Jump to content

John-in-KC

Moderators
  • Content Count

    7457
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    6

Everything posted by John-in-KC

  1. Here is my read: A 6 mile day hike, that does not involve setting a base camp, does not qualify. Look at the literal language: On any of these camping experiences, you must do TWO of the following, only with proper preparation and under qualified supervision: Backpack for at least four miles. To me, "neither adding to nor taking from" for this requirement means: a. Camp is already set when the hike begins. The hiker is under a shouldered burden vice a belted burden. b. Camp will be set at the end of the hike, using the gear the Scout is carrying on his back
  2. Like everyone else, WELCOME!!! No one here seems to have mentioned actual training classes. The two easiest pieces of training to accomplish are Youth Protection and Cub Scouting Fast Start. They are online. Both of these should be findable at your local Council website. Enjoy the journey!!! John
  3. Shows the aims and methods at work... The youth appear to lack adequate adult supervision (2 deep rule, supportive leaders). Have the youth jelled into formal or informal groups (patrol method)? If they have jelled, their activity path seems to be not focused on constructive approaches. For the older youth, I would indeed recommend a Crew. For the younger youth, consider BSA and GSUSA units.
  4. Hmmm, interesting. My Council has a BSA Supply Division Scout Shop. Try to find a non-BSA catalog item in it ... I dare you. It sells the mini-sashes, and when I last saw them break a new supply out, it came from a Supply Division box. I'm too old to change. The Universal Arrow for me, thanks. John
  5. I am told by the youth officers of my Lodge that National Committee on OA removed the "looping sashes on the belt loop" sometime between 1977 and 2000. Of course, they also came up with the mini-sashes where we all used to have our Universal Arrows.... Oh, well. It's the current crop of young men who get to run the Order; the rest of us support them
  6. Following up on ehcalum, BSA Lifeguard has a shelf life of three years.
  7. I also agree on the importance of OA. As young men mature, their interests start diverging. OA, Council contingent crews to Philmont/SeaBase, Brownsea, camp staff, all provide outlets for the growing young man. The Scoutmaster who thinks parochially of his Troop, and not of the needs of EACH of his growing young men, qualifies for the One-Dee-Ten-Tee award imo. (This message has been edited by John-in-KC)
  8. Eric, Since I'm an adult, I don't have a vote anymore. I gave that up in 1977. I do what the youth want. First and foremost, if the National Committee sets a policy, Lodges have somewhat limited discretion in implementing it. If the basis of a new policy is implementing an element of the G2SS, then the discretion drops to *NONE WHATSOEVER*. As far as the supporting documents behind the Nemat procedure (vice the brotherhood interview), you know who to contact in your Lodge and Council. I will simply say this: Tamegonit (ex 147), Heart of America Council, implemented the
  9. Pretty much everything said here is darn good advice. I just had my longest BOR in my tenure as a Scouter: 45 minutes. We took the young man to Life. Lots of open ended questions, lots of working to instill insights on how a good leader sets the example ... especially when he's following a leader. If a BOR isn't going well, the CC/Advancement coordinator should know in the first 5-10 minutes (heck, the first ***3***). If a young man needs an adjournment for whatever the reason, please, DON'T take him A-Z and say "too bad, so sad." You've just created a retention problem fo
  10. Trevorum, One of the advantages of going to Commissioner's college. Our Council's director of accounting and insurance gives the liability and tour permits class: RULE ONE: The tour permit is a planning process. USE THE PROCESS EVERY TIME your unit plans an activity. RULE TWO: LOCAL (Council) Tour permits are required: - Outside your own District. - ALL Overnight activities. - ANY aquatics activities. - ANYTIME the host facility (example a military base) requires a tour permit. RULE THREE: The boundary between a LOCAL tour permit and a NATIONAL tour permit is 5
  11. My unit chartered partner is local VFW post. IIRC, both the Legion and the VFW have tasked their local posts with a NATIONAL MISSION: Ensure no BSA unit goes out for want of a chartered partner.
  12. To specifically answer your question, ask your Lodge C-team chief, Lodge Advisor, or professional Staff Advisor... My Lodge moved away from the Brotherhood interview to the group Nemat trail ... 3 seasons ago. We've had several different forms of the questions for the stops on the trail. I'm not sure there is a standard format yet. We review, in a group format, the same basic knowledge found in the old Brotherhood questionaire. Hope that helps...
