Eamonn

Hey Bob, I have a photo of you with some guy in a parachute almost landing on your noggin!! Man I thought I'd changed in the past few years!! Seems from the video that you got better looking!! (Just joking) Ea.

Source In a lot of ways (Not all) The Scoutmaster you assist kinda reminds me of myself. Our PLC met once a month, rarely if ever were ASM's invited. While the men who were my ASM's were my friends and we did meet most Sundays after church for adult refreshment.Where I in a very nice way informed them what was going on and again in a very nice way let them know what part of the plan they would be involved in. Of course I valued their ideas and their input. But if we (The Troop) were working on Car Maintenance that was what we were doing. I remember one Easter Camp where we had a lot of very young Scouts, it was very cold and never stopped raining. I gathered the PL's and kinda suggested that going home and breaking camp early might be the best thing to do. They (The PL's) were happy to go along with this. I never really thought to ask the ASM's (I think I might have told them what I was thinking.) To my mind I was the Scoutmaster, the buck stopped with me!! The safety and well being of the Scouts was my responsibility. To be very honest I really didn't care what the other adults thought about my decision. They really never had a vote or a voice. At one time we had a very young ASM. A super nice guy, the Scouts in the Troop thought he was really cool. He was very close to their age, knew what was in?? Had a really cool ear-ring (Back then it was a new thing!!) At times the Scouts would use him as a sounding board. Someone was unhappy about something they would go and tell Cliff (His name.) I suppose Cliff could have won the popularity vote if he had taken sides. But he didn't. The Troop had a plan and that was the plan. Very often he would tell an unhappy Scout to go and talk to his PL or the SPL. Most times he would come to me and make sure I was aware of what was going on. The role of a ASM is to assist the SM. The Scouts in a Troop watch the adults all the time all of us need to be sure that the example we set is a good one. Adults need to show that the leaders are united. If you are going to make plans when the SM isn't around? Maybe a quick call asking him if that's what he wants, is a better way of getting it done? If you want him to communicate more with you? Maybe you need to communicate more with him? Of course I don't know this guy. It could be that he might be the wrong person to be a SM? But my feeling is that as long as he is and you are a ASM, he does deserve your loyalty. If you really feel he doesn't deserve your loyalty? Maybe the best thing for everyone might be that you look for a SM that does? Or a Troop that might select you as the SM. If that happens? You can select your style of leadership, but remember the buck will stop with you and at times it can be very lonely at the top. Sorry if this comes off sounding a little harsh. I do wish you the best of luck. Eamonn.

"And Eamonn - Sea Badge I will this year if you will! " Do you know the details?? I'm away a lot this year. Going to Hong Kong to see my sister and Ireland to see if it's still there!! My brother is getting remarried so that will be a quick trip across the pond. This year I have lots of vacation time -But funding could be another matter. Sea Badge seems to run about $200.00, which really isn't a big deal. Problem is that it always seems such a long drive just for a weekend. If you run into a big problem with your Wood Badge, give your Council Training Chair a call -While you are talking to him you might want to let him know that you are interested in being involved with WB Staffing. Cluster Councils do ask Council Training Chairs to provide a list of qualified people who might be interested in serving on staff. If as it seems he is really not on the ball? You might want to have a word with the Pro in your Council who looks after training. (He can give Doug a call in the Regional office.) How much snow do you have up there?? Ea.

