qwazse

@Scoutcrafter, welcome to the forums! For anyone following, the Troop Committee Guidbook and other resources may be found here https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/troop-resources/adult-publications/, But please don’t think you can talk fellow scouters out of a situation you don’t like. You can’t find a statement in definitive sources supporting how you think the committee should be able to push the SM (or any ASM) into a particular program strategy. What does that tell you? I think the flaw in your logic lies in that there is no reason to rush the advancement of fir

When Greater Pittsburgh Council merged with Penns Woods we had a naming contest and then design competition for the patch. As fun as it was, the name Laurel Highlands would give an outsider little clue of where we are. Highlands from the Catskills to the Smokies are full of Laurel. And you ain’t finding any of the stuff in the boundaries of the old Greater Pittsburgh Council — except for Heritage reservation which is enclaved in Westmorland-Fayette council.

Being one who opposes ageism, I’m not about to insignia wonk a guy (or, now, gal) who still has their Eagle or any other oval, on their left pocket. If I wrote the Insignia Guide, I would insist that all you all wear the rank you achieved. (Doing so could reduce “knot noise” by two — since AoL and Eagle knots would be redundant.) that we’d issue ovals with distinctive borders (or, perhaps, distinctive size/shape) to anyone who went back as adult leader and mastered the skills to earn their next rank. that we’d have an even more distinct oval for a rank mastered by adults wh

Adult volunteers are extensions of paid staff. I don’t know why anyone would think otherwise. Every time I’m at camp for a full week, I check in with the camp director and ask where I can pitch in. (It’s usually aquatics. Not many scouters keep up their guard certification.) This is nothing new. When I wanted to earn First Aid MB, my SM walked us over to a neighboring campsite and introduced me the their SM who would be my counselor. The challenge these days for scouters is that simply keeping up with training is sucking a lot of bandwidth. (I really admire the COPE volunteers who ke

I don’t wear a suit jacket to church anymore, so my mentor pins go on my uniform. If it bothers someone, and they own a “proper” outfit on which to wear them, and they wear it regularly, I’ll send them one for them to wear. I’m not a fan of rows of knots. I love seeing temporary patches and Jambo patch’s on everyone. O/A flaps are cool too. Things with words that carry real meaning. BSA dug it’s own grave. They deserve scouters who overbling if they encourage obscurely titled council patches that can be seen from space at night.

I once told some scouts that I’d double their tip next time if their booth has some photos … including one of the scoutmaster dropping off the tower of one of the council climbing events.

Welcome to the forums. So you really have three options: 1. Use your old uniform. Remove rank patches and replace them with knots. 2. Get a new uniform. Preserve the old uniform as is for historical purposes. 3. Don’t bother with a uniform. Focus on helping your scout look sharp.

Gains approaching what you described haven’t been observed since the mid ‘60s … before the ageist policy against adults earning Eagle was nationalized. I have not heard talk of any radical program reversal of that or any other policy that would reverse trends in membership.

This might not apply to scuba -- or to scouts at Seabase who are coached in LNT, but a lot of snorklers are tempted to walk on reefs. I guess socks would do less damage than fins. Have any coastal folks seen this as problematic? Or, are people wiser about how they behave at low tide?

Let’s face facts. It costs real time and money on BSA’s part to vette volunteers. Those of us who are in “fee” positions are fronting the bill for those who are only in “no fee” positions. It’s worth it to us boots on the ground because we hate the thought of sending scouts to a sketchy adult just for the sake of a lousy patch that someone with a clear record could provide if we knew we needed to recruit them. Moreover, any further improvements to YPT are most likely coming from increased fees. So, if your only position is MBC, and you have more to offer a unit or district, consider

What does the merit badge pamphlet say?

Being an MBC is tangential. ASM’s have to pay … to register as an adult leader with a unit unit dues (if any) to attend IOLS training Vehicle maintenance, fuel, gear, literature time taking YPT, hazards training, etc … advanced courses (BSA guard, Wilderness First Aid, Woodbadge, etc…) depending on how you choose to assist the SM. My unit pays for adult leader registrations, so I try to sneak the $’s back in … donating to fundraisers, getting snacks for an activity, etc … But the bottom line: if you want to be an ASM, set aside some coin for it.

I am afraid any resolution of the problem will not comfort the accused scout … If the accused scout’s defense is true, then the accusing scout is either delusional or manipulative. In either case, she can’t be trusted and is therefore disqualified as a scout. Such scouts in my troop or crew have been suspended for six months. We can work with crazy — a little; but lying crazy — not so much. Sadly, it can take years to recover from being suspended from a volunteer organization, and we have not had suspended scouts return. So the accused scout’s wish for reconciliation is unlikely to hap

Not necessarily. It may not be an actionable offense. (Most bullying is not.) Since the scout has been given scant information, we don’t know which authorities have been informed. Although we’d expect them to interview the scout by now, sometimes they do not. Moreover, it may be a false report. In which case the accuser could be in very deep trouble were this taken to the authorities. Even if it is not taken to the authorities, this could be a very difficult time for the accuser if her claim cannot be verified. @scoutlaw74, if your scout is a victim of a false report, he may need cou

Good luck, but there’s room for pessimism.

That’s an interesting supposition. But, I think this is a reversal of causality. Without the discovery intrinsic to bankruptcy, such documentaries would be chalked up by many as “gotcha” journalism and constitute another few months of survivors not being believed. The collective response of survivors has done far more heavy lifting than any collection of documentaries. As to journalistic quality. I think that’s a non-issue. More people can easily produce content without the editorial oversight of a media conglomerate. I find that to be a good thing.

Sounds like a plan. Was just there (well Sea World, the kids outvoted Mrs. Q.) Enjoy the traffic. P.S. — One of my erstwhile scouts is a photojournalist for the Orlando Sentinel and has written several articles on off-the-beaten-path adventures.

Sorry to hear. You may want to get some assistance in coaching how to deal with this. Your DE or SE may be able to put you in touch with some good resources for youth leaders.

Question no longer, take a quote from this stranger on the internet and be certain: First class first year is a lie. The skills therein are difficult to master. I have seen classes of scouts get to Eagle no sooner if they earn 1st class early.

As I explain to our post-docs: there’s differential diagnosis, and then there’s the hair rising on the back of your neck.

@SiouxRanger without belaboring the details, me too. I was the next to last person to leave the water and did that last once-over scan that lifesaving instructors pound into your head, saw my friend struggling in the deep about to slip quietly away, reached out a hand, and forestalled death. It’s what we do. No fanfare required.

I've observed "cold starting" scouts do just as well as scouts who've been in since crossing over. They're coming in a couple of years older. They're a little more mature. Their reading comprehension is better. Such scouts have done a lot for the life of our troop. They are also very helpful because they question bureaucracy, and every once in a while, they're right!

Welcome, and thanks in advance for all you’ll do for the youth!

That’s a very key point. A patch is more valuable with thorough research as to its provenance. (E.g., who wore it? What does “476” signify? Any photos of it from that period?)

This 🙄. Sailors and LEOs who want to reach out to teens aren’t looking for a lot of meddling from BSA pros.