epalmer84

The SPL is responsible for filling out the attendance roster and ensuring everyone has a seat. The preference is to keep patrols together. Ed Palmer

Haven't see a Boy Scouting video game, but Pinewood Derby was just released: http://www.pinewoodderbygame.com/ Ed Palmer

The civilian equivalents of the SOP are "bylaws". The most you should need are for financial management and any rules your chartered organization may impose. Be wary of rule creep: just about every rule or guideline is already in a BSA publication. And remember: the big difference between the Army and Scouting is that Scouting has adult leadership. :-) Ed Palmer

If you haven't been by in a while, NESA.org has been revamped a bit. They now have a nice history of the Eagle Scout Award (marred slightly by a confusion of images for skill awards and Cub Scout Academic belt loops). Too bad there is no link for feedback. Ed Palmer

Our troop t-shirts are a set of five, each a different color. During summer camp, the SPL sets the color of the day and we are ensured that the Scouts are wearing at least a clean shirt. One of the colors is yellow, and is mandated for biking trips. Ed

That would be a "community strip".

Checking in on this issue, I find: There is an agreement between the BSA and the UUSO. There is no date, so I don't know how old it is. http://www.scouting.org/media/relationships/letters.aspx P.R.A.Y. now shows the UUSO awards on the BSA list: http://praypub.org/recognitions/boyscout.htm But the GSUSA list shows the UUA awards, not the UUSO: http://praypub.org/recognitions/girlscout.htm P.R.A.Y. also has the 2008 update of the Duty to God brochure from the BSA #05-879 that lists the UUSO awards: http://praypub.org/pdf_docs/DutytoGod2008.pdf The UUSO awards ar

I try to back up my statements with references, but this one failed me. As I recall, one of the reasons for going to a two color uniform was to be more in line with other national Scout organizations who had been wearing similar uniforms for many years. Another was to make the uniform more distinct from U.S. military uniforms. I'm sure that the change in 1980 had nothing to do with the Army changing the dress uniform and moving to BDUs (an expensive year) and now they are changing the dress uniform and moving to ACUs. Ed

WWBPD

I think it is West on the left. Compare it to this photo of West and FDR: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:White_House_radio_broadcast_Feb_8_1937.jpg Ed

Before deploying to Saudi Arabia/Iraq in 1990, I went to an old hardware store and bought a brand new scrub board. When washing clothes or dishes, you want only a minimum of suds too much makes it hard to get all of the soap out. I spent six months washing heavy clothing by hand and I'm darn glad to have machines to do it now. I still take that scrub board to camp and wash my clothing as needed. Ed

National is posting some bin and non-bin publications on the web Boy Scout Roundtable Planning Guide 20082009 No. 18-941 http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/18-941.pdf Boy Scout Roundtable Planning Guide 20092010 No. 34256 http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34253.pdf Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner Training, No. 34256 http://old.scouting.org/commissioners/roundtable/34256.pdf Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner and Staff Basic Training Manual, No. 33013 http://old.scouting.org/commissioners/roundtable/33013.pdf Troop Program Resources No. 33588 http:/

The senior patrol leader and the Scoutmaster appoint junior leaders such as the den chief. If the SPL and SM have kept a Scout in any position, then the issue is not with the Scout. Ed

If you are looking for the context behind the origins of the BSA, then I recommend: Macleod, David L. (1983). Building Character in the American Boy: The Boy Scouts, YMCA and Their Forerunners, 18701920. University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0-299-09400-6. This gives the background of the progressive movement in the U.S. around the beginning of the twentieth century. The BSA was the right program at the right time. Ed Palmer

I just noticed that all three volumes of the Troop Program Resources are now officially available for download: http://scouting.org/BoyScouts/Resources/Troop%20Program%20Features%20Vol,-d-,%20I%20-%20III.aspx Ed

>kind of pocket flap (OA, CS Outdoor activity, Whittlin Chip) The Whittling Chip, Totin' Chip and Firem'n Chit emblems are not for uniform wear. http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/ItemDetail.aspx?cat=01RTL&ctgy=PRODUCTS&c2=UNIFORMS&c3=SEMBLEMS&c4=&lv=3&item=08598 Ed

I have Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America. from 1976 and 1985. I have not looked at them in quite a while, but they are only 20 or 30 pages in length. A lot of it is related to the National Executive Board and its operation. Sections that are applicable to delivering the program are reprinted in various manuals. Content related to uniforming is published in the Insignia Guide, fundraising on "Unit Money Earning Application", safety in the Guide to Safe Scouting and advancement are in Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures. Ed

If you want more info on the Scout Associations' "Young People First" program: http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/hq/child-protection/ Background checks are only one small part of any youth protection program. The check will probably keep those with criminal backgrounds from ever applying for a youth position. It does not clear anyone who has never been caught or convicted, and it does not prevent anyone from committing a crime after passing a check. Such checks may give a sense of false safety. Ed

>A few years back some beebop girl's singing group wore Scout uniforms like the girls on this show and the BSA went after them and their producers (at least in terms of an offical statement forcing an apology) http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle/celebs.htm Ed

"You do know that the YPT training is tailored to each particular council as to reporting requirements?" The online training now gives you a page with the local reporting information when you complete the course. Ed

"Are there any others I have missed?" The James West Fellowship Award also has a device for the Founders Circle; this is for deferred gifts of $100,000 or more. http://www.usscouts.org/awards/jameswest.asp Ed

My rule of thumb: Use common sense: if they don't allow you to wear it at school and you would not wear it to church, then don't wear it in Scouting. Ed

The version at NESA.org saves the data. What version of Adobe Rader are you using? Ed

The virtual board of review should not be the norm, but there are going to be the times when it is the only way to get the job done. And to quote our new Chief Scout Executive: "I see a lot of positive things and not much that needs fixing. However, I think theres lots we need to learn about the high-tech world and our ability to communicate internally and externally. I spend time looking at YouTube and MySpace, and its fascinating. I think we have a place in that environment. We should be creating venues in electronic forms for our own people to talk to each other, to get

Never heard of this being done before, but I don't see why not. As long as everything else is by the book. Sounds like the ASM is just there as a facilitator, not a member of the committee. Video would be really neat and is relatively inexpensive. Skype is free, just throw in webcams on each end and you are saving on long distance calls. Ed