AntelopeDud

The Montrail Torre is an excellent shoe. It doesn't fit every foot, but if it feels good int he store, it should work for you. The break-in period is almost nothing.

I have just been given the biggest honor in my Scouting career. I've been selected to be the Scoutmaster of one of our Council's National Jamboree Contingent Troops. Woo Hoo! For those of you who have been a contingent leader before, how did you determine who your senior leaders (SPL, ASPL, QM Scribe) were?

My Troop had a 15-year-old Scout tragically die this year. That and the impending Funeral was one of the toughest things I've ever had to do. The Scout was not in uniform, but he was presented in his casket holding onto his Scout handbook. The Troop was in full Class A, the youth did an opening flag ceremony and worked as ushers. We all sat together and several uniformed leaders were the pall bearers. This is an extremely brave thing for the young Scouts in a unit to attend, let alone participate in. We found that for many of them, this was the first funeral they've ever been

Our council has a program called "Climbing Tower Instructor" which is put on in conjuction with Climb On Safely. Together, it's a two-day course. The Climb-On Safely part is just, as mentioned here, a management course. The Tower Instructor course took alot of the technical aspects of the "Topping Out" book and put them into application. We had the class at the tower of our local Scout Camp, and received good hands on training. We were then encouraged to staff the tower with the accredited folks during a local Scout event. It was great experience. After so many hours, I felt very confid

I'm not sure I've ever heard of a "No Competence Board". Is this for an SPL not doing his job, or a member of the committee / Scoutmaster? -AD(This message has been edited by AntelopeDud)

I feel self-conscious at times when I walk into a public place in my uniform, but I'm really not sure why. I have never had someone say anything negative to me, or, for that matter, even snicker. What I have had (just about every time I put it on and am seen with the kids) are people walking up to me thanking me for what I am doing and the time that I am spending with youth. They don't even know me from Adam, yet they want to thank me. If they've been in Scouting before, I generally get a good 5 minute of "the good ol' days" from when they were Scouts. Adults that wear the uniform a

No, you are right. The B.S.A. has been trying to profit on gear over the past several years. Curiously enough, they went to the "switchback" scout pants which can be used as shorts or pants, and they are cheaper than the traditional pants and shorts.

I was recently told by my DE that a MBC was a "district" position and required separate application and registration from the unit. I thought that was curious, but I didn't pursue.

Unit Commissioner? What's that ...... I don't know if ours is overworked, but he's definitely MIA. -AD

Please visit our little home in cyberspace ..... http://www.troop168.net -AD(This message has been edited by AntelopeDud)

Hmmm, looks like I'll be waiting a long time.

SSScout Whoa! THAT'S cool! I may have to implement R&D (Rip off and duplicate). What a Great idea! -AD

Hale Scout Reservation Kiamichi Mountains, Southeast Oklahoma. Beautiful lake front and view of the Kiamichi Mtns. Great Staff. Indoor Air-conditioned Dining hall with indoor climbing wall. Private enclosed individual Restrooms and showers throughout the camp. High speed internet. Swimming Pool. Great place for an adult to go and enjoy Summer Camp. I was very impressed, so were our boys. Our troop has a history of going to a different Summer Camp property every year, but this is our fourth year. -AD

Who needs "Reverse" Woodbadge order. Save the best for last, I always say ... -AD ..... and a good ol' Antelope too.

Eamonn, I think that the way you handled these issues is just right. The most important thing here is that you have a very real bond and relationship with the youth that you serve. I think that every one of us can relate how you really can love these kids - because we all do. By talking to the kid who got drunk, letting him know you care and telling him what you were going to do about it shows to them that there is someone that really does care about them. So many kids have problems in their lives that just get blown up out of proportion in their own little worlds, that it can cause t

Thanks everyone for you ideas. That gives the boys a good list of things to choose from. I just hope I can find this festival where uniformed adults get free food . -AD

