00Eagle

Your unit has a religious committee and you need a liaison to it ???

 

Alex's unit is an independent unit (not chartered to a synagogue) operated under Jewish auspices (Sabbath-observant, Kosher). He needs a liaison to the council Jewish Committee on Scouting.

I don't mind the proliferation of neckers for each year group but would prefer a pack/group necker (esp if the pack feeds a troop at the same CO). However, the slides and hats need to stop. When I was a cub (90-93) it was wolf hat/slide (generic cub scout) and webelos hat/slide. No need for a slide a year (besides they should make their own).

18 in a den was way too big and in fact should have been 2-3 dens from the beginning (national guidelines: 6 to 8 boys in the den). I see a few options here: 1.) you can request via the cubmaster or the committee chair that the pack transfer your son to a different den. 2.) You can step up and offer to assist your den leader, especially with his own son (leaders often tag team to deal with each other's kids). 3) as a last resort, transfer to a nearby pack, which may be more difficult as packs are often tied to schools and your son's friends may not be in the new pack.

Split the younger program up like most other countries do, but group the younger years together ina European style scout "group." Put the Tigers and Wolves into Beavers. Keep the Bears and up in Cubs, make Cubs more like Webelos. If you want Kindergarteners, call it something else (I hear "Squirrels" being used in Ireland for a sub-Beaver age group).

 

 

There's a similar discussion going on today on SCOUTS-L.

Do you have an equivalent of what we in the UK call a Troops (or Pack' date=' or Unit) Assistant? We have SLs which is like an SM, ASLs which are like an ASM. But a troop assistant is rather different. They are basically there to turn up and be pointed in the right direction on a week to week basis. It's quite broad as well. Some chose to be uniformed some don't, some get involved in background planning, some don't. All in all it is a basic entry level position. If you don't have the equivalent it sounds like you could do with inventing one![/quote']

 

Skip, over here most leaders are parents of current scouts plus any younger alumni and parents of alumni you can hold on to.

 

At the troop level, the only positions were scoutmaster, assistant scoutmaster, and committee (support: fundraising, equipment management, advancement paperwork, transportation planning, event booking). Plus ScoutParent, a non registered position, intended for active parents.

 

With training becoming mandatory for quality awards (and even reregistration in some ares) some new positions have come about with in the past two years. The first was the 92U: Unit College Scouter Reserve (derived from 92, the position code for College Scouter Reserve, a seldom used district-level position). This position was intended for college-aged alumni (usually Eagles) who were previously registered as assistant scoutmasters and helped the troop during school breaks but did not have the time to complete the training. They only need the online youth protection course.

 

The ScoutParent designator is being phased out and another new position, 91U Unit Scouter Reserve (derived again from a rarely used distritct level 91) as a catchall registered, background-checked adult with no training required other than youth protection. This will probably develop to be similar to your sectional assistant position.

I know he'll have a great time. My cousin (venturing/district) and her husband (Eagle/scoutmaster) are active in your district and their son and daughter are on staff at Cherokee.

 

Anyway, it's the "boots on the ground" who will change anything. If there are enough adults and youth in your congregation who experienced Scouting and your Rabbi agrees,.you'll be able to charter a unit. If not, you'll bump into walls like these.

 

That's very true. Going at it from the outside (council coming in and asking a congregation to host a unit) is not going to work. We're not the UMC where the United Methodist Men love scouts and will willingly host a unit that doesn't even include members of the congregation.

 

However, there do seem to be synagogues, where if a parent comes forward and says, "I want a pack here for my son and his friends and I am willing to lead it." gets results.

 

This happened in my council, we had a Jewish pack come online at a Conservative synagogue in January 2012 because a dad wanted it. However he stepped down at the end of the program year and the pack crumpled before my committee could rescue it. We came online in May '12 and when I finally was ready to go with the rescue plan, the synagogue youth director nixed it as no parents were ready to step up.

 

If I can find a way to get Jewish parents involved, I will try to get another unit going. Until then, emblems workshops and Scout Shabbat are the order of the day.

