emb021

"Cheeky bugger, I've noticed this on several American sites, you think the only true kind of democracy is the American style." Yes, well, the sad thing is many Americans are ignorant of the fact that we are a republic, not a democracy. And even fewer understand what the difference is and why our founders did NOT want us to be a democracy.

National Camp Schools are run by the Regions to training scouters who will run various programs at council summer camp. Because of that, the casual scouter leader isn't able to find out about when NCS are offered or what courses, because, frankly, unless they are going to be part of their council's summer camp program, NCS is not for them. (ie, don't expect to find the NCS schedule and info on the regional websites. you probably won't find them) So if you are interested in being your council's camp chaplain during summer camp, speak with the professional at your council office responsible for summer camp about this and your desire to attend the NCS training for this position. He or she can then provide you will when/where this training is available. I believe there is another, shorter, training for those wanting to be chaplain aides at the troop level also.

The youth protection training intended for Venturers (and all older youth) is NOT online. Do not mistake the training intended for adults with the training intended for youth. You should have been introduced to the YPT for Venturers when you went thru Venturing Leader Specific Training. (you have taken this course, right?) The on-line training is the generic youth protection training for all scout leaders, and another one specifically for Venturing adults. You should have done both, and you need to retake this every couple of years. (this is one thru the BSA's on-line learning center). The training for youth is called: Youth Protection: Personal Safety Awareness (AV-09V027), and is now available on DVD. It was updated recently, and now consists of 4 sessions. They are sexual harrassement, acquaintence rape, internet safety, and teen suicide. The DVD comes with a discussion guide (you show the video, stop, have some discussion, play some more, discuse, etc). This video, depending on how your membership changes, should be shown to the kids about once a year. You should be able to borrow a copy from your council office. Make sure its the updated version with 4 scenarios, not the older one with 3. And be sure you get the accompanying discussion guide!

I do hope you have a female advisor along with you on trips and events. It may be a good idea to have her speak to your female venturers about appropriate behavior. If you buddy is noticing this, others might as well, which may cause problems for you down the road. btw, its 'venturing crew'.

"I am also interested to hear about the change to the term "forum." Is this just a buzz word or is there a genuine change to the RT program?" Cub Scout Roundtables and Boy Scout Roundtables continue to exist. In 2007, out of the blue, they replaced the Venturing Roundtable Guide with the Venturing Monthly Program Forum. (the 2 books have the same number, they didn't even bother to add a letter at the end). I got a copy of the Program Forum book. It is the same as the prior Venturing RT guide, just with the terms changed. The office patches for the Venturing RT Commissioner and Staff haven't changed. I don't know the reason for the change. I assume it could be because many Venturing leaders don't have a prior scouting background, so 'roundtable' doesn't make sense for them. I also know that some from the Cub Scout and Boy Scout side couldn't get their heads around the fact that Venturing RT include youth (which CS & BS RT do NOT).

"I do think there should be a time allowed for announcements. It give everyone a baseline. All the units hear the same details at the same time. There is no variation." Its ok to have some time for announcments. But the problem is that too often at RT, its becomes nothing more then a forum for announcements and lectured by the professionals, such that the real purpose of RT: on-going supplemental training and idea sharing with other leaders of your program, gets overlooked.

My experience generally is it seems to be difficult to get people out to the Venturing Forum/Roundtable. We can have some great program, and just not get people to come out. Most youth seem relunctant to come out (which, IMO, is why its so vital to have a good program to bring them out). Many adults seem relunctant to come out. Some of this is may be due to adults not familiar with how scouting works (ie the expectation of attending regular monthly roundtables). Some is due to the adults having to do everything on their own, so why bother coming together for anything. The problem I see in my area, is that few district have enough crews to make a monthly district Venturing RT/Forum worth doing. So you try to do a regular Venturing RT/Forum at the council level, at least quarterly, and then people are reluctant to come out due to the drive (please understand that in my area, councils are not THAT large, and you can usually get from one end of the council to another in about an hour or so).

