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Stosh

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Everything posted by Stosh

  1. This is indicative of the posting I made. The SM feels that by actually doing the patrol method he's fragmenting up his troop. How can he be responsible for the troop when it is going in 3-4 different directions at the same time.
  2. I looked at the website of the previous posting and the commands are far too many and mostly contrived. First of all if more than two flags in the ceremony the US flag preceeds the other line of flags. It doesn't have to cross over at any time and can merely go to where it needs to post, having come up the center of the aisle in front of the others. The only commands are "Please rise" and "Post the Color" (No, it is not plural, there is only one flag, that's why we don't have a colors-guard) The members of the audience come to attention as the flag comes within 10' of them as if it
  3. By the way, as far as my vote for a Dinner Flag Ceremony? Full uniform with belt pants, etc, cleaned wrinkle free. white gloves and all due respect and honor possible. Rehearsed if the flag is to be presented in any other way than on the staff already. Walk in step and basically make it look like you aren't doing this for the very first tme. If you do that much, you will do better than most flag presentations I have seen for a while.
  4. If 2 flags are used before they get to the stands, both stop, the US flag goes forward and posts, then the other flag. So the US would pass in front of the other flag being obscured from the audience for a second. If 3+ flags are used, the US precedes the other 2+ and would always be "blocked" by the other row of flags once they reach the front of the audience anyway. The US would be posted and then the second row of flags would be posted accordingly.
  5. How does one deal with the issue of adult leaders viewing the patrol method as fragmenting the troop? The greater the patrol autonomy the less troop autonomy is seen. This is being viewed as a threat to the troop as a whole.
  6. Your privacy statement where you indicate that IP addresses, personal info, computer info are all collected on people using the site can be a little intimidating. I have a firewall that protects against such information going out on my machine so I'm not too worried. The page has not been updated for 2 weeks. Old news, or at least an indication of old news. (I'm sure stuff doesn't change that often, but last update info with a date a ways back indicates the page may not be attended to on a regular basis.) Too much info right off the bat. Need a splitter screen immediatel
  7. If a scout program has gone so far down the toilet that the boys have to start a blog site to air their complaints, then there's probably no reason for that troop to continue on. If the adult leadership has become so disconnected from his boys that he/she doesn't know what's going on, he/she ought to be replaced. Any leadership that feels threatened by a boy's created blog site probably needs some serious training, soul searching, etc. to correct the serious problems facing that troop. I'm not afraid of what my boys would or would not say on the site because they have the opport
  8. Sorry I wasn't clear. Beavah has it correct. Prep: meaning the prepatory work necessary to have a quality program to accommodate the activity. The boys in my crew are 100% dedicated to the interest area and nothing else. They are not interested in being Eagles or Rangers. They just want an opportunity to do their "thing". I as an advisor I feel it is important that I make every effort to insure each registered scout work on his Eagle. I don't want them to give up that responsibility simply to join my crew were an emphasis on Eagling is not present. I do not have the boys to sup
  9. Boy Scout troops specialize in producing Eagles Venturing crews specialize in producing Rangers What one does best should run the program. While it might be technically possible to Eagle from a crew, why does the crew have to redesign it's program to accomdate a few of the members of the group. That means a crew must do Eagle prep, Ranger prep and special interest prep. No thanks. We tell the boys up front if they want Eagle stay in the troop, if you want ranger pick another crew, we do special interest only. Then the boy can decide what he wishes to do. Stosh
  10. Discussions such as these always intrigue me. When all the fuss and feathers have settled down, all the theorizing and speculation run it's course, it leaves me with only one question in my mind to "solve" such sticky wickets. What is more important: the rules or the boy? Then I make my decision. Stosh
  11. The boys are more than welcome to start a yahoo group of their own. Not a problem, easy to do and any boy in the troop wishing to do that is okay with all the leadership of the troop. However, the Yahoo group we use is not just for the kids. It's for the parents and anyone else connected with the council/troop/feeder packs that wish information regarding our troop. It is not designed nor ever intended for a chat/blog/forum. The boys want to know where they are with advancement? We have the info. If his parents want to know what's on the calendar? They can go look. One must
  12. While technically you are correct on the enforcement of Rule #1. However, before we take on any crew members from other troops they make the choice to follow that rule. It is enforced by the boy himself.
  13. Hmmm, we don't allow the boys to post to the Yahoo Group site. Only the leaders (moderators). We prefer the face-to-face situations for sounding off as this young man did, so that it can be dealt with at that time and in that place.
