Eamonn

Gold Winger Is right. I do have to admit that when I was CM most of the Den Leaders in the Pack wear these. I chose to take plenty of no notice. Some things are just not worth the effort. Each of us makes the choice what we will wear on our uniform. The BSA expects us to do the right thing. When we do the right thing we are setting the right example for the youth we serve. But when we start trying to push these little things, we end up causing more problems and upsetting the adults we need to work along side and with. Eamonn.

The Guide to Safe Scouting states: "Adult leaders of Scouting units are responsible for monitoring the behavior of youth members and interceding when necessary. Parents of youth members who misbehave should be informed and asked for assistance in dealing with it. The BSA does not permit the use of corporal punishment by unit leaders when disciplining youth members. The unit committee should review repetitive or serious incidents of misbehavior in consultation with the parents of the child to determine a course of corrective action including possible revocation of the youth's membership in the unit. If problem behavior persists, units may revoke a Scout's membership in that unit. When a unit revokes a Scout's membership, it should promptly notify the council of the action." I really do not think a matter like this should be left in the hands of the PLC. As the guide states it is a matter for the committee and as such is really out of your hands. While it is often said that the guide is only a guide. I do feel that you would be better off dealing with this by the book. It not only safeguards you and your position as the SM,it also serves to safeguard the CO from any comeback. The last thing you or the CO need is any talk of you or the Troop being racist or picking on this lad because of his race. If you leave it to a full committee (with the COR in attendance) you have covered your tail and the tail of the CO). If there is any come back you can respond "We did it by the book!" Eamonn.

Seems that when it comes to discipline at the Troop level many of us have different ideas how to go about it. I'm not in any way trying to say one way is better or worse or that I'm right. Being brought up a Roman Catholic, I was held to believe that there are two types of sin. Venial Sin and moral sin. Without going into a theological discussion about sin. As a child I seen these as big sins and little sins. Also as a child when I first started going to confession I tried to keep count of how many times I'd sinned. Sadly I gave up counting -I must have been a rotten kid. In the normal everyday workings of a Boy Scout Troop, most wrong doings can be put right with "The Look" or a simple "Hey Guys!" While maybe I shouldn't admit it? I very often would allow the Scouts to sort things out for themselves. Only stepping in so as to avoid fisticuffs or a fight. When something happened which was of a more serious nature. There is at times a need to go to a next or higher level. For me this next level has been finding the right time and place to have a heart to heart with the Scout. This works well with the Scout who seems to keep repeating the same bad behaviors and when these are along the lines of being disruptive. Letting him or her know that this is unacceptable and that he or she is being a pain in the neck does help clear the air and helps make me feel better. Most times when we have had these little chats we have come up with a plan of action that helps prevent recurrences of the behavior. We start over with a clean slate. This clearing of the air allows the Scout to know what is what and stops me from building up any pent up feelings which could over time cloud my judgment. I have been around Scouts for a long time and I have never had to deal with what I see as a serious fight. Most fights don't last very long and amount to little more than pushing and shoving with maybe one or two punches thrown. I don't see two Lads fighting as being a hanging offense. As a rule, separating the pair of them, allowing them a time to cool down, finding out from each of them individually the reason why things got out of hand? Will result in some sort of plan for what happens next. Most of the time allowing them to calm down and see how silly it all was does work. But I have in the past called both sets of parents and asked them to pick up their son's and we have met later to deal with the situation.Most times they both benefit from having the time apart and are willing to forgive and forget. Sadly there have been times when getting a parent involved has caused more problems. When this happens I'm happy to refer the parent to the Committee. A lot of times the complaint the parent has is not about what happened but more about how I managed the situation. I'm a big Lad and can take it. For more serious matters like theft or for real cases of bullying I do involve the committee. I wish I was able to say that I was just reporting my observations. But this as a rule is not the case. I do tend to also offer my 2 cents as for what I think should be done or not done. Again as a rule the committee goes along with my recommendations. So I might be guilty of passing the buck and having them play the part of the "Bad Cop"? I don't or have never involved youth members (The PLC) in specific matters of discipline. I have and think it's a good idea for them to be responsible for coming up with management plans that have to do with discipline. Things like when lights out will be or what time we will get up. When something like this is seen not to be working, they will look at the problem. Most of the Scouts I have known over the years seem to want to go out of their way to please me or if not me they have an adult who they like and can talk with and too. Often if a Scout is messing up I will talk with him or her or have that other adult have a word. Working with older Sea Scout age youth, it does seem that many of these youth are having problems at home and do feel the pressure from school. A lot of times when they are acting up it is a call for attention. While I'm very aware that I'm not a professional counselor, I'm happy to listen and very often do offer my take on the situation. A lot of the time it is just due to them growing up and sometimes parents not wanting them to grow as fast? But with teenage suicide at epidemic levels making sure that they don't plan to harm themselves or others is always a good idea. While it might seem that telling their parents some of what you might find out is breaking the trust that the youth place on you. In the long run telling parents about any not so good stuff is always the best plan of action. Eamonn.

