John-in-KC

Why doesn't it? Call Philmont and ask.

Gotta agree with Lisa, Den Leader Position Specific Training is a standard BSA module. (Actually there are 3, one each for tigers, W/B, and Webelo). What might be a better vision is creating a culture of training and performance for direct contact Scouters in your Pack. The Goal could be that at least one other den leader lacks only tenure for receiving their DL knot when you complete your course. The implementation would be: 1) Each Den leader registers at https://scoutnet.scouting.org/MyScouting/ 2) Each den leader does their particular Fast Start online 3) Each den leader does Youth Protection online. 4) Each den leader does the following classes through your District Training Committee: - New Leader Essentials (what I call the common core) - Position Specific Training (TDL, W/B DL, or WDL). - BALOO or Outdoor Webelos Leader Seminar (what's it called THIS MONTH?). You can do a similar item for the CM/ACM and your fellow committee people. Maybe you can create an item which covers supplemental training (Pow-Wow or University of Scouting). -

I'm asking around, want to see how different courses implemented the curriculum. In my WB course, My TG had authority to approve my ticket items. Did he discuss them with the CD/SM? Probably. Did I discuss my ticket with the CD/SM? No. My TG was the one who kept in touch with me (and I him) as I worked the ticket. Dave is a heckuva grand fellow, and I'm glad he was there. John I used to be an Owl C-40-05

To me, if you have a question, call Philmont, NT, or SeaBase. Over the years, I've found Philmont to be very open to answering a Crew's questions, especially during the deep off-season. This especially applies to the difference between the two sets of 2008 season guidance!

OK, let me make sure I understand: 1) You are a First Class Scout with 3 MBs to your name. 2) You are 16 years, 5 months old. If you want the image of the person who looks at you in the mirror to be one of ironclad integrity and quality, then perhaps restarting the trail to Eagle is for you. If, however, you think that being an Eagle Scout will look good on a resume or a college applicaiton, then I submit there are better ways to spend your extracurricular activity time in High School. Eagle Scout is about excellence. It's about tenacity and initiative. It's about walking the walk. As far as options for being in a unit, you actually have two different options. You may pursue Eagle from a Troop, or you may join a Venturing Crew and pursue Eagle there. My friend Beavah here isn't the most fond of this option, but it exists ... and it may allow you better access to friends and peers in your own age bracket. I will say this: There are three time-intensive Eagle-required merit badges: Family Life, Personal Management and Personal Fitness. If you're serious about re-starting the trail, these need to move close to the front of your work queue. In addition, you need to spend the minimum time you can in obtaining Star and Life, reserving additional time for the work of your Eagle Leadership Service Project and your remaining merit badges. You can do it, but you will have to invest heavily in Scouting to do it! I'd not be surprised if Scouting becomes your major, if not only, extracurricular activity. YIS John Father of an Eagle Scout(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

As Lisa said, the key is generating a vision of what you want your Pack to look like at time X down the road, then developing the goals and the processes to get you there. The ticket process is, simply put, a different approach to project and time management. Now you see why many of us now say "go to the course with no preconceived ideas." Have fun at the second weekend, and at your intersession Patrol meetings. YiS John ... and a Good old Owl, Too C-40-05

Dudes and Dudettes, I hail from what is now the Peeeeeeple's Republik! of Kalifornikate. Then I went into the Army. I've been exposed to everything from Boston and Maine Nor-Easter' accents to the sweetest Texas honey drawl (from a really good looking Texas honey-blonde) and everything in-between.

B, I can tell you are seriously upset over this. Not a single written colloquialism (that's a hallmark of your writing). Do you think the judge will allow this to unfold, or is this a dead letter?

Fred, Gotta agree. Invite the Scoutmaster to exit, stage right. The BOR is not his arena. PERIOD.

kahits, A better option might be to ask your SE to contact his Area or Region and see who nearby was doing Venturing advanced youth leader training at the Council level. If he starts to see that he's going to lose income, because folks are going elsewhere, he might get his program guy into gear...(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Lisa, OK, I'll concede that. Will you sign on to the "Bimbo Eruption Management" charge? Actually, the shrillness of Hillary's strident speeches is what's getting my attention. She's getting desperate.

PS, And you've just hit the nail about why too many folk are no longer willing to run for office. Who could survive the bright light scrutiny? One of the things I really resent about NPR... every time they talk about someone who was run from office... be it 2 months ago or 15 years ago... they go into some detail about his indiscretions. Sheesh.

If what John McCain did 8 years ago is on the table, then the Rose Law Firm, the White House Travel Office, Vince Foster, WH staffers telling officers of the Armed Forces "we don't talk to you," and Monica all go back on the table too... Damn it, we're human. We make mistakes. If folks want the perfect political leader, they won't find him. Of course, they don't want the perfect political leader, mudslinging is an accepted part of the political process. I wouldn't be surprised if the Hillary Camp resurrected this morning's news for the Times and the Post to distract them from her problems with Obama.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Why not? As long as the NYLT staff develops the housing plan to conform to Venturing guidelines. That to me seems to be the longest technical pole in the tent. Of course, mixing 13 year old BOYS with 16 and 17 year old GIRLS may cause some inappropriate ragining hormones as well, especially among the boys. Now, that said, is there a reason the Council isn't willing to do some of the VENTURING leader development curricula? What's going on with your Council VOA? That the Council is allowing combined programs implies, to me, that program support of Venturing is an afterthought.

