KC9DDI

I think some more information is needed here? What is your role with the troop? SM, ASM, parent? How did you come to know of the situation before it happened? Is this ritual a "tradition" in your troop, or is this the first time it's come up? Are there more possibilities of hazing in the immediate future? What does the SPL and PLC think about this?

I can't say I've noticed anything that worries me (at least, nothing more than what is sometimes observed at a unit level). In the district/council events that I'm involved with that are staffed by youth, the youth almost always come from several different troops and crews. So, sometimes there's a difference in expectations (in terms of behavior, leadership, uniform, etc) between their "home troop" and the event that they're working on. Sometimes this situation can cause some difficulties that need to be resolved - but they're never resolved "disrespectfully".

To offer a slightly different perspective... More than a few times, youth make decisions based on what we see as the "wrong" bases. We often see this in troop leadership position elections, as well as OA elections. The fact that a non-parent ASM contacted you about this issue makes me think that there is at least a possibility that Scouts may not be voting based on acceptable criteria, and this isn't just a "everyone's a winner"-type issue. So, all I'm saying is, it may be worth doing a little more investigation into the situation before you write it off. I agree that it's not app

NO, IT'S YOU THAT'S MISSING THE POINT.... (yada yada yada) John - I read the article, it's very interesting. But it's not making the same point that you're trying to make. What I'm hearing you say: "We don't need low-skill jobs in this country". What I'm reading in the article: "We need more trained people for high-skill jobs in this country." Similar, related - but not at all the same thing.

We should want the right jobs to stay here (the ones that require training and skills) not just any job. Why?? Seems like there's an awful lot of unemployed Americans who would disagree with you. Do we also want only the "right people" to stay here, and be rid of the rest?

Yeah, Brew, I too find it frustrating that a position that I strongly agree with (re-introducing a strong outdoors-based program to Scouting, emphasis on patrols and true youth leadership) gets tarnished by those who can't carry on a polite, coherent conversation on the topic...

Baden - Maybe it's not a very good Christian organization. But I still don't understand, specifically, why it is not a true Scouting program?

I get the concerns and unhappiness over AHG's use of religion, but I'm still not sure what criteria are used to evaluate whether ANY program (be it the AHG, the BSA, the GSUSA, etc) is a true Scouting program. BadenP - What is the specific reason that the AHG wouldn't be considered a true Scouting organization?

What is the definition of a true "Scouting program?"

Got to agree with BD. As an aside, I don't see how "Merit Badge Universities" are at all compatible with the Advancement Method. But, unfortunately, as long as they are a source of income for the council, and appeal to Eagle Mill troops, I don't see them going away. But, in answer to your question, let me ask you: what purpose does this "sign in" process serve? If the Scout is contacting the MB counselor prior to the event (as he should be), and the counselor says "Great, we'll be meeting at 9am next Saturday in room 123 of Smalltown High School. Be sure to read over the MB book

perdidochas - Been there, done that (actually several times in one week. That poor tent went in the dumpster at the end of the week - after almost 15 years of service!) It seems I always strike my tent under the one tree in the camp which houses a woodpecker. And the woodpecker apparently wakes up and starts going to town on the tree several hours before I want to wake up. Maybe not the worst experience ever, but I did have a wild turkey fly/fall into the side of my tent at about 3am one morning. I remember being half-awake trying to identify a strange noise (which was apparently

So, to tie this in back to the entertaining thread on light bulb changing in I&P: 1 forum member to tell us that the light bulb didn't actually burn out, it's been working fine all along 3 forum members to chastise us for daring to opine on how to change the light bulb that we all were told was actually burned out (I keed, I keed)

I would suggest those that are BSA bashers will get the lowest priority in getting any response This is just an observation, you can do anything you want with this information: I think most of the so-called "BSA bashers" you'll encounter are experienced, dedicated Scouters with several years of experience directly serving youth at unit, district and council levels. After several years of having to fight tooth and nail to glean reliable information from National, having to deal with inconsistent and poorly publicized rules and regulations, and generally being ignored by the polic

Agree with E61. Perhaps Junior should have been more proactive in communicating plans and changes in plans to mom (assuming these plans and changes were communicated to Junior in a timely fashion, and the unit didn't have some silly ban on cell phones or communication devices in general) - but, if a parent wishes to speak with the adult leader in charge of an event, that parent should not be given the run around. Also glad to hear from VentureMom that the situation turned out OK. It also illustrates the importance of holding off on effectively accusing someone of child molestation until

