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ps56k

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Posts posted by ps56k

    Travel IDs for airport & Code of Ehtics

    in Going to the next Jamboree?

    Posted

    just received this from our Jamboree SM -

    ---

    Traveling Issues,

     

    1) All scouts will need a state ID or passport for identification to board the plane.

     

    2) Scouts and parents signed the "code of ethics" when completing the Jamboree application. Any serious misconduct may result in expulsion, at the participant's expense, from the Jamboree. We want each participant to be responsible for his own behavior, and only when necessary will the procedure be invoked to send the participant home from the jamboree.

     

    SPLs are now 7th graders

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    That's why the Crew was established. Yes, they have gone skiing, week cruise on a sailboat, BWCA, rafting, etc... and how again does this help the Troop with gaining an experienced SPL at meetings ? The Troop now has a Philmont trip this summer, and it will be interesting to see how the 8 scouts handle the trek... Star & Life Scouts having to re-learn their Tenderfoot scouting skills. For us, the SPL is just the senior "position of rotation" vs "position of responsibility".

    SPLs are now 7th graders

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    bummer - typed & submitted a nice long reply - but it never got posted ???

    ---

    dropping from roster -

    Our Troop had "scout dollars" from various fundraisers, and the account was used for renewal. However, some scouts had a negative balance! The treasurer moved to another state, and took forever to get the books entered. The CC thought all of this was ok, until a new CC came in, tossed the old treasurer and stopped the insanity. The roster was cleaned up.

    16 - yeah - school, girls, cars, work, etc -

    It's tough to add Scouting to the mix.

    For the 14+ yr old scouts, a CREW was formed to entice them to stay with Scouting... About 20 Scouts were stripped from the Troop for the Crew, and now only 3 come to their meetings/outings anyway. Yup, the 3 families that wanted to go off and do other things beyond "helping" the Troop formed the Crew.

    So - the Troop is now just the 3rd and 4th year Webelos grouping of kids that don't quite fit. They may be a little ADHD, a little outta shape and rollie pollie, a little over-protected, a little too geeky, etc.

    It is great to have a Troop that accepts and builds these kids/Scouts, but it gets old being the Charity Troop that accepts whatever to "retain" the Scout.

    As far as 15-16 yr olds wanting to lead... maybe - but not if it involves going to a PLC meeting, and creating a meeting/camping plan, and then trying to actually accomplish something vs just poking the fire, fighting with sticks, or whatever. Being a boy-leader involves work, and these kids don't want any part of it -

    As far as our son, we'll see what happens after the summer, and if he will get his 2 remaining Eagle req MB's + Eagle Project. At some point, after being with the JLTC/NYLT and Jamboree crowd, you want to find other Scouting "peers" and not just be a Scouting baby sitter every year.

     

    SPLs are now 7th graders

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    Just wanted to leave a note for other readers about the latest non-change in our Troop. It's been a tough battle for the past couple of years. I've tried to raise the bar, encourage Scouting activities, and build upon the boys leadership. But it's all in vain, because we have no Scouts in the Troop over the age of 14, yet have 20+ Life Scouts on the Troop Roster with ages from 14 up to 18. Once they hit High School, they are gone.

    So - we have Cub Scouts, then Boys Scouts for a maybe 4 years, and THEN GONE.

    WHY - Because once you have achieved First Class, why come to a meeting... what do you NEED at a meeting other than a POR. Merit Badges are handed out at MB clinics, and occansionally at Troop Meetings. And, once you get your Life rank and POR for 6 months at about age 14, you have the next FOUR YEARS to try and make Eagle without ever coming to another meeting, campout, or Troop activity. So, no one over 14 wants to become SPL... Why should they - hey, it involves more work, and another meeting (PLC) every month. Our latest "election" installed a 7th grader as SPL with 6th graders as ASPLs. We are not a TROOP, we are merely the 3rd and 4th year WEBELOS... and have to redo everything every 4 years as the boys/scouts move thru the assembly line and then out into the GHOST PATROL to reappear years later wanting an Eagle BOR.

    What about our son/Scout - yeah, he is Life, 14, and will be hitting High School in the fall (he has a late birthday), but he also was ASPL, SPL, now QM, and was elected into the OA, (1 of 6 voted, he was the only one to go to Ordeal) and he is on staff for JLTC/NYLT (1st in the troop to go at all) and also going to Jamboree... Does Scouting conflict ? Sure, with his Track (runs hurdles & sprints) and also his Swim Team (went to State Championships). But he makes every meeting, and most campouts, and still has great grades at school.

    neckerchief & patches

    in Going to the next Jamboree?

