MaScout

The discussion of "punks" in another thread got me to thinking about how careful we need to be about how we judge the image we have of others. Our perception is molded in great part by our experiences. As Scouters, we need to rise above that... In high school, my eldest wore his hair long (like waaay below his shoulders) & sported a full beard. Why? Because he could. He took a lot of flack for it. As his parents, so did we. We were always very supportive of his choices. He didn't drink, smoke, do drugs, vandalize... He was (and is) a "good kid". He was a leader in his class and on the

(An aside...here I was, thinking how I'd done so well on cutting down on my responses, and I log on this morning to reply to a gazillion messages! ;P ) This person's position, coupled with the wife's position IS a tough situation to deal with, but this program is FOR and ABOUT the youth. Figure out how, but DEAL with it. NOW! I want to share 2 stories about similar situations, which may explain why I am so adamant about it. 1) CC wanted to attend Philmont on hike. (Wife is SA.) Youth said, "CC was potty-trained at gun point." (This is NOT a compliment!) CC has an opinion, he yells it

I thought about this overnight, then when I got on to share my thoughts, Ed beat me to it! It is the SM's job to make sure a program is presented that promotes and enables advancement. It is the Scout's job to take advantage of those opportunities. The SM cannot make a Scout attend meetings or outings nor make him pay attention or learn or participate. The SM cannot "make" a Scout DO anything he doesn't have a mind to do...nor is it the SM's job to bully a Scout into doing things he doesn't want to do. (Think school here -- a teacher assigns a report for a child to write. The purpose is

What Michelle said!!!

Our PLC regularly schedules several activities every year that are "invite a friend" activities (read "recruitment activities"). We make sure these are representative of our regular activities, which are of course exciting and fun. Our council insurance covers them if this is being used as a recruitment tool. Some activities we have included: College football game, canoeing (make sure they pass the BSA swimmer's test!), night at the movies, rock climbing, fishing, and more. Really, we set our calendar, then the boys determine which activities they want to use for recruitment... Als

Our council camps say activity uniforms for flags & evening meals, & field uniforms for all other activities. Our troop has a tradition of also wearing activity uniform for church services. Now, our council camps are very lenient on "proper" uniforming...the uniform shirt suffices for activity uniform and ANY Scout T-shirt (Day Camp T-Shirts included) paired with non-BSA pants or shorts is considered "field" uniform. I know that is not "correct" but most of the Scouts out here don't own BSA pants or shorts and no-one seems to care. I take care to model the correct way to wear both acti

We talk to each eligible boy individually before the night of elections, also. We explain the process, what OA is really about, and perhaps a little of what goes on at the Ordeal. If we have a candidate we don't feel is ready for some reason, we discuss it with the Scout. We have yet to have an unready Scout leave his name in the election pool. Our "not yet ready" boys have always asked us to remove their name from the list. We also ask each boy give a short blurb on WHY they think the troop members should vote for them. This is not mandatory, but it really gives each candidate a time for

I'd prefer to keep the Scout & lose the Scouter. It sounds like the JASM handled the situation well. It sounds like the SA did not. And if he's blowing off the handle like this over things so trivial, how do you know when he will really blow his stack and hit or harm a Scout? (I've seen it happen with hotheaded adults.) We have had a couple instances in the last couple years where Scouts openly disobeyed or questioned the youth leadership's authority for a variety of reasons. The one that gets my goat is, "My parents said the only one I have to listen to is the SM." GRRR! Anyway, unle

Dozy -- While you consider the 2-deep leadership to not be a concern as you and your husband are available to team up...I caution you against relying on this. While it is technically "legal" to have a husband-wife team be the 2-deep, my husband & I avoid this situation whenever possible. Think WHY we utilize 2-deep leadership. If any accusations of wrong-doing should be made against either of you, the other's testimony wouldn't hold much water...Just a thought. Ma

1) You SHOULD be able to order your own set of training material out of the catalog. However, since the District undoubtedly has this, it is an expense you shouldn't have to bear. 2) Ask your DE and/or your District Training Chair for a copy. Ask again. Tell them you will wait for them to find it. Sit down & wait. 3) If all else fails, pm me with your snail mail address & I'll mail you a copy of mine. I may have the tapes here, too. If I do, I'll include a copy of them, as well. (If you mention this offer during #2 above & indicate it is a pity you have to get this materi

This camp does offer the opportunity to tour the Black Hills, too. While most things in "tourist trap" areas are expensive, there are lower cost ideas there, too. At Crazy Horse Monument, any Scout troop who shows up in uniform is admitted FREE (Nice lighting ceremony, too). At Mt. Rushmore, there is no charge, unless you want to park close -- then you pay $8 for parking. There are many displays and the night lighting ceremony is tremendous! Uniformed Troops often raise & lower the flag for the ceremony. Other lower cost areas are Wind Cave, Needles Park, Evans Plunge, Mammoth Site in Hot

Ahhh...then in the midst of this discussion, the following occured: Last night my oldest son's friend stopped by to visit. (My son is sailing in the middle of the Sargasso Sea somewhere right now...friend stopped to visit the rest of us.) The lad is 19. While talking to me, his cell phone rang. He looked at who it was, & stopped talking to ask if it was all right if he answered his phone. I said yes, and walked away to give him some privacy. He asked the person on the other end of the line if he could call them back in a while. He was off in less than 15 seconds! YAY!

