fgoodwin

Question to those who favor the use of blue cards at camp (or at MBU, for that matter):

Do your boys show up at camp with their cards already filled out? I've only been to two summer camps (plus the 2005 Jamboree), but each had hundreds of boys in attendance from dozens of troops, and I don't recall EVER seeing a Scout present a blue card to the camp MB counselor to be updated.

As I understand it, in the "traditional" setting, a boy is supposed to select a MB to work on, fill out a blue card, and present it to his SM for authorization to proceed. The SM may (or may not) suggest a MB counselor to work with. And the boy takes it from there. He presents the blue card to teh counselor, not the other way around.

Do your boys take this same approach at summer camp? Or do you leave it to the camp MB counselor to fill out dozens of blue cards themselves? If the latter, I can certainly understand why the summer camp blue card is going the way of the dinosaur.

Would you expect a boy to show up at the door of a "regular" (i.e., non summer camp) MB counselor without a blue card, hoping the MBC would fill one out? I would never allow my son to impose on a MB counselor like that, but he didn't have blue cards at either summer camp (I asked in advance if he needed them) because both summer camps used the computerized approach mentioned at the beginning of this thread (and which is the same process used at our council-run MBU).

I teach Communications at MBU, and I will fill out partial blue cards for those Scouts who bring them, but I've been told by our MBU organizers that we don't give out blue cards as part of the MBU. Its all computerized.

John-in-KC, good points.

I cannot count how many units I've heard complain (usually at FOS time) that they derive no benefit from their local council or district, and would prefer to go it alone. These are the units who never attend district or council functions, never staff training sessions or camporees, etc. Some (not all) have poor programs, and then complain that they get no help from their district or council.

As a former UC and current BSRT Commish, I just have to shake my head . . .

One more thing: ask the Troop Librarian is he has a copy of "Fast Start Training" for SMs & ASMs (or maybe there is an adult volunteer on the Troop Committee or an ASM responsible for adult training who has the video / DVD).

The Fast Start video lays out the parts of a well-run troop meeting, and the most telling feature is that it shows the SM and adults saying almost nothing during the entire troop meeting. I used to show this video at our semi-annual Troop Leadership Training for the newly elected & appointed youth leaders, and asked them if their troop meetings look anything like those in the video. Invariably, the answer came back "NO!" When asked what was different, they all said the adults run everything in our troop (which of course the adults -- from the SM to Committee Chair on down -- all deny).

Also, find out when your district or council will be offering Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training. It goes into more detail about the role of the SM / ASM and the parts of a well-run troop meeting.

If the troop meetings look disorganized, that's not always bad.

But if they are completely aimless with boys standing around with nothing to do, then you might suggest to the SM that the PLC look into "Troop Program Features", a three volume set that provides complete troop meeting agendas and campout plans for 36 months using a different theme each month. These are the Boy Scout equivalent of the monthly "program helps" for Cub Scouts.

If your troop library is missing these volumes, you can ask the Troop Committee to invest in a set.

Good luck.

Well, since I posted this to "Program" instead of "Issues", can we keep the political talk out of this (with all due respect to everyone's free-speech rights)?

By the way, President Obama closed the White House visit to the press, which is why we didn't see it on tonite's news.

Set your Tivos and DVRs!

Scouts on NBC Nightly News Tonight (Mar 3, 2009)

NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams will air an interview tonight (Tuesday, March 3, 5:30pm CT) with Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca. The interview will discuss BSA's increased outreach to and recruiting of Hispanic families.

In addition, you may also see news coverage this evening of President Obama's meeting with a national delegation of Scouts in the Oval Office. This is the annual Report to the Nation.

If you get HBO, you have to watch this.

I don't care what your political views are, I think you'll be touched by this movie. There is a very stirring scene toward the end of the show that includes some local Boy Scouts. I don't want to give away any spoilers (just google the movie title and you can read all about it).

Once you see it, I think you'll agree it is both sad and a moving tribute to a fallen soldier and his escort.

John, I guess our Council missed the memo.

We still do Scouting for Food as a Council, and that IS our Good Turn for America event. Of course, units are free to do additional GTA events as well.

And we've been giving out the patches and rockers for 2-3 years now, at least.

"Amen" to what kraut-60 said!

Twocubdad, would you mind posting the name of your neckerchief supplier?

My son's old troop had a troop necker that I tried to wear regularly by the time we transferred to another troop.

Our new troop does not have a troop necker, so I think I'll start wearing my WB necker.

If you've been to Roundtable, been to training, if you've had an OA dance team help at your Webelos cross-over, if you took Cubs to day-camp last summer, etc., etc., . . . then you've been impacted by your District.

The District exists to provide assistance to the units chartered within its boundaries. If you're not being helped by your District, then its time you had a chat with your UC (or if you don't have one, with your District Commissioner).

If you've never been to RT and don't have a UC, it can be difficult for the District to know your needs, so reach out to your District Commissioner, District Chairman and District Executive (in that order).

AK-Eagle, so you plan to spend the next four years playing "gotcha"?

Knock yourself out . . .

Speaking as a die-hard conservative and Republican (not always the same thing, by the way), I say: can't we give the new guy a chance?

He won, fair and square. Our guy had eight years to get it right, now its the new guy's turn. Its time to move on . . .

