Marty_Doyle

OGE

Please do not mention HIPAA.

But your footnote was humorous.

My wife was born in Ecuador (right next door to Peru - and occasionally at war with one another), and we have gone there a number of times. We went last year, with the kids - first time for my children.

I would say that Ecuador is considered "safer", in terms of crime/revolutionaries, than Peru. But I was much more aware this time of not being "in Kansas anymore".

Most of the countires in South America have poor economies, which increases the crime rate. As an North American, you are considered a better target. There were many places we were told to stay out of (better parts of Quito and Quayaquil, actually) and a number of "safe" places that I still felt unsafe in (and I work in New York City).

Roads and other infrastructure were vastly improved over our previous visit ten years earlier, but still no where near US standards. I was very uncomfortable driving around (and most of the time it was with a local driver, with a "helper"). The cruise ship to the Galapagos was a specific safety issue with the US government. And Packsaddle's comment about prop planes is probably true of most small planes, and many trains/busses/taxis.

That is not to mention yellow fever, dengue, malaria, et cetera.

Sanitation is still a major issue, and even in the best of cases, everything possible should be boiled. We ate no salad, fresh fruit or vegetables (insulting, no doubt, a bunch of my in-laws).

There were numerous armed security guards (who looked no older than many of the Boy Scouts in our local troops) not in the military or police, but carrying pistols, shotguns, automatic weapons, who were guarding banks, department stores, and whole neighborhoods. It was unnerving.

If I had a real vote (and since it is my wfe's family, so I don't), I am not sure I would vote for a return. Maybe it is because I am older, and less convinced of my "immortality", or because we had the kids, but it was anything but a stress free vacation.

My son announced this year that he did not want to go to anyplace that required vaccines. So we drove to Maine and Nova Scotia. Next year - Ireland. It may be a few years before we consider South America again.

Good luck on your choice.

Careful Man-o-steele, people might begin to think the Boy Scouts are a "sinister" organization.

I'm right handed.

BTW, if we call you Mano-steele, does it means you are steel handed?

I'm sorry. I fail to see how the Webelos Scout definition is any more specific than the Boy Scout one.

As a Cubmaster and a former den leader, this is how I would interpret it, last first:

"working on den projects"

When the boy is there, which relates to the first clause, "good attendance".

"paying den dues"

Some packs collect den dues, and some, as above, do not. We offered a net cash discount - pay $25 at the beginning of the year as opposed to $1 a meeting for 35 meetings. So, how do you pro-rate attendance if you are usuing den dues? Not an effective barometer.

"having good attendance"

Like the Jesuits taught me, first, define your terms. What's "good"?

100%? 90%? 75%? more than 50%? What about 25% if that is really all the meetings/events the boy can attend since his single mon works nights and weekends, and he can't always get a ride?

We asked the boys in our Webelos I den what they thought the percentage should be for the Attendance Award. (The current Cubmnaster had said "Perfect attendance"). The 10 year olds came up with more than 75% of Pack Nights, more than 50% of Pack events, and more than 75% of den meetings. Attending district/council events could count towards any of the above slots. They gave parent's work, school homework, sports, and family events as reasons why someone who wants to go couldn't make everything. We went with their definition. Of the 6 boys, all six did better than 80% across all the categories, and 4 had 100%. They all got the medal. We (the two leaders) would have had easier percentages.

Like Bob says, you need to know the boys and their circumstances and let them help (at Cub Scouts level)in the determination of contribution.

Or alphabetical order.

Some other notes:

For Scholar, one of the requirements the boy can choose from is to earn

the belt loop for Language.

Also, under Communicator an optional requirement is to have a person who speaks another

language as well as English to visit your den.

The requirements for the Leave No Trace Frontcountry award are in the

handbook (also in Wolf and Bear books).

The Character Connections are requirements on quite a few activity

badges for the Webelos.

From another list:

Some (not all) other changes:

(The first two changes the poster talked about were a new cover, and activity badges were in alpphbetical ordfer, not by group)

Webelos Badge requires Fitness and Citizen Activity Badges.

Arrow of Light requires Outdoorsman badge. AOL also required doing

the Honesty Character Connection.