I think the thing people forget is the purpose of Roundtable. Its meant to be on-going supplemental training. I think too often that is co-opted for announcements and other such things. I'll accept that a small (*SMALL*) amount of time at Roundtable be given over to making sure people are away of upcoming events (training, camporees, etc, for those people who missed all the other avenues of getting this info out). But the bulk of the Roundtable should be given to providing program training and helping the leaders with troop program. National puts out some good materials for Roundtables. Using that would be a step in the right direction for a lot of RT.

I think a lot of the stuff you are complaining about isn't scouting's fault (or the BSA's), but due to certain changes in our society. Too many people, right or wrong, are very 'risk adverse'. Some is due to the fact that some people are too quick to blame someone else for something, and sue. Some is due to parents and others wants to shield their kids (right or wrong) from any risk. Another issue is that too many people are hyper sensitive regarding offending others. No, you don't want to be offensive, but too often people take offence for trivial things. I'm in Toastmasters, and a lot of times I hear remarks by other members that 'we can't talk about X, we can't talk about Y', as those its policy, when our newsletters says that such rules do not exist.

Don't know who this Pasternak guy is, but did a quick google search and found this interesting article from 2002: http://www.robsherman.com/information/liberalnews/2002/1201.htm

"Not quite true. I have a chart in front of me listing the members of the WOSM as of 2000. I admit to not fully understanding the differences, but France has six seperate types of "Scoutisme Francais" listed and Denmark has five "Fallesradet for Danmarks Drengespejdere" for instance, and there are several other nations with what seem to be multiple seperate Scout organizations under their flag. " While France (and a few other countries) have more then one group, WOSM only recognizes ONE. Thus, these different groups must federate together and its the federation that sends reps to WOSM bodies, etc. When people speak of WOSM & WAGGGS merging together, what is unspoken of is that most likely the new group would follow this same policy: only ONE recognied scout/guide group per country. This would mean that either those countries with more then one scout and guide groups would either have to merge OR federate. So for the US, this would mean the BSA and GSUSA would either have to merge or federate.

"Since I am trainer development qualified I would love to get a hold of an approved course of instruction for SSOST to bring back to my council." The approved course is on the Sea Scout website in the Training area. http://www.seascout.org/ http://www.seascout.org/about/program/training_resources/specialized/index.html PDF: ftp://ftp.seascout.org/pub/Training/Sea_Scout_Officer_Specialized_Training_Instructors_Guide.PDF PPT: ftp://ftp.seascout.org/pub/Training/SeaScoutSpecialized.ppt Also speak with your Regional Commodore and Area Rep (whatever they may be called in your region). They can give you assistance.

"They say they are part of the international Scouting movement, but are they WOSM recognized? I think not." They can't be WOSM recognized. WOSM only recognizes one scout association per country, and we're it. Yet another group trying to claim they are part of the scouting movement. I saw nothing on their site that gives any indication they understand what scouting is or should be considered part of it. As someone else pointed out, seems like nothing but a bunch of PC nonsense.

"Its my understanding that sea scout leaders specific training which is a requirement for attending is usually given the night before since most councils do not usually give this course?" That is usually the case with the Southern Region Seabadge courses. I would hope this would be so with the upcoming course in November. There is also the option of attending the SSOST course in another council.

From the Insignia Guide: "Members may wear only temporary patches (no badges of rank) on the back of the merit badge sash. Members may wear only one merit badge sash at a time. A merit badge sash is never worn on the belt." http://www.scouting.org/media/insigniaguide/03.aspx (under "excessive insignia")

"I was told by someone unoffically at round table that the BSA wants you to wear a whole official uniform from any given period. Therefore, wear the new shirt with the new pants, or wear the old shirt with the old pants. "But I have been correct by a district director. You can wear a new shirt with a pair of old pants. They do not care." It is true that with the previous uniforms, you had to wear the whole uniform of the given period. HOWEVER, this time the new Centennial uniform is clearly said to be a 'transitional uniform'. So you can mix parts (not insignia) of the current and prior uniform. This is clearly stated in all the fliers about the new uniform.

