mk9750

I meant to add this to my previous post. One of the reasons I believe we struggle keeping new Scouts who cross over from Cub Scouts units that run Sept. thru May is that we often encounter a conversation like this at the crossing: SM: We're glad to have you with our Troop! We have a number of exciting things planned. Families: Like what? SM: Well, we have our new Scout camp out at the beginning of June, where last year's class of new Scouts will teach your son's how to pack, set up camp, build a fire, cook a meal, and teach them woods tools skills so they can earn their tot

Our Troop meets 50 Tuesdays a year unless a holiday falls on a Tuesday. We skip the week after summer camp and the week between Christmas and New Years. However, we have an Advancement Marathon on New Year's Eve day. The older guys come and work with the young guys on rank advancements that boys may have missed over the course of the year All have pizza ans pop for lunch, then most of the younger guys go home and the older guys work on MBs. I usually have been able to get 8 - 10 counselors there who could cover 20 - 30 MBs if boys are interested. After that's done, they usually have arra

I agree with the assembled quorum. I also strongly disagree with the SM. A well trained Den Chief who fulfills all of the expectations of his office is just as much a leader as is an SPL, and, depending on the circumstances, maybe more so. We actually ask our former SPLs to take on Den Chief and then Troop Giude positions AFTER they serve as SPL, not before. We try to get Scouts to see that Asst. Patrol Leader and ASPL are where they learn leadership, Patrol Leader and SPL are where they intern, and Den Chief and Troop Guide are where they put there skills to practice. Please ask yo

Thanks all for great replies. Let me reply (somewhat ramdomly) to many of the points: I appreciate Eamonn's comments. They are what I was hoping to get (an explaination of what the District folks should do), and his list is just about what I thought they should do (What is an EMS Commissioner?). However, what Eamonn suggests is not even close to what has happened here so far. I wish it were. I feel our Troop DOES have a responsiblity to help this unit. I think each of us has a responsiblity to help provide the opportunity for Scouting to every eleigble boy. It's easy to see this in a

Four three years now, the adult leadership in our Troop have watched our "little brother" pack spiral into the depths of dispair. Currently, their roster includes a Cubmaster who is desparately trying to dump his job, A committee Chair whose son graduated out of the program last spring and went no where. She won't return anyones calls concerning Scouting. Our COR is also their COR, and, even though he is a great guy, he is ill equipped to be of service to either unit. He's also listed as a committee member on the charter, just to get to three (I asume). Our District Executive is listed as the

Almost all of the fees for activites in our Troop are paid via fund raisers. Both youth and Scouts get credit for the amount of time they spend at a fundraiser. For example, if we make $1,000.00 on a car wash, the Troop puts $200.00 into the general fund for expenses like awards, registration fees for the trailer and kayaks, ect. $800.00 gets divided up among all participants in the fundraiser on a percentage basis. If your 3 hours there is 2.5% of the whole amount of time there, you get 2.5%, or $20.00, in you Scout account, from which you can pay event fees. Adults pay the same fees as

We have asked the SPL to add this topic to next week's PLC. We don't currently reimburse drivers for local campouts (20 minutes or so each way), but we have lost money on recent longer outings, including summer camp, by reimbursing for actual gas expenses. I suspect that the PLC will elect to accrue a portion of their next fundraiser to a gasoline account, and pay drivers out of that. It's how they have decided to handle other expenses like the cost of replacing climbing ropes, cleaning supplies for rifles and shotguns, and replacing kayaking paddles and such. MArk

I also agree that all answers are on the mark. However, there was one small question that no one has addressed. "Does the committee ever come into it?" Gabe does ask a valid question. All of the answers given are valuable. However, they become much more difficult to follow through with if there is influence from those outside the program, which is really what committee members are ~ outside the program. This problem is minimized in Troops lucky enough to have committee members who truly understand the program and its design. But when those who are untrained attempt to insert themselves a

I staple patches in place while I sew. I've given up on trying to preserve the pocket when I sew a temporary patch on the pocket. However, removing the pocket is a new idea to me. I may try that! Mark

To answer Bob's specific question, because I think it was directed at me: Yes, I vote for people I dislike often. I will do it again this November. I mean not to hijack this thread, and will not respond to further discussion about it, but I held one of the Presidential candidates in very high regard. Now, not so much. Too many half truths for my taste. But I still think he's the better man for the job than the other guy. This has happened more than I can list. And quite frankly, I have NOT voted for people I like. As a matter of fact, our SM ran for a judicial position a few years ago. I

Merlyn, 2nd thing first. You are right, I did not read the decision. I can't even say I know all of the details. After consideration, I don't really know enough about the specifics to carry on a legitimate conversation about it. I will disqualify myself from further conversation about Balboa Park. As to whethter the Government should sponsor / charter / recognize organizations that discriminate, they do all the time! Do they recognize labor unions? And don't labor unions discriminate against business owners? Does it charter the American Red Cross (charter might not accurately reflect

Merlyn, Sorry, I guess I'll disappoint you. As wrong as I think it is for someone to hate black people, I think it is their right to be wrong. If someone wants to despise homosexuals as people, rather than just their actions, I can't commend that, but I respect the right they have to hold that belief. If someone stands behind the ideals that Scouting represents, that is their perrogative, too. Now if any of those people want to form a group and espouse their beliefs together, that is their right too, as long as they do not infringe on the rights and freedoms of others. Thus, i