"bruising, poor hygiene or clothing, behaviors like withdrawal or overt compliance, sleep disorders, or a lad being' defiant. Sadness, sensitivity to teasing, low self-esteem, etc. " Wow There have been times when OJ has showed several of these signs. I can't talk for everyone, but in my case I think I'd need reasonable suspicion. Just about every kid I know will at some time show at least some of these signs. Many of us are nosy enough to want to know a little more. We would ask the kid, "Hey that's a nasty bruise you got there John, how did you get it?" If John tells us that his Dad punched him. We don't have prove that Dad did indeed punch him, but we do have a reasonable suspicion. It might be that we (Me) notices a pattern of abuse and neglect and when we talk with the kid something just doesn't seem right -Call it a gut feeling. I disagree with you when you talk about the person entering a home. When you report it you don't know if he has permission or not to be on that ladder!! I'm guessing if it's 2:30 AM, it's reasonable to suspect that a crime is taking place. If it's during the day and there is a big van marked Joe's Window Cleaning Service -Maybe not so much? The argument that reporting overtaxes the system, doesn't sit well with me. If the system doesn't work we fix it. I'm not sure how you do the math, in the short term it might seem that we are spending more money. But maybe in the long term early reporting does save money. Removing a kid from harm, not only protects the kid, it also protects the abuser from further actions which might result in prosecution for more serious crimes - It costs over $40k a year to house an inmate in PA. Two people not going to jail is about the cost of keeping someone on the hotline.(Maybe -I'm guessing!!) I have tried not to allow emotions to come into this, but surely we as a society have a duty to protect and serve the people in our society who are most vulnerable? The young and the old. I really don't think we are in any way tossing the rights of others out the window, when we act in good faith doing what is needed to protect and serve them. If more money or more resources are needed? I feel sure that there are areas when some spending can be cut. Or if need be a couple of extra dollars on a carton of smokes? Investing in the health and welfare of young people is never a bad thing to do. Here in PA, we already have a far better child health care insurance package than the one the president first vetoed. I'm at an age where retirement is looming up on me! OJ jokingly reminds me that he will be the one who picks what nursing home I'll end up in -He might be right but the kids we serve today are the people who I'm going to have to depend on in my old age -They will be the nurses, hairdressers, doctors and garbage men that I'm going to need. Protecting them is a wise investment. Ea.

"a spoof Mardi Gras knot with beads instead of rope...... " Had / has me confused. Easter is early this year!! You might be a bit late!! Ea.

It's getting late! Maybe I'm missing something? But... Maybe before we look at all this "Reporting"? Taking a long hard look at what is being reported? Would be in order? To this end- If there is such a thing as "Over reporting"? Is there such a thing as "Under Reporting"? I think everyone would agree that False Reports, which are used as some form of malice tool are just plain wrong. I personally think even in the BSA some people go a bit too far, wanting everything to somehow come back to a YP issue. Even when common sense would show that it's not. If we look at child abuse as an assault which is a crime, then surely just like any other crime we should report it? This isn't making average citizens part of law enforcement. It's about people (Some who are not citizens!) doing what they should be doing -Reporting crimes. For my part I hope that anyone who sees someone acting in a suspicious way entering my home would call the police -I don't care if it is OJ and he has forgotten his keys! I'll just be happy that someone is looking out for me. Is this really and different than reporting a suspicion of child abuse? Eamonn.

Having a sister who is a lawyer. These lawyer jokes never went over very well in our house. Thankfully English Law seems to be full of very colorful and at times even lovable characters. I was very fortunate that when she was moving from being a solicitor to become a barrister to be able to read some of her law books. While dealing with the judgments of Lord Denning were and still are every law students nightmare. I found just reading his judgments to be very entertaining. In Southam v Smout he states: The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail its roof may shake the wind may blow through it the storm may enter the rain may enter but the King of England cannot enter all his force dares not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement. So be it unless he has justification by law. In Miller v. Jackson (The Cricket Case)The first paragraph of reads: In summertime village cricket is the delight of everyone. Nearly every village has its own cricket field where the young men play and the old men watch. In the village of Lintz in County Durham they have their own ground, where they have played these last 70 years. They tend it well. The wicket area is well rolled and mown. The outfield is kept short. It has a good club house for the players and seats for the onlookers. The village team play there on Saturdays and Sundays. They belong to a league, competing with the neighbouring villages. On other evenings after work they practise while the light lasts. Yet now after these 70 years a judge of the High Court has ordered that they must not play there any more. He has issued an injunction to stop them. He has done it at the instance of a newcomer who is no lover of cricket. This newcomer has built, or has had built for him, a house on the edge of the cricket ground which four years ago was a field where cattle grazed. The animals did not mind the cricket. But now this adjoining field has been turned into a housing estate. The newcomer bought one of the houses on the edge of the cricket ground. No doubt the open space was a selling point. Now he complains that when a batsman hits a six the ball has been known to land in his garden or on or near his house. His wife has got so upset about it that they always go out at week-ends. They do not go into the garden when cricket is being played. They say that this is intolerable. So they asked the judge to stop the cricket being played. And the judge, much against his will, has felt that he must order the cricket to be stopped: with the consequence, I suppose, that the Lintz Cricket Club will disappear. The cricket ground will be turned to some other use. I expect for more houses or a factory. The young men will turn to other things instead of cricket. The whole village will be much the poorer. And all this because of a newcomer who has just bought a house there next to the cricket ground. How could anyone but love him? Of course with him living to be about 100 years old and serving as a judge until he was 83 with 38 years service there is plenty of material and little need for jokes. Ea. (I always liked that he never used "Legal mambo-jumbo") Sorry Beavah, I just couldn't resist the urge!!

