Eamonn

Thanks! Eamonn

" The request comes from the Charter Org and the District Executive" Hi hherifor, Welcome to the forum. I have to admit to having never heard of a Troop Audit, at least not as you have posted. While I'm sure the DE is a very nice person. I kinda feel he or she might be guilty of over-stepping the mark. A lot of units do seem to have questions about how the finances are managed. I can and do see that maybe a CO might want to have someone with some knowledge of Scouting to take a look at what has been going on and what is going on. But the DE? At the risk of being totally wrong. (Not for the first or last time, I'm sure!) I think he is out of order getting involved in something like this. While I can see that the CO is able to take whatever steps are needed to sort out the finances and "Fire" any of the adults he takes a dislike too. The DE has no say, no input, no ... shall we say power? To do a darn thing. hherifor, if I were you I'd want a very clear detailed picture of what is going on and why? Before I'd get involved in this. Talk to the SE and the District Chairman, along with the District Commissioner. My big fear is that the DE is setting you up for something that you really want no part of. A lot of DE's really have no idea what they are supposed to be doing. I think this might well be the case here. Good Luck. Eamonn.

I'm guessing that because I have no idea what a RWS might be? That I don't have one! Eamonn.

Ditto to just about everything that has been said. I was very young when I became a Scout Leader back in the UK. Looking back, I see that maybe my biggest problem was wanting things to move a little faster and maybe thinking that I was right and everyone else was wrong. - I kinda grew out of that. But I still see a lot of old codgers who seem to think that way! So maybe age wasn't a factor? Eamonn.

Hi SSScout Did you make it to the regatta this year? I'm not sure how they go about tings in Maryland? I served on an Area Committee for a few years, while a Regional Executive would keep an eye on a Council who might be between SE's, I never heard of one looking after a District. I somehow have a hard time seeing a Regional Executive answering to a SE? Have you maybe got something a little mixed up? Eamonn.

Back when I was District Chair and now I'm serving as a membership Chair. I was very worried that each and every year we had an organization ready and willing to become a chartered partner. It would seem that if Councils can become a CO, this was a waste of my time and energy? Looking at Venturing Crews that seem to be chartered by Council owned camps; We could bypass the CO completely. The SE could be the Executive Officer, DE's could be the COR. Heck if we really try we might be able to do away with volunteers all together!! Eamonn.

Northbell, Even as a "Helper Outer"? You can create the right sort of environment. As a rule (But not always!!) It is worth taking the time to look at "Why da do dat?". The old "The Devil finds work for idle hands" is very often true. Scouts with nothing to do will find something to do. Sometimes not what they should be doing! The cause of this could be: Poor planning? Poor Communication? Lack of imagination? Even with the best plans and with great communication things don't always work out. That super activity that was supposed to last two hours is over in an hour. This is where imagination is needed. A lot of Scouts will plead and beg for Free Time. Sadly the truth is that a lot of Scouts don't know how or what to do with Free Time. This is when the adult in charge (Or helping out!) gathers the youth leaders and helps them come up with "Plan B". I know that I would be unable to attend a BBQ and not talk for ten minutes.I suppose it could be argued that eating in silent meditation gave the Scouts time to think about their sins? I'm not really sure what lesson they got from it? From what has been posted it seems to me that the Lad who was sent home, was sent home for yelling at the SPL? Youth members really shouldn't be sending each other home. I can and do see that the SPL may have been upset. But I also see that if he was doing his job, he might have done something to prevent the rock throwing? - But I might be being unfair. I wasn't there!! Eamonn.