With a good Irish name like Kieran, I'll bet in time he will find very creative ways of getting things done. Eamonn.

I have not looked this up in any of the BSA publications or on the BSA web site. I have taken a coed group of Sea Scouts away to a High Adventure Base and our group was paired up with a older Boy Scout Patrol. The minimum age for Scouts to participate in the H-A Activity was 14. Not sure if that helps or not? I agree with the Beavah. Maybe a look at the age appropriateness of what is happening rather than looking at the coed? Might be the way to go. Eamonn.

Looking in my copy of the 2002 Administrative Guide. Which I know has been updated and changed so much that I'm not really sure why I keep it!! I tried looking up Attendance by participants. I didn't find any section that dealt with this other than in the Acceptance of Invitation (A-9)Which does read: I understand that attendance at all sessions is mandatory and is required for certification. I'm not sure if the make up sessions that I allowed the young fellow to take would be viewed as being OK or not? (My copy of the guide is 18-591.) I still do stand by not allowing people to be buffaloed by this talk of National Policy. When it seems that this is being used as a tool to keep people in line and seems to be untrue, ask to see the policy and where it came from. Eamonn.

I know this is going to sound like passing the buck. But this is not something that the SM should be dealing with. This is something best left to the Troop Committee. Chances are that they will follow whatever recommendation you make. But they have the final word. A lot of what I think the Beavah might have posted seems to make good sense. But along the lines of "They all want to know if da SM will walk the walk of all his fancy words about being "Trustworthy." Allowing the Troop Committee to deal with this and do their job, removes you from this problem. If I were a member of the committee. My decision would be based on my knowledge of the Lad. Scouting for me is all about relationships. Has this theft made any future relationship impossible? Have the bonds of trust been broken to such an extent that repairing them are no longer possible? I'm not that keen on the word "Punishment". If we really are looking to see the Lad punished or pay for his crime, I would suggest we call the police and allow the courts to deal with this as they know how. I like the word "Correction". Finding a way that will help this Lad from making the same mistake again. What this might be? Is the $64,000 question. The return of the i-pod is a given. (In as good a shape as it was) An apology is also a given. I think I'd go for good heart to heart chat with the Lad. I'd let him know that he has let me down, his family down and most of all he has let himself down. I'd tell him that it is going to take some time for him to get back up. Some people might call this a period of Probation. While maybe it is? I just don't like coming off sounding like some kind of legal expert. (Which I'm not.) Eamonn.

"He was told that it was national policy that he could NOT receive credit for the course," Near the top of my list of pet peeves is this "National Policy" stuff. Please, please, please the next time someone throws this talk of national policy at you ask to see the black and white!! The good people at National have a lot better things to do than sitting around trying to write national policy on everything under the sun. We had a young fellow who participated in the course I served as CD for, he had to work on Saturday mornings till noon. A staff member went over the stuff he had missed. It really wasn't a big deal. As for this national policy thing -When they do show you where this stuff is coming from. Make sure it is from national. Ea.

