gcnphkr

You might try the recipes in the Scout Handbook. There is a great stew in there. I don't recall what else.

For the truly clean up challenged, get dutch oven liners or just line the pan with foil.

I see the action shirts are on sale for $15. The shirt that should have been the new uniform.

Okay, I overstated with the "especially" part. Eagle Scouters are no more resistant to training than other Scouters.

Eagle92. It is a shame that it didn't work, I understand with the Spring Camporee especially. Often it is the first campout after crossover (for us this year, 7 crossed over at the camporee) and you have lots of parents that tend to come along. Of course they are the ones you really want to get into training. Fall might work better. By then most of the occasional adults have stopped coming and hopefully those that still remain are seeing the need for the training.

I find it odd when anyone has the attitude of not needing training. Until to go, how can you know that you know everything. It is rarely true that you will not learn anything. There is generally some benefit in the experience itself. If you really know it all then step up and volunteer to be on the training staff. Finally, you may not need it, but chances are there is another scouter in your unit that does. What is your example? Are you likely to get him to go when you won't go yourself?

They've had at least a month since becoming scouts. How hard it is to get a piece of cloth, a marker and and a stick? Doesn't this patrol at least have an ASM advising them or are they left to sink or swim on their own? Granted, it should be a Troop Guide helping them, but if no TG then it falls on the ASM to point them in the direction of success.

Gee, I try to keep them away from the scouts at camporee...just can't seem to get this right.

I don't understand why some type of adult training is not included at camporees. But so many scouters (especially the ones with the red, white and blue square knots) know that there is nothing more for them to learn. And the ones most likely to be instructors are stuck running events for the scouts. (Do we really need to burn though yet another string?)

Thank you for the ethical choices lesson.

Just had one from project approval to SMC in 6 weeks. I know of one that did it in a week, I don't know how, just that it was done. If the materials are supplied and all that in needed is to organize labor then it could be done in a matter of days.

http://www.boyscoutstore.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=10298

and

http://www.boyscoutstore.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=11684

You are right. There is nothing there for you. Rest well and be happy.

I've been giving through CFC (Like UW for federal employees) for years. Last year I asked the council CFO what he preferred and he said directly through FOS or one of the endowments. The downside is now I have to remember to send in the donation that used to taken out of my paycheck.

Good points. It has just seemed that it is harder to get the Boy Scouters to go to training. Cub Scouters tend to know they need it so it is not as hard of a sell. Of course, doing the DL training again and again gets old. We do have a training chair.

We have the Pack Trainer position, which is nice as he helps make sure that the leaders in the pack have the training they need. So why isn't there a Troop\Team\Crew Trainer as well. It seems that all the reasons that a pack needs a trainer still exists in the older units.

As others have said, Woodbadge gives what you put in. It will not make a bad scouter a great scouter (although it might motivate an uncommitted scouter to become a great scouter). Around here I've not seen a deference to Woodbadgers, although I'd be more likely to call on someone with beads than I would a stranger without. I don't see much of an "I went to Woodbadge" air of superiority, although, there is one adult in our unit that I suspect took it to confirm all the things that he thinks I am doing wrong.

Here are some benefits of taking Woodbadge:

Motivation. Here in Mormon Country most of the participants are LDS. They were told they were going to be a scout leader. The were told to go to training. The were told to go to Woodbadge. Often this is the first time they interact with traditional scout leaders or scouters who love scouting. Often they finally get it. This can happen to traditional leaders as well. If nothing else, a person should leave Woodbadge with a vision of what they are doing.

Working your ticket. It helps you accomplish things that you likely never would have done without it. Learning about yourself while working your ticket. One of my goals is to visit other units' troop meetings to find things that will improve our program. But doing this has shown me my critical side as well and helped me see that I can work through it. Could you do these sort of things without Woodbadge? Sure, but most don't and the ticket should make you do at least somethings that you never would have otherwise.

The relationships. It has greatly expanded my pool of resources, far beyond what your can get at Roundtable.

It is fun. I can say that I had more fun on those two weekends than I have had in a long time on scout outings. For 6 days I got to be a scout again without all the headaches of being a scouter.

And finally, I get to sing that goofy song.

You might check with neighboring councils. Most of the courses out here are Thursday - Saturday.

I used to be a Beaver.

Here is the challenging bit for me.

The scout is making a half-hearted attempt at his POR. If he were your employee he would have been fired before a month had gone by. But these are scouts and you understand they are just learning so you (or better the SPL) has a talk with him telling him to start doing his job. He does for about a week, maybe two. Shows up at the next PLC, etc. Then it is back to the way it was. Time for another talk. We are three months in at this point. Do you cut him some slack again, or does the PLC take up the matter of removing him? What if he is getting long of tooth and if he does not complete his POR in time it forever closes the door on an Eagle? He begs and tells you and the SPL that he will repent and do his job. You have compassion on the scout and with a bit of reminding he manages to do his job for another week or two. Of course this doesn't last and we are now five months in. He may be good to go for a Star or have a month left for a Life/Eagle. Do you drop him now? He already has 5 months credit for about 1 month worth of work.

So, how about this instead: If we have a scout that has done poorly in the past we put them into a position like Historian or Chaplain's Aide. Easy to objectively tell if they have been doing the job, yet none are critical positions. We tell them, "This is a one month term. If you do your job you will be able to do it the next month, if not then we will find someone else and you will need to wait for something else to open up." Instructor would be easy to do on a month to month basis, especially if there are multiple Instructors.

This will not work for SPL or PL. They are elected positions and you don't want to have monthly elections. It would also be difficult for critical PORs like QM, but that should have been filled by someone who will do the job in the first place.

