Fuzzy Bear

scoutldr, Wearing the patch is a full time occupation for many. The pay is low but the benefits of sitting around are very rewarding. The wearing of the square knots and the hanging of the coffee mug from the Philmont Scout belt is a sacred ritual thought by many to bring rain in dry seasons. The adults that are interrupting the meetings by talking and socializing is a privilege given from birth and should be honored by all of those in attendance. Is it the norm? A recent survey showed it to be so. I hope this helps. FB

The New World Almanac uses this daffinition for the words you are cornfused by: Fun Fair- 1. anything Scouting Show. 2. An opportunity to share with the public and other Scouts, Scouting. 3. A type of midway for Scouts and Scouting "doings". 4. A chance to show your Scouting stuff to others. In some counties it is pronounced Phun Feare but most try to say it with the accent on the Fun. FB

Big Dog, I apologize for adding to the game. My free thinking gets in the way sometimes. My question still stands because my answer d. None of the above is correct. Now you must tell me one trick to "See" Animals when in nature. This comes from the BSHB.(This message has been edited by Fuzzy Bear)

Mark, "But it isn't a requirement, in my mind, that a Troop MUST use the Council "program"." Your quote has nothing to do with what I said. I also agree that my view is one person's perspective. Eamonn, There are 12 months in the year with 11 possible for Troop events. Scouts can decide on any activity they can get support and approval to do on any or all. I failed to mention that Council, District or National won't miss them if they don't show. It is an invitation not a mandate. "The Troop is where the relationship between the individual Scout and the adults are made. " As a Boy Scout, I made friendships on ALL levels of Scouting and I am proud to have met those individuals. Even after 30 some odd years, I know those are the people that enriched my life. I will always be grateful for all of their efforts to show me a better way. FB

Since this post is most likely in response to my post (that you and BW disagree with), let me start. Let me first define program as Doing Something. The Council- offers Summer Camp- It is only the biggest program offering of the year that most of the units and most boys experience. By the way, this is the basis of unit program development which you might not even suspect. The Council- offers The Scout Fun Fair- It is the biggest and most enjoyable program that most Scouts have every year and they learn about more PROGRAM in a single day than from any other place. *Don't miss this one as a source of PROGRAM, it is huge. The Council has Committees that plan and support every Committee in every District and every unit in the Council. That support boils down to helping Individual Scouts to do something. Example: Selling Expensive Popcorn- It is first a fund raiser but it is invaluable to Scouts in learning how to Sell, meet total strangers, they can also learn to put forth their best efforts as a Scout-WHY- because Scouts want to Do Something-Program. The Council Commissioner has meetings with every District Commissioner to support every single District that in turn supports every single unit in establishing Quality assurance that in turn helps the unit establish Quality Program for every single Scout. The District has two Camporees per year. These two events can be well planned, well staffed, and well supported and can be a rich source of Program enrichment and Set a Great Example for Units that are planning their own programs. *By the way, Units are made up of individual Scouts. The District has a Merit Badge Midway. This can be another rich source of assistance that Scouts can learn from, such as, learning about Merit Badges, or how an event is put together or they might meet people that could help with some of their own unit program-Doing Something. The District has Committees plan and support every Committee that every Unit in the Council should have. The information that they give out, should help the Unit Committees plan and support their own units, which in turn helps every single Scout. The District Commissioner has meetings with every Unit Commissioner to support every single Unit in establishing Quality assurance that in turn helps the unit establish Quality Program. This should affect every single Scout or one would think it would. Now all of that said about Council and District without even talking about how Training, Effective Training, is vital for a unit to be able to know how to have quality Program. I won't even throw in how Setting the Example is essential for Scouts to SEE and DO for quality program in their own units. Gee, I won't even mention the resources that may be available to them at their own Council Camps or from all of the volunteers that they meet on the Council and District levels during the year for resource(ing) their own individual Programs. Now let me add up the ways: Council events=1 big Summer Camp + One Fun Fair + Popcorn District events= Merit Badge Midway + 2 Camporees. Add this together and the unit only has to plan maybe half of their own yearly program. One would venture a guess that a Unit could come up with Quality Program with all of that help, but then maybe not. Well, enough raving about the trees; I am sure there is a forest in there somewhere. FB

