jtswestark

I can think of a million reasons your SM may be doing this without running it past anyone else (not that that's the best way to handle it); but it sounds like you all really havent talked enough about this and now just want to do a roundabout instead. Wouldnt a sit down as was suggested be more constructive versus broad siding him with some new form? If for no other reason than to let him know the troop and individuals shouldn't be funding his buddies weekend adventures. Jack

Tractor hayrides to shuttle around may help?

Weve had the discussion concerning doing a service project a few times over the years as well. We do a LOT of service to our camps and communities through the year, too many to list. So this is something we just want to have as fun. I hate to hear the grumblings about slave labor, so not only is it a break from that, its also a reward for all theyve given over the spring/summer/fall. We have our Vigil Honor selections weekly at camp and Vigil dinner reunion with ceremonies afterwards on a Saturday before this. So while its kind of a thanks and wrap up to the summer events, we also get our

Part of the problem Ive seen is when the Pack wants to have a big sendoff and AoL recognition / graduation with all kinds of nostalgia, slide shows, etc from the past 5 years and doesnt plan any of those until Jan, Feb or even Mar. That can easily mean 2 to 6 months of down time since wrapping up the AoL requirements. So while we can have them come to our troop meetings, I really cant have them 'officially' get anything started until they are officially in the Troop. Looks great to the Pack Committee when they are planning things in the fall, but works out terribly for trying to retain the

Interesting concept... with recent talk about requiring trained adult leaders in many councils (ours too), might be a great day to offer some of the Fast Start/YP/Essentials/Specific/Outdoor. What a fantastic way to offer some training to folks already there that most probably will be involved in BS in some way after crossover. And gives the adults something to do away from their dens. I apparently am returning chair of an event in our lodge and am considering setting these up for our next year's event. Jack

ha ha! Fantastic, great stuff - thanks!

It says 'Your troop must attend', would that mean one person from the troop in attendance or some other measure? We don't attend OA functions as a troop, they're not troop functions. This sounds like another urban legend to me.

We had our fellowship last weekend, I just love them. Unfortunately by this time of the year, to keep the home world 'content', I usually just go down in time for the lodge elections on Saturday afternoon. At least in our lodge (Sippo-O #377) we have no ceremonies, no work projects, just games and fun in fellowship. It is a great weekend of fun, and of course plenty of patch trading and sharing of past stories and history for both youth and adults. It's great to see an old familiar face pop in for a visit. Unfortunately, this year ours coincided with homecoming of many schools, so our att

GA I will echo Stosh here. But either way you cant do it on your own. If you start from scratch, you will be taking on the same manning issues you may be struggling with now. Or conversely it may be easier: people may be now staying away due to the existing guards way of doing things. We had a controversial ASM go start his own unit and suddenly I had parents coming out of the woodwork to pitch in. When I came back to Scouts it was in the troop of my childhood and going elsewhere was not an option, as far as I was concerned. But my committee gave me complete control over everyth

Ahhh... I would think bagpipes would be a bit wieldy for most campouts? I can't believe they are very cheap, I can just imagine them getting damaged on a typical campout! ouch! Stosh - your Scouts 'fight by the bugle and skirmish by the bugle'? What an interesting unit you must have. JTS

heh, what is a piper? I googled it but nothing came up. What kind of music is there for it? that sounds interesting!

From what I recall, it was probably my first campout as a young Scout but something I still remember with great fondness. It was a simple event that the new SM hosted after a skit filled campfire, a quiet but fun event that slowed things down as we wound down for the night. He put out two chairs side by side, one for him and the other was empty. He would call us up one by one to sit next to him, ask us some goofy fun questions, sharing our recent journey from his perspective making it personable for each and fun for all. He would then talk about all we had accomplished, ask what we learned

Your troop must attend 50% of the Chapter meetings/Lodge or National OA functions so that you can have an adult nominated in 200_. What? Each troop can nominate to the Lodge at least one adult leader per year, presuming there is at least one eligible youth. Period. None of the scouts that are OA have done in this troop. They believe that it is a right to be in OA, not an honor or priviledge. Have done what in this troop? Are there any active leaders in your troop promoting the honor of being elected? By declining to allow a Scouts name to show on the ballot is a way to head of

That's very helpful.

