John-in-KC

trev, OK. I cannot help if parents cannot/will not read. Neither can you. Simply get a broken record of "Please have your Scout contact me directly." John

Ancient Druid, Welcome to the Forums. The true source document, the one your District Advancement Chair uses, is "Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures #33088" There should be a 2008 printing available. The language below is from a BSA national website, and very closely parallels what is in ACP&P. If there are differences, the printed version governs: http://www.scouting.org/BoyScouts/GuideforMeritBadgeCounselors/RankAdvanceFAQ.aspx "Question: For the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks, how is "Be active in your troop and patrol" defined? Answer: A Scout is considered to be active in his unit if: 1. He is registered in his unit (registration fees are current). 2. He has not been dismissed from his unit for disciplinary reasons. 3. He is engaged by his unit leadership on a regular basis (Scoutmaster conference, informs the Scout of upcoming unit activities, through personal contact, and so on). The unit leaders are responsible for maintaining contact with the Scout on a regular basis. The Scout is not required to attend any certain percentage of activities or outings. However, unit leaders must ensure that he is fulfilling the obligations of his assigned leadership position. If he is not, then they should remove the Scout from that position." (Italics denote the quote) As you can see, your Troop does not get to set internal standards. Did I answer your question?(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

My CD held the -30 day meeting and the +90 day meeting. I took it in 2005. I had to miss the -30 meeting, I was out of the US on business. I made the +90 meeting. His reasons for having it? - Opportunity for friendship and fellowship. - Opportunity for a sanity check with people on multiple levels, from course eval to people skills. Sometimes what was fixed wasn't broken and didn't need fixing. I used to be an Owl...

Welcome to the forums. When in doubt, ask to be shown the policy in writing. That tends to take wind out of sails.

Trev, I think Lisa has a point. If the contact message went out to Scouts, I'd certainly expect Scouts to respond. If the message went out to parents, well, it's our job to educate them to have the youth contact us!

To answer got2surf's questions: 1 Since you have the MB award card, we're talking completed badges. 2 Ask your SM/Advancement Person in your troop, on their next run to the Scout Shop to pick up replacements. MBs cost less than $4 apiece. 3 No, they're not available online by BSA Supply Corporation. They are controlled items.

This is the song that never ends...

No doc, I simply asked that you cite your source. I see the transitional words in Scouting Magazine now. It's going to be interesting when I see the uniform guide next spring to see what it says. BTW Who is Tico Perez? Lisa: Agreed. Money wasted is a bad thing. That's being pragmatic, particularly if you bought them from National Supply. They should have discouraged a large order at the time. (This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

No, but I'd start by asking his Lodge Chief, Adviser, and Staff Adviser. Now, if that was the technical name that would be used in ScoutNet, vice the local name of the lodge, that's administrative in nature. As long as the current voting youth members understood administration need not equal operating practice, I could live with that. If it was not a technical change, that'd be a good way for me to leave the Order behind. Strip out years of tradition. Some things are worth leaving well enough alone.

So why give the 3d and 4th beads if you're not training adults? emb, I know you're the messenger. You're reporting. I object to the message. That's my problem.

There is a tradition to how we fold the Color. It's just that, a tradition. 99% of the time, do a partner and I fold the tricorn? Yes. There is nothing out there that says you cannot roll the Color up and case it. In fact, that's what Armed Forces Color Guards do all the time when they are moving Colors around before a ceremony, review, or parade. More than once, I've taken a sopping wet from a storm flag down, hung it over a indoor clothesline to dry. Lacking someone to help me keep a tight fold on a tricorner, the next day I folded the flag square. No one has asked for my passport, ID card, or decided to give me an Article 15 yet.

docwrm, Please cite the BSA pub from which you make your claim that the Centennial uniform is transitional in nature and that you can use old insignia on it or mix/match current parts and previous parts with it. I've not heard that one. BTW, SFAICT this uniform is not transitional. This is the next generation of Scout uniform. It's just that all the literature has not caught up with Supply Corporations' distribution channels yet.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

It's still wrong.

Anyone who can destroy a Flag with dignity and respect can conduct a flag retirement. Just don't throw it on the BBQ fire as you're starting the weekly family steak grilling. Personally, I like the 2 fire method. One for the Body of stripes, 1 for the field of stars. Cut them one from the other, so you're destroying 2 pieces of cloth, not a flag. Nothing official, just a personal preference.

Got it. You're right. Come to think of it, there's another uniform blouse it looks like: RAF. Think about it.

