AnneinMpls

Eamonn, I am so sorry for your loss. I''ve always loved hearing you tell about the special place these creatures have in your life and your family. Love is a Good thing, with a capital G - and so because it is so very real, it will include hurt sometimes.

Peace ot you and yours!

Anne in Mpls

Cool thread idea!

Helloooo Highcountry!

If you asked your most active/enthusiastic scouts what do they think are your troop''s greatest strengths and weaknesses, what would they say?

Anne, playin the homegame in Mpls

Good morning Lisa! How are things going for the troop and this young man?

Anne in Mpls

Thanks everyone for the reality check

My committee chair fortunately came to the same realization about the time I was drafting a third version of a whiny I cant do it email.

The mom is now suggesting we switch the meetings from Thursdays to Fridays My CC says that while it would work for her, that that is a really big switch to make and we agree we might lose many more girls in the process.

So, we reiterated to mom that we''re ok with them having to leave meetings early if that''s a solution that works for them. And I would change up the meeting agenda so that her daughter didn''t always miss out on gametimes. I had done a quick poll of the girls in front of mom so she could see for herself that most of the girls had a 9m pm bedtime, and a couple had 10 pm bedtimes - no one else had an 8 pm!

(Actually I need to move my 10 pm kiddo up to 9!!)

I''m meeting with mom today at noon because she is still willing to do the awards for us.

As far as troop communications go, I think we''ve got a fairly workable plan in place now. For last minute stuff I use www.callingpost.com and my CC is keeping our troop website updated. Main problem is I have families in my troop that are very low income and frequently without phone service, so we drop by/drop off print stuff for them when we can. Wish I had a magic wand to make it all work, but I don''t!

Thanks again!

Anne in Mpls

Arrrrgh.

So, I litereally single-handed kept our GS troop afloat after some nasty business with a former asst. leader.

We''re rebuilding finally, I have an excellent CC, a couple parents willing to drive and chaperone, and we''re beginning to recruit again. We''d gotten as low as 7 active girls during this transitionary period.

Now, I have one mom who nearly blew my face off complaining that her girls always miss out, are always contacted last, never get to participate, etc. *They never show up for meetings*, they moved two suburbs away and chose to continue in our troop. I did everything short of letting her children live with me to help them stay involved.

My CC contacted them to smooth her feathers, and she now claims that the troop seems disorganized to her and they dont get enough notice about events. *Note that they don''t bother to attend the troop meetings* but, if we were to move the troop meetings a half hour earlier, mom would even attend with them and help chaperone events if she had enough notice. I could just barf.

Another mom who insisted we not leave for a campout until near dark because her kiddo was in a day camp program that they''d paid for - resulting in everybody having to set up camp in the dark instead of having another half day to enjoy together, is also requesting we move the meeting up. Her daughter''s bedtime is 8 pm. Everybody else''s is 9 or 10. She''s threatening to leave the troop if we cant meet earlier and she has also agreed to coordinate awards for the troop.

Moving the meeting up a half hour would mean I would have 45 minutes between getting home from work at 5:30, and leaving at the door at 6:15 to arrive in absolutely no shape to lead a troop meeting at 6:30. Keep in mind that I am a single mom.

Our meeting time used to be 6:45. The girls I drove arrived ontime. Everybody else would arrive after 7. Ridiculous. So I moved the meeting time to 7 pm several months ago. My stress level went down, and meetings went smoother since we didn''t have to start twice:P

Why exactly am I even considering this request???

Anne baffled and really tired in Mpls

Did you say you lost your CC? Do what you can to get that position filled by someone who has the excellent skills in delegating and activating those goofy parents. Then you can move on without guilt knowing you''ve left the troop in capable hands. But I wouldn''t go without the CC filled capably, and a ready-to-go new SM.

Anne in Mpls

Nah, you can't base your next move on their answer. Who knos? Maybe they'll sing you a song of wine and roses and still act like they do Besides, you're giving up your personal power when you decide to only react to what they do. You need to make your decisions regardless of what they say or do.

