Greying Beaver

Hey, I've got the "I'm Proud of My Eagle Scout" bumper sticker taped to the bottom corner of the driver-side of the rear window. More people see it that way.

The list above: -SM is WoodBadge trained -Really understands and uses the Patrol Method -Has 20+ active scouts -Is boy-led -Has a good outdoor program sums up what is needed as the basis of a troop that can deliver the program. The WB/21stCentury is filled with proven ways of doing that. One thing that really is useful is how "close to a problem" a SM sould be. It can vary from taking direct control all the way to the SM letting the boy-led, Patrol Method troop function while he/she watches from the sideline. The latter is the preferred method. The only one that cou

Look at helping with CS event as "advertizing" for the boy scouts in general, the troop that is helping, and the Lodge as well. For most CS families, they are not familiar with the boy scout program, including O.A. and Wood Badge. I put the two together because they show that the scout and/or scouter has bought into the program, "MOC(member of the club), if you will. The first time that I wore my uniform to a pack meeting (after having to do the "velcro and loop shuffle")I had a few parents ask me about the "pretty embroirdered patch on your pocket flap" and how to get one, as wel

The O.A. handbook has a section on ceremonies. Ceremony teams are encouraged to research the attire of the Native Americans who lived in the area and use that clothing as a guide for ceremony regalia. Our lodge's part of the swamp was ocupied by the Karakawa. They wore very little when the weather was cold and less when the weather was warm. So, . . . our chapters have found inspiration from the Cherokees at the time just after First Contact with the Europeans. When Dr. Goodman and Mr. Edson were writing the ceremonies, they drew from what was familiar. Edson was a Mason. I have sho

Hi, Gwd! Getting a troop to switch to the three-pot method from "overnight picnic" thinking is no mean feat. Good on you! Five SM's in eight years is not good. Your being in place for more than a couple of years brings stability to the troop. If you make sure that the troop has fun activities that keep coming will strengthen you troop's program. One of the Troop Committee(TC)'s jobs is to implement the Patrol Leaders' Council(PLC)'s program requests. You are the liason between the troop and the TC. Go camping monthly, and you go on the campouts, and you have a good time on the campouts

Well, . . . an organizational chart would show the TCC at the top, followed by the liason between the TC and troop, the SM. The SPL is in charge of the troop's metings, activities, and campouts. The CO holds the charter for the troop from the Council meaning that they "own" the troop's physical assets and can express its wishes for certain things do be done by the troop. For Example, a troop sponsored by a church could see COR telling the TC that the CO would like to see a class for the religious award started. That's fine. The pastor telling the boys that when a boy asks him/her

We had a troop bully. He was the reason for the troop instituting a code of behavior. That youngster played the policy like a fiddle. It was frustrating to say the least. He even tried to bully/campaign election to the O.A. three years in a row. He was never elected. He disappeared during football season his sophomore year, and it was learned through the grapevine that yes, he had made the team, and was getting the stuffings pounded out of him with regularity. In dealing with problem youngsters the first place to look is in the home, as has been remarked upon. His was the Dysfuncti

I have two - a "Beanie Baby" from my wife, Cutest BobWhite, and a little one on a cord necklace from my son, the Philmont Staffer. He found it at the Cimmaron Art Gallery. They have a website - "cimmaron art gallery" - and they have all of the critters in all sorts of guises. And a gen-u-ine Beaver hat pin that I picked up at our scout shop. He went on the hat when I got my beads. I don't care if the little guy on the necklace is not official. He gets worn almost all the time and hide next to the beads. Bass Pro Shop, huh? Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Hi, Lala. Townhall.com proves that there are those who would complain if they were to be hung with a new rope (New ropes stretch - a lot!). That forum is just like all other forums, including this one (but to a lesser extent here). Betcha there are those who would block George Washington's confirmation to anything because he was a slave holder. Politics as usual.

Don't look now; here comes another Beaver 'a waddlin' up! Always first in Gilwell Order. There must be a reason. But Beavers have other things to worry about, right? After all, be nice to Beavers; Beavers can turn your property into a wetlands in a heartbeat, and we all know what that means 8-). I used to be a Beaver, and a good ol' Beaver, too. But now I'm finished Beavering; I don't know what to do. I'm growing old and feeble and I can Beaver no more; So I'm going to work my ticket if I can . . . .

FScouter and BrentAllen have hit the nail squarely on the head: When wearing the "Complete Uniform-of-the-Day", render the hand salute. Otherwise, hand over the heart. Of course the "Uniform-of-the-Day" has to be announced or posted.

About the problem with the Venturers: I heard this one at Philmont Venture Advisor Training and at our district's Venture advisor Training: "All boyfriend-girlfriend relationships end at the Venturing door. No going off alone together, no sharing a tent, etc. It needs to be made clear to such couples and th line held." On the other hand, . . . given their ages and experiences on such matters, not a bad idea to keep a closer eye on them, especially if the relationship contiues and deepens. Oh, and remember that we were all young once ourselves, and they are HUMAN. Calling for the boy's re

Hi, SMBURNS. Here are some suggestions - to pass along to the PLC: 1. Keep it simple; Opening including presenting the colors and reciting the Pledge of Alegence, and possibly a short prayer. 2. Welcoming remarks by the master of ceremonies, usually the SPL. That makes it "boy-led". 3. Awarding of rank advancements; Advancement Chair usually does this. 4. Awarding of Merit Badges; ASM can do this. 5. Other recognitions and awards. New members of the O.A., religious awards, etc. 6. (optional) Scoutmaster's Minute. 7. Closing: retire the colors. 8. Refr

Activity Uniform = Class "B" Uniform. Get the best quality t-shirts for the best price and the silkscreening for the logo. You want the t-shirt to be a bright color. Our troop wears the Class "B" t-shirt under the Class "A" uniform shirton the way to camp and activities. They take off the Class "A" when they arrive at camp or the acitivity. Simple.

