NeilLup

"This is weird to write but "Baden Powell" is just plain wrong about Commissioners, their role, the fact that they are indeed directly commissioned by BSA, and just about everything else he's asserted regarding Commissioners and their role in BSA." Hard to believe but the writings of BP are not inspired holy writ. The founder can, on occasion be incorrect. Two other thoughts: 1) BP was writing about Commissioners as they were in the UK, not in the BSA which is structurally very, very different 2) BP was writing about Commissioners as they were in the UK in the 1910-1920 t

There's a saying in Boy Scout training: "If you send a monkey to training, you get a trained monkey." Somewhat of a corollary to that is: If you put a Scout leader uniform on a helicopter parent or snowplow parent, you get a helicopter or snowplow parent wearing a Scout leader uniform. If you put a Scout leader uniform on someone who is Machiavellian or someone who likes to be the "big cheese", you get the big cheese or Machiavelli wearing a Scout leader uniform. The point is that what you are seeing is not "Scouting" other than in the sense that Scouting uses loca

There is one other possible leadership position. Not saying that it is a good idea, just an idea. If he is registered as a Venturer, he can be a Den Chief, I believe up to age 21. But I would suggest, as you have, that he either be an ACM or ADL. My thought would be that it would be more impressive to the Cub Scouts if he is an ACM. He still, as an ACM, can assist with a Den or two if he so chooses.

What a wonderful trust and challenge. I hope that you are able to entrust it to your son or, if that is now possible, to some other young man who stands to be a superb Eagle Scout. I believe that I have told the story of a young man who graduated a few years ago from the school in our council which has red as its color and name that begins with "H". He did a spectacular job in our council, organized the Scouter's organization at this school, organized a Merit Badge University for our council and built it to 400 participants, served on Wood Badge staff and currently runs the "Firs

One of which I was rather proud. When our former SE retired in the mid '80s, a number of us gave money to create a fund in the council endowment in his name. Once a year, at our council's annual meeting, this award in his name is presented to a member of the professional staff who has done a particularly good job of exemplifying the professional service and the Oath and Law. The award is name listed on a plaque plus a sum of money to sent the recipient to a training course (not necessarily BSA) which they would otherwise not be able to attend.

Hello Tami, You probably don't want to hear this, but patrol patches are for youth only. That is not saying that I have not seen adults permanently wearing them. Until about 10 years ago, participants in Wood Badge sewed patrol patches on their Wood Badge uniform. The patches were supposed to be removed after the course. Some times they were. I believe that, if you wish, you can wear your Bob White patrol patch as a temporary patch on the right pocket. The great news is that you're a Bob White. It doesn't get any better than that! NeilLup Loquatious Bob White

" At our summer camp, a program area director signed the blue cards, but in many cases, a much younger Scout actually led the classes (Indian Lore, Safety, Nature, etc). I thought our boys were short-changed in some of them because of the young, less-experienced class leaders (a Scout only slightly older than the attendees). It was a lot of reading from the book. " If you read the autobiography of Prof. E.O. Wilson, a Distinguished Eagle Scout, Distinguished Professor at Harvard, popularizer of the term 'biodiversity", 2 time Pulitzer Prize winner and listed by Time Magazine in the mi

"One other thought - No one is EVER going to question your personal integrity for not reporting something someone else did. People will however, question your motives if you make an issue out of every little thing that might not be "by the book". If a scouter is not in imminent danger, what good does it do to make an issue out of it at the time it occurs? Might be better to use it as a teaching moment at a later date... Next campout prep, put out "Just a reminder regarding sleeping arrangements....and this applies to EVERYONE !!" Or it can be a topic of character development discussions w

Hello ancientdruid, Some time when you have several free days, you might read all the back posts in this forum on exactly the topic you have discussed. The gentle question you have very appropriately asked will likely, again, provoke the reaction among posters of raw meat again thrown to wolves with sundry wolves on all sides. To answer what I believe that the National BSA guidelines are for advancement: 1) A Troop may not impose, particularly after the fact, percentage attendance requirements on active service, leadership, etc. If the Scout is registered and the Troop

"So, it would be great if we could clarify this fact or even answer the ever pending question regarding if a DE would typically have a Morality clause in his contract. " Very interesting question. I looked up "morals clauses" (not being an attorney myself) and learned that they are very case and fact specific. I would wonder what the "morals clause" for a professional Scouter might comprise. a) Not violating the Guide to Safe Scouting - I'm not sure I'd sign that. I'd hate to be fired for driving after dark at a Scout event. b) Not committing a crime - That sounds pretty r

"Neil..., So, are you saying it IS our (the vounteer at the unit level) place to call someone on a rules infraction?" Hello ASM59, I have the feeling that if you and I went out for ice cream, we would select different flavors. I don't believe that I said that it is the place of a unit level volunteer to call someone on a rules infraction. Nor did I say that it is NOT their place. I believe that I said that based on my experience and as a practical matter it is more a function of the personalities of the individuals than the badges that they wear on their sleeves.

