John-in-KC

Normally I support EBORs being at a place of the boys choosing. In this case, Patrick has gotten it right. I want to see photos. Patrick: by doing this, you are sending a clear message about who you are and how you like to share your life. Enjoy tonight!!!

My own thoughts: 1) The organization of advancement is far better now than it was in January 1968 when I joined. The MB plan sets him up for access 2) As my son advanced through T-2-1, I was not happy with concurrent earning and the low level of fieldcraft that was in the handbook as of 2002

I have been at Scout Camp. Last Thursday eve, visited my BSA Supply Corporation Scout Shop. Here is what they are reporting: 1) the last Bugling MB has been made and is out of the warehouse 2) The National Council will lock out Bugling from the advancement modules of ScouNet NLT 31 December 2010. 3) Expect Bugler as a Position of Responsibility to be deleted from the 2011Boy Scout Requirements. Will all this come to pass? We will know in six months(This message has been edited by John-in-kc)

T-1: Teach basic skills. S-E: Teach advanced skills using merit badges. First Aid should stay where it is, and not be a reversion to "skill awards." You should not be able to earn Camping MB until you are 1st Class, and then like 1st aid, have to be able to demonstrate T-2-1 skills. Bring Cooking back onto the Eagle required list.

A note: If you go to Scouting.org, thence to the Boy Scout merit badges page, it's already gone, and folded into Music. I have not gotten a determination from Council that it's still listed on ScoutNet. One of these days, the old adage they can work a MB to the 18th birthday won't be so anymore ... the database weenies will determine when a MB can no longer be earned by having it unloadable to the system For now, though, if you've got a youth in your Troop who even thinks he wants to earn it, get him an MB app signed by his SM.

jhankins... Do keep records of your mileage. Volunteer mileage is a charitable tax deduction at the Federal level.

Amen.

I see that the Scout has to make a complete project on his own. I do not see part of a group effort.

Let me try this one more time, for clarity: Do the ramp as a unit service project. It does not meet the requirements of the Carpentry Merit Badge as stated. Here are the requirements for Carpentry. For the ramp to be a place where the Counselor can grant the Scout credit for the requirement, one or more must be met: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges/2010_mb_carpentry.aspx To obtain a Merit Badge for Carpentry, a Scout must: 1. Demonstrate the use of the rule, square, level, plumb-line, mitre, chalk-line and bevel. 2. Demonstrate the proper way to drive, set, and clinch a nail, draw a spike with a claw-hammer, and to join two pieces of wood with screws. 3. Show correct use of the cross-cut saw and of the rip-saw. 4. Show how to plane the edge, end and the broad surface of a board. 5. Demonstrate how to lay shingles. 6. Make a simple article of furniture for practical use in the home or on the home grounds, finished in a workmanlike manner, all work to be done without assistance. I do not see how requirement 6 can be met by a group project.

My thoughts here: THE VENTURING OATH: As a Venturer, I promise to do my duty to God and help strengthen America, to help others, and to seek truth, fairness, and adventure in our world. VENTURING CODE As a Venturer, I believe that America's strength lies in our trust in God and in the courage, strength, and traditions of our people. I will, therefore, be faithful in my religious duties and will maintain a personal sense of honor in my own life. I will treasure my American heritage and will do all I can to preserve and enrich it. I will recognize the dignity and worth of all humanity and will use fair play and goodwill in my daily life. I will acquire the Venturing attitude that seeks truth in all things and adventure on the frontiers of our changing world. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Real simple in my world: Call your District Advancement Chairman. Get him in on the story. This Venturer does not get Gold anytime soon. Ask him how he "recognizes the dignity and worth of all humanity and uses fair play and goodwill in his daily life." ??? Right now, in my world, this youth does not have any acceptable answer. A year or two from now is another story.

Lisa has said it exactly right. 1) Report to the Professionals. 2) Report to the COR why you're leaving. 3) LEAVE. The Professional Service will deal with any YP issues and if this person should be a volunteer. The COR will deal with the matter of if this person should be a volunteer at all in his units.

I had a phone call with my Council Program Department today. Here is what they are advising units in my area: 1) The requirements are public. Youth members may work on them, Counselors may counsel. 2) The badge is not active on ScoutNet yet. Unit advancement folk may not enter it in Internet Advancement, submit a hard copy Advancement Report, or buy a patch yet. 3) Unit Advancement folk should track the completions. When ScoutNet goes live with the badge, input the completion with the "gone live" date. No policy here, just some common sense from one Council's paid staff folk.

A tool box is not a simple item of furniture. The requirement is: Make a simple article of furniture for practical use in the home or on the home grounds, finished in a workmanlike manner, all work to be done without assistance. This is not a group project, this is a solo project. If your unit wants to do a group service project to build a ramp, that's one thing. Doing it for the historic merit badge? He's taking away from the requirements, by having it be a group project.

Mostly, what shortridge and Lisa said! If you decide to have policy documents, IMO you need to get the blessing of your COR for them. It's their unit, after all.

Ideas that have worked in units I served: - Coordinate with the Principal. Do much of it on "WELCOME BACK NIGHT." That's usually the Friday before classes begin. - In my neck of the woods, Princiapals like to have Ice Cream Socials on these nights. Volunteer the Pack, including the Cubs, to serve. - WEAR UNIFORMS. - Bring the Pinewood Derby track, and some older race cars. 8-10 year olds like, really like, pinewood derby. - If your Pack has a signature dessert they do in a Dutch oven, get permission to have a D.O. area to make your signature dessert and serve it with the Ice Cream Social. - Have a desk someplace where the CM, a DL or two, and some boys can share the Cub Scout story to parents. - ASK THE AREA TROOPS FOR REACHBACK ASSISTANCE. Full court press with your Den Chiefs! My thoughts. Good hunting.

