Eamonn

I didn't intend it to be any kind of a trick question. I just wanted to know if someone who hadn't taken the course knew what training people who had taken the course had received? If he was aware of the training he of course could judge if they were using it or not. For the record I wear my "Pink Neckerchiefs " ??? With pride. I wear the one I received after completing the Scout Course at Gilwell Park back in the 1970's. This course was all about Patrols. It might be worth mentioning that at that time in that place it was the only real outdoor training course available. There really wasn't any other Outdoor Training available. I wear the one I received after completing the Cub Scout Trainer Wood Badge Course. A entire week went by and the word Patrol was never used!! All the meals were provided by the camp. Participants were not even allowed to light a fire in their Den Camp sites. Later I went on to staff one of these Wood Badge courses. Are we now saying that because it wasn't a Boy Scout course that it didn't really count?? I wear the one I received after attending the BSA Boy Scout course, based on the 11 Leadership Skills. Later I staffed several of these courses. I'll admit to having never attended the 21st Century course as a participant. I have staffed a few and was honored to be the course director for one. All the participants in order to attend had taken the specific training's needed for the position they held before attending. Yes Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters were required to have taken the Outdoor Training's and the specific training's, where the methods of Scouting are covered and the Patrol method is looked at. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster outdoor training is spent as a Patrol. So what did we miss? At the old Boy Scout Wood Badge course as a staff member I remember spending a lot of time sitting around waiting for the Patrols to cook meals and invite me to eat with them, when we were done eating it seemed that we had to wait for every patrol to get done clearing up, before we could restart. If cooking meals and washing dirty dishes are the main thing in Scouting? We did one heck of a job!! The 21st Century Course is a lot harder to staff mainly because the participants are doing a lot more and learning a lot more about leadership. I happen to think this is a good thing. But never the less I will continue to wear my "Pink" necker with lots of pride. Eamonn.(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

While of course it is up to the Scout and his family to decide how active and how involved he is going to be and this will impact in some ways if he advances or not. There are however some really bad Troops out there that seem to think brining a group of Boys together once a week to play basketball is Scouting. Eamonn.

Maybe before you take on the Great Outdoors a few little hikes around where the kids live might be an idea? Maybe something like a Left -Right Hike. Where they make a left turn at the first road /street they come to, then a right turn at the next, then a left, then a right and so on. Inner city, in town hikes can be fun. Maybe providing a quiz sheet of things that they can find out as they move from place to place. Things like what are the times of the last mail pick up at the post office? What are the times of the Mass at All Saints Church?, when was Joe Darcy born from the local cemetery ? Once they get used to moving under their own steam you can try small hikes in the great outdoors. I have found that kids don't like hiking just for the sake of hiking. They need to either be doing something as they move along or have some kind of destination and maybe reward as the final goal. You don't post the number of kids? One problem with a large group is that they do tend to get separated and the guys at the front can be a long way ahead of the guys in the back. You might find if the hike is to short with no activities along the way that some of them will be done before some reach the half way point. Whatever you do will require planning and as it is new to everyone who is going everyone will need to know and understand what they are to be doing. One adult will need to be with the front end, one at the tail end. You might want to cover the skills that the youth will need with them when you meet with them. Eamonn.

"During Venturing Leader training it was suggested to ban adults from Ship/Crew meetings and have them meet in other room." I'm thinking this did come from the Scouts? To be honest I'm not sure how I'd deal with this. On one hand it's great that the Ship is thinking!! It's a little sad that the time to deal with it was when it was first brought up and of course now that time has past. I'd hate to go against something that has come from the Quarterdeck. Maybe at the next QD meeting you can have the Boatswain make this an agenda item? Once it comes up you can find out what they really want or mean. I do think that hard as it might be it is up to you to deal with this parent. She needs to know what she can and can't do. You might have to talk very slowly and use small words, but the message does have to get delivered. If you fail? Then it's time to get the Ship's Committee involved and have them deal with her.. In fact you might want to bring the matter to the Ship's Committee before you talk to her. I don't have a problem with allowing the Scouts to have part of the meeting without adults being present, but I'm not sure how this goes along with us (The BSA) not having any secret meetings or ceremonies? Or parents being welcome to attend? You and the Ship might be on thin ice? A total and complete ban on having any adults at all the meetings of course is not going to work and having a rule banning them is never going to work, so making the rule is a waste of everyones time. In the end the Scouts will see a rule that they made not being enforced and maybe will get the idea that "Their" rules don't count. Which of course is a bad thing. Eamonn.

