matuawarrior

I ran into the same unique problem last week on the original post concerning dual membership in two troops. I unfortunately posted my concerns in the "Open Discussion Area" under "Can A Scout be a multiple member in Two Troops?". Normally I rarely come down to the Issues & Politics Arena. Unless there is not much traffic in the other areas. Anyway, I found the answers here. Thanks. Matua

Disregard. I found the answer in DS posts to "Dual Membership" in the Issues & Politics Area. Now I just need to find my copy of that reference and send a copy to thier Charter Representative. Thanks, Matua

I have recently been involved in a situation where one of my Scouts transferred to a different middle school this year. The middle school is a parochial school and it has its own Scout units: Cub Scout Pack, Boy Scout Troop, and Girl Scout units. All the Students in this school are members of the school's units. This past summer one of my Scouts transferred to this school. Everything was fine until last Tuesday during our Troop meeting. He approached me and told me that he was also a member of the other Troop. That since he was a student there, he had to sign up with the other troop. I have looked into my Scout references and found nothing that can help me with preventing the other unit from doing what they are doing. I have since told the Scout that he needs to make a decision on what troop he wants to be a member of. He clearly stated that he prefers our troop due to our boy-led programs. I feel that the school should have made an exception to this Scout and his family but since I've tried talking to their Charter Representative they have stated their school policy that if he is a student in their school. He will be in their scout program. When this school started its Scouting program 4 years ago. I was then part of the District's Training Committee. I was asked by the DE then to please not actively recruit any potential Scouts from this School. (The School has a very small enrollement.) The Council is very interested in seeing this Charter Organization become a success story. I have agreed. Now with the commotion going on. I am starting to rethink my current position on this School regarding recruiting. Since they will not budge from their current policy on this one scout. I personally will call it open recruiting season on their potential scout candidates and current scout members. At this time, I have a scout who is a member of two troops. I know somewhere that they can not do this. I feel that it should be up to the Scout and his family to decide what unit they should belong to. I believe the current DE should get involved with this since it involves two Charter Organizations. Should all else fail, then I have no choice but to let this scout go so that he can concentrate his scout work in one unit. Matua

I am right-handed for writing but ambidextrous when it comes to shooting, and sports. Matua

For those in Isabell's path, please take the necessary precautions. Living in typhoon alley for most of my life make us pretty resilient here but only to a point. Here are some suggestions for those in Isabell's approach along the coast. You will need to secure the windows from flying debris. Secure it to tight. You need to open a window on the leeward side of your home to offset any air presure. Failure to so may cause your home to implode. When the wind turns. Secure that window and open a window opposite from the wind. Collect Water in all forms of plastic containers for future use. Buy and store Canned goods. Set your freezer and refrigerator at its highest setting. Top off all your vehicles with fuel and fill up all gas containers. Seek higher ground if your home is in a low lying area. Seek government shelters if your home is not concrete. Secure all important documents in double ziplock bags and weigh it down or put in a safe. Secure all electronics in plastic bags. Should the Storm make landfall and after it passes. Take pictures of damages to your property for Red Cross and FEMA. If you have a cell phone, charge up the batteries and save it for later. Most of all stay indoors. God Bless, Matua

KS Welcome to Aloha. Great SM minute. I plan to use it later this month. Matua

Has anyone heard of a School Afloat cruise for seamanship skills? I'm looking for ideas to help plan a week long Sea Scout training on Seamanship skills while cruising. I have an old Sea Scouting Manual that we are using for now, until we get the new manual. I have ordered the updated manual from the BSA catalog. I am currently working with the DE here to make this an annual council/district event as an interest to the Venturers in our district and the neigboring outer islands. We hope to kick this event off during Easter Week or June of next year, during the dry season, to take advantage of the trade winds. Any suggestions will help. Having Fun, Matua

