frankpalazzi

Welcome to the forum!

 

As mentioned, this isn't something for you to worry about, just the CM and DL's.  If there's a restraining order in effect, the only thing one need do is dial 911 and that's the end of it.  BSA is not the caretaker or mediator of the situation any more than a school or church would be.  If there's a legal issue, i.e. restraining order, then it's entirely in the realm of law enforcement.

 

I wouldn't put myself or any other scout personnel in the middle of this, but I would encourage and protect the boy as a scout in the scout program just like any other scout.

Agree, Agree, 1000 times agree!  Abide by the wishes of the custodial parent, whatever they may be.  If something goes wrong, or even seems wrong, call the police.  They are trained to handle these situations.  They do it every day, all day long.  Best to err on the side of caution and always have the protection of the child first and foremost at heart.

I really don't understand the point of having so many adults as committee members.  The ratio of ASMs to youth is one thing, but 13 committee members???   Enough adults to spread out the work and get the job done is all that is needed.  It's simply more efficient. (not to mention much less costly at recharter time.)

@@David CO The rank advancement was not submitted to the registrar and the COH has already taken place.  I had the registrar run my son's report to confirm.  It was also missing some recent training.

 

I understand that the demerit policy falls outside of the BSA program.  I also understand the need for rules, however what was outlined in the Troop Code of Conduct is not being enforced.  There has not been any positive reinforcement here - at all.

 

Not we wait.

This SM is completely clueless. Find another troop now.

Often times, what you don't  tell folks has a bigger impact than what you do tell them.  Case in point: this very thread!

When you "assume" you.....(you know the rest)

@@gumbymaster, is correct.  If the scouts begin to get selective in who they will do a flag ceremony for and who they will not, will move them into the realm of politics in a heartbeat.  Flag ceremonies are to be a-poltical,   Once one crosses the bridge as to deciding who gets one and who doesn't, it's political.  The end result is that in order to be fair, instead of doing flag ceremonies for ALL people, we do it for NONE.  I don't think the BSA needs or wants to promote that policy.

AMEN!!!!!

Even in Houston Cubs camp in weather colder than 40 on occasion. We were at 24F one morning at Webelos Woods. A whole camp full of Webelos and their parents at an event run by District. Not one word was said about sending everyone home. Weird.

24F?  That's T-shirt weathah up heah in New England! Ayuh.

Definitely award stars for time registered.  Anything else is your troop's call.  On November 28th, my stars will add up to 46.  I rarely ever wear them or any other bling on my uniform.  I wear my awards on the inside, where it counts.  Different folks weigh these things differently. To each his own.

Sounds like a job for the District Commissioner.

I'll hold out my hand so he can slap it.

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We found out this year that packs in this district have been told that they can't attend events outside the district unless it's a council event.

This kind of stuff happens

 

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I'm curious to know how they would enforce that.  Send District Snitches to all the competing events?  I'd be telling someone a story about a long walk off a short pier, and then saying "FOLLOW ME, BOYS!" 

Displaying the Nation's Colors, or uniformed Scouts performing a flag ceremony is never inappropriate.

Yes, Scouts may perform flag ceremonies for businesses.

If any politically themed events follow, then Scouts should leave or change out of uniform.

That Troop Committee should be ashamed of themselves for worrying about "perception"  to further their own agenda.  Scouts are not pawns.  I would be questioning the real motivation of these adults. The Scouts themselves probably don't know and/or don't care about what the CEO of Chick-Fil-A believes.  Are these folks really "in it for the boys"?

And yes, the Scouts who participate are certainly due service credits for performing any ceremony by request outside their own unit or CO.

Your son may attend any event in any council. Many councils will offer first option to accept their own scouts first, but otherwise if space is available, he will not be refused! Many Boy Scout Troops travel hundreds of miles to attend Summer Camp out of Council! Your pack leaders should also be aware of this.

He may only be registered as a cub scout in one pack and one council.