So, step one, is to write down concretely what your motivations and goals are.

For instance, your goal might be to help 90% of your den to arrow of light. Or, your goal might be to Sleep Well at Night. Now, you might then have totally different options depending on what your goal is, or....you might do the same thing for either goal But you do need to get clear about your goals, because it will reveal that the goofiness with the CM is just clouding things up.

So, act based on your goals, rather than reacting based on others' behavior, okies?

Anne in Mpls

I'd like to clarify that just because you "have an aspie in the family" does *not* mean you know how every person with Aspergers expresses their disability. There is wide wide wide variation: some are very quiet and compliant, but this is not the majority of folks with aspergers! My own kiddo truly believes, really really emphatically believes, that in order for people around her to understand that she is upset, that she must scream shrilly at the top of her lungs. Now, she's done fine at summer camp, day camp, all the rest of it, but I prep the adults working with her to expect "the scream that wakes the dead" sometime on the first day towards the end of the day, during a transition of activity. Sure enough, I either get a phone call in midscream, in which I remind them of exactly what I told them, or in the case of more on the ball staff, I get a phone call the next day saying, man, you were so right! They heard her from one side of camp to the other. Now, am I a poor parent? No. We have discussed practiced, roleplayed ad nauseum exactly what she can do when she's upset. Has it made a difference? Well, last year at school it happend twice at the beginning of the school year in 6th grade. She claims to finally "get it" and we'll see what happens this year

Physically acting out is not at all uncommon for these kids - poor social skills, lack of communicative skills, little to no perception of what's going on either with others' emotions or their own, and yha, it's not a surprise that these kids may sometimes get violent, though not generally in a raging way, but in a I'll do whatever it takes to get you to back off and leave me alone.

Generally speaking, violent behavior can be diminished by responsible adults changing their own behavior and perception of aspie behavior before it escalates, and that's really really key.

Anne in Mpls

No, Land of the Silver Birch goes:

Doot doo-doo doo-doo doot

Dooo doo-doo doo-doo

And The Paddle Song (which is so not the name of it! but anyway) it goes:

Doo-doo doo doo-doo-doo doo-doo doo doo-doo

HTH

Anne in Mpls

There's a blue sky why up yonder

There's a blue sky over my head!

There's a blue sky way up yonder

That's a cover for my bed!

And wherever I wander and wherever I roam

There's a blue sky way up yonder

that's callin me home!

Ok, found another good article: really accessible. Sorry for the advertizing!

Anne in Mpls

http://school.familyeducation.com/aspergers/parenting/36123.html

Establishing a rapport with one consistent person can help a great deal. Is there perhaps one committee member who can be this person for this young man? It *is* draining for the troop leadership - they have enough on their plates, and the boy's needs are likely greater than can be handled by the boy leadership - PLs and so forth, unless you've got some stellar JASM types.

Aspergers is a tricky thing - it can look totally different form one kid to another. This is partly because youngsters will try just about anytihng to try to cope ontheir own with a disability that goes mostly unrecognized. (Girls tend to handle it a bit differently, because they more readily develop the skill of observing and copying - though a girl with aspergers may observe and copy the social skills without really understanding any of the why!)

Some techniques that can work well:

Foreshadowing: verbally go over the ins and outs of whatever the next activity will entail: we're going outside for a litter pickup around the church - see the PLs over there? They're getting ready to pass out the garbage bags - that's a clue that we're leaving really soon. It's time now to check in with your PL. You only need your jacket - the rest of your stuff can stay here till the end. (Ok, you get the idea- you'll know which bits and pieces your particular youth will need interpreted)

http://www.parentingaspergers.com/aspergers11.htm looks possibly helpful. I just signed up on it and got the first free email, which is pretty sketchy stuff: basically reducing agressive behavior may require substituting other more acceptable bahaviors We'll see if the next ones are better!

