fred8033

Wow. Sheilab haven't you been dealing with troop financial / leadership issues for a year or more? Not much fun to go through that stuff. Financially, BSA leaves alot to the CO and troop to work through. Personally (not reflecting BSA rules) ... ... I prefer ... All adults (leaders and parents, even the scoutmaster) to pay their own way. (except rechartering... troop budget pays for adult registration) ... I prefer ... Troop "dues" covers the troop annual budget include rechartering, COH food, supplies and equipment purchases. Our troop dues are $75 a year.

moosetracker - You said it all earlier. "COR/IH of the CO will trump all". All the voting you talk about is an okay idea, but not BSA procedures or forms based. It's how your CO does it. It's fine. It builds consensus and support. But it's the CO/COR that is 100% responsible, not the committee. If the CO/COR wants to get rid of the CC without talking to anyone first or holding a vote, BSA is just fine with that.(This message has been edited by fred8033)

Feeling very disillusioned right now. Just when I started respecting our neighbors from the north, eh.

For our council, yes. Our pack is on the 2nd year of Lion cubs. Last year we had eleven kindergarten Lions. Looks similar for this year. No real rank patch yet that I've seen.

"Scout is not a rank." Yeah, been in those discussions. Over the years, BSA has sometimes called it a rank. Othertimes a badge. Now, a badge. But it's worn on the uniform in the place where the BSA inspection sheet says "rank" patches go. Also, if you ask a scout what rank he is, he'll say he's a scout. He won't say "I have no rank." As far as I'm concerned, if they have no rank, the shirt pocket should be empty. But, that's me. Badge vs Rank ... It's a legalistic and useless point. I just don't care for the Bobcat "badge" because the kids are never really Bobcats. Pl

I agree in that the decision process can be whatever the CO/COR wants. And yes, the CO/COR can delegate the decision. But as far as BSA is concerned it's only the CO/COR (or the CC himself) who can remove a CC based on that delegated decision. Check the BSA registration forms: signature of the CC and signature of the COR. There is no place for the whole committee to sign.

The committee can't vote the CC out. The CC appoints the committee. It's a top down organization. Only the CO (executive) or COR can do this. No formal process. Once the CO or COR decides it needs to be done, it can be just done. A short talk or letter saying: "thank you but your services are not needed anymore. " No explaination even needed. But best to smooth the water as best you can. The decision process and communication is fully at the discretion of the CO and/or COR. It's their choice. It is best to immediately go to the scout office and have the CC removed from

Parents gets confused each year. Do I join a Bobcat den or a Tiger den ? It's confusing as it is not parallel with other ranks or even Boy Scouts. In Boy Scouts, "scout" is the initial rank and it is a real rank they stay at until they earn the next. In Cub scouts, the scouts have the rank matching their school grade and they are working to earn that rank. No scout is ever really a Bobcat (as in rank.) Bobcat is good because it gets the scout up in front of everyone fairly quickly. But it seems that could be done just by a welcoming ceremony or greeting. I'd rather se

Wow. "All commercial products must sell on their own merits, not the benefit received by the Boy Scouts." Two years ago I found the exact box of Trails End microwave popcorn at Walmart. The box was $2.50 (or cheaper). It was $15 thru scouts. The only difference was the scouts added a paper/cardboard wrapper to make it look right for fundraising. The box and inside product was the exact same product. When we sell wreaths, we can sell them for pretty much the same price stores sell them for. Makes it hard to argue for popcorn as the fundraiser.(This message has been edited by fre

If it wasn't for the cost and effort (expensive shirt and multiple units), I've wanted to create an every day, out in public Class A (minimal decorations) and a court of honor Class A (knots and all the plumage). Just a thought.

I dead on agree with Tampa Turtle. "My sons were and always up for something during the summer. They will even volunteer for adult work days if it is scouting related... "Over the years my attitude has changed. I say offer a summer program and not worry who shows up. Make it something you enjoy anyway and celebrate those who come. Don't get a chip on your shoulder over who does not. Best cub meeting ever was only me and my co-leader and our sons. We almost cancelled but decided to go on. It was like a father-son play-date. My boy still remembers it 5 years later as one of his f

A few scouting accounting practices that have saved us. - Incoming money ... Every deposit is recorded in a new Excel spread sheet listing check # (or cash), amount, purpose, scout credited and name on check if different family than the scout. The spreadsheet amount total matches the amount deposited. It has saved us many times when other records get screwed up. - Outgoing money ... Our bank statements are saved and shared as PDF files and include images of unit checks that were cashed. - We post our files in an online secure spot for sharing documents with other troop lead