Nice - a few more: 3 to argue that the light bulb wouldn't have burned out in the first place if more money had been spent on light bulb maintenance rather than professional's salaries 5 to question why the adults are changing the light bulb, rather than the Scouts 1 to blame the light bulb failure on "leadership skills experts" 2 to remind us that light bulbs should be placed no less than 300 feet apart 6 to question the Youth Protection implications of inadequate lighting, and to debate when to call the Scout Executive 3 to ask us where in the G2SS it requires u

I don't really see this as a matter to discuss with the Venturing leader. This is a matter to take straight to the SE. I agree that it certainly sounds like the YP guidelines were interpreted far too loosely in this case, if everything reported ends up being true. And it also sounds like there was some other questionable behavior on the part of this particular leader. But I have to wonder what it is you want the SE to do about it? Remember, volunteers don't really "answer" to professional Scouters, even the SE. The council has very limited investigation and enforcement powers. My gue

Yes Yes Yes - this is how Scouting is supposed to work. The latest BSA guidelines, unfortunately, require that adults be present at overnight patrol activities. But I'd definitely recommend that the adults stay far, far away from the youth. Just check in with them a 2 or 3 times over the course of the weekend.

I saw that in the original thread too, but I didn't really read it as the adults "showing off." I think that if patrols are far enough apart (or, at least, if the adults are far enough away from the Scouts) the Scouts shouldn't have much opportunity for hovering at the adult's site during meal times. If hovering becomes a problem, you could try instilling an idea that patrol sites are "private." In other words, you may not enter another patrol's campsite area without express permission from a member of that patrol. That may just be a good idea for other reasons, too. I'm very much

For you to have such a dislike to any district interferance, you must really hate and distrust those who are district members Actually, Moose, I am a district member, complete with the silver loops and everything. But I think the issue is we just have a different idea of what the role of the district should be with regard to the Eagle process. In my opinion, the district should be offering a variety of resources to its units. We'll provide some round table content, some commissioners who can help you out when you ask for it, some fundraising opportunities, some day camps and summer

I guess im missing something in the fact that im not sure how an extra person or so to help out or just poking their head in....ON a day their working anyway....can in anyway cause a problem. Inviting yourself, or showing up uninvited, to ANY event, is just bad manners. If the Scout for some reason invites you to stop by and help out (I don't know why he would) then no problem. But if you're saying the someone from the district HAS to be present to observe an Eagle project... that's sounds like you're adding to the requirements, which is, of course, prohibited. Talk with leaders a

The original thread talks about the role one particular district plays in the Eagle Advancement process. Leaving aside some of the issues specific to that thread (Lone Scouts and registration issues), I'd like to get a feel for what everyone sees as being an appropriate level of District involvement for the Scout's Eagle project. As I've said before, I think the Guide to Advancement is pretty clear about the District's responsibilities - providing a final approval for the Eagle project, and scheduling an Eagle BOR. Most of the "work" and approvals remain at the unit level, though - obvi

Moose - What I'm saying is that Scouts should be treated fairly by the District representative who reviews Eagle projects. I'm not aware of any provision made that allows a district "Eagle Board" to summon a Scout to "re-appear" to re-present a project that the board already approved. To try to force a Scout to do so is unfair. What has changed between the time you approved the project, and right now? Is it only this question as to his registration status, which has already been resolved? How does that affect the quality of his project plan? Why was it approved in the first place if

Nothing hard and fast. A lot depends on the camp and the program you want to run. Some camps and activities are booked solid a year in advance - others you can register for the week of with no trouble. One thing you may find helpful is to task your Troop Historian with recording all of the outings your troop does, and include feedback useful for the next time you want to plan that outing. Stuff like, "Get reservation in early," or "Campsite floods after a light rain" - things like that.

MIB & Moose - All of this business worrying about registrations seems like it's well outside your duties as they pertain to reviewing and approving Eagle Projects. You're role is limited to assisting the Scout in completing one specific requirement. Concerns over his registration status were (appropriately) handled by the registrar - there's no reason for the advancement committee to worry about it. If hes not registared as a scout an Eagle Project cannot be given to him. SO by stating that way....they do not have legal projects. Who's "giving" an Eagle project to anybody? T

So I may be wrong, but the role of the District Advancement Committee to provide guidance and ultimately approval for the Eagle Scout project. It's not their role to question or challenge which program a boy is registered in (Boy Scouts vs Varsity vs Venturing vs Lone Scouts), and it's not their role to verify registration status either. It's not really their role to evaluate the Scout on the other Eagle requirements. Just approve the project, or provide feedback on how to improve the project, right? So while I understand that you're not very happy with this Lone Scout situation, (and