Vicky, Calling the parent (Like you did!!) is your best protection. Hunt, You make a good and valid point. But the way I read the guideline, it is up to the parent. If a A Scout leader, is not willing to accept the responsibility of making sure a Scout takes the necessary medication at the appropriate time. What happens next is up to the parent. It might mean that a Scout has to not participate in the event. Or the Scouts parents attend? Or they make the Scout take the responsibility. Ea.

John, I'm a little surprised to hear that a Council requires WB training. In fact this is the first I have heard of it. I have been led to believe that at one time there was such a thing as a "Professional Wood Badge", I never as yet have met anyone who has taken the course. I was told that when the new course came along, this Professional course was discontinued, but was then brought back again. As I'm sure you are aware professionals do have their own trainings Professional Development. I know there is a PDL one and two, I'm unsure what comes after that!! (3?) A good pal of mine who works for our National Office (He works in the Relationships Division)has been involved in these PDL trainings for a long time. PDL One is very intense. Of course the goals for a new DE are very different than those of a volunteer. My friend tells me that in later training's they spend a lot of time training the pros how to deal with people like me!! Ea.

Could be that things are a little different in each and every District. Off the top of my head, -I can't think of any real "Rogue Units" in the District I serve. Sure we have a few people who don't seem happy unless they are having a moan and a groan. We have Troops that seem to have made Advancement and the Eagle Scout count their main goal. The District /Council has come to accept that Cub Scouts are the big pop-corn sellers and looks on Troops and Venturing units selling it as some kind of bonus. We do have SM's who tell new Scouts that they don't need to worry about the full uniform as their Troop doesn't wear it. We have one Troop that does a first rate job of recruiting. Each and every year it seems to recruit about ten new Scouts, but each and every year come rechartering time it recharters with five or six. SM, is a super nice guy! WB Trained, one of the biggest and best patch collections in PA, I'm sure that he'd make a great ASM. We did have one unit that was trying to mix the BSA program with a Campfire program?? Never did work out how they went about it? Couldn't have worked very well -They folded. Kinda funny on the way into our small town Penn-Dot has a marker for the unit for keeping the area clean it reads 130 Campfire Scouts!! We are a small District, people in our area don't move a lot, the leaders have been around for a very long time, we tend to all know each other. Unless there is food at a R/T meeting attendance can at times be a little spotty!! Just about every Troop goes to the Council Summer Camp, same week, same site! I wish at times they would ask the Scouts where they want to go? But deep down I know it's never going to happen with the leaders we have now. There is one Troop in the Council who wears camo pants. They have a wonderful program, they claim they have permission from a SE to wear these pants. No one seems to know which SE gave the permission. I talked with the past two SE's and they claim they were never asked!! Sadly we don't have enough Commissioners, so no one has to avoid them, in fact as things are now seeing a live one is a notable occasion. Maybe being a Rogue Unit is too much like hard work for our guys? Maybe things have been as they are for so long that everyone just accepts that things are as they are? Could it be that there is a little bit of a "Rogue" in all of us? But when it comes to "Pushing it" we know when to say when? Ea.

