Nike

This is one reason why the closest I get to the PWD is helping with spray paint. For your DQ, I can see both sides of the coin. What do the official PWD rules say? Or is this not addressed? I probably would have erred to the DQ. Judges aren't perfect. We had four people look at a popcorn order form and not notice a total shifted into another column totally throwing off our popcorn counts. For the future, getting it in writing is always the best course, nowadays.

Well, I guess it depends on what kind of bad leader you have. Immoral or amoral? Fumblingly incompetent? Plays favorites? Clueless? Knows he needs to improve? Wants to improve? Some of these can be mitigated with training and help. Others are the kiss of death and can kill a unit.

Eamonn, Normally, I wouldn't play hardball either, but why waste time? Sometimes the brutal truth has to be told and remedial action taken immediately. And, the brutal truth of it is that this pack will probably fold this year. An uninterested CM and a surprise-you're-it CC? If the CC and the other parents are game and the CM doesn't want to get on board, let her gracefully step aside.

Since you are now the Committee Chair, get a Committee. There's no voting. You ask someone to do a job, they accept or decline. Once you have a committee begin by having an all leaders meeting. Pull out the calendar and plan out the next 18 months in advance. If the CM balks, meet with her later with your COR and Unit Commish. Ask if she wants to do the job or if she'd like to step down. Do you have anyone quietly lined up to take over the CM's position?

I like to get craft materials from nature or do a craft out in nature. Tree and leaf rubbings, collecting stuff to make forest buddies/eleves/gnomes, etc. Now, my Tiger does like crafts, as long as he can then throw it, toss it, shoot it, launch it or play a game with it.

Thanks for this. I have to do a GS Scout's own this weekend, and I'm taking yours.

But, there are no secret ceremonies or closed events in Scouting, correct? (I don't know about OA. My son won't say anything.) While Dad may have breached etiquette, was what he did against the written policies and procedures of BSA or OA?

The MBU is something I first encountered when we moved further south, and I don't really cotton to the idea. But, they seem to love 'em around here. Some are very good and have highly qualified adults leading the classes. I can't recall any that signed off on everything the day of. Most boys leave with partials and need to either reconnect with the MBC or get final signature from a troop MBC. (Our troops are MBC heavy.) If an MBU event is, in the SM's estimation/experience, a substandard event, then don't pass that event info along.

While the out of the book trianing goes over some fairly important stuff, it leaves our freshly minted SM/ASM to a trial by fire unless he already has expereience working with youth and/or in the outdoors. The SM training I've had has been relatively useless in showing me how to get a troop of boys not only pointed in the right directions but motivating them to go forward, let alone adults. In truth, I think I went to the worst SM training ever produced in our district. It seemed all the participants got much more out of talking to one another and comparing what worked and what didn't than a

My son has attended a few camps that did this. Usually, the Advancement Chair would write out blue cards for every completed and partial MB. Personally, I'd make the boys do it the first or last night at camp, put them in a baggie and fill them out at a casual summer fun meeting. I suppose the counselors have to fill in some kind of daily report then transfer that to the computer on Friday afternoon.

Does this mean BSA is going to get as pesky as my alumni association?

This is one of those awful times in a teen's life when he has to come to grips with his parent's atrocious behaviour.

So, does your son like the troop? Or is it all about Eagle even at the age of 11?

Send him a disenrollment letter signed by the IH, COR, CC, and SM along with a refund of his dues. Daddy's so good at finding BORs for him, let him find another SM, too

Open the can!!

LOVE the nametag idea! Check spelling with M&D and nicknames as well. We have a kid in our troop whose nickname has nothing whatsoever to do with his given name.

You've previously posted that your Council Advancement policies and procedures are in a state of confusion/dissension/panic. Have you called National or written them? What do they say? Don't we pay all those pros in TX to sort out this kind of stuff?

WHO IS THIS GUY!!!! Does Daddy have a million bucks hanging around that he'll give to Council if his kid gets all nine palms?

Your Scout couldn't look you in the eye. He is guilty. He knows what he is doing is wrong. He may even be repentent, but what is going on is at his father's behest. If a Scout has to disappoint or disobey his parent or he SM, who is he going to pick. Unless SM and Dad are the same, probably the SM. Your problem is a parent. Your secondary problem is that you do not have anyone from District in your Corner and you may or may not have alerted Council to this. Call your Council Registrar and Advancement Chair about the paperwork and ask who is signing since no one from your tr

Once again, this is a place where a set of troop by-laws would come in handy. Your real fight is with Dad and the District.

You're group isn't really falling apart. You are just having a change in leadership. Something else you should consider is to put more of teh decision making on the boys. Ask them what they want to do to fulfill the remaining requirements you might have and then add in the list you've come up with. Let them begin to experience boy-led. Let them find out what G2SS says about activities. And, maybe you can get a den chief from your preospective chief to ramp them up for troop life.

For what it's worth, my husband and son swear by the Army's new suede combat boot.

Well, he's got that Blackberry...

BTW, Eagle is probably possible, depending on your birthdate, if you work hard and are able to fulfill all the Positions of Responsiblility, get your MBs done, and your project. But, don't take my word for it. Ask you SM.

Go talk to your SM and ask if he can go through it with you. But, is Eagle the only reason you want to come back? Is it the deal breaker? If your SM says, "Well, I don't know. You might only get to Life," will you throw up your hands and just walk away?