KS, I love when you post. Please post more. Great story! MArk

Merlyn, I disagree vehemently with your basic message. And that hasn't changed. But you should be congratulated for being fair and recognizing a wrong in this case. Although you will never convince me that your are right, you just earned some respect. I'd love to see you do more to keep it. My question in cases like this is why an anti - (anything - that - is - PC) attitude precludes groups like the BSA from utilizing property that the public owns, when one could just as easily put together a group that all seperately have the same attitude but would be allowed to use the same proper

Joni, Has your Scoutmaster given any thought to helping ween the guys off of their dependence on MB activity by asking the PLC to plan activites that would allow qualified instructors (youth where possible) to learn and put into practice the skills needed for a MB that the PLC chose? For example, if your PLC decided that they would like to have a campout that emphasizes Pioneering, one of the older Scouts who has demostrated an interest in the topic could be delegated the responsibilty to plan the program for a weekend campout at which older boys could instruct younger boys in rope m

Scoutnut and Bob both make excellent points. I'd like to add a additional perspective. A Scout who is not elected or selected for a position of responsiblity could be the subject of a popularity contest. When this happens it is sad, and someone (the Scoutmaster) should be doing something to teach his young men the value of selecting leaders based on something more than popularity. It is also possible that the Troop is electing and selecting leaders based on good judgement, and not just popularity. If that is the case, then I would suggest that your son make an effort during this cur

Ken, CONGRATULATIONS! You are about to experience what I think is THE BEST job in Scouting! If I were told I had to forfeit every other responsiblity and priveledge I have in Scouting but one, this would be the one I'd hang onto for dear life. And every time I have the honor of participating in another one, this attitude only grows stronger. I admit that the first few will seem awkward, but as you get comfortable, I really believe you'll grow to love it! As to questions, I think much of that depends on the age and rank of the boy being reviewed. For younger Scouts, I try to make sure

Well, it's interesting what I learn when you read info provided by people smarter than me! Our SM for years and years has used the term "toot" for this command while writing directions for Courts of Honor. I have tried to tell him that that can't be the command, especially with Scouts, because the response is not likely going to be pretty. But his policeman father had told him this was correct, so there it stayed, until my son's Eagle Scout CoH, when I insisted he change this to "to". He did so unwillingly, and changed it back once that CoH was done. My theory on why it should be "t

Bob, I work with a Troop. We utilize the following positions within our committee: Committee Chair (Does a fantastic job with all of the paperwork for rechartering, Tour Permits, canoe and trailer registrations and such, but hates the "people management" side of the position) Assistant Committee Chair (Me - I run the committee meeting for the Chair, and between the two of us, determine candidates for other responsiblities. I then do the recruiting) Adavancement Chair (Me) Treasurer Equipment coordinator (works with the Troop Quartermaster. Helps the Quartermaster

Marlene, First, welcome!! Let's see... The skills he displayed were practically forced into him much the same as a math teacher learns more about math by teaching it. Our Troop runs its entire program on the same model as physician's training - See one, Do one, Teach one. When Scouts first cross over, they are exposed to older Scouts who do presentations, make up games and competitions, and then test and sign off requirments for the new guys. As the new guys become more and more proficient at skills, the older Scouts do less for them and more supervision. By the time they have b

I know I've told this story before, but it might be worthwhile to repeat. 5 years ago, at 14, my oldest son accompanied the Venture Patrol on a hike of the Appalachian Trail. They were just south of Smokey Mountain State Park. Almost "one foot in N.C., one foot in Tennessee". Along the way is Klingman's dome, a structure from which you can see "forever", as my son tells it. The first 4 days of the trip were not pleasant for my son. He wasn't as prepared as he could have been for the physical and mental challenges of an agregate total of over 17,000 feet of ascent (the net was less th

EagleKY, Thanks for the link. I'll check it out as soon as I'm done here. The list you have here is all "0" in your post. But perhaps the link will provide some help. Ron, Chinese characters would be great, but even if it were an English version of the Chinese word, I could use that. Our WB Patrol has to do a presentation on a topic of diversity, and we're doing Scouting around the world. When we got the assignment, the PL assigned China to me. I don't think she liked me too much to start. But it's all good now. We're having fun. Thanks for the help so far! Mark

What are the chances that one of our forum members is fluent in either Chinese or Taiwanize? I am working on a Woodbadge project and would like to show the Scout law of either Hong Kong or Taiwan in both English and each of these languages. If any of you could translate (or know where to find a direct translation for) the Scout Law in either language, please let me know. The Scout Law in Taiwan is: Honesty Loyalty and Filial Devotion Helpfulness Loving Kindness Courtesy Justice Responsibilty Cheerfulness Industriousness and Thrift Courage Cleanness Public Spir

I am perhaps the newest Bear on the forums. I have suspected for some time that OGE and I are long lost brothers. Just another piece in the puzzle. Mark

Funny... Most people end that sentence right after "I hope you go away." I Appreciate the kind words. Mark