Sorry Beavah, Seem to me that you are muddying the waters. I'm not sure what: " but it can be worth learning CPR for da professional responder and AED use, which goes a bit beyond simple; it can even help to have someone who gets a higher level of training'. Certainly, it shouldn't be discouraged." Has to do with this thread? Maybe a spin off to take a look at the Good Samaritan Law doctrine is and its purpose might be an idea? All States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands have statutes identifying mandatory reporters of child maltreatment. A mandatory reporter is a person who is required by law to make a report of child maltreatment under specific circumstances. Approximately 48 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the territories have designated individuals, typically by professional group, who are mandated by law to report child maltreatment. Individuals typically designated as mandatory reporters have frequent contact with children. Such individuals may include: Social workers School personnel Health care workers Mental health professionals Childcare providers Medical examiners or coroners Law enforcement officers . My thinking is that these people know their job and do what they have to do. Here in the BSA,if I'm standing outside the dining hall and a Scout comes to me with a black eye and informs me that his SM has just hit him. The training tells me that I report this to the SE. If I'm at home and a boy comes to me with a black eye and tells me that Mom's boy friend has hit him. I can call 911 or I can call one of the Child Abuse Hotlines. Some states will allow me not to give my name, while others will require it. A lot of states do require that the reporter and the child be in the same state. I don't know what training SE's receive. At the risk of being very wrong, I think that maybe some of it has to do with protecting the good name of the BSA? If CO's have additional requirements that they deem to be necessary to protect the children that they serve and their good name? I think they (The CO) will inform volunteers who serve in these units what the requirements are. Some people find the YP training we have in place now, hard enough to understand, adding a lot of legal Mamba-jumbo is not helping anyone. Anyone who wants can take the time to research as much or as little as they want. If they feel the urge they can go to law school and take the bar exam, going on to specialize in this area of law. But for most of us everyday Scouter's, we take the training as offered and do our best to follow it. If we are unsure about something as it pertains to Scouting and the BSA? We talk to the SE. Outside of Scouting, we can seek advise from professionals who deal with this sort of thing. Eamonn.

John, "logic was they had come to know the Scouter the best" It might seem that way? But.. There are lots of reasons why this might not be the case. Our Council is part of a WB cluster. So TG and participants come from different Councils. Could be that the TG is not the best person to be the Ticket Counselor for the position that the participant holds in Scouting. I was a TG for a Beaver Patrol,at a course 200 miles from where I live, none of the participants were from my home Council. Most of the Patrol were in Boy Scouting, one was a Cub Scouter, had they lived a little closer to home I think I could have done OK as their Ticket Counselor, but one was a Vice President of Venturing in his home Council. His ticket had a lot to do with Council goals for Venturing and working with the Executive Board in his home Council. I had never heard of a VP for Venturing!! The Council I serve doesn't have one and never has. While I didn't comment on the position, my thinking was it was a little odd!! We don't have Council Vice Presidents for Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting. But that just wasn't my call. When I served as Course Director, our SE was a participant. We needed to find someone who knew the workings of a Council and had some idea of what the job of a SE was. His TG was a great Boy Scouter, who had been part of the Training Team and active in the OA for a very long time. He had never served on the Executive Board and knew little about the workings of the Council and beyond. Working with our Council WB Coordinator, we came up with your's truly being his Ticket Counselor. To be very honest I had put in a lot of hard work getting the course ready and pulling it off. I was ready to move on and the idea of another 18 months working with this guy wasn't my idea of fun! As it turned out it wasn't that bad, we really got to know each other. We didn't always see eye to eye on how things should be done -I helped him see the error of his ways!! As it happened his ticket was mainly about membership and the Good Turn for America, so we were both on the same page. As to the "Real What's Next"? I hope that Dave is invited to serve as a Staff Member. Having the opportunity to go over the course again, look at it and break it down so that others can understand it, is by far the best way of really understanding it yourself. Ea.

Lisabob If we are really willing to stick with a "Youth Led" program? We have to accept that at times what the youth do is maybe not in line with what we might do or even like. The Scouts for what ever reason have opted to go to this camp. Chances are is that it is going to be wonderful. But for a minute lets pretend that it isn't wonderful. What will the Scouts learn from their choice? I kinda think that there is a big lesson about Communication, the giving and receiving of information? I'm not sure but maybe there is something to be learned about Representing The Group? And maybe even the old Guided Discovery might be in there? Of course it's sad that the only way to find out how good or bad it is going to be? Will only be found out after the event. I do think that bringing the group that chose to attend this camp together after the camp for a Reflection and asking if they really had enough information before they made their choice? Might be a good idea? It doesn't matter if the camp was wonderful or not!! Trying to look at this as an opportunity for developing leadership rather than maybe trying to fix it? Could be the way to go? Eamonn.