  14. As a ASM and VA both, I'll give you the answer from both sides. First of all, the issue is not either/or. It is both/and. One can be a Boy Scout and a Venturer at the same time. It'll cost you $1 for a second membership. With my Ventur(ing) Crew, we are very specialized in our interest area (American History: Reenacting). When we first started our group 8 years ago the Council was nervous about us "stealing" older boys away from Scout troops. We simply solved the problem with our first rule. If you are a registered scout when you want to join, you are required to stay with yo
  15. FYI http://www.flagkeepers.org/ProperDisposalCeremony.asp
  16. Scoutmaster backed by the adult committee. When that is not feasible, i.e. issues of safety, 2 deep leadership, welfare of the scouts, then it's the sole responsibility of the SM.
  17. Patrol Advisor is one of the leadership positions offered by ScoutMaster 2005 Software. It is not a user-defined field. And no, not every patrol needs one, but if they ask for someone to work with them on a regular basis, it's a position possibility. Our troop took in 15 new boys last year. That meant either 2 assistant scoutmasters were assigned to keep an eye on them or they stood in line waiting for "someone" to help through their growing pains. Two Guides, two instructors, two PL, (new boys) and 2 APL (new boys). Ok, 15 new boys and no adult supervision over the lot. 2 advis
  18. LOL! I've been in scouting as a ASM, Crew Advisor, Council Webelos outdoor trainer, Fundamentals Scoutmaster, Woodbadge recipient, Cub Advancement Chairman, Outstanding Venturing Leader, Webelos Leader, etc. etc. and I have been told that I don't promote myself and for that reason, I'll never get the District Award of Merit or Silver Beaver. 23 years of scouting! Sorry, Folks! I have more important things to do than run for political accolades from my voting peers. I have more fun with my boys and would prefer being in the trenches with my boys. The really sad part of the whole process is
  19. tradition noun 1. the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, esp. by word of mouth or by practice: a story that has come down to us by popular tradition. 2. something that is handed down 3. a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting: The rebellious students wanted to break with tradition. 4. a continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices. 5. a customary or characteristic method or manner: The winner took a victory lap in the usual track tradition. Yes, the scout Law is a tradition. I
  20. This is an interesting spin off. I'm the one with the traditional uniform issue that started the thread. Your agenda, however, is quite misleading. Troop Traditions vs. Boy-led. This would seem to imply that boy led units have no traditions. What happens if it's the boys who pomote the tradition? Your subject heading seems to imply this is not possible. I'm all for boy led units, but one must remember this isn't a free-for-all organization. Certain scouting traditions are not optional. The Scout Law is in the 1911 handbook and has been a tradition ever since. Sometimes a litt
  21. This has been the tradition of the troop for over 15 years. I really don't know who initiated the process, but it's never been questioned. I've been with the troop that long and it was a tradition at that time. It was a "suggestion" on my part to initiate a second neckerchief for each patrol and the boys promptly jumped on it and began designing it. I also said I could do iron-on transfers of their patrol emblem onto t-shirts and now they all want patrol t-shirts too. When I suggested expedition hats with cords, brass and emblems all over it including letting them know the $50 price tag,
  22. Some of our boys wear up to 3 different neckerchiefs, depending on their responsibilities at the time. They have a troop, patrol, and fun neckerchief. 3 of the scout leaders have 2 different neckerchiefs, troop and Wood Badge, the rest wear the troop neckerchiefs. The neckerchief is not required unless the scout wishes to get attendance for attending a meeting, participating in a BOR, COH, flag ceremony, meals, or vehicle ride to any activity. So far the boys have been really into wearing the neckerchief.
  23. Dang, we must be really behind the times! We have no troop "Class B" uniform. As a matter of fact we have no "troop" uniform either. The boys have a formal uniform (I suppose is what everyone is calling a Class A) that has a troop neckerchief. This uniform is worn anytime there's a meeting, BOR, Court of Honor, traveling to activities and at ALL meals. If someone shows up at a meeting without uniform they don't get credit for attendance. They don't do BOR or participate in Court of Honor without a uniform. They can't participate in flag ceremony without uniform and they don't
  24. My SPL is 14. He runs the troop and is PL of the honor's patrol. All members of the honor's patrol hold Pos of Resp including instructor and guide. The older boys are all working on their Eagle projects and advising the 14-16 year olds. If your oldest boys don't know their stuff, Star ranked 14 year olds who do know their stuff, take over in the leadership positions. Boys are in those positions because they can or are willing to do them, not because they are older than the next guy. Age is not relevant in our Troop. I have a Tenderfoot Patrol Leader with Star/Life ranked boys in his
  25. A boy that can't do a pull-up? I have a boy that fit that same problem. He could not pull himself up at all. After 30 days, he could pull himself up about 1/3 the way to the bar. That was improvement. Now this life scout is 6' 6" tall, weighs over 250# and is an all-star football player on the high school team, is working on his Eagle project and is one of the nicest kids I've ever met. I'm proud of the fact I have had him in the troop for these past few years. And by the way. He still can't do a pull-up.....
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