gwd-scouter

Yeah, I guess the first post could make it seem like routine maintenance. Here's a bit more information. Existing main pathway is large pieces of concrete embedded in the ground. No real definition to it. I suppose at some point in time they looked nice and were even, but no longer. There was no real plan when putting them down, just a way for visitors to get from point A to point B without getting their feet wet/muddy. My son's project is to dig up all the concrete, even up and regrade the area and then lay down bricks for the pathway - wide sidewalk really, wide enough for wheelchair access. He's arranged for a contractor to dig up the old path with a bobcat. This man, an ASM in another troop, is also helping my son with the engineering involved to make sure the pathway is laid out correctly and will last. Neat part about the bricks - son got them donated from an old mill that was torn down in our town, so they are from the same era as when the railroads were a big industry here. This really is a big project, not at all what I would consider routine maintenance. I do, however, appreciate the question. Always good to think about those things, as we have a couple more guys in the Troop that will be thinking about projects soon.

Oh rats, I feel like a 13-year-old that's been told he can't go see an R rated movie. Who cares what the movie is about, it's restricted so it has to be good.

A long time ago our adult leaders decided to have the boys do a show and sell at Walmart. It was difficult to get the older guys to do it. The problem for some was that they had to wear their uniforms and were afraid all their non-scouting friends would see them (everyone goes to Walmart on Saturday, right?). The other problem is that they thought it seemed to much like the Girls Scouts selling cookies. The sale went pretty well, but our Troop has never done a show and sell again. I do know that the Packs/Troops that have the same CO usually do Scouting for Food together and get many more donations than Troops that go it alone. It's that Cub Scout cuteness factor. So, teaming up for popcorn sales probably will help your Troop. How would you go about keeping track of what sales go to the Pack and to the Troop?

Hooray. Younger son had his ESSP approved and will begin the work next weekend. We have an historic railroad museum in town with a lovely and expansive garden in back. Lot's of pathways through the garden. All are in need of repair. The main path to the trains is what he is working on. Digging up the old and replacing with brick. He's been planning this for about three months, meeting with the museum director and then with the museum board members. Has his folks lined up and ready to start. He's also working on finishing his fitness program for Personal Fitness, scheduled to finish first week in June. I've known other guys in our District that have had their Eagle BOR at camp. Maybe his will be done there, too.

Thanks folks for your responses. When I step down as SM, I don't think I will stay on as ASM. Much like when I stepped down as Cubmaster long ago, it was best to let the new CM take charge without worrying about my lingering shadow. Not a big headed comment mind you, just that I did the job for five years. I would consider becoming the Committee Chair. I'd like that. Perhaps a Unit Commissioner - goodness knows our District is in dire need of commissioners and we have a good supply of Packs and Troops that need help. Not sure I could give up Scouting for good, but do think the time is coming that I'll need to step back into a less demanding role.

I am dismayed at the 'contracts' our children and parents must sign these days in order to remind them that they are expected to behave properly. Statements regarding behavior for school, field trips, Scouts, they're everywhere. Seems to me these contracts mean nothing to the children and are meant more for those parents that insist their child can't do anything wrong, for those parents that feel any discipline put on their child by another adult is inappropriate. Sadly I think these types of behavior contracts have gained popularity over the years because adults supervising other people's children have gotten weary of the fight and have caved in to a paper document as authority. What's wrong with simply letting the Scouts and parents know that the boys are expected to set an example as scouts and behave accordingly? CubScoutJo - what have you done in the past in response to the behavior issues you mentioned in your post?

Eagle92 - you know your wife is addicted to scouting when she is HAPPY to get a cub scout leader uniform for her birthday. Several years ago husband gave me a buck knife for my birthday. One Christmas, he gave me a backpack. Funny, it seems I remember precisely when I received those gifts, but others have been lost in the fog. I've been assimilated.

