frank10

If they feel the need to retest the boy then the next one in the review chair should be the scoutmaster.

TRAINING! And more training.

It counts if the scoutmaster wants it to count... "or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop".

If I get my nephew Tom (age 15 rank star) to ask the question would you answer it then?

Thanks for the reply and your right but I'm looking for a business case here. Not sure the boys can provide me with that. Any thoughts on the likly hood of it working out? Or do you feel the boys would be wasting their cash?

I'm thinking of buying advertising space here for my troops flint and steel sales page. They want $40 for about 16,000 banner ads (look at the top of this page...) Now we make about $2.75 for each flint and steel kit we sell so we would need to sell only 15 extra kits to break even. If it was my $$ I'd go for it, after all, it's just $40 to find out if it's a good idea. But it's not my $$.To the troop $40 is a lantern or a set of tent poles. I'd hate to spend their cash if I won't be able to boost sales. Any thoughts? Any one ever tried advertising here? John B. Chairman@onmyhonor.com

I keep seeing the idea of my rights come up in a few topics. Try this one on for size... Either do it my way or find some one else to take your kid to camp. Because it's my right to feel comfortable with my situation or I can just stay home and sleep in my one bed like most of the parents do. (flame away)

Chilly = not enough layers.

He may well be neither dumb nor lazy. The ranks in scouting are just one way of tracking what he is getting out of and putting into the program. Earning his Eagle would be great but it may not be what he is looking for right now. (or ever.) To me the real problem if he isn't working on Eagle what is he doing to grow with in scouting. Each scout in our troop is invited to a mini BOR every six months if he has not advanced. This extra BOR does not mean that the boy is doing anything wrong at all. It is chat with the young man to find out if the troop is providing for his needs and a chance for the scout to express what his goals are for the next six months. In many cases it is to advance in rank but it may not be. They are his goals and only he can set them but by laying them out he has a chance to look them over and come up with a plan to achive them. Maybe something like this could help OJ determin what he wants from scouting. It may also help the adults see what is important to him rather than forcing thier point of view on him.

Anne, Don't lose heart. I don't think you will ever meet a bunch of girls that can benifit more from your program. They may have never been on a vacation in their lives. I aranged for the funds to send a young man to camp one year. On the way home he told the leaders it was the best weeek of his life. Years later, it still brings a strange feeling as I type this. A smile and a tear. It's the reason I keep at it. It may also be the first time these girls have a chance to give back. I have two brothers in my unit that get a lot of support from our local food bank. It does their pride a lot of good that our troop is the single largest supporter of that same food bank. Their friends will never know why they work so hard on our food drives. Scouting will also allow them to interact with others members as equals. We can't completly sheild them but if we do it right their lack of $$ doesn't affect their status in the troop. You can not fix every thing in their lives, but if you provide them with even one adventure to remember they will be better of for the rest of their lives. Now the bad news... Wow, you have your work cut out for you! Start looking for funding now. I was lucky, I told one person 5 years ago that there was a boy who had no way paying for camp (see above). She found four others to split the cost with her. Since then her team has sent 10 others to camp. They know nothing about the boys other than I said they needed the help and even I don't know who is donating the $$. Signing these six girls up me be the most important thing you have ever done as a Scout leader. May I be the first to give you a pat on the back. Yours in Scouting, John B. (This message has been edited by wingnut)

As ASM you can pick what you want to take charge of. If you can't make an event you just don't offer to go. If you don't like working with the 11 year olds you can just work witrh the Venture patrol. There is no set level, you can sign on for as much or as little as you want and as long as you do what you say you will then every one loves you. As SM nothing is optional. It is assumed you will be there. You are the one asking who will be your second for the trip. If you can't make it it's a major issue. Ther's a lot of good that goes with it too but I'll leave that to some one else.

CharityAK, How did the quilt come out? Any photos?

The last thing we ask a boy in a BOR is when can we see you again? The advancement chairman records that answer. When that date comes, if the boy has not advanced, we check in on him and have a mini review to see if the boy and the brogram are still on track.

If I felt the need to spend an hour testing a scout the scoutmaster would be the one in trouble.