    Posted

    I thought I read somewhere online (can't find it now) that after the Council pays their fair share of the deposits, that the Scouts then receive 2 Jamboree Patches, and then later on receive a neckerchief at the Jamboree.

     

    I know the round Jamboree patches are coming, but can't find anything else mentioning anything about a "neckerchief" that would be handed out at the Jamboree ?? And if so, is it the $18.00 one in the catalog, or ???

     

     

    swim test

    in Going to the next Jamboree?

    Posted

    And a swimming test in March proves your capable of swimming in August ?

     

    More and more - Scouting today seems to be the last resort for those kids that for whatever reason don't quite fit into the other worlds. We seem to have our fair share of ADHD, rotund, timid, gifted, and generally weird kids.... and the exceptions, that really enjoy Scouting, participate in all the special activities like Jamboree, NYLT, Philmont, etc - bending over to try to balance their lives with Scouting, and continue to run into roadblocks.....

     

    And we wonder why Scouting for those over 14 is not attractive... Well - let's see - make me choose between a State Swimming Championship meet or taking a BSA swim test - DUH -

     

    How many strikes does it take to loose this Life Scout going to Jamboree and on Staff at NYLT -

     

    swim test

    in Going to the next Jamboree?

    Posted

    I'm constantly amazed at the stupidity of the BSA. Concerning the subject of the "swim test", our council scheduled it at a local pool during a MB Univeristy weekend, since the pool was available for MB's. Well, the JLTC/NYLT meeting was ALSO on the exact same day, so any Scout staffing the NYLT and going to Jamboree not only had to give up going to the MBU, but could not really appear at the swim test either...

     

    Another swim test date was scheduled (for a fee) at a local pool. Anyway, our Scout can't make the 2nd scheduled date - WHY? - Because he is swimming in the STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS!!

     

    Now these swim tests are being held in March, confirming that a Scout will be a capable "swimmer" in August. This is very different than at summer camp, were you jump off the bus, go take a test because the pool/lake is right there.

    Here is the reply from our council concerning the situation -

    --

    " If you cannot make either of the swim test dates set up by the Jamboree committee you will need to make arrangements with your scoutmaster for a special swim test time. Even though he is on the championship swim team he needs to take the test with one of his troop leaders present. Just as at summer camp each boy and adult must re-take the test even if they had done one the week before at another event".

     

    HIPAA and Scouting med forms

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    FYI -

    HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

    Summary Information Effective April 14, 2003,

    Using, creating or sharing protected health information must comply with the new federal Privacy Rule under HIPAA. The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides a number of privacy standards for use, access and disclosure of health information.

     

     

    HIPAA and Scouting med forms

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    As I was sitting here filling out the med forms for Jamboree, Class 2 Med for camp, JLTC/NYLT, etc -

     

    and after attempting to resolve a billing issue at one of my wife's screening exams - "sorry sir, we can't discuss that as you are not on her HIPAA authorization form" -

     

    so.... how does the HIPAA effect all the Scouting forms running around the Troop, District, Council, Summer Camps, Jamboree, JLTC, and wherever else these med forms are required.

     

    JLTC / NYLT age cutoff limit

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    Dan - went back thru the materials...

    ---

    ok - found it - sort of -

    But it didn't indicate that the avail space was reduced this year - down from 144 participants to only 84 participants. And the cost went up.

    Without last year's form, there is no baseline to know the number changed, and was reduced, or why.

     

    2004 - (snip'd from 2004 form)

    CONFERENCE FEE

    Conference fee is $135 on or before May 1, 2004; $150 for each participant, after May 1. Reservations are limited to 144 participants, and June 1 is the final day for reservations. Council camperships are available for up to 50% of the fee by submitting a campership application with your reservation. No refunds after June 5, 2003.

     

    2005 -

    (snip'd from 2005 cover)

    You are encouraged to return your reservations as soon as possible, since space is limited to only 84 participants.

