gwd-scouter

I remember a while back the issue of youth protection and email/facebook came up. Seems more people at the time thought it was important to cc the boys' parents when emailing them. I may not be remembering correctly, though.

Everyone on in our troop, boys and adults, know that I don't text or use a cell phone. Call me at home in the evenings or at work during the day and leave a message, but if you want a quick reply - email me. Works really well with adults. I don't have emails for most of the younger guys. Doesn't matter anyway since they are supposed to be talking to their patrol leaders. The guys on the PLC, on the other hand, all have email and are good at responding to me. They cell phone, text, or facebook each other.

I use facebook, too, but not to post something on the status messages. Rather, most of the guys and parents are friends with me and I go to their page and post a message in their facebook email. That, as others have said, gets checked much more regularly.

Parents and a few of the scouts also catch me online when I'm facebook and send me instant messages from time to time.

A couple of the boys set up a Troop facebook page and invited everyone to join. It did very well at first, but I don't think anyone has posted there in about six months.

Senator Mitch McConnell speaking on the senate floor during the healthcare debate this morning says that the American people don't want this bill and passing it would be an act of arrogance. OK, maybe. Why then is it not an act of arrogance to go against the voice of the American people who by majority want us out of Afghanistan?

Just curious.

Hey Pack: several homes in my town fly their flags the same way, while others only fly the confederate flag.

In regard to the original post, I wouldn't say a thing to the Dad. If everyone is asked to stand at the beginning of the meeting and he chooses to remain seated, that's his choice.

Buffalo Skipper: I have one of those scouts. For four years, he's been the guy that always knows everything, he's always right, nothing anyone can say will mean anything to him. Sadly, his mother backs him up on it. Any time I've counseled him on his behavior, I've received an angry call from his mother. She's threatened to transfer him to another troop so many times I should have just handed her an application, his records, and said good luck long ago.

He was our SPL last year. He wasn't elected, but the SPL that was elected chose him as his ASPL. SPL had to step down from the job because of school demands so ASPL moved into the job. It was a tough year. He's a dictator. He's mean. He never recognizes any else's achievements. He can never admit a mistake, but is the first to point out someone else's mistake. Rather like folks that feel the only way to build themselves up is to tear others down. He will remember forever any time someone criticizes him, but will never acknowledge a compliment. The boys don't like him. The other adults don't either. I've spent a lot of time on this guy, trying to guide him and help him. He will pay me lip service when we talk, I'll see improvement for a week or so, and then back to the old routine. His father has always been supportive, his mother not at all.

Last September, my son was elected SPL and the troublesome scout was asked to be his ASPL - mostly because my son realized this guy would be trouble in any patrol he was in. The scout wanted to run for PL, but my son knew he wouldn't be elected because the other boys don't like him and so he would be a lot of trouble to whomever was elected PL. Making him ASPL kept him out of the regular patrols. Sad really, but a reality.

Two months have gone by and no word from the ASPL. No phone call, no responses to emails, to say he wasn't coming to meetings, PLCs or campouts. He did come to one meeting when my son called him to say he wouldn't be able to attend because of a band meeting back in late September, but that's the last time we've seen him. His mother sent me an email stating he was too busy with school to even reply to emails or return phone calls and to please just stop contacting him until he contacts us. SPL has selected a new ASPL. I wonder sometimes if this guy would have done the same thing had he been elected PL - would he just have abandoned his patrol? For him, it's all about the patch. By the skin of his teeth he was elected into the OA last spring (enough of the newly crossed over scouts voted for him, the guys that knew him did not). He's not yet participated in any chapter meetings or OA functions. Again, it's just about the patch and the recognition.

Recharter is coming up and we'll see if this scout renews his membership. It's too bad. He's a smart boy and I still see much potential in him. Then again, meetings and campouts have been very pleasant.

Note to Beavah: I'm not at all burned out on this. I love being a SM. If my health improves, which is doubtful, I'd continue on.

My time as a SM reminds me a lot of when personal computers first came out and the company I worked for back in the early 80s plopped one on my desk along with the manuals for DOS and Lotus. "Oh, yeah, this stuff is easy," I thought at the time. Realizing I'm being a bit big-headed here, it's so fun to stumble into something you're good at.

In reply, yes, not doing his SM conference since I'm his Mom is a self-imposed rule. Don't want any appearance of favoritism.

Our former SM who serves on our Committee just to help with Boards of Review did his SM Conference for Eagle.