Let me shed some light on the possible reasoning behind the exclusion of "old" WoodBadgers for being 21stCentury WB staffers. The "old" course has a different purpose, a different set of requirements for tickets, and meeting the requirements of the ticket item. Too many "old" WoodBadgers who were staffers on 21stCentury courses tried to make 21stCentury tickets fit the mould of "old" tickets much to the frustration - and sometimes anger - of the patrol members. On the other hand, the "old" WoodBadgers have come up with an interesting name for the 21stCentury course: "WussBadge".

Hunt: The first point of the scout law is "Duty to God and . . . ." Which??? Of course our country's history is shot full of wrongs that this country has done to others and to ourselves. Name one country's history that isn't. Try Canada. Ask the Cajuns about how they were treated by the new landlords. And whenen the Canadian nationalized medicine budget dries up, your dog can gat a hip replacement but you can't. Need I go on? "When in Rome, do like the Romans do." must not apply here, huh? If you don't like it here, try it anywhere else. Pick your country. You will

Let me expand on what Packpacker has said. I took Venture advisor Training at Philmont a couple of years ago, and the nuts and bolts of the program has not changed that much. Venturing has a different mind-set than boy scouts. The Bronze, Gold, and Silver are not ranks or advancements in the boy-scout sense. They are recognitions. The great thing about the Bronze Awards is that for the Arts and Hobbies bronze award, the membewrs of the crew can make up the requirements for their own award. Generally speaking, 12- 13 requirements emphasising "Teach . . . ", "Visit . . .", " Over a per

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If you keep a big bag of cookies and a case of Hawaiian Punch in your trunk (for den meeting snack - just in case), you might be a CS den leader. If you call for quiet at the beginning of a meeting at work by raising your hand with the first two or three fingers extended, you might be a scouter . . . (And how many times have you done it without thinking, hmmmmm?). If you find yourself quietly singing "The Grand Old Duke of York" at work, ar anywhere else, . . . you might be a cubscouter. IF you insist that it's spelled "A-k-e-l-a", . . . you might be a cubscouter. If you k

Tami the Mom - Be very specific when you tell this family why your pack does not want the boy in either Webelos den. That the family has a history of problems with another pack as well as yours, and both the boy's and father's behavior are an on-going problem with the both dens are known. Their behavior is threatening your whole pack's program. Let them know that. It is a shame that you are left with few options because scouting is for all boys. You and the other adults in the pack, stand by yours guns. This could get uglier. I've seen it happen. So, . . . uh, . . . be prepared. G

This is too good not to pass along about Vigil names. There is a retired fellow who donates a couple of days a week at our lodge office. This guy can tell some really great stories. Anyway, the English translation of his Vigil name is "Teller of Tell Tales". His take on his being given the name is because the Vigil Name Committee could not find the term "Used Car Salesman" in Lenape, Cherokee, or any other Native American language . . . .

Re: kid's room = black hole, etc. Betcha my kid's room is a deeper, darker black hole than your kid's! The Totin' Chip is a good idea that won't go away. Why not make the 2ndClass requirements and the Totin' Chip requirements the same and be done with it? The youngster learns the skills and the appreciation for the tools ans well. It's that Totin' Chip patch that's got my feathers a bit out of position. We've got NSP guys who appearently earned the Totin' Chip as Webelos and wear the patch on the right pocket flap >8-(! It's a temporary patch worn on the right pocket, but thei

Try this: Grandpa can give the high sign to the ceremony team during the tapout. He can be present for the pre-ordeal and ordeal ceremonies (Yes, dues need to by current, but our ceremonies are not closed, and he can be present nonetheless.). Also, Grandpa can speak to the ordeal ceremony team about their putting his sash on the boy and the team giving the boy's sash to Grandpa. I did that with my son. He wanted it that way, and the ceremony team was very accomodating ("No problem, sir. Cool!) I was asked to stand behind my son with my old sash in my hand and give it to "the chief

I concur with John in KC, especially about something lurking deeper. Nevertheless, keep records on his advancement work. Honor his wishes, but . . . , be prepared.

Hoo-boy! If the SM is insrtucting Wood Badge, then he sould be familiar with the boy-led troop concept. It's part of the WB/21st Century program. It could be that he needs to go through the classroom part of Scoutmaster Fundamentals again. If the sylabus has changed since he went through SMF, he might be interested in how the program has changed (And it has.). The boy-led troop takes a lot of the up-front responsibility off the adults' hands. Let him know that. The SM is now seen as a coach/ facilitator. He trains the SPL, ASPL, and PL's to run the troop. He does that at troop (b