matuawarrior

KS, Guam is 30+ miles long. It would take 1 lap if you start North head south, loop around the southern side and north again. When we did our 50 miler a couple of years ago. We started out early in the morning about 0300-0400 hrs. It was just to hot for the Scouts to hike at sunrise. Matua

Calling his Scoutmaster at 11:00 o'clock at night before his 18th bday requesting for a Scoutmaster conference. That Eagle Candidate had better be calling from a hospital bed to be waking me at that hour for a Scoutmaster Conference. I'm sorry but that is going way to far. To call your scoutmaster requesting for a conference at the 11th hour will not cut it for me. For the rest of those counselors who passed him. I would seriously look on the start dates of the blue cards. That's the date when the SM signs the cards giving his approval for the candidate to start on the MB. The

We still have meetings during the summer. The only increase are the outdoor events. We usually have an activity every other week. Our hiking increases as well as campouts. We normally attend summercamp but his year our district decided not to hold one in the summer. Our district Scout Camp is now in December. It will be held during the school break after Christmas and before Jan. 6th. S0 with no summer camp, Our units are planning their own camps. The PLc is even planning to do a fifty miler this summer or just do five different hikes in five days. Our membership dec

Open up my book and read . . .while the PLC meets. . . A) Let's Go for It! B) Oh-Ummhhh, read my book, while listening covertly. C) Listening, listening, listening . . . D) Good Job, We have the Leadership, Let's Go for It! E) Not a problem, pass a note to the SPL to have the Scribe check with the Committee Treasurer. Note to myself, to talk with CC. F) Suggest to SPL that First Call be moved to NLT 1000 hours and have Brunch. (our units operate on the 24 hour clock and we do metric also, old military habit) G) Next year, uummmhh, Let's do it! Continue rea

Thank you and Congratulations to you too. Matua

Hypotheticals are hard enough to deal with because it deals with what if's . . . If a Scout receives a beating from my disclosure to his parent, I will personally deal with that parent within the boundaries that the law provides me. If a Scout comes to me and discloses that one or both parents are abusive, I have every obligation to call the proper authorities on the parent. I still stand by my 3 options that I give my Scouts and Venturers if they ever come to me with what they feel as earth shattering news: He can tell, I can tell, or we can tell together. Honesty is wh

There should be no line between what to to tell or when to tell parents anything regarding their children. They're the child's parents. They have the right to know. To hold back any information dealing with their child's mental or physical being is grossly negligent in our duties as Scouters. WE are there to supplement the family's program. They, the parents', signed the registration form allowing their child(ren) to join the Scouting program. As per the hypotheticals, The first regarding religion -- the parents still have the right to know. The Scout maybe "losing faith" bu

It's good to know that I'm not the only one with the so-called "General's Uniform". My latest uniform has everything that I'm allowed to wear on it. I have 1 row of knots, 2 service stars--one for youth and the other for adult leadership. On my right side above the pocket is my XV World Jamboree Patch, I still have the purple name plate from that jamboree also. On the right pocket flap is the OA Lodge patch and ribbon. On the temporary pocket, I have the U.S. contingent patch to the XV WJ. On another uniform I have the National Camp School patch on the temporary pocket. I hav

Depending on the situation. I would tell the youth member the following: 1. He can tell his parents. 2. I can tell his parents. 3. We can tell his parents together. I don't believe in keeping anything from the parents. Their the main supporters of this program. We stress "Trustworthy" as our first point of the Scout Law. I feel that applies to my relationship with the parents. I am not a parent, one day I will be. I want to be treated exactly the way I have treated others while their children are in my charge. To keep secrets from parents, destroys

We formed our own Chartered Organization 5 years ago. We were chartered with a public middle school for 4 years. The Principle was very Scout friendly. When he was trasferred to another school the incoming principle was hostile towards scouting. We had no choice but to look for a new home. We hit many dead ends looking for a new charter organization. We finally decided to Charter the units ourselves. We had a troop, a pack, and 2 posts. It was not an easy task. Fortunately, I have a friend who is a lawyer and also one of our ASM's. He helped us with all the legal aspects of formi

We offer 25 MB's. 5 are required. Average MB's earned at camp is 3. Matua

In the great Scoutopia, they should retain their basic skills BUT if they rarely use it, then they tend to lose it. In my units, we train to teach a skill and train to retain. I would back track on the scouts who were not taught properly and just give them a refresher class. We do this by age group or patrols preferably by patrols. Each scout is different so we have to look at it individually and not as a whole. If the scout was not trained properly in the troop, then I would ask who signed off on his BSHB. If the trainer did not correctly teach the scout, then I would counse

