jpstodwftexas

My son was elected to OA recently and attended Ordeal this past weekend. Another boy in his Troop was not elected and his mother was VERY upset about it. So she had one of the ASM sign an Ordeal registration form for her son. She took him to Ordeal on Friday with the signed form and registration money and the OA staff allowed him to stay and complete Ordeal. So I can tell you that I know being voted in by your peers is not the only way in...at least at this lodge.

 

I would not recommend this route as it has caused a conflict in the Troop and the boys who were honestly voted in feel like they have been slighted. And I feel like it took something away from their experience.

 

I have considered contacting OA staff for the lodge and discuss my concerns but at this point I can't decide. What do you all think?

Your Right...""at least at this Lodge"" is Correct..

Again Only Voted in By Your Peers is the Correct and Should be Only way in.

First the Lodge Should have received a Notice from all the troops in the Council on Whom they Elected

Second Those Elected should have been notified by being "Called Out" at a Call Out Ceremony..

Third Lodge Screwed up Royally..They should have had a List of the Candidates who were Elected and Called Out

Plus I have never heard of Any Lodge having a Registration Form for Ordeal.

What Lodge is this?

Your Right it does take away from Those who Followed the Rules and were elected into the Lodge instead of just registering and buying their way into the Lodge....If I was Still a Youth I would Bring it before the Lodge Leadership and ask for the Youth to be removed and Banned from Membership. Which Can and Should Happen....The Scout had to have known he was not elected..Does this Lodge Hold Call out Ceremonies?

Well If your Gonna Fine tooth the Rules...I would say that A Scout who sleeps under a Tarp Can not Count those nights either since he is not Sleeping under the Stars and the Tarp is Not a Tent.... just saying

Look at The New Swamp Base...Several places they sleep under Lean To's and at Some point sleep on a House Boat...I would say they are still camping.

Cub Scouting is a great place to get a Scouter interested in Patch Trading....

However Only Draw Back I see is that most Cub Scouts don't travel enough to have a Wide Selection to Trade..

Who wants to Trade for their Own Council's CSP

None are Old enough to be Members of OA

They all attend the Same Cub Events...

Most Parents don't get online and Trade or Buy Extra Patches to give to Youths

Most Council Stores don't carry Non Council related event Patches..

Recently I was at the National Scouting Museum, I carried Extra Patches from My Council and with Permission I gave some of the patches to Cub Scouts at the Museum. Museum Staff and Parents were present when I did...

My OA Lodge has a "secret" group" they won't listen to me.

I see double posting is back

We found out the same thing about our remaining Camp when Council thought about selling it off...It goes Back to the Family Heirs. So we can not sale it. I bet the other Family who donated the Land for our Largest camp we ever had (1200 Acres) had made the Same Clause. We sold it for 1.1 Million. Now it is a Fancy Housing Developement

Horizontal Walls are typically only 6-8 Foot Tall and run a long length...That way a Climber is Usually no more than 2-3 Foot off the Ground.

Object is to Move Horizontal not Vertical.

As For Climbing Towers...My Council allows Tigers to Climb on our $40,000+ Climbing Tower when it is in Operation, However thanks to New Rules We can Not have it repaired Locally, only through BSA Approved Vendor so we can't afford +10,000 repairs to keep it current inspected.

Wish Someone would pull their Heads outta the A$$ about some of These Age Appropriate Crap..

Want to Know why Cub Scouts quit and Never move on to Scouting....Because they want to do Fun Stuff and Hate having to Stand by while they watch others having fun. They Quit and just go do stuff with other groups that allow it.

We have a Local Commercial Climbing Tower...

A Broke Unusable Scout Portable Climbing Tower. We have No Camp Onsite Tower.. Wonder where our Scouts go?

Are you Backpacking in? I have never had access to a Fridge, however I do use and have access to a Ice Chest during Camp outs..As a Youth I also would Freeze Steaks, Chicken Breast, Pork Tender Loin and Other Meats to Pack in for the First Meal.

Your Limited by your Imagination...

I can give you all kinds of Ideas..I am sure you will give me as Many excuses. why you can not do them.

Ever hear of #10 Can Cooking?

If Weather is still cool Do a Stew in #10 Cans...Favorite Meat, Favorite Vegetables,

Plenty of Dehydrate Meal Options out there Now days also that would be good for #10 Can Cooking

Tin Foil Cooking

Baked Loaded Potatoes are a Good Meal..

Crumble Up Hamburger Meat and Freeze it...