"Apparently, using the dishwasher to clean muddy tent-pegs is a big no-no" Only if Her Who Must Be Obeyed finds outs! Bribing the kid seems like a good idea. - But that will also land you in the dog house. But come to think of it. I have said that if ever I come back (Once my time is up!) That I want to come back as my boss or one of my dogs. So maybe the dog house isn't such a bad place. (Right now 3 dogs are having fine old time gnawing on bones that HWMBO bought for them. My socks are still damp from our big long walk. I have my list of things that need done and they are contemplating taking a big long nap, before I serve them their tea.) Eamonn

The first Troop OJ joined had a change of leadership. The Guy who replaced the SM held the opinion that every Scout in the Troop should be an Eagle Scout. The idea that Advancement was a method of Scouting was cast aside and replaced with the idea that Advancement was Scouting. OJ had been the type of Lad who looked forward to Troop Meetings and had perfect attendance. (OK he was 13 or 14 and really didn't have a lot of say in the matter.) One Tuesday night (Troop Night) he informed me that he wasn't going to Scouts. When I asked why he said that they were doing Farm Mechanics MB and he wasn't interested. I didn't drive him to the meeting. The day after the meeting his SM happened to bump into me. He was very unhappy with OJ for missing the meeting. I explained that OJ had no interest what so ever in Farm Mechanics and wasn't going to attend the next three Troop meetings. Some months past and Atomic Energy merit badge was the badge of the month. The SM had found some fellow from the Navy to cover this. I asked the SM if I might sit in. This fellow from the Navy really did seem to know his stuff. Trouble was that you needed a PhD in the subject to be able to understand what he was talking about. I sat there for a couple of hours, not able to keep up and understand. When the next COH came around the SM got up and stuck out his chest, he informed everyone that all the Scouts had earned Atomic Energy merit badge and how not many Scouts get that badge. OJ got his badge. I think he knew as much about Atomic Energy, before the MB Class as he did after. Not long after this OJ changed Troops. I'm not sure if these classes work. I do know that if Scouts don't have an interest in the subject and feel that they are being forced to do something that they don't want or need to do. It's just a waste of everyones time. Eamonn.

Seems to me and this is just my view. That we are going to see some big changes in the things that District Committees go about their business. Have to admit that at this time, which is maybe a little too early? I'm not sure I like where we are heading. This of course might just me not wanting to change. With Commissioners now having new duties and responsibilities, many of which in the past were the duties and responsibilities of District Committee Chairman (Training, Camping and so on) I'm kinda at a loss to know what the District Committee will do? As I have posted in the past I'm stuck with the idea that Commissioner Service is unrepairable broken. But that's for another thread. My fear is that with this push to bring more and more parents into active Scouting, some of these parents will be selected to be the "New District Committee" and that their main function will be bringing more funding into the Council. (Not that we don't need more cash!). The District Committee will become a District Board of Directors who have little or no knowledge of what is really happening in the Districts. Handing over the duties that District Committees have done in the past to the Commissioner service just seems totally and completely daffy to me. Of course I'm hoping that I'm 100% wrong about this. Eamonn.

A lot will depend on where the District Committee is at right now. A weak committee with only a handful of members will need to be rebuild. A strong working committee on the other hand will need to focus on the role of the District. Eamonn

Think I might be having a senior moment? Not sure if I have posted this before or not? Back home in the UK. One PL was really into collecting fossils. Somehow,someway he came up with a plan that his Patrol was going to travel to Devon for a week (About 200 miles from where we lived.) The Patrol did a few weekend Patrol Camps as a kind of dry run. They traveled from London to Devon by train. Had a really great week. I had contacted the local District Commissioner who did visit them twice during the week. They did collect a good many fossils, ate more fish and chips than maybe was good for them (The hike to the Chip Shop was about 4 miles each way.). Came back and took off for our Troop Summer Camp a day after they arrived home. I think most of us have suffered the "Deer in the Headlight" looks when we ask Scouts "What do you want to do? I wonder if sometimes we get that look because they think that we are not going to buy into their ideas anyway? I'm not against adults working and planning wonderful activities for the Scouts. Some of the best times I've had as an adult is working on planning Camporees and activities with other adult leaders. The Scouts did enjoy them and I hope that they seen the benefit that comes from planning. I just think that the skills that Scouts learn and maybe teach to other Scouts are skills that are used and are relevant. Back when I was a little fellow I took German for 4 years (Our German Master was from Scotland and I think spoke German with a Scottish accent!) I have never been to Germany and have never had the need to put my fine German into practice. From where I sit right now it seems that I wasted four years. If we allow the stuff that the Scouts "Have" to learn to act only as hurdles or obstacles that get in their way on the goal of Eagle Scout, not as a vehicle that helps place Scouts in situations where they are allowed to make real ethical choices, we are really missing the boat. Being able to teach a skill is fine and dandy. But if the only reason to learn how to set a map and a compass is to be able to teach it to someone else who in turn passes the skill on to the next person and no one ever really puts the skill to use; surely the Scouts and some adults will see this as just an irrelevant waste of their time which serves no real purpose. Maybe the answer is not having a set list of skills and allowing units the choice from some sort of list of what skills they are going to put to use and will be more worth while to the Scouts that they serve? Eamonn.