Mr. Boyce writes:The actual science supporting his claims is very thin. I would not make as many definitive assertions as he does based on this.True, but Louv has said many times that the phrase he coined, "nature deficit disorder" is not a medical term, but a condition that he has observed.

Louv is a journalist, not a scientist, but there are scientists looking into this syndrome and others that are similar. Google Pergams Zaradic to read about their research into "videophilia".

No harm, no foul. Only an extremist would make an issue of this.

Jostens will help Eagle Scouts celebrate their achievement with customized and personalized rings under license from the Boy Scouts of America

http://www.prleap.com/pr/130343/

(PRLEAP.COM) MINNEAPOLIS, December 17, 2008 Jostens will now help Eagle Scouts celebrate and recognize their significant achievement with customized and personalized rings under license from the Boy Scouts of America. Eagle Scout is the highest rank that can be achieved as a Boy Scout and only 5% of all Scouts have attained the award since its inception in 1912. The Eagle Scout ring features a Red, White and Blue top with the Eagle Scout Boy Scouts of America logo. The ring sides feature the universal Eagle emblem and is personalized with the Eagle Scouts name and year the award was achieved.

The Boy Scouts of America has also licensed Jostens to produce Wood Badge rings to recognize adult volunteers that have completed the Boy Scouts of America Wood Badge advanced leadership training. The Wood Badge signet ring displays the Wood Badge shield on the ring top, the universal symbol on one side and one of eight mascots on the other side.

[excerpted]

BSA used to publish a course specifically geared to the SM and the youth leaders re: troop program planning. Of course, it is now obsolete and out-of-print.

I've never taught it, so I can't comment on how good or effective the old course actually was at teaching program planning to Scouts.

Also, pages 5-14 of "Troop Program Features" (vol. I) outlines the annual program planning process, including a sample agenda for the annual planning conference.

More Than Just Cookies: Rethinking the Girl Scouts

By Karen Ball / Camp Daisy Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1862180,00.html

Interesting article about how GSUSA is dealing with declining membership.

As far as I know, they don't have the same membership issues with gays & atheists that BSA does, yet they also suffer from declining membership. Kinda makes me wonder if those who blame BSA's decline on those membership policies may be mistaken.

But I'm sure someone here will carefully rationalize why this is an apples to oranges comparison, and bash the BSA while they're at it . . .

SctDad, FScouter got it right: the official literature tells what we CAN do, not what we CANNOT do (big difference).

There are an infinite number of ways to do things wrong -- it would be impossible to list them all. If that's how we read the policies, then anyone could claim a missing prohibition implies that behavior is allowed.

Same thing with the lack of protest by volunteers or pros when you wore cammo. Just because no one objected doesn't make it right. Maybe they were just being "courteous, kind, cheerful" etc.

Had someone objected, would you have dismissed them as the "uniform police" and ignored them anyway? Would you have asked them: "show me where it says I can't do this?"

Others have given the correct policies. Those who choose to ignore the policies can and will spin the circumstances to suit their pre-determined outcome.

This matter was addressed in a recent issue of Scouting Magazine:

No 'camouflage' uniforms

http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0510/d-lett.html

My troop participated in a joint troop service project last spring, and...another troop [had] its members wearing full camouflage clothing, with the striking appearance of being members of the U.S. Army rather than Boy Scouts.

Our congressional charter prohibits Scouts appearing as a paramilitary unit [which is why we have] the restriction against wearing any form of camouflage "clothing."

Daniel Ketcham

Scoutmaster, Troop 855

Executive Board Member, Golden Empire Council

Cedar Ridge, Calif.

According to the Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA No. 57-492), under "Insignia, Uniforms, and Badges," Clause 4(b) states: "Imitation of United States Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps uniforms is prohibited, in accordance with the provisions of the organization's Charter."

perdidochas writes:My conundrum is whether to have each meeting as primarily an activity badge class, or if I should incorporate more team building exercises into it. I've heard different Webelos leaders around the District advocate both approaches.It doesn't matter what the other WDLs are doing, as long as you do right by your boys. Get a copy of the Webelos Leader Book, and follow the lesson plans. Don't worry about what the other WDLs are doing.

Does your pack have a unit commissioner assigned to it? If so, ask your UC for his or her advice.

If not, ask your district commissioner to assign you one. UCs earn their pay by helping out in situations just like this.

(just kidding about the pay . . .)

As a former CC and someone who started a new pack, I highly suggest packs invest in the smaller sized flag.

If your pack ever decides to march in a parade, and you want the boys carrying the pack flag, some of the smaller guys won't be able to hoist the bigger flag, even with a flag holder / belt / sling (whatever its called).

But when used in a meeting room, you can hardly tell the difference in size. So go with the smaller one (also cheaper).

gaucho writes:I saw two scouters (one a Dist. Commissioner) with their new uniforms. They had replaced the flag (they applied the new one right over the old one) with an Army style (Stars on the right). The old ones were already coming off they said. I personally really liked it, but is there anything against using one of those?I don't have it in front of me, but I believe the Insignia Guide prohibits any modifications to the official BSA uniform. It sure sounds to me like those two Scouters modified their uniforms by substituting an original, official insignia with unofficial and unauthorized replacements.

Are they military? If so, they would very likely never dream of modifying their Army uniforms to suit their personal feelings, yet feel its OK to modify the BSA uniform? Why is that?