Greeting Scouters, Our troop is taking a high-adventure trek to the Pecos Wilderness in the Sangre-de-Cristo Mountains this summer. We are staying a day in Santa Fe to do some sight seeing and get acclimated to some higher elevations before we take off on our trek. Does anybody have some good ideas as to some things we can take our boys to see while we are there? -AD(This message has been edited by AntelopeDud)

Geez Beavah, and just who do you think you are dictating morality - telling us how to act and how not to act. Just Kidding Beavah ... I have to agree with Beavah. This is a great place to agree to disagree and have discussions with different points of view. But being polite is being polite. Sometime, I cringe to think what our kids would say if they read some of these posts, which I know some of them do. It such a great place to bounce ideas, but I have seen personal attacks that aren't fair and cause me to take a hiatus from the forum from time to time. -AD

Thanks to all of you. As SR540Beav eluded to, there was a tremendous Scout presence at the service and they would have made all of you proud. They all stepped up and approached us saying "What can we do" and "I want to be involved". They were all very loyal, brave and reverent. This has opened up so many thoughts in my head (and I know SR540Beav's as well) about the importance of our involvment with these kids. Onve I get my head on straight again, I have some interesting thoughts for topics. Again, thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers. It really did help to know that

I'm afraid we are one of those troops that takes everything but the kitchen sink. Our boys learn how to use and respect all of the equipment that each patrol is assigned. We've had alot of our equipment for year, for example, we are still using Eureka Timberline tents that were put into service in 1981. We do have activities that will require the boys to take only what's needed, but for the most part, our monthly campouts are not about packing light. Most of our new Scouts have absolutely no camping gear, so they like the fact that all they need to concern themselves with is a halfway

65 Scouts (5 patrols including a very big NB patrol) SM (WB trained) 5 ASM-New Scouts (3 have WB Training - led by the infamous SR540Beav - this is why we are so successful with the new boys) 12 - 15 ASM (Almost all trained for position - 4 or 5 with WB Training) Approximately 18 active committee members (Some also serve as ASMs) A bunch of great parents that will do almost anything asked. Works very well. Obviously, the bigger you are, the more the Scoutmaster has to rely on the ASMs and the CC has to rely on Committee members. -AD

When parents are looking at what Troop to send their son's to, they are also looking to the leaders of the Troops to find out what Boy Scouts is all about. If they did not choose the first Troop because they "let the boys fail", then you probably could have done a better job explaining the benefits, aims and methods of Boy Scouts. Obviously, your Scout Troop does exactly what it is supposed to do. I think OneHour hit the nail right on the head. Once you explain how Boy Scouts is supposed to work, they will see how well your Troop does it. Just assume that all Troops follow the same pr

Thanks so much to all of you. Your prayers are heard and are helping this young man's family cope with this. I wish I had better news but unfortunately things aren't getting any better and this will not end as we would like for it to. He is a normal 15 YO with issues no different than our own son's. Due to his youth and bad outside influences, he felt that he had no other outlet but to end his life. The tragedy is that none of the issues he was having were really that significant to an reasonable adult, but everything to an emotional young man in love and confused about life. P

Donert, Troopledger is a pretty nice - albeit slightly cumbersome - tool to help with budgeting and Troop accounting. If you track what you spend well (propane, charcoal, awards, patches, etc.,) you should be able to come up with a per Scout or per campout average to help with budgeting. We allow Scout accounts to be used for things like summer camp, high adventure, registration and other troop related expenses a boy might handle. I'm not an accountant, but you have to be careful what you do with a youth's Scout account when he leaves the Troop. My understanding is that if you j

Let's get to the real reason for Med. Holidays: 1) 3 months in the summer giving the pocketbook a vacation. The med's are expensive you know. 2) Weekends and days off school - Let's stretch the supply we have as long as we can. Again, pocketbook relief. 3) A fast buck on the street, $10 -$20 a pill. Nice side income. Sorry to take a negative view, but some parents really do do the above. Wow, if ignorance is bliss, ASM915 must be one happy Scouter.