Vicki, Seems to me that you are in fact obtaining all the necessary information, and agreeing to accept the responsibility of making sure a Scout takes the necessary medication at the appropriate time. I don't know what the laws are in your state? But from what is in the G2SS I'd kinda guess that everything seems OK. While maybe different? I have a bit of a problem when there seems to be a rule that demands Scouts hand over their meds. As a parent I wasn't happy handing over the responsibility of making sure a Scout takes the necessary medication at the appropriate time. I was happy allowing my son to be responsible for himself and take his own meds. Which as I read the Guide it seems to say is OK. While not wishing to nit-pick!! I think maybe a good reason for not handing over meds to a "Layperson" might be because they will also make a point of researching any drug with which they are unfamiliar with. Maybe the Scout and his parents don't want you to know? This, I think is their right. Of course I could be wrong!! While maybe there is a good argument to be made for knowing? A scout who has tested positive for HIV/AIDS might not want everyone to know. He and his parents have the right not to share this information and if by handing over these meds, someone is going to find out?? While I'm sure you would of course deal with information like this as being confidential. Can we be sure that everyone would respect the privacy of the Scout? Eamonn.

I'm not sure what you mean by a Spoof Knot? Ea

"YP is nothing more than knowing the boys in your unit & using common sense. Knowing when & who to report abuse, neglect, or other types of child endangerment is the tricky part with the trickiest part being when to report. " Oh! If life were only that simple!! If you know the boy and he is in your unit that is one thing. I don't see how this helps cheffy with what he has asked? There he is 600 miles away. What should he do? (If anything?) I'm thinking maybe I'll retake the yp training!! I used to think I was good having presented the training so many times that I was expecting to receive Christmas cards from the people in the videos. Now? I'm confused!! My take was that if a Scouter suspected any kind of child abuse of a Scout he was to report directly to the SE. If the child isn't involved with Scouting and /or the person who is suspected of doing the abuse isn't involved in Scouting there are Child Abuse Hotlines and other ways of reporting the abuse. Ea.

Well done. Finishing the ticket isn't always easy. Not sure how things work in your Council. Here in our neck of the woods. As part of the fee for the course all the WB regalia (Woggle, beads and necker) were bought and paid for out of the WB course budget. The certificates were also bought and paid for. The Troop Guide was the go to person on the course and he or she approved the ticket. Meanwhile back at the Bat Cave. The Course Director working with the Council Training Committee came up with a list of Trained Ticket Counselors. They tried to find the best match or best fit, matching the right participant with the right Ticket Counselor. Someone who understood the job the participant was doing. In some cases this might be the person who was the Troop Guide on the course. There are lots of reasons why it might not be: Location, Specific role in Scouting, availability. When a participant had his or her ticket approved by the Troop guide, when I was course director. I made two copies. The original was sent to the Ticket Counselor, a copy was kept by the participant and I kept a copy. Participants were informed that they would be contacted by their Ticket Counselor, they were given contact information and were asked if contact wasn't made within a couple of weeks to get back to the Course Director. I mailed the Tickets to the Ticket Counselors, with contact information for the participant they were working with. There was at that time a little confusion as to who could approve changes to the ticket? Some said it was the Course Director. I couldn't see that!! I hadn't approved the Ticket so I didn't see how I could approve changes to it. We settled on the idea that the Ticket Counselor could approve changes, but would notify the Course Director. Once the Ticket Counselor was satisfied that the Ticket had been completed, he or she informed me. I let the Council Service Center know. They filled out the certificate and the information that the participant had completed the course was put into the computer. - This as far as I'm aware is all the information and only involvement that National has in this. I would contact the participant. Congratulate him and ask to be informed when and where the beading ceremony was being held and who was doing it? Once I knew that I made arrangements for the person in charge of the ceremony to have all the regalia so it would be at the ceremony. National isn't involved, so don't expect anything from them. Courses are approved and administered by the Region, the Region (At least the NE-Region) seems happy to let the Council do their own thing and most Councils seem happy to leave it all to the Training Committees, who seem happy to leave it with the Council Wood Badge coordinator (If you have one) or the Course Director. You might want to give the Course Director a call and ask him how things are done in your Council, maybe tell him what plans you have for your beading? There could be reasons for the delay. If the course didn't pre-order the regalia? It being around the holiday? Maybe the Ticket Counselor hasn't contacted who ever it is in your Council that needs to be contacted? I do think a quick phone call will help fix what needs to be fixed. Hope this helps. Again Well Done - Sea Badge here you go?? Eamonn.

