John-in-KC

When I was on active duty in the Army I kept my "dummy cords" tied off to my gear. Since for most of my career I carried a .45 M1911A1, it was the "First most valuable item" I tied off! The principle applies here as well. Tie off those essentials to a locking carabiner. Slip the 'biner on the Scout belt, 2 loops back or so. Guess what? Gear is tied off, and the dummy cords don't go around the neck! Troopers do it; Scouts can too YIS and HNY John A Good Old Owl Too

To Mr or Ms AwHeck: First Class Requirement Five demands ADULT ASSOCIATION: Visit and discuss with a selected individual approved by your leader (elected official, judge, attorney, civil servant, principal, teacher) your Constitutional rights and obligations as a U.S. citizen. (2004 edition BSA Requirements) If you, your SM, your Troop Committee and your COR are permitting any 1st Class or above Scout to sign out this requirement, I submit you are doing younger Scouts a dis-service.

Four recommendations: First, contact your Unit Commissioner. He or she can carry this request to other local troops. Most units have "experienced" uniform stocks. Second, if that's a dry hole, ask, through your UC, that your DC contact other neighboring districts in your Council. Third, try eBay. Fourth, see if you can help this young man find snow shoveling, firewood toting, grass mowing (in season), table waiting at VFW/American Legion breakfasts where he can earn a new shirt. (This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Eamonn, Try calling Land's End Direct Merchants (800-356-4444). They might be able to help. If these are US Government uniforms, the sizes are based on body height, waist size, chest size, and inseam, irregardless of gender.

No, I finally cracked the code: It's 168 - One hour a week...

Scoutldr, Your last paragraph got exactly to my point: I remember a key point made by my BSA Lifeguard Counselor: Lifesaving MB is designed to introduce skills and to prepare a Scout that he NOT get in aquatic trouble. BSA Lifeguard was designed to train a youth or adult to be "qualified supervision." No, there is no requirement that a BSA Lifeguard be the signee on the BSA Swim Test. That said, the conditions Lisabob wrote in her post (any 1st Class or above can sign off on Sct-1st Cl requirements) gave me a case of the "uh-ohs" ... especially in regard to Scoutings aquatics program! Now, a 13 year old who is in a swim club and regionally ranked by The Athletic Congress (old AAU) has a completely different aquatics skillset than most Scouts. He probably should be given a Warrant as a unit Instructor for swimming to help others. Then I would have no problem with him signing off on a BSA swim test ... especially if he understands the gravity of what he's doing. I hope I've clarified my thoughts here. If not, we can either spin off the conversation or PM off-list. YIS John An old BSA Lifeguard who is up for renewal this year A Good Old Owl Too (This message has been edited by John-in-KC)(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

I'll agree with everything Scoutldr says. That's how my district/Council/Lodge in suburband KC also does things! I'd especially ask you to look at your time budget. You are blocking out up to 3 days a month for district/OA duties as a Chapter Advisor. Additionally, if your Chapter meets the same night as Roundtable, you have Chapter duties that may come before improving yourself for your Troop service. Can you spare that time from your duties to guide and mentor young men in your Troop? None of us can answer that question for you!

Please contact me by private message with your email. I will point you to several Scouters in my council who are lynchpins in our Special Needs programs. YIS John A Good Old Owl too

Y'all are making me very glad I'm an Owl. I don't know of any Owls in the Scouting program, and outside of Mother Nature, the most famous Owls I know of are Hedwig and the late Southern Pacific night train on the coast line.

MY POINT, good Sir, is: It should be the employee's personal decision on what holiday greeting he chooses, not the mandate of a "corporate communications" office. Sadly, there are firms who mandated their employees say something generic, impersonal, and perceived "politically correct" other than "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Chanukah" (sorry if I mis-spelled that?). Merry Christmas, Day 2 (Zweiten Christmas auf Deutsch) (Boxing Day in the British Tradition) John

Wow, Lisabob, lots to say there... First, there is a difference between "boy run" and "parents/leaders abdicate." I'm not sure your SM, ASMs and CC know the difference. Youth NEED ongoing encouragement and recognition. That's one of the reasons for the Advancement method of Scouting. If a young man is at all active, 1st Class should come in a year to 18 months. As far as qualifications to sign off, I submit adult leaders abdicate their responsibilities when they simply say "anyone above 1st Class can sign off on Scout, TF, 2C or 1C requirements." I would want a young man to have at least Citizenship in the Nation to sign off on the Citizenship requirements. POINT OF FACT, at least one citizenship requirement requires the Scout to visit an adult of standing in the community to discuss rights and responsibilities! Equally, BSA Lifeguard (step above Lifesaving MB) can only be awarded at/after age 14. If I was COR, I'd have many questions about the quality of the unit aquatics programs/procedures if anyone less than a BSA Lifeguard is signing off on the BSA Swim Test. Setting the conditions and standards for a youth to sign off on advancement for another youth is the right and proper job of the Scoutmaster, with the approval of the Troop Committee and the COR. The SM's task is then to get the PLC to find their own way to those set conditions and standards. John A Good Old Owl

For those whom it is appropriate, Happy Channukah!