Yes, you can accept the donation. If your Charter Organization is listed a 501© Non-profit,you can write them a receipt from your charter org. OR you can have your unit listed as a non-profit with your state. I would prefer the former to the latter because of complications and legal requirements per state. OR if the couple just wants to donate funds to your unit without receiving a receipt than that's okay too. But most Business would use that as a tax write off. Of Course, council may want the funds for FOS but then if the couple feels that they really want to help Your Sc

I agree with the suggestions from everyone. I've read most of the Posts. I may have missed it but I just want to add. That you should ask your Charter Org. for thier calendar as well. Matua

BW's correct. Only your Jr. Leaders can decide what they want to do. As a Leader, our job is to guide them. 1. Brainstorming is great. The more the merrier. 2. Putting it on a calendar is a little more challenging but they'll get it done. 3. Empower them to make thier own decisions and stand back and let them make thier mistakes and learn from it. Do not help unless it is a Safety violation or concern. 4. Instruct your Jr. Leaders to conduct After Action Reviews (AAR's) after each event. What went right? What went wrong? Did everyone learn? etc. 5. Be Flexi

I've been observing the thread from time to time. I've followed many great advice given here. Since my last post, we have taken the ASM out of our off-site patrol. These scouts are on their except for the last Tuesday of the month when they rendezvous with the main body and go through inspections, BOR, and Fellowship. This past Tuesday, I went by the off-site Patrol (Dragons) HQ to drop off some paperwork. The Scouts were having a barbecue. I was even invited to stay but because of the Troop/Crew meeting that night I had to decline. This is our charter's model patrol. I agree t

Here's the site that my venturer's are getting their info: www.nasar.org Matua

ditto with the suggestions. We do the same with our BOR's for the last 6-years. Scout to First Class are handled by the Jr. Leaders who are Star or higher. These jr. leaders are shadowed by 2 respected committee members. Star to Life BOR's are handled by a combined board of committee and venture crew officers. Our crew officers must have either the Ranger or Gold award to sit in our BOR's. We keep a 2-3 ratio on BOR's, 2 adults-3 youths. We also have an Honor Board set up the same way for disciplinary reviews. Did the the Adults think this up? No, it was our Jr. Leaders and

I feel it was Cloaked in Mystery. Only Beaders can talk of Wood Badge, non-Beaders were given the run around. It seemed like OA all over again. As OGE stated, "The aura of Wood Badge is changing". I believe it's changing for the better. I am so glad that I attended the very first class of the 21st Century WB in Aloha. It was a lot better than what I was informed. I enjoyed myself, made many new friends and contacts, and learned alot of leadership skills that is helping me and my units. Now I'm pushing volunteers in my district to go. Matua

My Troop/Crew brings a mop bucket and a plastic oar to camp. Also, a clothes line with the clothes pins attached to it. We use that to wash our clothes. Then we hang it up. As per meals at camp, Our Scouts wear their uniforms to breakfast and dinner. That is only because Flag Raising and Lowering are before those two meals. Scouts can wear their activity uniform during lunch. Our camp showers are open from 0500 to 2200 hours every day. Here on the islands. Our scouters, scouts, and venturers wear quickdrys all day. Its not uncommon to see the showers being used all day.

Mr. ed My condolences to the family and unit. I would suggest to bring in a Church Leader depending on your Scouts Religious Affiliations and have them available to talk with the Scouts. I would try to run the meeting to as close to normal depending on the mood of the Scouts. This is a big event that happened in their lives. I feel that others on the Forum may provide better guidance. My Prayers extends to you all, Matua

We are still car campers. It takes 3 trucks to carry all our gear. However, we are slowly moving to becoming a backpacking unit. Takes time but we'll get there. Our PLC and Crew Officers discovered last year that we get more camp time, 2 times a month, when we backpack compared to car camp, once a month. It's alot easier and faster. Matua

I'm currently a small business owner and Notary Public. I operate a Postal Mailing Service similar to POST NET. I've owned a landscaping and courier service business. I've been a Special Projects Consultant for the local government, a municipal clerk for a local mayor, a 4-H youth mentor, served 8 yrs in the U.S. Army, worked 2 yrs in the civil service as an Electrician. I am also currently a full-time student at our university majoring in Business Administration special emphasis on Finance and Economics. Matua

Our first evaluation is this Tuesday for our off-site patrol. After two weeks of working as a team, the Off-site patrol is requesting that the committee recind the requirement for the ASM since the Patrol has a JASM assigned to them as an advisor. Since the patrol is doing a great job, I feel the JASM and ASM should be both pulled back to the Troop to help with the 2 NSP's. Matua

Since we started this program. Our Off-site patrol has done more activities than our on-site patrols. Membership is slow but the four boys who are there are committed. The ASM assigned to them is their advisor. This Tuesday's meeting, they will be heading up to Rendezvous with the Troop for Patrol competitions, Inspections, and Boards of Reviews. The PLC and Venture Crew officers are also planning a BBQ for that night. The Patrol Method works when you let it take its course. Matua