NEW requirements for Outdoorsman badge:

Do 2 of these:

1. Present yourself to your Webelos den leader properly dressed, as

you would be for an overnight campout. Show the camping gear you will

use. Show the right way to pack and carry it.

2. With your family or Webelos den, help plan and take part in an

evening outdoor activity that includes a campfire.

3. With your parent or guardian take part in a Webelos den overnight

campout or a family campout. Sleep in a tent that you have helped

pitch.

4. With your parent or guardian, camp overnight with a Boy Scout

troop. Sleep in a tent you have helped pitch.

AND DO FIVE OF THESE:

5. During a Webelos den meeting, discuss how to follow the Leave No

Trace Frontcountry Guidelines during outdoor activities.

6. Participate in an outdoor conservation project with your Webelos

den or a Boy Scout troop.

7. Discuss with your Webelos den leader the rules of outdoor safety.

Using these rules, show how to build a safe fire and put it out.

8.With your accompanying adult on a campout or outdoor activity,

assist in preparing, cooking and cleanup for one of your den's meals.

Tell why it is important for each den member to share in meal

preparation and cleanup, and explain the importance of eating

together.

9. Discuss with your Webelos den leader the things that you need to

take on a hike. Go on one 3-mile hike with your Webelos den or a Boy

Scout troop.

10. Demonstrate how to whip and fuse the ends of a rope.

11. Demonstrate setting up a tent or dining fly using two half

hitches and a taut-line hitch. Show how to tie a square knot and

explain how it is used.

12. Visit a nearby Boy Scout camp with your Webelos Den.

I meant

Red Right Return

as in channel buoys?

Red Rigt Return ?

The only patches a parent should be getting for a Cub Scout are the insignia that identify your son's unit - the Council Shoulder Patch, the Pack numbers, possibly the Pack service strip, and the World Organization of Scouting Movements badge.

Patches related to rank advancement (the Wolf Badge, Advancement trail beads)are awarded by the Pack when your son complete requirements. Particuipation patches (Pinewood Derby, Cub Olympics, et cetera) are awarded as temporary patches, ususally by the Pack, Disctrict or Council.

Talk to the Cubmaster or your son's den leader. Eithe of them should be able to help you.

TwoCubDad is correct - Jeal was discussing B-P's decades long "friendship" with Kenneth "the boy" McLaren. Since Jeal feels there was no physical relationship (hence "repressed"), and B-P never "self-avowed" anything, I guess he's OK.

If one loosk at Beard's political views and Seton's religious views, I think it is fair to call them at least somewhat eccentric. But I do not think Applebome proved they would necessarily have been any more inclusive than the current BSA.

I really liked the book, and thought it gave voice to a large (depending where you are in the country - I'm just down the road from Chappaqua) segment of the people involved with Scouting. (iIam shocked, shocked - think "Casablanca" here - that Bob White liked it, given Applebome's conclusions and recommended solutions.

Sorry Man-o-Steel (or Cyber-Exec?), I don't remember him saying Scouting was a right. But he was a pretty good cheerleader for Scouting, especially for a presumed New York liberal (we are the worst kind) who lives down the block from the Clintons - or at least Bill.

I also agree that at anytime in my life, some adult watching any boy skinny-dipping should and would have been arrested.

The other irony is that his book has the same title as a "documentary" (used loosely) that presents a completely opposite point of view about the BSA...

Well, if you believe Jeal's biography of Baden-Powell (it insinuates that B-P was probably/possibly a repressed homosexual), it is likely that B-P today could not be a leader in the BSA.

That would be somewhat ironic, no?

What Merlyn said was 80% of the time, but essentially 100% of summer.

What littlebillie says is right, much as we may not like to admit it. The BSA should only expect equal, not preferential, treatment.

And a $1 a year lease (let's not quibble over the other thousand dollars for administrative overhead)is below market, and therefore preferential. Any "correction" of past preferential treatment always appears to be unfair to the entity being "un-preferred".

That is the only card the San Diego Scouts have to play "People donated time and money to improve this land under the perception (right or wrong) that the property was in essence the Scout's (since they only paid a nominal amount and it was always renewed). It is not fair that this donation be given to someone other than the giftee(?)and taken away from the boys".