As I posted leaders with strong imaginations can help bring out the best in the kids we serve. One problem with these Great Camporees is that I wonder how much of the imagination is really coming from the Scouts? While many of the activities help develop leadership skills, what real opportunity is there for true leadership? To my mind I'd much sooner see a Patrol go camping as a Patrol at a Patrol camp than see Scouts participate in a Camporee. Surely this is why so much time and effort is placed on the skills needed for First Class rank? Eamonn.

Before posting /starting this thread, I had read several of the postings about Camporee and I'd read the interview that the Chief Scout Executive,Mazzuca, had given to the newspaper. The truth is I thought he'd said something which he hadn't. I see the skills learned by a Scout on his path to becoming a Fist Class Scout as the key which should open the door of opportunities to take on bigger challenges and more exciting activities. I, when I look around the District and Council I serve, don't see this happening. Scouts end up doing the same old same old. Most of this is due to the adults not wanting to leave their comfort zone and not trusting the Scouts. Our OA Lodge has 4 weekends a year. Districts offer 4 weekend Camporees. Summer Camp takes up 2 more weekends. Add in holidays, Scouting for food, First Aid Competitions, Mall Shows. I'm left wondering when these Scouts get to use these skills that they work so hard learning? Living where we do, the area has so very much that can be done without traveling that far and spending a lot of money. Some Troops have gone so far as developing their own camps. The program offered is all about developing the camp. Maybe in time Patrols will want to hold Patrol Camps there? But I'm guessing the Scouts that they have today will soon tire of spending time 2 miles from home doing much the same thing. I do of course know that location isn't everything and true leaders with imagination seem to have a knack of bringing out the best in the kids that they serve. In the interview Mazzuca, talks about us remaining relevant. (The question asked if we were in danger of becoming like the buggy whip?) I liked his answer a lot. I agree with him that our core values are a keeper, but we need to provide programs that the youth members see as being relevant. If we are going to devote so much time and energy and the Scouts are going to work so hard learning and developing these skills? Surely we owe it to them to provide more opportunities for them to put them to use? Eamonn.

fishbelly from Lick skillet! I think that sounds wonderful. Like the other members have said we are not lawyers or the police. One thing I'm trying to get better at is forgiveness. I was very much the kind of fellow that if you crossed me, I wanted my pound of flesh. I work with convicted criminals, some have done some real nasty stuff. They are paying for their crime by being incarcerated.Many are also making some kind of financial retribution as well. These are adults, but being as the place I work is called a Correctional Institution, the hope is that once thy have served their time and get out they will do right. In the bible we have the parable of the Prodigal Son. I have no idea how many chances we need to give or allow a young man to do his best to turn around and do his best to live by the Scout Oath and Law? I would hope lots and lots. Sure we need to be firm, fair and consistent when we work with and for young people. But I firmly believe that 99.9% of all kids will benefit more from spending time with caring adults who set a good example and are true leaders than kids who are tossed out of Scouting and left to face whatever consequences are there. I of course don't know this Lad. I have no idea what he may or may not have done. If he is just starting to work on his Eagle Scout rank? I feel that there is a lot of time for him to turn himself around and earn the rank. The final approval will come from his SM and the Eagle Scout BOR. These people might see what he has done and could deny him the rank. Or they might see how much he has tried too change for the better and see a Lad who really is "Doing his best to do his duty to...." Lose the number of the lawyer, talk to the lad, tell him what is what. Don't sugar coat it!! But be willing to stand by him and offer him all the help, advise and if needed a kick in the pants. I'll bet in 25 years time he will come back and thank you. Eamonn.