Pounder Thanks for the offer but I have prior arrangements with my district around that time. :-) This is the one time a year that the district or council can recognize the volunteers and/or parents. We decided a couple of years ago to make it a family event. What better way than to recognize the leaders in front of their charges. This last May, we had over 200 attendees. It was so much fun. Matua

We normally have ours during Scout Week. But we held it in May due to recovery efforts from the December SuperTyphoon. Being a small District we had the same problems you had. We started thinking of making it Fun for the Adults and family oriented also. We had the food brought in Pot Luck with the main dish supplied by the District Committee. We honored one Scouter per unit with our District Spark Plug Award. We also recognized the Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, Crew Advisor, and Commissioner of the Year. We even honored a Scouter with his beads, neckerchief, and woggle for finishing WoodBadge. This year we had a troop and pack provide entertainment to the audience. Next February, We plan to do a slide show presentation of the various districts events with differnt units living the Scouting Program. Well see what happens. Matua

It reminds me of my patrol. The friends I've made. That I'm not alone in delivering the program. I remember having so much FUN. I'm there to serve and guide tomorrow's leaders. Matua

I started with a troop of 15 scouts. We reached over 21 by actively recruiting and camping once a month. It took us 6 months to go from 15 Scouts to over 60 in that period. Of course, our membership fluctuates depending on the season, sports, and school. We recruit across the board but with emphasis on the younger scouts. After a year with a Scout Troop, We started an Explorer Post not one but two posts. Both post averaged 45 explorers each. In'97 we transitioned both posts into one Venturing Crew of 65 venturers. I suggest you start where your comfortable with and work your way up. Don't just recruit boys but also adult leaders. When your program is challenging and fun the membership will grow. Your program will grow as well. As the Scouts gain more experience, they will seek out more challenging opportunities. Today, my Scout Troop has 25 Scouts. The Crew has 15 Venturers. The Pack has 10 Webelos. Each one feeds into the other. All in Fun Matua . . .

I agree with OGE. Both Awards are unique to its own programs. When we publicly edify the Venturers who earn the Ranger and Silver Awards. Those awards will receive the same amount of respect as the Eagle Award in due time. Who knows in a couple of years there maybe scholarships available to Rangers and Silver Awardees. The ceremonies for these awards are only limited by the Venturers Imagination and resources. Having two Venturers who have earned their Ranger Awards. It was fun to watch them plan their Ranger Ceremonies. One was simple with only close friends and family while the other went all out. One Gold Recipient planned hers just like an Eagle Award Ceremony. All were fun and enjoyable. Matua

Hello CharityAK A good size troop is approxiamtely 30-40 scouts. This will give you about 3 to 4 patrols of 8 scouts each. This is something to aim for but its not guaranteed. You may grow bigger than this. As for recruiting, the best candidates are the friends of the Scouts. If each Scout went out and invited one other person the troop will grow. To make them stick though depends on the program. Another way to recruit is to send Den Chiefs from your troop to neighboring Packs. This builds relationship among the scouts and cubs. From experience, most Webelos would cross over to Troops that have Den Chiefs in their Packs. There is a familiar face in the troop that the new scouts can relate with. The program is the key though to make them stick to Scouting. Nothing spreads faster than word of mouth, as Wingnut posted. If your programs is challenging and fun the word will get out. The opposite is true if its boring and dull. Always encourageand invite potential candidates to go on outings with the troop. Once they go, you have them that whole day or weekend. They will know if Scouting is for them or not. This way they experience first hand, up close and personal the Scouting program. Also, they are still covered by BSA's liabilty insurance and Mutual of Omaha's Accident insurance as guests. From experience, I have always gained potential Scouts or Venturers after a campout. Matua

I would really leave it up to them the Venturers on how they would want it presented to them. The Ranger Award is the hardest of all the Venturing Awards. One of my Venturers, planned it just like an Eagle Ceremony. There's no real right or wrong way about it but just let them decide. Any ceremony would be memorable. The best ones are those that are simple and in a clearing outdoors. Matua