My own EagleSon earned his Eagle from his Crew. ACP&P permits that. His Crew Advisor introduced him to the Board, his Crew CC chaired it. Our District uses unit Boards with district Guest mode. There is no reason this Eagle could not have been hatched within the Crew

AG--- They also can be a UNIT function with support from a District Guest. My question is why the Crew Advisor/Committee did not decide to sponsor the kid for Eagle? That's permitted

Look, folks ... You want to take money from BSA? Threaten a lawsuit. That's going to be the consequence. BSA will cover its chartered partners and its volunteers and support them in legal defense. As Beavah has told us more than once (and I think he has access to the real knowledge), BSA is self insured for the first $1 million of any judgment. That's money that won't go anywhere else in Scouting. If you're at all familiar with the Guide to Safe Scouting and Youth Protection, there are procedures we volunteers follow when an allegation of youth abuse is made: http://scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss01.aspx From the Guide: What should I do if a child tells me that he has been sexually abused? How an adult responds to a child when he tries to disclose abuse can influence the outcome of the child's victimization. By maintaining an apparent calm, the adult can help reassure the child that everything is going to be okay. By not criticizing the child, we counteract any statements the molester made to the victim about the child getting into trouble. Reassure the child that you are concerned about what happened to him and that you would like to get him some help. Allegations by a Scout concerning abuse in the program must be reported to the Scout executive. Since these reports are required, the child should be told that you have to tell the proper authorities but that you will not tell anyone else. It is important that you not tell anyone other than the Scout executive or the child protective services agency about allegations of abuseif the allegations cannot be substantiated, you could be sued for defamation of character. How do I know what my reporting responsibilities are? Every state, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories have different reporting requirements. As part of youth protection training, you will receive reporting instructions for your area and for your council. People are often concerned about being sued for reporting child abuse. You are not required to know for certain that a child has been abused. All that the law requires is that you have a reasonable suspicion and are reporting in "good faith." When these requirements are met, all states provide immunity from liability for child abuse reporters. Our duty as volunteers is to REPORT the matter to the SE. He has access to local Child Protective Services, law enforcement, and prosecutors. It's not our job to pursue the investigation, indeed we can corrupt the investigation. Scoutmaster Conference. Indefinitely suspend the accused Scout. Report. Shut the bleep up, and let those who have responsibilities in your states statutes deal with the matter.

!) Yes, the Scout should be suspended from all meetings. 2) From the original post, I think it stops there for unit actions. 3) Again from the original post, it reads as though there are youth-youth physical attack and perhaps sexual misconduct matters here. 4) Given 3 above, call the SE. Today. Make the report. Let the right authorities do further investigating. 5) Consequences beyond suspension wait for the SE and/or governmental authorities to do what they need to do. In other words, I'm with Beavah.

Jim Terry (Chief Eagle from the Sun in the Tribe of Mic-o-Say) was the SE at Heart of America Council from the late 90s to 2005 or so. I've worked down his food chain as a volunteer. He is one tremendous orator, with skills on the order of the Great Chief Lone Bear, Roe Bartle (who went from being SE of KC Council to Mayor of Kansas City). Jim led the effort to recapitalize our properties. Theodore Naish Scout Reservation was fully renovated on his watch. It's a beautiful property, and is approaching the point of having more demands for use than facility available throughout the program year. Where it was once outside the KC metro, it's now wilderness inside the major urban area. Our capital campaign also redeveloped the staff villages at the H Roe Bartle Scout Reservation. They were due and overdue this! Finally, he built in a maintenance endowment into the campaign, so facilities would not be dependent on annual fundraising for lifecycle maintenance. Let me put it this way. There are folks in Kansas City who'd love to see Mr Terry retire (which we believe he will late this year) back to Kansas City, and there are folks who'd like him to be the Council Commissioner. He knows the content of the program every bit as much as he knows managing the business of Scouting.

Az... Got it. Only you can decide if it's time to break out the big guns: That would be Having your COR call the District Chairman, Council President and DE. Have him be your heavy on campership bucks: "Given our level of FOS support this year, if we do not get campership funds, the IH and I will forbid our units from having FOS visits next year. Further, I will send a letter to the families in my units, saying FOS is not a condition of youth membership in Scouting. Still further, I will talk to area businesses which are part of the Community campaign." That should get some folks quick and undivided attention.

Have you talked with your DE about access to Scoutreach funds? Only you know the details of your situation... I'd talk quietly with parents, not in a group, but rather family by family, over a cup of coffee and/or a hot dog at the park. Get their thoughts on whether they'd like fundraising, dues, or a hybrid. Like Bacchus said, focus on a vision of your Troop being the very best it can be. Then, seek out LDS youth. From what I've seen, the parish (ward) typically registers them automatically, so it's a matter of giving them better program, more fun, and more challenge than their parish Troop would.

Moosetracker, This one is not too difficult. Lots of ways to spread the word. As long as charter turn-in isn't in the next two weeks, all should come out ok

Welll, I just got a constant contact from National by way of myscouting. It's the same Jim Terry letter we've already seen. It's official.

Sent this to my District Director. He confirms it as true. YP done before the app, and YP has a 2 year lifespan.