At Camp take Tin Foil...Double Layer it...Cut Up Red Sweet Onions, Bell Peppers, Potatoes, Mushrooms...Throw in a Spat of Butter, Add Crumbled Hamburger Meat, Add Salt and Pepper, Toss in Seasonings like Crushed Red Peppers, Fresh Minced or Diced Garlic..Seal and Cook..All in One Meal..

None of My BSA Units never forced Religion Upon me.

BSA has always left it up to the Individual to decide what "My Duty to God" and What "Reverent" is..

I was never forced to Say "Philmont Grace" nor have I ever been "Forced to attend a Camp Church Service" and Yet I have never been struck by Lightning...

Did I participate...Yes..I participated because I wanted too because I choose to be part of the BSA Program. I knew it would not Kill me to set an Example not because I was Forced to Participate.

I have been around Scouts who remained in Camp to watch " the Campfire" during Camp Services

I have been around Scouts who removed head gear and Remained Silent during "Grace"

and Yet I have never seen any of them Struck by Lightning either.

I find that individuals who do not want to follow BSA rules don't stick around anyways...Never Meet any Scout who attends events and advances who did not deserve it.

Additionally it seems that they did not keep up with their 501-C3 registration so the organization no longer really exists in the eyes of the state.

501-C3 Registration is not a BSA Requirement..Never was

We are beginning to lose members who are fed up with what seems to be a situation in which the chairman issues policies based on personal preferences rather than committee vote. Finances in the troop are also out of control, and she has run off parents and most recently a very good scoutmaster.​

I know the advice might be to run away as fast as possible' date=' but I just became the new scoutmaster (learning the ropes) so I'd prefer to find a way to clean up this mess for the sake of the Scouts. Running to a new troop is the easy way out and doesn't solve the problem for those left behind.[/quote']

Seems like You already Know the Answer..Quit Go somewhere else..Allowing the Unit to Disappear and No Longer Exist "will clean up the Mess for the sake of the Scouts". Your Obligations to Scouts everywhere is not to allow the Unit to exist if they do not follow BSA Rules..

 

 

As for your issue with another Scout not Being allowed to sign off on another Scout's requirement.

What Requirements are you allowing to Sign off on....Scoutmaster's Review????

Are you want to allow Scout's to Sign Off on Board of Reviews????

What are you wanting to allow Scout's to sign off on exactly?

From What I read..Scout has been in The Same Troop for 4 Years...Has Achieved First Class Requirement (Life)...Has been Very Active (Missed about 4 Things in 4 Years)...Active in Community Service. Assists Younger Scouts..Etc

Yet Everyone Says he Needs to Politic...A Scouts Politics by Doing Actions, not by Asking and Talking..

Obviously something is wrong so where...Something we don't Know about..

In Texas we have pee wee football (1st Grade) that is full contact sports...But due to BSA Rules we have Cub Scouts get upset because they Can not earn the "Football Belt Loop" because it is Full Contact not "Flag Football"

Football can easily be learned without having to Full equipment..Learn the Basics of Passing and Catching first. School yard football consists of Dividing up the Team equally if Possible. Quarterbacks are given 10 Count to be able to pass Ball before being Rushed.

Since BSA rules do not allow Football or Martial Arts I doubt they will allow Rugby due to the Physical aspect of the Game.

I know They arranged for a Call Out at Jamboo for Our Scouters who did not make our Camp and I know That arrangements can be made to Have Scouters called out also out of Council...The Key is Communications..Let your Local Lodge Know which Scouters Adult and Youth that will be out of Council and the Lodge will make arrangements with the Lodge in Your Area to Call them out for ya.

I would say...after 4 years as a Scout I would move to a New troop and see how things go there.

Especially if I wanted to be in OA..

Sadly even Scouts play Favoritism Games

Our CPAP People are placed in the Dining Hall...Before Yall Go Off...We are in the Middle of a Burn Ban so Candidates can not have a Campfire

When Actually Teaching the Merit Badge I would Break it down as Follows

New MB Requirements

Class 1 Requirement 1&2

Class 2 Requirement 3&4&5 Prep work (5a, 5b)

Class 3 Requirement Verify 5e, 5f, 5g, 5h Prep 6a 6b (can be Cooked at Home)

Class 4 Verify 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g Prep Work 7a and 7b

Class 5 Verify 7c, 7d, 7e and 8 and Sign off.

Depending on How Many Campouts or Events I would say Cooking Merit Badge will Take 2 Months Minimum.

Cooking Merit Badge is Not really a Merit Badge Taught in Groups. In your Case you would have 5 Scouts Planning Meals and each would have to cook separate meals..I can say I might consider a Cook off type event..Where each scout cooks a Meal based on their menu and it is Judged on Preparation, Presentation and Taste..