"We talked about 3 of the 4 men that have been to Wood Badge in this Stake doing a little orientation session for the large group of participants. Not to blow the contents of the course and send them overly prepared, but just to alleviate any fears or concerns, and get them excited." At one time (pre 2001), there was a 30 day meeting prior to the course and a 90 day meeting after the course. When the course was revised in 2001, these were eliminated. Strictly eliminated and no longer permitted. The time permitted to be spent in the course was strictly limited also as Scout Executive

"2/ What is going to be done? I don't have the answer to that. It would seem that the people who are empowered to answer it have all the information. (snip) If a policeman pulls him over, he can decide if he wants to give the guy a ticket or not. That's his job. " It would seem that within the lines of Eamonn's excellent post is the crux of the problem here: The problem is not did the DE do something contrary to the Guide to Safe Scouting. Clearly he did. The problem would seem to be that, as Eamonn has said, the people with authority to do something about it have all

"So if it is not my place or anyone elses place to point out that someone is breaking the rules, whose place is it? Who is there to be the BSA rule breaker police?" To look for a moment at the swamp we started out to drain, I believe that the answer begins at the beginning of the Scout Oath. "On MY honor, I will do MY best." It's not like speeding in your car where it's the job of a cop to police you and if you don't get caught, no harm, no foul. Rather, by voluntarily undertaking the obligation of the Scout Oath and Law, we are each committing to do our best. So the fi

Hello ASM59, I really am more comfortable with the dictionary definition of "consensus" than I am with either of the alternatives that you suggest. My contrast with a "consensus" organization would be a "leading" organization if you will. An organization like the NAACP or the Sierra Club or Right to Life which exists to push a sociopolitical agenda and which takes positions which are outside the "average" of the individuals in a community and are attempting to move the "average" values of the community. In contrast, my view of Scouting is that, by and large, its values prett

I've followed this thread and my opinion has swung back and forth. Here's where I am now: 1) The Guide to Safe Scouting requires separate sleeping facilities for persons who are not married. That's pretty clear. 2) Opinions on persons who are engaged/dating sleeping together vary depending upon the particular poster. They range from "big deal" to "BIG DEAL" I would suggest that Scouting is a consensus organization. A Scouting leader, particular a pro or a top volunteer leader, needs to act to maintain credibility. If there is an action they are take or fail to ta

Not sure, but I believe that this information is now on the form for 2 reasons: 1) To give the Eagle Board some idea of the time that the Scout has spent on the project 2) To enable the BSA to add up all the numbers and put in the annual report and elsewhere "Last year, Eagle Scouts spent a total of XXXXXX hours doing their Eagle projects." For both of these purposes, it would seem to the advantage of the Eagle Scout and the BSA for the number to be as large as is accurate and possible. So I would say include everything that is reasonably included as part of the project.

I give new Eagle Scouts a $25 gift certificate to kiva.org www.kiva.org Kiva is an organization which makes microeconomic loans to small entrepreneurs in 3rd world countries. The Scout goes on the web site and selects the precise person that he would like to help. When enough people combine their money to add up to the amount that the entrepreneur has requested (typically $500-$1000), the person gets their loan. Repayment rates are extremely high >99% and the money comes back to the lender. The Scout can loan the money then to another entrepreneur or take it out through P

Just to add to the information, there is nothing saying that the Eagle Scout Scoutmaster conference has to be after all other requirements are completed nor even that the Scout has to "pass" the conference, just take part in one. Whatever order the Scout wishes including doing them in parallel.

According to the Guide to Safe Scouting: "Male and female leaders must have separate sleeping facilities. Married couples may share the same quarters if appropriate facilities are available." If you really want to pursue the matter, you can go to your Scout Executive (top guy) and ask for a clarification on this matter. If the SE asks what you mean, you can give the example of this DE and say that you want to be sure that you understand for your own campouts. If one really wanted to be a hairsplitter about the G2SS, one could say that it says that the leaders must HAVE sep

Many, many years ago (1973 to be exact) I was directing a Wood Badge course in Southern California. The camp had an old flag and asked if we would like to retire it as part of a closing ceremony. I thought that was a great idea. Note that at the time, I was an Air Force officer on active duty and there were two other Air Force personnel on staff. So we had what I considered a nice dignified retirement ceremony at the closing ceremony. Very touching, I said to myself. "Well done, Neil, you've done it again :)" I went from the ceremony to the showers where, in the da

"Testing is only one method to see if a learner has learned. Application of what was taught is another method. " True. Which is why the term "evaluation" from the previous generation of instruction was probably more appropriate than testing. But regardless of what it is called or how effected, the idea is that the instructor verifies in some way that the learner has acquired the knowledge and (presumably) can put it to appropriate use.

" Last spring, we went to a boy scout recruitment night with our Webelos. The boys were totally 'wowed' by the 2 troops that had flashy power point presentations, and completely ignored the closer, friendlier troops with people we know in them." At the risk of posting this in about every other post that I make: "If a fisherman bait his hook with the kind of food that he likes, he will not catch many, certainly not the shy, game kind of fish. He therefore baits his hook with the kind of food that the fish like." BP gcan, you made an extremely important discovery. Thes

" Hold the phone . . . didn't you just say that if the student doesn't learn, it is the teacher's fault? " I didn't read that at all. What I read was that if the learner has not learned, the teacher has not taught. Not a "fault" situation which implies that there is some kind of blame attached to it. It is, or should be, rather simple. When the teacher has finished the teaching, the learner is given a test of the material. This can be simple or complex, theoretical or practical. To me, the ideal is simple and practical. But the purpose is to verify that the learne

Great news, gwd. However, I would suggest that you stay in close, friendly touch with the Webelos Den and have your Scouts maybe conduct another activity with them. I suggest that because I would not be surprised if they visit another Troop and like it too. Don't take anything for granted. Keep working on building the relationship.