fred johnson

That's so so true.

Do NOT enlist the news media. Don't event think about that. It can backfire on you easily. At this point, build relationships with your local council representative, the district exec. Get to know others who may help. I do agree with the suggestion "make lists". Figure out who sold how much perhaps by contacting the major sellers. Just say "I'm trying to fix past records and make sure everything was credited correctly." Do not spur more concern. Do not pour more fuel on the fire. See if their sales match council records. There will be a council (and probably district too)

Really ? Seriously ?

"endpoint not found" ... argh. Dealing with stuff like that at work. I've been hugely disappointed in the new training web site. Need to take lots of medium sized modules to get trained in one position. It's overwhelming to coordinate.

I'd absolutely love for our troop to own a large circus style tent. I've seen another troop own something like that. It's fun to pull out once a year.

Yeah, but scout camp is now co-ed with leaders. As long as the boxers are defined as underwear, it's not okay. Now if the boxers are board shorts or a swim suit, then it's okay. It's a silly distinction, but as in all things there needs to be some threshold and an over-the-line position.

I find the opposite is true. Our scouts seem better when we can keep them to 2 (or 3) in a tent. Risks are generally reduced by tent buddies being about the same age. (i.e. no 17 year old scouts sharing a tent with a 11 year old scout). The trouble I've seen with the bigger tents is some scouts view it as a party environment. One scout keeps others awake etc. One scout teaching other scouts bad habits. It's like trying to get 20 kids to fall asleep in one big room. There is always one kid wanting to throw shoes or mess around. The behavior grows and festers. Divide them up and they n

Sounds like same for our troop. Usually works. We lose one tent every year or two because of loss, mold, damage or other. IMHO, the benefits of the scouts working through the issues is worth the cost. ... Otherwise to be honest ... it's the parents that usually make sure the family tent is still good.

Here's a reason I like troop tents. Responsibility to each other Provides a reason for scouts to coordinate and work together. Scouts learn how to work-together by learning how to take care of the set of troop tents. This is the opposite of having their own tents and looking out for themselves and their own gear and who can bring the best tent versus the kmart blue light special. Using the same "style" tent Promotes a troop identity. This should not be undervalued any more than wearing the scout uniform. Whether scouts admit it, they take pride in their troop. Allows re-use of pi

Our troop has troop tents. Timberline Eureka 4XLT Outfitter version. Image. Troop tents have many positives, but does add a few headaches and cost.

Camp fire is a good program. I can respect that. I've worked with many units and have never seen faith become an issue. I've known years of Eagle scouts and faith has never been an issue. Yeah, BSA has a major faith component. If it's not your cup of tea, you don't have to pursue it. I've never known any leader to have an issue with that. I've never known an Eagle scout stopped for it beyond the national ones. It's funny that tolerance is often a one-way street. People respect your tolerance if you say everything is okay and equal. But if you express your Catholic beliefs or

Because the requirements read more like a contract that a set of interesting things to do. I know BSA is very very guilty of that.

JasonG172 wrote --> I have seen Parents running their kid from one Merit Badge College to another.Yeah. It happens. You can't save the scout from their parents. But then again, it's not the troops job. JasonG172 wrote --> I have seen Merit Badge Class where the instructors have fallen asleep while youth just fill out paperwork. Yeah. Not every MB is great. I've also seen troop MB counselors that are just bad or make scouts want to quit scouts. You can recommend a better instructor You can warn the scout that it might not be what he wants. You can provide feedback to the cou

You're making a worthy point, but then you take a cheap shot about being inclusive. Girl scouts is inclusive unless you are male. My experience is BSA is more inclusive in that I know many scoutmasters who are female and many adult leaders who are female. At our summer camps, there is always a large number of female leaders and staff. Probably youth soon too. In GSUSA, how many troop leaders are male? How many girl scout camp staff are male? BSA has a tenet of faith in God as that is where BSA came from and the vast, vast majority of charter organizations (sponsors that provide

Even as a parent, at least you say it. Many troops don't have the guts to just say they are running the program their own way. Instead they depend on scouts and families not knowing what BSA says. Sadly, most conflict happens when parents / scouts ask for the program to be delivered as documented.

I have mixed feelings on MB fairs / colleges / large groups. The benefit is when the size of the group allows the counselor to go above and beyond. I've seen that happen several times. And they have been some of the best MBs. But I've as often seen the reverse yielding a shallow empty experience. So in my opinion, it's less about the venue and more about the counselor investing to see the scout gets something useful out of it.

Getting the blue card signed is not screening process. BSA GTA 7.0.0.3 "The Scout, The Blue Card and The Unit Leader" clearly states the signature is more about a chance for a discussion and not to limit who the scout uses as a counselor. Though the scout "should" let the scoutmaster know if he changes counselors, it is not required. So the scoutmaster can sign the MB and then the scout can use a different counselor without penalty. The only risk is if the scout uses someone who is not actually registered.

I'd trade legalism of all the details for 50 nights of scout camping. Until last year, also true for our troop for 15 years. 26+ nights camping a year. 33+ if you went on a high adventure. Each of my sons has easily had over 100+ to 150+ nights ... 200+ if you count camp staff.

I'm with you. That's how our troop deals with this. I've seen troops that have the scout's keep a service log. In our troop, the scoutmaster talks to the scout at the scoutmaster conference about how the scout has helped others and provided service to others. It's up to the scoutmaster to agree the requirement has been met. But generally, it's done with a smile and "wow, that's great" statement.

Ahhh ... I see. You're right. Well I humbly crawl back into my hole.

Perhaps ... I think it's a matter of view point and terms. Perhaps your answer is something I address as "for-profit" beneficiaries need to have the benefit to be to the community and not the operational benefit of the beneficiary. Example: Re-doing windows on a church is a valid project. Re-doing windows on a "for-profit" senior living building is not. I use the term "free labor" to relate to projects when the beneficiary is conceiving, developing and leading. The scout only organizes labor. ... IMHO, it's the same thing whether for-profit or non-profit. Organizations want t

I disagree. "is it only benefiting a for-profit business" ... I disagree. I see these "free labor" projects mostly from DNR and parks. It's free labor because the beneficiary conceives, defines, structures, develops and mostly plans the project. The scout is left to provide and organize volunteers. The heart of an Eagle project is a scout using the skills he's grown to address a community need that the scout develops a solution to address. It's free-labor when the scout really doesn't have to develop a concept into a project.

No rule. It would be more a unit rule. If anything, it might be nice to encourage younger scouts to cross over. By mentioning popcorn sales, are you trying to infer there is a money issue?

Free labor? I view it as the distinction between a scouting service project and an Eagle project. The key distinction is that with an Eagle project we are trying to encourage scouts to see an issue or a need. Then develop a concept into an idea that can be delivered. Then, plan the project and make it happen. That's an Eagle project. Seeing a need. Developing the concept that answers the need and making it happen. IMHO, it's free labor when the beneficiary identifies the need, defines the how, provides the materials and the scout is left to provide and organize labor. It will ne

Not sure always paid, but I've seen parks and nature preserves that have volunteer coordinator and a pre-set, defined and materials ready list of volunteer projects. I've seen scouts pick from a list and it's almost an automatic success.