LPC_Thumper

First talk to your newspaper, and find out what THEY would like. You might want to get a picture of the Eagle with his completed project, and a little write up about why he did the project. Also some non-scout info is nice (things like quarterback for football team, manager basketball team, president of chess club, local juvenile deliquent, what ever) One of the nicest things about Scouting, is how different each Scout is. Good luck, but really talk to your local paper and see what they are looking for.

Please excuse the double post, not sure how that happened... I am of the opinion that it just isn't a big deal, unless the parent or Scout want it to be that.

As the Chairman for Eagle Advancement in my District, let me ask you a question (Honest, this is an attempt to really answer what you've asked) What's the purpose of this meeting? Why do we have Scoutmaster Conferences? Now with that in mind, why can't a dad do that for a son? Because others might think the boy got off easy? Most of the SMs I know are HARDER on their sons not EASIER. To give the Scout an opportunity to worry some? Oh don't worry, the BoR will take care of that task for you... If you want an ASM to help with your own son, that's cool, but really what's the big de

As the Chairman for Eagle Advancement in my District, let me ask you a question (Honest, this is an attempt to really answer what you've asked) What's the purpose of this meeting? Why do we have Scoutmaster Conferences? Now with that in mind, why can't a dad do that for a son? Because others might think the boy got off easy? Most of the SMs I know are HARDER on their sons not EASIER. To give the Scout an opportunity to worry some? Oh don't worry, the BoR will take care of that task for you... If you want an ASM to help with your own son, that's cool, but really what's the big de

We had a young man in our troop with this problem. He was borderline, and so just appeared a bit off. His dad (an oral surgeon that deserves his reputation as "the best" and "hard to work for") started to come to our Troop meetings. It was YEARS before we learned that this young man used to bite his den members when they got loud. The dad was there more to try and help with the sanity of the situation. This kid was "just not average." I'm trying to be polite here, it was just off of what I had seen in the 15+ years of adult scouting I had under my belt at that time. Dad would bring a pape

Hi, Let me put my district advancement committee hat on and do my best. All I can do is tell you what happens with our Eagle BoRs. OK? We don't talk about what they did for leadership in anything other than for Eagle. (Leading question) Shouldn't the unit (either the SM or ASMs, or the BOYS) run the unit? The district isn't going to even try. Now if it comes up that the scout didn't have the leadership done for Eagle, we would conference with the SM (who is attending the BoR or we don't start). Previous assignments won't come into play. Or rather, shouldn't come into play..

Hi, There is a fine line between doing too much and doing too little. I have helped several Eagle canidates and would be happy to offer some advise to you as well. First, doing things at school is a good place to start. You have read some people's opinions as to having too many "building project" type of Eagle Leadership Service Projects. In my district, that's what we encourage so that you have something to refer back to after you graduate from the program. Ask your scoutmaster what your district thinks. If he doesn't know, as him to ask at the next Roundtable. Second, present a pro

I had someone ask me, so I thought I'd fling this out. I will also post in ASdvancement Forum Since Ventures can earn Bronze Award that is Sea Scout based, can they also earn the other Sea Scout awards including Quartermaster? My knee jerk reaction is, "No, since they can't hold the offices required for Sea Scout Awards. You know with Eagle Awards it says you can do Venture offices. That sort of tells me you can't." I also told the person I'd check resources I have. Please help if you can give reference. My local office just stared and blinked with asked. Thanks

I had someone ask me, so I thought I'd fling this out. I will also post in Venture Forum Since Ventures can earn Bronze Award that is Sea Scout based, can they also earn the other Sea Scout awards including Quartermaster? My knee jerk reaction is, "No, since they can't hold the offices required for Sea Scout Awards. You know with Eagle Awards it says you can do Venture offices. That sort of tells me you can't." I also told the person I'd check resources I have. Please help if you can give reference. My local office just stared and blinked with asked. Thanks

You hold elections, and allow the boys to run the troop. You know what happens then? The SPL says at the end of six months "Man I'm ready to not do these things!" Another young man will step up, and then you burn him out too. Only problem with this method... the first 5 months of a six month term are rocky adventures in group dynamics. The last month flies by and it's time to do it all over again. If you have a big troop, be sure to let your older scouts use all the offices. I mean have den cheifs, patrol guides, instructors, etc. That way you don't hear pleas like "I want to be SPL becau

When we form new scout patrols we give them a fully equiped patrol box. This box has everything except food in it. I mean it has soap, and wash tubs, and dishes and glasses, and pots and pans. It has a propane stove and a can of propane. It also have a dutch oven and 10 pounds of charcol. I mean it has everything. In the box is a box of wooden matches. On their first campout, which is just the new patrols. If you are an older scout, and aren't on staff for this campout you can't come. We go over everything from how to pitch a tent, take care of your sleeping bag, clean a dutch over, what

One thing that I haven't noticed is an answer to the question, "What do I do, not file a tour permit?" The short answer is YOU SHOULD ALWAYS FILE TOUR PERMITS. If for no other reason that to eliminate your financial obligation for secondary insurance. (It also helps council with funding from other sources to be able to prove they have served so many youth in a certain amount of time.) I'm for using the rolled up g2ss. When district/council people get in the way of program, I really believe they should be beaten. I can say this since I'm a district training chair, and a council venture cha

Your analogy is on target, I think. If there is an advancement report for this merit badge then the scout will not be hung up. I agree that if what you suspect happened then this is wrong, but since it won't cause a problem for the scout, it should be fine.

