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Everything posted by fred8033
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@vze3nbyb1 SM & CC not informing committee may have been their attempt to keep sensitive information from becoming gossip and overwhelming a kid already in trouble. I can respect that. BUT, the challenge is it sounds like the whole troop knew or were about to find out. It's really not a good situation.
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This is a phrase that makes me stop. It's well intentioned and wishing nothing but good for everyone. It's also very dangerous and can kill a troop. You can endanger scouts (teaching drugs or other edge behavior). You drive good kids away. Your troop gets a bad reputation that scares future families away. My view is behavior needs to be within scouting boundaries. No drugs. No criminal activity. (etc, etc). Youth outside that boundary are beyond scouting. Yes, scouting could help them, but you can't accept responsibility for them and you can't risk the whole troop. If the youth returns to good boundaries, then the youth can be in the troop. Until then, the youth needs to move on. Every situation has nuances. You know this kid. Your scouts know the kid. It's really on those in-the-know. ... the fact your scouts say the kid needs to move on is a good indication. To be honest ... the kid may already have moved on beyond scouting. The kid may not care about his scouting future.
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Is he having fun in scouting? If so, celebrate. If he doesn't get a specific MB or rank, don't sweat it. It's just a youth activity. It really doesn't matter. Focus on your connection with your kid more than forcing his achievements.
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And if your COR is also the CC, then talk to the charter executive officer (the pastor, etc). If you don't know who that is, call the council office for advice.
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I'd question the value of scouting if that's the average. For active scouts in our troop, the average was closer to 15 to 20. Summer camp 5 nights. 5 to 10 of the offered monthly campouts. 3 nights a year does not sound like fun scouting. I really hate thinking that way. Yes possible, but what is the value of scouting then.
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I wish everyone the best. Change can be very, very painful. Personally, I enjoyed the OA events and ceremonies. Using AIA folklore added character. For long-time OA members, it's core to OA. I also cringe and won't defend the OA AIA ceremonies when asked by others. I personally don't want to be associated with it. For new scouts and their families, it's an obstacle to overcome.
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This is one of those cases where I roll my eyes. The key is should youth be challenged by going outside camping to have experiences beyond their comfort zone. Then whether it's BSA or a NSO, it's moot. IMHO, a NSO would be a huge waste of pre-existing resources and goodwill to rebrand to satisfy a small population of disgruntled people. BSA cries out for real, massive re-engineering, but destroying and restarting is just not a real option.
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POLICY CHANGE, Diversity and Inclusion MB
fred8033 replied to John-in-KC's topic in Advancement Resources
@Mrjeff The challenge is defining what are the rules? With BSA been beat up with so many challenges lately, I really don't know the rules your a concerned about. A specific MB that is strongly political? Faith requirements? Sexual orientation? Gender? What is your analogy specifically targeting? At some point, I wish we'd just define Eagle scout (our ideal result) as completing 100 nights of camping with similar number of cooking their own camp meals, setting up their own tent, etc, etc ... and, some skill demonstrations (First aid. Swimming. Camping. Cooking. etc, etc) and say 150 hours of service. The rest is noise and too often 3rd rate quality.- 96 replies
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- eagle required
- national council
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Nope. It was a power mom that wanted her son to earn Eagle.
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I only mentioned camping as we had a similar challenge with a parent suggesting that camping counted by pitching a tent inside a building counted as camping as the scout did not like sleeping outside. That defeated purpose of the badge. Similar to a stationary exercise bike instead of a road bike outside on the road.
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Cycling or hiking or swimming. It's not really required. If none of those are possible, then there are other options like @RememberSchiff suggested. I read in the original post "had" large motor delays. I took it as the scout matured slowly. If the scout still has disabilities, than the disability route should be taken. Also, I really like what @InquisitiveScouter suggested. I see many adults all the time use recumbent bikes. There are three wheel versions of those too. https://www.amazon.com/Mobo-Recumbent-Cruiser-Tricycle-3-Wheel/dp/B002LOT6SK/ref=sr_1_16?crid=1CNSPNNDLZ1RE&keywords=recumbent%2Broad%2Bbike%2Bperformance&qid=1696517636&sprefix=recumbant%2Broad%2Bbike%2Bperformance%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-16&th=1 IMHO, I'd really rather see a replacement MB than something that rips the guts out of the MB.
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No for different reasons. It's just a badge. Earning that specific badge isn't really needed. It won't block advancement. What about really growing as a person? That's the MB purpose. Using a real bike is meaningful and useful. ... Would he wear the badge with pride and a symbol of fulfilling what the badge is about? I'd argue no. Sitting on a stationary bike for hours is exercise and not much about cycling. It's like parents that wanted kids to earn camping but the kid would not sleep outside in a tent. So, can you earn "camping" by pitching a tent inside a cabin and then sleep in the tent? I'd argue no. The key point is scout rank and scout merit badges are just not that important. Learning and growing is. Now, we can be extremely flexible in interpreting requirements.
