Joni4TA

Just curious on how other Scouters feel about a Troop that does nothing but constantly offer Merit Badges (especially Eagle Required) as the instructional part of a Troop Meeting?

I really hope for some great advice out there on a situation in our Troop. We have a boy who is a Special Needs. He has a very dysfunctional family (ie; not very involved parents) and has anger problems and is ADHD. I believe he is supposed to be on medication but as the parents are usually uncooperative, we (Troop Leadership) are never sure if he's gotten his daily meds or what the deal is with him. The same boy, the SM had to move out of one patrol because he was being picked on by the boys in the patrol. In essence, he is being bullied. Since he was moved to my son's patrol, the

EagleInKY, I feel your pain. Our Troop (unfortunately) operates in much the same way. We have some great parents/involved Committee Members, however... they seem to be uneducated as to the performance of their support role in the Troop, to include our Committee Chair. For some time now the Committee has been operating some sort of 3rd Year Webelos program as opposed to a Scout Troop. We recently had a SM turnover and the new SM is trying desperately to educate the entire Troop about what they are supposed to be doing, instill the Patrol Method and Boy-led troop. It's a struggle to say

We have the same issue in the Troop we are affiliated with. My husband recently took over as SM and up until now the boys have only been "required" to wear Troop T-Shirts along with scout shorts, socks, belt, and a Troop hat (though mostly optional). My husband believes as SM that he is doing a disservice to the boys by not enforcing the uniform regs. (Let me add this Troop is made up of military sons and parents, mostly officers and upper enlisted and we can ALL afford the uniforms). What I am confused on is if all that you people have said is true... about the uniform not being "re

(cont'd) Chief Solano next year. Thank you! Why my post is cut off and limited as to space I do not know!!! That is ANNOYING though!

And I tried to edit it twice... both times the length of the post (In Scouting Around the World forum) was cut short. What gives? Anyone know?

My son and I were spending a little time in California... we are Scouter and Scout from Great Okinawa District, Far East Council. I read the Cubbies and Boy Scouts were marching in a 4th of July parade in downtown Fairfield so we packed our Scout Class A's and bombed their spot in the parade. I never felt more welcome as an "outsider" in any other District's event. Which is a good thing. My husband and I will be part of(This message has been edited by Joni4TA)

I find that too.. I am in Okinawa, and we are FEC.. and many unit leaders are "anti-council" because they feel.. well... plainly disconnected. I guess there are pros and cons in any council/district! Nice to see you all again. My mother passed away and I had to go back to the USA to handle some legal affairs.

A MB Counselor has to put an application into the District to be a MB Counselor and those names are kept on file there. Usually the District Advancement Chair can easily print off a copy of that list for a Troop to have on hand for a boy's reference. I happen to have a copy for our District because I am on the Dist. staff and I asked but I doubt there would be a problem if a SM or CC asked for one either.

Well there is only one comment that comes to mind about all this... Keep your friends close... Keep your enemies closer...

Scott, you are awesome! People may not always say it but THANK YOU from all of us in the Scouting world! :-) Pinewood Derby software is a wonderful idea!

I just realized what a DORK I am for saying my husband is about to "collect" an award.. haha.. I meant RECEIVE! Anyway, I have emailed every cotton-pickin email address I could find on that Distrcit's website- I get nuthin'! :-( I am wondering if the website is just really old and in desperate need of an update or if we really have such busy Scouters out there in New England. Either way, I am getting no answer from Great Trails in Dalton, MA! I would call, but a call from Japan to Mass might prove slightly difficult (time change and international date line) but perhaps that is t

BW: I figured that was the misconception, about the long sleeve shirt. I know a boy is allowed to wear UP TO 6 MBs on a long sleeve. But nowhere did anything say anything about a minimum MB requirement. I asked my husband and he just shrugged. Even our District Commissioner and our Senior DE said they had never heard of it... Funny thing is, my son has EARNED 6 MBs but he's only received 5 so he already has sewn 5 MBs on his sash. I am going to tell him to wear the sucker next time. He didn't want to wear it to his BOR last night because he was afraid he would get docked or told he was

I have been all through insignia books, and the Boy Scout Handbook and I see nothing that indicates this. My son says an APL told him... Any ideas?

