jimster

I have heard from a few sources that the Eagle required merit badge list will be changing in 2010. Not to spread rumor, I am wondering does anyone have a credible source that can confirm this? What are the changes, and what happes to a boy that is working on the 'old' list?

For us 'cobbler challenged' ... when you say "dump the cake mix on top" do you mean mix it up according to the directions and spoon on top, or just dump the dry mix on top of the fruit?

Is it possible - sure!

I admire you for thinking about re-joining. When I was your age I was a Life scout with only a few things to finish to get my Eagle. Now, I am 40 and I only have the same few things to finish ... Every Eagle COH I attend reminds me that I should have done what you are doing right now .. go back.

If you are about to First Class, you will need 4 months minimum to earn Star, 6 months minimum to earn Life, and an additional 6 months to earn Eagle. You need Positions of Responsibility (PORs) for the same amount of time for each rank.

Can it be done, sure it can. Can YOU do it, sure you can. You simply need the determination to do what is needed, and get started doing it. I would recommend you speak to your Scoutmaster of your intentions to finish, and make sure that he and the Troop can support you. If not, you might want to find a troop that can.

Good luck to you.

J

Because the hat is part of the uniform!

You wouldn't ask them to remove their neckerchiefs, or leave their pocket knives outside when entering the building - would you?

I think the main point here is that as long as it is the official uniform hat of the group it is considered part of the uniform and CAN be worn indoors as such.

The second point is, since it is permitted as part of the uniform, SHOULD it be worn indoors? That is a matter of custom of the group.

According to BSA it CAN be, question is - do you WANT to let your scouts do it?

A quick Google search produced ...

http://www.scouter.com/forums/postings.asp?action=ReplyForm&threadID=228163&forumID=3

According to the Insignia Guide (No. 33066E), "Official headgear may be worn while the unit or individual is participating in an indoor formal ceremony or service duty, except in religious institutions where custom forbids. Typical indoor activities of this type are flag ceremonies, inspections, orderly duty, or ushering service. In any informal indoor activity where no official ceremony is involved, the headgear is removed as when in street clothes."

The way I was 'taught'...

The scout Troop chooses what hat is their 'official' hat, this could be the standard BSA ball cap, a custom ball cap, or any other hat that the troop agrees on. In my day we had the red berets, campaign hats, and aviator style hats. Now they have the Stetson as well. In my Wood Badge class, the 'official' hat was a canvas Aussie style with the fold up sides and custom embroidery with the class number.

Anyway ...

IF they are wearing the 'official' troop hat, then it is considered part of the uniform and can be worn indoors and during flag ceremonies. Scout salute should be brought to the edge of the brim.

Any other 'scout style hat' is not considered part of the uniform and would be taken off in these circumstances.

Hope this helps ...

J

The Arrow of Light is the highest award a Cub Scout can earn, once they cross over - they are Boy Scouts.

I do not see how you can while following the program as designed.

"I used to be an Eagle, a good ol' Eagle too,

But now I've finished Eagling, I don't know what to do,

I'm growing old and feeble and I can Eagle no more,

So I'm going to work my ticket if I can

Back to GILWELL, happy land!

I'm going to work my ticket if I can"

Jimster

I used to be a Eagle ...

C-14-08

I am assisting with our troop's TLT and came across this link on National's site ...

http://www.scouting.org/BoyScouts/Resources/newTLT.aspx

Troop Leadership Training, No. 34306A, has been rolled out to replace the Scoutmaster Junior Leader Training Kit. It is organized into three one-hour modules, which can be taught individually or all in one session. The content of the first session focuses on what a new leader must know; the second session on what a leader must

be, and the third session on what a leader must do. Completing all three modules qualifies the Scout to wear the "Trained" patch under his badge of office. The new syllabus contains leadership position cards that define each position in the troop. Completion of TLT prepares the youth to attend National Youth Leadership Training.

When I tried to order from scoutstuff.org, it was not on the site - I called my Council, and was told it was backordered.

Is anyone familiar with this item?

I was able to find a .pdf online that looks like someone scanned a 35 page book, but is that all that comes in this training kit? What am I missing?

Any help is appreciated!

We're looking to upgrade our unit's website ... we used to publish it with FrontPage, but Microsoft has discontinued that product so we are looking for something new.

What process or software does your unit use?

Does anyone have an outline format that they use to plan their COH? I am looking for a 'fill in the blanks' type form that the boys can use similar to a Troop Meeting or Campfire planner.

In the recent past (last 1-2 years) the Troop was mainly adult led by a prior SM.

Now, the adult leadership is all on the same page that we want boy led, but our boys have not had prior boy leaders model the roles for them and do not have a clue what they should be doing.

Several have tried to teach the PLC, we've done TLT, and sne them to NYLT too ...

But we are stuck on how to get it out of the rut ... our troop meetings are either adult planned, or choas.

How do we get it to morph from what we've had to what we all want?

I can tell you from experience, don't send your uniform to the dry cleaners the day before the District Awards Dinner, because you will get your uniform back in one bag, and your patches in another!

Their website says to use Goof Off (not Goo Gone) and I have used that to some success as well.

I was wondering if anyone has found a better way.(This message has been edited by jimster)

So ....

How do YOU get it off the uniform?

from BW's post on recruiting ...

"Remember that a boy does not have to be registered in scouting to go on an activity with the troop or patrol. They need only be interested , eligible to join, and have their parents permission to attend."

I agree this is an excellent way to interest new boys in Scouting, but I have always wondered how the liability issues and insurance follow inviting a boy who is not registered on an outing.

Does anybody know for sure?

I was trying to 'hang back' and see how others do it before replying, but since I've been asked twice now .... it'd just be rude not to reply.

I have been an ASM with my son's troop for about a year now, and have seen only a handfull of COHs. The last one was planned entirely by the boys and was 'okay'. The ones I have attended before were put together by the adults, and were a little better. They have been your typical "and little Johnny earned this, and this, and this, and this, and this - now go sit down" type distribution of patches with very little ceremony.

The good news is we have a very good set of adult leaders that are always looking to make things better. Personally, I miss the ceremony that always accompanied the COHs I participated in as a boy.

I read a lot of posts here, and I see the vast amount of experience that is out there. I know there are troops operating at all sorts of levels, and I'd like to borrow from those who have found a good way to do it.

Currently our leadership has been trying to turn from a SM -run troop to a Boy-run troop by instilling the Patrol Method. I can say, "easier said than done". It's been a slow process. IMHO because the boys that are now being expected to lead haven't been boy lead and don't really understand what they are expected to do.

Now, we are handing or COHs over to the boys to plan and run. On one hand I think that it's good .... "Never to anything a boy can do" and on the other I think we need to model what a good COH can look like.

So ... I figured I'd ask the 'experts' .... "Who plans and runs the COH?"

How do you do it in your troop?