     

    (snip'd from 2005 form)

    WHAT IS THE COST? The Conference fee of $165 is due with the Reservation form on or

    before May 1, 2005. After May 1st the cost is $185.00. Council camperships are available

    for up to 50% of the fee by submitting a campership application with your reservation.

    -------

     

    Torveaux -

    As for letting SM's know what's in the program, why keep it a "secret". I like this council's webpage describing what the Scouts will encounter.

    http://www.sfcbsa.org/Training/NYLT.html

     

    When I asked for an agenda from our council, it was like I was asking for the holy grail... and basically told to go away. In the corp training arena, most companies want to see exactly what their participants will be doing, and what the outcomes will be for each segment.

     

    There are good info nuggets on pages 1-4 of the Staff Guide that could easily be shared or posted for anyone interested. After all, if they were not interested, why would they be asking.

    (This message has been edited by ps56k)

    Whatever happened to usssp.org? scouting service proj site?

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    The following was posted to Scouts-L, and I feel it appropriate to cross

    post it here, too, as I'm sure many of the names are familiar to readers

    of this forum. I also want to add my thanks to those expressed by Gary.

     

    ---------------------------

     

    Hello Scouters, friends and supporters of the US Scouting Service

    Project. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I convey our heartfelt

    thanks to the people listed below, who have donated to USSSP via our

    PayPal account. You have made a huge contribution to our ability to

    get a server back on the air -- we are actively working on it, and we

    will reappear as soon as possible. It is a large and time consuming

    effort to get a complex system, serving many websites and other

    services, fully configured, tested and up on the internet. Please be

    patient.

     

    It is not too late to make a donation, small or large, to help

    continue our programs and activities. Please do not divert any funds

    you would route to Friends of Scouting or your unit, to donate to

    USSSP. Use the following address at PayPal to make a donation --

    donate2usscouts.org@verizon.net. What we do, we do for the youth and

    youth group programs throughout the world.

     

    Again, our sincere thanks for your support.

     

    Yours in Scouting,

    Gary Hendra, President,

    US Scouting Service Project, Inc.

     

