KA6BSA

My own method is to make sure you use plenty of tape. And I mean lots of T A P E !!! Whatever edge or corner is sticking up just slap some tape on it. Any mis-cut piece can be fixed with tape. Any edge that doesn't line up use some more tape. Just imagine you are riding in a hot air balloon shot full of holes descending to a painful death on the rocks below if you don't get it all patched up with tape. That much tape will do the job. Later when people are examining this handiwork I will just claim the kids did the wrapping!(This message has been edited by KA6BSA)

It may not be completely universal but seems like an Eagle Court of Honor is usually the responsibility of the parents of the boy earning it, not the Scoutmaster. Our troop provides $100 each for our Eagle COHs to encourage the parents to plan something special... not just another regular COH with an Eagle. Of course the parents (guardians) of the boy should listen to the wishes of the Scout in making the arrangements so it is special for him too. My own son was not interested in getting letters of commendation from any politicians unless they had been honored by BSA or earned Eagle themselves, but he enjoyed the ones from famous people like Michael Eisner at Disney.

Another idea that parents can help bring about is a lifetime membership in Nat'l Eagle Scout Assoc (NESA). Often the boy's relatives want to give something meaningful but don't know what to do, so if the parents ask them to all chip in together they can cover the fee.

The first time around on this topic there was overwhelming advice that for many reasons it was not suitable as an Eagle Scout project. Why am I not surprised that in SPL_T15's fantasy world he would go ahead with it anyway?

The advancement of the boys should be "by the boys." Having the troop adult leaders thinking like Den Leaders pushing the boys to a new rank on time... that is against the fundamental principle that the troop is "boy run" and that rank advancement is up to the motivation of each Scout. It is Cub Scout thinking spilling over into Boy Scouts where it doesn't belong. Doing something successful and useful for themselves, whether it is cooking a good meal or passing First Class, is the most important lesson the boys can learn about growing up. The adults take that away from them by setting their goals and pushing them through all the steps for completion. With an engaging troop program and good patrol method the boys will naturally want to advance, and if they don't make rank "on time" they will not feel such a failure to quit trying.(This message has been edited by KA6BSA)

We have already tried to teach the Scouts good sense, so now we just teach them first aid!

If you haven't already done it, get in touch with your Unit Commissioner and ask him/her about their history with the troop and what they can do to help you get started. UCs are often seasoned Scouters who just need to be asked to be a valuable resource for BSA methods. Also the Chartered Organization head can help you deal with any disciplinary issues that might come up (the boys may decide to "test the new SM" a little bit!) or old issues that have been left unresolved by the previous SM.(This message has been edited by KA6BSA)

I know someone who just recently completed a Wood Badge ticket item which was to have his whole troop earn the Nat'l Camping Award here in San Diego.

If you are asking for yourself as a new chairperson for a troop committee, then you need to get in touch with your district training person (or visit their website) to get trained. The class you would need is New Leader Essentials and also Leader Specific Training for troop committee. It is good to read the BSA materials (as cited above) but by getting proper training you will find your job much easier and you will deliver a better BSA program to the boys. It really is a lot easier than trying to figure it out all by yourself... and the training people can answer all your questions and put you in touch with many district resources through the monthly Scout Roundtable. If you are not becoming a committee chairman then there are other Leader Specific classes for every position and you will be a big help to your troop to get trained for anything you do.(This message has been edited by KA6BSA)

Although I wear a campaign hat for full dress uniform events I use an expedition hat for all the dusty or sweaty outdoor activities. Saving the lemon squeezer for looking good at assembly, you can see my expedition hat has a generally discolored appearance, stained hat band, and has been sat on and crushed by packs and gear thrown on top of it. Still very servicable for any tough outing. I like it because it makes me look like Indiana Jones! Didn't it become available right after those movies came out? Remember how no matter how tough the encounter Indy's hat always survived, blowing back to him by a gust of wind.

Nobody seems to be able to explain this weirdo and his antics, but he often creates and wears his own glitter-military looking outfits, so no big surprize he would be attracted to a BSA uniform. There was another thread here recently about how popular Boy Scout uniforms have become in the rock-N-roll music scene, probably bought as cast-offs and not even near offical. They seem to like some random red and white unit numbers on one sleeve or the other and various other patches here and there. Even after the discussion in the other thread I still don't really understand the attraction to using bits and pieces of the BSA uniform in pop culture. The best I can figure it is some kind of statement about good v.s. evil, using the Boy Scout as the embodiment of fairness. That may say something good about Scouting while at the same time dragging it down, being used so out of context. Or maybe they think it just "looks cool."(This message has been edited by KA6BSA)

With todays modern Scouts it is important to choose songs they can relate to as well as the traditional ones. A favorite around here in San Diego is:

Ghost Chickens in the Sky

(To the tune of "Ghost Riders in the Sky")

A chicken farmer went walking out one dark and fateful day

He rested by the coop as he went on along his way

When all at once a rotten egg hit him in the eye

It was the sight he dreaded

Ghost chickens in the sky!

