Jump to content

Old_OX_Eagle83

Members
  • Content Count

    520
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    6

Everything posted by Old_OX_Eagle83

  1. Many UC's aren't, and don't want to be UC's, they just want to feel like they're involved by being on a roster. Another issue we have is many UC's don't understand the job, they take the BSA training, and off they go. To gain understanding of the job a new UC needs to be paired with a seasoned ADC, or a fantastic UC, for several months. The other part of this is getting to know your unit and charter org, establishing good relations, developing friendship, and gaining trust; without these you can't do the job. Every unit is different, with different needs, and will expect different things
  2. Although, like you said, there were better ways to handle some elements of this, I don't see where any rules were broken. The time frame for a BOR to happen isn't defined to my knowledge. Likes you're correct, this parent was going to go off anyway. I said parent specifically, as you as SM appoint your assistants (ASM's). This guys behavior is way out of line for a scout leader. Lots of people have given good advice for how to handle the young man, mine is remove the ASM.
  3. Thanks Stosh, I can see positive ways where this might be implemented. As you've guessed, our SPL is often ran ragged, as is the ASPL. We have 17 officers (including PL's), and although all but the SPL, ASPL, and JASM are patrol members, this is still a lot of people for the ASPL to manage/mentor, while backing up the SPL. I'll share this idea with the SPL, see what he thinks; after all it is his troop
  4. From my point of view I see the key Venturing issue as something that hasn't been mentioned here, structure. Freedom to choose program does not equate to freedom of structure and organization; although some crews think so. Scouting at it's inception was based on military organization, structure, and methods; to this day they are the bones of the organization. Regardless of addressing a new PLC, Crew President, Lodge LEC, or leaders doing Scoutmaster Position Specific Training, I always start with the same message: Shared Vision; Communication; Planning; Team Development; Servant Lead
  5. There is some great advice here, I'll not restate it. However, I will say this: For both Troop and Crew this is not a unit issue, this isn't small potatoes. There's a very real possibility of dire consequences, criminal charges, law suits, loss of charters. Cut this young man loose from your programs, and let the BSA professionals and Charter Org handle things from there.
  6. Thank you for the response. The simple answer to your question is an ASM Patrol Advisor's job is the take some of the load of a SM with more coming at him then he can handle (not an uncommon issue in big troops), serve as adult supervision on patrol outings, and act as part of the required adult supervision on troop outings. A secondary use of the position is to find out what adults may be suited to be SM one day, and groom successors for the job. As I explained before, the ASM Patrol Advisor is delegated a portion of the SM's responsibility, like doing SMC's, finding MB instructors for s
  7. My original lodge had them; the only rule I recall is you had to be a dues paid member to wear the lodge neckerchief. I know explorers, who were dues paid members, did wear them.
  8. You could make a custom LLD patch that says Executive Committee. Technically there are no OA POR patches for youth, except Troop Guide. You can find Lodge Chief patches, official (if your lucky), or unofficial, and others, but remember they're considered temp patches, and are worn on the right shirt pocket.
  9. Sentinel947 , that's a well worded post. I come here for new ideas, and to see things in new ways. Like you, I respect Stosh, and get quite a bit from most of his posts. I don't explain everything I post in detail, unless someone asks, for the sake of time. I operate on an assumption of good will, as well. To many here I'm still a newbee, but I've been around the block a few times. With the exception of a few years, I've been scouting in one way, or another, since I became in a Cub in 1974. My scouting involvement has taken me on a journey through Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, E
  10. I'm not sure what kind of cool-aid your drinking ... An ASM is an assistant to the SM, sharing whatever portion of his duties he delegates to the ASM ... which has zero to the with the SPL or ASPL. An ASPL can't do SMC's, approve/assign MBC's, or issue blue cards. The additional ASM's actually create more time for the SM, allowing him to available to the SPL. The SPL is responsible for his PL's, not the ASPL, unless the SPL is absent. Yes, in a large troop, you may choose to have more then one ASPL, to assist the SPL with carrying out his duties. However, traditionally the ASPL has z
  11. SM Bob you've seen some troops, this can, and in out case has worked well for about five years. Our patrol advisor system is modeled off the Wood Badge Patrol Guide program, and works well. This in no way undermines the PL, or patrol function. Stosh, I disagree that a small group of eight functions the same as a larger group made up of groups of eight, for exactly the reason I added Patrol Advisors when I was SM. One person, even if he, or she, is a SM, is still one person with a finite amount of time. A SM with seventy scouts in his charge would not even have enough time to handle all hi
  12. Stosh, Either you didn't read well, or I didn't write well. Mentoring comes from senior youth (SPL for PL, ASPL for Historian, ect). SMC's are by adults (the whole adult association thing). A mentoring session might be the SPL sitting down with a PL discussing alternative ways to present a skill one of this scouts is struggling with. A SMC might be an ASM sitting down with a scout that isn't advancing, and has questions about what Scout Spirit is. Often a SMC could be as simple as. ASM: Hey Joe Scout, good to see you on a camp out, we've missed you. Joe Scout: Yea, Baseball
