John-in-KC

Well, since we're down to Barry's home state of Oklahoma, where his namesake Barry Switzer is a religion by himself, EagleSon has found the words to Boomer Sooner: This is THE-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE only FIGHT SONG! That we KNO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO how to PLAY-AY! This is THE-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE only FIGHT SONG! That we KNO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO how to PLAYYY! This is THE-EE only fight song that we know-ho how to Play! This is THE-EE only fight song that we know-ho!!! (rest) HOW TO PLAY!(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Much depends on the Scout sitting the Board! If his faith is weak, you may not want to probe down that rabbit hole very far. Check the block and move on. OTOH, if the young man is passionate about his faith, let the conversation develop and flow. That applies to any subject: Let the Scouts' own passions help shape the content of the BOR... probe the weaknesses, reinforce the strengths. At the risk of sending this thread down the lyrical path, an EBOR is not Torquemada and "The Inquisition."

Want someone who will give you a jac-shirt that works? Bemidji Woolen Mills makes the red jac-shirt for Northern Tier. The Batchelders, owners of the Mills, are fantastic people! I've dealt with them; they were able to help my son (a 40 X-long) get the right sized jacket!! Here's the url http://www.bemidjiwoolenmills.com/details.php?id=voyscout Price is around 140. Quality is far better than Supply Corporation.

The feet are the foundation of a Trek. If they aren't well taken care of, it all goes South. Visit a specialist boot dealer. I'm not overly concerned about if they sell work boots or field boots. A specialist has contacts, and knows who to steer you to. He/she understands boots, understands fit. Go for quality. Quality will cost more, but it will be worth it. My personal hiking boots lasted me for over 20 years before age changed the dimensions of my foot. The field boots I bought for the Army in 1983 are still in my closet 25 years later (they are superb German boots, bought when I was stationed there). Learn what quality looks like, learn to listen to the salesman. The more questions he asks before he/she points you to a boot, the better the boot will probably be to your purpose. My $0.02.

The leaders of the unit are accountable to the Chartered Partner. The CHARTERED PARTNER can be accountable to State and Federal review, especially if it is, in and of itself, a non-profit. I'm with E and GW on this... there has to be some record of the meeting, no matter how simple.

Eagle69, Maybe you need to give your District and Council Advancement Chairs a copy of Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures, BSA #33088. Annie, You can help your son, but unless you are a Counselor, you may not approve his MB. Speaking as a Dad, I had other Counselors do EagleSon's MBs even when I was a qualified Counselor. Yes, I know the procedure, but we were trying to set the example for some parents who would have given their kids all 100+ MBs... given half a chance.

This is for BW... If you like to talk to tomatoes, If a squash can make you smile, If you like to waltz with potatoes, Up and down the produce aisle...

Don't get me wrong. Spitzer needs to face an appropriate level of justice. That said, the news coverage of this was as florid, as "wall-to-wall", as the Murrah Building or Virginia Tech. I cannot buy into a comparision. Have a wonderful Thursday.

He's a What? He's a What? He's a Music Man, and he sells clarinets to the kids in town..

Fundraising to me is support in nature, although program (salesmanship MB) can be leveraged off it. It's the Committee's call on the percentage of profit which will be allocated to Troop General funds, and the percentage which may be allocated to youth program members for activities such as camp, unit dues, or recharter & Boy's Life. Remember also, that on fundraising, there are an array of procedures to go through, including the planning on the Unit Fundraising Application. This is a time where I would ensure youth weren't around. My experiences, others may vary.

emb, You precisely described the attitude of a 20 year old Scouter who was in my patrol. He didn't make it to beading.

10x the dollar value of your FOS contribution?? (1000%)... Just wondering...

Gunny, I've seen lots of variations of field uniforms for folks coming home from Theater since OIF began. While each Service still has its Regs in force, I suspect much depends on local Commander policy... to include General Petraeus as Cdr MNF-I.

Welcome to the Forums. If you look at some of the various training media, including the old Boy Scout Fast Start video (old in that how many people still have VHS?), I've seen the SPL at Committee meetings. When I was CC, I asked the SM to have the SPL come. It was a way of empowering him, and a way of making sure communications were clear between program and support sides.

I went to PTC, EagleSon (then Star) went on the Mountain Trek (a 7 day trek to be at Philmont while we were in the classroom). He was a little small for his age, and (in spite of what training I could give him) he was not as well trained up as he should have been. Even so, he had a blast! One opportunity your son might want to explore is the OA Trail Crew. It's a 3 week trek, as I recall: The Arrowmen (all under 21) work for a week on a task set them by the Philmont Ranger staff, then they have complete freedom of the reservation for their Trek. I've heard of a Crew that did the Tooth, Baldy, and Mt Phillips in their time... that's just no doable for a standard trek.