And most people (aside from twocubdad) will not understand that, even on a $1 a year evergreen lease, leasehold improvements revert to the leasor. Most people wouldn't recognize the term "leasehold improvements".

Let's not talk about the ACLU, which has changed the name of the organizatuion to "discriminatory BSA" in all of their writings. Even if the BSA agreed to accept homosexuals and atheists, the ACLU would still consider the BSA discriminatory since it does not accept girls in all aspects of the program. Sometimes, you just can't win.

I was just following up on Eamonn's post. I didn't mean to volunteer you. But since your hand is up...

I would guess that those posters who currently use PowerPoint "kludge" their way through (or maybe it's just me), so a combination of all three.

Any and all hints, tips and tricks would be appreciated.

E-mail the final version as an attachment to any intersted poster (who could make a nominal donation to your unit)??

Any other thoughts from other than DaveF?

Actually, if there is someone who is really good on PowerPoint, and could prepare a PowerPoint presentation on how to do a PowerPoint presentation, incorporating the ideas in this thread......that would be "Helpful" and "Kind".

A cover and a back, maybe cardstock.

Half the time I open my briefcase when I get back from a meeting or training conference, the first couple of pages of handouts are almost always somewhat crumpled.

Cost will beocome an issue if we do all of these things.....

The only real confusing thing on this thread -

Bob -

Who is Naomi???

lol

Unfortunately, I think Ed's point needs to be stressed.

I do not run BSA training, but making job related presentations is part of what I do at work. I also send many of my staff to conferences on a regular basis (usually on really mind-numbingly boring things like health care finance and accounting, Medicare regulations, et cetera). Bad presentations can make these subjects (if possible) even more unendurable.

The biggest complaint - "The presenter just read the slides to us, then the session was over, with no time for interaction."

The presenter should know the subject and use the A-V presentation as a guide.

There should always be some kind of handout - if Power Point - print out the slide show as a "Handout", in grayscale, with no more than 2-3 slides per page. The program adds space (lined) for notes by the audience.

I also print out a set of Power Point slides in "Slide Notes" print format, and put the important details (not on the slide) that I want to add or stress. I like Eamonn's idea of different colors and symbols....

Build in time for questions. Better presentations are in a "roundtable" format.

Also, make sure to bring your sense of humor. Murphy is at his best when you have to get up in front of an audience. Something will go wrong, or be forgotten at home.

Make sure you have enough sharpened pencils (or other writing utensils)for everyone attending - so they can make notes on your presentation on the relevant slides on the handout you just printed. Maybe clipboards, too, if there is not a writing surface at every seat.

Have two extra of everything -i.e. using an overhead? Two spare light bulbs, two extension cords, two adapters. Try to figure out whta could go wrong and have a Plan B.

Visit the room where ther presentation is going to be made beforehand (if possible). Sit in the seats. What problems can you foresee as a member of the audience? Poles in the way? No outlet for computer up front? Can you address these beforehand?

And spending time with the attendees in a non-classroom setting is very important. When my staff does come back with really good ideas, it almost always turns out it came from something said over lunch, or dinner, or some where other than the presentation.

I agree with Laurie.

I handed out Program Helps to the current leaders last week, along with a copy of G2SS and sections of Leader Book. They were all told they can borrow the Pack's copy at any time or ask for copies of other sections.

I updated the Pack library - purchasing Leader Books, Leader How To, D&P Ceremonies, Skits, Songs, Sparklers, G@SS and Insignia Guide. Actually any and every book related to Cubs I could get my hands on. Our Pack only had a five year old Leader Book and some leftover Program Helps from prior years as a Library.

I spoke with the COR and IH, and we agreed that each den must have two registered trained leaders, or they cannot be part of the Pack. (Not sure how or if I will enforce this - if I do I lose the Bears).

I have give each den leader flyers on Roundtable, with calendar and map, Pow-Wow, with agenda and map, and Unversity of Scouting, with syllabus and map.

We had a number of meetings over the last three months to plan next year's calendar(Scout year starts with school year in September). Every leader has a copy, and as part of each month's activities, Roundatble, NLE, CSLST, BALLOO, and WOLT are listed, with times and locations.

Youth Protection ands Fast Track are requirted before the September PAck Night (both arte on-line). NLE and CSLST are offered by our district in conjuction with Septenmber's Roundtable. All leaders are supposed to attend. (No one aside from me is "Trained").

