JFL49
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Posts posted by JFL49
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Sometimes it helps to look at official guidelines. These might help:
http://ricksnews.pushies.com/Documents/Nominating_Committee_Worksheet_14-33156.pdf
http://ricksnews.pushies.com/Documents/34739_District_Operations_Guide_2008.pdf
Eamonn makes some very good points. The District Chair works for the VP of District Operations. Ask that VP to come to a meeting of the District. Also ask the Council Commissioner to get involved. Also, there are probably some members of the Council Executive Board who live in your District. Call them and ask them to get involved.
While the DEs are usually hard working and dedicated professionals, they are at the bottom of the professional food chain. They generally have the least experience in dealing with volunteers and in dealing with conflict. Go higher up the chain, to at least a Field Director, or better yet Director of Field Services, or even the Scout Executive.
Unfortunately, a dysfunctional (or nonexistent) District Committee could affect the kids. If the District Committee is not there to help raise funds through FOS, or hold Eagle Boards of Review, or organize District camporees, or run a Touch-a-Truck event at the mall, the youth suffer. Yes, Mrs. Smith's Den 10 will continue to meet, but the winner of the Pinewood Derby won't go on to compete in the District Pinewood Derby without a functioning District Committee. And Mrs. Smith will find it more difficult to get a tour permit for a Pack overnighter without the requisite BALOO training that a functioning District Training Committee would offer. And her older son in Troop 10 won't be able to start work on his Eagle project if there is no District Advancement Chair to approve the project.
Good luck. It sounds like you'll need it.
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No, I haven't seen this either.
Whether there are rumors of a Council merger in the future, or not, I would pose the question to the Council VP whether redistricting or a District merger is being considered. There would obviously be less resistance to a restructuring of your District if the District Committee was not operating.
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I've had pretty good luck buying name tags from Quartermasterstore.com. The tags have an option for a magnetic backing. Far superior to the pin with clasp. I'm not sure how the magnetic backings would work if you have a pacemaker, however.
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Eagle,
The Spider Web is used as part of both NYLT and Wood Badge. The NYLT Syllabus gives an overview on page "Day Three - 29"
http://www.whitestag.org/files/NYLT_syllabus.pdf
Hope this helps.
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I don't claim to be an expert in this subject, but I have conducted plenty of Scout's Own and Interfaith Services (too many to count) and have taught the subject to Scouters. Some definitions might be helpful in this discussion.
From the BSA syllabus on "Conducting an Interfaith Service:"
An interfaith service means a service conducted for all faiths. Much attention must be paid to recognize the universality of beliefs in God and reverence.
A "nondenominational" service is, by definition, typically just for Protestants. An "ecumenical" service is one suitable for the whole Christian church. A "nonsectarian" service is one that is not affiliated with any specific religion. The Charter and Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America recognize the religious element in the training of the BSAs members, but the BSA is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training.
BP may have said it best:
"Let us, therefore, in training our Scouts, keep the higher aims in the forefront, not let ourselves get too absorbed in the steps. Don't let the technical outweigh the moral. Field efficiency, back woodsmanship, camping, hiking, Good Turns, jamboree comradeship are all means, not the end. The end is CHARACTER with a purpose.
The Battle Hymn of the Republic is certainly a moving piece of music. Yet, the fifth verse would best be skipped in an interfaith service, based on the reference to Christ.
Blowin' In the Wind and If I Had a Hammer (just to name two examples) are fully appropriate to an interfaith service. And more than a handful of churches have sung those songs on a Sunday morning.
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I'm sorry for your family's loss.
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Since the Chair of the Council Leadership Training Committee is obligated to approve the award, I don't how the troop committee has the ability to independently decide that all requirements have been met.
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If your Council NYLT course does not offer a "Scoutmaster orientation session" maybe they should. Contact the NYLT Course Director and see what he/she has in mind to meet the Scoutmaster Key requirement. Maybe you could attend an NYLT Staff development meeting, or sit in on some of the sesions of the next course.
If the Course Director doesn't have a solution, next contact the Council Training Chair. Don't give up until the Training Chair solves your problem. That's why Council Training Chairs get paid the "big bucks" - to handle these issues.
The first point in the Scout Law would seem to preclude the option of just buying the knot and sewing it on your shirt.
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All of the Training Keys are summarized on our Council web site, along with the listing of devices:
http://www.ctyankee.org/program/training/knots
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The requirements for the Scoutmaster's Key, from the 2008 printing of the Leadership Committee Training Guide:
Complete Boy Scout Leader Fast Start Training.
Complete New Leader Essentials.
Complete Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training.
Complete Youth Protection Training.
Complete Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills.
Participate in one supplemental training course either at a local council or national level.
Participate in at least six Boy Scout leader roundtables per year.
Conduct troop youth leader training at least three times.
Participate as an adult in youth leader training by either serving on the staff or attending the Scoutmaster orientation session of the national youth leader training.
Earn the Boy Scout Leaders Training Award.
Tenure: Complete three years of registered tenure as a Scoutmaster within a five year period (can include the tenure used to earn the Scouters Award).
Performance: At least twice during the three-year period serve as a Scoutmaster of a troop that earns the national Centennial Quality Unit Award.
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Mitch Reis offers a number of resources. His books are very readable.
http://mitchreis.com/bsabooks.htm
Good luck in your search.
