Proud Eagle

Sorry about the recent volume of somewhat unorganized posts from me lately. I will see if I can do better as the week progresses. Unfortunately I am a bit sleepy at the moment so this post probably won't make us much since by the time the sun comes up as it seems to make to me at the moment. Bob, I agree that is how things should work under optimal conditions. Unfortunately, many of us live in places with far less than optimal conditions. Your model will fall apart if for say three years you increase the number of troops recruiting by 25% (a not so unrealistic number during a new uni

Bob, you may be right on a few of those points. Ultimately, my opinions are based on my own experiences as youth unit member in Cub Scouts and then Boy Scouts, and now as an ASM for a troop. My opinions also reflect what may be local problems, rather than programatic or nation wide ones. Bob, in another thread, you mentioned how excited you are that your troop is now offering a programs targeted at three seperate typses of Scouts: new, experienced, and older. Now, I happen to think you have reason to be excited. Such a system is providing a better opportunity to the Scouts. Having a

I took SM/ASM Position Specific Training today. According to the trainer the target troop size is 24-36 active Scouts. He didn't site a source for that, but I assume it was in some of the instructors materials. I know my home troop had about 24 Scouts when I joined. However, many of these began to age out. Unfortunately, these were not replaced at the same rate, because several new units were started that drew away Cubs that might very well have joined my troop. Fast forward a few years, and the troop has only one patrol's worth of Scouts. The PLC can't exist properly because th

NO NO NO EVERYONE GO LOOK IT UP AGAIN Pleas see pages 57 through 60 in the Order of the Arrow Handbook, 2002 edition. "Only currently registered members of the Boy Scouts of America and the Order may wear the insignia of the Order of the Arrow." "The sash is worn at Order of the Arrow functions and special Scouting activities, when members need to be indentified as Arrowmen rendering special services." "The Order of the Arrow sash is worn with the official Scout field uniform or Scouting's official adult dress wear (a blue blazer and gray slacks). The sash also may be

It is nice to know Trail Pounder has recieved The Moral Compass from God so he has no doubt about what is good, and so he can proclaim what is good for all others to know. I am not convinced that opening OA to Venturers is a wise idea. I can see a way it might benefit those Venturers allowed in. However, I can also see how harm could be done to the Boy Scouts in the OA, and to the Order itself. At best any agreement to allowing Venturers into the OA would be a compromise of current standards, mission, goals, and ideals of the Order. Perhaps OA will one day evolve into

Those over 18, but under 21, are still youth for OA election, induciton, voting, and office holding purposes. Anyone under 21 who meets all membership requirements may be elected by their unit as a candidate for youth membership. Also, any unit member, under 21, is eligible to vote in a unit election. If necessary I will quote the Guide for Officers and Advisors, but do we really want to go down that road again. For more on that see: http://www.scouter.com/Forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=55073#id_55254 my post on 3/1/2004 at 6:57 p.m. should make this point clear

two words: aluminum foil I have never tried this with rice. Sounds like a challenge. To cook rice, you could either toast, steam, or boil it. I recomend a method that uses water, though if you like your rice dry that is OK with me, so long as I don't have to eat it. I would suggest placing the correct quantity of water in a properly shaped piece of aluminum foil. Place the foil "container" on your heat source. Wait for the water to begin boiling. Add the rice. Close the foil container and wait for the rice to cook. I have no idea if this will actually work, since I ha

My troop has over the years always had at least one equipment trailer. At one point, we had 3 differnt trailers that were the troop's, plus one that was the Scoutmaster's that was used from time to time. Trailer number one was an old, rusty, horse trailer. It was huge. It was the surplus gear storage facility for many years. It has since been retired. Trailer number two was one of those old (1960s, I think) camper trailers that has flat sides but a egg like profile when viewed from the side. This was the primary trailer for many years. The inside had been stripped down to just

Ah, the mass at Jambo 2001. That was something. The worst problem wasn't getting wet, it was the fact that all that rain pounding on all those ponchos, rain jackets, and umbrellas made it impossible to hear. Swiss guards? I thought those were 4th degree Knights of Columbus. On a side note the priest that gave the homily was out at Philmont that summer for a week while I was there. He was a very interesting guy. OK. Back to the thread. I originally purchased a military surplus poncho for Scouting use. I have since stopped using it. It doesn't offer enough protection dur

It is my understanding that Explorers never held unit elections after going co-ed. I have always heard that unit elections at posts were stopped in order to prevent female youth from being elected as candidates. It could be there were other factors at work, but that is what I have understood to be the case. Really the Venturers in OA and female youth (I will use the term "girls" for the remainder of the post) in OA are two seperate issues. I don't know of anyone that would really object to a First Class (or higher) Scout in a Crew, that meets all other requirements, being elected. Man

To the best of my knowledge, Posts stopped having elections when they went co-ed. This was done with the purpose of preventing female youth from being elected as candidates. I may have my facts wrong, but that is what I understand to be the case.

