Fuzzy Bear

The LDS Church, the Council, the Troop, the Patrol followed the BSA policies up to the point of starting an unauthorized fire as well as using aerosol flame throwers and then not extinguishing the fire properly. Once that line was crossed, then it became the responsibility of the individuals to pay for their actions. Scout insurance covers a unit (of any kind) only if the proper policies are followed. Hopefully, these boys and their families have some kind of insurance that pays for their personal illegal actions because if they don't, then those individuals will need to find another way to

I doubt anyone here is against going to Scout high adventure camps or planning high adventure activities or having the older boys do special things. My vote (and experience) is for limiting activities that are labor intensive with high costs. Watching a budget, being thrifty, and using your resources to have an outstanding program has been demonstrated as a way to attract and keep Scouts, both younger and older. For example, one unit nearby vied successfully for years in getting and keeping Scouts until we came along with a somewhat different program. Their program was based so

I intend on retaking WB for the 21st century but I will keep the beads I have already earned. If I am required to return my beads before I take the new training, then retraining won't be a consideration. WB of the 21st century should simply choose to give out something other than beads. They would then have something new to offer everyone. To not change their offering is shortsighted, inconsiderate and demonstrates a lack of reasoning/thinking ability. fb

By testing a Scout at the BOR on how to tie a bowline, we have in fact re-tested him (circular motion in action). If we ask the Scout what a bowline is used for at a BOR, then we have inquired as to the use of the knot, which may be just as important as how to tie it. Lets see how it works Mr. B (MC) is asking Jim (Scout) questions at his BOR Mr. B. throws Jim some rope. Jim here is a bit of rope, tie us a bowline. OK Mr. B., here it is. How did I do? Jim, I am only a Committee Member not the SM. How would I know if it is correct? That is a good question Mr.

If the only thing anyone disagreed with me about was not attending a high adventure camp yearly, then there is not much of an argument. When I took over as SM, the Scouts had been to one local camp 10 times in the past year. The camp was close by our hut and little planning was needed. The Scouts made our own Where to go Camping guide and for the next three years we never returned to the camp of many outings. Finally the Scouts requested a return to the local camp because it really was a great place. We always had young Scouts and older Scouts mainly because we allowed them to plan and le

The Patrol system is the process that boys can easily ascribe to get to where they want to go and do things they want to do. Going to Philmont and the Boundary Waters yearly is, IMO, an overly expensive way to purchase numbers for a unit. Let the boys decide on 100% of the programs but relegate 70% of the programs locally, 20% beyond 50 miles and 10% beyond 100 miles. (*Use your resource survey to find new and unusual places) Dont break the bank to make a unit. Boys and most parents are practically minded and will support an active program that is fun. Make sure that one parent from each

A few years ago, I attended a Camporee where Tenderfoot knots were being tied in one event. A Scout was having trouble with a clove hitch. I had learned it when I was a Scout and used it many times over the years. I reached down and tied it for him using a few words of explanation for emphasis and encouragement, being that I had been an Eagle Scout to boot. Another adult close by pointed out that I had tied it wrong. I got out my Handbook and sure enough, it was wrong, so I found myself tied-up with emotion as well. How could that happen? Fast forward several years more, I still c

Boy Led Programs A few years ago, a SM that periodically attended our Roundtables asked a question about growth. It seemed he was having trouble with his Troop of many years. One thing that stood out about him was the string of Quality Unit patches that he wore proudly to the bottom of the sleeve of his uniform. What kept coming to my mind was if he had a continual Quality Unit program, what reason for trouble with growth? That question and my curiosity brought on a Troop visit. I noted several things about the visit. After the opening pledge by one of the boys, the SM went to

I staffed a course a couple of years after I earned my beads. Even though I was on staff, there was an air of elitism among those that had been on staff for years. The Old Ones remained aloof/distant from the beginners. It was as if the newbies were under an initiation period. I could go on but the attitude turned me off. To this day, I can find no reason for their grasping at straws. Whatever they gained in personal recognition was lost on friendship. I have moved and have taken on different Scouting jobs with new people. The Skills of Leadership remain and I can use them effectiv

My WB course was in the last century. It was in-Council and it started on Friday nights. I was with some people that I knew and others that I did not know. Our Coach Counselor was from a different district. I got to know several WB leaders from the adjoining cities. This gave me a new beginning within our council to do things and to call on people that I did not necessarily know before I started. I was thankful for the introductions because it was a large council and difficult to get to know others at a distance. The people that I knew locally were more helpful in the future toward me,

