madkins007

Yeah, I know they are seperate- but keeping the specific terms straight is tough for us neophytes. Whose brilliant idea was that anyway? I'm a middle-aged guy who has been trying to keep up with a lot of other stuff and they do THAT to us. Naughty naughty!

(Hypothetical breakroom conversation...) Coworker: So, Mad, how long ya been doing this Scout thing? Madkins007: Oh, since 1994 when my son entered Tiger Cubs. Coworker: Wow! So, tell me, what does the BSA have against homosexuals? I mean, we know that homosexuals and pedophiles are different situations, and I know you have some rules about groups of 3 or something to protect people. So what's the deal? Me: I don't know how to answer that,let me find a better resource for you. Try calling the Scout Exec at the local Scout office, or let me give you my commisioner's home pho

I don't see LPC as an anchor in any way- because he saw the glitch, saw his strengths, and made changes. To me, an anchor is the person who is actively resisting changing their erroneous and hurtful ways. I have seen few anchors (at work or in Scouts) change. The glitch in the 'anchors and sails' bit is that MOST people are other parts of the ship, not necessarily pulling it along, but not holding it back, either. Some of these folk can indeed be put to better use that allows their skills and interests to more fully blossom. Others may develop into anchors. Yet others (most?) are mos

Making sails... much less making sails out of anchors... is not a skill I have. I know some of the wonderful BSA programs (Woodbadge, PTC, etc.) can go a long way to fanning one's passion for the BSA but I am not sure I could get any of the anchors I have known to go. I'm a volunteer with an interest in youth, magic, computers, and a lot of other stuff. If I knew how to make sails and convert anchors, I'd probably be in a much higher paying job and in a lot of demand. If ANYONE knew how to reliably accomplish this, they would be some of the highest paid and most demanded consultants

Oddly enough, I am more irritated by the idea of 'Eagling out' than I am about 'paper Eagles'. When my adult leaders complain about older Scouts or younger Eagles 'getting too busy' for Scouting with school, work and a budding social life, I get a little irked. I had thought that we were trying to help these guys become 'men of good character', ready to go out and share what they learned with the world. It never occured to me that we were supposed to keep them in the meetings for the rest of their life. Heck, I even wanted to contact employers and coaches (with the Scout's permi

Personally, I think the best compromise is for the troop to maintain accurate records, and make them available to the Scout when asked- but to expect that the Scout is doing his own tracking and is responsible for his own advancement. I think EagleDad's story demonstrates that we can easily make things TOO easy for the Scouts with every good intention. On the other hand, I'd hate to think about scenarios where a Scout looses key paperwork, or uses a bad system for a while then gets his act together and wants to move. The adult leaders and troop should provide a safety net, but not n

Those danged meeting-time MB classes! We have about a 10-20% completion rate from those, and Scouts complain bitterly about meetings that are too much like school- yet any talk of trying to change things is met with a howl from the Scouts and old-timers. We tried to do them in ways that met the requirements buy were also fun- only to have virtually no one ever do the 'at home' parts. One time we did 'Citizenship in the World', and the guy who usually ran it begged off after the schedule was set. No big loss- he ran it pretty lamely, but no one else wanted to step up. I tool

Like I said, I am Venture ignorant. The good news is that it is fixable! I have not seen a live Venturer yet- which obviously does not mean there are none around here- it is a BIG council. Heck, even out Scout shop rarely sells any Venture-related stuff. I KNOW career exploring is doing OK locally as my daughter is in a Police Explorer's group but I also know that it is not the same thing anymore.

(Sung vaguely to 'I'm a little teapot') We were the Antelopes swift and stout. These are our antlers Here is our snout. When we get together Hear us shout WE ARE THE ANTELOPES WATCH OUT! I believe this makes 3 of us!

We told our DLs that they really ought to have an activity a week- pack meeting, den meetings, outing (with proper paperwork), etc. Over the summer, we asked each DL (with some others helping) to host an activity a month open to the entire unit. The CM, ACM, and CC ran one as well, which gave us 4 or 5 per month- about one a week. I think 'one a week' works nicely.

Other 'lessons' learned from this thread... - It is our business to determine the morality of a game like D&D, rather than the parents. - It is our right to confiscate personal property that is not illegal by the G2SS or actual area laws. - That boy's time at camp (summer or weekend) needs to be 100% programmed, even their free time. - We have to tell boys how to use their free time so it is used wisely. - WE get to define what a wilderness or camping experience is for others based on our own preferences. - We camp (summer and weekend) primarily to earn advanc

Here is what *I* have learned so far from this thread... "Scouts is about advancement. All activities should be advancement centered." (paraphrased from several posts) I'm going to go off on a bit of a rant about this issue- forgive me, please! Advancement IS NOT what Scouting is about, and any unit that puts advancement front and center is making a TERRIBLE mistake! Boy Scouts is about learning and doing new things, and personal growth. We recognize SOME of this growth with advancement. Scouts should not take the Computer MB to earn a patch or to fill a dead slot in a sc

