jtswestark

We just played it again at the NLS a couple weeks back - great game! Be ready for some fun spirited arguements! While it may be protected it is open for Ordeal and Brotherhood members. There's enough great stuff to know that all can participate. We've also used it at section Council of Chief events, ALTC, and Conclaves. Your lodge advisor should be able to direct you to the right section folks to get a loaner copy. Jack

Yep, this needs to be taken up the ladder. As a parent or leader, I wouldn't hesitate to bring this right into the Council's Office. This is outright wrong in so many ways, even having the SM Dad pointing it out shouldn't be any issue once someone with half a brain sees what is going on. Don't let another day go by. Get some attention on this as soon as you can. JTS

This is a troop issue then? I agree, this is much more than Ive tasked any of my Eagle candidates for in their proposal stage. Get some additional advice here, your CC should be made aware of this. Your district advancement committee can assist, but get your CC involved first. Any other reasons going on here - ie: is it possible there are thoughts that your son isn't ready for his project yet, some stalling going on? Regardless, this isn't proper so deal with these issus first. Is it possible to ask for another advisor? Get some help here within your unit first, this sounds way ove

Crap, you're right! Ok - I'll modify that - the 11th came out in '98/99, so for about the last 10 years it's been shown underneath. I didn't earn the AOL, but still don't remember seeing anyone wearing it on the pocket. Aren't most now just using the pin anyways? Apologies, Jack

May I ask one of you all to explain what he was cataloguing? Thanks, Jack

I am trying to compile some historical information on our lodge's conclave history (Sipp-O 377). Prior to 1961 it's fairly spotty. Trying to find out which lodges hosted the conclaves, where they were held, and which lodges attended. If there's anyone out there that has any information on it that would be willing to share I would be greatly appreciative. You can either post here or PM to me. YiB, Jack

In any insignia guide, literature, or handbook I have, or even in real practce, I've never seen it on the pocket, always below. Keep it there and this issue takes care of itself. Besides - that's a lot of work to put that on a pocket! Jack(This message has been edited by jtswestark)

That's great - be proud of those boys! Make sure your historian keeps a copy of that, may come in handy for an Eagle COH.... We wouldn't be doing that because we don't let them bring electronics... but that's a fantastic reason to bend that rule a little! Great job! Jack

I wear a 1981 from my teen years on one of my shirts and a 2005 with the leader ring. When I was out recruiting for 2010, it certainly gave me a little more credibility in the eyes of Scouts that didn't know me. We talk about walking the walk a lot, I say wear them and lead by example. Jack

Wiki: Royal Rangers is a worldwide ministry of the Assemblies of God and is designed to provide young boys with challenging activities while providing them with religious instruction. A camping theme is at the heart of most activities, along with a merit award system whereby Royal Rangers must demonstrate specific knowledge and abilities. This ministry was developed by North Texas Youth Director Rev. John Henry "Johnnie" Barnes in 1962, and since then it has spread from the Assemblies of God to many other denominations (notably the International Pentecostal Holiness Church) and from the Unit

Go for a hike this weekend or go camping. Forget about the election for the weekend and leave off the TV. Appreciate some of the seemingly little but actually very important parts of this wonderful world. You'll feel better, I promise!

Ok, that's all well and good, for the CC side of the process. But I still don't see any real problem with letting at least the CC know you 'if the need should arise'... If I were agressive about it then that's a different story and there's your red flags, no doubt. Anyways, just my opinion, of a current SM. If I know a particular Dad/ASM is interested, and I have a good feeling about him them I'd feel better about moving on. If I don't have that good feeling, or nobody is on the radar, then I might hang on longer than is really good for the unit. But because there isn't anyone on the

Beav - I dont think I agree with that. They ask for coaches at sign up, and you get to nominate yourself at that time. I know Ive been disappointed at least once when I see a coach that was selected that I or others were way more qualified than, but nobody knew I was interested in the position because it felt odd nominating myself. Or at work when a vacancy comes up, we may ask for internal applicants - equally as appropriate. There may be plenty of things going on between the SM & CC that no one else is aware of. Maybe all the current SM needs to know is that someone else is a

Lots of baggage and boundry issues here, but it simply sounds to me that the SM needs to reign things in. Anytime I come into a new leadership/managerial position, whether professional or volunteer, one of the first things I do is to hold a meeting and spell out what my approach is, whose job is what, and how I want things done. It certainly can ruffle some feathers, but it's necessary to establish authority. Then there must be consistent follow through with the points made in front of everyone or forget any credibility. This is what he needs to do to get this guy under control and ever

In our district, the SM is automatically the counselor for Hiking, Cooking, and Camping. I was chair of our last Spring Camporee where we offered a program for Wilderness Survival, so I signed up as a counselor only for the weekend for that one. Swimming and Personal Fitness (I think) in the recent counselor drive. One of my Troop Dads became the District MB Counselor so as always, I pitched in to help. But I really dont have time for much else!