A good pal of mine in this forum has at times reminded me that we no longer use"Scouts and Scouting is a safe haven" and we now use the term "Scouting is a controlled risk". I really wish it was a safe haven, but I'm OK with the "Controlled risk". We take care to ensure the safety and well being of the people we are with and others. We do however at times take risks. This is part of the program and if we were to remove all the risks, there wouldn't be very much left. As volunteer leaders we take a risk every time we take Scouts away. We control the risk by knowing as much as we can about the Scout. Just as we want to know if he has any health issues, we also want to know how the Scout acts. We have communicated to him and his parents what is expected and what is unacceptable. Different Scouts react and act differently in different situations. Some Scouts I have served will react to "The Look". Others will require a word in their ear. For my part I try to be fair, firm and consistent. Scouts do need to know where they stand and what is and what isn't acceptable. Some time back I overheard a couple of Scouts talking, one said that Mr. Soandso was a real pain! The other said that he agreed but because he was always a pain he knew what to expect. As the people in charge of events and activities we make the call when the risk becomes more than we are happy with. Scouts who become too risky to manage can face consequences. These consequences can range from involving law enforcement, removing the Scout from the event or activity, a talking too or just a shake of the leaders head. While I don't buy into the "Boys will be boys" I do try and remember what I was like when I was the age of the Scouts. I may have my pet peeves (I detest spitting!!) but I do go out of my way not to make mountains out of mole hills. Making use of well run reflections is a good way of making the Scouts aware that their actions have consequences on the entire group, both good and bad!! Rather than going hunting for things that a Scout or group of Scouts are doing badly or wrong, go the other way and seek out things that they are doing well or trying to do well. Be quick to praise and reward, even it the reward is just a smile. If and when there is a need to have that word in the ear. Remember that the Scout is not charged with being the next ax murderer! This should be a learning experience. Ask open ended questions, let him tell you why he is having this word in your ear. Allow him to come up with a way of fixing the problem. Then hold him accountable for making the fix work. Behavior and discipline is all about relationships and leadership. Without wanting to come off sounding like I'm something that I'm not. I do believe that I'm a way too good a leader to have to rely on some contract or listing of rules. 99.9% of the time the Scouts I know go out of their way to want to please me. 99.9% of the time they know the difference between what is right and what is wrong. Something like the rock fight can be looked at in a reflection. They know all the reasons why they ought not be having a rock fight. You know that once they decide that rock fights are not such a good idea that it can be replaced with a semi orderly water fight!! Eamonn.

OGE, Do you agree that we could meet the mission, without the methods? (Just asking!) Ea.

I have to disagree about the Jambo. Each and every Scout I have taken has come home saying it was the best time. Some might say that it doesn't compare to High Adventure activities, but with a Lad having about seven years as a Boy Scout, there is time for him to sample a lot of what we have to offer. Still having said that. Looking back at the 2005 Jambo. If the people in charge had put into practice some of the lessons from WB? Maybe some things might have gone a little better. The leaders do need to be in good shape, in order to look after the Scouts. The more time medical staff spend looking after sick adults, the less time they have to tend to the needs of the Scouts. Looking good? While I was once well known for my sexy knees! Even HWMBO isn't as impressed as she once was. - I'm now telling everyone that white hair looks distinguished! Eamonn.

A couple of weeks back I was watching the NBC news on a Friday. The report said that gas had gone up again, I think it was up to $141.00 a barrel. By Monday the price at the pump had gone up. So far in our area we have been very fortunate our local stations have kept the price to $3.999 a gal. Crude oil (NYMEX) (per barrel) today was selling for $125.49 (up $1.05) from yesterday. The price at the pump has remained unchanged. Why the wait? Eamonn.

I think I might be guilty of wanting my cake and eating it. I'm a little .... Shall we say out of my comfort zone, when I hear Scouts and Scouting being talked about as the "BSA Brand". For a fairly long time I have been preaching that we (The BSA.) Needs to be more open to change and move with the times. Now it seems to be at long last doing something. I'm starting to act like an old stick in the mud. I'm not sure if I'll ever be willing to bid farewell to my drawer full of red-topped socks. I fear I'm going to look like a clown when I wear a uniform that hasn't been toned down. I wonder if when the cooking requirements return for Eagle if Councils will quit selling microwaveable pop-corn? My biggest fear is that I will not meet the standards of this repackaged BSA brand. Maybe it's time to hang up my beads? Eamonn.

" How many tire of GW's cracks and would like him to stop and how many dont think its really all that a big deal?" I for one am fed up with the wise cracks and snide comments. As far as it being a big deal or not? I have received PM's from other Forum Members asking why he is allowed to get away with behaving as he has been? The shame of it all is that at times some of his postings do have merit. My hope is that he will quit with the wise cracks. Eamonn.

So Bob what were you up to at Philmont? Ea.