http://www.aspergers.org/myths_about_aspergers_syndrome.htm is better.

http://www.aspergers.org/social_stories.htm

http://www.aspergers.org/insight_into_aspergers_quiz.htm Ok, found a gem! Suggest you have all SM and ASMS take this - but ask them to try to get the answers wrong! Wrong answers pull up lots of info.

http://brainhe.com/staff/methods/aspergers.html is written from the perspective of higher education in the UK but still useful.

http://www.amazon.com/Incredible-Assisting-Understanding-Interactions-Controlling/dp/1931282528/ref=pd_sim_b_3/104-6059389-5136707?ie=UTF8&qid=1133367041&sr=1-1 looks like it could be a really good easy to implement resource - might even get this for my own kiddo!! The book title is The Incredible Five Point Scale in case the link is too long.

Blue skies!

Anne in Mpls

You've gotten some good suggestions already. Just want to make sure we don't overlook the importance of PLAY. The running around-acting like a kid-hanging off a tree-playing tag-wrestling for the ball-tackling the grownups kinda of play that kids just never get enough of. Talk to your PLC about adding 15 minutes at the start of the meeting to "blow off steam". Take a look at the current thread we had going on playing tag. Take a good look at your meeting space and decide whether it fosters active play - do you have outdoor space, trees to climb, etc?

Blue skies!

Anne in Mpls

Hello again,

I'm not familiar with NSO's...could you supply the meaning for the acronym, please?

Actually, many WAGGGS member countries associations allow alternate wording for the promise and laws to accomodate expression of differing faiths.

I'm not at all familiar with WOSM - do they require greater uniformity?

I've just revisited their website today, and there are numeorus changes. The Statement of Faith has been revised - agreed, it is less exclusionary than the previous version. And their logo has been changed, so my preceeding post is now moot.

I'm with Juliette Low and always will be

Anne in Mpls

Tag, you're it! No backs!!!

I have to admit to being rather curious as to how AHG justifies the use of the US Flag in their own logo:

The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature. (U.S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8(g))

(The AHG official flag, is the *US flag* with sillouettes of two girls in dresses running across it.)

Anne in Mpls

Scoutnut's (strongly-worded) reply was spot-on. Yes, GSUSA has taken a lot of flak for spelling out clearly that we are a diverse organization. No, GSUSA has *not* "taken God out of scouting". For heaven's sake if you believe, then you know God can never be taken out of anything anyway.

I'm pleased your daughter is experiencing a scouting program - I've looked over the AHG website and see a lot that is very good.

However, as a Christian, and as a Catholic, I could never sign their protestants-only statement of faith that is required for adults in AHG. Furthermore, I am continually enriched by being able to know and work with girls and adults of a variety of faiths and cultures. I'm glad the organization I've devoted so much of my time to works to welcome all girls who want to enjoy scouting and discover their best selves, and still challenges me to learn and grow in my understanding. Given that we are inclusive rather than exclusive, it is logical to assume that GSUSA will continue to be the world's largest organization for girls. We wibble and wobble from time to time, but given the gifts brought to our org. by so many, we can and do correct our course when needed.

Blue skies!

Anne in Mpls

I just googled xvgaoke to see if there's any fixes out there. Apparently nothing yet, and google hit on 3 pages of completely unrelated websites that all seem to be infected with this same thingy. It also came up with the actual site address, but I am loathe to click on it or even on the chached version of it to see what it really is. How do we report this to folks who write the fixes for these things??

Anne in Mpls

Ok, I've been checking my history, and nothing fishy is showing up there, but I did just notice that that scr thinky is showing up at the vbery top in the title bar sometimes. It's there sometimes when I'm reading a forum, but it's not there now as I'm typing this reply.

Is this something that might need to be cleaned from each of our machines?? How do we get a fix for it?

Thanks!

