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That's not a hard-and-fast requirement. But there's pressure from family, as in the OP's case, to devote time to to the LDS unit. I can see it as a real challenge for an SM to declare that his religious duty is all about guiding boys into the woods monthly. Been there a little myself. We've also heard from scouters whose religious restrictions make Saturdays or Sundays "off limits". So, I get why units are the way they are, and how a boy whose breaking the mold can't induce change. On the other hand I do venturing, so I really understand how tough it is, as @@Twocubdad describes, to have boys just drop in for the campout and maintain that youth led sense. But, I'm proof that there are scouters out there who will let it happen and let the youth-led failures-to-communicate chips fall where they may. That's what boys actually like about my program -- and I often feel it's the worst aspect of it. Have the kid make the phone calls. You never know what kind of troops are out there and what they'll accommodate.

Like the Italians would say, "America e` grande!" It's a big country, with varying grand traditions and attitudes toward central authority that pre-date scouting. E.g., I live in Whiskey Rebellion country. So, it takes a lot of convincing when someone tells us the equivalent of "pay tax in dollars" when we only get paid in doubloons ... You cite the "adding to the requirements" principle. There's also the "no secrets in scouting" principle.

Just heard the news this morning. A tragic day for racing, scouting, and most importantly what by all accounts is a lovely family. Prayers said.

I guess topography defines us. At summer camp we have more boys than we do open field. So they would be saluting a tree trunk or the latrine if we did not arrange lines at some depth. We do form to the left or right of the pole on the downhill side, so the SPLs do not obstruct the view of the flag. Also, maybe you all should consider tall poles, so that the back row can enjoy the view! @@Stosh, You didn't answer the OP. Where does you colorguard retire to? Around behind the formation? Or, into the formation?

Electronic mail is automatically filtered by most savvy parents.There is just too much noise. If flyers aren't being hand-carried home by enthusiastic boys, you're wasting time. If the principal can't free up the time for a full school assembly, save the paper and have some fun ... Talk to the local PTA about your scouts hosting a family night event. For example, maybe an informal pinewood derby race. Loan old cars or build there. Not too complicated, use some blocks to color and stick on some well-made flatbeds would do. Or whatever ... a mix of craft and competition. No keeping score, just sending as many wheels down the track as possible. Then get your best committtee member to work the crowd ... "All this and more could be yours ..." Team up with the local GSUSA council and see they can provide another activity ... kill two birds with one stone.

I think it needs a photo of some youth in an active service project. More youth are looking for that sort of thing than we give credit. The classic hauling trash out of a stream is one that caught my attention back in the day. I wish I had a camera at the ready on Son #2's last day as a scout. He ended it in uniform helping an elderly lady across the parking lot into her cab. See an image of that, and every mom I know would sign the dotted line.

I love to hear from youth when they talk to me about this. But, I know I need to hear from parents. For example, I had a girl who wanted to join our crew, but her mom was dead set against it. I wished I could have got the two of them and Dad in the same room at the same time. Other times, I had a mom or dad who talked me an earful about getting their kid into scouts, but the kid was hardly interested. I think your son calling the SM and asking to meet with you and him would be the right way to go.

Probably too late for '16. Maybe next year. @@SeattlePioneer, you get a -1 from me for a crappy title. We don't need more BS in the organization than we already have!

Maybe this was what Swift was referring to when he talked about "Big Enders" and Little Enders"? I don't think we have a set way. Although more often than not, our colorguards return to their positions by directly crossing the field rather than around the troop formation. (Which more often than not is a postage stamp of patrols filed in ... Not a horseshoe.)

The curmudgeons will say: 1. How dare you market all that fun and excitment with no hint of a uniform! (Of course if there was a hint, you'd get the "properly or not at all" speech. 2. Boy Scouts? What's up with all them women? I say: here's hoping they turn up in spades.

@@ALongWalk Thanks for your service to our scouters! And good luck! Our most recent district chair was stellar. (Roger, if you're reading this, love ha man!) Step 1, be friendly ... Even to chaps who may not deserve it. Step 2, ask what topics folks would like to cover at round tables. Step 3, ask who can teach in this topics (prefer volunteers to pro's when possible). Step 4, contain business at round tables so the teaching time does not get shorted. Handy tip: Find the quietest guy/gal in the room. After the meeting, make sure you thank them for coming before transacting any other business.

Been going through my humble collection. The Wood Badge tan (with the tartan patch) one seems to be the only material of substance and girth. Our PLCs opted to uniform sans necker long before Son#1 joined the troop and shortly after troops were allowed to do so.

The reputation marker is new to us all. I think it means that chores are getting neglected, but if you dropped in, we'd have something on the grill for the adults and a hike plan for the youth.