Your local 'feed and grain' store will carry huge bags of the stuff at dirt cheap prices- near enough to wholesale for most purposes. If I may offe a few ideas on bird feed... 1. Contact some local experts with no commercial interest in the situation about the right birdseeds for your area. What attracts what birds, what germinates or not if it falls to the ground? What is the best way to offer the various seeds (tube feeder, pan feeder, ground scatter, etc.) Audobon, local nature center, county extension service... 2. Find or make a little give-a-way booklet on the best w

Cajun- I knew you were good about that. We too had a situation where an older administration of eiether the pack or troop hurt the relationship between the Scouts, church, and school. I am vague on exactly what happned but it hurt both units for years. Even today, after a crew of us worked hard to build the unit nearly from scratch to about 40 boys at the peak (representing nearly 40% of the avaiable students!), the pack is back down to about 9 boys in part because someone involved in the old scandals got involved again somehow. Makes you pretty sensitive to things, sometimes, d

Yeah, I've always felt a little bad about the flag bit. I did not mean to single anyone out and only commented about the hats since there were about a dozen guys wearing hunting caps, etc. on a brisk day and I just figured that detail slipped their minds. Had the other guy not removed his hat I had no intention of saying a word about it or waiting- I just nodded to him then started the calls.

My name is Madkins and I am Venture ignorant. As a unit leader, I have NO idea what it can do for our unit, other than the little bit I heard about in training. Since I don't know about it, I can't really promote it within my unit, or at Roundtable, etc. What I'd really like, however, is SOME tool to help recapture Scouting excitment in my older Scouts- maybe even my drop outs or that group that just hangs out in the corner. I'd LOVE to see a high-energy program offered to my unit- a short, powerful (DEW-like) 'commercial', some hands-on stuff, a few Venture Scouts in unifo

BW said "What would happen in your specific professional environment to an employee who wandered the break room spewing complaints in hopes that the management might "possibly" wander in and be educated?" LOL! Anyone who complains in the break room HOPING to be overheard would generally be considered bit off level. However, in our company, 'gripe and grumble' sessions are considered a healthy venting outlet as long as they don't turn into a negative attitude. Upper level managers often share in these sessions in the break rooms, gym, smoking areas, etc. and we sometimes see results f

Kittle- you do sound a little frayed around the edges. I hope things get better. It still sounds like there is something going on other than the different activities. With so few people, communication may not be the key point, but something else seems to be going on. I always taught leaders in Scouting that our key #1 rule was KISMIF- Keep It Simple Make It Fun. If the leaders ain't having fun, ain't no one having fun! What has to happen here to make it fun for you again? Other parents stepping up to take over? Use the next couple months to see who you think can do it, then ask

Cajuncody, I know you won't do this, but I'd like to mention to be careful to not play games or try to 'trick' or bully your way in. We want a smooth working relationship with the school and it is absolutely amazing how fast a small incident will be broadcast to all teachers and parents. That aside, I DID have another idea- can the Scouts or Scout leaders volunteer to raise and lower the flags for a few days or a week? Personally, I think sheer visibility is a key factor in all levels of recruiting. Another possibility that we kicked around locally is to put together a 'youth program

PNWScouter- Heck, all I was planning was to show that wearing the uniform sends messages- but your idea of having tghe uniform somehow transmit skills and knowledge would be pretty dang cool! Do you think that would drive up the prices?

BW- Sorry, I guess I'm getting gun shy! the comment "Its a big program, you cannot make good assumptions based only on the little bit you alone see." made me think that you thought that I was thinking something. And please don't ask me to write that bit out again!

John in KC- In real life, I have only been a uniform cop twice- despite having been a CM, SM, training chair, roundtable staff, and Scout store employee. In one instance, at a leader's flag ceremony, I asked the assembly to remove non-uniform headgear, and waited a heartbeat. one guy did not remove his fedora-like hat and I caught his eye and nodded at his hat. He reluctantly removed it- and many other people saw what happened. Afterwards, he sought me out and insisted the hat was unifrom wear. It was the expedition hat, and I suggested to him that it indeed was not. He said he

I know the request for a plan was not addressed to me, but I am in a similar state of mind as Prairie Scouter, so I thought I wouold share MY plan. Where I work, before we bring a problem forth to upper levels of management, we are expected to have (paraphrasing our handbook)- 1. Crafted an intelligent and well-stated 'question', outlining the percieved problem and what we think would qualify as a good resolution. 2. Done our homework to research options and the ramifications of the options. 3. Selected a solid course of action from the options that accomplishes at least most of the

Bob White's points are right on. One of the issues involved in Cub's Family Camping is who is responsible? If something goes wrong, who is liable? Who is in charge of any specific youth at any specific time? Family camping may sound like a cop out or something, but it is designed to help make sure ewach boy is safe and watched, and that no leader will end up bearing the wrath of the legal system should something go wrong. Don't forget that the BSA insurace is a 'back up' program AND won't cover you if you are not following BSA policys. Boy Scout group camping works because

LOL! Bob White- I wasn't advocating doing away with it or anything, just simple curiosity. My next wonder is if any volunteer Scouters ever wear it, and it is still just for my own education. Thanks!