qwazse

Barry, I've seen the opposite. Only about 1 in 5 of the boys who came into the crew from outside of scouting (or even outside our troop) got anywhere near as involved as the boys from our troop. Not sayin' it's a bad idea. Just saying that just because the shirts may be a little greener doesn't mean the grass is. Son #2 finally got a buddy to come to a troop campout, they were building a foot bridge in muck and mire for a service project. The boy loved it. Came back wanting to join. That was six months ago. Still hasn't completed the app. I offered that he could join the crew. He thinks it's a great idea. Still waiting for that app. In general, I think if you can give a youth that age an appropriate task and lots of recognition for completing it, his chances of coming back increase. Regarding advancement, tell the boy if he wants to, he can, but what you would really like is that he pick up skills. Challenge him to read the first half of the handbook, and see how much of it he already knows, ask him to have a younger PL test him as a way of "secretly" helping that PL with his skills. Honestly? I think the biggest factor is if your boys are friendly. The older boys will quickly feel like adopted big brothers in that environment.

The AOL is not what's important here. What is important: does he know age-appropriate 1st aid? Has he demonstrated those skills? Make it clear to dad that that is what really matters, and say that if the boy needs a couple of months more in the pack to be sure, that's okay. If on the other hand, the boy's old enough and wants to cross-over without AoL and work on 1st aid skills in the troop, that's okay too. If the boy wants to quit scouts and learn 1st aid at the local pool (or wherever), that's also okay. Bottom line: one more boy well prepared. That's what we're after.

Seen it done. For about the same reasons as you describe. Not judging the UC. It could be that you're too proud to listen to his/her advice. Maybe he/she's being fed a line of bull by the mom. Maybe, thanks to her, you're reading his overtures as insults. Maybe it's just an oil and water thing. No way to tell from this side of the interweb. Doesn't matter. You'll never know unless you swap a different person into the role. The down side: you might get a UC who is not invested in your unit at all. He/she might take the fact that you asked for a trade as an indication to keep a more respectful distance from your troop than you intended. You might have to be a little extra-welcoming for the new UC to come around at all.

Ditto all of the above. Start yesterday if: ... you have a charter organization that will host a unit, ... you have three key adults who will take on roles as CO rep, SM, and CC, ... you have 5 or more boys who want to start something new and parents who will support them. By "parents who will support", I mean parents who aren't expecting an Eagle mill, who understand their boys may have to visit the next town to earn a merit badge, who aren't upset if you don't have a massive trailer with a pretty paint job, who will offer their pickup to haul gear when needed -- gas on their dime (even if the boys budget for it), who might be missing a few pots and pans on camping weekends, who are happy just to see their boys sticking together and having fun. And then, will be happy as the "frills" are accumulated if the boys succeed in recruiting a lot of their buddies. If those are in place, tell your DE that your boys are meeting weekly now, and ask him/her to expedite the paperwork. Go to your roundtable and ask scouters if they have a boy who is up for the challenge of starting a new troop. While you meet and pick up some skills, let the boys know how things are progressing with HQ. (Seriously, my SM always showed us the rechartering packet before it was turned in and the charter after we got it. I think it was a tradition from when he started the troop.)

Nike's afraid we might send former scouts studying there to the doorstep!

The issue isn't really about co-ed so much as it is about seemingly limited resources. You build this program that suits a large segment of a target population (this applies more to cubs than older youth), it's a huge draw. Judging by smiles on faces, participants asking to return next year, etc ... it's a tremendous success. So much so that demand rises from outside your target population. You're really not asking yourself "Are they allowed?", "Will the kids mix okay?", "Do the adults share similar values?". Chances are you've answered those questions (or in the case of the OP, someone's answered them for you. The real question is: "How can we possibly have room for more?" or "Is my originally-targeted group gonna get crowded out?" This happens a lot in the crew-troop-partnership scenario. We have to be careful about how it trickles down to the youth. Because both of those questions, no matter how respectfully adults try to word them, seem to get translated by the teenage brain as "I don't fit in." or "Bringing my buddies on [starting a new adventure, doing x] will just cause trouble." Just something for y'all to think about as you have these kinds of conversations.