Well...I use my cell phone A LOT! But I agree -- manners need to be observed. I "don't work" -- I put in 35-60 hours per week as a volunteer, substitute teach, work on our farm, and help out in a local grain elevator as needed. I have 3 sons who are active in sports, drama, etc. I am almost never home. My cell is about the only way for people to reach me. Due to my husband's profession & liability issues, we don't have an answering machine at home. I utilize voice mail on my cell. I use "hands-free" when I am travelling. It is "understood" that if you are talking to me on my cell & the

Who is the MB Counselor? Is it the SM? Is there another one available? Will that MB Counselor approve the silo? The MB Counselor is the one who determines if the requirements for a MB have been met, not the SM.

we've done plenty of native American themed crossings -- OA supervised or otherwise. These go over really well. We've done a "bridging" for Wolf to Bear, Bear to Webelos, etc., too, similar to OA -- used lanterns & had den chiefs escort over those worthy. We've also done "Zulu warrior" graduations -- all rest of pack stand and sing zulu warrior song while stamping feet & clapping. We have painted rocks yellow & orange, then lit them with a black light & had those brave enough cross them. If they are worthy, they will not be burned. Our DE experienced this one. He said he about

Definitely make sure you use the heavy-duty bags -- no scrimping here! If you use frozen onions & peppers (or whaterver else), you don't end up with al dente products, and you don't have to pre-cook. This also works with hobo dinners -- and you can just put a twistie tie on them & throw them back in a freezer! We have also used this method for heating soup. If we are arriving in a campsite late we sometimes have each boy bring his soup in a baggie, then we toss it into a pot of boiling water. Quick, hot soup. And you don't have to have someone on "pot watch" so supper doesn't scor

I have given Eagle blankets, a nifty silver-colored coin (engraved), and a sliver eagle coin (about $20). For boys in our troop, I handcraft a notebook for their Eagle memorabilia & put all their commendations in plastic sheets. One boy didn't have a "sewer" in the house, so I sewed all his collected patches on a blanket. Our troop provides a NESA membership & a complete set of Eagle "stuff" -- neckerchief, tie slide, medal, badge, & parent pins/tie tacks.

Our council has a website and all our districts are REQUIRED to have a website link from that page. Our district webmasters are routinely trained by council on how & what & how often & & &...

Have you contacted West Point? I know the Air Force Academy has a designated spot for Scouts to camp when we attend their campus for anything. I would suspect WP would too.

Yes, there is an "elitism" in our council, too. I took Woodbadge. I learned. I refuse to be a part of the elitism faction. I seldom wear my beads & less often the neckerchief. When asked why I don't by one of the "good-ole-boys" (which DOES include females), I simply tell them I took the training so that I could become a better leader, not to advertise. That's also why I don't wear all the knots I've earned on one shirt, nor do I wear all the other training paraphernalia or medals I've earned. How you react to it is a personal choice.

BoR's are to have three registered committee members on them. Parents are not to participate in on their own child's BoR. So...you actually need FOUR committee members if they are all parents. When we submit multiple rank advancements, and we only have 4 parents/committee members available, we put all the boys on one advancement report and put in four signatures. I know there are only 3 lines...so improvise. Write smaller. Write above or below the line. This indicates that there were "non-parent" members on the BoR. I asked about "why" there is a spot for the title of the p

Or just take a tuck at the top seam & tack it down. Then when/if he DOES get bigger, just take it out and, voila! it fits!

Do you need the female advisor? Is there a female advisor willing to take her place who is in much better physical condition? Could her position be filled with a youth? Youth take first dibs...

Our troop turned out in droves this morning at 0600 to help the American Legion put flags and markers at the gravesites of the veterans buried in our local cemetery. No-one complained and they all seemed to enjoy assisting in this way and honoring our veterans. Thank you to ALL the service men and women out there who have helped keep our country free...free in speech, religion, on & on. I am humbled. Ma

Another post before I run off to play again...I've been gone fishing. Next I'm off to a college graduation, then to see my niece at Lake Powell. I wonder if I'll be in total withdrawal by the time I get back to this forum? Lots of good ideas here. Thanks to all for taking the time to post your thoughts. District & Council Advancement Chairs have been apprised of the situation, as has UC & DC, COR & IH. I think it would be a good idea to have a law enforcement officer speak with the lad. I have told him what could happen, but do think the police would have much more of an