Anne in Mpls

I'm on a Windows Vista machine, running IE. When this mess first started up, I got the message at the top of the IE window asking my permission to run that Data Control thingy. I did a search for it in Windows Help, and online. Nothing untoward popped up there, and it said it was from Microsoft, so I oked it. Since then, and still today, I am getting weird extra text at the top of the window, sortof a descriptor for the website, but not quite grammatical, and ending with a >. So there's still something fishy in Denmark

Peace and all good!

Anne in Mpls

Ah - you misunderstand. These are the new Official Cub Scout ® Capris. In cooler weather, you can zip the rest of the length on for a traditional "pants" look.

(Tsk tsk. Parents just don't understand *fashion*)

Anne, tongue-in-cheek in Mpls

There might be two different issues here...

First off, you might just be dealing with one particular family that lets their own child get away with stuff that isn't permitted by the rest of the families.

Or, you might be too harsh in tone when stopping this behavior. A lot of this can be halted with a wink of the eye, a *look*, a brief "unh-unh" reminder. Or perhaps it's not a harsh tone, but too long a lecture. Once the boys hear it from you once, they get where you stand - no need to repeat, just "unh-unh". Or the ever-popular "give it here" said in a totally bored tone of voice - which conveys acknowledgement of "yup, if you dont knock it off it's going to turn into the long boring lecture".

Generally, if you *suspect* you might be overreacting, you just might be. Always go for the least and quietest and briefest intervention necessary.

Where does your PLC stand on this issue?

Anne in Mpls

The rest depends on the kids indeed! Yha, we meet tomorrow night, and I am leaning towards postponing till late August when water levels tend to rise a bit. (but this darn drought might decide to stick around even then...)

With water levels this low, I might even get away with calling it wading instead of canoeing on our trip plans

I've been staring at the durned water guage charts for 2 weeks straight now. Keep hoping this off and on rain we're getting might *do* something. And I was hoping you all might magically see something other than what I'm seeing on it

Good morning folks!

We're planning a very short paddle on a very calm uninteresting part of the St. Croix (I've paddled it before and am just getti my feet wet in planning float trips with our troop - oh dear...pun unintended!) weekend after next.

We're looking at Soderbeck landing to Hwy 70 - yup, told you it was short!. Anyway, water level is around 3.25. Is that way too low??? Our outfitter is of course perfectly happy renting to us no matter what the water level is!

Thanks!

Anne in Mpls

Thanks everyone

Oh yes, *I* remember jungle breakfasts! One of our patrols is doing an early morning hike so that's basically what they'll be packing along.

I ran across a recipe for gingerbread in orange peel shells - now that one sounds like it would be helped by the orange flavor rather than harmed

I could also use more tips on the biscuits - we had let the fire burn down to coals, but the biscuits turned out more smoked and gummy than cooked/toasted. (What I mean to say is, they turned to gummy blobs covered with black soot/ash. Not appetizing!) I would bet the tinfoil over the stick would help them cook through.

Thanks again!

Anne in Mpls

LOL! Well, as Girl Scouts, we think it'd be pretty lame to let the boys cook for us!

My newest scouts just flew up - they are 9 year olds, so the parameters I set for their patrol were a one pot meal, and a tinfoil meal - they picked which method to use for which meal, and then which recipes and things to complete the meal.

One is sleeping over at my house tonight and has approved the sausage/egg/hashbrown (good thing! she's the picky one!), and looks like if there's interest, they'll pick a muffin to bake in oranges or the biscuit thing (oh yes! honey! yup!!)

Our two older patrols are completely free to choose from whatever methods they think will/might work - I throw em a challenge of choosing to incorporate foods from a list of "10 healthiest foods for women" which goes towards patrol competition for the weekend. (cf our dutch oven sweet potato pie I wrote on here about a while back!)

We're also hoping to do some trout fishing - cook those up easily in foil packs with butter. Not *counting* on the trout, just an extra treat if things pan out!

Blue skies!

Anne in Mpls (only my mommy calls me Annie