John-in-KC

I'm with Beavah. Be Prepared. You know what right looks like, we'll be your sounding board. Get your COR in the loop. Yesterday. Make sure your CC has your back. Have a friendly cup of coffee with your UC. If the parents decide to make fallout, you want him and your DE also watching your back. Keep talking with us

There is no hard and fast "set" leadership structure for a Troop, beyond the Patrol Leader. Every other POR is the result of a specific need of the Troop If the Troop is big enough, yes, 2 or 3 ASPLs can be appointed. If the Troop Trailer demands sufficient attention, 2 or 3 Quartermasters can be appointed. If the Troop is big enough that 1 Scribe would be busy handling money and another is busy helping the Advancement Coordinator, do that. I've seen units which, short of the Eagle Required (for Eagle) PORs, use Webmaster now, and there are several unofficial POR patches. The SM should encourage the SPL to look at the needs of the unit and the burdens of the positions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` Now, one place where either I disagree with the Northern furry creature with long teeth, or I'm not sure the point is on the table: The Scoutmaster, in his role as The Program Guy in the Troop, has to keep an eye on all his charges. There may be a Scout who is hung up on the trail because he cannot get over shyness to ask for a POR, There may also be Scouts are playing peer headgames with one Scout, so the one is not getting POR time he may be ready for, In those cases the SM needs a quiet, but perhaps forcefully blunt word with the SPL.

Aquila, For what you described, much depends on how much flex the District and Council Advancement Committee believe they have. I think most Councils are going to think they do not have much...

jet, You were right. I was thinking of the tenures on the front side. That said, I'm doing the happy dance. National FINALLY has the eagle app so it can be saved and edited. ALLELUIA!

wingnut, That would help in getting the Scout to Life, but the Eagle app itself calls for PORs held at each rank. I've not encountered a situation where the Eagle Scout Service rejects an app for this kind of error ... even if the EBOR bought in. I have to wonder when the last time was the SM and the District Advancement Chair had a friendly cup of coffee about kids reaching for Eagle... Anyone been here before?

First and foremost, all your actions in the coming days have to have a single clear message: Racial insults are simply not acceptable, they will not be tolerated, and the consequences increase with each incident. You're doing the first right thing: Gather the information. Learn the facts of the matter. I think a quiet word at this point, in gathering information, is in-bounds for both the SPL and the other: "Joseph called me and said he suddenly felt unwelcome within the Troop. What do you think could have caused that?" If the SPL ponies up and goes contrite on the spot, then you've got one path to resolution-- friendly, courteous and kind. OTOH, If the SPL goes to the other extreme, and says something out of bounds, well, loyal and obedient will be themes later. I'd expect, though, the answer will be somewhere in the middle. Once you've decided how big the issue really is, you can craft your response. - At one end, several Scoutmaster minutes on bias and prejuidice may get thoughts in motion. SM Minutes probably should be part of all solutions, btw. - In the middle would be Scoutmaster confereneces, only involving the youth who "did it." - Going more extreme, asking to visit with the Scout and the parent, and lay it on the line. - If the incident was beyond the pale, contact the CC, strip the POR, and have the CC call a Board of Review. Somehow, I think your heart knows most of this, and you're seeking confirmation. Let us know how it unfolds.

wingnut, I think you're right. A vision is the real first step. From what I see in Proud Eagle's post, though, commitment to a vision on the part of adult leaders is a huge challenge. People who would are caught up in earning money for their own families, and serving the community is a back-burner. Without some buy-in, it really is time to go the Chartered Partner and ask the question BW laid on the table.

July to October for Conference to BOR? Who overwatches these young people and gives them gentle nudges? SM selecting APL? Patrol leadership is elected in nature? Scout who doesn't know he needs something more than APL to move forward in Scouting? SM who doesn't know the needs of his charges? Yes, Ed and The long-toothed furry critter have the right of it. This young man will age out as a Life Scout. It's time to see if he can be re-engaged as an adult in Scouting. One of the things our district does each year is we retrain Scoutmasters, Advancement Coordinators, and any Scouts who are interested in the trail itself in Life--->Eagle 101. It's structured, but it's not a BSA curriculum I know of...

