OGE, Of course I see where your coming from and maybe where "They" are coming from. But... This kinda brings up: What are we selling? Who are we selling it to? Are we selling a "Game with a purpose"? Or is it a "Purpose and then a game" ? While maybe the Cub Scouter's are not in my good books. For the most part they are a happy group. They I think see the good in what we do, but tend to be more focused on the how more than the why? When they go into the schools to do the Boy Talks, my goal as membership chair is to give them the tools they need to get the little fellows excited enough to come back on the night with their parents. While I'm sure none of them are dumb enough to get up in front of a group of little guys and start harping on about "Words To Live By". I need something that everyone can buy into which is going to work. The kite thing worked. (Well some wind would have helped!) First the parents seen that they were getting something. The kids seen it as a fun activity. The kites were kits and the boy and the parent had to work together to put it together. I did give a little speech where I mentioned that this was a value based program, this was just before I led them all in a song. I was selling fun. My view is that once we get them in we can work on the value thing. Also I tend to think that the image of Scouts and Scouting is very much bout values and this is already in place. We don't need to sell it. Kinda like telling people that they will get wet if they go swimming. Eamonn.

"Regarding this sentence: "When he was arrested, he was driving home from work (he is self-employed in as an electrician.) His kids were not with him, and he was not even near home at the time." I think (I don't know) that the point here is that if he had children in the car, he would be seen as placing them in danger. (I'm not in any way saying that by him driving in a state of intoxication he wasn't placing everyone in danger. As for who should be informed and if need be ask him to leave? I kinda think this depends. If the CO is active and a "By the book" CO? I'd be happy to leave this all in the hands of the COR and the CO. If the CO is just names on paper? (Of course we all know that this never ever happens!! LOL) Someone needs to decide what is going to happen next? In this case I'd seek guidance from the SE. If in time this fellow changes his ways and remains out of trouble and wants to return? Again someone would need to look at this and again a lot would depend on how active the CO is. We had a guy who made a silly mistake at a District Camporee. (He mooned a group of Scouts) The then District Chairman (Not me!!) Seen this as a hanging offense. The then SE revoked this guys membership. The SM of the Troop and this guy were really good friends. The guy had a son in the Troop. For a number of years while this guy was never a registered member he was at every event, his wife served on the Troop Committee as his mouthpiece and he served as an unofficial Eagle Scout adviser. After several years the Troop committee wanted him to be invited back. I was at that time the District Chairman, they requested that I write to National a letter supporting his request to return. This put me in a very difficult position. First off, I never liked the guy. So I had to put that to one side. I do think we can do without adults who go around mooning youth members. So I refused to write a letter in his support. The SE asked me what had happened? I gave a full a truthful report. Stating that I might be a little biased and that the District Chair at the time of the mooning had a history with this guy and both of them never seen eye to eye. The SE did ask National to review the case. They seen it as a big violation (As far as I know they never said of what?) and said that he couldn't return. The son was a nice Lad, I took him to the 2001 Jambo. He was active in the OA and went on to become an Eagle Scout. In time he aged out his Dad seemed to be happy to step aside. The SM retired and now very few people even remember what happened and I guess in time we all will have a hard time even remembering the guys name. I do think we do need to look at each and every person as an individual. People do change and maybe the mistakes of the past do need to be forgiven. I'm 101% for ensuring that the children placed in our care are safe and not in any danger. Many of the area that have a high African-American population can't find leaders because the adults have at one time been involved in drugs. Many of these adults have seen the error of their ways and have changed. I would hope we could find a way of forgiving them and allowing them to serve the youth in the communities where they live. Eamonn.

To be honest I'm not that enthusiastic about this May Round Up. We can get some of the little fellows signed up, but how many we ever see again is another thing. We charged $10.00 yesterday. The kids got a cheap kite, a couple of hot-dogs, chips and a drink. (As ever we cooked about 3 times as many hot-dogs as we needed -Rory was oh so happy!!) I like the Fireman idea -Think I might use for for the plan "B". After the school sign up, when we haven't reached our goal we tend to sit around crying in our beer with no real plan as what to do next. Of course now that OJ is deeply involved with the local volunteer firemen this shouldn't be hard. Both the DE and the District Chair are a little down in the dumps. Of the four Districts in the Council, our District was the only one that didn't make Quality. The Council only made Quality in part thanks to a new pack that we started in the parish of our District Chairman. So far the finances look good we have done OK bringing in the cash needed for them goals. So now it all comes down to membership. So they are trying to push me!! I have to admit to still being a little bit peeved that the Board and the SE have not taken the bull by the horns and made membership as high a priority as I think it should be. Eamonn.