Bok bok bok BOK

Bok bok BOK

The ghost chickens in the sky

The farmer had raised chickens since he was 24

A-working for the Colonel for twenty years or more

Killing all those chickens and sending them to fry

Now they want revenge...

Ghost chickens in the sky.

Bok bok bok BOK

Bok bok BOK

The ghost chickens in the sky

Their feet were black and shiny, their eyes were burning red

They had no meat or feathers, these chickens all were dead

They carried off the farmer and he died by the claw

They cooked him extra crispy

And ate him with cole slaw

Bok bok bok BOK

Bok bok BOK

The ghost chickens in the sky!

Eagle is quite an accomplishment for any Scout. I would be "just as curious" how the troop managed his disability (we don't say disability anymore... he was hearing challenged). I know of a troop that decided not to allow a deaf boy to join just because of the safety aspects of the problem and none of the SM corps were able to deal with that.

With such a selfish and possesive attitude the Cubmaster thinks it is "his pack" and is probably behaving poorly not just over the planning for Blue and Gold dinner but also at pack meetings and other events too. He has forgotten, or never understood, that his job is to help provide an effective program for the boys. The CM should be getting satisfaction from doing that well, not from how impressive the decorations look at the Blue and Gold.

From the original post it seems like the ego of this possessive Cubmaster is dominating the pack committee meetings too. After all he thinks it is "his pack" so why not run the committee meetings too! The committee chairperson needs to resist this intimidation and with help from Den leaders and committee members take back that responsibility. The committee needs to evaluate whether the Cubmaster's behavior is suitable for BSA's methods and goals. If it isn't then with the help of the charter organization the committee can remove him. In this case it could be a simple matter since the CM has acted childishly leveraging his demands with a threat to quit. The committee could easily turn that into a resignation. A good way to find an immediate replacement CM is to look for a dad in the pack who is an Eagle Scout. In a situation like this he likely would be willing to step up to the job of CM "for the boys" and do a better job even before he gets his training.(This message has been edited by KA6BSA)

It couldn't have been an "accident" to misplace the CSP since BSA supplies the shirts with the US flag already sewn on the right sleeve and they would have had to remove it to make a spot of the wrong-sleeve CSP. What kind of a unit in the USA would object to wearing the US flag, or think it was less important than a CSP?(This message has been edited by KA6BSA)

BSA National has a new YPG online course that answers all those basic questions... seems like people keep getting mixed up by replacing everything they should have learned about YPG by the phrase "two deep leadership." Just follow the Youth Protection Guidelines for everything you do in BSA, and when you have activities in your outdoor program use the G2SS (Guide to Safe Scouting). When you sign a tour permit with your council that's what you are promising to do.

If you are referring to the new Emergency Preparedness BSA Award it is formed around existing elements of BSA advancement requirements for different levels (all the way from Tiger Cubs through Boy Scouts, to Venturing and adults at the unit and district level) and focuses on evacuation plans and family emergency kits for disasters preparedness. It is not something you set up a new unit for... it is something every person at all levels of Scouting can work on within the normal BSA program. What kind of a unit would have its primary purpose doing search and recovery? I don't think that is appropriate or would meet the goals BSA has established for boys any age.

There is also the question of whether the attendance of the Commissioner or his RT Staff counts on the attendance sheet. I think of course it does because they are there not somewhere else. But others say it isn't fair... for example I had perfect attendance for 3 years as RT Commish and I was an ASM with my troop the whole time, so they said it didn't count as attendance by my troop. But I didn't see anybody else volunteering to take over my job just to get that advantage for their unit!

One of the problems with pads that is recently being addressed by manufacturers is how to keep the pad in place under a sleeping bag. The older designs of self-inflating foam pads were so slippery themselves that next to a nylon sleeping bag they just would only stay in place for a short time, even with normal turning over. With squirmy kids and an over-inflated pad they would wake up cold and find the pad shot all the way across the tent! Now manufacturers are adding loops on sleeping bags to attach the pad, and the surface cloth on the pads is redesigned to give some friction and stay in place, so look for these improvements when shopping.

The back of the merit badge sash is really the best place for those really big rectangular patches that won't fit on the uniform anywhere else, like the 50 Miler award or the Historic Trails award. My son worked hard for those and I am glad you cited the regs for him to wear them there without worrying about the patch police. And those big patches look great there, rather than clutter the sash up with lots of little temporary patches. New Scouts can even put the toten chip patch on the sash back so the OA folks won't have a hissy-fit seeing it sewn on the pocket flap.

It is interesting how the leadership positions in Scouting have changed in modern times... When I was a Scout each patrol was expected to have its own Bugler. You can imagine what a racket that was at assembly time! In the time of Baden-Powell he assigned boys to be Sentries with duties similar to those in the army... here is a quotation from B-P on the experience at his first summer camp at Brownsea Island. "On arrival at the spot, fires were lit and suppers cooked, after which sentries were posted and bivouac formed. The picket was scouted by Patrol Leaders of other patrols and myself, at some time before eleven p.m., after which the sentries were withdrawn and picket settled down for the night."