I am not ready to step down as Scoutmaster, but the time will come. Our Troop is about 12 years old and has had five Scoutmasters, ranging in service anywhere from six months to two years. I'm beginning my fifth year of service. All of our Scoutmasters have taken the job mostly because he was the last man standing without a good excuse not to do it. Not the best scenario for choosing a SM. Committee asked every man in the Troop before asking me if I would do it. It was a difficult decision for me. The first year I received absolutely no support and even received emails from others that it was time to just let the troop fold. Guess I'm stubborn, but I just didn't want to see that happen. Happily things worked out very well for our Troop. Have a well-functioning Committee now, two very dedicated ASMs, and a small group of enthusiastic boys ranging in age from 11 to 17. Now, for the first time, we are receiving 10-12 Webelos cross overs. Also, the Dads that have signed leader applications are all in favor of how things are done in our Troop. That's a good sign for our future. I am not for a minute suggesting that I alone created this success or that I must stay in order to keep it going. I am concerned that my eventual departure may disrupt all the good things we've worked hard to build. Admittedly, I have done too many of the administrative tasks in our Troop and last year started a very concerted effort to divest myself of those things. It helped that we finally got a Committee together that will do all those things, a new Chartered Organization Rep who actually wants to do the job, and our scouts are handling their PORs. My thinking is that when I step down I want it to seem to the troop at large that nothing really changed. Any thoughts on how to go about a smooth Scoutmaster transition? What experiences have you had - both good and bad - and how did you handle them?

Meeting last night went very well. The two boys I mentioned that were not experienced enough to go on the adult-free hike are planning, actually seemed excited, to go with the adults and less experienced Scouts. I spoke with them briefly while they were going to get tents/tarps out of the trailer and each said he realized he did not have enough experience to take the hike our three experienced scouts are taking. Good for them! A moment of growth for them both. Stosh, I understand your point about cherry picking, but I do not think it fits our situation. The adults did not select who could go on the adult-free hike and who could not. We had a shake down trip last fall. It's true that our little troop does not have a well-developed patrol method because up until very recently we've operated as one patrol. So, what am I to do when three guys say they want to take a hike on their own as part of an overall troop backpacking trip? Tell them no because all the members of their patrol (all ten guys in the troop) can't?

I've never heard of this kind of camp. Our summer camp does run a program called Adventure to Eagle for scouts who are attending their third or fourth year of summer camp. It combines some high adventure with a couple of Eagle required merit badges. Scouts must be at least 1st class and 14 to sign up. Weasel99-maybe your camp is similar to this. I try to discourage our guys from taking the citizenship badges that are offered at camp. It's their choice, of course, but most realize after we talk that there are a lot of other opportunities at camp that are more fun or, at least, will be less like sitting in a classroom. Plenty of opportunity back home to work on citizenships. Ours doesn't offer it, but I strongly dislike the idea of a camp offering family life.

When I was a Cubmaster, I gave out all kinds of made up awards for leaders and scouts. Did it as a Den Leader too. Though it's not an award, the guys in our troop are very proud of the nicknames they earn as a result of some blunder on a campout - usually their first. Some of them are: bear bait, spider man, water boy, the fridge. I imagine that's true in other troops as well. A couple of summers ago our SPL presented my husband with an award at summer camp. The camp inspector had come by and we were not given 100% score because someone's towel and clothing were strewn about on his bunk. Yep, husband guilty as charged. SPL made a big ceremony of presenting husband with a leave no trace award. Guys still talk about that. I really like the idea of troop awards sewn on the neckerchief. Awards for patrols to hang on their flags is something I'd like to get started. So many possibilities. Cool thread Beavah.

Our Council summer camp staff are all registered in Venturing - Crew #1. Until last year, the uniform was the green Venturing shirt, and Boy Scout uniform parts for all the rest. They looked sharp. Last year it was announced that staff would be required to wear the gray shorts and socks when wearing the official uniform shirt. For what most folks here refer to as Class Bs the Boy Scout shorts and socks along with a Scout related T shirt was OK. Yeah, imagine how many guys actually changed out of their Boy Scout shorts and into the Venturing shorts for dinner assembly. Most did, but some did not. Through the week we were there I saw all kinds of combinations of uniforming: olive shorts with gray socks, gray shorts with red-topped socks, etc. Assemblies looked pretty sloppy, but it is a transition and I imagine after another year or two they will all look 'uniform'. Council gives a discount on uniform parts for those guys working staff, but it still gets rather expensive if a new staffer has to buy a bunch of shorts, stocks, t-shirts, etc. My sons got by for years without having to buy uniforms because we've collected so many pieces over the years. Last year they did have to get the Venturing shorts and this year both will buy a few more. As a side note - be sure to try on the Venturing shorts before buying. They seem to run about a size smaller than the olive shorts.

