Gunny2862

elizdaddio, as you can see from the above comments we really want to help you but we need some clarification about the situation. Does the current Scoutmaster crew: a)have what it takes? b) still want to do the right thing? or c)just want to hold on to their positions? Are the boys misguided and think this is how it should be? Do they as a whole want something more but are living in an adult run Souting world? Really won't let parents come along on campouts - at all? Danger sign to me. Is the leadership in question just the Scoutmasters or the Committee also or does it also run

Okay, I understand that there is some kind of mystery that OA wants to retain. But what is/are the way/s that OA supports Scout retention and why is it beneficial to Scouting? If your answer violates information that you don't want out for the Scouts on the board to read feel free to PM the info instead. Soon to be Scoutmaster Gunny2862 - although the screen name won't change. Side question, is there any difference to the Tribe of the Lone Bear? Can one support and or belong to both OA and Lone Bear? If scheduling conflicts arose between those groups which one would you lean towards?

I love the way the Scouts were always there to support their, occasionally wayward, Scoutmaster.

I would like a little clarification of the question. Are you being asked to quick, in a hurry, put together a Scouting Funeral for this young scout? Or are you doing future planning for yours? If the first then I might suggest calling up your Local Council and if they don't have anything, if not, then ask the closest Guard or Reserve unit or VFW Hall and asking for a timeline of events and guidelines that they use on burial details as you should be able to quickly adapt their theme to a Scouting theme. If the latter, then I'm certain that you can produce something that would be app

In addition to the previously mentioned books may I add: Be Expert with Map & Compass by Bjorn Kjellstrom, a classic that will go out of date when compasses are no longer available. Basic Rockcraft by Royal Robbins, not instruction but an excellent primer to better utilize instruction when it is obtained.

I expect a parent to step up, I did. If they don't, get in touch with some of the Commissioners in the area and see if there is a parent in another pack who is looking for a place to assume some leadership. Or if there is someone who followed their son up into Boy Scouts who wants to drop back down, hopefully this doesn't put the Boy Scout program in a bind, or, maybe you can find someone who wants to work with the older boys for them.

Well, Beaver was right, that is where the question came from and I just thought I'd formalize it into an actual question and see what response I got. As far as testing goes, it seems to me that SM's and ASM's and any other parent who chooses to join in get physically tested every time they take the boys into the woods. I guess it is then up tho the adult to determine whether or not they still have the skills. Or if they need to recruit their replacement before they go into the back room on the Committee or work as a Commissioner. Psychological testing - you have to be crazy to volu

Andrew "Dice" Clay chimes in...I'm just glad the baggy pants crowd (or Ed) isn't going commando. Ohhhh.

Okay, Much conversation about the BSA Handbook p57-58 Tenderfoot Physical Fitness improvement tests has led to the question of adult leaders meeting the same requirements every year, so... Physical Fitness is absolutely a requirement for adults carrying out the program. Does meeting the same requirement mean that every year in Scouting the Adult would have to show improvement over the previous year(not even the Corps asks for that) or over a specific 30 day period? Or would an adult leader just need to meet a minimum acceptable standard to continue to serve actively (as SM or ASM).

Until late in the story when it was identified as a bay tree, I was concerned about the pot plant. Why if someone else's food is to be kosher/halal/vegetarian does mine have to be? How does my food affect the physical or spiritual qualities of theirs? Not griping, actually asking the question.

Hear, Hear!

I checked out a copy from my county library. Lots of libraries also have (ILL) Inter-Library Loan systems where you can search their holdings and have it sent to a location near you even if it's physically in another county. What a great movie - my son is campaigning for a movie weekend featuring this one. Any other great titles out there?

I've never been lost, off the map a few times - 7P's would have fixed that, but never lost. But yes, the small - always on your person day kit and the pack carried hit-the -fan kit are great and longstanding ideas. Just because you know where the pick up point is doesn't mean your transport will find it when they are supposed to, or at all.

High school to college is a steep climb. Shoot, around here being a High School senior doesn't guarantee a slot on the Varsity BENCH!

Gee, I thought we wanted them (in general) to be able to carry knives, but like many other things to be responsible with them also. However, I would think that the Scout awards/recognitions/certifications (any) should be presented by the troop, not by the camp. IMHO Scouter certifications could go either way.

Swim Safely buoys to define ability zones?

Okay packsaddle, point taken. That and two quid should get me a pint but it doesn't answer the question poised previously. After all the 1/4 mile run segment doesn't say if you time it in hours, minutes, or minutes and seconds or just seconds(which should be easy to improve on ) and who says I have any common sense anyway?

Back to uniform costs... When I went to boot camp a portion of my pay during basic training was withheld to pay for my initial issue.(Free issue, it didn't come out of my wallet because it never went into it!) Each following year my uniform allowance would cover two complete(maybe another partial depending on prices and when we are talking about) utility uniform with its' required accessories, less if you bought boots. The allowance never covered what I actually needed. There was not a program, that we could ever use, to exchange worn out uniforms for new, unless you were deployed with a

Okay, I am confused. Straighten me out, please. Just exactly where does it say that there has to be improvement in each area? And there's no metric that says it has to be whole number changes. If there isn't, does that mean the 1/4 mile can be interpreted to mean a whole minute faster? Because over a 1/4 mile, if the Scout ran, that is a big(small) number to chase. I'm not saying there shouldn't be improvement in each area - especially if the Scout hasn't been active previously, just that I'm not reading a REQUIREMENT for improvement in EACH area. Is it somewhere else, other than pp57

John, I wholeheartedly agree - money for college, or scholarships shouldn't be entering into the equation. But unfortunately the planning has to start early to work and we are an instant gratification society. We, knowing it wasn't the best vehicle - but one we would do - bought into a pre-paid college plan and had it paid off before the child was 5. We are leveraging his own goal to attend Annapolis into grade pressure(academics plays a role in scholarships too, if Annapolis doesn't work out) and the outside activities will work themselves out if we can just keep him from burning himse

This is the first year that my university/ work calendar has been coincident with my son's public school calendar. I certainly hope it stays that way(knocking the side of my head in lieu of any wood around) but we are already in the throes of knocking up against sports schedules. 15 mandatory practices before you can play - conflicting two weeks prior to school with Scouting, so miss two meetings and a camp out (to miss three practices) or sit out two of seven games - crazy. Especially since my son was one of five who went to a five day, 3 hour a day, minicamp for skills positions run by

I's encourage making sure that my CO knew what was going on financially with a monthly report, the same report going to the committee, and a copy available for any parent that asks. But that is an excellent idea ensuring that the parents who do ask get the whole story about rechartering fees, awards costs, any special activities, camp fees, etc. Any organization that is accountable to those who donate funds is being foolish (IMHO) if they do not use a two person signature(treasurer and one other or any two others but the treasurer holds the check book) or at least one check holder who

Welcome aboard Chief, grab a mug from the mess and join us. Plenty of scuttlebutt here. What exactly about adult leadership are you interested in?

Okay, but when we do this (leverage others certifications)does that mean that only one certification will fit the bill. In example rifle range. In order to properly fire on a BSA range I believe you need at least one if not both an NRA Rangemaster and an NRA Instructor to operate the range. (This is .22 caliber and pellet or BB guns folks.) I would bore you with what experience I think I have that would allow me to teach young shooters how to properly fire even a BB or pellet rifle while observing safety rules. But that could get long and boring. Another example is that there is mor

Oh garbage!, don't bother sending me another rebuttal source. I've Googled it enough now to know it's probably a false attribution. I hate losing good quotes! Thanks for pointing it out.