jhankins

Recently, one of our Eagles made care packages for breast cancer patients in our area. His track coach became deathly ill with the disease, and he wanted to do something to help. He made the calls to the cancer society, figured out what the packages needed, learned how to make hand-tied blankets (then taught the boys), solicited donations, and did a work-party program to earn money for the polar fleece to make the blankets. As the young man described to us the reaction he had to the thank-you letters he received, You could see the care and concern he had for others. I wasn't too sure a

A pack on my district was leaving town with a tour permit filed. They were in uniform, had their permission slips, tour permit, G2SS, and were involved in an accident where one of the boys and a leader was injured. The tour permit was short a boy and a leader that would be on the tour. Once out of pocket expenses were submitted to the insurance company, it was brought to the District committee's attention that oops -- the unit's insurance was null because the boy in the accident was the boy left off the permit. While they couldn't actually tell that, the form wasn't filled out corr

We still require tour permits for district and council events, and we check them at registration time. Travel still isn't covered to an event without a tour permit. The rules are so vague, when in doubt -- fill it out.

Your council has the Cub Scout 2010 program elements already? We were told that they won't be in the office until June, after the national meeting. Oh, how I wish for consistency.

In my council, we teach Home Base being: anything away from your normal CO's provided meeting place. For us, that's the school where we hold pack meetings. Still, our council asks for den trips to have tour permits, as a way of maintaining a habit of filling one out. The tour permit also serves as a reminder of that activity for next year's planning conference. I would rather err on the side of caution for litigation purposes: protecting the leaders and the CO, and providing that guarantee of insurance to the families by filling it out.

The transition process to Scouting from Webelos is very important. AOL is only the first part of that, the second part is the troop teaching the boys the fun of Scouting, and introducing concepts with great skill and patience. Having a den leader move on to the Troop and serve as their new patrol parent or ASM helps immensely with boy retention. The familiar face, teaching the same things just in a new way goes a long way. Transition camp that first summer -- some councils call it "Tenderfoot to 1st Class" camp. I managed one of these for my local council and found it incredibly h

A CO has the right to give away a unit. If they choose to give it away, then it's a done-deal -- the unit can end up with any CO the leadership can find.

After listening to the language of the call-out speech for three years, and working with so many Arrowmen during Wood Badge, district events, and serving as a camp manager/program director, it was an amazing experience to personalize those words tonight at our district's camporee. We were blessed with an incredible beautiful location, with a flaming arrow being launched from 200 feet away into the campfire, and our chapter chief's first call-out. I was even more blessed when I was invited to follow (although I didn't have my flashlight on me and it was horribly dark, rocky and up

The DE is the secretary of your district. The volunteers are in charge, and the professionals advise us and help get things done. The DC and DComm are the nuts and bolts of the Key 3. It's important to remember that volunteers run the show! Get a copy of the bylaws and rules for Councils, and a copy of the job description cards for District Committee positions. This will show you how your district should go about filling a vacancy. If you're simply going to sit on the training committee and help provide training to leaders (and there are LOTS of exciting things happening with tra

Maybe I'm a hard case, but if the book says "Know" something -- I make sure they can recite it form memory at any time. To me, that means they know it. Just like the tracking merit badge, if they didn't learn it as a skill and can't show me a week later what a bear print looks like, I'd say they didn't really "know" it -- only crammed it.

Even if a unit chooses to find a new CO, the old has to sign off on the transfer. They can choose to keep the unit number (and the unit will be assigned a new one), and they can choose to let the assets leave or stay. But I do wonder if in this case the church knows they actually own the unit and its assets.

Eagle, I think the intent was there (making Scoutnet a national database), but I don't think it got all the way there. I've looked up volunteers with multiple councils and there have been no records. It's a shame, really! Now, as a volunteer again and a district training chair, I stress the importance of keeping training cards. Re-taking online training is one thing, re-taking Powderhorn would be a serious pain...

In my council, cub scout ranks aren't even entered into Scoutnet. They also don't input Awards of Merit or Silver Beavers. I don't think awards and training from other councils carries over with your file if you've moved, I don't recall. At last merit badges and BS ranks are recorded. Even if the stores had access, it be helpful in every case.

Any DE worth his salt will have COs lined up. Most COs want to sponsor scout units, but don't have direct access to kids, so that becomes a problem. Whatever gets worked out in the end, it's important that your CO is willing to work with the unit, get training for the COR, and fulfill their end of the deal. American Legion, Moose Lodges, Optimist Clubs, Rotary Clubs, and churches are the most popular COs in my district.

Uhm... Please read the Guide to Safe Scouting, and use the pull-out in the middle for age appropriate activities. It sounds like there needs to be a review of what your pack is doing and maybe some training to help make sure everyone is safe. More than any other boy we serve, a boy without a stable home life needs us the most. These boys are hungry for male attention and for praise. Acting out means something is going wrong at home, but it also means the boy needs a boost to get through it. Think Whitey from "Follow Me Boys."

I was in my local National Store this past week. There were Wood Badge beads, neckerchiefs, coins, and learner neckerchiefs out in the displays for anyone to pick up and grab to buy. I asked the clerk if I needed proof to purchase them, and she said "Sing me the song?" I was floored. There's a standard that's not being followed, and I'm flabbergasted to see it this way.

Our SPL makes the rounds, eats with a different patrol every night, every campout. So by the time his term is over, he's eaten with every patrol a few times. Needless to say, he harps on cooking techniques and the food gets better

When I need a replacement or knot for a new shirt, I usually wear or bring my uniform shirt with the knot already on it. One store employee did actually make me go 1.5 hours home to get my Award of Merit plaque to show I actually earned it. That didn't happen again after a call to the scout executive.

In my one hour a week as a unit commissioner, I not only report my unit online to the DC, but to the CoR as well. I give him a call about once a month, fill him in on issues, and invite him to the events I attend. It's not in the job description, but it certainly helps. The COR is now going to step in as CC to solve some issues the committee has had recently (That's a whole other thread!), and it's productive. According to the diagram for Cub Scouts, the CM does indeed report to the committee. That position is the program arm, with the committee acting as the administrative arm

We've made birdfeeders from birdseed, bread and peanut butter (The Wolf Book, I think?) Thematic Hikes (From the Baloo training materials)

The Bear song is my favorite: "The other day, I met a bear..."

Oh, if only we could have campfires!

I got some really cool University of Scouting/Rountable and Resident Camp handouts for the HMB program. Send me a personal message with your email and I'll pass them along.

Usually, the beads are not decorated, and the patrols are told up front they need to be returned in pristine condition. That's why I suggested some generic ideas.

I've heard rumors of a recording, but never actually heard it. Let us know if you find it! Have you tried the Los Angeles Area Council? The property dedicated to the Duke is under their pervue.