    Kathryn Baker, Richard Howard, Peter Grace, Gerald Delker, James Seen

    Kim, Michael Bowman, Steven Duesterhaus, Kemp Petersen, Donald Esson,

    David Gross, Bill Reents, George Moss, Phil Schuman, Albert Creswell,

    Don Dunbar, Walter Shaw, Robert Mack,John Bryant, Timothy Smalley,

    Aviation Collectibles of Texas, Chris Counts, Sandy Arneson, Kenneth ,

    Dolan, Christopher Luise, Michael Goodnight, John Nelson, Stephen Mason,

    Richard Meyerhein, Roberta Merwin, Jeffrey Abernathy, Harv Koplo, Paul ,

    Wolf, John Thomas, Amy Devenport, Virginia Crichton, Calvin Gabriel, Kim

    Bolick, Bruce Cobern, DAVID PALMER, Candace Mack, Alan Stumpf, Cliff

    Lee, Cynthia Mayeaux, Lynn Underhill, Chris Cartano, Erica Hammer, Paul

    Wengert, Ramon Jones, Edward Milbrada, Christopher Luise, David

    Brierley, Susan Mrenna, Theresa Stoel, Eric Hershey, Todd O'Connell,

    Jeffrey Cazier, Alpine Farms, Tom Reis, Gregory Palmer, John Oliphant,

    David Crow, Kathryn Heidenfelder, Stephen Houser, John Pershing, C

    Norman Turrill, Michael Kelley, Richard Volpe, Judd Stiff, TJ Shuff,

    Robert Johnson, Michael Hicks, Aurora Medical Team, Peter Grandstaff,

    Mary Lee Foley, Jamie Dunn, Jeffrey Knoll, Tim Mulligan, Melina Baker,

    Edward Yeager, David W. Lyons, Kenneth Fowler, Kenneth Fowler, Gary

    Reynolds, Kevin Campbell, Martha Conyne, James Olson, Brian George,

    Georgia Deakin, Peter Grace, Joseph McGuire, Ken Vargha, George Fonti,

    Charles Spilman, James Mallabar, Hobo Realty, Inc., James Mallabar, Mike

    Henrie, Paul Yelk, AMAXX Sales and Marketing, Tomas Jensen, Richard

    Minor, Rochelle Oakley, Robert Schimke, Michael Bowman, T Lewis, Sheri

    Waite, Nathan Hill, Bank Account, Randy Brewer, David Bainbridge, Gregg

    Runkel, Sue Carter, Richard Denton, Gregory Hasse, Jeff Rhoads, Robert

    Haden, Susan McGee, RONALD KUHLMAN, Glenn Gibbs, Charles E Ballman,

    David Sears, Mark Bowie, Dina Wakley, Scott Alvar, Thomas Stillwell,

    Michael Nutter, Tracy Mann, Lisa Folz, David Schwartz, Reid Ligon, Lisa

    Gerdes, James Oxnard, Paul Wengert, Melina Baker, Felipe Vidal, Barbara

    Cerveny, Paul Wolf, Paul Degener, Sandra Mountney, Peter Grace, Mary

    Rooney Snell, Kevin Moore, Steven Crain, Raynald Theberge, Gail

    Pucylowski, Sheila Rodriguez, Stephen Johnsen, Robert Baysa, S Diane

    Pope, Shawna Haider, Lisa Heber, Sean Byrne, Elizabeth Osborn, David

    Voors, Robert Cordes, David W. Lyons

     

    --

    Yours in Scouting,

    Paul S. Wolf, P.E. mailto:paul.s.wolf@alum.wpi.edu

    ***********************************************

    Advancement/Awards/Safety Webmaster

    U.S. Scouting Service Project, Inc.

    http://www.usscouts.org/start.asp

    2005 All Rights Reserved

    ***********************************************

    Whatever happened to usssp.org? scouting service proj site?

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    An open message and a plea for additional support. We ask of you to please share this message with other electronic Scouting groups you are a part of.

     

    We at the U.S. Scouting Service Project are committed to supporting Scouting through the Internet. We thank those Scouters and others who

    have come forth in the past and have supported our voluntary efforts -- those efforts, which in turn, has been of a service to you, your units, your district/local Council and to the national Scouting movement in the United States.

     

    Sadly, we are now off line due to the failure of our server. It was no longer able to handle the high volume of visits to our site that amounted to approximately 7 million page hits a month. We may be down for now, but we are not willing to submit to defeat or wallow in despair. We will be back. While we are confident we will resume operations, it may be awhile before we return to the web. We need to buy a new server and get it set up. And we need your help. But first, we have a bit of a report for you:

     

    We recognized that our old two-processor server with a little less than a one-megabyte of memory was in trouble a year ago and started seeking

    donations from Scouters. The response was fantastic and to date we have had just over $2,500 in donations. We were close to raising enough money

    to buy a new server and still be able to support Scouting through grants for Eagle Scholarships and West Fellowships like the one presented to

    the owner of the Scouts-L listserv. However, time ran out before the money was there and our cranky old server finally presented its last blue screen of death.

     

    You might think that $2,500 is enough to do the trick because you can by a fine home computer for that much and we wish that was true. Unlike

    your home computer that only supports one user at a time, a web server has to support hundreds of people at one time. In order to have a web

    site that isn't deadly slow or unavailable during peak usage periods, we need a server class computer that can handle the load. We have purchased a modestly priced low-end web server that cost us about $4,000. We now have just about enough money to do that, but not enough to purchase the server, and software needed to operate it, and still provide other

    support to Scouting. To be able to continue we need more donations to help us through this tight spot.

     

    Donations are accepted via PayPal by using the following email account address:

     

    donate2usscouts.org@verizon.net

     

    We apologize for any inconvenience you may experience while we are down and will make every effort to get our sites back up for you as soon as

    we can. We thank you for your support, your visits, and for the work you do as a front line Scouter making a difference for the youth of this

    great nation.

     

    Q&A send to: paul.s.wolf@alum.wpi.edu

     

    Gary Hendra, President, U.S. Scouting Service Project, Inc.

     

    Board members: Mike Bowman, Paul Wolf, Kyna Hendra, Bill Nelson, Dave

    Tracewell, Mike Walton, Ed Henderson, Lloyd Dalton

     

    CC'd from the - rec.scouting.usa - newsgroup

     

     

    JLTC / NYLT age cutoff limit

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    The SM that I was talking to was trying to include the 13/14 scouts before they hit high school and dropped off the face of the earth. Interestingly he felt that Boy Scouts had become a program mostly for the Webelos and 13/14 scouts until they hit high school, and then, you pretty much lost the crowd...

     

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