I think that there are large cultural issues with the demographics within the Reform movement and scouting, that have nothing to do with gay issues. Between family expectations, the outdoors component, saluting flags and national service, etc., I don't see the Reform movement showing any interest in a gender based organization built around traditional American values. Like 00Eagle, I grew up Reform, and its just not the direction of them.

 

I mean, the membership policy is a reason not to charter units. However, refusing to acknowledge the religious accomplishments of the children within your congregation because you don't share values with a supporting organization... their priorities are simply not built around family and youth anymore.

1.) I love your policies and accommodation of all levels of observance. As a JCoS chairman, I try to accommodate all levels as well: I won't email the committee on Shabbat, I won't hold a mandatory event on Shabbat, and if we have a lunch meeting, it'll be at a Kosher restaurant (except there are none with in my council's territory, we duck into a "border city"). On an individual basis, I will email/call particular committee members on Shabbat, put out a table at a Council event on Saturday, and have a planning meeting with a vice chairman or my council's Membership VP and staff advisor at a treif restaurant.

 

On the other hand I've seen units that say "if you're wearing our pack numbers on your sleeve, don't violate Shabbat or eat treif." Not a policy I can support, since district and council events are open to all scouts, regardless of unit affiliation. What are they supposed to do? Go in civvies or tape over their unit numbers?

 

2.) I'll be glad to help you and pass on what I've learned in setting up a religious emblems program. I have a great rabbi-mentor in the next council over who is a strong supporter of scouting. When the day school kicked out his sons' unit, he got the synagogue board to allow him to charter a new pack. When he arrived in town, he started emblem workshops at his shul.

 

A key thing I've learned is you need to go where the scouts are: I hold classes after Hebrew school on Sundays with enough time for parents to get the kids fed and bring them to the event. My council covers 4 counties and I'm trying to expand beyond two locations, as sometimes they're not willing to travel far.

 

One plus to our programs is that it's increased the visibility of the religious emblems programs to the point where two scouts who heard about the program but didn't attend the workshops pursued and completed the awards on their own.

 

3.) Qwazse: it was more an attempt to give them a recognized award system (Religious Life or Arts and Hobbies Bronze/Gold/Silver and the Etz Chaim and TRUST) that the denominational youth program (USY) didn't offer.

I think that there are large cultural issues with the demographics within the Reform movement and scouting, that have nothing to do with gay issues. Between family expectations, the outdoors component, saluting flags and national service, etc., I don't see the Reform movement showing any interest in a gender based organization built around traditional American values. Like 00Eagle, I grew up Reform, and its just not the direction of them.

 

I mean, the membership policy is a reason not to charter units. However, refusing to acknowledge the religious accomplishments of the children within your congregation because you don't share values with a supporting organization... their priorities are simply not built around family and youth anymore.

I actually got approval to hold a Friday night Scout Shabbat (joint GS/BS) from the shul president via the 2nd VP. They seemed pretty enthusiastic and supportive.

 

I have heard a Reform rabbi echo some of your comments especially the Duty to G-d in the oath. He felt it was exclusive of non-monotheists. It's not, obviously, as we have emblem awards for Hindus and Buddhists.

 

Last year we had two egalitarian Conservative congregations host Scout Shabbat and religious emblems workshops. I plan to continue that and add another Congregation to the mix as my rabbi has a new synagogue so he'll host us. The new rabbi at my old synagogue is also a former scout, so we'll be able to continue or programs there.

 

Venturing would probably work well as an addon to the NFTY/USY programs. I've heard complaints that being involved as an officer in a youth group wasn't resume building and many felt they had no program other than attending regional dances. With politics being what they are, that will never happen.

If he can't or refuses to complete Aquanaut then he doesn't deserve to earn the Arrow of Light.

 

Uh Basement, since when has Aquanaut ever been required for Arrow of Light? If the kid can't do Aquanaut, no big deal. Earn another badge. I never earned Aquanaut (couldn't swim until 5th-6th grade) and in my day (Webelos from '91-'93) there was no push to earn all 20 pins.