"Should a Board of Review take 4 hours" Wow!! Bad as I am!! Even I don't spent that long in the confessional! I suppose the "Book Answer" to "Does BSA trust us to deliver the Program?" Is that it's really not up to the BSA!! Unit leaders are selected by the Chartering Organization. However as many CO's don't have the time or are unwilling to make the time? It becomes something for the individual and the Troop Committee to look at. I'm fairly happy with working with Scouts of all ages. I like to think that I'm not in any way dependent on Scout Summer Camp, the District, the Council or any outside group to help me guide Scouts through the requirements needed to become a First Class Scout. I do try very hard to ensure that the training they receive does everything possible to not only teach them the skills but also lots of opportunities to use the skills. I think that I'm very fortunate in having a good memory and can look back and remember what it was like to be a young Lad, this allows me to look for fun and challenging ways to present the training's and provide fun activities for the Scouts. I have never asked permission to do this? Or felt the need to ask!So as far as I'm aware trust has never been an issue. Each Scout will advance at his own rate of knots. Some will start off with a sprint and then maybe slow down, others will pace themselves. Scouts and Scouting for some Boy's will be the most important activity they do while for others it will just be something else that they do. That is their choice. I see my role as helping to provide a program that meets the needs of the individual. If we stop thinking of having a group of Lads all advance at the same time, at the same rate and look at each Scout as an individual and do what we can to work for and with him. Things seem to work out better for everyone. After all we do serve the Scouts in the Troop. Each and every Scout is different and trying to herd them through advancement is like trying to teach a pig to sing. Eamonn.

Joni4TA Have you taken the course? Ea.

PBS a few weeks back had a very good program about kids, computers and the Internet. I was very surprised about the amount of time they (PBS)said Kids spend on line. Back when I was a Lad dressing right having the right haircut and having a good collection of the latest music was part of being "Cool" Sure it was peer-pressure. (I dislike the word "Cool" but was unsure what else to use!!) For a lot of kids today all the stuff that I went through to be accepted (Cool?) has been replaced by pages on sites like Myspace. The Sea Scout we removed from the Ship last year"fought back" by leaving messages on the other Sea Scouts home pages. One Lad wanted to go and beat him up!! (Really hit him!!) Telling lies and spreading nasty rumors and stories on line is a new way of getting back or bullying. A lot of kids can of course take it with a pinch of salt. Sadly there are some kids who can't, some feel so bad about this that they commit suicide. There was a case in the HS where OJ went where kids went as far as altering a nude photo and placing a female students head on the photo and then send it out via e-mail and cell-phone. Another photo was taken from a porn site and this was altered.Then before long kids were getting the picture on their cell phones and computers. I'm 100% for the new requirements. Eamonn.

Gold Winger, Buxton Blue cheese. Cheddar cheese Cheshire cheese Chevington cheese Croglin Derby Cheese Dorset Blue Vinney cheese Dorset Drum Fine Fettle Yorkshire Cheese Five Counties cheese Gloucester cheese Harbourne Blue Huntsman cheese Ilchester Cheese Lancashire cheese Leicester cheese Lincolnshire Poacher (cheese) Lymeswold cheese Norbury blue Pilgrim's Choice Red Windsor cheese Sage Derby cheese Shropshire Blue cheese Stilton (cheese) Stinking Bishop cheese Wensleydale All English cheeses. Now it's your turn. Name some true American Cheeses.(I hope you don't think that yellow oily stuff that some people place on top of burgers is really cheese!!) Eamonn. PS Poirot was also an English invention!!

Don't know about anyone else. I feel that if they visit as military visitors that's one thing but when they are acting as Scouting volunteer leaders that's another. I'll bet they don't wear Boy Scout uniforms to work!! Eamonn.

