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Gone

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Everything posted by Gone

  1. Gone
    @@Stosh what if the kid requesting the card is taking a class and taking up the last spot in that class. What if that kid has 10 open MBs he has yet to finish. What if this is a pattern with him. I get the SM has little to do, but in some instances the SM is there to maybe keep this kid focused, close out the stuff he's working on and maybe keep him from taking the spot from a kid who wants to finish the MB in a timely manner. I believe in boy-led and the patrol method, but that does not mean there are not a few checks and balances on the boys.
  2. Gone
    And yet the BSA's own website -- as well as the blue card itself -- says that there are "requires a total of four signatures". Doesn't sound like the signatures are optional. Given that much of the training I have been forced to take by BSA gives conflicting information (at best), I am going with what is on their official website and official documents. And the SM should already be in the because..." Before he begins working with a merit badge counselor, however, he is to have a discussion with his unit leader."
  3. Gone
    Wouldn't they first send out a survey THEN ignore it if it was important?
  4. Gone
    @@Eagledad is correct. The first place to sign for the SM on a blue card says this: "...is qualified to begin working for the merit badge noted on the reverse side." I always found this odd. MBs are not age-based, so just exactly what criteria are we supposed to use to make sure a scout is "qualified" to begin work on an MB? If they meet the "active" guidelines in the GTA, what else is there?
  5. Gone
    Or it could mean that the person does not have time to be an MBC for a wider audience, knowing that the demand his their unit will be enough to keep him busy all year. If you have a busy MBC it could be daunting to have 50+ kids reaching out to you for support. As a volunteer, I don't see anything wrong with someone picking and choosing the scope of their own involvement.
  6. Gone
    You can't take out something that wasn't there. I'm talking about troops where the patrol method has been in place.
  7. Gone
    You'll love this. Rechartered in February. Submitted paperwork 100% complete. Had a scout turning 18 in March and had just finished his Eagle SMC. Was working on his EBOR during March but district was too slow in scheduling the EBOR and it bled in to April. We get a call from council. They tell us they cannot process the young man's annual application because he's no longer a youth and is now an adult, thus stopping all work at district on his EBOR because BSA does not technically consider him a member. All this despite us putting this scout's application on top and noting for council tha
  8. Gone
    Who among us would stop using the patrol method even if BSA took it out?
  9. Gone
    My brother lives in one of those councils. He says the effort to push STEM is sooooo great he can't find any information about any decent workshops or events anywhere. As with most things pushed down from above, it is ill-conceived, poorly planned and vaguely executed.
  10. Gone
    ...or we as adults can follow the right thing to do and not ambush kids with questions we can't answer or ideals we ourselves cannot live up to. You keep missing my point. This is not about preparing our Scouts. We do that. We do that well. But who can ever be prepared for the line of questioning @@packsaddle has outlined? The Scout handled it well, so how to handle it is NOT the issue. The issue, in short, is making sure the adults follow the process, don't ask stupid questions and go in with a positive attitude. We ALWAYS train our boys how to handle themselves, but I also find out w
  11. Gone
    Sadly, many units don't see it that way. They see the SMC or BOR as a chance to quiz or test the kids.
  12. Gone
    Yes Seriously. I think you're missing my point. I agree that we discuss the points of the law and oath. I disagree that we dive too deep around religion and other issues. Ask the Scout how he lives the oath and law in his daily life. Fine. Don't ask what religion means to a scout or other too personal questions. I think we all know where the line is here. You're not trying to find reasons to fail a kid in a BOR, you're asking him his thoughts...but ask the generic question and let him fill in the blanks. Don't hold him to an impossible standard.
  13. Gone
    ^^^^^^^ Spot on @@packsaddle! As well as avoiding other issues: BOR: Are you sexually active? Scout: Uh, well I've been in dates. BOR: Have you engaged in sexual acts? Scout: I don't know quite what to say. BOR: Well, if a Scout is "clean" he abides by a moral code that precludes sex outside of marriage. So if you are having sex you are violating the Scout Law and I cannot pass you. Uh, have you ever cheated or lied? Scout: No. BOR: Never? Ever? You've been 100% honest all the time? You've obeyed the law always? You've never cursed? How are your finances?
  14. Gone
    Who said an atheist? I said leave the discussion about god or God or higher power off the table in terms of a direct line of questions designed to delve into a very personal area. I'm not sure I know MY relationship with God, so how's a teenager supposed to know. Talk about how they are meeting that part of the law and oath without getting in to if they believe in god or a higher power. Ask him about religion in detail then you might as well ask him about drugs use, cheating in school, sexual activity, lying, has he broken ANY laws (speeding, running stop signs, or worse), is he in debt,
  15. Gone
    It should be boy led otherwise it's just adults pushing scouts to get an award. We did the badge. The medal is darn near impossible.
  16. Gone
    ...and replaced it with affirmative action and 50 years of reverse discrimination. Not good. I can't tell what BSA's current attitude is. They ask for members' opinions and then make decisions that go against the majority, so who the heck knows that they will do. My concern is the Scouter or adult sitting on a BOR that may may ask a Scout a question about his relationship with God and then fail the Scout for lack of a Judeo-Christian-Muslim aligned answer. I too agree we should not define faith as belief in just God. Higher power or something similar works just as well. Frankly
  17. Gone
    The Scout uniform is based on military field uniforms of that era, so folks really shouldn't be stressed about that. If they are might I suggest a tour through the Scouting lore materials.
  18. Gone
    What's that? Never seen one in 10 years.
  19. Gone
    Most of this is for little "g" god and not big "G" God. We all know that BSA assumes the latter. Do we really think BSA means something other than the Judeo-Christian-Muslim definition?
  20. Gone
    Just had a similar situation. Unmarried 20- or 30-something wanting to help out. Sad to say it but my first thoughts were around YPT. Doing a background check now. $100 spent now may save more down the road. I feel bad for assuming this but I suspect this the reality of the times in which we live.
  21. Gone
    My old Company commander.
  22. Gone
    Agreed. But using the word "God" is pretty specific. They did not say "higher power". They did not say "belief system". God was used for a reason.
  23. Gone
    That's what I said. But we begin following because we have to. We stay because we want to.
  24. Gone
    Only in Texas. I half expected something smoked or BBQ'd.
  25. Gone
    @@TAHAWK, so do you think that BSA -- in their religious statement in their bylaws -- by saying "God" is including polytheist religions? To me that's their way of making the point that there's one God; the one followed by Judeo-Christians and Muslims. Unless, of course, BSA defines "God" elsewhere. It would be so unlike BSA to leave things vague and complicated.
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