hendrickms24

Wow wish I had a quarter of the number you all have. I have 10 scouts on my troops roster but only have 7 active scouts. The unit is only on its third year but I'm not sure what is causing the unit not to grow. The active scouts and parents all love the way the unit is run but it's been very hard for me to get the numbers up. We are a young troop from 11 to 14 year olds so the leadership is not the greatest but I'm working hard with them and let them lead, plan the meetings and campouts. I have a couple of troops around the area that are large 100 plus and they really do not promote t

Well my troop has checks and balances when it comes to the treasurer. The Scoutmaster get the bank account statements and looks over them so if there is any abuse it will be seen right away. In the perfect world every scouter job would be filled by competent leaders but when you have parents that just drop off their child each week to the Baby Sitters of America its not a perfect world. Is CC and Scoutmaster position not healthy for my marriage? If it is, then my marrage is not very strong in the first place! My marriage has gone through more tough times then what CC and Scoutmaster posit

As with any situation, it depends on the individuals involved. In our Scout Troop, the SM and CC are a husband-wife team, the Treasurer and Advancement chair are a husband-wife team and it is working fine. The SM anbd ASM deal with the day to day stuff, where the CC and Advancement chair deal with the more long term items. We are a newer Troop, still small. When the boys join, all parents are encouraged to join at least the committee as general members. This gives everyone the opportunity to have input as to what direction the Troop will be going for the next 3-4 months. Everyone is encou

To all- Yes, I agree the this is a solomn and organized event. However, if the parents want to attend either a)to participate and recognize their son's achievement or b)to ensure that nothing untoward occurs it is their right and is within BSA guidelines. To have the excuse that there is not enough room at the Lodge, that parents in attendence would reduce the "specialness" of the ceremony, or that the parents MAY be asked to join in the future attending and attending an OA ceremony now would ruin it for them is just that- an excuse. Some of the comments on this thread are totally unbeliev

"Another challenge I can see is ceremony sites. My current lodge has very limited room in it's site, in fact the most # of candidates is about 40, and members wanting to watch have to fend for themselves for room. If everyone's parents show up to watch, the only area that will be appropriate will be the campfire ring at camp. Another part of the problem as I see it is parents not wanting to let go. Parents do not want their kids doing things on their own these days, treating them like children." It sounds like your Lodge needs to find a new location for your ceremony! Parents are

I have never heard of this group and just stumbled on it when I was surfing the Internet. I have not heard anything at District level and would thought since they have partnership with them they would have pamphlets to hand out. I also did a search on this forum but did not find any thing but did use the full name. Silly me should have used the acronym since this is America.

I came across this article and was surprised that I have not heard about this group. I think BSA has dropped the ball and should let Scouters know about them. What do you think? http://www.ahgonline.org/uploads/AHG_at_Jamboree.pdf(This message has been edited by hendrickms24)

It might just be me but think having or ask Reggie Bush to return his Heisman Trophy is just as pointless. (This message has been edited by hendrickms24)

I'm not sure what the issue is about revoking Eagle Scout Rank. I really think revoking it is a meaningless act. I earned Eagle Scout twenty years ago and if it was revoke for some reason it would not phase me one bit. I earned it and it was important to me at the time and you can't take that away. So what are you trying to prove by revoke it?

Your right, I put up with pain in the butt and lazy parents during the year so I can walk around in uniform and at time wear all my awards. I take time out of my busy life to attend round tables and troop committee meetings so I can walk around in uniform and at time wear all my awards. I take time away from my wife to camp and freeze my butt off so I can walk around in uniform and at time wear all my awards. I advise and help teach scouts so I can walk around in uniform and at time wear all my awards. Yes I do all this to boost my ego. If you like to throw around your holier then thou

Bando "Frankly, I don't understand why visitors are so rampantly allowed into an event we all pay out the nose to go to, even if they can't participate in all the activities, but that's just me." Well, My son and I were visitors to the Jamboree and my son had a blast. I did not care for it but was glad my son enjoyed the time there. I think visitors are important because my son is case in point. On our ride home he said that he wants to go to the 2013 Jamboree for the whole event. I just hope that I have the money to send him. Oh, and as a visitor I had to pay $20 to get into

As the Scoutmaster of my son's troop, I don't check to see if the scout has skills competence for his MB. The reason is that's the MB councilors job. The other reason is I have no I idea what skills competence is for Animal Science MB, Farm Mechanics MB, Pulp and Paper MB, Aviation MB etc. So for the merit badges I do know things about do I then have a right to drill each scout for skills competence that received them? NO! Its my job as a SM to make sure Mommy and Daddy is not doing all the merit badges with Johnny. I am as contol the blue cards and allow each new scout to work on

All, I did not know he could do this so thanks for letting me know. Mark

My Son is bummed out about this. When he first looked over all the Merit badges it was the Bugling Merit badge that he wanted to earn. He plays the Trumpet but needs some more time to learn to be able to play all the calls. Mark M.

"But I do think there should be a "National" uniform for things like trainings, regional and national events" To me this makes no sense. If the crew can pick their uniform then that's the uniform they should be allowed to wear at training, regional and national events. To me that's a waste of money making a crew buy a second National uniform that they may wear once. I also think that Scouts should be able to wear their AOL and BS rank since they it's the highest rank that they earned in previous programs. Mark M.

Eagle92, My understanding is they discontinued the Cub Scouter award medals and only give out the knots but the STA and SKA still have the medal. Mark M.

"1) mandatory training being required by national" I can't wait for 100% training to be mandatory. Training is not offered enough and my council has incomplete records which of course will cause even more problems. I was full trained as a SM even before the Troop was formed but council has be down as untrained. January 2011 is when the fun begins.

I guess that means it's been discontinued then. Back when I was a scout Baden-Powell Patrol awards were the small star that goes around the patrol patch for each patrol member and a ribbon for the patrol flag.

I agree it is the hardest Cub Scout level recognition and even harder then the Boy Scout Leader's Training Award and the Scoutmaster's Key. Mark M.

Now to upset other people on this board. I think this requirement is down right silly. If you have a Star Scout who has not taught another scout a skill then there is a problem with your troop. In other words its not boy lead. I know there are PORs that do not have to interact with scout but in my troop all PORs were also considered instructor and had to teach the other scout at one point or another. Mark M.

Thanks for the answers. I have never been involved with VS and doubt that I ever will. Mark M.

"Though discussed in another post, it was pointed out that specific youth knots are representative only of the highest award for each division: Cub Scouts=AOL knot Boy Scouts=Eagle knot Venturing=Silver Award knot Sea Scouting=Quartermaster knot" Question is Varsity Scouting not considered another division of scouts?

Hello all, Did the BSA discontinue the National Honor Patrol flag ribbon? The reason I asked is when I was in and the patrol earn this honor (I think it was the Baden- Powell Patrol back then) anyone could tell by the ribbons on the Patrol flag. I really thing the ribbons are a good idea for inter patrol rivalry. Mark M.

mds3d, The http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/522-011.pdf web page is the official BSA release states the following. "Once the unit has completed its charter, members may begin wearing the Founders Bar. The Founders Bar is worn on the left shoulder below the unit numerals." I know the troops scouts would love to get this patch but they can wait. Local1400, I wish I was a member of an older troop like my old scout Troop 336 of Catonsville, MD it was 44 years old when I aged out. The troop folded due to lack of trained leadership around the 50 year mark which still sadde

Bummer, I misread it this morning so when I was at the scout shop today to get some items for Friday's court of Honor I picked them up for the scouts. Guess I have to hold on to them until January. Mark M.