" but I'll be damned if I will stand back and let my boys uniforms become a mess and a disrespectful to the BSA." I can't help thinking that this sounds like it was said by an adult!! I suppose that making a fuss is one way of fixing what the Troop looks like. Still maybe having a program and a Troop where every Scout is proud to wear the uniform, might take a lot longer, but would be far more rewarding for everyone. Eamonn.

Not to hijack the thread. The PA Department of Corrections has very strict uniform regulations. For both inmates and staff. I received an e-mail the other day informing me that the Uniform Committee had met and the institution where I work was one of three that had been selected to field test a new raincoat. I read the e-mail to a co-worker. He thought about it for a minute and was very serious when he said "What happens if it doesn't rain ?" I didn't have an answer!! Ea.

Have given this some thought. In theory it does sound good. I'm still not sure we have the man-power to pull it off? My big problem I think is that I have yet to see Venturing Patrols work in the "Real World" While I agree that Venturing and Sea Scouts are not supposed to exist as any kind of what I might call a Troop Extension Plan?? I do kinda think this is what is happening. Sure as I have posted many times I'm not a great lover of the Venturing Program as it stands right now. Most if not all the Crews in our area are "Spin offs" from a Troop and have Troop trained adults as Advisors. While I know I'm going to get jumped on for posting it!! In our area Venturing is a program for older Scouts, the better Crews do manage to recruit some females and non-Scouts. Please Bob, don't think I'm over stepping the mark. But some time back you started a thread, I think if I remember correctly (And I'm to lazy to look it up!!) It was titled something like "Now The Fun Starts" or something like that. Again,I might be totally wrong and off base, but I seem to remember how you posted that you and your son were looking forward with great anticipation to having a Venture Patrol. Not long after it seemed to me that your son and his Dad!! Had joined Sea Scouts because the Venturing Patrol hadn't met the expectations. Last week someone posted that the Troop that had been doing OK with about 40 Scouts was expecting or was getting 20 new Scouts from Packs in the area. 33% of the Troop will now be new Scouts aged about 11. I don't know the age of the other Scouts in the Troop? From what I see (Again in the area I'm in.) Is that we do a good job of having Webelos Scouts cross over into the Troops. The District I serve as a rule sees about 75% of the Second Year Webelos Scouts cross over. A year later we seem to lose about half of these Scouts. Two years later we lose a few more!! By the time these Lads are 14 or 15 years old there are only a few left. This year I'm tracking the number of Third and Forth year campers we have at Summer Camp. Most of the older Scouts I talk with do not want to work with the "Little Kids" (Their words) Most Troops seem to have a hard time managing the big number of Webelos Scouts who all arrive at the same time. At times these Lads who cross over make up more than 50% of the Troop membership. Troop Adult Leadership Teams do seem to focus more on catering to these younger Scouts. A lot of the older Scouts get involved in activities that make attending Troop Meetings and Troop Activities hard or next to impossible!! So that at an average Troop Meeting or Troop Activity these younger Scouts are the majority. So of course the adults spend more time meeting their needs and wants, sadly at times forgetting the needs of the older Scouts. But I think this is just the way things are. Eamonn.

Sadly there are two things that Americans have yet to master. One is making good cheese, the other is making tea. The tea is so terrible on this side of the pond I quit drinking it. I don't think I'm a snob. I do drink a lot of coffee. At standing camps I use my French Press. I have been known to use them bag things!! But it takes about 3 of them to make something that tastes like coffee. I also use a stove top Espresso coffee maker. Normally with a Italian bended coffee, or I will just let the grinder run for a while. At home we have a machine that we fill with the beans (Normally Kona). You set the dial for how many cups and it does the rest. Putting egg shells in coffee? Man Oh Man I hope you check that they are clean first!! You might be better off taking an egg white from a pasteurized egg beating it slightly and adding it to the pot. The protein in the egg will coagulate and hold the coffee grinds this is how you clear a consume. The shells really do nothing for the coffee it's the egg white in the shell that's doing the work. (Yes among my other talents I am a Certified Executive Chef.) Ea. PS SctDad There are times when sending some one out to the nearest gas station is the best idea!!

