KoreaScouter

There's also an excellent Council Camp run by Colonial Virginia Council's Heritage District, Camp Chickahominy. Camp Chick's just north of Williamsburg, about 15 minutes from Jamestown, and just a few minutes farther from Yorktown, where Cornwallis surrendered to Washington. The Yorktown battlefield has changed little from how it looked in 1781. There's a 26 mile roadway between Yorktown and Jamestown, maintained by the National Park Service, called the Colonial Parkway. It makes an outstanding hike for older Scouts or those who need their Hiking 20-miler. An absolutely wonderful part of the country -- and we haven't even mentioned Colonial Williamsburg. KS

We use a specially-made patrol flag streamer that moves each month to whichever patrol is the POM. Also, I have a board hanging in our Scout hut on which we list, by month, the POM. I'm not averse to giving them more incentives, such as no post-meeting cleanup during their month, or extra cocoa rations, or some such nonsense, but I usually leave that stuff to the PLC, and they're comfortable with it the way it is. We have our PLC on Wednesday; maybe I'll ask the SPL to bring it up... KS

And if you don't mind REAAAALLLLLLYYYYY long travel, Far East Council offers WB as a week long course versus two weekends. KS

If you look at the "information for parents" portion of the Boy Scout Application, it says right on there that there are no secret activities; all are open to parents at any time. I call attention to this at my new families' conferences, and also let them know that in some cases, exercising that option may require some long walks into the backwoods. Many leaders are afraid of unregistered or untrained parents disrupting things, and institute a personal policy to keep them away. Well, they can do it only if the committee/CO/District lets them. I prefer to deal with people on their own merits, rather than assume they're going to be a problem and have broad-brush restrictions. It's worked for me so far. KS

As far as pants go, we told our Scouts before Klondike Derby to wear pants that wouldn't soak up water, would dry quickly, and were big enough to wear thermal layers underneath. We definitely recommended against cotton. For drying clothes, if it's a short-term camp, bringing extra dry clothing sealed in plastic bags will get you through. If it's not, you can usually dry wet clothes the next day by draping them over a line or over the tent rain fly. That won't dry them at night, but it's another argument for bringing dry clothes. KS

ASM1: I never said they were in a partnered joint venture...how 'bout bumping me up to 95%? Hey, I'll bet you guys could play a mean game of Risk at summer camp! Let's link up sometime... KS

When I was stationed in Europe in the mid-90s, I had the good fortune to attend a security leadership course at the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany. My NATO counterparts drummed into our heads, among other things, that Europeans and Americans see war and conflict in a fundamentally different manner. This is a generalization, but to the American, war is a thing that happens someplace else -- we send people, some don't come back, but our fundamental way of life back home is unchanged. To the European, war means you're dead, your family is dead, your home and business is destroyed, and your city, perhaps your country, lies in ruins. That can really shape your opinion of conflict, no matter where it takes place. That's one thing. In this particular case, there's an economic national self-interest factor at play involving the Europeans, particularly France and Germany. They have made significant investments in Iraq's oil industry, and fear, perhaps justifiably, that a shooting war will jeopardize their investment, and that any subsequent government in Iraq will nullify any agreements or contracts they had with the former regime. There's plenty of precedent for it. I'm looking forward to ASM1's reasoned analysis of this whole situation. After all, I'm just an ignorant Philistine who's only lived, worked, and toted a gun in most of the places we're talking about here. One thing I'm not is a politician ('cuz I'm not allowed to be!). And most importantly, one thing I don't have is all the answers...I can hardly wait. KS

Nate; Our troop uses a "Patrol of the Month" competition, with the criteria taken directly from the National Patrol Award criteria. We give points for uniform inspection results, meeting/activity attendance, service projects, patrol meetings, patrol record books up to date, advancement, and so on. You can set up the points any way you want. The key is that an ongoing competition gets your patrols focused on the criteria and working towards it. Good Luck. KS

BW's right of course, they can. I'm the SM for our troop, which includes my son. I can and have signed MB blue cards for him, at MB Roundups, when a group of Scouts are doing at badge in conjunction with an outing, and so on. Whenever possible, though, I steer him to other registered MB counselors, for the experience of interacting with and being tested by other adults -- good for 'em, I think. I also have some leaders who counsel multiple badges. I try to make sure our Scouts don't go to the same counselor all the time...same rationale. KS

The latest copy of Backpacker magazine is their 2003 Gear Guide. Look through that, get an idea which pack will fit your needs, then shop for price, including used. Many people gear up for an activity, then decide they don't like it, don't have time, whatever, and they have near-new stuff they want to unload. KS