By the way Gidget, so far I think you are making a WONDERFUL Council Cub Scout Day Camp Chair!!! I do thank you for the advice. I didn't mean to steal thunder with my whining about my situation. Consider it a dry test-run for a Day Camp issue I hope you never have show up on your desk or on your phone!

Thank you Gidget and dsteele. I honestly believe I can work with this person and I hope she proves me right. I do really appreciate her tenure, experience as a Scouter, and her determination to have a great Day Camp. I just hope she shows similar qualities concerning working with others and will start backing off a little without me having to push her. What makes it even worse is she is the Leader of my daughter's Senior Girl Scout Troop AND I am the Troop Cookie Mom this year. So I really have to work with her as tactfully as possible. I don't want any negativity to spill over into my da

I, too was baffled when she told someone else she was the Camp Commissioner.... the Senior DE and I both looked at each other with eyebrows up. I asked him if he ever heard of that.. he said "NO" so I did some resarch... Camp Program and Property Management, Publication 20-920A, 2002, Managing the Council Outdoor Program, Page 1(dash)26..... there's the position! In the flow of things, here's the hierarchy tree: Camp Director Camp Health Officer Program Director Program Staff Camp Commissioner Ecology/Conservation Director Shooting Sports Director Marksmanship Rang

I liked louie6000's idea about showing the Webelos the ropes on rank and Troop structure. I have been on Troop committee's almost a year and I am still trying to figure them all out. I also like the lashing/knot suggestions. One more that may/may not be good is First Aid. No matter what rank a Scout is, they can always use some better first aid skills!

Gidget, your response is right on target. I was already eyeing those "ready-made" job descriptions in the Camp Admin. Book and told my husband I needed to create an organizational flow chart as well as a little type-up Job Description handout. I don't want to have issues with this person but I know it's going to happen anyway. I have already been warned by our District Camping Director and our Senior DE. They have both had more than a few years experience working with her. The person I forsee having difficulty with calls herself the "Camp Commissioner" because, as she said, "The Book sho

2 years as a Girl Scout youth 6 months as a Girl Scout Leader 6 years as a Cub Leader 6 years as a Boy Scout "Mom" 2 years as a Boy Scout Leader 1 year as a District BSA Committee Member

I was Day Camp Director for a very small Cub Camp last year. This year, District felt like I would be a good candidate for a larger combined All-District Day Camp so I am directing a Camp again. This time I finally get to go to Council's Camp School in January and I also have last year's book for the course on Day Camp Admin. #13-626A. I am obviously still learning the ropes with all this. The one thing I have learned that seems the most helpful is to keep an open mind and definitely what dsteele said, try not to micro-manage too heavily. I get that micro-manage tendency coming from the

I think I should preface by saying the Venture Crew itself has not even been formed yet. I am an MC for the Trop. We have a few Eagle Scouts in our Troop, one of whom is the SM's son and is about to turn 18. He and some of the others in his Patrol are interested in either working a Venture Patrol within the Troop with the 18yr old as the Leader or taking up the responsibility of a new unit altogether and forming a Crew. They have the makings of a Venture Patrol right now, until the boy turns 18. They would like to get with the local Senior Girl Scout Troop and do some hiking, camping, bac

I totally understand about the difficulties facing recruitment of Scouts in a Military environment! My husband is an E-9 in the Marine Corps and has been a Scouter since my oldest Step-Son was a Wolf Cub... he's now a 22yr old Eagle Scout. I didn't become a legitimately registered Scouter until our youngest son was a Wolf and he's now a Tenderfoot working towards Second Class. So believe me when I say I know Scouting can be rough in the Military. I know here on this lovely tropical paradise I live in (Okinawa, Japan) we had a Cub Pack become absorbed by another Cub Pack about 3-4 years a

I know this is a bummer to understand. The accountant in me screams for accuracy... and cringes every month when I have to read "The Numbers" off to the District Committee. (I am the District Membership Chair) I have said time and time again that the numbers we recharter with are only accurate for about a month or two... and then they are mainly overinflated after that. When we add a member, we can record the growth but when we lose a member, the number of registered youth stays the same because, as dsteele said, the units have already paid for their registration. In my District's ca

Good Question BW! I had not thought to find out. I will have to find out who the CO is and go from there I suppose. I was hoping for some advice on trying to convince the Advisor that "GIRLS" don't really have any COOTIES! :-)