I'm not sure how I'll feel if the red wool jacket goes. I only have one. It was a gift from Her Who Must Be Obeyed. To be honest I don't wear it very often, I wore it mainly back in the days when I was busy staffing Wood Badge courses. I have a 1975 Nordjamb patch on the back. I like the patch. It brings back fond memories. I think the reason I don't wear it is that it is just a little bit too bright and loud. OK if I'm in a crowd of others who are wearing them, but I do feel a little silly wearing it when I nip into the store for a gallon of milk. I never found it to be a very warm jacket. The wool was a little itchy when I wore it with just a short sleeved shirt. So while I'll be sad to see it go. I don't think I'm really going to miss it. I think it will end up with my other Scout stuff maybe hanging next to the campaign hats I never wear. When my time is up, someone can a field day selling all of this on e-bay. Eamonn

Most Troops in our area have the youth vote on what color the Troop t-shirt will be. The Troops that do wear neckerchiefs seem to have Troop Neckers that have been unchanged for a long time. Back when I was Day Camp Director I did go for colors that stood out, in order to make finding the little fellows a little easier. Eamonn

emb021 Please believe me I do know what is supposed to happen. But... As we have seen from other forum members some are in fact registered more than once. What about the Unit? Is this not counted? While, as I posted I'm gladdened to hear that some of these "Camp Crews" are doing something. I know for a fact that the Camp Crew that our camp has does nothing after camp and during camp they work as camp staff members, not youth members of a crew, same goes for the Sea Scouts who "belong to the camp staff crew in Georgia. I wonder how many of these Crews elect officers? How many of these officers plan anything? If these so called Crews do anything that they are not paid to do? While I don't know very much about insurance, I would think (I don't know.)That as employees these Staff Members would be covered by the same insurance that any other employee would expect to be covered by. Workman's Comp and all the other insurances that every other employer is expected to provide. Last time I checked OJ is still on the Camp Crew charter. He is no longer a youth member, he is now chartered with a Troop as an ASM. He isn't working at camp??? Ea.

While I am happy to hear that some of these units are indeed real and do something! I have for sometime wondered why camps do this? Our Council signs the youth camp staff up as a Crew. They never do anything, outside of camp staffing. Even youth who are registered as Venturers are members of this camp crew. We have two Sea Scouts who are staff members at a camp in Georgia. They are also signed up as Venturers in that Council? To me this is just plain daffy! For a very long time I have been told that the number of Venturers is a mess because Councils have played with the membership numbers. This would seem to me to be a case of first class messing. Ea.

Yes, I'll admit to being very spoiled. My mother took care of all my laundry needs until I got married. What goes on in our laundry room at home is something I'm happy to leave between Her Who Must Be Obeyed and the Maytag Man. I know a few years back when it came time to replace the washer and dryer, I was informed that it "Had to be Maytags"! The last time I was in Lowe's I was very surprised how cheap washers and dryers were!! Then I found out I was only looking at the bases you need to hold these appliances!! I couldn't help thinking if they needed to be higher from the ground ? Why the heck didn't they make them that way? I'm now hearing from HWMBO that a steam dryer would be nice? Of course in my little world I don't see that laundry should be rocket science!! It's just the stuff that you have to do before you stick all that dirty stuff in that big hole that is hard. One year I did try my hand at this fine art of laundering. We were at the International Scout Chalet in Kandersteg. The Scouts looked good at the start of the camp in their new white t-shirts with the international scout emblem across the chest. After my laundering they looked shall we say very fetching in their pink t-shirts with the international Scout emblem across the chest!! As a rule when I go to camp I take enough stuff. Which means I don't have to do any laundry. When I did need a uniform shirt washed I used to give it a quick rinse in washing up liquid. We did try the bucket and plunger thingy at the jamboree. I think we must have been a bit heavy handed with the soap. We had a heck of a job trying to rinse it out of the clothes. I gave up and we went back to using washing up liquid. I have ended up with the wrong shirt a few times when at Wood Badge I offered to do the laundry. Yes I'm the one who sends letters home telling parents to mark the clothes clearly with their son's name - What's that they say about practice what you preach? I did get lazy at the 2005 Jambo and bought a new pair of socks, rather than just washing a pair. -They are nice they have the jambo logo on and only cost $2.20 a toe!! Eamonn.

