kari_cardi

Wow, AnnLaurelB. My pack would truly blow her mind. Not only do we freely switch themes around to meet our scheduling needs, we also will completely skip themes if it doesn't work in our yearly schedule! It all gets covered eventually.

Talking about how to circumvent online security could be nothing more than bragging. On the other hand, I've watched the devastation that can occur when a young teen develops a porn addiction. I think having a quiet word with the scout and the parents is appropriate, and I like the trustworthy angle. I also think that I would try to make sure the scout has extra attention and support at scouting activities and in attending scouts if that becomes a problem for the family.

Eagle Foot, I don't have any problem with the use of cell phones at a camporee for events, as long as the phones are provided and scouts aren't expected to use personal phones. In my mind, cell phones are being used as one might have used walkie talkies 10 years ago. I assume you've tested the camporee site for coverage? However, I do have a problem with the proposal of using Facebook. The FB Terms of Agreement very clearly state that users must be 13 yo to hold an account. Your youngest scouts are 10.5 years old. I'd appreciate it if you would find another, age-appropriate way to use the inte

I agree, I think it is typical for people to not respond to emails. After realizing that I don't respond to emails that don't ask for a response or that bury the request, I've started adding that request right up front. It helps. The first line of the email body will say something like 'I need an answer by Thursday if this is a go, please let me know whether you agree or not.' Then I summarize the topic under consideration. Try not to make people scroll, they won't read that far. Short and sweet with specific instructions. I get a crazy amount of emails every day, I try to think about tha

Den meetings do not have snacks unless it is part of the activity for the meeting. Pack meetings run longer and later and do include a snack that is chosen to relate to monthly theme. We have a mom who is in charge of purchasing snacks for pack meetings, and does it reliably. The snack might be grapes and water, or graham crackers and juice, something easy and healthy-ish.

I can't find anything that says the boy was a scout, though it's implied, of course. Adam, I would assure parents that what happened fell outside the guidelines that BSA has for adult/scout interactions, and that following YPT protects everyone. And then review YPT either in written form, as video, or online with all the parents. Then be vigilant about following the guidelines. And reassure parents that troop activities are open to parents at any time. An acquaintance just found out a few weeks ago that the family's adopted grandfather was sexually abusing her three young children.

I didn't know the answer, but my guess at the answer was correct. I'm sure my teens have no idea. I don't follow local, national or global news very closely. I generally know when something happens but few details. I do have my personal causes that I am quite passionate about, and that is enough for me.

I expected my DE to have membership numbers available and he did, entered into a spreadsheet with the necessary calculations completed. Made filling out the form that much easier. And if I hadn't completed the rest of the form, he would have worked through it with me when we met to turn in re-charter. I think my DC understands how to work with his volunteers to make stuff like JTE easier for everyone, which in turn benefits him and his paycheck. Smart guy.

I agree, Webelos are not mini-Boy Scouts nor are they Cub Scouts. They definitely need and bring their own set of challenges. You say that your Bears will be only 8 yo when they are Webelos, I would expect most new Webelos to be 9 or 10 years old, especially in the current red-shirting climate. There is a big difference in maturity for most 9 year olds.

I filled out the JTE form for our pack. I think the goals themselves are reasonable goals. We made gold without even trying or knowing what the requirements were, because we've been working on building a stronger, more organized pack that has fun activities that scouts like to do. I know my DE and DC were happy. Completing the form was presented as one of the things that needed to be done for re-charter, does that make it mandatory? If I didn't want to do it I would've just waited until after the re-charter deadline passed and the point would be moot.

I think Lisabob is right on! None of the restricted diets mentioned are really a problem, it's a matter of perception, education, and thoughtfulness. Put the meat on the side, serve rice instead pasta, have some single-serving soymilk available for cereal. Lots of solutions when people care to find them. It is in everyone's interest to keep the scouts well fed, if only from a behavior point of view.

I'd LOVE a 'go to first unread post' function. I've tried many times to format my posts, it doesn't work for me. I've assumed was a browser issue, and since I've read about virus attacks from this site but not had any I'm not interested in switching browsers.

