hotair36

Many good comments in this thread. As a MB counselor I agree with Buffalo Skipper that some are better done in a group setting, be it at a unit level, merit badge midway or a set up group. I really like Citizenship in the World as a group effort for the older scouts. Where the requirement (e.g. 4c) says "pick 2 of the following..." in a group setting all of the scouts research and learn about all of the organizations. This also works for other MBs where the scouts(s) have research choices. I learned the hard way, during a Citizenship in Community session when the scout handed me the equiv

If someone has offered to keep your children for both weekends go and do it. It is not uncommon for two scouters in the same family to take Wood Badge at the same time/same course. Last year I was on the staff of a course where we 3 sets of husband and wife participants. I know they both had a positive experience Wood Badge and now have shared memories. You should be in different patrols and as a result your experiences will be slightly different yet complement one another. You will really enhance your family dynamic when your son(s) complete NYLT and all of you have a similar experien

The balloons you have seen at the Jamboree are owned and operated by a scouting family from Louisiana. They come to the Jamboree as quasi staff and tether at the arena shows and a few other locations. Same for the Army balloon although the pilot of that aircraft is/was on an Active Guard/Reserve tour in support of recruiting command. If you could not guess from my screen name I'm also a balloon pilot. The G2SS rules are that no scout is to RIDE in a hot air balloon tethered or not. Ride is the key word. The balloons are on display and no rides are available. Contact your local balloon c

Did you do your WB course out of council, at a distance away, and thus your CD/SM sent everything to your home council? That is one reasonable explanation for the white envelope. If so it should have gone through your home council WB coordinator. If that is not the case you got short changed. A bead ceremony is a time for your patrol to again get together with who ever you invite and if it's in front of adults to spread the word. I have seen beads presented at unit Courts of Honor, at Roundtables, at special unit family outings, at Blue and Golds, at Wood Badge Reunion dinners, and at BSLT

I think some are missing the reason the course is called "TRAINERS EDGE". Yes, a portion of the course is explaining the EDGE method, what it is etc. The entire course focuses on Explaining, Demonstrating, Guiding and, Enabling participants in the use of various presentation methods, preparing a presentation, leading a discussion, directing traffic and to some extent team building. The use of Ice Breakers, group discussion, and buzz group facilitation are examples that MODEL the concepts which are the core of the course. This is how the course and staff EXPLAIN, DEMONSTRATE, GUIDE and E

Trainers EDGE is a requirement for WB and NYLT staff as stated in syllabus for each course. NO, it is not just a rehash of past versions of train the trainer. Look at the new requirements for Tenderfoot and Life. Our youth members are required to teach a skill using the EDGE model. Both WB21C and NYLT place emphasis on the EDGE model. The council I am affiliated with has offered TRAINERS EDGE twice since it came out(2009 & 2010) and both courses have been well attended by a combination of youth and adults, WB & NYLT staffs and other trainers. Yes, even unit leaders and others who

I got my Stetson Long Oval during my camp staff years in the late 60's early 70's. The label inside says "STETSON, Scout Master, Long Oval, with the BSA Seal (Supply Division)" and the price tag is still sewn into the sweat band, $8.85, complete with BSA leather hat band and chin strap. I keep it in a hat press and it still looks like new since I only wear it on special occasions, most recently as a WB21C troop guide. Our council tends to have the WB CD/SM wear the Smokey for the entire course. The senior staff don theirs later (2d weekend) and the troop guides wear them beginning on th

The NYLT or NYLE Scoutmaster (Course Director again for 2011 co-ed course) can be recognized with a 4th bead if she/he meets the requirements listed in the NYLT Staff guide (must have been a TG for a 21CWB course, attended EDGE training na dattended a regional Course Director conference within the past 12 monts). Assistant Scoutmasters (no other positions qualify)who meet the requirements (completed WB21C and earned their beads, participate in all staff development activities, attend Trainers Edge)can be recognized with a 3d bead. The SM /CD must complete a Scoutmaster Pledge and have the co

Well my 2 cents worth. The CO can, and will, be as involved with it's sponsored unit(s) to the extent that the units show some interest in the charter partner and it's programs. Example - My troop (I'm the SM) is sponsored by a VFW post. Four of the troop leaders are members of the sponsoring organization and 2 are officers. A number of the post members have or had family members in scouting and know what the program is. Recently one of our scouts completed his Eagle Scout Service Project (ESSP) geared entierly around service to the local veterans community, the sponsoring organization an