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eghiglie,
Thank you for running the course with 3 participants. Canceling ANY course, even with low attendance, is a bad idea. It sets a miserable precedent
Course lengths are best estimates, depending upon attendance, number of instructors, weather, all sorts of things. Sitting idle until the clock reaches the end of the "scheduled" time will virtually guarantee that those participants will never sign up for a future course, and will also chase off good instructors.
Go have a chat with your District or Council Training Chair, about your experience. Hopefully they will see the light.
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jblake,
While the "20th Century" Wood Badge course had a provision for three weekends, 21st Century Wood badge has only two options: a week long course or two 3-day weekends. Given that Wood Badge Course Directors are "sworn" to follow the official curriculum, it is unlikely that any Council would offer a 3 weekend variation.
I'd suggest looking around your Region to see if there are any week long courses offered over the summer.
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Trevorum,
I seem to recall that leather woggles were not uncommon as neckerchief slides, and not necessarily indicative of Wood Badge. Obviously, the best evidence that your Dad completed Wood Badge is a set of Wood Badge beads.
You might try to contact the Council Training Chair for Los Angeles Council. There is likely a Council Wood Badge Committee with access to some "seasoned" former Course Directors. Even though the Council responded to you that the old records do not formally exist, there's always a possibility that some older Course Directors have participant lists or have memories of those courses.
Good luck in your search.
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There is no national clearinghouse on Wood Badge unfortunately. BSA published a history of Wood Badge in 1988, but the book is out of print. This is a link to the history. Look in the Appendix, starting on page 69. It lists a few courses held in Los Angeles (although no participant information is available):
http://www.scatacook.org/WB/WB-Book-Part1.pdf
http://www.scatacook.org/WB/WB-Book-Appendix.pdf
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BSA experimented with weekend courses in the early 70's. In 1974, weekend courses were officially authorized.
Source: A History of Wood Badge in the United States, page 55
http://www.scatacook.org/WB/WB-Book-Part1.pdf
http://www.scatacook.org/WB/WB-Book-Appendix.pdf
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The Gilwell.com web site gives a good overview of patrol ribbons and the colors assigned to each patrol:
http://www.gilwell.com/patrolPatch/
http://www.gilwell.com/patrolPatch/ribbons.htm
The listing on the web site shows many patrols and is not limited to the 8 Wood Badge critters in use in the US today.
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Staffing for Trainer's Edge includes both Adults and Youth. Our Council's EDGE course used YLT Youth Staff. And participants include both Adults and Youth.
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Beaver,
Our Council contacted the national office on this issue. Joe Glasscock responded that EDGE replaces TDC as "the required program for WB and YLT." Joe went on to note that TDC is still a valid program. So, taking Joe at his word, a Council (in theory) could run TDC for everyone, but is required to run EDGE for WB and YLT staffs. While it does not make a lot of sense that BSA would have TWO "trainer the Trainer" type programs, that is apparently what we have.
Our Council participants at Northeast Region Course Director's Conference hard the same thing that you heard. Interestingly, our Council also had one member on staff at the NER Conference who heard the message that Joe Glassclock delivered above. It sound like the messages have been muddy, at best.
I believe historically, TDC was "owned" by the Cub Scout program at the national level, while Wood Badge was "owned" by the Boy Scout program. That might explain why two similar programs exist. With the recent reorganization at national, some of this duplication may go by the wayside.
Hope this helps.
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Our Council ran Trainers EDGE earlier this month. The syllabus is designed around patrols of up to six members, so its good that your Council went that route. We told all participants in advance to prepare a short presentation to give to their patrol. We then encouraged participants to use the tool and techniques they learned in the morning sessions during their afternoon presentations. That process worked well. About two-thirds of our participants were Wood Badge Staff. The near unanimous opinion of participants and staffers was the Trainers EDGE was superior to TDC. While BSA has not formally replaced TDC with Trainers EDGE, our Council will only offer Trainers EDGE in the future.
Your troop traditions for your Eagles
in Advancement Resources
Posted
Our troop presents each Eagle Scout with a US Flag which has been flown over the Capitol (you can purchase the flag through your US Senator). We place the flag in a wooden shadow box. We also give a gift of a lifetime membership in NESA.
Our regular troop neckerchief is green with the troop number embroidered on it. Each Eagle Scout is presented with a special red neckerchief which has "Eagle Scout" embroidered on it in addition to the troop number.
Our Eagle Scouts pass along a challenge coin. We put their names on a plaque hung on the wall in our meeting place. The Scout's parents collect congratulatory letters as they may determine. The Troop Eagle coordinator will generally get a certificate from the Mayor and also the Governor to present at the COH.
The Scout/parents pick a Master of Ceremonies for the COH (which may or may not be the Scoutmaster) as well as decide who will present the Eagle award and who will present the Eagle charge. Generally, another Eagle Scout presents the award since our troop follows the maxim: It takes an Eagle to make an Eagle.
We leave it to each Eagle Scout (and his parents) on how and where they want the presentation made. Some Eagle Scout COHs are very elaborate, some include multiple Eagles, and a few Eagle presentations are made at a regular Troop meeting if that's what the Scout really wants. I've presided at an Eagle COH held in a park, at a Scout camp, held in our chartering church, and held in the Scout's synagogue.
When I was Scoutmaster, I too was very busy with Scouting, work, and family. But I was never too busy to attend an Eagle Court of Honor for one of my Scouts.