Selecting quality leadershp is one of the functions of the Chartered Partner. That's but one of the reasons why a COR who pulls his end of the load is so important. It's also why keeping the IH involved, which is a professional service as well as a commissioner job, is important. One of the things I've learned along the way... Scouting optimizes itself as a program when all the players do their parts For the moment, getting the DC/ADC involved is part of the process. One of their jobs is to be extensions of the DE, to help keep units from closing. DEs have goals these days, and the goals are usually focused on growth. Losing a unit only digs them deeper into a hole. Remember: You are an ASM, not the CC, not the SM, not the COR. You need to have their blessing on this project. They need to understand your economic circumstances are such you cannot take on the SM responsibility just now (CC mebbe?)... If players in the process see you a usurper or a harpy, who will not step up to the plate, you may hit a lose/lose ... the unit goes away, your credibility as a volunteer damaged. Between the Commissioners and the COR, the focus of bite 1 needs to be getting leaders who are relatively free of distractions. SM first, since the interim has said he's done. CC second. One bite at a time...

Lots of triage issues here. Let me ask: Who's your Unit Commissioner? Does your DC do that for you, or does your Professional also provide Commissioner coverage? There should have been warning to the DE before now. The first and greatest long pole in the tent is the adult responsible leaders: SM, CC, COR. That's a showstopper, and if adults are not willing to sacrifice to serve, there's no way to create a culture of servant leadership for the youth to model around. COR is needed to inter-relate with the Chartered Partner. CC needed to run the Committee and provide support to the Program. SM needed to run the program. Second, the adults have stopped empowering the boys. Third, adults have stopped training, so folks do not know "what right looks like." Fourth, the youth are not being encouraged (perhaps with some well chosen arm twisting) to serve that Cub Pack. Bite 1 of this elephant is adult leadership. Bite 2 is training. It's time re-look how you serve this Troop, Sir...

urloony, Not enough information, and it is confused. Please re-state the facts slowly and precisely. We're all over the map, mostly negative, because we see 1) a POR mismatch for the young man for advancement and 2) a tenure mismatch. As to your question on APL, that's a friend and a helper, and a cover when the primary is absent. Other elected and Warrant Offices (or PORs) have specific duties. APL not being on the Eagle list of offices is a tradition, certainly it was true 40 years ago when I was a young Scout! As we say on the range, breathe, relax, aim and squeeze. Commence giving us a solid background, please! JKC

Have you operated in an urgent situation where volunteers are manning the dikes (literally)? The Mississippi/Missouri River system flood of 1993 was a bad time. We sandbagged not to stop the water, but to hold it back while business owners evacauated low ground. I know people who were sprained or got cuts in the river water. Trust me, clean is the antithesis of that water that year. Being able to apply appropriate first aid kept them working. First Aid is an essential skillset for operating in any urgent situation. Period.

Comments: 1) For a reason described earlier, it's a good thing on the Units' part to foster and keep a good working relationship with Chartered Partners. Coordinate with them about property insurance for the trailer and the contents. 2) Want to be sure your troop trailer isn't going anywhere without your permission: Consider something akin to the London Boot or the Denver Boot. The harder you make your trailer a "hitch and go, the more likely thieves will be to seek another trailer. 3) Markings are good but not infallible, deep etchings of identification data on trailer doors, side panels and hard parts increase your trailers chances' of being found. 4) Have your Troop Historian do a field day with the camera: Photograph every piece of property you have. Helps with insurance, also helps generate a full inventory of unit property. The harder the target, the faster thieves will decide to seek another target.

Yeah, Lisa and Beavah, you guys are right. I let courtesy fly out the window. That said, I think this is a Troop ready for boy-poaching.

Our Council Scout Camps both require a daily Class B of: - BSA socks - BSA shorts Both of these are to the primary registration of the young man or woman. There is some flex for Venturing, Cabela's gray shorts and wool socks are permitted in lieu of BSA items. Scouting belt (leather, nylon (Philmont or camp related), or BSA web). Camp staff T-shirt. Hats as desired. For Class A wear, the staff wear the program shirt of their primary registration. It must be clean and fit properly. I've seen the Reservation Director send a PD to the Council Scout Shop to buy a new shirt. Epaulet tabs are custom made to the camp, from the same sort of grosgrain ribbon used for the standard BSA ribbons.