Vicki: You are right about what should happen if a 1099 appears with the CO's number on it. My comment concerning the use of the EIN/TIN of another entity was in the context of a unit sponsored by a charter partner such as a veterans service organization which often has non exempt income from things like a club room operation, facility rentals etc. Some of these sponsors have substantial revenue and are becomming an audit target. We know that it should not be done but some units, especially new units, want to open a checking account as soon as they have collected the initial dues and r

Beavah: If you want the cite for who is responsible for the accuracy of the return, it is Title 26 US Code, 7206(1) Subscription to a false return under penalty of perjury (3 year felony). Aiding and assisting in the preperation and filing of a false return is 26 USC 7206(2), also a 3 year felony. Deducting the leader fee for summer camp or the Jamboree staff fee was common a few years ago but, National no longer issues a letter for the staff fee and I suspect someone claimed the staff fee, got audited and lost and BSA national no longer issues a letter.

In response to Vicki, "with her accountant's hat on", she wrote "Tax deductibility of donations should not be confused with using the CO's EIN for a bank account. The former is something in which the IRS may take an intense interest, but they could care less about the latter (unless and until there is fraud or other chicanery, then all bets are off, obviously)." You are correct that the US Tax Court is the forum for resolving disputes and any advice from an attorney and/or account is just advice. The taxpayer signing the return is responsible for it's accuracy and truthfulness. A clarific

In an earlier post I stated "Remember, we are teaching LEADERSHIP and INSTRUCTIONAL (EDGE method) skills, not just outdoor scout skills, in both NYLT and WB21C, even though it is delivered using the patrol method (a/k/a small group break out or teams)." NYLT and WB21C are similar but not the same course. The subject matter is taught on a different level for WB21C and uses a more thought provoking set of questions in some of the activities and team building exercises. That said NYLT does not include some of the subjects (i.e. Generations etc.) and does not start with participants in a De

I recently attended the CR course directors conference and later got a copy of the presentation made at the last regional meeting. YES...NYLT will be open to Venturers, if memory serves me correctly, in 2011 and is optional for 2010. Co-Ed training is part of the plan. A draft of the revised syllabus is due out this month or early December. Remember, we are teaching LEADERSHIP and INSTRUCTIONAL (EDGE method) skills, not just outdoor scout skills, in both NYLT and WB21C, even though it is delivered using the patrol method (a/k/a small group break out or teams). This is also why WB recogni

I think the initial question was answered when we found out that the CC is the COR. He/She gets a voice either way. CC as tie breaker or COR/IH as approval function. Is the COR an active member of the District Committee or Council? CORs are the voting members, just ask how that worked in Chicago when the CORs were mobilized and voted down the nominated slates for Council officers multiple times.

Some scouts are just more outgoing than others. Help the scout by explaining that the process has not changed since he went for his first BOR. A 1 on 1 by a senior scout may help the younger scout feel more at ease . Speaking of senior scouts, nothing says that the BOR has to be all adults. I know a number of troops that include a scout of at least 1 rank higher on BORs (e.g. a Star or Life scout on a BOR for 2d or 1st class; a 1st class scout for tenderfoot or a 2d class BOR). Its amazing how the nervous scout becomes more confident when a peer is in a position of responsibility along with

I guess I don't know where any state parks (some of which were closed by our former, now indicted governor) are that have "primitive areas". Same with National Parks (arent any around this area except for a few National Historic Sites that have regular business hours). Yes, some state and county parks, national forests etc are around but, they require permits in advance unless you are camping as a group or are in the family or general public area where admission is on a per diem basis. They do lock the gates, I know since recently our district held its spring camporee at a county park.

OK my comments as a new guy to the forums but with 50+ years in the BSA. 1) Wood Badge in the 1960's was by invitation and targeted to trainers. Yes it had an emphasis on outdoor/scout craft skills but the focus was also on HOW TO TEACH those skills to other leaders and scouts. Sounds a lot like the current management and EDGE focus of todays training. So I guess things haven't changed all that much they just have gotten more modern. 2) Patrol hikes without adult supervision? What are you people thinking? Two deep leadership is a requirement, along with youth protection training. 3) U

I first began reading this forum by accident a few days ago and decided to wait before responding. Now I can respond with a clear head. It appears many of the posters have very set positions and thats OK. However my positions are: 1) A 3rd bead for an ASM who has completed 21st Century WB and is STAFFING the NYLT course is appropriate. That adult is talking on a responsibility for mentorship of the youth staff and making sure the course follows the syllabus. This is no different that serving as a Troop Guide, or in another required staff position, on a 21CWB adult course. Oh wait, one big d