Lisa wrote in part... I'll keep my fingers crossed for your son that he doesn't get freezing rain which I think is worse than snow for new scouts to deal with. Old grown up tending to slip..slide...away Scouters too! (sigh) I drove from California to my entrance on active duty to the Army 30 years ago this September. I still do not like ice and snow on the road.

I just put mine in the Family pot... and then let it help other units. Of course, I also leverage it to get action that is "waiting"... after all, Money Talks. John the Cynic

Lots of good advice here which I'm not going to repeat. I'm going to talk about those two nights, on the ground, in a tent. Lisa, who is also in MI, can confirm, but I suspect the ground temp in your neck of the woods is something less than 32F... freezing. At night, the layering system includes separating the Scout from the ground! When I was a little younger, and slept on the ground in the field, in the Army... 1) Floored tent or not, I had a base layer of a tarp of some sort; usually rubberized or plasticized nylon. That was my personal guarantee of a good moisture barrier to the ground. 2) Above that layer came INSULATING FOAM matt. It was most assuredly not a comfort layer; its job was to provide airspace between me and the frozen ground. Have your son check with his PL, Troop Guide, or ASM about the matt he uses. Do this before Friday night! 3) Now your son can add a comfort layer of foam field mattress. 4) I've learned that human body on plastic, even inside a sleeping back, generates sweat moisture and doesn't help the bottom of the sleeping bag be a good warming tool. Whether its wool or polypro, if I'm not backpacking, I put a moisture absorbing layer between the matts and the sleeping bag. 5) Finally I put my sleeping bag onto the bed I've made. 6) In very cold weather I've been known to add a wool blanket overtop the sleeping bag. At the time, I used a -10F down bag inside an Army cover; even so, there are some places in the world where that extra layer is welcome! 7) Last but not least, I reserved a set of dry wool sweater and long johns to change into as I got in the sack. Others here have commented about taking wet gear to bed. It really does not help that first hour. As you go down this trail, pixiewife, the right person for you to talk with is the SM or ASM keeping an eagle eye on your sons patrol. HIS right persons to talk to are his PL and TG. Enjoy the journey

ozarktrailsbsa.org/downloads/annual_charter_agreement.pdf From the Agreement: "Conduct the Scouting program according to its own policies and guidelines as well as those of the Boy Scouts of America." That to me says the Chartered Partner's policies come ahead of BSA's. "Encourage the unit to participate in outdoor experiences, which are vital elements of Scouting." That to me says the Outdoor Method is a bit more important than the other 7 Methods of Boy Scouting, the other 6 Methods of Cub Scouting (using outdoor in the Activity context) and the other 6 Methods of Venturing (using outdoor in the High Adventure context).(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Whoops, GNX Guy. Wrong-o, Kee-Mo-Sob-eee... From the Eagle Leadership Service Project Workbook, BSA Bin Item 18-927: http://www.nesa.org/trail/18-927E.pdf "Work involving council property or other BSA activity is not permitted." Uniform closet is inappropriate for ELSP!!!

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=2EC0F60E-3048-5C12-00410E5BC5CFBB24 OTOH, Huckabee made the local radio round this AM. Said he was ready to burn his bridges in the Republican Party to provide an alternative to McCain. ... and the wheels of the bus go round and round, all the way to Inaguration Day...

Ed, I've been told by Professionals (with a straight face) that the profits from BSA Supply fund the BSA obligations to the Professional Service retirement plans and health insurance.

I'd start by taking out the ice cream. Want a dessert? MAKE IT. I'd also take out the chocolate milk. Want cocoa? MAKE IT. The veggie issue: OK, move the apples to applesauce. That gets eaten. (then, have the kids learn to make applesauce at a Troop meeting). How often do adults eat with the Patrols, Lisa?

Lisa, One trick I've seen over the years is to have the T-2-1 Scouts learning to cook do so at Troop meetings... OUTSIDE, under supervision of Guides/Instructors who have some cooking skills, or (if they all burn the food) perhaps under an ASM keeping an eye on the food. They seem to learn that simple, fast, and filling trumps elaborate and long.

Joe, In addition to OGE's advice, there should be a Special Needs subject matter expert someplace in your Council. It's worth a phone call and a cup of coffee to see what resources are available to assist. For the alternate advancement procedures in ACP&P to kick in, there needs to be a full and accurate diagnosis/prognosis. Leveraging all available resources will not only be a help to you, it may help the parents as well. Finally, don't consign the young man; I've seen some very special young men earn Eagle.

Lisa, My apologies for getting it wrong! John