Dear God, Basementdweller, I am not an idiot. Of course I could get contact information for the other unit. And district is involved, as I said, and they will not be making a supportive call. I am going to go with their example since they know the unit in question and I don't. I really do think at this point it is between the families and the other unit and that my pack and district have made a good faith effort. The families have said they are pleased with their experience with us so far. THAT is what will keep these families in scouting,in my opinion. And FTR, I am on good terms with se

Thank you Twocubdad, you've summed up the situation pretty well. We have shared our budget with them, we have shown them what a great program we run on a lean budget. I posted because I want to make sure that I've thought/tried everything I could. After writing it out, though, I don't think we are going to be able to make these two families happy the way they want to be happy.

We do not have the money to waive our dues. Our budget is overstretched as it is. The families were told this when they joined. It has been made very clear that our dues need to be paid no matter what happens with the other pack. We have also explained many times that each unit is individual and not related to the other, and that they need to pursue the issue with the other pack. District has offered scout assistance in the form of registration fees and uniforms that exceeds the amount that the families paid in dues to the other pack, and it has been accepted. It has been explained to the

I keep getting bombarded by these parents, so I thought I would ask here in regards to the situation. We have two families that joined a different pack during spring recruitment and paid for the year at registration. The pack did not follow through with any of the promised activities over the summer nor did they register the boys with council. So the two families came to us. We took them as transfers and asked them to pay dues. They want a refund of the money they paid the other pack from SOMEONE, they don't want to pay our dues. Council has put them on scout assistance for registration this y

I learned to camp, swim and give first aid as an adult, and some of it while a scout leader. I don't think those skills need to be present for an adult to become a good leader. I think they can be learned, as can scouting methods, if an individual is motivated. The hardest thing to learn, IMO, is how to work with children and young adults, both your own and others. I do agree that good leaders know and respect their limitations and capabilities.

I remember his pride as he stood in front of everyone with his friends and den mates, wearing his oversized uniform (that I just replaced with a larger size!) and receiving his AOL plaque, epaulets, necker and slide, and handbook. I also remember that it was a very long day, my other son broke his leg that afternoon and I was so worried for him and that we wouldn't be discharged from the ER in time for the ceremony. I made it home with only 15 minutes to spare, to pick up my soon-to-be Boy Scout and run to his AOL ceremony.

A Youth Large shirt is for a 31-33 inch chest. A Men's Large is for a 42-44 inch chest. A Youth XL is equivalent to a Men's Small in chest circumference according to the size charts, though the shirts should be different in other measurements as young teen males and adult males are proportioned differently. Thanks for the head's up on the sale! We needed a few new uniform pieces.

In addition to what has been said, I think the change in leadership needs is a factor. I think a lot of female CS leaders step up because there is a need for leaders. A CS pack needs 10-12 adult leaders to have a full roster of two den leaders/den with one den per rank. Larger packs need even more leaders. The same size troop can function with a SM and a couple of ASMs. So female leaders move to the committee where there is a need and they generally feel more comfortable with the skill set required.

I agree, drmbear. That's the formula I hit upon a few years ago, and it WORKS! Parents have time to get oriented to scouting, boys have fun, pack leadership gets to know the majority of new boys in person. All good things. Following the typical recommendations for Tiger Den leadership ends up with the clueless leading the clueless, which is not a good thing.

I think it would be hilarious to use one of those big wooden train whistles to call up the newly trained leaders at a meeting. 'Doot-do! Calling all trained leaders!' No Badge Magic though, no way. Safety pins are fine for a temporary way to put a badge on a shirt.

In our pack, we have built re-charter fees into our dues and ask parents to pay in September. It helps a bit. We have families who have not paid, den leaders will contact them and let them know that their boys will not be registered with the pack if they do not pay, unless they have extenuating circumstances. And that no registration means no participation. We do this primarily because the pack finances cannot cover re-charter for families who do not pay. The money simply isn't there. I think you have done what you can, briantshore, and parents will have to deal with the consequences for

I find a mostly matching piece of fabric to use as a patch, it only needs to be about 1/4 inch bigger around than the hole. I temporarily hold it to the wrong side of the pant with washable glue stick. Then I use matching thread and the three-step zig zag stitch on my sewing machine to stitch the patch to the garment on the right side, stitching over and over to 'darn' the hole. Most newer machines will have this stitch, it looks like a regular zig zag but takes three stitches for the zig and three stitches for the zag. It is very durable. There are patches that iron on but you run the ri

Our YPT says to notify the council then call children's services. Council doesn't make the call to children's services, the guidelines specifically state that the responsibility is the original reporter. And if it is an emergency situation, call 911. Do these instructions vary a lot from council to council?