FScouter, I have summarized your help post by cutting out all of the items that do not apply, so let me quote you again. (It may be harshly true but it is the funniest help I have ever seen offered) _________________________________________________ 'Our council does not financially support training at all. All materials etc., etc. must be paid for from the revenue generated from the training program. The council does not provide these materials. (bin items) are free, but can only be ordered by the council. It is almost impossible to get our council to order bin items for training. A detailed budget must be submitted prior to the training event. It is not proper to pay for expenses out of the training fees collected at the training. Training fees should be paid with advance registration directly to the council. Paying at the door is discouraged, apparently because the training staff would be involved in handling money. I must buy everything at full retail price plus tax up front, and hope it all sells. The shop wont accept returns. When the training event is over, the original budget form must be submitted, with the actual revenues and expenses. There must be at least a 15% surplus for the event, or expenses will not be reimbursed. The official word from the council is that volunteers are not expected to pay for training expenses out of their own pockets. But they have established multiple hoops to jump through to get reimbursed, and the reimbursement process may take months. Many volunteers have decided it is too cumbersome to deal with and pay for everything themselves. We are not permitted to use the council copy machine' ___________________________________________ That is not a hot button, it is more like issues to install a rage button. These are the kind of expectations that must be found in most Post Offices. I wouldn't offer this kind of help to my best enemy. Now as far as getting people to respond anywhere on the face of the earth to such requests, I think we must remember that a Scout is helpful but it does not mean that he is just plain ole stupid too. FB

While visiting Mother Nature, you may want to attempt to see animals. What is one trick that you can use to do so? a. Open your eyes. b. Put a candy bar in your hip pocket and wait. c. Sit under a large tree and act like you are not there. d. None of the above Correct answer d. Sooooo, go look it up. FB

Oh yea, Page 98 of the Tenth Edition, 1990 BSHB. Yes boiling water is an acceptable form of purifying water. After boiling, pour it back and forth between two pots to freshen it. FB

If the water is from an unknown source or thought to be untreated then it should be boiled for 15 minutes. Science Weekly

Ken, May your stay here be most enjoyable. We give flowers to all new arrivals and we have beautiful girls doing the dance of the New Person just for you. Close you eyes and let the cool breezes blow through your hair and get ready for an adventure that you never could imagine. Welcome again and enjoy, FB

Landwire, Welcome to the land of plenty. The grub is good and the songs are many. Take a seat and prop up your feet. We'll talk every night of the week. If you have a thought, a question, or a quip just fire away; we're well equipped! Welcome, FB (This message has been edited by Fuzzy Bear)