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Scouting units should scale up and down depending on resources and interest. No no youth scouts want to be leaders? 19 inactive scouts and 7 active scouts? Sounds like the structured program is not the best. Perhaps there is something wrong there. ... Fine. ... For now, the troop adult leaders should scale back to focus on providing an active fun program. Camp outs. Activities. Fellowship. etc, etc, etc. Troop should not worry about a structured program that develops youth leadership (for now). Plus IMHO, the best lessons for youth leadership happen naturally thru the troop being active. Helping each other set up tents. Naturally by cooking meals. ... As soon as scouts show interest, adults continually step back into the shadows and let the scouts naturally lead scouts. It's a dance. To the SPL: My advice is the same to you as to a seasoned adult volunteer. Don't be a victim. Don't sacrifice yourself to save a unit. You have a life. You have choices to make where you want to spend your time. If it's in scouting, that's your choice. ... It is 100% okay to step back. ... In fact, I think it's a good idea for you. ... If I was your parent and saw you have a job, I'd be very proud. Fewer youth work to earn their own way these days. ... In high school? I'd expect you to need to scale back. ... Keep your health. Keep your sanity. Celebrate life and the journey you are on.
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General ... COR selects leaders and that's mostly it. KEY POINT --> COR does NOT inject into daily execution. COR does not guide or approve anything daily. Problem is that many people sign up to be COR to get power over SM/CC. The real defense is that SM/CC are volunteers. The willingness to move on is real power. Be prepared to walk away. That takes away the COR overreaching their role. ... Same with CC overstepping his role. CC runs committee that administers the troop. The CC does NOT execute the program or work with scouts. ... Don't passively support the CC by letting him do that. The Eagle Court of Honor. ... COR/CC should NOT be injecting anything into a Eagle Court of Honor. IMHO, threatening to throw a tantrum is hot air. Go ahead and do it. He'll look like a foot and destroy the troop. ... Plus !!! * There is no such thing as an official Eagle ceremony. * The ceremony does not make the Eagle. It's just recognition after-the-fact. * If COR threatens to stop the ECOH, then the COR is saying I'm firing the SM and CC. So, stopping an ECOH would be firing the unit leaders. * IMHO, the most important is that many troops view the ECOH as NOT a troop event and not a patrol event. It's a scout event. The scout and his family chooses the venue, script, attendees, related awards, etc. Fundraising ... I did not understand the fundraising statement. BUT, we generally don't keep cash in the scout closet. It should be deposited and credited to the right accounts. Transparency. CC works with treasurer to administer it. COR is not involved. ... Too many roles ... A good CC should be CC (maybe COR) and then do nothing else. Maybe fill in as necessary. Then, smooze and con (aka recruit) the next "volunteer" to help. That's how a good troop keeps running. That's a key job of the CC. Summary ... Sounds like you need to have a real non-stressful heart to heart with the CC. If you can't solve it, decide whether to talk to the head pastor or other. Otherwise, be prepared to walk away. Let him burn down his own house. You don't need to burn with it.
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Wishing you the best. We get one life. It's right to move on when the magic is lost and the pain becomes real. Wishing you the best in all things you do.
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It's very important, but even with the training I've seen ... people run the program they've learned from the previous unit leaders or they do what they want. Training is very important but not a failure root cause. This is a fundamental issue in my view: the broken connections between packs and troops. Directly related, "emphasizing" troop shopping is bad. If the unit is not a good match, then switch. Fine. BUT! It's bad to have individuals shopping around causing splits and breaks in continuity. A few big units thrive. Smaller and medium units hurt. Worse, long term relationships get damaged as people move for various reasons. ... In this day and age of driving around and shopping, people are used to going further and looking for the best deal. IMHO, this is bad for scouting as it moves youth away from their immediate community. My view is a single unit committee that oversees a program from youngest cubs to oldest scout / explorer is critical. New parents see where what their scout could achieve. Youth have older scouts to look up too. Plus, experienced older scouts could help run some younger programs at times. Yep. Also bad.
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Troops have a big mix of families. Some families have their act together. Uniforms ironed and ready to go. Others, can barely get by each day and never know where the scout uniforms are. Others are somewhere in the middle. ... Above answers are correct. I just suggest thinking of this with a soft and compassionate heart. At the same time, a well uniformed troop is a pride point for the scouts too.
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Sounds very normal and a good representation.
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Council Mergers/Reductions Post Bankruptcy
fred8033 replied to 1980Scouter's topic in Issues & Politics
I've never understood scouting finances. 1000 youth at say roughly $100 per youth revenue gets $100,000. How can you pay a council president, staff and other people at that level? I know there are other fees (camping, sales, etc), but it still leaves the vast majority coming from fund raising. Wow. -
Dropped it can easily become evidence of negligence and liability. It's one reason I think BSA should move away from being a "membership" organization.
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Scouting is financially prohibitive. I noticed that ten years ago. At one point, my family had four active scouts and two registered adults (wife and myself). With new council fees ($200+), my family would be at $890. Add unit dues for four scouts. Add another $1500 for summer camp. Add another $30+ minimum per person per weekend camp out. Add miscellaneous costs. I would need to budget at least $4000 per year to have my kids in scouting. That is two or three really nice family vacations per year. Heck, I could afford a small camper at this cost.
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Same conflicting statements existed when I went to Sea Base and when my younger son went. Show the doctor the participant guide to the doctor. Have the doctor sign the form. You are good. Call Sea Base office if really concerned. FAQ --> https://www.bsaseabase.org/scouts/resources/faq/ Sailing guide (page 5) --> https://www.bsaseabase.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2022-Sailing-Participant-Guide-.-Editable.pdf