I'm still continuing on as District Membership Chair. Yesterday was a coldish wet day here in SWPA (With little or no wind). Of course this was the day planned for a kite day, recruiting little Lads who will soon be entering first grade. All things considered it didn't turn out as bad as I thought.We signed up 11 new Tiger cubs and the local press came out and took a few photos. I was very disappointed that not one Cub Scouter showed up! Back when I was a CM, I wanted every Lad I could get. This event had been well planned and well advertised. My big fear now is that these lads and their parents will never be contacted and will be lost before they even get started. Back in December I had asked our DE what plans the Council had for the Fall Cub Scout recruiting drive? The Council still doesn't have VP-Membership. He never gave me any answer. Talking with him yesterday he informed me that the theme that National has come up with for the fall is "Words To Live By". It seems that each point of the Scout Law is the sales pitch. Why we are using the Boy Scout Law to attract Cub Scouts? Just seems a little more than slightly daffy to me! While it's been a long time since I was a Lad of Cub Scout age, somehow talking about trustworthy, loyal and all that other good stuff would not have me chomping at the bit to want to join. Ten of the eleven little Lads that signed up yesterday didn't share the same last name as the parent who came with them. I of course don't know what or if there is a reason for this? However looking at the list of names I was left wondering if maybe selling traditional family values is the right way to go? Kinda like selling air-conditioning to Eskimos. I'm very much aware that I can be a pain; I didn't like that horrible cat, Garfield, I thought the drive for Cub Scouts was a good idea. I just wish that National had given us more support and put more thought into it. Words To Live By? -Somehow just seems like it's not going to work. I'd like to come up with something that might. Something that a little Lad could buy into. A theme that appeals to both the kids and their parents. (And maybe the Cub Scouter's who hopefully will be the sales team.) A District/Council in Alabama is doing something with fishing. Handing out fishing lures to the little Lads and inviting them to a fishing derby. This sounds like a good idea. But in our area by fall all the fishing seems to have died down. I might use this idea next Spring. Any ideas that you have or can come up with would be very much appreciated. - Thanks Eamonn

I had a couple of toaster pastries for breakfast, Pillsbury must have forgot to add any smart juice. I don't know what a EOY Scout Day is? When planning an event (Any event) Some people try and do too much and cover too much. This is a mistake! Always leave them wanting more. Have a plan written down on paper. Make sure that everyone involved knows what they are doing and when they are supposed to do it. Avoid things that can go wrong or not work. For a camp fire build your fire around what you want to do. Having the right size fire can add to the ceremony. Remind the adults that this is not their talent show and try to keep them on the sidelines. Have the youth involved practice what they are going to do and try to get them to be loud enough that everyone can hear what they are saying or singing. An inspirational story which ties in with something local is a good idea. Always but always finish with Scout Vespers and if possible have someone play taps. If the camp fire goes on much longer than an hour you run the risk of losing everyones attention. What the heck is a EOY?? Ea.

Whup? First time I've ever used that word! I have an Auntie Sumtie. A really nice little Lady. She never married and has spent most of her days in rural county Meath in Ireland. One year, many years back the church organized a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. This trip was the only time she ever left Ireland. I don't know when she went? But I'm guessing it was over 40 years ago. She has always been a faithful and practicing Roman Catholic. She has always attended Mass at least twice a week, still to this day never eats meat on a Friday and supports her local church in many different ways, helping with the cleaning and the flowers. She loves to talk about her week in Lourdes. Her eyes light up and she smiles when she talks about it. For her Lourdes and Our Lady of Lourdes has a special meaning. I don't know if she is in any way a better Catholic for going? I do think her trip made her happy and in some way reinforced her faith. Her going sparked my interest so when I was in France on a vacation I thought that I'd visit. I wasn't that impressed ! Everything seemed so very commercial to me. I know that my visit did little to help my faith. For some people spending a week totally submerged in Scouts is going to reinforce their faith and maybe some skills in Scouts and Scouting. For some a week away from the norm will be the high point of their Scouting career. For others, it will be like my visit to Lourdes, just a nice thing to do. I don't know how many people have taken WB? I sure that while many of the things that people will say about their time at the course will seem the same. A lot will have their own special memories. As for the WB Regalia? Sumtie came back from Lourdes with a case full of holy pictures, statues and holy Lourdes water, which she placed on her little home alter. I bought a book about the history of Lourdes. Which is someplace. - I just don't know where? The "Whup" Or big "Whup" factor is how each of us sees what is special and important to each of us. I'd never knock what maybe I don't understand. Eamonn.