In my relatively short tenure as a BSA leader, I've come to realize that there's no such thing as "too much training". I've taken everything I can, including WB (ticket complete and my neckerchief, beads, and woggle are on their way). If nothing else, your level of training will partially offset the vast majority who take none beyond YP & Fast Start. It will make difference, in small ways right away, and for many years in ways you may never see. KS

Oh good! Another "Are you still beating your wife?" poll. Faulty premise right off the bat. I'm reminded of Colin Powell's comments to Tim Russert on Sunday's "Meet the Press": "I don't analyze poll results...". KS

Packsaddle; The rainbow "icon", as a vehicle bumper sticker/air freshener, or on clothing, is reputed to be a symbol that should set off your "gaydar". It's probably just one of those stereotypes, like when a guy wears a pink shirt, or a woman's wearing a g-shock watch, or other such nonsense. I'd continue putting them in your yard without hesitation... KS

The actual Requirement #2 says in part: "List the names of individuals who know you personally and would be willing to provide a recommendation on your behalf." Whether or not those recommendations are required ahead of time is questionable. However, if the written recommendations aren't given to the board at the time of the BOR, somebody (District Advancement Committee?) has to go out after the BOR and ask the references for letters. That just drags the whole thing out. I'm nugging through all this right now for one of my Life Scouts who has his Eagle BOR in Seoul tomorrow... KS

I'm really getting into the new SPL and PL handbooks while putting together a Troop JLT presentation. There's a very good description in the SPL handbook on how to do the Venture Patrol. Laura, it's basically how you and Denver describe it. They're their own patrol, wear the Venture strip above their pocket, and elect their own PL/appoint their own APL. The concern that the Venture patrol will "run the troop" is only partially valid, as a concern, anyway. First, the troop as a whole elects the SPL. Odds are, he'll be from the Venture patrol based on demographics, but that's not a given. Second, if the oldest, most experienced Scouts are in the Venture patrol, why shouldn't they carry a disproportionate share of the responsibility for running the Troop? Finally, if any unwholesome trends began to develop as a result of Venture patrol "overrepresentation" among Troop leadership ranks, that's why BSA has us. I see the same issues others do with having a 12-year old First Class patrol leader and a 15-year old Life Scout in the same patrol. Theoretically, the green bar's the green bar. However, you can't ignore the fact that a 15-year old doesn't want a 12-yera old telling him what to do. We've been peeling our Venture-age Scouts off of skill instruction portions of our troop meetings for WJ and HA planning. But, we haven't taken the final step of actually putting them into a Venture Patrol. It's probably overdue... KS

They had Space Exploration and Atomic Energy MBs in 1933? Somebody at National was way ahead of their time! KS

If you need any old badges that you can't get donated, and have a photo, digital or scanned, or graphic representation (even as a powerpoint slide), I can get them made as one-offs over here. They don't work for free, but I will be your "quartermaster" and handle the mail... Private message me if you need my help. I'd be honored to be part of this... KS

As I understand the BSA position (and please correct me if I'm wrong), it's not that homosexual members pose a molestation risk -- we have YP policies and procedures that should mitigate that risk. The position is that they do not provide an appropriate behavioral role model. If that is in fact the position, then Bryan's second post would be right on the money. In other words, OGE, your assertion that straight, married, family men have been the molesters may be 100% accurate, but as far as BSA's policy is concerned, it's 100% irrelevant. If this underscores anything, it should be that nobody gets a "pass" when it comes to YP policies. Let me tell you a little story. A campout a few months ago with our feeder pack's second year WEBELOS den along. One of my Scouts, there on my tour permit, gets upset at a scary story told around some embers by one of the WEBELOS leaders to his critters. I was a little perturbed by this, since I know my Scouts, and know this one does not like scary stories (otherwise fearless), and I make it a point, as do the other Scouts in the troop, not to tell them when he is within earshot. Anyway, he's now a basket case, and one of the other WEBELOS leaders, who happens to be his next door neighbor in real life, now intends to let my Scout stay in his tent for the night. Of course I vetoed that immediately as an absolute no-go. What did I get in reply? "Oh, he's married with kids, a registered leader, and the Scout's his next door neighbor...". My reply: "Read this (GTSS section on adult/youth accomodations); I don't care of Lord Baden-Powell is his next door neighbor; unless B-P's his dad, he's not sleeping in his tent -- this conversation is over". So, it ended as it should have, but it's real easy to get on that slippery slope. That leader left Scouting about a month later over an "unrelated" disagreement with his pack. KS