What suprises me most about that is they actually had extras in stock. I had assumed those were ordered on an as needed basis.

I would periodicly need new or extra rank badge while I was a youth. All I ever did was go to the nearest Scout shop (at the office of another council, as it happened to be), pick one up from the pile on the shelf, and pay for it. No one ever asked a question or made a comment about it. Even the Eagle badges were right there on the same shelf. I always wondered if they asked for some proof for those. This seems like one of those rules that is more trouble than it is worth. This is in fact the first I had ever heard of it.

I must strongly insist on installing a door or curtain to block the line of site between the fire ring and flush toilet. This is after all family camping.

I usually carry such material in a day pack. That way I will have my books and papers, and my other essentials all available in the vehicle for the trip down. Then depending on the activities going on I may repack the daypack upon arriving at the campsite. Usually this packpack contains, on the way to a camp out, the following things: pens pencils compass minimaglight bug repelent FRS/weather radio rain suit Scout Handbook Fieldbook Requirement Book Bible OA Handbook OA binder (various OA recourses and documents such as election forms, Guide for Officers and Ad

I am glad to hear the ball is now rolling. I must say, there are quite few... anomalies in the way things are working in your area. Ordeals at summer camp are very rare, most places hold call outs during camp. Call out during troop meetings is also quite unusual. Usually troops only get a unit election and a camp promotion visit. However, there is nothing wrong with this. It is just a bit uncommon based on my experience. The case of a problem at camp is not so unusual. I know while I was lodge chief the camp program caused a few problems for us, mostly because non

Laurie, I thank you for your agreement. It is good to see that at least someone understood what I was trying to say. (I was almost worried I was using Greek, or something.) I must now return the favor and agree with you. It is relatively simple to plan a camp-out. What is difficult is actually making it happen. This is particularly true if you have a large group of elementary school children who have minimal experience in camping, coupled with parents who have a similar lack of camping. I can just imagine a dozen Cubs, and their parents, all setting out with untested equipment for t

We very briefly had a SM who had, years before, simultaneously acquired Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever at the same time. Both were incorrectly diagnosed, despite the fact he new he had been bitten by a very large number of ticks while sleeping out under the stars. Therefore treatment was at best several weeks late. He still has certain medical complications from that come up. However, he did recover pretty well, since last I heard he was supposed to be going on an expedition to the Himalayas sometime. Now you mentioned the, shall we say, cooperative tick checks. Most p

The worst thing about this position is the fact that it could compromise your leadership as the Scoutmaster. I am not really certain I can add anything that helps in that matter beyond what has already been written. I certainly know what it is like to be bullied. To one extent or another I was the victim of that for several years in school. I also sometimes was the subject of a bit of it at Scouts. In fact, my first summer camp experience had a few very bad moments related to that. I can certainly say it could be worse. When I joined my troop there was a small group of youth leaders

If SM confrences are conducted on the 1st Monday of each month, and the only thing needed to participate is show up, I think that covers it. If there is a problem with the kid attending on the 1st Monday, then an alternative is needed. If he needs it sooner for some reason, I can see making special arrangements would be appropriate. Also, if he has to make a reservation ahead of time, that could be a problem. However, if it is known that the SM is available during the 1st meeting of the month, and all you have to do is show up and say, "I need a conference" then I think there was ample opp

I don't really miss the stars. At first I liked them. This was mostly due to the fact that I had a high rating. Then I started to think about that. Just because my previous posts on some other subject were good doesn't mean my posts on some other subject will be. Let me provide examples. I could probably be classified as a minor expert on the Order of the Arrow. On the other hand, Venturing, and to a greater extent, Cub Scouts, are not areas of particular expertise. Some new forum member that just looks at the stars might think I was some sort of BSA guru. That may be

I certainly hope it wasn't my losing my cool that became the proverbial straw that broke the camals back. I do think a temporary brake, to give everyone a chance to cool off and recalibrate is probably a good idea. We had bocame far too consumed by Issues and Politics in recent days, to the neglect of the more practical and uplifting forums.

I am sorry. I lost my cool. However, I still haven't regained it. I am afraid I won't be able to make a rational post for a while until I cool down. If I say something that sounds nutty, just give me a bit to recalibrate.

That is IT! I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it any more! I was OK until, until Wheeler just went too far. I was sympathetic for him personally. I liked the idea of bringing a bit of philosophy and idealism (though not the boat load we got) into things from time to time. I even liked reexamining certain fundamental ideas about Scouting. It is after all, good to be challenged from time to time. I have even agreed with a few of Wheeler's conclusions. Other times I have agreed with him in part, but thought he went just a bit to far, or took a wrong tur

I have heard stories that would suggest that something like this is possible. All it would take is one very badly run troop. Council may have never been sent the advancement reports on those 41 merit badges, they may have simply awarded them in-house for whatever reason. It is also possible that the troop didn't even make a record of those badges if they weren't reported to council. There is also the possibility that the troop records were damaged (my own troop had a problem with water getting into the filing cabinet with the troop records in it). The troop may not have been u