We see so much of the gear that scouts purchase handed down through the troop, that I don't fret over the individual SA's. I continue to see them as money over which the boys are stewards to help the troop and scouting at large. Our troop benefits if boys recharter with us. Our troop benefits if a boy comes to summer camp. It benefits if each boy is geared up against hypothermia. Our council contingent benefits if one of our boys can make it to jambo. Now, SM_Travis' troop is hurting because it wasn't made clear to the boys (and their families, of course) that his troop would benefit from some of the funds raised being under the stewardship of the committee. (BTW, our SM just bought some plastic dinner plates for the troop mess kits -- with floral patterns that the boys just love!) Hopefully, they'll be forgiving enough to make up for a few years of poor management. Really, this is nothing that can't be made right after a couple rounds of fundraising with a steeper allocation to the general fund. After that the boys will rib the adults complaining that "I had to buy a cheaper compass because y'all budgeted goofy!" "I'm hitch-hiking to Philmont" "Y'all let ___ walk of with my Seabase down-payment." etc ...

Imagine the auto makers blocking research on transportation safety, drug makers blocking independent research on the long-term effects of their drugs, teachers' unions blocking research on teacher effectiveness - all because they want to preserve the status quo and their profits. Don't need to imagine. Once upon a time, the research center I was with had a follow-up data that countered some of the short-term results favoring a medical device. It should have been written by a prestigious MD. However, all of the other more senior collaborators had connections to the device manufacturer and had moved on to other "whiz bang" promotional research. My boss told me to write it, so I did. (There was a personal angle to this, I had a friend who was treated successfully, and I remember telling my wife "what matters is 6-12 months from now." He died at month 7.) Eventually, the device (and the indications for selecting patients for its use) was improved to ensure more favorable long-term results. I could have cranked out a few more independent reports in that area, but federal money dried up. So I moved on. Private sector is great for the "instant gratification" kinds of things. For decisions with distant horizons, it needs a lot of help.

Awful news. One deadly turn. Nike, praying for your people. Mourning at a distance is hard.

Cub Age: loved it. Scout Age: occasionally read it. (Troop made it optional for families. Tried to make sure only one per family was being ordered.) Venturing Age: couldn't care less. In fact, I think this is one of the weak parts about the venturing program. There's no web 'zine with a graphic novel that includes the teen drama, tough ethical decisions, and physical challenges. I think everyone agrees that BL rightly skirts around choices about pornography, smoking, military life, college choices, marriage, following your parents' religion, etc ... Venturing leaves those up to the units. (Although national does produce some materials that addresses date rape and sexual harrassment.)

Rule #1: Never ask anyone for a rule. There are plenty of other ones you'll get without asking. That said 18 is young, but are you the kind of guy people trust, and will you get help if you're in over your head? If for example there's an SM out there with a lot of heart but zero experience and a brand new troop. Your scouting experience, along with your connections to your district may be very helpful.

At the very least a few months suspension. Possibly for all of the boys. I know of one situation on a HS football team where the boy who pulled the knife was found to be in the right, because the other boy would persistently taunt folks wih the intent of inciting violence. The character of each of the boys needs to be called into question. The SE may need to call in a few resources to get counseling to the kids who need it. From this side of the Internet, we can't tell what exactly needs to be done with these three boys. But you need to have your best listeners able to take point on this one. Obviously, unwillingness to comply with counseling would be grounds for permanent suspension.

B. Those questions are ones that only Tom and his fellow planners can answer. As I said earlier, capacity is a huge consideration that must be addressed. (Of course, it's Texas, so maybe it only sounds big. ) There could be others. Like, are these AHG troops starting to host events that welcome cubs in their area? Is reciprocity working? Or, do you gain by shooting for even more #s of youth in the field for the event? For example, our council holds ski weekends. We get a discount from the resort for pumping as many youth as we can through their ticket booth. Therefore, the event is open to GS troops. The resort on occasion gives a substantial donation to the council. Also, some of the older GS get an introduction to the venturing program. We don't make them sit in a room like those timeshare salesmen do -- they just bump up against us and we explain how we do what we do -- chair lifts are good for that. Finally, on the outside chance that there's an AHG parent who enjoys orienteering or is really good at organizing big events, Tom now has the right to make a few phone calls to see if they can make a contribution to his volunteer pool. I'm not saying you can't say "no". Just be sure of what you're turning down when you do.

It almost seems like we need a blue card for PORs and Activity! The real problem with this is that for every boy like this, there are dozens who agree with SM that they haven't done enough to earn Eagle. For some of them, they run out of time to make it right. They may know that there it's possible to argue their way to Scouting's highest rank, but they let it go or conclude it is wrong to do so. For some, they still carry a lot of pride in what they've achieved as a scout and pay it forward in years to come. But for others they feel it's a shame and will steer themselves (and maybe their kids) clear of scouting!

