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jhankins

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Everything posted by jhankins

  1. DEs can get awards based on both volunteer and professional service, but the awards do dictate what it can be based on. The Black on white knot Professional Training Award (AKA the Darth Vader Knot) is for becoming a fully trained professional unit serving executive. That one takes 5 years. The Chief Scout Executive's Winners Circle was changed this past year to call it something else, but the name escapes me right now. The mid-year goals have been revamped a little. Awards of Merit can be given to a professional at the district level based on volunteer service only (that one is a
  2. In some ways it's a double standard. Tico and Mazzuca both attended the Jamboree and don't meet the height/weight requirements. How many other leaders wished to attend or volunteer their time and money to work the event but couldn't? Oh wait, they got to special treatment.
  3. Why not run two weeks of NYLT, one for the money bags and one according to national policy? Eventually word will get out and your council president and SE will have some not nice words from National if that stuff isn't converted over to include Venturing Youth. I've already heard some significant threats from ladies in my council who were looking into a discrimination suit for the council not using the new NYLT course. To me, the customer is anyone who has a stake in the BSA, financial or physical (donations, kids in the program, etc..). While BadenP doesn't think donors have a stake,
  4. IM_Kathy, Everyone has given you sound advice. I had to bring up my medical conditions and had someone briefed on my needs that checked on me throughout the day. It helped, and my comfort level was high, despite what the day consisted of Thank you for your service, and being willing to step outside your comfort zone to serve even more. I took my Ordeal pamphlets to heart, and they're a treasured possession and reminder of the challenges and lessons of the Ordeal. Please let us know how it went!
  5. Pictures are a nice touch. Sign in sheets and even a letter or two can be a good thing (from a participant, or benefactor), or even a 360 self assessment for each ticket goal can be an interesting process.
  6. There are three sides to a story, one side, the other side, and the truth. I like the pancake analogy tho
  7. In the end, a ticket is a personal contract between a participant and his own sense of self. We can't completely understand what might challenge a person beyond their own expectations, and the ticket will be personal to them. The written guidelines for ticket writing are loosely interpreted. When I served as Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop Guide and gave the Values, Mission and Vision presentation, I let the Scoutmaster lead me to his vision of what he wanted the troop to understand. The opinion differed greatly from the year before! It's a double-edged sword to leave ticket writing gu
  8. How about an episode of Dirty Jobs with 8 Scouts Go Bear, this is great stuff!
  9. I'm sorry your son had such a horrible experience and that he doesn't want to return to Scouting. As a single mom with a son in scouting, I can tell you not every troop treats single mothers differently, it's a matter of finding the right one, but also being involved so that there's common ground with the leadership and other parents so that they feel your family is a part of theirs. The other posters have some wonderful questions and advice for you.
  10. It can get wasted all at once if the endowment board offers a loan to the council with terms that fit the council's needs (whatever those might be). Our local endowment is over $4 million in the hole thanks to loans that are still not repaid since 2006, and the council is out borrowing money from local banks AND National on top of it. That's just to keep the salaries flowing with -0- program improvement to camps from what the ranger can scramble (and no ranger at the cub camp period).
  11. Wild animals like fish guts near boy scout camps Nom nom!
  12. It's really only the beginning once your finish that ticket Congratulations!
  13. I'm not sure what the original post has to do with endowment gifts. But a council can, by vote of the endowment administrators, borrow money from an endowment fund. There must be repayment terms and interest, though. My council borrow quite a chunk of change from the endowment after a merger and it made a big stink amongst the volunteers (as it should).
  14. Really, even though it's not supposed to be an honor, I feel honored for having been asked, going through the Ordeal, and feel humbled by the gift that was given to me by the young men that made it possible. I will probably learn more from them than they'll learn from me, and to me, that's a huge honor.
  15. Posting this event in case someone would like to attend. The Big Ride 2011 -- June 3-5 The biggest scout cycling event in the west! This year staged from the beautiful Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area - (exclusive camping - wilderness in the city!) Four fantastic and scenic rides: 25km, 25 mile, 50 mile, and 100 mile rides!! All units are invited from all councils - Scouts, Webelos, Crew (including co-ed)! Talk it over in your unit this week - Put it on your calendar - Send in your registrations asap - Space is limited! http://bsa-la.org/calendar/87/316163
  16. Ugh, Trainer's Edge! I had a long talk with Ron Timmons about this at our Area Leadership Conference last year. The reasoning is that TE will not be a static training over time. Concepts will change, new material "should" be added, and it will give presenters a chance to become versed with new presentation techniques and standards. I can't say I agree with it completely, but at least there's a method to the madness.
  17. The 3Ms aren't taught at the Center for Professional Development quite the same anymore, but the overtone is still there left for summation back to them! Out of my class of 34+ to become commissioned DEs back in 2008, there are only 3 or 4 left in the profession. It's not a pretty place seeing how the professional end of a volunteer organization works, especially if your emotions are vested in its preservation and quality.
  18. I think some of the trepidation of the swim test comes from the attitude of not only the leaders but the boys. At camp one year I heard other boys explaining the "horrors" of the swim test and the anxiety level rose for the first year boys. Something my pack did was host a swim party following all the guidelines complete with buddy tags, lifeguard, spotters, checks and boundaries for the boys before camp. They had a great time getting the practice in, swimming with their pals, and getting a preview of camp.
  19. Awesome way to think outside the box. 83Eagle has some of the same questions I do.
  20. Welcome! Please keep us updated on your progress. I'm always eager to hear how churches incorporate and use the Venturing program. I have to laugh about the advice on long naps. It's the truth.
  21. Nolesrule already cleared up the original question succinctly. Yet, assumptions about the performance of other Arrowman is shotty at best. Not everyone sees every event, they only see what they care to. Scouting involves quite a bit of labor behind the scenes that can be thankless. Not everyone seeks the limelight positions. Adults especially fall into this category when they become Arrowmen. If serving their unit is their primary responsibility, chances are most people may not see exactly what these people do. My hats are off to those who aid where they can, rather than what
  22. Wolves, Bears and Webelos can all use a pocket knife provided they've proven themselves and understand the rules. The reasoning behind waiting to Bear or for summer camp of the Bear year (right after they move up from Wolves), is that it counts as a requirement for rank. But if you're having a professional come teach the boys carving or some such, there's no reason to hold back the Wolves from earning their Whittling chip, too. Source: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/ageguides.pdf
  23. Ask your council, too. Some have requirements on top of the national standards.
  24. What do you all think of camp staffing counting towards those nights if slept in the outdoors?
  25. Aww, we can't have cubs learning targeting for tactical nukes?! What's the world coming to.
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