purcelce

I got these four important rules off of SCOUTS-L. I think this is best set of rules (in addition to the Scout Oath and Law).

No adult should ever forget these points about scouting:

1. The Youth are the reason for and own the Scouting movement.

2. Anything that supports #1 is good,

3. Anything that diminishes #1 is bad.

4. In cases of confusion, consult #1.

YIS

Cary P.

I serve as ADC and ASM. The unit I'm a ASM with has a UC. None of the units that I'm ADC for has UC that is a leader (ASM, Committee position) in the unit they serve.

Would this be still be considered "legal"? We have serveral commisioners that are "dual registered" in our district. Our DC and DE has has no problems with it. If it wasn't for the dual registered folks, several units would not have a UC.

If we are doing it "wrong", how would we go about fixing it?

In our troop we're the "Geezers". We use the rocking chair patch.

And the adults don't interfer with the youth.

With one exception...About a month ago the youth were having stretcher races. After the races, the youth challenged the adults. We got beat pretty bad.

Speaking of Charter Organizations, I thought military units, that sponsor units, were unique. The Coffee Shop and the Funeral Home take the cake on "Most Unusal" CO. Any other out of the ordinary CO's out there?

I'm a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force.

I work at the Family Support Center.

Sorry KS but I'm both!!

I lean toward backpacking though...both have advantages and disavantages...btw I'm heading to Philmont this summer!

The stars facing the right on the military uniform is a historical symbol.

Back in the civil war each military unit had flag bearers. When these soldiers carried the flags running toward the enemy the flag would be flowing in the breeze with the union "facing right". Also below is some other reasons that I found.

The flag decals have the union (the blue area with the stars) on the side closer to the front of the plane. On the plane's left, the decal shows the flag with the union at the left, as usual. On the plane's right side, the union is on the right. This is done so that the flag looks as if it is blowing in the wind created by the forward movement of the ship or airplane. You can see this on cars and trucks as well. . There are two separate flag patches in the Army inventory: the normal U.S. flag replica that is worn on the left sleeve, and what is referred to as the "reversed field" flag patch, which is worn on the right sleeve.

YIS

Cary P

Proud member of the USAF and BSA

Here's a quick question for everyone.

How do you get some of your volunteers who think the council is just out to make money, to "see the light"? I've been trying to let these folks to see the big picture and it is working a little. Also a few years ago there was some heat between some of these volunteers and the Pros, before I came on the scene. Any tips to mend these bridges?

Here's some more info on what you can do to help out the troops.

What can you do to show support for servicemembers, especially those serving overseas? Below are Websites for several organizations that are sponsoring programs for members of the Armed Forces overseas. Servicemembers do value and appreciate any expressions of support you can send them.

Donate a calling card to help keep servicemembers in touch with their families at Operation Uplink at

Send a greeting via e-mail through Operation Dear Abby at or

Sign a virtual thank you card at the Defend America Web site at

Make a donation to one of the military relief societies:

Army Emergency Relief at

Navy/Marine Relief Society at

Air Force Aid Society at

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance at

Donate to"Operation USO Care Package" at

Support the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services at

Volunteer at a VA Hospital to honor veterans who bore the lamp of freedom in past conflicts. Find the VA health facility nearest you .

Support families whose loved ones are being treated at military and VA hospitals through a donation to the Fisher House at .

Reach out to military families in your community, especially those with a loved one overseas.

Please do not flood the military mail system with letters, cards, and gifts. Due to security concerns and transportation constraints, the Department of Defense cannot accept items to be mailed to "Any Servicemember." Some people have tried to avoid this prohibition by sending large numbers of packages to an individual servicemember's address, which however well intentioned, clogs the mail and causes unneccessary delays.

The support and generosity of the American people has touched the lives of many servicemembers, over 300,000 of whom are deployed overseas.

Here are a few tidbits when it comes to care packages and letters to the troops.

I'm active duty military and where I work we deal with these questions.

1. Things are different that the way it was during Desert Strom. You cannot send "Any Service Member" letters. All packages and letters must be sent to an individual address.

Also Recruiting stations DO NOT have the names and addresses of those deployed. Best thing to do is get in contact with your local Army/Air National Guard unit or Army/AF/NAVY/USMC unit in your area. They might be able to help out. But call first.

2. The American Red Cross is accepting "care package" items. Get the stuff to them. But Call first.

3. The USO is another place you can get the stuff to. Call them first

4. See if your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and scouts have family members deployed. You might get an address that way.

