BDPT00

So why are we giving the uniform police a bad time? Have any of you ever heard (ever!) about someone being upset about an embroidered nametag?

Insignia-conscious folks get a bad rap anyway. No need to start assuming things. I happen to think it's not a bad idea, and might just look into it myself.

BDPT00

Do you (personally) know of anyone who has been turned down for the Jamboree, and why?

BDPT00

I'm curious where you got the idea that someone said you can't wear 4. Also, where did the notion come from that "the WB stuff has the part that dangles for the beads." What does that mean?

Very strange interpretation of something, but I don't know what.

BDPT00

Nearly all of the posts in the past week have had nothing to do with pastoral leadership in the ELCA. It's still a non-issue, and not worthy of discussion until it affects Scouts or units.

Bueller? Anyone?

BDPT00

Packsaddle,

I didn't see Boy Scouts mentioned in the attached, irrelevant article. Was there a point I missed? Was a Scouting unit lost or gained because of this?

BDPT00

Two things:

Bacchus -- How in the world did a thread about the ELCA become a more appropriate place to discuss LDS Scouting? This makes no sense to me.

Packsaddle -- Since the decision last August, the number of congregations leaving the ELCA is between 1 & 2 percent. Numbers aren't available to see if overall membership has risen or fallen due to the decision. It's an ongoing process, and still heated. It's a small blip on the screen, and the best thing for the BSA and the NLAS to do is still nothing.

Now let's get back to the other thread on LDS Scouting. There is no news here.

BDPT00

People who haven't staffed using either a NYLT or NAYLE syllabus shouldn't try to pick things out of context. Seeking a "training tip" isn't what the books are for. There are plenty of leadership quotes out there, and lots of ways to make your training interesting without pulling something out of a council or national syllabus. Not knowing the difference between NYLT, NAYLE, (and NAYLT) is a good indicator that you're dabbling in the wrong place. If the OA youth haven't taken NYLT, they have no business trying to train it.

BDPT00

How convenient.

I assume you meant NJLIC.

The main reason to go to NAYLE is because it's at PTC. It's a continuation of NYLT, where a Scout has the opportunity to work with a new bunch of kids to bring NYLT to life. It's NYLT on steroids. There's plenty of information on line about the course.

BDPT00

By the way, that Venture patch doesn't belong on the sleeve. It goes over the right pocket.

The choice of "Venture" and "Venturing" is unfortunate. It will take some time to figure out the differences. Many people use the terms interchangably, but they are certainly not the same.

BDPT00

Try 42 inches.

BDPT00

The NYLT has a different topic, ethical decisions at this time. (I don't have my NYLT literature in front of me now)

** No kidding?

I believe the decisions are Win-Win, Win-Lose, and Trivial during that class. If I recall correct the NYLT bottom line is that a person will usually have to select each one of these decisions, however Win-Win is usually be most beneficial.

** This is way off base, and not related to the remainer of this discussion (even if it were correct).

BDPT00

It appears to me that many of the trrops mentioned have far too many ASMs. Advancement, Life to Eagle, Quartermaster, Outdoor Activities, etc. are committee functions.

Here's another question ... If you were a Scoutmaster of a troop of 30 boys (4 patrols), what do you suppose might be a good number of ASMs? (ignore the under 21 crowd for this) How many do you need? Should you have more than that? Why?

Pick a number. OK ... what is the job of each one? Perhaps think of it as being the president of a company. How many VPs do you need? Would you have a job for each one? Would you have more than you need? Why?

The initial subject question was "What's the job of your ASMs?"

BDPT00

Personally, I think an 18-20 year old is far too old for NYLT. The course is geared toward 14 & 15 year olds.

BDPT00

Can you explain?

BDPT00

There's plenty of room for misunderstanding how balloting works (worked). That's why it's so important to have top-notch kids running elections. It's pretty easy to mess it up by not explaining how one may vote or not vote.

The old rules were that you could vote for up to half of the number eligible. Anyone receiving 50% of the vote was elected. I don't recall there ever being a restriction on how many could be elected, but then I don't own any old books on the subject. Consider: a troop has 12 members. 8 show up for the election. 4 are eligible. If 4 kids vote for two of them, and the other 4 vote for the other 2, 100% are elected. Likely? No. But the restriction was on how many one could vote for; not on how many could be elected.

BDPT00

I'm a bit surprised we haven't seen any advisors or election team folks jumping in on this. I happen to think that it's totally inapproriate for a Scoutmaster to put some undue pressure on the voters (by telling the kids that he personally endorses all of them, or that he'd be disappointed with the voters if they didn't select all of them). There should also be no "all of the above" on a ballot. I'd like to see where such practices are suggested in OA literature. I'd also be interested in seeing where SMs and ASMs are excluded from selecting adults.

Incidently, there is not, nor has there been a restriction on how many youth can be selected.

BDPT00

Not that it matters a hoot, but most likely blue.

There are pins and patches, and Bobwhites have an orange background on them (as do Eagles). Does it matter? Not really. Foxes are orange too.

Good question, and a nice gesture by the troop guide.

BDPT00

Correction...

CUB SCOUT METHODS:

The Ideals

The Den

Advancement

Family Involvement

Activities

Home and Neighborhood Centered

The Uniform

BDPT00

I was addressed directly by Eagle92 as though I'd said something incorrect. Just responding to that.

Thanks

What's an OA lanyard?

KCJohn,

I just reread my posting. It sounds disrespectful. It wasn't meant to be, Sir. I will add something from days gone by. My district used to display our colors much more prominantly. Our training staff and service corps (KP guys mostly) wear a necker and slide awarded for service to the district. We have a patch, too, and I used to wear mine proudly ... until I realized it wasn't authorized (we wore it in the Jambo spot). Now the only ones I see are worn by those who don't care at all about proper uniforming, and they're very vocal about it.

Within the council, some districts wear them where a region patch would go. I've seen kids with them too. I do what I can to get rid of them (when I'm in a position to do so).

BDPT00

(uniform police can be disgusted, but also polite)

Are we done yet, or are we willing to settle on no patches on the left pocket?

I'm done.

BDPT00

"Our District proudly wears our District patch!"

I guess it's a good thing then that your district and I don't co-habitate.

Tell me this, Mr Retired Military; where on your uniform do you instruct people to wear it? And what do you tell them if they refer to the Insignia Guide?

BDPT00

And we wonder why uniform police get upset. The book clearly (right up front, and plain as day) that district patches are not for uniform wear. The writers here obviously know it. Why then do people do it? We have districts in my council who wear them. I've had it mentioned at the council Key-3 meetings, and all district Key-3s have gotten the word. People still wear them, and I will continue to take issue with it. I'm careful not to offend anyone (directly), because it's not my job to dress-down someone from across town, but I'll continue to see to it that their district leadership knows better.

BDPT00

The simple answer to the question asked is "none."

BDPT00