" Gifts given to the CO group cannot be taken off their taxes, but gifts to the Crew can" I'm not going to stick my neck out and say this is wrong!! But it doesn't sound right!! "Yah, it's never bad advice to suggest consulting' with a local attorney. They're good people." Good they maybe! But most local attorneys have an accountant do their taxes! You might be better talking with some one who really knows the tax laws and how things are done in your state. Ea.

If the youth members chose this camp? Does it make any difference? Ea.

For my sins I have served in a lot of positions both on the District and Council level. Right now I'm involved with membership. You and the Pack need to be congratulated on keeping the Webelos Scouts active and in the program. Well Done. When it comes to membership? It really isn't rocket science, there really are only two parts to it: Recruitment and Retention. Having kept 16 Lad's in the program you and the Pack have shown that you can hold the interest of these boys. What happens next? As we know one of the reasons for having Cub Scouting is to prepare the boys for Boy Scouting. The final choice of where these Lad's go? Is up to them and their parents. The role of the Pack, should be to help them make a informed choice. If the local Troops are not beating a path to your door, you need to contact the local Troops and see what can be done to arrange for the Webelos Scouts to visit and see what each Troop does. Sometimes I think active Scouter's might be guilty of knowing a little bit too much! Troop A might not seem very "Boy Led", Troop B might not seem to do enough outdoor activities and the list could go on. But even with the things that a Troop might do or not do, there might be reasons why a young Lad and his parents might want to join that Troop. Parents might want to look at when the Troop meets. Is that a good time for them? Where is the meeting held? Is that close to home? The Boy's might have friends in one Troop and might want to be with their friends. Most membership Chairs and DE's will want you to start a new unit. In part because it helps make them look good!! From what you have posted "We live in town that has 11 Cub Scout packs and 4 Troops." It would seem that there is room for another Troop.However before I'd rush out and fill the New Unit Application, I think I'd meet with the adults who serve the Troop that shares the same CO as the Pack. I'm not sure what "The present Scoutmaster brought it back 6 or 7 years ago, if we go here there will be immediate issues about who will lead the Troop. After the "dust settles" we still have to realize we are chartered to an organization who views us as a hindrance more than an asset."? Seems to me that the Pack has done well with this CO? If all the Webelos Scouts and some of the adults were to join this Troop? Of course things would change. Hopefully for the better. How long will this Troop be around if they don't recruit new members? Doing what is best for the Scouts is far more important than "Leadership Issues". At times it's very hard for Cub Scouters to stop looking at the youth they have served in the Pack as being "My Boy's". There comes a time when it is time to let go and the right thing to do is give the the boy's "Roots and Wings, you have given them the roots, by keeping them in the program and with all they have got from it, now is the time to let them fly and continue with Boy Scouts in the Troop of their choice. If when all the options are looked at and starting a new Troop is what is best for not just these Lad's but the Lad's who will want to move from a Pack to a Troop in five, ten, even twenty years from now? Go ahead and Good Luck. Eamonn.

I don't like winter and hate being cold. Bing the person I am I can't leave a store that sells camping equipment without buying the newest and latest equipment. You name it and I'll bet I have it!! I like to think that if I'm away and it does get cold, I'm prepared for it. But I just don't think being out in the cold is my idea of fun. So I don't go. I'm happy to drive a group of Scouts who want to go and have the right gear and training. If for some reason adults are needed I'm happy to help find them. Being cold makes me more miserable than I already am! I hate it when my mustache freezes. No matter what I seem to do once my feet get cold they remain cold. I have tried drinking lots of non-alcoholic hot drinks, soup and the like the result is that I end up having to get up during the night to answer a call of nature and my feet get cold!! Hiking and staying in cabins or Youth hostels isn't as bad. But I'm far happier to remain home with HWMBO and the dogs. Occasionally I might get the cold shoulder, but at least my feet are nice and warm. -85 pound of dog makes a great foot warmer!! Ea.