It looks like a cross between: Naval Aviator working grays from the early 1940s (especially the coat). Army Cavalry jodphurs from the 1930s.

I used to be a OWL and a Good 'ol OWL too... (HOOT HOOT) And now I've finished OWLing and I don't know what to do... I'm growing old and feeble and I can OWL NO MORE... So I am going to work my ticket if I can... Back to Gilwell, Happy Land... I'm going to work my ticket if I can... John Owls, C-40-05 Is there a Bear in the House?

Scoutmamma, Is there a way to make TI an urban wilderness, where the only support facilities are porta-potties or other waste solutions? Pack it in (including the food), pack it out.

You start with your own interests. What are they? Do you want to just do the stuff (as far as the outdoor program) that Boy Scouts do, or do you want to go down different rabbit holes and explore? What do you want in terms of gender? Boys only, girls only, or co-ed? Once you have a vision, you need to see if the vision and the reality of youth in the area match up. You may find the kids want to do road rallies. There's a tool called the interest inventory. Through area churches and high schools, you push it out. When you have a convergence of what youth want to do and what you want to do, then you start talking about creating a unit.

Gotta agree: Your risk of exposure is an accusation of harrassment from a youth member, or an accusation of acquaintance rape from a youth member. I'd schedule a meeting with the Crew to work Venturing YP. You and a female associate advisor walk them through the process. I'd also reserve some time for myself as part of that meeting. Do you have a bride, fiancee`, or someone who is serious in your life? Bring her along. Introduce her. If you are spoken for, help the youth members understand that. Further, help them to understand that in Scouting, there's a bright line between youth member relationships and adult relationships. Please, keep us in the loop on this.

shortridge, A certain poster, not you, misses the point: Preservationists do intervene with private and public property owners, sometimes litigiously. They even win. In fact, there are legal tools out there to coerce landowners private and public into acts of preservation. That folks are simply asking COL Council to re-consider the historic significance issue before they sell Treasure Island. Of course, if someone happens to think Council Executive Boards can do no wrong, then obviously the rest of the world is wrong.

I think Beavah made some wise comments. You are the Owners Woman On the Ground in your role as COR. You can, legitimately say... we're going to have BOR and Advancement Training, people. Of course, it applies to all the Scouters in your Troop ... including you, Ma'am. Stop the talk about passing and failing. First of all, let your own son make his own calls about BOR. He admitted he was not ready enroute. Honor that. He went to your AC and said I'm not ready... they had two options: They could have honored that, and asked him for when he wanted to reschedule. Personally, I'd be jumping for joy that he had that kind of maturity. If I'd been your AC, I might have said "let's go talk"... and then ask him what he thought the worst would be? Then, I'd be saying "Given what you've shown, I don't think there will be a problem." In executive session, with the other BOR members, my thoughts would be "Look, he's contrite about forgetting his book. He's hurting. We need to be his cheerleaders tonight," and then gotten on with it. Advancement is but one of the Eight Methods. Keep it in perspective and balance

There was also something on Trinity Broadcasting Network. Frankly, I don't need to see the towers collapse again... and again and again and again. That's an image burned into my conciousness forever. I'd used up most of my emotional reserve at the time, and the towers falling for days on end took the rest. I don't need that again for a few more years.

Hey BeaverIII, Where are you Beavers? You let a BobWhite run right over your dam! OK, so it'll be another round of the out-of-WB-order Gilwell song again

I've used the two numbers, one set of adults to be the first year of splitting off a Pack. I see no reason whatsoever to maintain two units as you're merging two Packs. I've also been the CC of the "merged into" troop of a 2-troop merger. First, and perhaps most important, contact the gaining and losing Chartered Partners. Especially the losing Partner. Remember, it owns the equipment, and depending on your State's Non-profit laws, may well own the funds. It has to approve relase of the stuff. It can always tell Council "We wish to re-start at a future date, and hold the equipment and the money in trust for that re-start." Next, contact your DC/UCs and the DE. He's not going to be happy about losing a unit, but he'll be unhappier about losing youth. Next, the two CCs and the two CMs get together. Determine who will do what in transition, and what leaders will move over in what capacities. Next, start decide when this will take effect. If recharter is in the very near future, do the paperwork in conjunction with recharter. If it's a long time off, get out the apps and the pens, and get it done. Finally, if there is any titled property (vehicles, trailers), make sure title transfers as well... If there are any private "parent associations", Heaven help you. They were the bane of my existence in my Troop merger.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)