You just do the best you can.  I hope I'm not the one bleeding in the street while 2 jokers are trying to out-do each other with their Red Cross cards and arguing about what to do.

Treat the injured immediately, then worry about flashing your credentials, if any later.

Completely absurd.

Want to make everyone happy?  Find each car's uniqueness ("Most colors," "Curviest," etc.) and give a certificate for it.  Have a printer and a fast typist on hand to print out the certificates.  Every face was smiling at the end of the day.

White gas for us in the winter.  It gets COLD up heah in New England! Propane just don't work, ayuh.

White gas is plentiful here in hardware stores and in most department store sporting goods sections.

Good story on the debit cards.  Our CO shut them down after finding abuses on the bank statement two months after the Pack got them. Why DOES a Cub Pack need a large coffee, a breakfast sandwich, and two packs of Marlboros?

Let the program work! Kids WILL surprise you!

 Time was, and not that long ago, when there were only 3 primary forms of Troop communication:  Face-to-face, telephone, and US Mail.  Now, the choices are overwhelming with e-mail, texting, twitter, facebook, various instant messenger modules, Instagram, Snapchat, the list goes on.

From my experience, Scouts don't use e-mail.  Our Troop uses that only for adult communications.

The unit needs to decide on two primary forms of contact.  We use: 1.) Facebook and then 2.) e-mail. Announcements of coming events are of course given at every troop meeting, but that's only effective if you have 100% attendance! 

Everyone's "mileage may vary" of course, but let the boys decide on two forms!  They are the ones that need to be reached, first and foremost.  Use the e-mail for us old fogeys.

I have only ever heard of that happening if there was a clerical error, such as transposed numbers in an award date. In that case, it gets quietly fixed by council, returned, certificate mailed, and the troop never even hears about it.

I

As you ponder the nature of vialness, it is helpful to have a nice cup of hot coffee and a big piece of pie.  Balance.

It's getting me all verklempt.

No, Frank, when that happens you should just learn to play music.  Because it really doesn't matter where you put the violin.

Wait...wait....

So, I should or should not put a vile vial in a violin?  That would seem to be verboten. Especially a vile viral vial in a violin. The music teacher would not approve. Then I would have a vile chin on a violin in which there is a verboten viral vile vial.

STOP THE MADNESS!!!!!!

In the spirit of honesty and full disclosure, I wish to admit to the other members of this forum that I am, at times, a vial person.

 

Many of the Science classes that I have taught, including Biology and Physical Science, have been vial classes, and I have taught some vial lessons.

 

If BSA continues to promote STEM, I am very much afraid that this may become a vial activity.

 

Please excuse me for my vial language.

@@David CO I always wanted to ask a science teacher.....

What happens to the vial if it contains something vile?

Do you segregate the vile vial with other vile vials, or just leave it alone.  It could be Hazardous Material!!

Now what if the vile vial is viral?  That's a whole other issue, right?

Just points to ponder......

My head hurts now, I'm going to go lie down.

Registration:  It depends on the size of the Unit and treasury.  Most years, adults are renewed by the Troop/Pack.  Only a few times over the years were the adults asked to pay their own way, and no one objected. Rechartering can be expensive!!

Camping:  Adults pay their own way.

Summer Camp:  Adults are charged for meals ($5 per meal) and pay their own way.

There were never any issues with this in our units.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is where I saw the signs. The bit I hiked was around Newfound Gap, but the signs were at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. 

A much more traveled AT hiker friend tells me that is sometimes done for safety, in the wake of high bear activity.  They're just looking out for hikers' safety. 

Wow, ad hominem attack extraodinaire! No hint of scout spirit around this post! I have (taking vumbi's advice for once) restrained myself from attempting to enter this 'conversation' and if there had been any doubt about it before, the above post confirmed it. To me it is clear that there is a problem. The above post is a good indicator of where to look to define it.

One of the first things I was told as a new OA Ordeal member:  "First, Look Within."

I've never forgotten those words, or who said them to me.  In 1982.