The four books by John Thurman at "The Dump" are the books being referred to. There were hard copy reprints of these books you could get from some of the memorabilia dealers, but I don't see them available now.

Current Insignia Guide does not SAY which shoulder, but the picture clearly shows it on the right shoulder, and in rows of 3 merit badges. http://www.scouting.org/media/insigniaguide/06D.aspx

There are no rules on how to wear the merit badges on the sash. If you look in the Insignia Guide, its pretty clear that the recommended way is in rows of 3.

FWIW, we just went thru this with Hanna. Hanna's predicted path was along Florida's west coast, fairly close enough to cause TS or H level weather. We had a Lodge weekend planned at the same time. But as noticed, storms can be unpredicatable. The decision was made that if we went under Hurrican Warning in the county the camp was, then the event would be cancelled. Thankfully, Hanna wound up going farther east from Florida, and so no such warning were needed and so things went on.

Always keep in mind the old uniform (and all old uniforms) are STILL official. They are not suddenly unofficial. FWIW, I went thru the last uniform change as a youth. I don't recall any troop forcing people to change. Mind didn't. I didn't get the uniform until I had to for the 1981 Jamboree. Considering that this new uniform isn't as radically different as the prior DLR uniform was to its predicessor, I see no real reason for unit to force its members to get it. Further, unlike what I recall with previous changes, this uniform is 'transitional', which allows one to mix and match uniform parts of the old and new. This allows for people to even more gradually move over and not be forced to buy a complete new uniform.

AFAIK, the yellow female cub scouter shirt is now gone. Also, am well aware that Scout Shops pulled the red loops. Dispite claims by some, they have NOT pulled any other insignia (older trained strips, unit numbers, etc).

"However, there is clearly a component here that wants to reserve some mystique and that implies privacy and/or secrecy. I understand wanting it to be a surprise for the boys - got it, moving on. I do NOT understand in any way whatsoever the apparent negative reaction to allowing others to observe." Doc, since you are not part of the OA, you don't understand that privacy and mystery IS part of the OA. The issue of allowing non-Arrowmen to observe our ceremonies is one that is too often misunderstood. I thought I made it clear what the policy is. Again, our ceremonies are NOT public. BUT, the policy has been for a very long time that if someone (parent, community leader, etc) had questions/concerns about our ceremonies, that we first review the ceremony with them and if they still wanted to observe, then YES, it most certainly is allowed. We do not and can not bar anyone with legitamate reasons from viewing our ceremonies. But that policy should not turn our ceremonies into a public event like a high school graduation. This is why the negative reaction to this topic. Those of us who understand OA policy understand that observation IS ALLOWED. And no one is disputing that. But our ceremonies are private. All our ceremony handbooks state that they be safeguarded (ie, not provided to non-members).

"Another issue is that blue cards don't always go from counselor to Scout. At the camp where I used to work, blue cards went in a packet to the SM at the close of camp. If the SM loses them, should the Scout be penalized? No. " I would add that in such a situation (which is how things worked when I was a scout and later a Boy Scout leader), the blue cards were given to the SM at the close of camp, the SM used those to fill out the Advancement Report going to council for merit badges earned, and most likely tossed them (tho partials would go to the scout). The SM would only hold the carbon of the Advancement Report for the troop records, and maybe the blue cards. (unless someone else came along and tossed them). I've always viewed the completed and signed merit badge cards as more important then the blue cards, and final proof of earning them.

"As an organization, me make a big deal out of "A Scout is Reverent", but we are absolutely non-committal in what that means. Why are Wiccans not approved? By our own standard, they are as valid as my own Lutheranism. It matters not what he believes in, only that he believes in something beyond himself." I've not seen anything that says Wiccans are not approved. What is not approved is their religious award. Some have tried to make a big deal that Wiccans and others with similiar beliefs are somehow 'not allowed' in the BSA (which has lead to the establishment of other groups like the Spiral Scouts). AFAIK, that just not so, at least from a national policy point (there are always the local hard*sses who somehow think you need to belief in a judeo-christian religion to be in the BSA, which is not so).