Hi Cheffy -What's Cooking? To be very honest I'm not sure what you should do? As we see the debate about reporting is going on. But... From what you have posted all you have is hear say and secondhand information. It does seem that maybe your former PL might want to think about looking for another Troop? However not knowing all the details about the Troop he is in and why he stays there? This might be a bit of a jump. I have to admit to not hearing reports that seem a little over the top. While the SM's son may well have burnt the Scout next to him with a hot fork? Branding?? Might be a bit strong. Of course I wasn't there and really don't know the full facts. If you are close to this former Scout, you might want to phone his parents and get their side of the story. If things are as bad as they sound? You could tell them what options are open to them. Kinda lay out who they should contact and let them know how things work. I'm not sure but maybe if this SM is as bad as it might seem? And the Lad's parents agree, but still seem unsure of what to do? You could contact the Council that they are now in? I'm not sure how kindly they (The Council) would take to someone 600 miles away calling? My take on reporting child abuse within the BSA is that if we suspect it we are to report it to the SE. I think being so far away and only having the word of a youth member? I'd need more information before I'd make a move. If and I do say if there is a problem a report from people who are closer to home would carry more weight. The "Branding" report makes me wonder if the verbal and physical abuse might be a little over the top? While wearing my parent hat. I don't agree with paddling or smacking my kid, I know of several parents who do. This doesn't necessarily make them guilty of child abuse or even bad parents. Of course some people will disagree. I seem to remember that there have been several cases in different courts about this. Eamonn.

"Prestwick, or something like that in Scotland, what's to do there? " Prestwick is in Scotland, like many parts of Scotland the hardest thing for anyone who isn't from Scotland to believe is that the language they are using really is English. As a rule a big pass time is trying to stay dry. Scotsmen have found that if they stay home with a large bottle of their national beverage they can achieve this and if they drink enough of it they don't care if they get wet. If you are into golf? Prestwick, boasts of having several historic courses. At one time Prestwick Airport was a very big airport and I think there were several companies that were involved in aviation based in the area. The entire area is very historic, but that's true for most of Scotland, the Scots have never let facts get in their way! All joking aside!! Be very careful if someone invites you for "A wee dram" They have an enormous capacity for alcohol, warm beer and good whiskey will knock you on your tail real quick. If you get to eat a real haggis. Don't ask what's inside of it just think oats!! It is a great place for long walks and just being outside -Yes even when it's raining which it seems to be most of the time. A good pal of mine is the Scout Commissioner for the Commonwealth, but I'm not sure if Scotland has their own? I'll send him a line tomorrow and ask what the Prestwick Scouts are up to? Maybe you might want to visit a unit? Eamonn.

National Camp Standards. Apply for the event (If you get my meaning) Our Area Committee has a Summer Camp Visitation Team who armed with a copy of the Standards visit the Summer Camp and depending on if the standards are met or not handout the pennant. I have never been a part of the visitation team. But they look at a lot of things that might not apply to say a OA weekend -Trained Staff,you don't need the same amount of people trained in specific areas for a OA weekend as you do for summer camp or a long term resident Cub Scout camp. Cub Scout day camps do have their own set of standards. I have staffed a few of the NCS Trainings for Cub Scout Day Camp Directors. The big thing that can be different is that many Cub Scout Day Camps are not held on Council owned property. The team that does Day Camp inspections is as a rule selected by the Council Camping Committee. Some of the Standards can and do seem a little odd in some Councils!! This is because the locations can be so very different. We have used a country club, which might be very different than a Day Camp held on a Native American Indian Reservation in Arizona. But what would I know I'm just a dope!! Eamonn

Yes, but it did cross my mind that the Patrol Boxes looked a little odd! Ea