Please get this thread back on track.

MarkS - if that's true, it is disappointing indeed. Then again, I don't know of any Troop in our District that allows the boys to do outings on their own. We haven't yet either-at least not for a whole weekend. Our experienced guys may go off on a hike on their own, but they do end up at the same campsite for the night as the rest of the Troop. It's not because we wouldn't let them camp on their own, it's just that they've never asked.

I made a mistake when I posted about our lodge doing the ordeal at fellowships. Their idea was to do them only at the fall fellowship, so only once a year. I think one of the reasons they have not changed is because of of what ASM915 mentions. If the candidates have a conflict on the weekend of the ordeal (band, sports, etc.), then they would have to wait another year and likely lose interest. This past weekend was our Lodge's spring fellowship. Both of my sons were there. Very sad turn out, at least from our Chapter. Younger son and the chapter chief the only two youth members, older son and two other adults. Five in all from our District. Very sad indeed.

How do I show the outside world? I have a BSA sticker and Proud of my Eagle Scout sticker on my car. My green BSA bag travels with me wherever I go and is often seen in my office. Walls of my office are covered with plaques from awards I've received. Wallpaper on my office computer is a picture of my sons in their OA regalia. Timeless values bumper sticker on one of my file cabinets. Oh my, it is a sickness. The Scouter Forum has reached my family members, too. Older son introduced himself here a while ago, but I don't think he visits often. Husband is very familiar with some of the screen names here, he even met one of you last summer. When younger son sees me at the computer, he always asks what's up on the forum. My three men thought it was hilarious when I mentioned this post and that resistance is futile and I would be assimilated. They believe I already have been.

Looks like random silliness to me.

This has been quite a prolific weekend for me on the forum. I don't think I've ever spent so much time reading or posting. My name has not appeared on the frequent poster list, which makes me wonder how much time those folks spend here. I think I need help. My sleep patterns are currently in disruption so I have a great amount of time in the wee hours of the night. Usually I spend them watching CSPAN or reading. This weekend, though, I just can't keep off the Scouter Forum. Sure, I log off and go on to something else, but thoughts of Scouting keep popping into my head. No one at home to discuss these thoughts with. Even if they were home, no one else is ever up at 3:00 am. I promise, I really do have other interests besides Scouting. Hard to tell though. Just the presence of this pointless post shows I've been acting like a junkie looking for a fix. At least this fix is harmless...well, at least for me it is, maybe not for those of you that opened and read this. Admission is the first step toward overcoming an addiction, right? Here goes. Hello, my name is Gwd-scouter and I'm... CSPAN is calling, but I'll probably be back.

ASM915 - thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I'll think about it. Your post hit upon most of the things I've thought about the OA's image problem. The clique thing is certainly an issue in some Troops. I remember when older son was first eligible for the OA. Not elected, although almost every other Scout eligible in his Troop was. It was a popularity thing. He was not elected the next year. Third time was the charm. He finds it funny that no one wanted to vote for him and last year he was nominated for Vigil Honors. Our Lodge has thought about changing the timing of the ordeal. Now it's done every week during summer camp. By the time the last few weeks roll around, there isn't much real service work left for the guys to do. I've heard for the past couple of years that they were considering having the ordeal at one or both of the fellowships. Hasn't happened yet, but I think it's a great idea. That way, all the other campers wouldn't see what the guys are actually doing for the ordeal. The group of boys that were elected when he was not? Never did anything with the OA past ordeal. For that matter, I've see a whole bunch of leaders go through the ordeal too. Very few of them are active. Personally, the best thing about the OA is how it has brought my sons together. They are seven years apart in age, so they never had much in common or shared interests at the same time. They are both at our spring fellowship this weekend and are coming home later today. Can't wait to hear their stories.