Several comments: 1) Seems to me several Scouters here have forgotten "A Scout is friendly." To use yoda-speak "Civil and mature discourse we do not have." 2) Many of us who are Christians need to look carefully at the traditions of Christmas, to understand their appropriation by the Church in the 1st three centuries Anni Domini. Many of them, including the WHEN of Christmas (Saturnalia), are lifts from multi-theistic Roman traditions. Others come from germanic pagan traditions. 3) May I remind several here of Luke 6:22-23. If having to deal with petty American governments who call it "end of term party," airlines who say "Happy Holiday" even on Christmas Day (I flew yesterday) and the ACLU who fights each and every Nativity scene on the town square, then we have it awfully good. Remember our Christian brothers and sisters who are martyred even now in China and various places in Africa for their profession of the Christ-child as Savior of the Nations. 4) As far as what is in a man's heart, God tells us again and again in Scripture we all face His Judgment, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"(Romans 3:23). The blessing the Christian has is that Christ stands for him and declares our name written in the book of Life (Revelation 20). I'll also point folks to Ephesians 2:8-9, lest we try to claim our earthly works gain us His Kingdom. The world can continue to act in its idiotic way, denying the Christ-child (which is what in effect is happening). As for me, the Christ child is born, next we remember His earthly ministry (Epiphany season), then we take Him to the Cross (Lent), and then comes the Holy Weekend of Maundy Thursday, God's Friday, and Easter. Finally, the story has to also have Ascension and Pentecost, that we place the Christ back in Heaven, and the era of Grace proceed. The peace of the Lord be with us all. For my brother and sister Scouters outside Christendom, my respect for your religion (A Scout is Reverent, and BP told us to respect each others Faith) does not mean I embrace your religion. May you act in faith according to the tenets of your faith, and may God preserve the righteous. John A Good Old Owl

Torveaux wrote, in part: As a den leader, we have little enough time for working on requirements, crafts, games and such to add skits to every month's process. Looks like it's remind the families time : Family Understanding is one of the 10 purposes of Cub Scouting, AND Family Involvement is one of the seven methods. Seems to me some of the requirements work should be done within the family unit, however the Cub has a family unit! YIS

Son (Life, 16, Brotherhood, Warrior in Mic-o-Say)got a new iMac. Since he's in execution of his ELSP, managing the hours of his quartets is high on the priority list).

Consider it done; may we learn His will for Gail and her family in this. May the physicians and nurses treat her with skill and love. John A Good Old Owl

Blessed Nativity of the Christ Child. His birth is needed for the Baptism, the Baptism for the Cross, the Cross for Easter, and Easter for Pentecost The Lord be with you all.

One of the best lessons I ever learned as a trainer: "After a lesson, always reflect on the training you just gave. You should be able to come up with at least one of these: - A new insight on your subject, - A new insight on your audience, - A different way to communicate your point." Mr Charlie Benke, in the office of training developments, US Army Field Artillery School, is the author of that pearl. THANK YOU Charlie, wherever you are.

As a Christian, the words I profess are: Merry Christmas!!!

LisaBob, Last night, I sat an Eagle Board of Review. Our Troops' "Scouting Grandpa in residence" is a member of our Council Executive Board. He asked the very question you titled this thread ... although he was looking a bit broader than internal workings of the Troop. It's a wonderful open-ended question. You never know what's going to come from these young men, and it's always worth the listen! John A Good Old Owl Too...

Violent agreement with LisaBob. Some notes for trainers, from a guy trained in training by Uncle's Army: TRAINING DISTRACTORS are a TURNOFF. The JOB of the TRAINER IS TO GET AND KEEP THE GROUP ON TASK!!!! KNOW THE MATERIAL YOU'RE GIVING AS A TRAINER. DO NOT READ THE SLIDES. GIVE INFO AND INSIGHTS BEYOND THE BULLETS ON THE SLIDES. It is unprofessional to read slides; reading slides insults the intelligence of the training audience. Further, reading the slides to the audience them shouts to them "I did not prepare" and WASTES THEIR TIME. (Can you tell I'm really into trainers who know their material???) BE ABLE TO SAY WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR ATTENDEES TO TAKE THE TRAINING. In the training business, it's called the "attention step." TRAIN HANDS-ON. I have to look at the key points of safe swim defense, but 2 1/2 years later, remembering the key points of breaking a hold when a non-swimmer attacks a lifeguard are still clear in my mind ... because I practiced them. Always remember, as a Scouter, each of us needs to know the skill not only at the *I use this* level, but also at the *I can help others learn this* level. We don't have to do this for all our skills, but if you're going to be part of the game, come ready to play. John A Good Old Owl, too C-40-05

Ms JillKB, The younger boy: DON'T RUSH HIM!!!! He cannot bridge unless he's 10 1/2 and completed 5th grade anyway. HELP HIM EARN THE AOL AT HIS OWN PACE!!! Scouting is a journey and a grand game, not a sprint or dash. Use the time for the young man's growth and development.

Adding to SueM's comment... Not to mention driving time by Mom or Dad for the Scout during the prep/approval period. That counts too. Of course, some Troop Committees do operate on the Forrest Gump method (stupid is as stupid does) instead of the 8 Scouting methods.

Son has had a blast with Game Cube. As an aside, ANIMAL CROSSING is an excellent game for all three of these aged kids

Ms B, I'm a little concerned about the "once a month" comment. If the Troop Committee internal procedures are ALL projects must be approved by a plenary session of the Committee, then monthly is valid. Many units (including both the Troop I chair and the Crew I'm a member on) delegate Committee approval to the Chairman and trust his judgment. I've never known a Chairman not to make time for a boy trying to get his project ready for the District Advancment Committee approval layer. I've also never known a Scoutmaster who'd not work extended hours with a youth who is getting his ELSP ready to launch.