 

The fundamental standard of cub scout advancement is "Do your best." That said, I think getting in the water and attempting to complete some of the requirements would be expected to qualify for the badge.

I agree with Alex. The 990N covers all organizations receving less than 50k a year. It does not including any financial reporting, other than a declaration your organization made less than 50k. Do PTAs usually receive more than 50k a year? Does your Pack receipts push the PTA over 50k? If not you're worried about nothing.

 

Now I have seen quite a few organizations run afoul of the new 990N reporting, losing tax exempt status over not filing for 3+ years. Mostly Alpha Phi Omega chapters and alumni associations.

I think that there are large cultural issues with the demographics within the Reform movement and scouting, that have nothing to do with gay issues. Between family expectations, the outdoors component, saluting flags and national service, etc., I don't see the Reform movement showing any interest in a gender based organization built around traditional American values. Like 00Eagle, I grew up Reform, and its just not the direction of them.

 

I mean, the membership policy is a reason not to charter units. However, refusing to acknowledge the religious accomplishments of the children within your congregation because you don't share values with a supporting organization... their priorities are simply not built around family and youth anymore.

True,the all-boy nature of scouting (at younger ages) does seem to also pose problems with egalitarian synagogues. I'm not sure even local option (short of full inclusion) will bring them back into the fold. Though marketing it as "Make sure that your synagogue's troop is one of the welcoming ones" might work. Reform would be the easiest to deal with in terms of religious observance. They could host a unit for the community (just like the Methodist Men), unlike a Conservative synagogue which would probably insist on full observance, even though the bulk of Conservative laity is non-observant (I'm one of these, a CINO if you will).

 

I do plan on hosting a Scout Shabbat and Emblems workshop at a Reform synagogue this year, if I can. I have some good contacts, the outgoing rabbi is a fan of scouts, I have a scoutparent/jewish committee member on the Hebrew School faculty who introduced me to the 2nd VP of the synagoue (a local cubmaster, too!!!).

 

Ever since Mortimer Schiff bankrolled the fledgling BSA and served as a founding vice president, American Jews have been involved in scouting. And we will remain in scouting. Scouting as an institution is too important to abandon it to the Gentiles.

Slight change of direction, but I was wondering how common it was for lodges to reject adult nominations from units. In our lodge, as long as the nominated adults meet the basic requirements, they are accepted. I cant recall a qualified nomination being turned down. I was surprised to read the descriptions of lodges that reject significant numbers of adults. If it makes a difference, I am from a very small council/lodge.

I don't think it's all that common. I've been in 3 lodges (412, 104, 43) and never saw it happen. On paper every lodge has an adult selection committee to review nominated adults. In most cases a steady stream of adults is needed to serve as advisors. They can't wait for all the aged out arrowmen to return.

 

The nomination process is usually rubber stamped, but I remember hearing one case on here where the lodge did kick back a lot of nominations and were then surprised no adults were nominated, as units stopped submitting paperwork just to have it rejected.

I'll keep this short for now but may expand upon it later. If Private Messages worked,, jasper18, I'd send you my contact information as I'm glad to commiserate and share advice. I'm chairman of my council's recently restarted Jewish Committee on Scouting (they suckered me into it).

 

Jasper18: I've pretty much seen everything you say and more. The reform movement's been quite hostile to us over the past decade plus. I'm ex-Reform myself, switching over once the condemnation policy came out during my college days (just switched which room at Hillel I sat in).

 

With few exceptions, Reform and Conservative* synagogues will not touch scouting with a ten foot pole. Any units chartered are either the result of a long standing relationship between the unit and the synagogue or, in rare cases, senior synagogue leadership were proponents of scouting. In nearly all cases, expect a little "dig" on the bottom of the units webpage expressing opposition to the BSA membership policy.

 

While there is little support for scouting in the institutions, Jewish kids are still in scouting. if their families are non-observant, they tend to fit in well in community units. We do still have friends in the community. I'm finding there are rabbis with kids in scouting, still.

 

If I have time, I'll come back and share more details later.

