jhankins

Karen, I definitely understand where you're coming from. I've had two brain surgeries, four hospitalizations and another surgery where I almost lost my kidney in the past two years. It was a hard pill to swallow, having to step down from everything I did with the boys. But they did help me learn something. While I'll never get back to the old me, there's a "new me" on the horizon. I may not be able to do everything my heart wants to, but I'll get to a new normal and be able to reach out to do what I can do. The capacity of what I do has changed, but definitely not the spirit! I've explained to those around me and in my units that I subscribe to the "Spoon Theory." http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/personal-essays/the-spoon-theory-written-by-christine-miserandino/ So they understand when there's something I'd like to do, but have to back out or just don't have the means to accomplish what my heart wants to. So while this chapter of your life may be at a successful close and you've accomplished much for the boys, I'm sure there's so much more you can do and still be around for. I met a woman who used to be an ASM for her son's troop but like me, ended up with some horrible surgeries and pain issues. Even from her wheelchair now, she's a merit badge counselor for disabilities awareness and loves to take boys to local zoos and share her knowledge of plants and animals when she has the "spoons." Thank you for sharing your journey with us. You're a testament to courage and strength, and I for one think you're not done yet, just shifting jobs --J

Some of the changes have to do with supplier issues. Others are to restore length to short neckers! Haha. My first wood badge tartan was super short, just 3 inches longer than my son's Webelos necker. When I moved and thought I'd lost my first one, the second I bought was 9 inches longer!

Mike Rowe or Steve Holcomb!

Forgive me, I can't find the thread where we discussed the NE Region's policies to help councils close camps. After reading that thread, the question stuck in my mouth why Region would be pushing councils to sell land and close facilities. I found the answer today: The new Bechtel property is going to be a push for summer camps, not just high adventure and Jambos...

I like how the requirement is a patrol or troop camp out. Many of the troops in my neck of the woods just don't do patrol campouts. It's starting to change (with backyard campouts on 1-2 acres, all the boys use in the house is the commode), and it's also giving them a chance to develop more as a team, and start to get used to the big changes involved with bridging to the older boy program.

Maybe we should have bugs on the menu??

Congratulations from my family to yours. When's the Court of Honor? Did National back-date his Eagle, or is it dated to the day of the decision?

I hope Bear will come to the National Jambo! We could use a shot in the arm from someone like him. I put in a request last year for our Council's 100th birthday event, but it was way too expensive for our budget.

Even if you disagree with this decision, let's not forget we're all Scouters here. Being rude because you disagree with the situation or the people involved isn't Scout-like.

Camping with the Webelos will get them excited for Boy Scouts! They're car camping now, get a Scoutmaster or SPL to come in and show them photos of the boys backpacking overnight and the fun stuff they get to do!

Oh, that's a whole other matter -- going out of council for Wood Badge! Recently, we had a gentleman come all the way from 3.5 hours away to our district's BALOO training because his council wasn't offering one for a year! That's one dedicated Cubmaster! In the end, after doing our little Wood Badge commercial we do at every training, this guy signed up for our Wood Badge, when I know for a fact his council does one. Impressions and friendships can pull people to other councils, and I'm so glad it does -- To me it doesn't matter where your Gilwell is, it just matters that you go. At our last Area Leadership Conference I heard more than one cluster course happening. SR540Beaver, has that ever been brought up as an option, to get your southern neighbor involved?

My Webelos son actually taught how to make peach cobbler to his den at a campout once, so go for it!

The 30% new staff recommendation is just that -- a recommendation. The language in the guide states it's a "deisrable ratio." Sometimes it's just not possible to get new people because of other things happening in a council. This year has been hard for us to get new staff because of the anniversary events adding an extra load to the calendars. This year our spring course is at 20% new staff, and for the fall course we're just over 30% at the moment (but staff recruitment is on-going). Yes, we strive for diversity, but sometimes it's not possible. It takes time to foster relationships within our ten districts. Some districts just don't have people who would care to attend or staff. But we won't recruit diversity for its own sake and risk not delivering a quality program. The 2010 Admin guide states that a WB course director can come back and staff in a required or optional position after their 18 month term as Course Director is over. They just can't be a CD again (page 5).

While the OA isn't a secret society, the handbook encourages misdirecting topics, mystery and vagueness when answering questions about the Order. The handbook even says not to disclose ceremonial information unless it's to your parents only. To some this can be seen as "secret."

It depends on the school. If you're taking leadership classes at a local college here, they'll give you internship credit for WB. A local employer asked us to write a letter for HR to put in the file, and they have paid for 5 employees to attend WB in the past three years. It helps to have Scouters in the top ranks of the schools and companies too

Open communication about what Wood Badge is, what topics are covered and the ticket process is vital to getting people to sign up and participate in my council these days. We demistify what a ticket is before the course, for those that want details we talk Blanchard, Covey and DePree so they understand what type of course this is. For college students or people asking work to pay for Wood Badge, we write letters explaining in detail what we discuss. There's nothing really secret about Wood Badge anymore. So yes, in the other thread we talked about "The Game," but when you're actually on course, go through the stages of team development, and experience it, what we talked about here will mean something different for you. This is why we have training courses. Reading the material is one thing, actually experiencing Wood Badge is another beast entirely.

I drove 3 hours to get there, too. You council powers that be may indicate it's not worth the drive, but staffing AB100 was rewarding. I didn't just go to go -- my son and I staffed it and got to share Scouting with kids who had never seen things like a ropes course before, or held a canoe paddle, or seen what Scouting is really like. Like many events during the anniversary, it's not just about the current Scouts. Mazucca has said this is our year to reintroduce America to what Scouting is and where we've come from, and AB 100 does just that.

In my neck of the woods, there's never a lack of boys who want adventure. It's all about finding adult leaders and organizations willing to support the units. Having someone like Bear would be an amazing boost in the arm to help market Scouting to those who have never been a part.

Stages of Team Development is still in, it's where we use media and personal stories to help the learners achieve understanding of the model before the presentation of Leading EDGE/Teaching EDGE. Leveraging People and Valuing Diversity has been merged with Inclusiveness, and they've not introduced the topic "Generations in Scouting" to go along with the NYLT material that mirrors the subject matter. I recognize the strife "the Game" causes the participants, after all I had to go through it, too, and had my own epiphany. If done right, though, "the Game" has a profound effect on team development and personal issues amongst the learners.

Scoutstuff.org has a description of the Cub Scout hat: "Part of the Official Cub Scout Uniform for a Bear Cub Scout." It's pretty clear to me that we're not to change it. That being said, my old pack has a Class "B" boonie cap because we're outside enough in the desert to burn little necks and ears, and we use that when not wearing the field uniform.

To me it would depend if the Klondike had a program or not. Some are just "Come play in the snow" and others have belt loop classes and round robins.

Perhaps let the other units know that have more Arrowmen that you'd be happy train them for elections and ceremonies? Throwing the ball in their court might create some motivation.

October Sky?

I heard a rumor about guest passes having to be reserved ahead of time, that there were no "walk-ins." It was a rumor though, so I don't know if there's any truth to it.

Old mugs are one thing -- patches that are currently only being sold to Jambo attendees and staff that are showing up on Ebay for the sole purpose of selling a limited item is just unethical.