koolaidman

Officially the pins go nowhere on the uniform. Unofficially, hat.

Hmm. We were able to comment just yesterday...

I think the best solution is:

1. Realize that individuals will not get anything out of fundraisers. It is for the group.

2. Spend the money on the program, not the scouts.

3. Not worry about fairness. Everyone is going to have a different take on that anyway.

Compare to a PTA raising funds for a new playground at the local school: Will only the kids who sold overpriced candy bars, wrapping paper, gift baskets, etc get to play on it?

It's policy now. Time to build a bridge and get over it.

"I am not a tax professional so most likely everything I say is wrong" I'd actually like to know what the correct thing is.

 

My understanding is that you can't put a dollar amount earmarked for the boys. But you can assign an actual voucher for the boy. For example, sell $1000 in popcorn you earn a trip to super camp. So you can earn vouchers that have only value to do a scouting activities but they retain zero monetary value. Kinda like old disneyland E-tickets. This campout requires 1 voucher, another requires 8 vouchers.

I don't think this is skirting the issue, but still achieves the purchase. Thoughts?

I think they got off easy.

 

Really? In the grand scheme of things, this seems proportionate and appropriate. What did you expect, prison time?

Thanks for the update Merlyn. I think they got off easy.

Does he attend campouts? In addition to how long he has been in the troop, what is his rank?

Has he asked his patrol leader or senior patrol leader why or what he should work on?

Let one of the other committee members handle it.

Welcome go the forums gillashy and congratulations on your impending parenthood!

I got the product Basement recommended. It was very small, and filled my air mattress mostly full. Conveniently it filled it to the actual comfort level I like, so no need to remove or add any air.

It's best performance was as an aid to waking up the coals of our campfire. Worked perfectly and really got the fire blazing.

Thanks for the recommendation BD!

Spitballin' here: How about a decision equity arrangement where as the higher sellers get more of a say where to go summer camp.

Make 5% of sales, get 5% vote where to go to summer camp in 2 years.

Isn't that what ASMs are for?

Is the Eagle COH an OA event or are you officially representing OA at it? If not, then don't wear the OA sash.

I suppose some methods are more important that others. Since this is an old thread, I'm gonna take the "other side" on this one and see how someone may react to an "Eagle Spoof" consisting of an eagle over a checklist....

Service hours are not "awarded". I really hate that thinking. Scouter leaders are not sitting on high with benevolence to those surfs in their troop.

 

We view it as service hours are "recognized". Have you helped others?

 

And as hard is this candle light vigil is, it is EXACTLY the intent of the service hour requirement. People were in need. They helped. It was the right thing to do. Of course it fulfills the requirement. Anything less is sending the wrong message.

 

Service hours always help people in need. Homeless. Hungry. Sometimes the people are just harder to recognize such as people who are tired from hiking and so we create benches to help them rest. Or land scape a non-profit that helps others in need.

Turns out the class I took wasn't very helpful. I knew it was going downhill when the lecturer started asking, "So, what's a shoestring. Its different for different people" Specific treks were in the Texas and Colorado area from Houston. None were under $350/person. I was hoping for ideas of close by adventures for $50/person or something. (What I get for thinking).

 

Best thing I can add is to start looking at close by national parks or preserves. Sorry I wasn't much help.

I have a few resources to look up that they handed out and I am a firm believer in there being no replacement for doing your own research, however, I was hoping at least one or two "mini-adventures" would be discussed. It was just a little disappointing that nothing was very relevant for my troop. (at least the canoe camping class panned out)

A bit more information: The scout is Tenderfoot and the vigil was between two scouting for food weekends. Would this change or enhance anyone's opinion?

We did step back a bit and discuss (ASM and SM) that it is probably not within an 11 year old's maturity level to comprehend why requesting credit may seem discourteous. Ultimately SM thanked him for coming and declined to write the email. (If he really needs the hours, the thank you acknowledged he was there, so he has evidence).

This is why I hate service hour requirements. They should be struck from the book. The true requirement should be "do a good turn daily".

 

Why are you counting service hours for your boys? They have their own book, they can note where they served and when. (I know why we do it, to keeps parents busy ... ) If you really shouldn't be splitting hairs over your boys, why fret over this scout? Send him a note thanking him for his help, and let his SM be bothered with counting it or not.

Turns out the class I took wasn't very helpful. I knew it was going downhill when the lecturer started asking, "So, what's a shoestring. Its different for different people" Specific treks were in the Texas and Colorado area from Houston. None were under $350/person. I was hoping for ideas of close by adventures for $50/person or something. (What I get for thinking).

Best thing I can add is to start looking at close by national parks or preserves. Sorry I wasn't much help.

So we had the untimely death of 2 cubs in a pack chartered by our troop's CO. The pack put together a candlelight vigil for the family. Our Scoutmaster has a son in the pack and was in the pack planning meeting. He volunteered our troop, and put out the word that the boys should come help put up the stage, lights, run power cords etc, since it would be outdoors. (for the boy-led folks, the planning meeting was in the morning, the vigil was that night. No time to get action from our scouts while they were in school) We had a great response with our boys and they did a bang up job setting things up. Some other troops' scouts came by to help as well.

One scout of the neighboring troop emailed our scoutmaster requesting acknowledgement of service hours for helping to light candles, pick up litter and stow away gear. We weren't awarding service hours to our troop (none of the boys even asked), because we just think it was the right thing to do. For purposes of this discussion, lets disregard the whole scoutmaster approved part of the service hour requirement.

So how would you respond to this scout's email? Would you award service hours for this type of thing?

Yes, all true.

I agree with what is said about uniforming, setting the example, and all of that.

 

I guess my real question though is more concerning how much time is spent by the average CC at meetings.... not the committee mtgs, but the troop meetings or outings with youth in attendance

 

Our pack's CC is the Scoutmaster. He runs the committee mtgs which we typically hold separate from the boys, and not in uniform since it's done after work one evening during the week..... but the program is run by the CM, ACM, and DL's there's really no need for him to be around. he does visit on rare occasion, wearing his SM shirt.... but that's all.

 

Since I'm a pack person, and the troop is newly.... well let's say "refurbished", I have no troop model to build off of. I have no memory of a troop CC in my short time in scouting as a youth many moons ago.

 

So, for those of you with smooth running troops with good CC relationships, how much direct involvement does the typical CC have with the youth? How often do they visit the meetings?

That will give you an idea of how much you should be involved at activities.

Also, just ask the Scoutmaster....

So how long have you been a Life Scout? What do you need to complete before earning Eagle?

What I find frustrating is that IRS issues vague letters, with words like substantially in there. It would be nice if the BSA would draft a CAREFUL letter to the IRS governing what is substantial. Often the IRS picks thresholds like 50%.

 

It's possible that a request that would permit 40% of the money in the Scout Account, to be used towards that individual's participation in Scouting, and 60% in the Scout Unit general fund for the mission, would fly.

 

Substantially, the money goes to the unit. The 40% isn't an excess benefit, because it's limited to Scouting.

 

Somewhere in 8 figures of salary, someone can think to call a tax lawyer, instead of depending on volunteers at their local Church/Synagogue to do the heavy lifting.

What part of the country are you in Baggss? I'm attending a 1hr lecture on this topic soon. I will share what I learn if it is pertinent.

Had a leader ready to sign off on all kids swim tests, when leader wasn't qualified.

Had a leader pass out camperships to all parents and told them to fill them all out. (Trust me. No one needed them)

Leader dismissed.