Yes my very British sense of humor went into overdrive as well!! After Christmas Lunch and the Queen's Christmas message, on Christmas Day most Brits end up in front of the telly. Nearly all the ads are for holidays (Vacations). Many families will plan the "Family Holiday" at the same time as the Scouts are away at camp. Most Scout Camps are Troop ran events and last two weeks. The family holiday is normally a week. In the eleven years I was a SM in the UK,never once did a parent visit us at camp. Most parents seemed happy to pack their son off to camp and do their own thing until he returned. Maybe the fact that school summer holiday (Summer Break) is only six or seven weeks had something to do with this? I'll admit that when OJ went to camp Her Who Must Be Obeyed and myself did make the pilgrimage up to camp. Not so much to see him, but more because it was expected. I have faith in him, his leaders and the camp, so I never really worried about him. I did miss him for not being home to mow the grass. Do parents really worry about their son when he is at camp? Eamonn

Much as I hate to sound really dense. I have no idea what "because the money is only "earned" in paper transfers. It isn't really "owned" by the Scout. " Means?? Help me out. - Please!! Here is how I see it. Troop 123 is chartered by the VFW. Members of Troop 123 belong to a youth program that belongs to the VFW. If the VFW were to choose a date for some sort of fund raising event and the Troop were to choose the same date. The Troop would have to stand down. (Of course the COR would have knowledge about this and it should never happen.) What happens if and when something goes wrong? A non-member is harmed? Who takes responsibility? Being as he isn't a registered member of the unit. Does that mean that in fact he isn't a Scout? A simple slip and fall could result in Lord knows what damages to a young person. (I know we don't like to think that it could happen. -But it really could!) With more and more sales being prepaid sales what happens when someone who isn't a member doesn't turn in the money? While I'm sure the police could be called, but who would cover the loss? The Troop. - Which they are not a member of? The VFW? We in our District have in the past have kids pretending to be Scouts selling stuff door to door. Is this any different? Chances are that this could and might go off without any problems. But it seems to me that it opens a lot of unanswered questions. I more and more think that the wise thing to do is wait until the Lad is registered with the unit. It just seems the right and prudent thing to do. (Sorry to come off sounding like an old worry wart.) Eamonn.

I'm still wrestling with how someone who isn't a member of the unit, which is owned by a CO can raise money? The Troop is part of the CO's youth program, allowing non-members to raise funds in the name of the CO? Somehow just doesn't seem right. Of course this could just be me! Eamonn.

It does seem that as I get older I'm becoming more and more aware of myself and my needs. Some might say that I have become a little less generous and more selfish. I think I'm learning to slow down and not rush into things. I'm also taking the time to stop and find out how I'm feeling. Where and when possible, if I know that I'm not feeling up to snuff I will avoid situations where there might be any sort of conflict. I know that if I'm in a bad mood or that something is bugging me that my judgments will be impaired. I know that when I'm tired that I'm not such a nice fellow as when I'm not. Over time I have learned that before I can deal with anyone else, I have to deal with myself. I know that while maybe I can for a while care for others, if I don't care for myself, in time I will no longer be able to continue caring for others and will be of little use to anyone. In an organization like Scouting one thing we all have to learn to do is say no. Very often we allow ourselves to think or be talked into believing that if we don't do "It" that "It" isn't going to get done and the sky will fall in. I have in the past been very guilty of talking people into taking things on that maybe they didn't want to do? Or just overloading people who already have enough on their plate. To tell the truth I used to see this as a gift!! There are some people who do seem happy to wear lots of hats and pass their time complaining about the fact that they are "Forced" to wear so many hats!! Some are able it seems to do the jobs that they take on, but they seem to make an art out of not being happy. I'm sure that isn't a good thing. Many of us are very passionate and very committed to Scouts and Scouting. Sadly a few do forget that there is a world outside of Scouts and Scouting and family and employment does really matter! Some do judge others commitment to Scouting by using the time and energy that they put in as the yardstick or they use this as a kind of blackmail to force others into taking on more than what is good for them. Eamonn