5. See if you can help out the Families of deployed members left behind. A lot of these folks have become instant single parents. They may need errands run, lawns cut, etc.

6. http://www.military.com/Resources/ResourceFileView?file=Holiday_Help.htm

Go to the above website. It has a lot of good suggestions on how you can help.

YIS and God Bless the Troops!!!!!!!!!!

Cary

Tweeners can be ASM's. However you still must have someone 21 or older at Scouting events.

In addition to my first post, here is a list of other Scout Camps I've been to for weekend campouts, Conclaves, ect.

Boxwell Scout Reservation, TN

Camp Buck Toms, TN

Camp Crooked Creek, KY

Grimes Canoe Base, TN

Camp Illinek, IL

Camp Vandeventer, IL

Philmont Scout Ranch, NM

I know many of you have me beat. Let's see who will hold the "World Record"!!!!!!

Well it's that time of year where I start getting summer campitus!

Would like to know where our fine group of Scouters have been?

For me:

Camp Roy C. Manchester, KY - 6 years as a camper and two years on staff. 77-84 I grew up there.

Camp Freedom, Germany - 1986.

Camp Joy, Illinois - 2002 and going again this year.

One thing I would wish for on these great forums...Spell Checker.

Sorry about the spelling mistakes on last post....That fine KY educmacation of mine is acting up again.

Uniforms...These are the changes I would make.

- Bring the price down a bit.

- Allow Olive Drab color BDU's or another type of rugged pants be adopted by troops for outdoor activities.

- Bring back the tie for adults with the field uniform.

- Let the uniform "enforcers" know that we're scouts, not the military, and not to get bent out of shape when someone is not wearing the uniform correctly.

I was "chastised" by our Roundtable Commish last week for having too many patches on my red wool jacket. Not even a "Hi, how are you, how's things". Just a "that's illegal, this one is illegal, you can't wear a CSP, yada yada yada."

I took in stride. Any no, I'm not taking the patches off my jacket. The boys love it and ask me questions about them. It even works as a "recruiting" tool. Had a kid join a cub pack for asking about the "Coat of Many Patches".

Congratulations on your PL appointment.

Work hard. Be yourself. Ask questions. But most important have fun! I'm sure you'll make a great Patol Leader.

For my fellow BSA counterparts: Our PL who is asking for advice is from the Philippines. It just might be that the Filipino Scouts do not elect Patrol Leaders.

Bob,

Liked your post but have a few questions?

How do you recognize the advancement three times? Our troop does it twice. Once the Scout finished the requirements. SPL give advancement badge to Scout at close of meeting. And we do it formally at COH.

How do you get the troop from conducting merit badge classes during troop meetings? Our troop "tradition" is to have three - four merit badge worked on during the year. Boys did choose the badges during annual planning. I have been "selling" to the scouts about getting signed blue card from SM, contact MB councelor, etc.

Any suggetions on how to handle this? I saw it as being ok when the troop was small. But now with 8 new scouts, I feel they need to work on the FYFC program.

Our toop gives out colored beads for attending outings, service projects, etc.

Special beads are giving out for the type of weather at the campout. Like clear bead for clear weather, and blue one for camping out below 32 degrees.

Our last campout two weeks ago we had snow, rain, below freezing temps. Scoutmaster desided to come up with a new bead. The mud bead (brown) since our campsite area had a good two inches of mud to slogg through. Scouts loved it.

What makes a great district/council?

1. Good Communications between the silver tabbers (pros/volunteers) and the unit leaders.

2. Encourage units to participate in FOS/Popcorn sales. Don't ram it down their throats.

3. Provide training for adult leaders at every opportunity. Rountables, a few hours at summer camp, Universtiy of Scouting.

4. Make Roundtables fun and informative.

5. Good Community relations.

6. Recognize/Thank the volunteers.

7. Recognize/Thank the Pros.

8 Keep it fun for everyone. Remember it's Scouting.

This list is simple but it's not easy.

Just a few thoughts.

YIS

purcelce

Dan, my apologies, after a little thought I did read too much into your post.

So you answer your questions.

Reasoning for the three troop guides is for our older boys to pass on what they know to our newer Scouts. Our feelings are that other leadership positions are will be filled by our newer scouts later down the road (plan is after summer camp). Also will be losing our current SPL and one of PL (brothers) due to moving out of the area. So more than likely one of our troop guides might be elected to the SPL slot, thus leaving each patrol with a troop guide.