There used to be an ad on TV back when I lived in the UK. I think it was for chocolate fingers? The catch phrase was "Brian, my brain hurts!" At the risk of sounding like a dumb bunny. I have been following the thread about crossing over. While knowing and understanding that only older Scouts can participate in High Adventure activities. I have to admit to not in any way limiting everyday, run of the mill Troop Campouts and the like to any specific age group. In fact I never ever thought about it!! As a rule we (The PLC along with a few of the adult leaders) met sometime during the summer and worked on an annual plan. We worked on a plan for the entire Troop. Never taking into account the age of the Scouts. When the event came along, details were given to one and all and anyone who wanted to sign up was free to do so. The theme for each camp was planned in advance, but was broken down into what might be called skill levels (Of course I wasn't really aware that we might always be doing it that way!!) Even if the theme was one thing -Lets say Orienteering, the younger Scouts still had opportunities to work on basic skills like meeting the requirements for sharp tools and cooking. They did this under the watchful eye of an older Scout or a adult who wasn't sleeping (Joke). I kinda like the idea of us doing more age specific activities. I'm not sure if we have the time and the man-power? I do see how older Scouts do find that doing the same old same old does get tedious and I have heard them say as much. In fact they give this as a big reason for joining Sea Scouts. Many are not really into Sea Scouting as such?? But do want to participate in something that offers new challenges. I am going to have to give this "New" idea some thought. Eamonn.(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

We have a "New" District Chairman. A truly wonderful fellow. He is my best friend. So much so that in my will had anything ever happened to both me and HWMBO, he was the person we wanted to look after OJ. I think the world of this guy and even though at times we do argue we have remained friends for the past 30 years. He served as our District Chair. some time back. He was the Chairman twice, then we had another friend of mine, who only served two years of his 3 year term. He quit because the SE and him couldn't agree on the District financial goals. I had been District Commish and was asked to serve as District Chair. Which I did. I served my 3 year term. To be very honest I wasn't very happy serving as a District Chairman and was really happy when my 3 years were up. I was a little upset when the person I had taken under my wing and had groomed to take my place was for some reason passed over for District Chairman. "My guy"?? Is /was the president of our local bank. My Mother-In-Law had been his Den Mother, he had a boy in the program. (Sadly the Lad who was one of OJ's best friends. Had an argument with his mother, left the house angry and mad and ended up crashing his car and killing himself.) The person the "Council" (The SE did override the nominating committee!!) stuck in to serve was a local attorney. A nice enough fellow, but I think the SE wasn't very clear or very honest when he explained the position and what was entailed to him. He didn't last a year. I by this time had got involved with the Ship and rightly or wrongly was happy to let the District get on with whatever it was they were getting on with. After the attorney departed somehow someway a guy who had served for a year as District Commissioner with me and just didn't get it!! Was asked to serve as Chairman. He did a terrible job. Things went from bad to being very bad. Everything seemed to be falling apart. Things got so bad that the Council President stepped in and asked my good friend to come back and serve as Chairman. Mike (My pal) really does have a wonderful understanding of the program and the workings of the BSA. I learned a lot from him. (He was my mentor when I served as WB CD). The District Committee we have in place now is a shambles. Some people openly admit that they are only there because they want to earn the knot/key!! No one seems to grasp the idea of the function of the District. Meetings seem to be about managing the next event that is coming along. It's just a mess. Mike seems to think that by doing things by the book and to the letter he will be able to whip this committee into shape. I was at the first meeting he chaired and it seemed to me that a good many of the committee didn't get where he was coming from and it kinda looked to me as if he was coming on to strong. Needless to say being as we are such good friends, I did tell him about this. I think it fell on deaf ears. He is still going full steam ahead. I think he needs to slow down a bit and try the softly, softly approach. Working with individual members of the committee one on one but this isn't happening. He has asked me to present a District Committee Training next month. I of course said that I would. The syllabus for the training is not the greatest. I'm meeting with him to see what he wants to do!! While he hasn't as yet really said anything!! I get the impression that he really doesn't want to be the Chair and might have promised the Council President that he will do it for a year until he trains someone else. We have a brand new DE who really seems to have the makings of being outstanding. We have a SE who is due to start next month or the month after. For my part? I don't mind helping out. In part to help Mike and because he has asked me. But there is no way I want to ever serve as Chair again. Sadly last week we found out the cancer we thought we had beaten has returned. HWMBO (Jamie) Started another round of chemotherapy last week. Any and all prayers and kind thoughts would be very much appreciated. Right now I feel like I have been kicked in the gut. Much as I want to help the District get back on track and help my pal. I just don't have the time. Working with people one on one is the way that I'd try and get things done. Sadly he seems to want to hit everyone over the head with the book and almost bully them into following the book to the letter. It might be that we are just two very different people who do things very differently? I of course hope and wish that what he does, even if I'm not in total agreement with it works and I'm willing to support him in all of his efforts. Eamonn.