You were asked to present a Class by the Troop not a Youth so I would not require a Youth to ask you and present a Blue Card..

Give a Presentation on the Merit Badge and it's requirement and then tell youth that if they want to earn the Merit Badge get a Signed Blue Card and see you after the Meeting.

Print out a Worksheet and have enough to give to everyone to look at.

Not Knowing your Lodge I have no Knowledge of their way of Doing things..

Here is How My Lodge Does Call Out Ceremonies...

Everyone at Camp is invite to Ceremony..Dance Team Does Some Dancing...after Dancing Call Out Ceremony is Started...Candidates are Called Out. They Spend about 1 Hour socializing with Lodge Members and Enjoy some Watermelon before Returning to their Units....

Candidates then have 1 year to attend either a Winter or Summer Ordeal...If Not they must be re-elected.

Troops don't need Adult OA Leadership...There is only 1 Troop OA Position and that Is a Youth's Position..OA Troop Representative..Their Job help Inform Troop Members of OA events and Promote OA.

OA Adult Leadership is done at Lodge Level in Adviser Roles...All Lodge Decisions are made by Youth Members under 21...

Can Candidates with Disabilities be elected and Pass Ordeal...Yes. Medical Accommodations can be Made.

We just had a Member in a wheelchair and a Member on CPAP go through our Lodge Ordeal.

It ain't that Hard....Establish Who Made the Actual Payment...

Scholarships simple

Council Scholarship...Council Keeps the Fee..

Troop Scholarship...Troop Keeps the Money..

Individual Donation...Ask them what they want done with the Money. Someone may only want the funds to go to Camp..others can care less where it goes.

Other Payments...Establish who made the Payment

Troop Pays Troop gets refund

Troop collects the Money from Individual then Individual gets the Refund.

Look at Slippery Falls in Oklahoma. Never been but I here it is great

I wear 5.11 Tactical pants...NO SWITCH BACKS FOR ME

As a Merit Badge Counselor I personally hate that Certain Troops have MBCs for Every Eagle and enough Easy other Merit Badges to get youths to Eagle, yet those Counselors only Work with their Troops..hate to say this but I am suspicious of their Ability and Willingness to actually teach a Subject.. As For the SM only allowing Scouts to work with a Counselor. I believe it should be the Youths Choice who they Earn the Merit Badge from not the Scoutmasters. I wish BSA would rule that Youths could not be Taught in House...No More Troop MBCs.

My Pack held their Blue and Gold Banquet Dinner first. Each Den decorated a Cake which was auctioned off in Silent Auction to raise funds. We then retired over to the Chapel of the Church..

We had a Crossover Ceremony for Each Level with a Face painting ceremony. Each Cub Scout Got a New Neckercheif and Handbook for their Next Rank

Face Painting Ceremony was progressive..Tigers got certain marks, Wolfs got those plus, Bears same and More..etc

Tiger To Wolf Got a Certain paint job..Received their Final Tiger Awards in a Clear Box, Tiger Neckers Removed and Replaced with Wolf Neckers and Given Wolf Handbook.

Each Rank Followed

So Our Ceremony Followed the Following Schedule

Opening Flag Ceremony and Opening Prayer >Tiger > Wolf > Bear > Webelos1 > Weblos 2 > Award Arrow Lights > Cross over Ceremony > Presentation of Other Awards and Gifts of Appreciation (Retiring MC, Retiring CM ..etc) > Exchange of Colors (Old Cubmaster to New Cubmaster if Changing)..Closing Prayer

If OA is a representative of Scouters in General, please explain why Venture Crews are not included in the OA structure. We are an approved BSA program with many youth exceeding many of the programs that troops provide.

i have heard the only way a female can be in OA is as a registered Boy Scout leader. With todays forward thinking and ideology when is OA going to move into the future and open up to our Venture Crews?

 

Because The Youth Memberships has not Voted to except youth females or to amend the Membership Requirements...

a Youth must have achieved the "First Class Rank"..Which Venture Crews do Not..

OA is Not a Representative of Scouters in General it is an Honor Society of Boy Scouts of America. Not Cub Scouts of America or Venture Crews of America.

Females are Eligible when They Turn 21 as Adults

When Will it Change...Who Knows

What Will it take to Change it...perhaps a Major Lawsuit perhaps some logical minded youths

I have been in Favor of Allowing all females in since I was Inducted in 1980, I was Inactive when we first allowed Females in. Glad it Happened and I hope Youth Females will be allowed in soon, as they Pay Membership Dues to Boy Scouts of America and I say they are Boy Scouts even if they are Venture Crew Members

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