That would require every MB to be approved in the vicinity of internet service. What a dull world it will be when that happens.

B.D. - I found that when the tour plans were a fillable PDF, my VP-Admin (who was actually SPL at the time) found them quite helpful for planning activities.

Cub scout orienteering with 1700? Wow! I mean, really, wow! Sure you could limit it to cubs, and if the #s are at capacity you may have to. But, think long and hard about this: how many AHG's have a brother or sister cub age who isn't a cub already? Nobody knows, probably. Would it be worth it to get a survey from parents of the girls with a box at the bottom: "I'd like someone to contact me about a boy I know who should join a pack."? I'm just saying, folks may fuss over opening a can of worms, but if there's leftovers to be mulched ...

V. - our scouts mix. If all the boys from a patrol were present, we couldn't fit them in one vehicle. But then, we're not that tight with the patrol method anyway. Shotgun may go to SPL in the SM's car (or crew president in mine) if there are loose ends. But I usually leave it for the youth who's willing to keep up any sort of conversation (and move the playlist along if it brings up any sort of cussin').

I'd say it varies by trip. But as a driver and participant as adult leader, I like: A map and directions on one page. Cell phone numbers of the drivers or navigators. Obedient kids, which ones decided at departure. At least one should have an MP3 player with a decent selection. An open seat or two, if at all possible. A mileage estimate that I can use on my tax returns if I forget to log it or fill up on gas after the trip.

The troop has had a youth webmaster for a few years. He's done a great job. The crew has Google-Site/Google-Group/and I use Google Spreadsheets. The youth are responsible for a Facebook group as well -- that is turning more into an alumni association. While we're jawing about this ... do any of you all know if there is any way to make unit tools on myscouting.org link with anything else? For example can I embed that calendar into a website?

Well, there is some method to only fiddling with your roster at the end of the year. Boys quit in January, but can change their mind once summer camp rolls around. Nobody needs the extra paperwork for tings like that. Anyway, it's better to have a boy tell you outright. Just put a note on your roster: "quit as of 1/8/'13 per conversation with Mr. 2C" and let your committee know. Whatever POR he's held should be counted up until that date. The OP's problem stems from a boy who considered staying active as merely keeping his name on the roster (on the troop's dime, evidently) for three straight years -- a behavior that was encouraged by the previous SM.

There is no way to know if this is a reversal in a decades-long trend. The last report of decline is 3 years old. You may wait for that statistic to be published here: http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/data_stats/Abortion.htm It will take some time for the CDC to integrate Planned Parenthood's 2010-2012 numbers from those of other institutions reporting to their respective states in the same year. My bet is the trend may continue to decline, maybe level off. Regardless, PP's uptick most likely represents taking up the slack from other abortion providers who have gone out of business. Or, those other providers may be slow to report or have stopped reporting outright. However, I think it's safe to assume for every 10 scouts we serve, there will continue to be 2 who we've missed because of elective abortions. Or, phrased in economic terms implied by WE61, every couple of kids who can marginally afford make it to camp or whatever super-activity owe a debt of gratitude to a couple of kids who are no longer a burden to our society -- thanks to the brave decisions of their mums and dads. (This message has been edited by qwazse)

Don't forget positive reinforcement. If a youth patrol comes up with something fine, have a prize for "classiest camp meal of the month". It could be a kitchen tool (e.g., garlic press), a novel set of spices, or even a totem for patrol flags. Something the lion share of the boys in your group would proud of. A boy in a neighboring camp fried some asparagus one weekend and was kind enough to share some with me. (I have a knack for visiting other troops when vittles are on!) I made sure to praise him there, and when I saw him on camp staff this summer, and when I saw him out and about with his mom this fall. Likewise, when you are making your chili, be sure to ask some of the boys how they would make it differently.

Thanks for the update Guy. Nice to know the king is dead, long live the king. I'm gonna go try to polish some of the tarnish off of my bird. I sincerely think you did the right thing. Maybe the BOR saw something worth salvaging that you ignored. And maybe that's why you have no hard feelings. It's just unfortunate that the boys who put their heart and soul into your troop will probably never see it that way. Good luck if they bring it up around the next campfire. (Might be a good year to practice that 300' foot rule.)

Is there anything standard about venturing? The handbook is really useful for a youth who wants to work on awards and track his/her progress, and is more a paper person vs. digital person when it comes to looking up resources. I found the venturing leaders manual much more helpful when it came to explaining how to "be" a venturer.