Back in the day... When I was CM. As a Pack, we kinda sorta tried to advance Cub Scouts from rank to rank sometime in May. What did tend to happen was that one Lad in a Den would meet the requirements a little early and soon there after it seemed that most of the requirements that were needed were somehow met by all the other Scouts in the Den. The Scouts who did earn or receive the Patch (A Wolf became a Bear), remained in the Den until the Den graduated in May. Most of the Dens did close up shop for the Summer. But the Pack did have a summertime program of sorts. We participated in the District and Council events offered (Day Camp, Resident Camps, Parent / Son Camps, Cub Scout Olympics) Had some sort of a big Pack Outing and the Pack Picnic. Over the Summer the Adults met and planned the calender for the following year, with Dens restarting regular meetings when the School year started. To be very honest I thought and still think that the Scouts who had been Webelos Scouts One and returned in September as Webelos Scouts Two, were in many ways just killing time. The Pack B&G Banquet was in February and it was then that we crossed over the outing Webelos Scouts. We did it at that time because it had always been done that way and it seemed that everyone else did it that way. In fact it wasn't until I read it this forum that I heard about some Packs not doing it that way. The program for the Second Year Webelos Scouts was good for September and October, we spent a lot of time outdoors working on the outdoor Activity pins, but come the holidays we did slow down a lot and depending on how much snow we had got January was spent just finishing left over Pins and getting ready for the B&G. As a Cub-scouter, I really didn't care what happened in the Troops that the Scouts who crossed over did!! They and their parents had made their choice as to what Troop they joined and I had no say in what went on once they gone. The reason I always heard for crossing these Scouts over in Feb. Was so they would have time to pay for Summer Camp!! We did pass on the money that each Scout had in their account to the Troop they were joining, so this as a rule was more than enough to help them on their way. I'm very much aware of how big a woozy I am when it comes to cold weather camping. Here in SW -PA it can remain cold until mid or late April. Most of the Webelos who did cross over did not have the equipment needed for winter camping, and they didn't have the training or skills needed to participate in this sort of event. I have been amazed at how some Troops allow these little fellows go to our District Winter Camporee. (Held in early March) I have seen young Scouts wearing tennis shoes. Some Troops don't provide tents, so the parents have made the trip to K-Mart and bought the tent that sells for less than $20.00 and packed their kid off with his Power Ranger sleeping bag. Maybe, just maybe? If the Cub Scouting program ended at the end of First Year Webelos, Scouts who joined the Troop in September could receive winter camp training at this time? But there again the Cub Scouts in Hawaii might not need it and I'm only thinking locally? Eamonn

I haven't been involved or around Cub Scout Training's for some time. I was our Council Training Chair when BALOO first came out. My understanding of it then was that it wasn't supposed to be taken by adult leaders. It was aimed at people who didn't have a leadership position in the Pack. Something maybe along the lines of the Pine Wood Derby Chairperson. The idea being that the CM and DL's were busy looking after the Scouts that they knew. Having a BALOO trained person left them to do their thing. A lot of what the course covers has little or nothing to do with a trip to a Battleship. Which other than the Scouts sleeping over is not really that different than the Pack going to a baseball game? Is an overnight trip to a Battleship or a museum really an outdoor activity? The BALOO is after al Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation. I suppose it comes down to how you interpret "Outdoor"! I do have some concerns that insisting on too many training's for the parents of young children will end up harming the program. Eamonn.