I was on my way to work in January 1986, listening to the radio, when I heard the news of the Challenger disaster. It seems to me we were collectively paralyzed with shock and sorrow; everyone was preoccupied with it, and the "aftershocks" continued for quite a while. To those of you who remember Challenger, is it the same there now? It doesn't seem to be overseas, here anyway. Things seem much more business-as-usual than after Challenger. Are we becoming desensitized to tragedies like this, or is there some other explanation? Does a disaster have to eclipse 9-11 to capture our attention like Challenger did? Today, on Scout Sunday, with all of us in uniform, our chaplain offered a special prayer during Mass to the victims and families of the Columbia crew...then reminded the congregation that 26 of the first 29 astronauts were Scouts. KS

Okay, just thinking out loud. Instead of books of any kind, BSA sells Palm Pilots with the handbook, MB pamphlets, requirements book, fieldbook, JL handbooks, everything including the elusive "holy grail" National By-Laws, a site-licensed TroopMaster mobile, the star chart software, the Dutch Oven Cookbook, all loaded on it. When BSA changes requirements, a simple download will update the documents with the changes. Include a photo editor, and you have all the illustrations, too. But wait, there's more! You can use the backlight as a nightlight in your tent, and the schedule alarm can wake you up in the morning too! Seriously, I like the small bound books better than large 3-ring binder layouts...easier to lug on outings -- I still carry the small SM handbook. I don't mind buying a new requirements book every year...it's not that expensive and the portability and convenience is worth it. KS

No two situations are alike, but I had a similar one when I was a Cubmaster. Very critical, complained about the program delivery, pack meetings too boisterous (huh?), pack meetings on a bad night, ad nauseum. As the Cubmaster, I thought it was my responsibility to have the den leader's back and take on these "distractions" so he could focus on the program. I tried everything with this guy, but he was too busy to help, wasn't interested in training, and I couldn't get to a win-win with him. After talking with my unit commish, I called the guy and told him I'd like to have a minute of his time at his son's next den meeting. I took a district list of all the packs in the area, with contact information, and a transfer form. When we met, I told him we're volunteers doing the best we can with the time and resources we have available. If our best isn't good enough for him, I would help him find a pack to transfer to, and fill out the paperwork for him. For reasons I can't explain, he didn't transfer, and was much less disruptive after that. I was surprised, because I thought he'd leave. Sample of one; as they say on TV, "your actual results may vary...". KS

Rooster: I hope you don't go, but if you really are, I need to ask you a couple questions first: 1) What ever happened to Roosters 1 through 6? 2) Once and for all, which came first, the chicken or the egg? I figured if anyone would know, the Rooster would... Let's all try to meet in England at WJ 2007...c'mon, whaddya say? KS

I'm also concerned about offering the same Troop JLT after our elections in March. Depending on who gets elected, at least a few of our Scouts will have had the same TJLT four times. We issue copies of the new PL and SPL handbooks to all our green bars, including the assistants. What we haven't done is make the connection between the books (I think they're fabulous, by the way -- my congratulations to whoever worked on them!) and the Troop JLT. As I write this, I'm designing our lesson plan for our next TJLT, based on the PL/SPL handbooks. The sections almost completely dovetail, with the SPL somewhat deeper and broader of course. Importantly, they're complimentary, and really start the focus from the theoretical to the practical. Exercises and activities after each section will reinforce the material, get the green bars some hands-on, and break up whatever monotony may set in from the powerpoint slides (none I hope). I'm glad to hear BSA is revising TJLT, and that it may follow the new handbooks. I can't wait until it hits the streets, and hope it's not too much different from my own. KS

I live by two oaths, the one we repeat every week (which includes "duty to country") and the one in which I've sworn to defend the Constitution of the United States -- and have done so under six Commanders-in-Chief (Presidents to the civilians in the crowd). I've defended that Constitution in some fabulous places and circumstances, and in some awful ones. I've enjoyed serving under the leadership of some Commanders-in-Chief more than others. However, I would never refer to any of them in the terms used to frame the "poll" that begins this thread. I thought there were rules of decorum here?! I don't know what Yoshimi's status in the movement is, but I would call his attention to a few things that may get his compass needle back on bearing: Citizenship in the World MB Requirements 1B, 2A, 2B, 3B, and 5B(2). Citizenship in the Nation MB Requirements 1C, 2. Citizenship in the Community MB Requirement 10. Call me old-fashioned if you will, but I submit that making disparaging personal remarks about the President is no way to "...demonstrate good citizenship...". KS

Try the online versions of US Cavalry Store and Brigade Quartermaster, too... KS