BW, Program- I do not mean a descriptive notice prior to a meeting. I do not mean a written list of events. I mean Doing Something. In Scouting, an event is planned, is submitted to the committee for resource(ing) and support and is then carried out. That sounds simple but as we have all seen, it is not what it looks like. Because it is not easily done, HELP-Training is needed. Yes, we agree on that but I wanted you to know we agree, so I said it. You must not have children of your own, Because, if you did, you would understand the POWER of Setting the Example- one of the Skills of Leadership, I know you have attended Wood Badge, so I know you know about it. Whenever Council has a Summer Camp, it is not just a camp we go to once per year because it is Summer. We learn from it and I don't mean just Merit Badge stuff. We learn to put on a show. We learn what fun is. We have older Scouts that are fun and know how to have a good time and we learn from them. I bet as a Scout you never put on your own Summer Camp. As a Scout, I was given the opportunity and it was not easy but we had fun. We had great fun. We were not sure how to do it but we had been to Summer Camp and we learned how there. Council has a Scout Show. What do we learn there? You know, you have been. It is fun and it provides a million ideas on "programs" we can do in our unit and we learned it there. (*I am leaving the District out here because the opportunities for them to put on a great show are boundless, so their example should be left at face value.) National has a magazine, Boys Life. It used to be a fun, exciting and stimulating adventure. We took many ideas and learned many things from it and we had program. In part it was training but the other Bigger part was Example, you know, GREEN BAR BILL- He wasn't just one of the modern day founders but one that followed in the Founder's footsteps and acted like our Patrol Leader. He was an adult but he knew the power he had in being an Example. and we loved him for it. Now what I am purposing is that Council facilities be open year round with staff and well maintained equipment to support units in their efforts to learn about good program. I do not mean that all units will only use the Council Camp because that would not work. Boys need to learn and expect to go to other wild and strange places. You gave me the list of things expected from Council (i.e., their Primary Function) and I agree. Somebody has to pay to keep the lights on. Remember that, we agree. BUT I am giving a reason for people to give to such an organization. Quality Program. I have allot of Scouting literature. I have Scout posters, etc. but one of the ads that I treasure is very simple. It shows a new Scout and the caption says, "The reasons he came to Scouting." The next box reads, "Why he left". Now you need to see it to really appreciate it because the first box shows him running through the woods, building towers, chasing butterflies, building campfires, on and on. The other box shows him sitting in a room on a bench with a bunch of other disgruntled, horse-playing kids with the SPL barking orders. You know, that cartoon used to be in Scout books because it was a picture worth a thousand training words. I can remember it but the stuff I see now is color and flash and allot of red filled with promise. I also know what else should be shown but isn't until the Scout joins. (*This generalization comes to you from what was said earlier, We only are reaching 20%-Eamonn). So where does that leave us? I want to use your quote. "Program is a function of the unit. The absolute very best advertising for scouting is the quality of your next unit meeting. Positive word of mouth will only happen when units regularly keep the promise of scouting, and that is done independent from council/district." Your use of the word "independent" is where we disagree. Setting the Example is primary and crosses all boundaries. FB

Eamonn, We disagree 100%. Nothing new here. Big Deal, it is just words or electrons on a page. One point about advertising: There is the official advertising that will sway 10% even if it is pure lies. Then there is the 'word of mouth' advertising that sways people much more effectively and lasts much longer. Word of mouth advertising will most likely have untruth in it. The difference is that it is personal, person to person, one friend sharing with another friend their truth, as they see it and have experienced it. That kind of advertisement cannot be bought. It is that kind of advertisement that I am talking about when I am saying quality program is important and it exactly the kind of advertisement that the Membership Committees need. Commissioner effectiveness does not have to rest on low quality program inertia. I strongly believe that such things can be remedied. Yet, another chapter to be disagreed with, coming soon. FB

Eamonn, Membership does not operate in a vacuum. Membership is strongly dependent on the outcomes of the other elements of the Unit, District, and Council Committees. Membership is the "weakest" part of any committee but has the potential of being the strongest. The REASON: Membership uses the existing activities and the existing numbers to base their advertisements. In other words, Membership holds a mirror up so those in the program can look at themselves. If what they see is based on an accurate assessment, then they (the Committees) may respond. Caution: Ads should be viewed before general distribution. An advertisement need only be truthful to change behavior. If the word "sucks" comes to mind, then it is at that point where CONCERN should be shown. But let's say that the program and the numbers really "sucks" yet all of the committees point out that it is not their fault because it is a "Boy Run" operation. Let's say that they want the ad to "gloss over" several details to make it look like the kind of fun and adventurous program that they have in their own minds but cannot be proved in any visible way. It is at that point where an individual's own adherence to the Scout Law and Oath becomes evident. Case in point: A few years ago, I was a UC for a particular Pack and had been for several months. I told the CM that I would attend two meetings and take pictures. He was happy to have the attention and I am sure he looked on my "taking pictures" as an act of "Advertisement" for what Scouting is really all about. We looked at the results together. It didn't show what he expected. It showed Scouts sitting around looking bored. Why? Because he was the show and he was the only one enjoying himself. (*stage direction) CM, What to do, What to do, hand wringing and anxiety. UC, "Not to worry, here is the Program Helps, assign parts and I will take pictures again." Next meeting, Scouts were engaged, having fun. Results? Bigger Pack, more Leaders needed. People wanted to help because it was actually FUN. Quality program is an issue that people understand and can have faith in as having substance. It is achievable. It has visible results. People respond positively to it. It becomes something that people can point to with pride. It gives people a reason to enter an organization and to remain. Those in the Membership Committee must find the strength to share with the rest of the Committees what is evident, even if it sucks. FB