Hi, While you might hold positions in more than one Council, you should only have one primary registration. If you have more than one? Something isn't as it should be!! The easy way of knowing where your primary registration is? Would be the Council that receives your annual registration fee!! (You should only pay one fee.) In the Ship we have adults who are leaders in one Council, but are Committee Members with the Ship. They pays their money to the other Council and are listed as multiples with us. While I'm sure given the chance they would love to join our Lodge, sadly they are first and foremost members of that other Council and should belong to that Lodge. They could of course make the Ship their primary spot and enjoy the benefits of belonging to Wagion Lodge #6 and wear the Thunderbird Patch!! But some people never learn!! (Just Joking!!) Ea.

fastbow Hi and welcome to the forums. The state of the uniforms in the troop didn't happen over night. Fixing the problem isn't going to happen overnight. Have to say if I were the SM and I found out that someone was kinda going over my head and talking to the Committee Chair about something that had just been mentioned to me? I might be a little bit put out!! That of course might just be me being a little over sensitive!! While of course doing something right is a good thing. Take care that you are not in some way setting your son up as some kind of "Goody Two Shoes". No older Scout especially a PL wants to hear a little fellow who harps on about his Dad is right all the time!! If you are not involved in the Troop?? At this time I think I'd be happy just sending my son to Scouts dressed as neatly and correctly as I could. If this is causing a problem? Maybe there is some other problem? I really have a bit of a hard time seeing that a PL??? Would tell another Scout he had to resign a POR all because of the placement of a patch. If a PL is really doing this kind of thing? Uniforming isn't the big problem in the Troop!! It's much more than that!! You might want to send the SM an e-mail, telling him what has been said to your son in the e-mail include the link http://www.scouting.org/media/insigniaguide/06C.aspx What happens next is up to he SM. Sometimes the reason why a Scout has a uniform that is stained and falling apart, is because it has been well used!! As Scouter's we can do our best to provide a program that inspires Scouts to want to look their best and be proud of the uniform. But at the end of the day most kids are like the one I have been feeding for 19 years. He has relied on us his parents to buy or replace his uniform. When he comes home from a uniformed event, his uniform goes into that strange land known only to her Her Who Must Be Obeyed -The Laundry Room!! Sure some of us can harp on about how a Scout should do his own laundry and be a super self-sufficient, self-reliant master of everything. But the truth of the matter is that the most common yell before a Troop meeting is "Mom, where's my uniform?" Things did change for OJ once he got really involved in the OA at the Section level. I think I even seen him one day trying to iron a Scout shirt and he managed to wangle a wool blend uniform out of me -At great expense to ME!! Back when I was a SM, I found the best thing that happened to improve the Troop uniforming was a big event where there was a lot of emphasis placed on uniform and looking good. We also had a inter-patrol "Patrol of the month" competition and points were given for each Scout in the Patrol being neat, tidy and in correct uniform. The winning Patrol got to wear a gold necker for the following month and the Patrol who won th most months had their Patrol name added to the Patrol of the year plaque, with the Scouts name as well. While maybe I just might have helped this idea along?? The decision to go with it and what points were given for did come from the PLC. Back when I was a young Scout we had to have a pair of polished shoes for Troop meetings. I never liked to polish shoes. So I would steal my brothers shoes (He spent one night a week at home polishing his shoes -Boy did he need to get a life!!)He is four years older than I am. When he found out I'd borrowed his shoes, he would beat the heck out of me!! Talk about brotherly love!! Eamonn.