Great advice from Gunny & Scott! I returned to Boy Scouting when my son was in Webelos. I wasnt an ASM long, but was lucky to have the outgoing SM mentor me for over a year. I would suggest you get signed up as an ASM and get trained right away. But then learn patiently: Scouting is a journey for us as it is for the Scouts. If I had a buck for every new leader that came in blazing guns about doing this or that, only to find that six months later theyre onto the next shiny object that caught their eye and Im stuck finishing up their incomplete projects. Dont be that! If the sit

We had this exact issue with a Life Scout that transferred into our Troop. He had gotten a partial MB from his old SM. Same deal, took him a couple years to get around to finishing it. But the SM/counselor was no longer in the area nor in Scouting. I told him to either get another counselor and do it again or get the paperwork to him to register and finish the MB. He took the second option and the Eagle paperwork went through without any hitches. I cant remember how it was realized that the SM/counselor wasnt registered anymore; maybe the SM himself said so and wanted the kid to head off

Ask any SM why he does this, and the answer will hopefully be because its for the boys. Yes, a plaque would be nice to hang on the wall. Whenever I walk past our Eagle Honor Roll in our Fellowship Hall I have to stop and look at it, reminding myself of each and every boy thats on the list and many others that didnt quite make it. Especially when Im turning off the lights and locking up after our weekly meeting and Im the only one in the church. A quiet time to reflect. To me, my prized memories are working with the boys and watching them grow. A photo book with many pictures of even

Tell them to get involved, or get out. Yeah, thatll work. Any new SM with existing Scouts has to deal with this: a new sheriff rolls in and upsets their apple cart with all these new ways and expectations. I agree with most advice that has been given; its no different than a new coach taking on a team that has established upper classmen starters. I think you need to first decide if these guys are salvageable (sounds like at least the one is). Then the SM needs to show them a little respect by bringing them on board, telling them how important their experience is to the troop and put t

Re-registering benefits in two ways - solves your son's problem, plus brings back an additional and experienced counselor to the MB list. You said 'advancement committee', assuming you meant the troop's adv committee/chair? Interesting. A proactive advancement person would see this as an opportunity to get an easy sign-up for the counselor list. I would ask your advancement person to get a registration form to this counselor to remedy the road block they decided needed to be there. Wow, way to create a problem. JTS(This message has been edited by jtswestark)

Or get the past counselor re-registered & problem solved!

I was a 14 year old Eagle, and yes, I earned it myself, too. What really makes me mad was that someone didnt pull me aside and tell me to enjoy the ride. I was too focused on the goal. And when I reached the goal, I faded quickly from Scouting. I missed going on into doing more with OA, JLT, working on Camp Staff, Philmont etc I popped in here and there with my troop to strut around as a past Eagle, but didnt take in the whole experience. I missed out on a lot of growth and reinforcement that wouldve very much helped me later in my teen years when I badly needed Scoutings positive i

What bothers me as a SM is when I have a parent second guessing me. Especially when the parent is pointing to chapter and verse about how Im supposed to be doing it, I get a little aggravated. Too many of those and Im done. Not because of my ego, but because either I am really screwing things up or theres enough people in that troop that obviously want things done differently. Any constructive problem solving methods are going to include an opportunity for a SM to explain his thinking. He may simply have made a mistake! May have misunderstood something! He may have a point to his plan t

We use JASM in the same manner as SR540, they are winding things down. I want to treat them with the respect theyve earned and the special treatment is warranted. In my troop, its tough to put a 16 or 17 year old nearly Eagle or Eagle back into a patrol with 11 and 12 year olds and have him stay interested and contribute very long. It can also undermind the development of a new or younger PL. If they want to go into a patrol, cool, let them. But most arent all that interested. They want to be with their buddies that are in troop leadership and sometimes with adults. So we welcome them i

Weve done these a number of times, usually end up with hundreds to retire. The cloth ones burn well, but slow, and the nylon smolder and melt if the fire isn't really hot. The nylons do take forever as well. One year the SPL wrote up a program and they cut a huge one all into pieces. It was nylon and as they put the strips on the fire each smoldered and the smoke started engulfing them and the first three rows of Cubs... by the time they were done with the one and through their script they were black as night and coughing all over the place! Oh what a wonderful mess! Anymore we prepare b