I really don't want to reopen the First Class in X- Number of months dialog. But.... 1/ What do you expect a Scout who is First Class to be able to do? (Yes I can read the requirements, but having met the requirements do you expect a Scout to be able to use these skills?) 2/ When and where do the Scouts in the Troop you serve get to use these skills? Eamonn.

Congrats on being selected. I served as SM for one of our Council Troops at the last two Jamborees. The down side of selecting /voting Patrols and Youth Leadership. 1/ I received the list of who was going to the Jamboree. I played no part in the selection. In fact it was very much "First come with the deposit. - First served." 2/ I didn't know many of these Scouts. 3/Many of them didn't know each other. 4/Time!! While it is a fact that the Troops do fill up very quickly. In our Council about two years ahead of the event. Knowing when to start meeting as a Troop is a big problem. The Scouts and their parents have the details and are paying into the payment plan from when they sign up. Most of the Scouts who do sign up do as a rule tend to be the more active Scouts. 5/ I'm unsure how to say this without sounding unkind, but for many of the Scouts this will be the first time that they have been exposed to the Patrol method and you will be shocked at the lack of skills that most of the Scouts have. For the 2001 Jamboree. We held our first Troop meeting in October of 2000. I split the Troop into groups (Not Patrols.) We played some team building games and went over how things would work at the Jamboree and what the responsibilities of the youth leaders were. When the Scouts returned for the November Meeting I had made a list of who was in what Patrol and who the youth leaders were. My selection was based on my knowledge of the Troops that they came from and my knowledge of the Scout. I'll admit that age, rank in their home Troop and previous Jamboree experiences did come into play. (I did contact and talk with the youth leaders before the meeting.) The Patrols were selected by me and I mixed them up so they had an equal number of older and younger Scouts and not too many from any one Troop. The SPL and the ASPL had both attended the previous Jamboree. Both were 17 and to be honest did a not so great job. While it is true that the Patrols do set up camp and strike as Patrols and do cook and clean up as Patrols. I found that once the Troop was dismissed and the Scouts let lose to go and do there own thing around the Jamboree they did so in their own little groups. This at times caused problems as many of the older Scouts who hung out as a group were late returning at supper time and being as they were scattered among the Patrols every Patrol ran late. For 2005. I was older and maybe a bit wiser? We stated meeting in September.At this meeting we went over all that good stuff but I asked them to sort themselves into teams (Not Patrols) We then held an election for the POR's (Needless to say the SPL who was elected came from the Troop which was sending the most Scouts.) Then the Scouts were left alone to sort themselves out into Patrols, my only stipulation was that brothers couldn't be in the same Patrol. (I have had very bad luck with brothers trying to work together.)They also selected Patrol Leaders. The next week I held a PLC meeting and asked each Patrol to have their own Patrol Meeting and informed them that they were expected to have a Patrol name and Patrol yell for the October Troop meeting. We also added a Jamboree Troop camp out in the spring so the Scouts could get to know each other a little better and this gave us an opportunity to work on the gateway. The Gateway was only done because it needed done, my aim was trying to get the Patrols to get to know each other better and get used to working together. The big problem with the camp out was finding a date. I don't like the cold, so winter was out! The Jamboree Shake-Down is in May. The OA has a Spring weekend and we had to try and work around what the Scouts home Troops were doing. All in all I think this worked better. We did have a few problems with setting the site up. Some Patrols had more muscle than others and the Patrols with younger Scouts seemed to have a hard time getting things done. But we send the youth leaders over to give them a hand. For 2005 I also had PLC meetings before each Troop meeting which I think made a big difference. I found that Sunday afternoon / evening was the best time as even if the Scouts had been away with their Troop they were home by then. At the Jamboree we did hold a daily PLC meeting and we did ensure that anyone with a "Title" was doing what they were supposed to be doing. Every morning before we cut the Jamboree Troop lose we had the Youth Leaders do a camp inspection (Mainly to ensure that the scouts personal gear wasn't going to get wet if it rained.) The SPL gave the announcements for the day, the Chaplain said a prayer. We found an unsuspecting Jamboree Staff member and had them join us for the Polynesian Duck Dance. While the Scouts did form their own little groups once they were cut lose, it did seem that they were less mixed up than in 2001. Meal preparation at the Jamboree is not a big deal. It is however worth the time to go over each menu before you go to the event and go over it a day ahead. Bring bags for the days when you have eggs. Bring extra 5 gal buckets to hold waste water. Have a youth leader go with the Patrols when they dispose of the waste water. Impress on the Troop that once the SPL has done the nightly check in that they are not to go off exploring. The Jamboree is a wonderful experience for all the Scouts who are fortunate to attend. It is a fun time! It isn't about advancement. (Sure if a Lad wants to hang out with a buddy at the MB-Midway, that's up to him!) Don't try to over program the Scouts. It just doesn't work and everyone will end up feeling frustrated. I'm sure that you will have a wonderful time. Just buy into all the fun that the Scouts are having. The sub-camp meetings can turn into "Moan and groan" sessions! Some people are not happy unless they have something to complain about. If possible take the SPL with you and remind the people who are moaning that there are youth present! Have the SPL or the SPL accompany the commissioner when he or she does the site inspection. Find something silly that the Troop can do as a Troop. That brings the Troop together. (At WB it's the "Back to Gilwell" song, for us it was the Duck Dance) Eamonn.