Yeah, I guess palms are somewhat anticlimactic after earning Eagle. Older son earned a silver palm and who knows where the pin is.

Younger son Patrick earned Eagle last June. He has enough merit badges for gold palm, yet he still hasn't asked for a SM Conference for his bronze.

Since, as his SM and Mom I can't do his SM Conference, I asked him about it and if he'd like me to find someone else to do it. He said "nah, I'm busy right now being SPL. And, you know, with band and school and all..." Then he said, "I'll just wait till after the summer working at camp and next year I'll work on getting the palms signed off."

You know, it's never been about the advancement for him, so I guess this just goes with who he is. Still, I wonder if he will feel badly about it later that he was eligible for the palms, but just didn't take the time to sit for a SM conference and BOR. Then again, he has 18 months until he turn 18. Maybe he will find the time.

EagerLeader - I'm with you on the back pleats. Would love to know how you stitched them down and made darts.

Hi guys. Thanks for the kind posts. sst3rd, I'm very sorry that happened to your troop. It's always amazing to me how one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. Sorry, I know that's a cliche.

For me, I see some a few good possibilities among our ASMs. Each has his own strengths and weaknesses. Hah, listen to me, acting like I know it all!!

One man is very organized and totally gets the boy-led concept. Problem is, he may get it a bit too much and boy led into the ground could result. He is the biggest supporter of the way our troop is run and tells others about how our Troop really follows the program. He actually is, in my opinion, our best choice.

Another is a really nice guy, speaks well with the scouts without being confrontational. Problem is, I think he's too nice. Watched him counseling one of our homesick boys during summer camp. Kept sitting there talking to the boy, talk talk talk talk. Finally, I stepped up, told the lad to follow me to the health lodge to get something to settle his stomach, came back and sent him to bed. Lad was fine the next morning. ASM acts like a Dad too much for now. Also, his son has autism and his attention will most naturally be pulled away for his son.

Third ASM is very involved with his younger son in the Pack. Younger son will be going into his first year of Webelos by the time I step down, so it could be a good choice. He also needs a little more work in learning to get over Cubscouts, but he's the most middle of the road of the two above. His son, by the way, is one of those standout scouts that just eats up this stuff. Kid crossed over in April and I have no doubt he will be first class in just a couple more months.

Who knows, we will have another recruitment this spring and maybe some adult in that group will present as a possibility.

All I know for now is, I have another year and a half to have fun with the guys as much as I can, continue to help them grow into good scouts and honorable young men, and look forward to my weekly energy boost when I see them at our weekly meetings.

As our friend Barry would say, I just love this Scouting stuff.

Hey pack, I'm always up before the birds. How about Monday or Tuesday next week?

Into my sixth year as SM for our Troop. Amazing things have happened over that time. Good recruitment - grew from nine scouts to twenty-four last spring. Unfortunately, we've lost two of those guys and another is on the fence. Not very active boys physically and/or don't want to be away from home, and they have been struggling even on an easy car camping trip. It happens.

Great new leaders, committee fully functional and trained, fantastic junior leaders training the next generation, and patrol method in full force.

Time for me to go. I've been dealing with health issues for several years now and it has finally become apparent to me that I just can't keep up the pace. Sure, everyone understands when I can't go camping on certain trips or backpacking at all. The thing is, it saddens me so much to wave goodbye as the Troop pulls out to go on these trips. Still, the folks don't want me to step down.

In any case, the decision has been made and I'll be stepping down in the spring of 2011. A year and a half to go. That will give us another good recruitment this spring, time for summer camp planning and for our ASMs to see what that entails, and a chance for any new leaders from the recruitment to get trained and up to speed on how our troop operates. Good time to transition to a new Scoutmaster, rather than just leaving it all of a sudden (as was done to me).

While I'm sad about the decision, the time is right. I've done what I set out to do in changing the culture of our troop. It is strong. We have an excellent program. The boys are working well together and in charge. The adults are all trained or in process of finishing training. They "get" what Boy Scouting is all about.

Funny thing though. The Troop is running so well that I really have very little to do other than watch the boys, counsel those that need it, and generally enjoy the show.

No regrets. As it should be.

Still here, still reading the posts. Just don't have anything to add.

Oh yeah, we need another reality show. Imagine the possibilities.

I thought this was interesting:

While the Republicans like to show the stack and talk about how many pages the Senate health care bill is, I just found out the prescription drug benefit plan that the Republicans narrowly passed in 2003 was a bit over 1,000 pages. That bill didn't cover nearly as much as this bill does.