Our Council started a new fundraiser. The boys are selling discount cards. You are probably familiar with these things, many times sold by schools either in a coupon booklet or as a plastic card. Services and restaurants around town offer things like a free car wash, buy one get one free, free french fries with purchase of a burger etc. The cards are $10, the boys keep 36% as profit, the Council get's the rest, and the cards may be used over and over until the end of the year. I can only speak for our Troop, but the cards are not selling well. Council still has 40 openings for JAMBO participants. Most of those that have signed up and paid the $100 deposit haven't made the quarterly $370 payments the Council requested for last November and February. Those payments are not refundable, so I figure folks are just holding out until they know for sure they will be able to afford the full $1600. Our District FOS is actually going very well and we are almost at this year's goal. I haven't noticed any businesses shuttered. I haven't noticed a great increase in houses for sale. Although, according to our local paper, food pantries have seen a dramatic rise in requests. I work for a non-profit and we've felt the pinch for quite a while. No raises last year and a hiring freeze. Then travel budget cut. Now a one day a month furlough on all employees. Budget looking very bad for the remainder of our fiscal year, and more cuts being considered for next year's (fiscal year July-June). Husband's company cut hours and therefore pay by 25% for all employees for the month of March. I've watched with interest the news stories about the rise in the stock market. Maybe this month I will open my retirement savings statements. Hmmm, maybe not.

One more thing LsScout - I believe GernBlansten's post about the come to Jesus meeting was meant to be sarcastic.

LsScout welcome to the forum. Jumped right into the fray with your first post didn't you? You posted: "When I first read this Post and saw a leader asking for help and the first response was "Sounds like you need to have a "Come to Jesus" meeting with this scouts parents" just really made me sad. There are way too many beliefs in this world to limit ourselfs to just one for scouting purposes." I agree completely. I usually stay out of these discussions, but I did want to add a perception I get when I read these kinds of initial posts. That perception is that the poster is not really looking for answers or advice, but backup for his/her decision to throw the presumed/avowed/whatever atheist out. "We're about more than just camping and fun, it's about character." I couldn't agree more. However, character is built on so much more than a belief in God. Everything our boys do, whether in Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts, should be about building character.

Oh great, Pack. I just snorted coffee out of my nose. Thanks for the early morning laugh.

shortridge, I will not divulge any of the specifics about our Lodge's Ordeal but I am very aware of what it is. Special treatment was a poor choice of words on my part. I did mean that our Lodge will make accommodations for those folks with health issues/disabilities in order for them to participate in the OA and that's a wonderful thing. In my case, while I would be OK with accepting some of the accommodations needed, I simply choose not to accept one in particular. One of the traditions in the Ordeal (which I will not reveal here) is something I simply could not participate in at all - the accommodations would have to be so many that it would pretty much mean that I just was exempted from that part. (Edited to add: Not just my opinion, it's what I was told when I mentioned this to an Advisor that was suggesting it was time for me to accept a nomination). I really have gone back and forth with this and was leaning toward finally saying yes and doing the ordeal this summer. Health issues have improved somewhat. I'd like to contribute somehow in strengthening our Chapter. We will see. Even if I am never a member, I will continue to support the OA as best I can, keep knowledge of its many traditions and 'secrets' to myself, and promote it within our Troop as a wonderful program. We have three guys eligible for election this year. I can see two of them really getting into it - you know, those boys that have rarely missed a meeting or outing for the past two years and in general just love being Boy Scouts. The type of Scouts that light up when they hear they have a chance to push past their comfort level and try something new or more difficult. The type that will get what it's all about.(This message has been edited by gwd-scouter)

Last Monday, I went to visit one of the Webelos Dens that is crossing over soon to our Troop. The boys were setting up a tent. As I watched this activity I couldn't help but picture these same guys doing the same thing in just a few weeks as new scouts in our Troop. Yep, there were a couple of guys running around waving the tent poles, another just standing around watching, and a couple of guys really working hard at putting up the tent. Then there was the boy trying to lead the show. A lot of yelling, a lot of grabbing the poles from the "sword fighters," occasional glances at the directions. While all this was going on, their Den Leader and another Dad who are joining our Troop as well just stood off to the side with me and watched. Oh yes, these boys and men will transition to our troop very well. Good times.