Pls did come up with names and yell. One patrol is the Lighting Bolts (yell "Lighting Strikes") and other patrol is the flaming Toilet Paper (still working on yell, "The Nana-Nana Boo-boo were Statues" yell didn't set well with the SM). We urged the kids to stick with "traditional names" but that's what they wanted. How does this fit with the patrol as a team? PLs and APL are the architects of their new team. They're just waiting for their new teammates.

But to top it off the boys are having fun, learning the patrol method (which was lacking 6 months ago) and are enthusiastic about Scouts. One of our new troop guides who was a quasi-invisible scout has even applied for staff at summer camp, not to mention showing up for meetings more often.

March is a big month for us. We are having a BSA 101/JLT campout in three weeks, COH at the end of the month, plus an eagle project in between.

This is a big turnaround from what the troop was this time last year.

BTW Dan are you and your folks headed to the Illini Jamboree in Rantoul this year? Says on profile your in IL. Would love to meet you and have a cup of coffee on us.

YIS

purcelce

Dan wrote: "Could you not have used the older scouts as troop guides for the new patrols instead of making them the Patrol Leaders? A troop guide IMHO would allow more leader ship for the older scouts and give the new scouts experience in leading and being lead."

Our troop has three troop guides, 2 FC, and 1 Life Scout.

New Scout Program is not law. It's a set of guidelines. Just because we are not going by a few of the guideline doesn't mean the program is going to fail. We are tailoring it the needs of all the boys.

Sorry to disappoint you folks that don't agree (any that's fine in my book), But we are sticking with what we are doing, because IT IS WORKING.

Enough of my ramblings.

YIS

purcelce

Bob,

Love your imputs! I consider you the Sage of Scouting here on our wonderful forum.

Here's a little history on why the boys wanted to go this route.

Back at the beginning of the our troop only had 8 registered boys. We would have 3-5 boys show up at meetings due to school, sports, etc. So the troop was pretty much a one patrol troop.

Our feeder pack has 12 webelos crossing over, with three small troops for them to from on base.

The base sister troops camp together at camporees/summer camp and we've had the webelos along at two events.

Well we got the word back late last year that 8 were head to our troop and three were head our sister troop.

We we told our Scouts that the troop was doubling in numbers, someting magical happened. Our scouts were showing up for meetings! Instead of 3-5 at meetings we now have 6 to all of the scouts there now.

The PL at the time came up to the SM and asked "What are we going to do?" Not to mention the SPL was scratching his head. The boys came to the adults asking for help.

The adults sat the boys down at the PLC and gave them a few ideas on how the "new troop" would be organized.

Ideas were: 1. "Experience Patrol" and New Scout Patrol

2. Have two patrols with a mix of expericened and

new scouts.

3. Two patrols using "New Scout Patrol Method"

with our FC and above Scouts serving as troop

guides.

Well the boys did some discussing and felt number three was in the best intrest for the troop and new scouts. PLC desided to have our 2C and TF Scout to serve as Intrim PLs unitl May. SM then "challenged" our new PL to come up with Patrol names, flags, and call, and each PL was given a new PL handbook.

The next week our PLs and APL had come up with with their patrol names and even one PL had made is patrol flag. Our troop guides, SPL and ASP formed a "Leadership Corp" patrol and now have their own patrol name, flag, and are helping out our new PLs.

So we didn't go by the book word for word, but we have the makings of a great troop that is using the foundations of the patrol method.

We've even had one of the webelos "visting" the troop for the past four weeks. He's spread the word to his soon to be new troop mates about what to expect when they cross over. These kids are excited, new and expericeced scouts, about "their" program. I even had one of the new scouts that crosses over this weekend asking me which patrol he was going to be in. I told him he'll have to wait for troop meeting to find out (PLs are still working that out).

The word is even spreading to other packs about what our boys are doing. The SM had an Webelos den leader asking about her 5 webelos joining our troop.

I'm so proud of our scouts! They took a spark, and we now have a huge campfire. Anybody is more than welcome to stop by and warm themselves.

Our troop's adults are known as the Geezers.

Other adult "patrols" around these parts are the Old Goat Patrol, and Shark.

The PL's were selected by the PLC. Since our troop only had one patrol before the change, the boys though it was a good idea. We will be having new elections before summer camp. Don't worry, our troop is boy led.

I'm game for a trade. I'm in Okaw Valley Council Illinois and have one or two CSPs to trade. Send me a pm and we'll work out the details.