In my troop, we usually have 3 or 4 scouts run for office of SPL. We go with most votes cast that night. For us it is a two week process. First week, nominations are made. Now when I say nominations, you should think more like "Hey I want to be the SPL!" Then they get a week to talk things over away from Scouts, and get their parents permission to attend JLT (which will occur the following weekend, after the election) Attending JLT for new PL, ASPL, SPL is mandatory, and if you are not available, then you are not eligible to be elected. The canidates also select who they would like f

As a child of the 60's I can tell you that my scoutmaster was a big part of my life then. I still smile when I see heavy equipment (he was a heavy equipment operator). From time to time we see each other. I'm amazed to watch the interaction, because I'm still striving for him to tell me that I'm doing well. That means a lot to me, even now as a professional in my 40's in the 21st century. I was a scoutmaster for a troop. My boys from that troop still stop by, the youngest one just graduated college, and came to see me. Just wanted me to know. I was an ASM from another troop. My boys

I am my district's training chair. We are currently getting a training team off the ground. Your post caught my eye, because we are doing New Leader Essentials, and Cub Leader Specific in 15 days.Here's what we are doing: First, 2 months ago, I found five volunteers to help me. All have various experience in Cub Scouts. I even have a commissioner on staff. We have met twice, and practiced our presentations with each other, and are now making our handouts. Some of the staff are actually redoing the handouts. Second, 2 months ago, we started advertising this course. The training itself

Good point... I think your way would work BETTER

Hi... Call me naive (you won't be the first), BUT... here's what I'd do. I'd take the boat, give it the boat salesman, have him sell it. Take the money and give it back to the District. They could use it for FOS, or whatever. Why do it that way. Well for starters, If I were a member of your district and when (not if, but when) I found out that you got such a treat. I'd SCREAM, why do you get all the good stuff? It wouldn't be pretty. Now if someone like me that's smart enough to realize what I'd do before I do it has such a strong opinion on the topic, imagine what you'd get fro

What I would is to go to the district office (bring food, it's amazing what people will do for food) and ask to review your advancement report file. (Hopefully they have a copy of all the advancement reports.) This is probably what they audit the Eagle Application from anyway. I'm very sure they have those records. Now if they don't have records the way you do, show them your advancement reports, I'm sure they'd appreciate the audit (see that's what the food was for, a bribe). Good Luck, let us know how it goes, OK?

Now you see why we use a lawn chair... Sure we can lash it to a tripod, not really a flag, but it's something. And if an adult is dumb enough to try and sew a lawn chair to their sleeve, we can leave him on the trail, at least he'll have a place to sit. I agree there is such a thing as an adult uniform, and a youth uniform. While both have things on them that are similar, there are very important differences.

Packsaddle is absolutely correct. I volunteer to help scouts with this. All that REALLY matters is the Troop advancement record. When we receive a packet we go through the district's copies of those forms and verify that John Scout had the correct badges to attain each of his ranks. If he did, great. If he didn't let's go talk to the adults and see what's up. There was a point that got me thinking, if this badge was from a couple of years ago which piece of the blue card do you have? Let me go over where each goes. There are three parts, one is for the counsellor (when the card is signed,

In my district we run a Merit Badge Pow Wow. This past year, we had 275 Scouts show up to register in 38 classes. Now let's ask the easy question... Did every boy earn at least one badge? NO Since not every boy earned at least one badge was the event a failure? NO Here's the thinking at least from the Los Padres Council... Merit Badges give boys an opportunity to learn something they didn't already know. Some times this learning will turn into a badge. In that case GREAT, good work. In other cases the boy may find that there is absolutely no way they are going to these events ag

Name: Lawn Chair Patrol Flag: Tripod lashed together with THE official Lawn Chair Patrol Emblem lashed to it. Emblem: We have a specific lawn chair (these are the large folding ones that have canvas seat, and back, aluminum padded arms) We have graduated parents out of the lawn chair patrol (their sons have turned 18, and they want to do something other than Scouts) Yell: "(various yawns)... Is it time to eat yet?" The more disorganized the better. We cook together, and do things together. We try to show our Scouts how fun this can be. We work hard to have the best food, sometimes w

FScouter has a VERY valid point. I understand your desire to keep the troop together, that's good. You need to be VERY careful that what you are doing is including, not just pushing together EVERY member of your troop. Yes this is hard, yes this is time consuming. Yes it will make a difference. As a former Scoutmaster, I'm very proud of my Eagles (10 in 5 years), but I'm also reminded of the one young man that sits in a state prison, involved in a program reserved for murderers. Do I think I did a good job with my 10? You bet. Did the other kid fit in? No way, not even once. Do I wish I could

First, tell him Congratulations from an old dude. Second, as an old dude, let me tell you, we "graduate" scouts to a Venture crew very regularly (think like a Pack to Troop move) Venturing is FUN!! Might be because I'm on the Council Venturing Committee, might be because I see lots of good kids that aren't ready to leave BSA as they sit for the Eagle B of R (District Eagle Chair), or is it that I like the fact that kids get to be kids a little longer and don't have to register as a young adult to stay in the program (I see this as the Committee Chair for a nice BIG troop) Good luck i