Nowadays the Scoutmaster is allowed to assign positions for a "leadership project to help the troop" (quoting from the Handbook) and these count as leadership tenure for ranks of Star or Life but not Eagle. Bugler is not on the Eagle list of positions either, but it still is for Star and Life. According to the requirements a made-up position would not count for rank unless it was actually an Instructor position or approved as a SM's project. Our own troop has a Gamemaster and depends on him not just to bring a ball to troop meeting but to organize and lead the game, probably more important to the boys than the position of Librarian. We also have several Instructors that are specialized in Pioneering, First Aid, Aquatics, and Backpacking. Each of those positions has additional requirements consisting of the appropriate merit badges (and certifications for first aid or aquatics). Our PLC decided that all instructors in our troop must have earned Camping merit badge to make sure they have enough experience in general, rather than setting a minimum age.(This message has been edited by KA6BSA)

There are official-looking patchs for the "made-up" position of Webmaster available on the internet. Seems like BSA should eventually take charge of this important position and include it in the troop.

Added this after I saw the post below: Yes it should be an adult.(This message has been edited by KA6BSA)

For years our district had the tradition of a "trophy" which was passed on each time as a prize. It wasn't a store-bought trophy but started out as a home-made wooden stand with the district flag emblem painted on it or a district patch stapled on. Each pack had the honor (and duty) of adding some significant item to it to mark their winning. One time it was a plastic fish (a trout I think... that pack was leader at the local BSA fishing derby) another time a fake coon tail to signify that pack's participation in a prioneering re-inactment, you get the idea: humorous is fine along with a Scouting theme. After a few awards of this trophy it started to become a really interesting collage of stuff and everyone wanted to take it home! There is also the added advantage that you do not have to go asking for money to do this kind of prize. Our own Roundtable does not expect to get any significant money for its operation, so buying a gift certificate means either the Commish does that as a "donation" (which isn't really fair since he is already volunteering many hours of his time) or you would have to pass a hat around which many volunteers don't like... they probably have already donated plenty of cash through FOS. In three years of experience myself as RT Commissioner I have always avoided asking the participants for money because I think it turns them off enought to reduce attendance. I really like the idea of the trophy that they take home and add momentos to and then bring back for the next winner. Maybe somebody can think of the exact name for it, at the moment I can't.

This is a complicated issue and the discussion has been very thoughtful trying to find answers in the Oath and Law and hopefully guidance by the Charter Organization. What I see missing here is the important concept of a "Boy Lead" troop. What do the SPL and PLs think should be done? Yet you have to ask yourself is a 12 year old Patrol Leader really capable of dealing with such an issue? Despite the difficulty with wanting to punish for not following the goals of Scouting, maybe all the boys of the troop can learn something about life from being involved in the decisions of the troop. But going a step further there may be some parents who would object to their son being exposed to the problem at all, just like they would for sex education in the schools.

"You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead - your next stop, the Twilight Zone!" (with apologies to Rod Serling) Yes it's Boy Scouts, but as seen through a rift in time and space from a parallel universe so similar to ours but never quite right as we might know it... expect the unexpected from Troop 15!

I just noticed this thread even though it is a little bit old, and kinda got off track with the emphasis on the "moms" and that brought in the other issues about ladies as troop leaders.

Anyway, our troop has traditionally had one "family outing" every year, not always a campout but something to involve the families who we never see except at pick-up and drop-off time. Sometimes it is planned as an afternoon picnic at a local BSA campsite, with many Scout skill demonstrations by the boys. Then a dinner is usually pot luck but the dessert a special cooking contest in Dutch ovens by the Scouts judged by the mothers who are active on the committee or in the troop. We conclude the evening with a special Court of Honor in some outdoor setting with a campfire and skits and stories (screened for general audiences ahead of time!). We get lots of interest from the new families at this annual activity and use it to successfully recruit new members to the troop committee and sometimes even a parent is willing to become an ASM (and get BSA training) after they see how important the activites are to their boys. Without the "family event" they just have no idea of what goes on. The older Scouts plan a "model campsite" and organize all the boys to set that up and participate demonstrating such things as toten'chip training, identification of plants and nature study, backpacking equipment, etc.

This year the SPL had his own idea of "no moms, and no siblings" and persuaded the PLC to not include any family activity on the annual calendar. But the calendar must be presented and approved by him to the troop committee, so when that came up the Scoutmaster worked through those channels to get the event put back on the calendar. The SPL had not understood how important it was for the family event to represent the troop to the parents. After he worked with the committee on the issue he agreed with them and the Scoutmaster to have the family activity put on the calendar. Then he went back to the PLC and explained how it was a larger issue more important than just the emotions of "no moms and no siblings" and got their vote of approval too.(This message has been edited by KA6BSA)