I'm not sure what good a sheet of paper locked away in the Council Service Center which is closed for the weekend does anyone? Tour Permits as far as I can see serve little or no real purpose. Other than as some kind of a check list. Councils have no real way of ever checking if all the information is right and I think if they could I'd be a little worried! I don't want some person who maybe I don't know? Who could be hired off the street with little or no training? Looking or being able to look into information that maybe I don't want someone to look at without my permission. On the other hand I'm all for leaders being trained. If everything was as it should be? Everyone would know and be aware of what training's were needed to do whatever it is that needs done!! It does seem that overnight trips for Cub Scouts who are going to Battleships, museums and maybe even lock-ins? Seem to have somehow either not been addressed or have somehow slipped through the cracks. As I see it BelindaB, has a problem. It needs to be fixed. If we want to serve the Scouts that she is serving we fix the problem. Later we can look at what the cause of the problem was /is? I liked to think I was up on all this stuff. I was wrong!! I never ever would have thought that BALOO Training was required for this sort of trip. Off the cuff I think I could come up with a few ways to find loop holes or ways to skirt around the requirements. But that isn't the example we should be setting for the Scouts we serve. I have only ever helped present BALOO Training one time. That was sometime back when I was serving as our Council Training Chairman. I can't help feeling that if I didn't know it was a requirement for a trip like the one posted? Something somewhere is wrong. Sure it could be me. But if no one knows? How fair is it to expect people to comply? To be honest having a BALOO trained person tag along who doesn't know the Scouts, just to meet the requirement is about as much use as pockets in your underwear! Even if it was my idea!! But if that's what it is going to take to get these Scouts to the event that they have been promised and are looking forward too? So be it. If I were BelindaB, I think I'd be a little upset at the powers that be for not making me aware!! The Pack has been camping in the past. What happened to the rule then? If it is a new rule? Did everyone miss the memo? I am all for us doing everything we can to keep the kids we serve safe and I do think adults trained in dealing with age appropriate activities is a good thing. If however we are going to mandate these training's not telling and letting everyone know is a great disservice. Which will result in people skirting the requirements and looking for the loop holes. Eamonn.

The Ship when it meets indoors has a 90 minute meeting. We start on time and end on time. That is the meeting ends on time. After the meeting several Scouts do the clean up. We don't have any real time set to reflect or do anything that might be seen as "Structured". People do seem to want to hang out for a while. After we leave the building we have a parking lot meeting!! Normally a few Scouts a few parents a couple of adult leaders and myself. If something has been left undone or needs doing?? We either drive to my house or go for ice cream or a burger and try to see about fixing what needs fixed. Of course in Sea Scouts the youth are a little older. As a rule we do call it a night by 2200. The $64,000 question here seems to me to be "What does the SPL think about this?" There were times when OJ went from school to the Troop meeting (Mainly during track season) and still had to do his homework when he got home. Ten minutes isn't the end of the world, but ten "Scout minutes" can sometimes be close to thirty real minutes. I would hope that this extra time is explained to the Scouts before they run for office. Ea.

How very sad. My heart goes out to his family, friends. I will say a prayer for all the members of Troop 112. I can't even imagine how the leaders must feel. Luis Alberto Ramirez is in gods hand. May he and all the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen. Eamonn.

I think you need to stop looking at the Ticket idea. Start thinking of your vision and your mission. You might want to think of it along the lines of having a big family holiday meal!! First you need to think what holiday? (The position you serve) While of course you can have hot dogs and hamburgers at Christmas or you could have turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce on the 4th of July. But most times people do tend to follow tradition. Next look at why you are having the big family meal? (Your vision) Different families have very different reasons for wanting to come together for a big family meal. Next close your eyes and think about the event. Think about the food that will be served the way the table will be laid. This is your mission. Once we have these in place we can start making lists of what needs to be done. Order the food. Clean the silver. Cook the food. Lay the table. These are your goals. To try and put the goals before the vision and the mission, just isn't going to work. Having the dining room table set for a picnic that will be served outside is a bit silly!! Buying hot-dogs when your eating roast lamb? Your vision might be about you!! What do you want to become better at? (Something you can use to help the Scouts you serve now and maybe in the future?) Your vision might be about the Pack, where is it now? Where will it be in five or ten years from now? (Yes after you have gone -Remember the guys who planted the acorns, it took 400 years till the beams in the church needed to be replaced!!) How is the Packs relationship with the CO? Would building or re-building that help the pack in the years to come? How is the Packs uniforming? What might be done to make it better? (A Uniform exchange or bank?) Something like this could go on long after you leave. Writing a ticket really isn't that hard!! You do need to get your vision and mission in place before you go setting goals. It is important to remember that it should be your vision and your mission. You might want to start from looking at what isn't as good as it might be? Or you might want to think about what will still be around long after I'm gone!! Good luck Eamonn.

Give the District Training Chairman a call ask him for a list of people who have taken the training. Call people on the list and invite one to come with you. Or ask the Training Chair if there is some way he can do a one on one training ASAP. Ea.

Yes. As long as you are not alone!! (That was a joke!!) Ea.