The Ranger Bar is separate from the actual medal. We usually award both as a set. It is supposed to be worn on the left pocket flap centered but I allow the venturers to flush it with the top seam. I have not heard about a cloth strip for the Ranger Bar. Might be a new thing. Matua(This message has been edited by matuawarrior)

Our Crew is High Adventure. We tried SAR a couple months ago but we lack resources out here. The members decided to go back to High Adventure. We have started getting our members SCUBA certified. Also, we are now fundraising to purchase an outrigger canoe. Matua

Matua is the highest caste of the ancient Chamorros of the Marianas Islands. They were the chiefs, navigators, warriors, farmers,fishermen/women, and carvers. They're also known for their service to the other caste and classes. It was the Matuas responsibilty to insure the other members of the clan or village were fed, protected, and sheltered. To neglect those responsiblities would mean the loss of their status to the next class of that caste or faced banishment. Warrior is from my service with the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airborne Division during the Gulf War.

packsaddle . . . you mean wanting to be Venturers,right. We allow the leadership in our Venture Crew to trickle down to the Troop and Pack. So most of the Advance Scout skill intruction are taught by the Venturers. Our Venturers also have their own Venture Only activities away from the Troop. This builds an incentive for the younger Scouts. There are times when all units (Crew-Troop-Pack) camp out together. Havin Fun, Matua

Welcome to the campfire Tamegonit Arrowman. I see you've met Hops Scout. There are many Scouters and non-Scouters on the Forum. You will find many resources here. Lurk around awhile or post as you may. We all learn from each other. Matua

I've been an Arrowman since with the early 80's. I'm a Brotherhood member with the Na Makopuni O Lawelawe 567 Lodge, Acho Chapter. Matua

Welcome Charity to the campfire. There are many questions that involved parents ask. --How long will it take my Scout to be Eagle? --How old does he have to be to earn Eagle? --Where can I get resources to help my Scout? --What does he need to do to advance? --Why does/doesn't the troop offer MB's during regular meetings? --Why does he need a buddy to earn a MB? --Why can't the Scoutleaders hold classes for the Scouts to earn MB's? --What are Eagle Required MB's? --Why does he need to do a service project? --What's a Scoutmaster Conference? --Is the BOR hard? I feel that the questions are answered if the Scout and parents are actually active with the Troop's program. The advancement program is self-paced. It is up to the Scout when and how long he'll earn a certain badge. Some Scouts are only interested in the Outdoor Activities. Others go all out for advancements. It really is up to the individual Scout. With some prodding, those scouts who are slow or have had no interest in advancements start to slowly earn badges. Sometimes certain Scouts don't like to be pushed at all and if you leave them alone long enough. They just want to do it on their own. One of our long time District Trainer's once said, "The Eagle Scout Award is available too all Scouts who want to earn it, But not all Scouts are willing to earn the Eagle Scout Award". Matua (This message has been edited by matuawarrior)

We have patrol outings. It just cannot conflict with Scheduled Troop Activities. The boys plan, get the parents permission, and off they go. We started with one patrol and now the other 3 patrols are doing it also. Makes it easier on the leaders. Matua

Hello DS, Great Post! It takes a strong person to learn to deal with their challenges. Thank you for Sharing. Matua

Hello MaineScouter, I'm also doing some catch up on the forums. I've been busy with business and not able to read the forums as I used too. You really need some overhaul done on some of your adult leaders. They need training and much more. From reading your posts, It seems that your male leaders are inflated with egos that can hardly fit in the meeting hall. - 6-8 months for a Scoutmaster conference. - SM conspires with BOR members to purposely fail scouts. (You don't test Scouts at BOR's). - continued BOR's for scouts who can't pass the BOR. I agree with the rest of the forum members that training in BSA advancement policies and procedures needs to be brought up and taught. AS per your original posting, I was told along time ago that the 5-points to the Star represents the 5 MB's required for the award. That was back in the early 80's. Matua

Good one. Matua