F.B.'s Hints on obtaining free Training Materials and assistance: a. Speak with your District Executive about this problem There may be materials on loan from the Council office. b. Your D.E. may know of other D.E.'s that might be able to loan you materials from other Districts in the Council. c. Speak to the District Training Chairman and get the District Training Chair to speak to the Council Training Chairman. They may have materials to give or loan. d. There are other Districts near you that might share not only materials but personnel. e. Find out what is available On-line. f. You may be able to get and make copies of any of the printed materials. Most of the Scout materials are not print protected. g. Check with the last Woodbadge SM to find if any of the participants need any "Ticket items" to help with training. h. Check within your District for those who have been there for any length of time. Some will have accumulated a wealth of materials and would be happy to share them with you and most likely would volunteer to help out. (Your credit card is now being charged for a minimum fee, remember nothing is free.) FB

Rephrase time: Issue One: Allowing females into the (USA) Boy Scout Program when they are 11 years of age. Issue Two: Allowing homosexuals into the (USA) Boy Scout Program without reservation at any age, allowable by the specific program. These two separate but unequal issues may stimulate vigorous debate. Since these issues have been raised as being part of the problem and resulting in the selling off Canadian Boy Scout Camps and bringing the total population served in the Canadian Boy Scout Program to new lows, they appear to be problematic topics. Please reference earlier posts within this issue beginning with the first and reading forward to become acquainted with the subject. You will find these two issues couched together like apples and bananas or grapes or oranges or possibly tomatoes. Earlier, one excited reader attempted to use the alphabet. FB (This message has been edited by Fuzzy Bear)(This message has been edited by Fuzzy Bear)

"If there is not a balanced program, where the Lad feels that he is part of an ongoing fun and adventurous organization. It will all be for nothing. The Lad will leave and will tell his mates at school that Scouting sucks. If we had a hard time getting him the first time, it is a heck of a lot harder the second time." The word "sucks" carries allot of advertising weight. If young people believe that is the quality of the program, then any number of good Membership drives will fail for those youth that hear about it the first time. You don't have to worry about the second time around. FB

NJ This is a relative statement in regards to past similar topics that have spun out of control causing consternation and a few farewell speeches. (i.e., refer to Issues and Politics, 5 pages in length and longer for a clearer understanding) It is only an observation. Remark rescinded. Continue on.

It may be time for another, Issues and Politics, column on what would you do if women and homosexuals were turned loose on Scouting in the good ole U.S.A? It should be good for a 8 or 9 pager.

What do you mean by distortion of truth? You have to remember who we are dealing with, WMD=war now! and was it distortion when it was said, "we are not going to be nation builders". I don't think that our system of beliefs and truths are compatible. The brush strokes are larger and cover more canvas than there is picture to paint.