I developed a newsletter, which gets sent out to everyone registered in the PAck by e-mail and snail mail. The first one (one page) went out last week, and September's (four pages) will go out when I get back from camping in Maine the first week of September.It lists all Pack events, Council and District events, and highlights Training.

We are developing a Parent's handbook and a leader's handbook, that should be finished by September's Pack Night.

I stress training all the time. Cannot get enough...

I just got Packmaster, and am starting to work with it. We have similar problems with not all advancement being communicated to the Council. Our Council, as an inducement to help speed up re-charetering, offers a discount in the initial unit registration fee if you use Packmaster, and will supply you with a diskette with their records of your unit to start things rolling. As for enrollment and re-chartering, Packmaster practically automates it.

Call your DE. They can be extremely helpful, especially in situations like these.

...and now who is being disingenuous?

Bob and his wife used to come to our medical center for his eye care, about 20 years ago.

I was younger than (So was Bob) and of the opinion that Bob Hope was one step removed from Lawrence Welk, someone only your parents could enjoy.

The first time he came onto our floor (which my finance staff shared with the Ophthalmology departments), when his check up was over, he asked the women to leave. I was lucky enough to be invited in, to a one man comedy show, for about an hour.(Some of the material was slightly blue, which was why the gentleman Hope asked the ladies to leave). We all would come out in tears. And there would be return engagement six months later.

None of us could ever re-tell the stories later....

On top of being much funnier than I had ever thgought, he was a really kind man.

Kilt with hose, flashes, kilt belt, sporran with chain, kilt pin, and sgian dubh would run closer to $700. A balmoral with clan badge, another $100-$150 - though I guess the red beret could work. (My brother and I were looking into advancing from channters and joining the local pipe band).

And you would still have to buy a BSA shirt with all accoutrements to wear with the kilt, and the rest of the BSA uniform when you weren't wearing the kilt.....no savings, just more cost.

And you would have to decide when one could wear the kilt (Bobbie Burns' birthday, B-P's birthday, St. Patrick's Day, Scout Anniversary week, COH, WB????).

And would we have to have a position patch for Piper, as opposed to Bugler?

The clan is Maclaren.

B-P's mother was a Smyth, with no relation to Maclarens.

Maclaren was the Scottish lord(?) who bought the land that is now Gilwell Park and donated it to the British Boy Scouts.

The tartan is used in Wood Badge ceremonies and on the neckerchief to honor his gift.

Not exactly. Most banks now require a EIN to open up an account.(You would not want to open an account with your social security number, because then in the IRS's eyes, the income in that account is yours, not the units.)An EIN does not negate tax exempt status. They are two separate things.

On the IRS Form SS-4 (Application to request an Employer Identification Number), there are instructions to follow to request an EIN for banking purposes only.

You should then talk to your local council, to determine if your unit is covered by the Council's "Group Letter Exemption" with the IRS, related to the Council's 501©(3) tax exempt not for profit status. If your unit is, then the EIN does not trigger the need to file any tax returns. If however, your unit brings in receipts of more than $25,000 per annum, or "unrelated business income"(UBIT), you might need to file an inforemational 990 return. And you should be talking to a CPA, not me. But, if your unit is bringing in over $25,000, you can afford real tax advice.

None of this explains why the CO wants to combine accounts. Unless their auditors are concerned about UBIT. But there is a threshold (of 10%(?)unrelated income to total income - would need really big popcorn sales to really small CO budget)that needs to be exceeded for this to be a tax exemption or tax liability issue.

Set up the meeting with CO and auditor, and ask Council for advice before and after.

Good luck.

You made the right choice.

This came up at my YP Training. The instructoir essentially said, unless you want to run the risk of ending overnighters early, you should consider aiming for "4-deep" leadership on all outings. Why four deep? Two leaders to transport the injured person (always assumed to be a Scout) and two leaders to stay with the rest of the Scouts.

In Cub Scouts, the boys move up in rank evety year (whether they have completed requirements or not).

In Boy Scouts, the boy (ideally) determines pace and level. He can go as fast and as far as he is able, with comparatively few time restictions, as OGE and others have pointed out.