Before the forward pass was invented in football, people ran the ball on every play. So, when the forward pass is used in football today, the inventors of football would be equally saddened. More than likely they would not consider it to be football at all. Burma Shave

Amen

I believe that people are in Scouting for the right reasons and if they are not there for the right reasons, then they will leave on their own accord. This is a generalization, I know because we have documented evidence of people that sadly stayed in Scouting for years doing the wrong things and some were carted off to jail. Those doing the wrong things still do not make the cup half empty for me. When I read about people doing the wrong things, it drives a wedge deep into my heart and gut, as I know it does for hundreds and thousands of other Scouters that feel that somehow we all are impl

Fear and anger belies every step toward our exit homeward. May you and your wife find peace beyond understanding. fb

speaking in general: The problem with accepting the Patrol Method is one of control and having faith that Scouts can learn or arrive with the product (Aims of Scouting). This does not mean that Scouts do not need counseling/guidance. This also means that Scouts need to learn the skills of leadership which are fundamental and gives the process structure. Along with these skills are the eight Methods of Scouting when balanced will fully integrate a program that (from the outside) looks like it runs itself. One of the clues of successfully obtaining the product of the Patrol Method is wh

I believe changing National comes from individual units running good programs. A good program is based on standards (well) learned in training and from the book(s). A good program has a balance of all of the Methods of Scouting. A good program will include all of the elements of a Quality Unit. A good program will be year round. I realize that this will cause another spin-off. Good night. fb

Believing that there is strict standardization in Scouting is like believing in the Tooth Fairy. Training is haphazard at best and tests are not given based on any study regimen. Quality control is limited to those that vary from the program at the extreme ends. It would be uncommon to find programs that are run "by the book' rather than those that have adaptations. People that come here to find answers will most likely get varied responses to their questions rather than multiple standard replies based on book quotations. It is still important to try and approximate, in writing

After reviewing the requirements of several MBs, it appears that the level of difficulty to obtain those badges are just as difficult, and possibly more so, than in the past. I always felt that learning Morse Code for First class was the biggest problem (for me) to reaching Eagle when I received mine in 64. The emphasis has changed toward advancing a boy to First Class within the first year, which was based on data from National that a boy will stay in Scouting longer if he reaches First Class. This strategy has worked because the number of Scouts reaching Eagle has climbed dramatically in

These are simple problems in math/logic. A SM is asked to drive a Scout home but he also wants to maintain two-deep leadership. How does he do it if he does not have a son in Scouting? If a Scout will only divulge personal information to one other person, then how does a leader maintain two-deep leadership during a counseling session? fb

Health and Safety is an issue anytime and for everyone. Money problems are an issue that needs to be reported to the DE before it gets reported to the real Cops. Most of the rest is secondary to making good relationships with those you wish to influence. Change comes slowly and then only if a person trusts you. fb

When I wore things with clutch backs, I found that they were loose because shirt material does not have the width necessary to keep the pin embedded properly. I began using a piece of one-sixteenth inch thick cardboard between the star and the clutch back, meaning the pin goes through the cardboard. This stabilized the mechanism and kept it from releasing when there was upper body movement. fb

Lets assume for a moment that there are Christmas cookies for all of those that have been good. This is the rule taught in the current training program. Troop A has four boys and the SM has not been to training, so they give them to the four boys and the SM. This is neither a tweek, an adaptation nor a modification. This is ignorance of the good cookie rule. Their CO has registered a past Scout to make the required five but doesnt tell anyone. This is an intentional breaking of the rule but it is hard to find, plus the CO wants a Troop. Troop B has six boys as well but the

In the old times, the UC was known as the Neighborhood Commissioner. He was a person known and trusted by the units he served (*shes were not known to this job at that time). Today, a new recruit is brought in and told to go and do good. So, now it becomes a job where people are serving people that they don't know. The job easily can be one of enforcement rather than Sheparding a few friends along in a program filled with twists and turns. Some of the twists may come from a person that "used to do it that way" or from a person that is trying their hardest to do well but just lacks informa

I would pick older men with experience, that are likeable and are generally recognized by Scouts, Scouters and many in the community as spokesmen for the BSA. My top picks would be John Tesh, Chan Gailey and William H. Gates Sr. (*In that order)

You make the decision on pulling the plug. It is your energy that is required to engage in a meaningful experience. It is generally easier to go to a Pack that is already under way. It is more fun to put one together. It will make a memory worth retelling. fb