I cannot imagine an actual rule having been created for this. Nor can I imagine a troop that would not honor such a request. I would suggest the mother speak to the SM and CC and let them know 1) her concern about the ASM and 2) let them know that that her son needs to ride with someone else. Expect her to be asked for details, and to be asked to drive--especially in cases where there are limited drivers and the ASM in question maybe the only option.

We are fortunate. Our district has a Life to Eagle class at Roundtable about twice a year. The procedures don't change much but the unit leaders do.

The above statement is fairly specific about what the council 'may' ask the scout to do. Does the scout store sell these blank reference forms? Or does the council supply them with the application?

Our council supplies them in a packet that is given to scouts when they reach Life. They are also available for download on the website.

Where do they mention the council asking the scout to collect letters and to bring them to the EBOR or to the council?

They do not say this. It is step 6 from "The 12 Steps From Life to Eagle" which is in the Advancement Guide and the Eagle Scout Leadership ServiceProject Workbook (something that every Eagle candidate should haveread). Here is the entire section:

When the completed application is received at the council service center, its contents will be verified and the references contacted. The Scout shall have listed six references (five if no employer, and parent if no organized religious association). The council advancement committee or its designee contacts the references on the Eagle Scout Rank Application, either by letter, form, or telephone checklist. (The council determines the method or methods to be used.) The candidate should have contacted individuals listed as references before including their names on the application. If desired by the council, the candidate may be asked to deliver a blank reference form and envelopes to the listed references. The candidates should not be involved personally in transmitting any correspondence between people listed as references and the council service center or advancement committee. If the initial reference letter or form is not returned to the council in a timely manner, the council advancement committee must make direct contact with the reference(s) listed on the Eagle Scout Rank Application on its own, by follow-up letter, phone contact, or other methods as it chooses. The candidate shall not be required to make a follow-up contact with the reference or submit other reference names. A Scout cannot have a board of review denied or postponed because the council office or council advancement committee does not receive the reference letter forms he delivered.

This DAC is wrong in requiring that the candidate supply these letters. The DAC is also wrong in requiring that there be a letter from a troop leader. CA_Scouter has some legitimate beefs, which he should pursue. But having the EBOR expeditedmakes it so that long before the application was filled out and submitted they should have been in contact with the DAC to find out what could be done to help make this go quick and smooth. CA_Scouter has been a SM for over three years. It is a little hard to imagine that he never had an opportunity to know any of the district procedures until it was his son.(This message has been edited by jet526)

Most people respond to being dumped on by making life difficult for the dumper, even the nicest are less likely to do them any favours. Getting all pissy about how letters are not mentioned on the application doesn't do your son any good.

As the SM I make it a point to know not only what the district or council expects but I also find out what the scouts can do to make the process simpler for the DAC. Our district has between 6 and 12 EBORs each month. Contacting 60 references is a lot of work for a volunteer who likely has a job, family and other responsibilities. Making sure that he has reference letters is a small courtesy on the scouts part.

Sure, I can take the approach of, "I did what was required" or I can be thoughtful, courteous and smart by making life as easy as possible for the person who is doing what he needs to do to conduct an EBOR on my behalf.

It might be helpful to remember that even though providing the letters is not a requirement, it is helpful and expedites the process. Without the letters the council designee must contact the references, which can take time. So, while I disagree with the odd requirement of having letters from unit leaders and even requiring that letters be provided, you should remember that you are the one on a tight schedule and therefore should be doing what you can to expedite this by having letters from the five references ready to go. Otherwise you would need to wait for the references to be called, or more likely sent a letter requesting a reference and then a follow up call to those who did not send a letter in a timely manner. Which is better, being able to schedule a EBOR in a week or sometime in the next three months?

If I were this DAC and you flooded me with letters then you could plan on this EBOR occurring sometime in early July. Not only is a scout courteous, he is thrifty and doesn't cut off his nose to spite his face.

They may not require the letters, the can ask that forms be given to the references, but it is ultimately the advancement committee's responsibility to contact the references.

I don't were he gets a need for a reference from a leader in the troop at all. Parent, educator, pastor plus at least two more references and an employer if available. From your description your son did not have a reference from an educator. You can hardly fault the DAC for asking for that, did your son at least provide the reference?

If you would like the candidate to read your letter I would recommend making a copy and giving it to him personally. Often the EBOR will glance at the letters (how many "Richard is a great kid and should be awarded the Eagle" can a person read?) and only give attention to the rare "Mr. Angelo is a twisted sicko who should be locked up".

I can't figure out why we can access and update the advancement information of the scouts in ScoutNet but we are not allowed to even view the training information for scouters. I also can't figure out why my DE insists on having updates for adults handwritten on a form and will not just take the printout from TroopMaster.

At least the online tour permit saves the vehicle information so you don't have to reenter it. Now if they could just get the approval process down to the same amount of time it takes when I fax it in. The last time we tried doing it on line we got the approval two weeks after the activity.

"For those against using it this way, think of it as a driver's license in a state using the point system for moving violations. Would you automatically revoke the DL on first offense? Would you never revoke it no matter how many times the driver has been unsafe?"

That is part of my point. Tearing the corner off for an infraction treats them all the same. We do not suspend a DL because of parking tickets (as long as they are paid) but a DUI will get it pulled the first time in some states. Two buddies sitting next to each other whittling is not the same as playing a game of split the difference. One requires only a reminder to keep the blood circle clear, the other might be reason to revoke the privilege. Somethings require retraining, others a suspension, while others just a reminder.