  13. My primary position is committee chair for my Troop. I am a committeeman on my son's Crew. I am the physical arrangements guy on the District Roundtable staff; I wear a Boy Scout RTS patch for that. We won't talk about the other "one hours a week" jobs that don't have registrations associated with them. Part of this depends on where an adult places Scouting in the scheme of his/her life. There are folks out there in VFW, Legion, Rotary, Kiwanis, Masonic, Knights of Columbus land ... all of whom have dedicated their MAJOR COMMUNITY SERVICE time outside the family and chur
  14. Trevorum, Not a bad idea... Strike uniform from the list for Venturing Crews, though. Uniform is *NOT* a method for them
  15. Well, to me... Bold print in G2SS are rules. Those are things that directly affect physical safety of youth. Youth protection policies (which are in G2SS) are rules. They provide a framework to protect the youth for inappropriate activity, both adult/youth and youth/youth. The Advancement program has several rules, the first one being the requirements for Eagle and the waiver procedures. The Oath, Law, motto and slogan are good rules for all of us, youth and adult alike. Tonight I give Scouter of the Month at RT to a dear friend. This friend epitomizes Trustworthy,
  16. Welllll, if you're Mother Army .... It takes a lot of design attempts, with a host of testing at the lab (Natick Labs in MA), before an article of the uniform even goes out to field units for testing. Field units around the world (weather appropriate) test the uniform, at not cost to the troops. Wear tests can run for up to a year. There is a board of officers and senior NCOs (Generals and Sergeants Major) who vote a recommendation to the Chief of Staff of the Army. When the Chief signs off, then the time clock starts for wearing out the existing article and replacing it w
  17. LPC_Thumper ... Not just AOL and heroism awards... He can also carry forward (for lifetime) his religious award knot and any Fellowship knots (James E West etc) donated in his name. (Not that very many 11 year olds have the West knot)...
  18. Sitrep, Let's chat a bit. Like you, I'm an adult. I'm an Arrowman from my youth. Selection was way back in 1970. As an adult, as an ASM, you CAN have access to the ceremonial materials of the Order of the Arrow. Call you Council Office, ask to speak to the Staff Advisor for OA. It's often (not always) the professional who is in charge of your council camp. In smaller Councils, you may be asking to visit with the Scout Executive. The Order IS an honor camping society. It's an extension of the program. It promotes brotherhood, cheerfulness and service (rememb
  19. Hunt, Problem is, I've seen a couple of Eagle District Guests in action... They've just said "This board is adjourned," handed me back the app, and walked out. I cannot think of too many worse ways to humiliate a young man. So... I want to get to the deeper matters of the Oath, Law, ad infinitum "Why is Loyalty important?" "How can Loyalty and Obedience conflict with Trustworthiness?" "How does Reverence work together with Helpfulness?" It's sorta hard to do that when he doesn't know the material. I cannot stop the advancement. Not the BOR's job. I can work wi
  20. What an appropriate time for this thread... Last night, had a BOR for Life. The young man had his MBs done, had his service time done, had his leadership time done. Divided up the labor as CC: One member would ask about MBs earned and planned, along with the deeper parts of the Scout motto and slogan. Another was going to take his service and the Scout Oath. I took his leadership and the Scout Law. We didn't get very far before asking him if "Being Prepared" including being prepared for his BOR. It's hard to ask about how the Scout Oath and Law play out in his daily life
  21. Hunt, Good topic. It's also a problem in our District. We have a Merit Badge Corner at Roundtable. Normally usaually generally most of the time we do non-Eagle badges. In May, because of the changes to Cit in Nation, we did it instead. Got a lot of interest when we said new requirements as of 1 January this year. We're trying to get the Advancement Operating Committee of the Distict Committee to get a flyer out to SMs and CCs. Council registrar staff in my council sends out the renewal forms. All they're making sure of is that you're registered in Scouting and that you
  22. Gentlemen... You've made a good and proper decision IMO. History is worth keeping. Thank you for your feedback. In Friendship, Warmth, and Cheeful Service (yes, I'm also Mic-O-Say )
  23. Simple. PLC bought into the policy. It's a matter of training time for the youth to be effective. A particular example is our Financial Scribe, who actually handles MONEY under the close supervision of the Treasurer. CP Exec Off came to PLC and said "These are the desires of the Chartered Partner. We expect your concurrence or reasoned objections in one month." The youth agreed with all but one position. The CP compromised there. So ... 6 month election cycle, one year warrant cycle. What's that people keep saying: The Chartered Partner OWNS the unit??? Hmmmm???
  24. Youth run elections for PLC positions semi-annually. Appointed warrants run up to 1 year, with minimum commitment of six months. We buy patches from the Scout Shop at the end of youth tenure. A local business embroiders the patch with Troop and dates of tenure; the youth gets that for his patch jacket/blanket going forward.
×
×
  • Create New...