While I think that the idea isn't all bad. I do have to admit that I'd be very uncomfortable if I were to be a leader having to deal with this. I have heard a few of our Sea Scouts talking about sex education classes that they have had in school, they (Male and female)seem to be at ease talking about the classes. Much the same way they talk about a history or an English class. In an episode of Inspector Morse, the investigation led Morse to a high school. He entered a classroom where the teacher was having the students practice putting condoms on bananas. The look on Morse's face was indescribable but in many ways sums up how I'd feel were I faced with a similar situation. Eamonn.

Yes I'm normal! Eamonn.

To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary.) Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories, except Kansas, which she does not fancy. Your new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect: ----------------------- 1. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour,' 'favour,' 'labour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise.' Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up 'vocabulary'). ------------------------ 2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ''like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter 'u'' and the elimination of '-ize.' ------------------- 3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday. ----------------- 4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot grouse. ---------------------- 5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public. ---------------------- 6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour. -------------------- 7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it. ------------------- 8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar. ------------------- 9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable, as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion. --------------------- 10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater. --------------------- 11. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies). --------------------- 12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America . Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries. -------------------- 13. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad. ----------------- 14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776). --------------- 15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season. ------------------ God Save the Queen!

I think you need to do what you think is right. For me that would be getting what was lost back. I'd be happy to get paid for the popcorn and recover any money that was paid out. I did once have a family that sold the popcorn and didn't turn the money over. After trying every which way I turned this over to a debt collector. The Pack recovered the money, the collector added his charges on to what was owed. We sadly lost a Cub Scout. Follow your heart. Eamonn.

Hi and Welcome. I'm really saddened that you have to ask such a question. Not knowing the details. The answer to: "is there a provision in BSA rules to remove that person from their leadership position and prevent them from ever holding such position again?" The answer is that there is no such provision. However. A chartered organization can remove a leader. While of course they don't normally just go about removing adults for no reason, they could if they so wanted. If the actions by an adult do place youth members is what might be called harms way (I'm not in any way trying to use any legal jargon, but many of the activities we do have some element of danger, so I didn't want to say a dangerous situation) The Scout Executive can revoke a persons membership. Of course the devil is in the details. I would hope that no adult would want to attend a meeting where there are youth present smelling like a brewery. But I'm not sure if this meets the "under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs " criteria? I have at times taken some fairly strong pain medications for back pain and have attended meeting where there are no youth present. There are also Scout functions where alcohol is at times served. (Never on BSA property or when youth members are present.) If the BSA were to try and make such a provision, there could be so many exceptions that it might end up making the tax code books look small. If you have a problem with a member of the unit you serve the best bet is to talk with someone in the unit. Start with the Committee Chair and the COR. If you have a Unit Commissioner you might want to talk with him or her. The District Commissioner might be able to point you in the right direction as might the DE. I do think that they will tell you that this is a unit problem (If it happened within the unit?) While they will offer advise of who to go to. They will not want to get involved. Eamonn.