It seems nothing can be done in Congress without a great big bill.

One could hope LisaBob. Don't think it will happen, though.

Yes, Landrieu set the record straight, from her own mouth, on the Senate floor, that the state was receiving $300 million and not the $100 million that was being reported on the news.

She also stated the reason, clearly and accurately. Talk about open and transparent. She may be voted out of office for voting to proceed with debate on the bill or if ultimately she votes for passage, but I do admire her honesty yesterday.

Oak Tree - good research and analysis. One thing, though. The US does not develop and adopt new treatments or medications to market faster than most other developed countries. In fact, our FDA approval process makes ours a much slower country in that regard, especially for new pharmaceuticals. And, sadly, our brand name prescription medications cost far more than they do in other countries - for the exact same medications.

Interesting observation Hal. Scouts in our Troop that have worked at camp are also much more conscientious about their uniforming.

I don't know about the WHO statistics, Hal. I read that the criteria used in different countries to measure mortality rates and other stats are not necessarily the same as ours. Have to do some more research for myself on that one.

When Blanche Lincoln was speaking and stated that she had decided to vote yes to proceed to debate, she said it was because she had to consider her constituents - ALL of her constituents - and owed it to them to continue the process, suggest amendments and changes to improve the bill, and see the business finished.

Lamar Alexander, John McCain and others are on the floor now. Alexander says it is arrogance to think that we (the Senate) could change the US healthcare system and know what is good for 300 million people. Gee, I thought all those guys (on both sides) campaign on the fact that they know what the American people want. That's what they keep saying anyway.

He also says that he and his colleagues haven't had time to read the entire bill, "no one has," he says. "We've picked out areas of legislation in the bill to interpret in depth."

Really? Just going to pick out certain parts? I sure hope that all those American people out there that have been wanting open and transparent process on this health care bill have taken the time to read it and are, in fact, watching the process and not just getting the "facts" from the partisan commentators on the radio and cable.

In one of the most intelligent, articulate, non-partisan speeches I've heard so far, Blanche Lincoln just stated she would vote yes tonight to proceed to debate.

I've been spending the evening watching the Senate "debate" over the health care bill. Not a debate really, Republicans trot out their doom and gloom for an hour and then the Democrats sing Happy Days are Here Again for their hour. Back and forth. Somewhere in the middle I believe the truth lies.

I've actually tried to read the thing, from the House bill to the current Senate bill. I've watched the committee hearings, listened to floor speeches from both Congressman and Senators (both sides). Unfortunately, I do not possess the intelligence to make sense of it.

So, tomorrow night the Senate will vote on whether the bill can go forward to debate and amendment. If it does pass that vote, I can look forward to many more weeks of government entertainment courtesy of C-SPAN.

My dog, Ginger, has been on several campouts with us. She loves it and the boys do too. It's not a regular thing though, only if our dog sitting has fallen through and we have no choice but to bring her or stay home.

Hey Schiff - I "stand" corrected. Having raised two sons I did indeed help them learn to pee standing up. You're correct of course that when it came to writing their names in the snow, that was Dad's department.

Thanks for the chuckle.

Well, yes, I can see your point that it is inconsistent to have female leaders but not female members in a Boy Scout Troop or Cub Scout Pack. True, you're not speaking for the "old guard" jsummerlin, but using your own words you are speaking from the "older crowd." Your first argument was more about men training boys to be men, not the inconsistency of female leaders but no female scouts.

In any case, there are girl members in the BSA - Explorers, Venturing - which are both parts of the BOY Scouts of America. I suppose at some point in time BSA will be open to girl members in Cubs and Boys. Doubtful it will be any time soon, though. And, BSA could decide that Cubs and Boys has to be boys and men only. Unfortunately, that would lead to a great many, if not almost all, packs and troops closing their doors.

Let's see, back in the old days is was assumed that women would be Den Mothers. Men need not apply. Don't think there was any amount of angst over that. While there may have been some, I doubt there were very many cries of "unfair, women can be Den Mothers but girls can't join."

I think it was some time in the 1980s that women were allowed to be Cubmasters and probably around the same time all adult leadership positions were made available to women. There will likely always be folks that think women do not belong in Boy Scout leadership. For the past sixteen years that I've been a Scouter, I've seen fewer and fewer men stepping up and volunteering to help out with their son's pack or troop. Good thing then that the ladies will.