  13. If things are handled correctly there is an end evaluation, but it's the product of several mentoring sessions, with the youth leaders responsible for the scout (except SPL), and monthly scout master conferences, with the adult assigned to work with the youth. Feedback, mentoring, and coaching, should be a constant two way street. However, at the end of the POR term, there should be an exit interview to sum things up. Many units make an error by just using SMC's for advancement. In truth, every scout should have a monthly mentoring session with a senior youth leader and a SMC. Not all ses
  14. Stosh, I agree completely. Our wording in always specific to our units. In my home unit the patrols each have a full set of gear, which is owned by the patrol. However, the patrols are not allowed to just tramp into the storage loft, box truck, or trailer, and just take things. Each patrol, under the direction of the patrols leader, checks it's gear out from the quartermaster. The Quartermaster is responsible for storage of gear, securing gear for transport, as well as making sure whatever is checked out is turned in. The Patrol Leaders keep a camping log, including who is in what tent nu
  15. What are you attempting to accomplish? I know you answered this, but ask yourself again. Decide what's unnecessary, what's overly wordy, and what doesn't accomplish your purpose, and remove them. This policy is overly complex. Each troop is different, but, remember the patrol method is the core of scouting. My suggestion, each patrol checks out gear, and is only given enough tents to accommodate the members attending the event. Simply moving to patrol camping, along with checking in and out the tents with the quartermaster should cover everything you want to accomplish. Here's some o
  16. The simple answer is yes you can. If your a dues paid member of a lodge you can wear any flap of the lodge, but you should try to wear the most recent issue.
  17. The key to advancement is: Setting expectations, communicating expectations, and only certifying a requirement as complete when a scout meets the expectation. No, I'm not talking about BOR's that's not when we test scouts. Every POR should have a written, agreed upon, set of expectations. I like having the scout sign off on the expectations, like a contract, and take it home with him. National provides decent descriptions of the duties for each office, and this makes a good core of POR expectations. If you just go one step further, and define what "active", and "Trained" mean in your unit
  18. Your question, and the whole conversation, centers around Readyman; you're missing something. Your scouts, and the Boy Scouts involved, will gain much more than important first aid skills. Your program exists to prepare these young men for Boy Scouts. The Webelo scouts will be interacting with, observing, and learning from, Boy Scouts, in the field. Don't under value the experience of simply participating in a troop activity.
  19. Eagle Scout is not the goal of scouting. Have those scouts focus on scout skills, fun outdoor activities, and the patrol method. Advancement, including Eagle, is "A Method of Scouting", and has a place in the program; this is something to discuss once a First Class scout, who has mastered his skills, is an active contributing member of one of the functioning patrols in a boy led troop. The last year as a Webelo, and first year as a Boy Scout, are already overwhelming, don't add fuel to the fire. Btw, the strategy for earning Eagle is: get active, have fun, master your scouts ski
  20. SM Bob, Adult led, Boy ran isn't the way I'd put it, or the way I'd ran a unit. I'd put it this way: A Boy Scout troop is a large scale experimental learning lab, but like all with experiments, boundaries and expectations must be set and adhered to. The best approach I've found to setting boundaries and expectations is creating an expected program template. This fits into the initial SPL/SM talk where they create a "shared vision of success", following the SPL's election, and prior to the SPL making officer appointments, and partnering with the SM to put on ILST. Simple start by
  21. Your not alone, from bottom to top I like the CS program changes. Typically I'm not a fan boy of what national pushes out, but I think they got it right this time. The program looks like it will be easier to understand, deliver, and track. The themes, and related activities, are designed as a springboard for fun. Everything is not only labeled, but designed as an actual adventure. The Tiger and Webelo program have long been plagued with problems, and the new program resolved these issues decisively. With all of that being said, what I like best is the smooth flow of the Cub Scout to Boy S
  22. I have a good topic for discussion. Like so many lodges today council mergers have given us a vast area of cover. We do use a Tribe and Chapter system, which solves some issues, however the LEC still has to handle quite a bit of business. What's the best answer to holding productive PLC's with members scattered across four states? What works for you?
  23. Why do you think completing all twenty is so important? Oh, btw, get used to calling a 2nd year Webelo group a patrol, it is under the new AOL program
  24. SSScout, What I'm reading here is a fantastic example of scouting working as intended. Your guide is doing exactly what he should be, as are you. This exact process is exactly what so many units are lacking.
  25. Qwazse, Thank you for taking the time to explain what your saying, and where your coming from. You're correct I've been all over town, lol. I think it's a product of how I approach being a scouting volunteer; "If I can I will". I've been volunteering with BSA for nearly thirty years, which still makes me a youngster in this community Currently I have more hats then I care for. I'm cultivating my replacement as Crew CC, and although I remain active with my son's troop, I've moved from a primary ASM role, to being an available resource. Moving forward my intention is to continue as UC
×
×
  • Create New...