I do have an ego. I try to keep it in check. I'm really hate not to win. But when I do lose I'm willing to admit it and move on. Even if the moving is not something that I was in favor of. Sad to say the District I serve is in a real mess. The DE we had was not very good, in fact even saying that is being more than kind. He was replaced in January with a really nice fellow, who wants to do a good job and is really trying. His boss the SE is also new to the Council. Both these guys seem to be very much "By the book" types. While at times I think they need to smile and maybe laugh a little more. I'm OK with both of them. Earlier this year the Council President asked the District Chairman to resign. I was very happy doing next to nothing, but agreed to come back as District Membership Chair. I kinda knew things were sad but I wasn't ready for how sad. I knew that we had lost some units. I didn't know that we had some paper units. Back when I was a member of the Key 3 we most defiantly refused to allow this to happen. I knew we had lost a lot of youth members and a lot of adult leaders. What with one thing and another I kinda got busy trying to more than anything recruit more youth members. The fact that we had dropped so many units and lost so many adult leaders was bugging me. School Sign Up night came and went. We did well, not great but well. About 25% down on what we had been doing about five years back. Considering we have about 25% less packs? That kinda seems in line. With that out of the way. I started trying to find out why we had lost the units and where the leaders went. I requested just about any and every report that Scoutnet can kick out. It soon became clear that all these lost unit leaders had joined a Pack or a Troop or a Crew that had the same number! They weren't lost at all!! Looking at the charters all these units shared the same Executive Officer, who also happened to be the District Chairman that had been asked to step down. It seems that rather than try and help any unit that was struggling, this fellow went and recruited the youth for the unit he was involved in and invited the adults to go with them. The Lions Club charters these units. The club is a little distance from where I live and I really don't know much about them. I did meet with a couple of them years back, one guy held the title of "Tail Twister". Which I thought was kind of funny. The other was the then President. I gave this Ex-President a call. (They sell really good brooms and I needed a few brooms!!) I asked how the Lions were doing and how they liked the President? Even on the phone I could tell that this poor fellow thought I was a head case. He told me that he was the President. I explained to him that he wasn't. In fact I had charters going back four years which stated this other fellow (The Ex-District Chair) was the president. He laughed and said that this fellow was a lion but was not the president and never had been. I ordered four brooms! The headline in one of the local daily papers this week read about how our RC Bishop was having to close some churches and was moving some priests around. Once I seen that the church I attend wasn't closing I really didn't read the article. At the District Meeting I was informed that a really nice Priest was replacing our parish priest. This new Priest is someone I know well. He is the Chaplin for our OA Lodge. One of the units that the District lost is the Pack chartered by this church and the Pack which I served as CM for. I have great hopes that we will be able to re-start the pack and I have my eye on a new member for the Membership Committee. Eamonn.

At this months District Meeting, a report of the Fall Camporee was given. I wasn't at the event. The report detailed how the event was a cycling event which was well planned and enjoyed by the Scouts who had attended. Sad thing was that only five troops attended. It seems that the SE had visited and the DE reported that the recommendation of the SE is that our District couple up with the District next door.They had a Camporee over the same weekend with very poor attendance. A few people at the meeting said that Fall was a very busy time of year and that more and more local communities seem to be having community festivals at this time of year. There wasn't really much discussion about the SE's recommendation. I being me?? Voiced the opinion that we have too many District events and that these events do get in the way of Troops providing a program of their own that is planned by the Scouts. Boy Oh Boy!! Did this wake people up. I got: " Scouts from small Troops need these events in order for them to see and know that there are other Scouts" I was OK with that one. My argument was "Do we need so many events?" I got: " The Scouts look forward to these events" My argument to that was." Clearly if only five Troops attended the last Camporee something must be wrong?" I got: "The weak leaders need these events as this is the only time that their Scouts get to go to camp" This one really got to me!! When I suggested that we cancel all District events for a year and replace them with Scout Skills Training for the "Weaker Leaders", many of those in attendance were clearly and visible upset. I thought I was going to be taken outside and hung drawn and quartered!! Needless to say nothing came of my suggestion. I still think it seems like a good idea. You win some and you lose some! I lost. Eamonn.