When I was a kid, I specifically remember our SM holding Courts of Honor at campouts at least once a year or so. Since Ive returned, we've always done the formal quarterly in the Church Sanctuary and food afterwards ceremony. Sometimes in the fall we've done a corn roast/pot luck with it, but that's as out of norm as we've gotten. I'm thinking this fall or winter about holding one on a Saturday night at a campout campfire. We have 27 active youth with easily 10 rank advancements per quarter (yes, we do immediate recognition after BOR). So my question for you all is there any troops

Very well said Doc, Im sorry to see you go. You hit it right on the head. I don't post much here but lurk a lot to learn what I can to make my troop function better. Unfortunately, it takes a great effort to skim though the unnecessary crap to weed out the good things posted here. They are there, but very hidden. A lot of the self-anointed NO-it-alls (intentionally misspelled) seem to have plenty of time to keep posting here. I wonder when the last time much or any of their so-called knowledge was put to real use with real Scouts on a real campout or at a real meeting. Its a shame that

What I don't like is that the bugler is a leadership position. While I love having one, inevitably he forgets to bring it to a campout... I wish they would take that one off the POR list for rank.

International I think both GW & I have tried to explain that while we understand your frustrations, there is only one interpretation of whether your son did his job or not that matters, and that is the SMs. If he doesnt feel your son did it, hes not going to sign off. Its as simple as that, right or wrong from your perspective. So to answer your initial question, if you dont agree with that then you need to go to your advancement chair to discuss, and then maybe your committee chair. But I dont think anyone on this or any other board is going to recommend that right off the bat. What

Obviously I dont know your details so wont be able to do much here, nor will anyone on an internet forum. I can only go by what you tell us, and it appears there has been some history with this leader/unit already, so maybe ongoing issues shouldnt be a surprise? Maybe theres some baggage on either side? Just offering some things to consider. Fairness is very subjective and not always a good platform to plead your case. When there are misunderstandings with a leader, the best thing to do is ask for a few minutes of his time to sit down and talk about what is going on. Get all the expectat

As a Scoutmaster, I know my troop admittedly doesn't always do as well as we should when guiding Scouts through their leadership term. When faced with this kind of situation I like to ask the young man, if he thinks it's right for him to take credit for a POR that he didn't do anything for - six months of credit for one week or so of work? If it's not sinking in yet, I ask again, 'did you do your best?' Let the Scout make the call. Most Scouts are willing to come up with something to talk about when that registers. Is another few months that big of an issue when the difference is to

Congrats on your new growth! That is a sign that parents have faith that you can successfully guide the Scouting program for their sons. Heres what Id do, a little different perspective: Name your life Scout as SPL, the one that offered to be TG as PL, make one of the remaining two most mature guys ASPL /QM, and the other as the APL; that puts you back to 14 new in the patrol, forget about the possible next two for now. Therell be a couple you wont see much right away due to football/soccer. In about a month, you will lose about three to basketball/swimming/hockey/chess club/academic

Stosh - good points, but I would suggest moderation and one step at a time; he's bringing them some very fundamental changes. They need to get in place the fundamentals and some small victories to show the method works to get buy in (which he's starting to get). If he moves too fast and upsets their apple cart too much things can go bad very quickly (been there). Heya Eric! Glad to be here, been reading around for a couple months but actually posting is much more fun than I expected. You need to send us some more provisional guys we love the interaction! In about the past 8 years

We use an approx. 20x30 grommetted heavy tarp from Harbor Freight (about $40?); two 10 2x4 with a bolted sleeve to connect the two end to end for the ridge, and two 14 with rebar pins driven in the end to go through the tarp & drilled hole in the ridge pole (very similar to wall tents used at most camps, just larger scale). About five 8 conduit lengths with spike nails & washers through the tarp grommet hold up each side of the fly. Made rope outriggers and rebar ground stakes to keep it all in place. All parts are easily replaced and readily available at any hardware store. They a

What was lacking was for my son to have the experience of working with someone who is an expert in the field. I would presume most camps are like ours and this just isnt going to happen. Now, you may find an exceptional naturalist, leatherworker, shooter, or Scoutcrafter, etc but that won't be the norm. Most staffers are 15 to 17 year olds that have just learned the topic during staff week. The instructor may get a crash course on the topic and an outline of what to do each day, but that usually happens in the last couple days of the staff week at the same time theyre trying to get a mill

Buffalo think you did fine. You always need to be ready to make adjustments on the fly and while it isnt always textbook you have to make the best of it, which you did. Also you are making a conversion to methods that are unfamiliar to your troop. Nothing wrong with taking some baby steps before you try to run. I was a little surprised to hear about how you handled the COH, but it sounds like it worked out well and gave your outgoing SPL a good experience. Nothing wrong with that. But now you have time to start working with your incoming SPL from the start and prepare him for how you wa