Eagle1971, Don't let that hold you back, Go to the scout shop, pick your self a Committee Member patch, your Eagle knot, council strip and troop numbers and start sewing. About half my Committee wears full uniform (Including me). Only thing is if your going to wear it do it every time not just when you feel in the mood. John B Comittee Chairman T115 Naugatuck, CT OnMyHonor.com

BW: Does that mean I can point them at a group?

If I have to pick one I'd say right but neither work all that well, you might say I'm under handed (grin).

Ox, I like most of your plan. The marketing class idea is GREAT! I see only one flaw in your plan... The Three tier system. It requires your customers to say yes three times before you see a dime. That's also three chances for them to lose interest. One "No" and your out. I'd start out with sending the 25 cent CD in the first place. I know cash is short, but if sending the CD brings in one extra customer it would be $50 well spent. Don't give them an extra chance to get busy and never get back to you.

Wear it or not... could make a case for both. But if you do wear it, always wear it. As CC if my scouts saw me in and out as I see fit they might start to think uniforms are optional for them too.

Our camp is part of a large reservation that requires vans to move the campers and staff around from one program area to the next. Can't expect a scout to hike miles between classes and still get there on time BUT you get sick of all he cars and vans zipping around the camp. This may sound crazy, but I want a train... Some thing like you see in the amusment parks. Close all the roads and use the train. Box cars to take your gear to your camp site, open pasenger cars to move scouts and staff from one area to another, tank cars if you need them for water (or just for show)...

Wow. You pack a lot into one message. Here's a few of my thoughts. (Your mileage may vary) Size: A patrol works well when it has 10 scouts on paper. (8 show up to meetings and 5 show up for events). A troop works well with 3 patrols but can get by with 2. Drop to one and your SPL and ASPL don't have jobs to do. Adults: you don't have all that many but you have enough if you can use them. But you have to ask them. Standing in front of the room saying we are looking for help won't do it. Steping up to a mom or dad and asking them to do something will work 90% of the time and the other 10% will at least stay out of your way and avoid talking to you. Recruiting: nothing works as well as success. Start by acting like you allready have the numbers you want. Never say we can't do that because we are too small. Plan event that the members of the troop will brag about to their friends. If you have an active program the kids will find you. Scouting serves grades 6 thru 12. If you can gain just 1 scouts from each grade you will have enough . See also -> http://www.pinetreeweb.com/areyou.htm

And lets not forget the worst one of all... that's where you take the new guy and trick him into becoming Scoutmaster by promising it won't be much work and every one will help out... Some times it takes the sap years to catch on and even longer to find a way to get out of it. Only an huur a week...

Ron, Does your troop use patrol sites? If so, explain to the father that he would be imposing himself on the entire patrol by either staying in their site or by pulling his son out of it.

Laurie, In my home town the scouts team up with the American Legion twice a year to re-flag the graves of all the vetrans buried there. Would this work for your unit?

In the last week I have started to notice the interaction of adult and youth members here on these forums. I'm not sure if I like what I see in some cases. In some cases the youth members get caught up in the conversation and might just over state a point. No, not a lie, but told from the point of a scout who sees the action of the event rather than the view their scoutmaster may have (where he sees to it that ALL points of the G2SS are followed). Soon challenged the scout digs in and defends his statements and so does the adult... In other cases adults act like this is a second BOR for a scouts advancement. And again they both adult and scout dig in and things go down hill from there.... In both cases the scout is defending something that is beyond his control. Boys run our troops but adults set the standards. Most scouts have never seen the G2SS. Scouts do not sit on BOR's and do not approve Eagle prodjects. Now I don't think this would not take place in person. Maybe it's easy to forget that we are mixing adult and youth members when you can't see their faces. If we are going to mix here, it would be helpful if there was an easy way to know who's who. Maybe the Scouter.com folks could include an age indictor under the member name or the post the members "Current Scouting Positions" from their profile. But unless/until this is done we should keep in mind that extra care in needed when mixing youth and adult. On the other hand maybe good manners are called for even when it's adult to adult...