mk9750

I've got a lot of answers to send. I hope I don't miss anyone. Ron, I think again I have not been clear. I did not understand you to say that you want to have the committee do everything. I was taking a shot (again) at the training I got. It was aimed at what I got on Saturday, not at you. EagleDad, I've spent most of my life believing fervently a saying my dad repeated all the time: "All that is necesary for the triumph of evil is that good men to nothing". I know that it's overly dramatic to call this training evil. But the point is I think at some level, even if below the su

KS, Not to worry! Anytime someone picks on the west side of Cleveland, it's fine with me! But be gentle about points east! Dave, Fried Egg sandwich, eh? I know my oldest son and I have spent plenty of quality time together making our own. Where to actually buy one? Not so sure I know the answer to that. But they are good! PS, it's in the mail. Mark

Nice job, KS! When we shoot, we always have an assistant range master who appears to st and do nothing. But it is his job to know where everyone is and what they are doing. Guys don't wonder of to tinkle without him knowing it. Works for us. We also don't have the same worry you have. We use a Police Dept. firing range (one of our Eagles built it as an Eagle Project), and I'd bet 98% of the population doesn't even know it exists. So we don't have to do a lot of sharing of the range. FOG, Are you really that smart, or do you have the world's best encyclepedia loaded on your

We've never moved youth leadership out of their home Patrols. If heard and read what you say about the SPL not being in a Patrol when they serve, but this just doesn't make sense to me. Just because they have extra responsiblity doesn't mean they shouldn't hang with the buddies. I can't speak to whether any edicts were made before I got to the Troop, but we've never adressed the issue. Therefore, I suspect that the SPL has always chosen with whom he camps, and that has always been his Patrol mates. I can see a small amount of benefit by seperating him / them. But in addition to the respos

FOG, Actually, I did understand it. I wasn't sure though, and, as is my style, I figured it was my poor communication skills that caused the confusion. Now that we've gone around the entire circle, I think we both understand each other. EagleDad, I was just speaking to our SM about this same thing. On the exterior, I dread the possiblity that I could be drafted. He speaks about complaining that there were no Climbing MB Counselors, and all of a sudden he is in charge of instructing all of the Climbing MB Counselors in the Council. On the other hand, be it Freudian or otherw

FOG, I hoped my point was clearer than maybe it was. It IS a good thing if Scouts are responsible for running the Troop, and if fewer adults are necesary. In your situation, where the secretary would love for the Scribe to handle 99% of the membership issues, in our Troop, the Scribe does about 80%. He maintains the roster and keeps it up to date (from the Scout side). He verifies the information is current on the rechartering paperwork. He checks advancement status agains TroopMaster and makes corrections. He verifies that the parts of Quality Unit the boys are responsible for have been

PF, If I read you right, you're concerned about having to make comments because you are new in your Troop. Do I have that right? If that's the issue, I can see your concern. At least in our Troop, the words of the SM have always been stories about his relationship with the new Eagle. After 5 - 7 years together, our SM always has many great things to say about a new Eagle Scout. Most are funny, some are very inspirational, and all leave the entire audience, but especially the Eagle and his parents, with very warm memories of the boy's career in our Troop. If you're new as SM, you

Well, I finally jumped in and did Troop Committee Challenge this weekend. I have been working to get five or six of our core committee members to attend with me, but it ended up being only two of us. Although I did not go with the intend to prove myself right, I now know why I don't hold WoodBadge Trainig in very high regard. I'm sure it is strictly our group of trainers, but I again feel as though the whole traing excersize in our District is "Big Person Scouting" for the "in" people in the District. It really seemed to have little in common with what I have come to know as the Scouting

FOG, Up until a year or so ago, I would have disagreed with you. BadgeBond, sold at our Scout Shoppe, made placing patches on a uniform properly easy so that boys learning to sew could get it right. The only patches that ever seemed to need removed and replaced (at least in my family) werer rank badges, and the new one always covered the old. Now that I have an 18 year old son, who no longer wears a rank badge, his glue stained shirt isn't wearable. I heard him using some very un-Scoutlike language down in the basement before the last Eagle COH when he couldn't make his shirt present

Eammon, I am in a position to help Dave unload, and just sent him a message offering to do so. Although he isn't going to be in the same Council as I am in, he'll be about 15 minutes away. I am looking forward to getting together with him and meeting him in person. I also hope I can be of some help finding his way around. Cleveland's a pretty simple city to navigate in, so I'm sure an Eagle Scout won't have any problem. But I'd like to think I could still be of service. KS, Dave is moving to the Greater Clevleland Council in Ohio. Sorry you missed the announcements in Dec. - Jan. Wha

Zahanda, Here! Here! (or is it Hear ! Hear!? I just don't know) And not just for this discussion. Any time people are arguing like this, change a few of the words, and then copy and paste your post. It will be appropriate almost every time. And BTW, Bob is right on this one, but it's likely I can't really prove it for another 30 - 60 years. I'll let everyone know when I can prove it what I find out. Mark

FOG, You stole my thunder on perhaps the best line I have ever thought up to use in these forums. But that won't stop me... WHEELER, You must be a real gem on a date! Mark