 

 

*=Conservative has no official statement as Reform, but are mostly expressing the same sentiment. I've had luck in holding Scout Shabbat and religious emblems workshops in conservative synagogues and might have two that might host a unit if i can find a leader.

Alex, where are you located? I'm a council JCoS chair and just happen to have a few Lion pilots still running in my territory, although my council isn't enthusiastic about this like the Minneapolis-St Paul Council. I know of at least one Jewish Lion cub next year (his brother is a Maccabee recipient). I may even create a religious "emblem" (temporary insignia patch) for him to earn.

 

 

 

 

 

After googling through pages about stock options, I found this: http://www.oa-bsa.org/resources/lodge/bestpractices/OrdealPlanningBackdater.pdf

 

So he wants a 1 yr out do these planning steps. 3 months out do this. 1 week before... day before...

There are no requirements for an ECOH. I would expect presentation of the medal and badge along with mom/dad/mentor pins. The Eagle Charge is a nice touch. A regular opening with pledge, oath and law would be nice.

AWE, The American Heritage Girls have dissolved their mutual support agreement

 

http://www.ahgonline.org/uploads/AHG..._Statement.pdf

 

 

This was being discussed in another thread but I felt this topic should be its own thread.

 

Now I'm injecting my own opinion here but I always saw AHG as a way for Boy Scout leaders who knew the BSA system and saw GSUSA as foreign (lack of chartering organizations, outdoor program, etc.) to create an alternative program that was also more religiously conservative. Also since BSA and GSUSA don't usually play nicely. This partnership allowed BSA COs to have a parallel program for girls under their organization that would allow families to find a program to accommodate their sons and daughters.

 

However AHG got its start by mooching off the BSA. Its YPT was the BSA YPT with amendments and rather than develop an advanced volunteer leadership course they sent their leaders to Wood Badge.

 

Can AHG stand on its own with out the BSA?

The leader knot is an individual effort. Record your progress on the corresponding tracking sheet, get your committee chair to sign off on it, then submit it to your district (your DE will know who should receive it). That said, packs should be promoting this program as a way to recognize their leaders.

Old news, please see page 2

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/commissioner/newsletter/pdf/063644_complete.pdf

 

@Neal: yes. Although if the CC is the CR, it would be key 2.

 

Heck, I've seen District Key 4's and 5's depending on how many DEs are on staff.

Current rules: all scouts eligible may be elected. To be elected your name must appear on more than half the ballots cast. Each voter may vote for all, some or none of the candidates. He can also decline to turn in a ballot which doesn't count against anyone.

 

Until about '97, scouts could only vote for up to half the slate: 5 or 6 eligible meant no more than three elected. If you had six voters, two eligible and it was a 3-3 tie, I think they went to another round of ballots before decarling no one was elected.

 

Adult rules just changed this year: Scoutmaster may be nominated if he has a year in the position and the camping time. Otherwise: one adult for every three scouts elected (or fraction) may be nominated.

 

Used to be one adult nomination for every 50 scouts in the unit. Troops with 51 or more could send 2 adults, etc.

Welcome fellow New Jerseyian!

Awesome idea! I taught "Duty to God" at University of Scouting for my ticket. The previous instructor had "Gone Home" and we couldn't locate his notes. I was inspired by the services we had done at Wood Badge.

 

I don't have anything specific in mind, but if you message me your email address I will send you a few resources that may be useful. I'm sure you can cherry pick something that's cub appropriate.

 

----

 

Edited: I checked out the link above and found a few of the resources I would have sent you including:

http://www.ctyankee.org/fs/page/001682/scoutworshipservices.doc

 

I had that one in my email but didn't know where it came from.(This message has been edited by 00Eagle)

My sources within Alpha Phi Omega have alerted me that the council in/near Zanesville OH is looking to hire a DE by January.

I was at University of Scouting yesterday and took the cub scout STEM-NOVA class. In our council (which was a pilot council before it launched nationally), mentor registration is via a form and handled by the council advancement committee in the same manner as merit badge counselor applications.