As in multiple neckers linked with one friendship knot? My friend who raised her boys in eastern Europe tells me she thinks it's her favorite look on the scouts.

I'm not sure how that is a problem. The goal is to find what's noble among the tribes in your area and use that as a way of finding nobility among the people around you. I can see a leader from one tribe providing insight on how Arrowmen from his area comported themselves, and using that experience to inform on how the Arrowmen he now knows should grow and learn.

CORRECTION: give him or her a copy of the application.

No surprise there. Scouters only have 4 other nights in the week available (assuming they aren't pulling out for camp on Fridays), chances are those evenings are at a premium. RT is at one place and one time in ever-expanding districts (adding to commute time). Paperwork burden has increased so half the time is spent training us in pencil-whipping. That leaves precious little time for what could be great break-out sessions. Even then our poor O/A advisor had to devote a bit if his Q&A time to address my question about crew camping nights vs. troop camping nights (the former don't count ... based on the principle that O/A is for Boy Scouts ... based on rules needed to maintain segregation ... no I didn't bring it up, but it's the 800 pound gorilla in the room), which I'm sure wasted everyone else's time even though for me it was really important because I have to deal with older venturers who are occasional ASMs. One "class" a month, hundreds of students, little chance for fellowship. I'm surprised a quarter of the folks felt positive about RT.

@@mattman578, hat should have been +1. Thumb slipped.

Let's not forget the downstream benefits of going the whole nine yards ... and this includes incorporating siblings if at all possible. Yes, the commands will have local variation, etc ... But, it's still worth getting those little hands and feet to commit some protocol to muscle memory. When my first crew made it to Seabase, I suddenly realized that the guys were sharp with flag protocol, the girls on the other hand, felt woefully out of place on the lawn looking side-to-side trying to figure out how to salute. They took it all in stride, but I felt like I had sold them short. This spring a younger-sister-of-three-boy-scouts venturer with basic military training was a little uncomfortable on color guard for Son #2's ECoH. She did very well, and it was an honor to have her. But the boys had to help her snap into the role 1/2 hour before "showtime." Venturers attend precious few meetings and there are so many things needed to get them up to speed -- camp hygiene, flab protocol, paperwork, etc... It would be nice if this weren't one of them. By putting the youngn's through their paces now, you're doing some advisor (or school teacher or band director, etc ...) in the future a solid.

Don't make it about being "above board". It's about him proving that he's prepared to get a head-start with troop life just like his buddies. He can sit in on whatever the troop will let him to sit in on. But we all want him to feel like he deserves to be there. It's like the Good Book says, "Study to show thyself approved." Stepping through AoL is one way for a kid to start thinking "I own this." Coming of age or completing a grade is another way. Being welcomed unconditionally might convey that same feeling. Depends on the troop. What you don't want is the kid to feel like he's getting another "everyone's a winner" trophy.

Two many options make for a mess. It sounds like you should just tell the boy to work the new program. And, you should use the "stealth advancement" approach ... Surely some of the stuff he did for his Webelos badge fulfills AoL requirements? I'd see what you could check off from all the stuff he did. Fill out a chart of what he's done and show it to him. Then give him the option of completing the other half, and bridging in January or not worrying about it, and crossing over when he turns 11 or graduates 5th grade.

I think the GTA's stipulations are fairly new. Eventually, the district advancement chairs may come around, and it will trickle into roundtable training sessions. But ... There is a certain dignity in this town. If you're going to write about someone -- favorable or otherwise, they deserve to read it. If you don't have the stones to write/say something unfavorable to someone's face, then either: It's untrue or unimportant, or You have no room to talk. If you suspect someone may have something unfavorable to say, then you don't ask for them to put it in a letter ... ever. That sentiment runs deep. I've seen it expressed in sport, union negotiations, religion, and local politics. And, there are no secrets in scouting. Or, so I'm told.

Good point. At a meeting before the ceremony, did you read the book with the boys and then ask them how they want to participate?If not, did you read that chapter after the event and ask "So guys, do you think we did it? Or would we like to do more?" Thus you will have trained your boys to use the ideal method of learning a scout skill, one that begins with "Reference".

This discussion isn't as fun as it could be. How 'bout if the boys got to ride in some helicopters that were doing a flyover during the opening of a football game? Participate or spectate?

The scout requests letters. No particular form is specified. Letters go to the SM or to the scout who collects them and turns them in to the SM. As a personal policy, I only write open recommendations -- be it for jobs, scholarships, or bling. So the scout may read and review it if he wishes. If somebody wants a closed recommendation, they can call me personally over a land line, and record my response.