Eagle74 (I started to contract that to '74, but it just seemed almost a sin), We will be at Haliburton the week after your Troop. We have noticed the same thing about kids crossing now and their parents. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt and say that it is possible my view is different now that my sons are older. I know it takes more and more effort every year to deal happily with the new Scouts until they've acclimated to Troop life. But this might not be their problem, it might be mine. Still, I have noticed exactly what you are talking about... We also alternate ev

Our Klondike was held a few weeks ago, and the temperature the two nights out was +4 and -2F. A discussion among some of the more, how should I say, weenie adults leaders took place, where it was stated that there is a rule that says if the temperature, real or wilnd chill, drops to or below -25F, we were to shut down the event and send everyone home. No one had a G2SS with them, so we couldn't verify it there. When I said that I couldn't remember it being there, it was then stated that it was a National Camp School rule. I still think that someone was making this up, but I also kno

I also agree with Bob. Planning and giving leadership to a project is easier if the candidate can be on site and managing the project, but in no way is it required. Quite the contrary, were I to sit on the young man's Eagle Board of Review, it is likely I would find extra reason to admire the job he did if he could manage it from off site. One of our Eagle Scout's projects was done in three stages. The biggest part of the project was done on a Saturday while he was in a car riding to Massachusetts for his grandfather's funeral. His cell phone bill was quite high, but he directed 80% of th

I celebrated the 24th anniversary of my 21 birthday 9 days ago. My youngest son wanted to try to make a cherry pie in the dutch oven for my birthday. The edges were so black, he gave me $10.00 and asked me to go to Dairy Queen and get an ice cream cake. For those of us that enjoy the cherry filling more than the crust, the pie / ice cream cake combination was great! Mark

You know, when I have a question or a complaint about any of the suppliers I use at work, more often than not I either can't get a response, or it's some kind of B.S. story that I just know has no basis in reality. It's nice to see that somewhere, not only can I get a straight answer about a problem I am experiencing, without excuses, but I can get the answer without even asking the question! I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that this is a SCOUTING forum? Thanks Terry! I thought I had been doing something that caused it. Mark

Eagle74, One of the things I have finally allowed to sink into my head while on these forums is that I shouldn't compare other Troops to mine. There is a wide spread of abilities and skills, and just because my Troop does something, it doesn't mean all other Troops can (and visa - versa). But we have taken 1st year Scouts to Haliburton every other year for more than 12 years now (that I know of), and they do very well. It is certainly true that there is no dining hall, latrine structure, or showers, but we've never had a problem with any of the young guys in our Troop going to Canada.

Wheeler, Producing men of the type you desire is not a purpose of the Scouting program. HOWEVER, if you compare the men the Scouting program produces with that of the general population of men in the USA, I think you'd have to agree that men who were Scouts in their youth come closer to your ideal than do the others. Could the BSA help make their youth members even more like your ideal man than they do now? I'm sure they could. But to do so means sacrificing other parts of the program, and other desired results of the program. I think I can speak for the majority of the posters

Eagle74, Congratulations on a great decision! I promise you you will not be disapointed by Haliburton. It is by far, the most beautiful place that I have been in Scouting. NWScouter is right. The staff at Haliburton is extremely helpful, but you should be prepared to handle almost all of your program yourself. For instance, as you might be aware, Canadian Scouters are not authorized Merit Badge Counselors for the US program. Therefore, if you plan to work on, say, swimming MB, you'll have to bring your own Counselor. they will provide resources to help teach and test boys, but you'll

(ok, everyone prepare to place their hand over their mouth and giggle softly...) What are BDU pants? I've seen this acronym (I think) in this and other uniform threads, and have hoped that it would get explained before I had to flash my ignorance. Can't wait any longer. As to redesigning the uniform, I personally like the look, though I do feel the poly/cotton shirt would be more accurately refered to as "vapor - lock" fabric. Why do some have such a tough time getting their Troop to wear a complete uniform? Except for cost issues, which can be overcome in a number of ways

Bob, Of course you are right. My statement does include an assumption that there is a waterfront, and that it includes the capablity to have a boat on it. It further assumes that there is also qualified staff. I've been making an effort at shortening my posts recently (has it been noticable yet?). These are the kinds of things that don't get said when I try to say less. Mark

We only have two basic policies: 1) Must have earned Totin' Chit before a knife can be carried anywhere except in a pack and from the pack to the area where training or testing is taking place. 2) Offenses against safe knife handling rules are met with tempory suspension of the right to carry a knife issued by the Scout's Patrol Leader. As soon as possible after the event, the PL discusses the situation with the PLC and they may decide to remove a corner of the Totin' Chit. Fourth corner removed requires requalification for Totin' Chit. We've never had anyone lose more than his secon

Bob, I couldn't agree with you more. I know I fell into that trap the first couple of summer camps for which I was the acting SM. Even bragged at the ensuing CoH that our Troop of 32 (or so) came home with well over 100 merit badges. I would like, however, to temper what you said with a part of what Ed says. He is very right that the best place to earn some MBs is at summer camp. I truly believe that, assuming a qualified MB Counselor, many of the badges Ed lists are better done at summer camp. The one thing I have come to understand, though, is that although summer camp is a g

Luckily, we've never had to cancel an outing for weather, and we've never had to cancel one for lack of adult leadership. A couple of times, outings dreamed up by the PLC that were not planned well had very few boys turn out, and the group of people who were ready to go voted to cancel. These have been great teaching opurtunities. Hasn't happened often, luckily, but it has happened. Mark