John-in-KC

That last part'll rile several sets of politically active folks with agendas

Faith is a family matter when you're very young, it becomes a personal matter as one ages and is able to accept responsibility for his actions. In reading through this thread, I hope Alabama Dan reads closely what Lisa and Beavah have to say. They offer an approach which is in spirit with the Scout Oath and Law, but at the end of the day requires Mom and Dad to make some tough choices. Those other folk? The one who say that anything form A to Zed is inside the lines? Pretty much so, and that's worth pointing out to parents. Let us know how this turns out. As Lisa and Beavah both stated, I hope you are a unit leader such that asking these kinds of questions is in your lane.

Eagle92, It downloaded for me just fine. Remember it's the 2007 printing they pdf'd, you do have to go to the update website to get the changes. That's one reason why I like the online version. You'll probably have to run it through the xerox machine to get it doublesided, unless you've got a really fancy printer.

I'm not participating. You took us for a ride on your last topic.

They've also created an official site on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Boy-Scouts-of-America/113441755297?ref=mf Several of us: Trevorum emb021 me are out on it. (This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Has anyone noticed how we've left Mr Milehigh back in the dust ?? I'd love for him to explain the differences between G2SS and NCS on the same toopics ... bwooooohahahhahaha....

Personally, When I was a committeeman or Chairman, I liked to ask the Scout coming in for Boards of Review to lead us in the Scout Oath and Law. I used it as a touchstone for all of us in the room, adults and young man alike. Depending on the age of the Scout, I like to ask questions about how he interprets various parts of the Oath and Law, Motto and Slogan ... working to the Character Aim of Scouting.

Much as we talk about a friendly cup of coffee with our fellow adults, three ways to quietly address language challenges are: - Make sure we model language usage that is not vulgar or "guttersnipe" (as Mom told me all those years ago) ourselves. - Have a quiet comment in a Scoutmaster minute about being "good people" and not using common street language. - Ditto in various SM conference opportunities. Don't teach, don't preach, and certainly don't dwell on it. Otherwise, the youth connect the dot: This is Mr X's button, and they'll push it every chance they have.

I'd be more concerned about being invited by a unit to help conduct a Uniform inspection, and making it fun, educational, and demonstrative to the Scouts and direct contact Scouters. To me, this is "trivial pursuit", otherwise known as "pole vaulting over mouse turds," or "does this pass the 'so what, who cares?' test?

You asked for a viable solution. You got one. Scout in peace.

H Roe Bartle Scout Reservation has 3 Camps and six 10 day Camp sessions. Each Camp beds 500 a night. During Sixth Session this year, we will close one of the camps, and two will stay open. It's a starting date of school in our area thing. The Reservation overall has use of 4200 acres of owned and Army Corps of Engineers land. Theodore Naish Scout Reservation, Central Camp, has 3 seven day Camp sessions (then does Webelos Camp for the Council). It beds 450 a night. Theodore Naish is 1200 acres of urban wilderness in Kansas City (the burbs have grown up around it!).(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Yes, in our Council, at our two Scout Reservations, here is our staff structure, in each Lodge: - Several INSTRUCTORS. These are Scouts under 18 years old. Lowest pay range. - Several COUNSELORS. These are transitional SCOUTERS, over 18 but less than 21. Middle pay range. Yes, a COUNSELOR signs off on MBs. - 1-2 ASSISTANT DIRECTORS. These may be transitional Scouters, or they may be over 21 Scouters. They've been to National Camp School. Nat'l Camp Standards determine how many ADs get hired. They get an upper pay range. - 1 DIRECTOR. This is an over-21 Scouter. He's been to National Camp School. He/she has the highest pay rate in the lodge. Thus, in each Lodge (aquatics, ecology, Scoutcraft...) we have multiple folks over 18 who are qualified to examine Scouts for their MBs. ADs and the Director assist Counselors in managing the testing phase of MBs for Scouts. You asked.

Chartering Standards of Leadership for a Boy Scout Troop: 1 - Executive Officer (non-fee) (AKA Institutional Head) (per Chartered Partner) 1 - Chartered Organization Representative (per Chartered Partner) 1 - Scoutmaster 1 - Committee Chairman 2 - Other Members of Committee To obtain Centennial Quality Unit status, a Troop needs at least one Assistant Scoutmaster ... and the leaders need to be trained.

Thanks for the backstory. Unfortunately, more than a few Councils (such as mine and Lisa's) dropped SFF as the signature project and just let units do Good Turns for America. Sigh.

And you were wrong to do that. It's the responsibility of over-18 members of the staff to do the examination and make the call that a Scout has earned the merit badge.

I absolutely agree with Beavah. Give him his AOL on the near side of the bridge, and then he sits down. Period. The bridge is a symbol of his crossing to the next program. Scouting has already lost that boy and his parents, so it doesn't matter that they're not happy about it.

I agree with Eamonn. That policy is Swiss Cheese. I can drive a Mack Truck through its holes. Have the youth members write it. If you write it, even if they vote on it, it's your rule and not their self-chosen custom.

I've got no problem with it. After all, the funds come from you or your unit Treasurer The object is to promote folks finding out about faith, and kids earning their religious emblems.

I would hope he's CC in one unit, and UC in the district. I agree that UC's should no longer hold unit serving positions, and especially direct contact positions, but where in the US is that any sort of reality???

Get him the "Duty to God" patch from PRAY, if he's helping in any way with the kids and their Faith. If you have him concentrating on other areas, and God and Me is outside his lane, get him some other recognition item at the end of the program year.

I expect you're having the YOUTH MEMBERS vote on that?? Frankly, if you're the Advisor, I think you'd be better served having a quiet talk with your officers and seeing what they think, rather than trying to ramrod a policy down their throats. They're approaching adulthood. Give them the latitude to define their own enviroment.

I know a Crew. It's core members are the core of a camp staff. Their cell phones are active throughout the program day when they're out at camp. Their communications to the PD and the Camp Director are far more efficient. They also keep the radio circuits free for Ranger staff and emergencies.

I was aquatics commissioner at our Scout Reservation a couple years back, during session. One of the reasons I was there was at the time, my BSA LG was current. Another reason was both the Dir and AD needed to do college business and teaching employment business, so they used their annual vacation back-to-back. The youth staff had me grading the tests, and when the staff was doing event tests in the water, I was wherever I could best see the youth perform. The Dir and AD, whichever was available, were doing similar things with other portions of the class. One man's experience.

Eagle92, That is outside ACP*P #33088. There's a specific section on MB counseling in the LT camping program. If I can get to mine tonight, I'll post more specifics.

Oz, What are rules on adult partcipation down in Australia? I have seen units come back, but it's usually a dearth of boys, not a lack of adults. It's a showing that parents aren't willing to be responsible anymore. I wonder when such an event will happen here in America?