A sharply pointed question from you to their Committee Chair at Roundtable is in order. This is not time for a friendly cup of coffee. As for the boy, have your SPL invite him to your Troop... yesterday!

Everything looks good so far. 1) Look at each kids sleeping bag. A 50F polyfill won't cut it at 32/20/0F. 2) Insulate between the ground and the bottom of the sleeping bag. Remember, before you arrived, the ground underneath was not much warmer than ambient temp. 3) Menu planning emphasizes HOT FOOD. Stews and soups, hi carbs, higher than normal fats. Cocoa. 4) Keep an eye on the activities during the day. Have them bring more than the usual number of changes of clothes. Strike the dark, damp clothes quickly become very cold damp clothes. 4) Up the calories in the menu. They will burn through them. 5) Keep a warming fire going. Adults take turns tending it through the night. 6) Once again... cotton is rotten.

Sorry. One of your posts along the way (months ago) implied you had access to a large bore piece.

I like what the furry long-toothed critter said. ASM 915: You said: I would just hate to see a scout miss out on a trip to DC, Philmont, NOAC, etc, because of a stipulation, especially when there is no threat, or because of a vindictive spouse. You cannot let your emotions enter into the issues of Billy, Mommy X, and Daddy Y. You have to be dispassionate, and tell Mommy and Daddy: "This is an opportunity for Billy. You two make the decision. It's your divorce, and your parenting plan." I know we talk here, a lot, about empowering the youth. This is one time you don't empower Billy. That sticks him in the middle. My state has a mandatory parenting class during the litigation period. One absolute rule: Adults talk to adults about the child. Do not stick the child in the middle, do not use the child as a communications method. Do not get involved in a civil war.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

No, no, no, a thousand times, NO. Do the chili suppers, work concert clean-up. Do what you need to do to raise the funds, but don't advertize. Make sure your chartered partner, if a non-profit, is willing to underwrite any substantial donations with a receipt and a proper "thank you." My thoughts.

Been there. I'm a divorced Dad. Whichever parent is the one bringing Billy to Scouts, have a quiet cup of coffee with him/her. Politely tell Mom or Dad it's their responsibility to comply with their parenting plan. Notifications, permission, or dispute resolution ... that's their problem, not yours, and certainly not Billy's. You do, IMO, have a support courtesy to Mom or Dad, though: Accurate gathering times, accurate contact information, accurate return times. It might even get to the level of detail of accurate routes. She got that clause into our parenting plan for EagleSon. Of course, if your unit is doing local and National Tour Permits as a true planning process, and not as a pro forma check-a-block, this information is available to you Think of it this way: If you can help Billy make the trip by furnishing Mom/Dad feeder information, you're helping him have chances to live the Oath and Law.

1) The youth themselves have to make the buy-in, both in creating the time horizons and the penalties. If you do it, they won't buy in. 2) It's worth asking, through the PLC, to see WHEN families can get Scouts to meetings. 645 may be a bridge too far. 3) What feedback do you get from your Committee? They can be a sounding board...

I graduated from UC Santa Barbara in June 1978. I drove from Los Angeles to Barstow about Sept 21, 1978, enroute Fort Sill to report to active duty with the Army. The last time I was really back was in 1993. San Diego Freeway was so bloody crowded (I had driven it in my 1964 Ford Econoline conversion van back in the 70s) I didn't want to return. California ain't what it used to be.

Day after day, more people come to L.A. Ssh! Don't you tell anybody the whole place is slipping away. Where can we go when there's no San Francisco? Ssh! Better get ready to tie up the boat in Idaho. Do you know the swim? You better learn quick, Jim. Those who don't know how to swim, better sing the hymn. Tuna at the bowl. Fine fillet o' much soul. Whoo! Whoo! What can we do with a bushel of wet gold?

Have you had a talk with your COR yet about what the Chartered Partner wants to see covered? Have you had a talk with your UC over same? Many unit bylaws cover stuff already in BSA program materials. If you must have bylaws, they should be stuff unique to matters in your State and other legal jurisdictions.