Just to clarify ... NSP has been used multiple ways in this discussion. - I fully believe in NSP (new scout PATROLS) in that scouts join at the same time are probably friends and are at the same level looking to have similar experiences and activities. To me that's a patrol, a set of friends working together to do things. The PL is a member of that patrol and learning leadership by helping his friends try to achieve their objectives. As the new scout patrol learns things, they naturally become just a normal patrol. - I do NOT believe in troop NSP (new scout PROGRAMS) that are fo

desertrat77: Agreed. The BSA uniform reminds me of a tie. A tie is a style preferred 30+ years ago and few people wear anymore ... except when required.... Everyone removes ties as soon as possible. I'm sure this is related to why uniforming is such a challenge. I agree that uniforming should be a "method" in scouting. But, ... IMHO ... the purpose of being uniformed is to get the individual to identify as a member of a group; as something more than just a "self". I think the Canadian uniform does that just fine. Move all our flashy stuff off the uniform to the sash. ...

February... - Sounds like your Webelos could switch now if they really wanted. That's the common question: Switch now or wait for the whole den? - Almost none wait until end of 5th grade. That's just not how it's done these days. 99% transition at the B&G. It's easier as that's when Webelos from other packs join a troop and it's nice to join together. - February gives your Webelos a chance to get to know the troop before bigger summer camping events. - Don't worry about getting all you can out of Cub Scouts. Boy Scouts is a new adventure. The Arrow of Light is t

Eagledad... LOL. Yeah, there are some pretty strong scouting opinions out there and the boards don't always stay polite. My apologies to 5yearscouter in advance. The link you posted earlier set off one of my hot buttons. The linked document is very well done and someone put many hours of love into it. BUT ... if I saw that document from a troop, I would run away. I think it all comes down to the type of troop and your view of scouting. I just don't believe a troop needs a large bureaucratic layer on top of the BSA program. Most everything in that document is already in the

I felt like I was speaking heresy saying I liked the Canadian uniform. Glad I'm not the only one.

I like their scout uniform. Where do they display their advancments?

You don't need to write up anything special or design a new scout program. Refer to the Boy Scout handbook and the Scoutmaster handbook. What's written there is what you do. Other than having a troop guide for advice and guidance during the first 3 to 6 months, they are just like any other patrol. Just remember they choose a patrol leader and are not lead by the troop guide. They may also get a bit of special attention from the scoutmaster to keep them focused on basic skills / initial advancement. But their program is learning the skills to camp and have adventures in scouting. J

I've generally thought of myself as middle of the road. I've voted for both parties depending on the candidate. But with the debt discussions, I tend to agree with the cutting side ... if it is possible. I had a hard time trying to decide who is right. But here's some stats from the IRS... I don't have the exact numbers with me right now, but I think I'm pretty close from what I remember. - USA has 311 million people. Roughly 190 million working age. 140 million tax returns. - Of the 140 million tax returns, the top 1% of returns pays 27.6% of the taxes; top 5% pays 57% (mig

Best parts of summer camp - Watching the scouts take over the screen shelter to play magic cards or other board games in the evening. Older scouts teaching the young how to play. It's happened for years. Now we know enough to bring two extra screen shelters. Scouts use two. Adults get one. - Scouts sailing, horseback riding, climbing and other adventures. - Two older scouts who didn't want to do merit badges decided to take a hike to the other side of camp. (3000 acre camp) They were gone a long time. They missed lunch, but got to climb the fire tower. Received messag

Basementdweller hit it on the head. Good healthy troops play laser tag.

Yes. Posting the name and image of a scout and making bad comments about him is inappropriate. But before closing, please remove the link that identifies the scout.(This message has been edited by fred8033)

I don't buy the doom and gloom. It's the standard response to change. BUT ... BSA will survive. Scouting will look the same. The same supporters will be there. I should step away now. This is a topic of recuring and never ending debate. We won't resolve it here. ... ... ... Personally, I think we lose more people by disallowing laser tag... but that's a different thread. (This message has been edited by fred8033)

I hear you. I just don't believe it. I don't think it would change the membership in any significant way. And it would re-open so many doors that have been shut recently. And the charge that scouting is too liberal these days? I really just don't know what that means. I never really hear that said. (This message has been edited by fred8033)