SctDad, I went back and reviewed all your posts. You've got a major muscle group challenge here... your Tiger parents do not seem to understand the BASIC PREMISE of Tiger Cubbing: 1/1 parent/kid participation!! I've looked through for an indication of your own training, sadly I cannot find any (other than your current CM is BALOO qualified). Are you Fast Start, YP, NLE, and Specific for Tiger Cubs and Pack Service trained? I would show all your Tiger parents this page: http://www.scouting.org/cubscouts/parents/role.aspx I'd also show this page: http://www.scouting.org/Media/factsheets/02-502.aspx and emphasize: "The Tiger Cub, working with his adult partner, (emphasis added) completes 15 requirements within these areas to earn the Tiger Cub badge." A DL can't be a partner to EACH Tiger in his den... This is one thing I see in all the youth-serving activities I'm involved with: Drive-by parents, wanting the child out of their hair. Happens in HS band just as much as Cub Scouting HTH(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Just a thought. My Pastor was required to take 6 graduate hours of "Other Theologies" en route to his M.Div. Purposes: - To assist him in Apologetics for Christianity, - To equip him to confront folks outside our denomination, - To assist him in his own Public Ministry, as he might encounter young people wanting to explore outside Christendom. I have more problem with BuffaloJoe's comment about wanting B-P, an Anglican, canonized than I do with him helping a Wiccan scout understand his own faith. All that said, BuffaloJoe, the 25 Chartered Units is a current National Relationships Division rule. Even then, as someone pointed out, controversy (such as the UU conundrum) may keep BSA national from recognizing a religious award.

We had talked about this back in November. Here's the thread, with lots of good detail from several of us who have served since 9-11 or are currently working on Posts, Camps, Bases and Stations: http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=172912 I've bumped the thread up to current. YIS John(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Bumped to the top to answer a current question...

Lee, Understand that your patrol mates will have "been there and done that." Depending on how much leadership psych they've had, they most likely will view the role-playing of the course as hokey, to be gotten through. They'll be interested in networking, in learning, and in getting the tasks done, and they're really interested in sharing Scouting with each other. If you understand that you need to observe and fit into the dynamic of your patrol, whatever it be, then you'll have a good time. If you're there to re-live your youth membership days, you won't. Spend an evening and a cup of coffee with your Course Director. He/she will be able to help you decide on NOW or LATER

I'd ask your Council's finance manager. While the IRS is supposed to treat such matters uniformly across the Nation, ... John Son of a CPA/former IRS Agent

At one end, provide support in the form of Merit Badge Counselors for the various professions, trades, and crafts represented in your local Blue Lodge. At the other end, become a Chartered Partner to Scouting. I'd have a talk with your DE and UC, as well as the current SM in town!

Barry, Quick and technical sanity check. The original poster indicated this was stuff for T-2-1, not an MB. I am also of the following schools: - Scoutmaster is the Program Officer for the unit. He/she gets to make the call. - As Beavah said, does it help the youth? If it does, then I'm not going to comment further.

Hi Mark (Wakwib), good to see you. Won't be at Osceola this summer, I'm going to Philmont Training Center, also doing Bear Camp out at Naish. Absolutely agree with you... one of the things I like about HOAC NS district is the Advancment Committee clears every Scout who shows up for a ELSP review. He may not get a "go forward", but he gets a review (assuming he shows up about 7PM and joins the queue). I also like that individual Advancement Committee members will then do whatever it takes to clear that young man if he's ready between RT nights. Even in the districts in HOAC which use District EBORs, they don't leave until every young person on the schedule is cleared, and if they expect a surge, they generate more board groupings. Like I said, I'm flabbergasted about a 3 month queue after app approval to have the EBOR. That Council is not meeting, imnsho, its side of the Charter Agreement! John

Why are we pole vaulting over mouse turds? I've not seen anything in the training (and I re-took Venturing YP online at My Scouting recently) that says do not use your common sense. You try to group folks in natural brackets as far as possible. Sometimes, you may be limited by facilities, especially if your bed-down is in a hard facility (camp staffs are one example). We're regulated to provide at least 4 groupings when we're co-ed. Even so, we're to use our heads. If we need 6 bed-down groupings, do it. If you have an oddball situation (young people who have wed early), contact your SE and ask for a read on the situation. We're going through the post re-charter "contact every dropped kid" phase. SE's won't voluntarily lose a youth program member they don't have to. Can we all go have a cup of coffee at the campfire please?