Back in the day!! One reason why the Troop I served grew so fast and so large was because we offered really interesting Summer Camps. We used to load the Troop vans with all the equipment and the Scouts traveled by public transportation. I am very worried about how the cost of things is going to hurt the families we serve. To be honest the cost of gas is not really a big deal to me!! Sure I hate seeing it at around $4.00 a gal. But I have cut back and a tankful of gas lasts me about two weeks. Someone in their infinite wisdom decided that our next District Meeting would be held up at camp. To my way of thinking this was just foolish and a waste of gas, so I sent my apologies along with an explanation stating that I thought it was silly and I didn't need a late night during the week!! The joys of old age? Last winter I used about 1,200 gals of heating oil to heat our house. The most I paid was $3.45 a gal. Looking at the cost of heating oil this year it is already costing $4.30 a gal. I'm hearing that the cost of all fuels is going to go up. $5,000 to heat my house is a lot!! Add to this the losses in the market and the what seems the ever rising cost of food. I can see that a lot of people are going to be cutting back. A few years back I remember I had closed the restaurant for the night and deposited the takings in the night deposit box. I stopped at a convenience store for a cup of coffee. The lady who waited on me made a big fuss of me (Boy I loved that!!) She went on how her and her husband loved to stop in for our all you can eat crab leg special. I think at the time we were selling this for about $24.00. On the way home I said to Her Who Must Be Obeyed that at times we forget that someone earning minimum wage has to work a lot of hours to come up with the $50 or $60 needed to go out for a night. While I think I would be willing to spend $600.00 on my son to attend summer camp. I can and do see that a lot of families just might not be able to afford it. On the other side of the coin,I also see that trying to sell stuff to other people who might be feeling the pinch is also going to be an up-hill battle. Sure $600.00 is only a little over the cost of a cup of coffee a day. But even Starbucks is having a hard time! Eamonn.

Information about Spiral Scouts can be found at: http://www.spiralscouts.org/ I'm not sure why? But a friend of mine who sits on the National Relationships Committee did mention to me one night when we were having dinner that they (The committee) had been looking into/at a Religious Award from the Wiccans. It was something that was just brought up after the salad!! So I don't have any of the details. While my 2 cents is not even worth 2 cents!! I was brought up in a Irish Roman Catholic family. At that time, at least as I seen it! We Roman Catholics were right and everyone else was just wrong or misguided!! We seen the Church of England as something Henry VIII, started so that he could get a divorce and marry who he wanted. At Easter we prayed that Jews would one day see the light! All in all I think we were a very smug group. I never really took the time or bothered looking at or finding out about other religions. I was feeling safe that my religion was the true path and I along with all the other Catholics had the key to open the gates of Heaven. While I'm still a practicing Roman Catholic, I now feel that while maybe? We still have the inside track, we do have to be more accepting of other religions and faiths. I don't pretend to understand many other religions.Working in a correctional facility, I'm very aware of some of the not so common religions (At least uncommon to me!) It is all too easy for me to put down things I don't understand and maybe have misconceptions about? Sometime back in this Forum, I was guilty of making fun of Druids. I did so not thinking that there are some people who really do believe what they are doing is right. Of course I might agree with them being right, but that doesn't give me the right to make fun of them. I did of course apologize. We now have a Sea Scout in the Ship who feels that he doesn't agree with the rites and ceremonies that many of the churches he has attended practice. He still believes that there is some God or higher power. He is exploring th idea of becoming a wiccan. We have talked about this, he feels fine with the Scout Oath and "Duty to God". He is not an atheist. To be honest I do tend to think he is just a teenager who is trying to find his way. I see my role as doing my best to be there for him, when and if he needs me. His parents are both very nice people. His Mom serves as a Ship's Mate. She is a Christian, but not very active in any religion or church. The PA DOC does permit Native Americans and other Indians to celebrate a hold a Green Corn Dance/ Feast. Last December an inmate filed suit against the Utah Department of Corrections for denying him his right to practice an ancient Nordic religion while behind bars.In the lawsuit he claimed he has been a member of the Asatru faith since 2005, and in order to properly practice it he needs items including: a Thor's Hammer, a prayer cloth, a Mead Horn used for drinking Wassail, a drum made of wood and boar skin, a rune staff and a sword. I'm not so sure I'd want to be the person giving an inmate a hammer and a sword!! I kinda think he might not get what he wants. Eamonn. (While I'm not in any way involved with the Spiral Scouts, I think it's worth mentioning that it is open to anyone. -That is you don't have to be a Wiccan to become a member.)