Eagle92 Happy belated birthday! "What things would you look at for an annual performance review? Please give specific measurable goals". Strange how things in the forum can at times mirror what's going on in life? - I had my review this past week! I think it's unfair judge a DE on things that he or she has no control over. Just as it would be unfair to judge my performance by the performance and behaviors of the inmates at the correctional facility where I work. Some things can at first glance look bad, but when you look closely can be a lot better. I think it would be wonderful if every Troop was so busy doing stuff and following their monthly themes that they all decided to give the District Camporees a miss. That being said goals that are set should be realistic and the DE should give it his or her best shot. My expectations from a DE is that they do lead by example and do their best to live up to the Scout Oath and Law. Being able to communicate well is a must. While of course there will be people in the District that they maybe like more than others, I would hope that they never play favorites. Being able to manage their time is very important. Somewhere between being an old mother hen and "Who is he?" There is a happy medium. They need to find it. (I don't have any time for the hard luck or sob stories that some DE's think we need to hear! My view is that you opted to take this job so do it!) Being able to work with and get along with the other members of the key 3 is vital. (We once had a Council President and a SE who couldn't stand each other. This hurt the Council.) Ensuring that the support staff in the Council Service Center are doing and able to do their job is important. I don't want to hear that so and so is busy and didn't have time to do the report. (If that's the case the DE should do the report and tell his boss that so and so needs help.) I get upset when I'm waiting for a report and call so and so looking for it only to find that the DE never requested it. DE's are supposed to meet with the Executive Officer of each CO at least once a year. This needs to be done and running into the guy at Lowe's doesn't count. DE's should be the representative of Scouting in the community where they work, they need to get out and about in the community. Not hide in the office. BP is sometimes quoted as saying "Never do anything for a boy that he can do for himself". DE's need to learn that they should never do anything that a volunteer should be doing. If there isn't a volunteer? They need to help the District Chairs find one. In the long run this is far more beneficial to the District. DE's need to always remember that at the end of the day everything is done for the good of the kids we all serve. If i's not good for the kids than trying to sell it to the volunteers is not going to work and will turn them against the DE without the willing support of the volunteers. He is lost and needs to look for a new job. Eamonn.

Been thinking about this one! As ever I find myself between a rock and a hard place! I really don't know the laws or how they work when it comes to DUI. When I think about this I'm kinda all over the place!! I do think that there is a difference between get caught for maybe being slightly over the limit and driving roaring drunk. Having said that a good pal of mine who was a very high ranking police man in the London Metropolitan Police, once took the time to try and explain to me that drinking and driving was a crime, but you had to be over a set limit in order to be prosecuted. As far as I know here in PA, most first time DUI suspects can make some sort of a plea (Not sure what sort??) But they have their driving privileges suspended for a while (about 30 days I think?) Take some court ordered classes and are on probation for a while (A year I think) Just looked it up : http://www.duiarresthelp.com/dui-ard-program.php From the site: By admitting first time PA DUI offenders into the ARD program the state of Pennsylvania is able to avoid lengthy court proceedings and the defendant is able to have their DUI expunged from their criminal record once they complete the ARD program. Being as the criminal record is expunged. I'm not sure if preventing the guy to serve as a Scouter is the right thing to do? I'm thinking maybe he deserves another chance. But... Chatting with an inmate the other day he mentioned that he was "Only in for DUI".I thought it was strange that a guy would get State time for DUI? That was up until he told me that he'd been caught five times!! Clearly this guy has a real problem and maybe shouldn't ever even be allowed to mow his grass? I'm thinking that the person Lady_Leigh67 is talking about is not a first time offender. This then brings up the matter of "Do people change?" I think they do! We had an old timer in our District. A super nice guy. He passed away a few years back, so I don't think anyone will be upset if I mention his name. Pete Rice was seen by many in our are as being the ideal Scoutmaster, a truly wonderful man. He loved the kids he served. He loved Troop 133. He never married and 133 was his life. I met Pete back in 1977 and he seemed old then. (He was about the age I am now!!) Over the years I got to know him fairly well and when he'd visit my home I'd always offer him a drink, he always very politely refused but said he'd take a cup of coffee. After several years he told me that when he was a young man he'd had a problem with alcohol and after getting into trouble just gave it up. He never said that he was an alcoholic or in any program, he just gave it up. Pete was a super guy and a wonderful Scouter. a few years back Scouting magazine did an article on a guy who was a leader of an inner-city Troop in Ohio. The guy had been one of Pete's Scouts and said that it was thanks to Pete that he was doing what he was doing. I of course don't know the guy that Lady_Leigh67 is talking about. I think he needs some heavy duty help. But maybe one day he will get his act together and who knows what good he might do? Eamonn.