Eamonn, I hope you understand that this is a general discussion based on your first entry about the 20% problem that you encountered. The existing Basic Boy Scout Program as we know it (I think): Program= Troop planned and Leader/Committee supported campouts and or events. Program= District events= Fall Camporee, Spring Camporee, Merit Badge Midway. Program= Council events= Summer Camp, Scout Fun Fair. Possible cause of Boy leaving Scouting= Poor program at one or all levels. Known Problem: Few exit interviews are ever had and fewer repairs are ever made to those problems. Possible repair= Enriched Program at all levels. Reason= It is assumed that program and recidivism are related. Bulletin: Council has determined that this will be the year of PROGRAM ENRICHMENT! Banner unfurls, horn blares the Scouts (ers) March, all celebrate together- Hurrah! Individual Repairs: 1. Council makes sure that quality program is possible for all units by ensuring the Council camp is open for troop usage all the year round. Council has staff and well maintained equipment for programs. a. It was opinioned that Scouting should not compare itself to having a 5 million dollar ball park. Answer= correct-all agree. Hurrah! We have something much better. (and what it that Mr. Smarty pants?) Answer= Rifle ranges, climbing towers, boating, all kinds, hiking trails, bike trails, nature centers, on and on. Could this cost 5 million- isn't it already available in your local Scout camps that are open one/two months a year? b. When I was a kid, a vacant lot for a ball game was the least expensive item on the menu. I have not been to a Scout Camp where there wasn't a vacant lot. So, I am not sure what the problem is if the Scouts would like to have a ball game. Maybe all of the vacant lots are gone and that is the issue or maybe fun can only happen in a 5 million dollar ballpark. c. I don't want to expand this idea much further but available resources (i.e., things you do not have to buy) plus the use of creative play (i.e., games expanded, rules changed, equipment used or not used, etc.) allows for greater freedom and novel approaches to program. WARNING: OH yea, this has to be taught because people have been raised on Nintendo. (i.e., electronic games where the interaction is limited, so be careful.) 2. District repair for program- The Training team properly trains ADULTS about program. (i.e., all adults). Now, isn't that their present function? Yes, but I am talking about an ENRICHED program that EVERYONE has decided on and learns about. b. The properly trained Adults can then train their Scouts on the unit level. NOTE: That is one job that they have been given, at least by the manuals I have. c. District Activities- Camporees- The Training Chair uses the Skills of Leadership to properly put together these events. Meaning= They discontinue using unit leaders and/or Scouts to staff the events. They recruit others to run the events. Question: Where do these "others" come from if they are not the unit leaders and they are not the Scouts? I will let you figure that one out, since part of this is a guided discovery. HINT: Oh yea, Since you are given the mission to reach beyond the same old tired worn out people, you will also find ENRICHED program there also. So, get to work. The Commissioner Service- What do they do? (small ant says, I don't know. This is fine because ants don't know much about Scouting, we think!) If they (i.e., Commissioners)were given the charge to ensure that quality program was available to all units= properly trained leaders and if they would attempt some quality assurance measures= looking at the unit programs to see what is happening, then it is possible that advice could be shared, on the spot training could happen, so increased awareness of possible programs would be known about. WARNING: Now, this does not mean the Unit Commissioner is training the Scouts. What it means is that the UC is helping the Scout Leaders or ADULTS to understand how they can SUPPORT the Scouts in their planning their programs so that the programs are ENRICHED. Unit level enrichment- Scouts need to be trained properly about program and they must have the known resources to develop some of those programs. NOTE: The training for this comes from a properly trained adult leader. Committee- their job, according to the Committee Guide- is to SUPPORT the program- if the idea of ENRICHMENT is shared with this group, then it might rub off on the program outcomes of the PLC. OK- The end of the year has arrived and we are at the Council Banquet. Program ENRICHMENT has worked for some and not for others. We look to see if the numbers have increased because this experiment has cost us some effort and some bucks. There is some grousing about change and things are not the way they used to be. But then, in comes the horn and the banner and it is determined that success has occurred because there has been a 5% increase over last year, awards are given for increased numbers and then it is said by the Council Leader that we will try it again for four more years, horn blaring and all march in circle. Hurrah! Its just a thought, FB

I would like to own my own Scout Camp in Canada.(This message has been edited by Fuzzy Bear)

Zippy, You have a certin Norhteastern dialect. You wouldn't be from Maryland would you?

I don't believe that we need fear another round of brutal verbal beatings on this one. The wind has died down and the sky is clear.

This discussion has ended unless Eamonn has other thoughts which I would be more than happy to hear.