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orennoah

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Everything posted by orennoah

  1. I got mine (and a pair for my son) and we both are very pleased, with the fit, the look and the comfort.
  2. The BEST, the absolute BEST, time being a Scoutmaster is when you can sit back just watch the Troop run itself, without any obvious further input from you. Of course, they'll ask when they need help and you'll, at times, appropriately make an observation or - if needed - a suggestion. Train 'em and let 'em lead. You'll be amazed at where they go. (Besides. It's the best ever situation. If the Troop screws something up, the boys take the blame. After all, it's a boy-led troop. However, if the Troop really excels, it's to your credit. After all, you're the Scoutmaster! You simpl
  3. Well, Mama Bear. It sure does sound like the CD was doing "her" course, a strange mixture of the old and new courses. She KNOWS she's doing it wrong. She had to go through much training by the region in order be allowed to become the CD. Since she knows that she departed from the syllabus in some major ways, having that word spread around is the LAST thing she wants. Hang in there and simply smile at the "whiny Bears" comments. After all, you were lucky enough to be a Bear. And Bear in a so-so course is still better than a prey critter in a great course! - Oren WE3-41-03 BE
  4. I took over for a very popular Scoutmaster who was leaving town. Though there weren't any HUGE differences between our approaches to troop leadership, there were things that he did that I disagreed with and things that he didn't do that I thought should be done. I discussed my views with him, largely when asked, but allowed him to do what he was doing. (Nothing was a serious as falsifying advancement, dictating youth leadership or making patrols superfluous.) Then, when I became Scoutmaster, I started doing things my way. (E.g., I immediately started doing the Scoutmaster Minute a
  5. Sure. We're FULL of suggestions. However, the important part is that you go through the process of developing a ticket item, rather than adopting someone else's idea for "what to do." Take a look at our unit. (Den/Pack/Troop/Crew/Ship/District/Council, etc.) Is it as diverse as it should be? Does it value or appreciate diversity? What can you do to improve things? What obtacles to diversity exist? After you have evaluated the situation and determined how you want it to change, then we can assist with some of the details of the "what to do."
  6. I didn't get it either. And I AM a lawyer. So, let's that class action going. :-)
  7. Is there a divorce going on? Have lawyers been brought in? If so, then I would suggest that the SM bring this threat to his lawyer's attention, so that the lawyer could take the proper steps to prevent any public scene. (Restraining orders often do prevent serious harm.) Seeing the way that so many people in these situations would do anything to hurt the soon-to-be-ex-spouse, regardless of the injury to their kids or themselves, is why I no longer practice family law. I hated caring more for my clients' kids than my clients &/or the other lawyers' clients. GOOD LUCK!!
  8. I'm so pained when I hear stories like this. (ESPECIALLY, when it's happening to a Bear Patrol!) Taking what ScoutMom111 says at face value (what else could I do?), it is clear that the Course Director is WAY out to lunch. PLEASE don't let this destroy your Wood Badge experience. Also, please know that even Course Directors have bosses. AFTER the course, you may wish to correspond with the Wood Badge coordinator for your Council or Cluster. Another thing you can do right now is to bring in the ASM for Troop Guides and your SPL. MAYBE they can reign in the out of control Cou
  9. Spongebob: Welcome to the Greater Bear Patrol! It sounds like you and your fellow Bears are already upholding the great Bear tradition. One piece of advice: Don't get too upset when the prey patrols (that's, in case you didn't notice, ALL of them) get all riled up; it doesn't affect their flavor. But seriously, it sounds like you're getting a lot out of Wood Badge already. It just gets better from here. - Oren WE3-41-03 BEAR WE3-41-05 QM (& Exec. Chef.)
  10. So sad. I can't help but think that the perception of danger is far worse than the danger. Many of us parents are so worked up, that it's harming, rather than protecting our kids.
  11. Not to sound "touchy feely" or anything, but one thing is crystal clear. There is a total lack of "shared vision." To the extent that anyone is working, it's at cross purposes. No parent volunteers to drive 1/2 hour out of town? I doubt that it's because they don't care about their kids. It's more likely that they're fed up with the adult leadership. PLC not planning outings? Sounds like a lack of understanding of the program by the SM and consequent apathy by the boy leadership. Flaky, controlling SM? In addition to the lack of understanding of the program, a lack of lead
  12. With all the "everybody's got one" opinion posting on this site, don't you find it remarkable that EVERYONE agrees that the BOR Chairman is out of line? That should mean something to you and the Scout's mom. BTW, congrats to the Scout, his parents and his troop!!
  13. I found it. This is an email that I sent to parents after a particularly frustration backpack trip. The Pernicious Perils of Parental Packing This is a cautionary tale for parents who wish to pack their son's backpacks and for sons whose parents wish to pack their backpacks. Probably the most important thing a Scout learns upon joining a Troop is personal responsibility. A major portion of this responsibility is to Be Prepared, especially with regard to having the proper personal gear. It is the Scout's responsibility to have what he needs for a trip. Not his parents', not h
  14. I've got to agree with the posts about Moms doing the packing. That's a HUGE problem for younger Scouts and they're the ones with the least body mass and muscle mass to handle it, not to mention the lowest maturity and experience level. After my frustrations with Mommy packing, I wrote and distributed a humorous, but serious, screed entitled "The Pernicious Perils of Parental Packing." When I get home tonight, I'll scrounge a copy and post it. - Oren
  15. I (and the Troop) has the MSR Water Works and wouldn't use anything else. The MSRs aren't as fast as some, but they are completely field servicable. The ones that use replaceable cartridges work really well, but when the filter clogs, you're screwed unless you packed in a replacement cartridge. With the MSRs, it's simply a matter of unscrewing the cartridge and wiping with the included scrubbie, reassembly and you're good to go.
  16. The blame for the scandalously large number of heat cases is NOT with the Scouts or their Scoutmasters, all of whom that I saw were doing a tremendous job. The Scouts were prepared, both mentally and physically. Virtually every one that I saw routinely carried a full hydration pack. The troop-level leadership was up to the task. In fact, were it not for the Scoutmasters, senior Scouts and us lowly staff-peons, who jumped into spontaneous action, without orders "from above," many would have died and the casualty figures would have been MUCH higher. No. The blame is on the National
  17. My picky, narrow-minded view is that a Quality Unit should begin with proper spelling. :-) - Oren
  18. Glad to help. PLEASE, let me know how (or if) this assists your unit. - Oren
  19. Was it my "Grump Patrol Manual?" http://www.scouttroop14.org/PDFs/grumpmanual.PDF - Oren
  20. I'd go for aluminum, but I'm a certified "gear head."
  21. Aquila Calva wrote: "If a scout needs a sleeping bag to go on a scout campout (they are included on almost every equipment list), there is every good reason to allow him to use activity funds to purchase the equipment. If a scout is going to Philmont and needs a pair of hiking boots in order to be correctly outfitted then he should be able to use the activity fund money to purchase the boots." If your troop is trying to maintain public, charitable status (aka "501©(3)"), then I disagree. That is using charitable funds for personal benefit, which can jeopardize the tax status of the Troo
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