Being the miserable old goat that I am! In the past I have posted how sad it seems to me that a good many new leaders do seem to lack the outdoor skills that are needed. We in the forum have talked about ways of turning this around. At the end of the day we kinda end up with the old "You can take a horse to water, but can't make him drink." We have a Mate in the Ship. A super nice guy who is happy to tag along to just about anything and everything. He had been an ASM for seven or eight years and just doesn't get it. Scouts and Scouting for him (And his son) is all about advancement. Pushing kids to receive the next rank. (Note I didn't say earning the next rank). A little while back OJ my son said he was thinking of joining a Troop as an ASM. This Troop wasn't the one where he received his Eagle Scout rank. I maybe wasn't as kind as maybe I could have been? When I asked him what he thought he was going to do if he did join as an ASM? He looked at me as if I'd landed from Mars. I went on to tell him that he lacked the outdoor skills to be able to teach these to anyone, I pointed out that he hated hiking, would much sooner "Camp" in a building than in a tent. He pointed out that he'd staffed JLTC, attended the OA leadership course, staffed summer camp and worked at the National Scout Jamboree. All of which is very true. Looking back I can see that he had a great time as a Scout, he made some wonderful friends and from my point of view I was happy that the guys he hung out with and grew up with are just a nice group who in their own way have kept each other out of trouble. He is a very nice young man. But if I were a SM I'm not sure what I'd use him for? I suggested that he remain in the Ship and hone his skills. Sadly he was by this time too busy doing other stuff. Pushing aside the fact that he has now got Volunteer Fireman Fervor and at this time has no plans to become active in Scouting. I wonder how many other Eagle Scouts have managed to become Eagle Scouts without mastering the skills needed to be First Class Scouts and are now returning as adult leaders? I can't imagine myself being a leader of a Boy Scout Troop and not knowing the basics. I'm all for the leadership skills and courses. I do believe that if you are going to practice servant leadership, you have to have something to serve. I believe that a Patrol working on a pioneering project or cooking a meal and cleaning up learn a lot about team work and leadership. I really do think that both leadership skills and practical skills working hand in hand is the best way to go and when the adults don't have the skills we end up short changing the Scouts we are supposed to be serving. As for Wood Badge? I have seen guys with many years in Scouting take the old course and hide behind the more knowledgeable members in their Patrol for a week at the old course, letting this "Super Scouts" carry the weight. After a week they couldn't do much more than they could at the start of the week. I've also seen totally inexperienced Cub Scouter's attend the new course and work with the "Super Scouts" in their Patrol.After a week they not only have learned a lot but have got the bug and want to go on and learn more. It's really more about the person than it is about the course. There are a few adults who see Woodbadge as some kind of adult advancement. I have to admit that the first time I was asked to serve as a staff member, I for a while seen me and my third bead being the important thing. Thankfully the CD was a great guy and soon put me right. The new course that Philmont is offering sounds like a great idea. I'm not sure how many active leaders have the time or the cash to attend? Maybe it's something that is just being field tested and will in time move to become a Council training? With next year marking 100 years of the BSA,it might be a fun adult activity for the traditionalists to get together in their areas and offer a kind of "Way it was" training? Eamonn.

Yes! Sure! The Buddy System is great. It works. I can't say a bad thing about it. I don't want to say a bad thing about it. But.. Somewhere deep down inside of me I feel a very strong urge to tell th next person who starts to harp on about it to go take a long hike off a short pier, without a buddy. I'm not sure why but "Where's your buddy" sounding year after year starts to sound a little like "Eat your vegetables." Taking a buddy along to answer a call of nature? Just seems a little over the top to me. Sure I know that that big bear is there waiting till I undo my fly and will pounce getting me in mid-flow. I know at camp as soon as my pants are around my and I've got myself situated that the strange guy from that strange district will come in singing all the verses of Green Grow the Rushes. It's storming as I write this, so I'm going to not post anything about passing nuns. I do really think that the buddy system is a good thing, I also think that maybe some people just take it too far. As for the choice of a million bucks or my left arm? I'm left handed and like my arm where it is. It might not be the best looking left arm? But over the years I have become very attached to it. Ea.

It has always struck me as being a little odd. Adults as a rule start this kinda thing. Telling Scouts that they have to keep their flag with them at all times This seem less harmless activity somehow then mutates into becoming the main activity of an entire weekend. At times the effort put into trying to steal and trying not allow it to be stolen over rides everything else. I suppose it might be argued that keeping a flag from being taken is in some way about "A Scout is thrifty" But.. Encouraging Scouts to try and steal something from someone else? I think we can do better. Ea.