RememberSchiff

Wow, is your CO a major oil company? I bet your troop does not widely disclose that information to parents who would quickly give the Troop Committee a reality check about budgets and fundraising. Do you disclose the annual budget to parents?

My experience, our troop piggy bank for 30-40 scouts had between $1K to $4K - usually enough to make advance payment for trips and routine equipment maintenance.

My $0.02

Disgusting. What next National, are you going to edit down William Hillcourt wiki?

Over the weekend, I kept thinking that if real leaders came in the BSA, that this insult would be quickly corrected with a heart-felt, formal apology.

Maybe we can recruit Robert Gates (soon to be former Secretary of Defense) to become Chief Scout Executive and Mike Rowe as Chief Scout? Bring back leadership, respect, adventure, and enthusiasm to the BSA!

My $0.02,

Even F-Troop had Bugler Dobbs.

That's a great photo from back in the day. Thanks.

I like this photo of the rare scout bugler at a recent Memorial Day ceremony

http://www.pamelasteadjones.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_6691-e1306763288226-577x1024.jpg

The rest of the story (scroll to end to see above scout photo)

http://www.pamelasteadjones.com/2011/05/30/memorial-day/

Save Our Buglers.

Well be careful what you wish for... this change in the UK Scouting Association did not come without ...ahem...campaign "Promoting good sexual health in scouting", documentation "My Body, My Choice" and leader training.

http://scouts.org.uk/shis

http://scouts.org.uk/documents/EcommsDocs/MyBodyMyChoice.pdf

I'm "not prepared" to bring sex ed into scouting. Not comfortable with religion either. I consider both personal matters and prefer they be handled outside of scouting. IMHO, I think we should open the BSA to all youngsters and drop any religion and sex requirements/discussion other than "youth protection" from our program.

My $0.01,

Glad to see that the way-too-complicated-for-Wolf-Scouts Food Pyramid is being retired and replaced with a simple MyPlate graphic.

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

So look for changes in Wolf Scout requirement 8 "Cooking and Eating", hopefully sooner rather than later.

my $0.02

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA JOINS WITH THE

NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN

TO TEACH SCOUTS INTERNET SAFETY

Free Online Educational Resource, NetSmartz, Made Available to Scout Leaders

ALEXANDRIA, VAJune 1, 2011. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) today announced it is making available its Internet safety program, NetSmartz,to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to teach Scouts and their families how to make responsible decisions both online and in real life. The BSA is asking all Scout leaders to incorporate the NetSmartz materials into their programs and to distribute information directly to parents.

While the Internet provides vast educational and informational resources, it has also given predators a new opportunity to prey on childreneven in their own homes. Talking to children so they understand the dangers is vital to their safety. Prevention is key. NCMEC offers a free Internet safety program called NetSmartz at www.netsmartz.org. It uses interactive resources such as animated characters, games, and videos to empower children of all ages to make responsible decisions both online and in real life.

Today children have more access to the Internet than ever before in history, said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. The majority of all households today have at least one computer, and we know that most teens access the Internet from multiple locations. Kids already know that the Internet is a wonderful resource. They also need to understand the potential risks and the simple things that they can do that will help them stay safe. We applaud the BSA for making this resource available to members and its focus on adapting to the evolving dangers facing children today.

With a click of the mouse, parents can also get answers to their questions at www.netsmartz411.org about the Internet, computers, and emerging technology. Among the most frequently asked: What is a mash-up? How do I find my childs MySpace URL? What do online abbreviations mean? Not only can they review answers already provided, but they can call 1-888-NETS411 and talk to an expert.

Kudu will love this part.

Continuing to educate Scouts and their parents about Internet safety is an important component of Scoutings long-standing commitment to the continuous enhancement of our youth protection program, said Bob Mazucca, Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America. Todays youth are spending more time than ever onlinegaming and communicating with social networks. We believe NetSmartz is an important program to make available to Scouts and their parents to help them use the Internet in a safe, responsible manner.

The NetSmartz Workshop is a free online educational resource. It is a program that is widely used and enjoyed by children and teens, parents, educators, and law enforcement. Using age-appropriate activities, NetSmartz provides children with the information they need to make smarter and safer online choices. The animated spokesperson, Clicky, has been enormously popular in teaching Internet safety to youth participants. The program uses videos, games, and activity cards to educate children on how to recognize potential Internet risks and to empower children to help prevent them from being exploited. NetSmartz has been implemented in schools and school districts in all 50 states in the U.S.

link:

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/NewsEventServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=4514

"Why can't my daughter join the pack/troop, too?"

I wonder if the BSA is heading past the coed unit and onward to Family Scouting of America with "Big Box" units. Have the whole family at the same meeting and pack-up everyone for a car camping "scout" outing at one our fine BSA-approved council camps but leave the dog home.

I would be long gone.

My $0.02

If BP saw today's scout camps, I think he would

- not be happy

- shut down the mess halls and camp stores

- demand patrol method (and not just cooking)

- have scouts hike in with their gear to campsite

- disconnect the electric

- drop merit badge offerings or at least non-scoutcraft merit badges.

- require swim lessons for non-swimmers.

- require SPLs run their troops at camp

- require more activity, you would see patrols hiking, scouts actually shooting at the ranges, game competitions. Physically fit.

- have scouts sent home for not following the Oath & Law.

- permit fewer adults

My $0.02 guess(This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

Well if the high-quality tan shirt was Made in U.S.A., it would be okay with me!

I like this. Maybe add

- prerequisite First mb (prerequisite means do before not concurrent)

- info on HAZWOPER - hazardous materials (classes of materials, how to read placards, responses) and OSHA.

- importance of proper clothing

- high heat and extreme cold conditions.

- safety (eye, head, ears, hands,feet...)

- changing out/separation of work clothes.

- dehydration, common injury causes and prevention.

- this merit badge is not suitable as a summer camp

offering.

My $0.02(This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

From 2008 National Leadership Team Directory:

Bill Steele, Irving,TX, Director of Advancement and NESA

972-580-2436

BiSteele@netbsa.org

Hope this helps

What I've learned

1. Whatever forms of communication that you decide to use, the majority will use something else. Facebook? Twitter? Yeah right, most of my scouts use X-box Live and text messaging.

2. No common electronic communication mode will emerge. If it's digital, it will be proprietary. Remember when you read the written word on any paper or listen to any AM station on just about any radio - free.

3. Whatever you post online or transmit, it will not be read. (Yeah okay, this is a holdover from handouts)

4. The common communication mode of the majority ...drum roll.. will remain face-to-face, as it should be, in order to keep everyone "courteous".

5. Facebook sucks. Oops, can't say that with these guidelines, it is a privacy nightmare no matter what settings you select, as Facebook can unilaterally change their "agreement".

6. The only productive thing that Twitter did was get Betty White on SNL.

7. Google, Facebook, Microsoft,..."agreements" are only binding on us not them and can be changed anytime.

8. Best you can do is teach internet safety.

My $0.01 for rambling

Yeah, I got the source wrong, it seemed similar to a Calvin Coolidge speech that I read. Here's a link to a speech that President Coolidge gave to the National Council of the BSA back in May 1, 1926. For a President nicknamed "Silent Cal", this speech seemed rather long.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=395#axzz1Ln7Q4zqY

I forgot "jobs" in my list of contributing influences.

Another $0.02,

Sound words, I think from President Coolidge.

Those Scouters looking for commitments and mandatory participation, should realize that Scouting, along with church, school, sports, service, hobbies, is a "contributing" influence and not a "controlling" influence. Parents are the controlling influence.

That said ,I hope all scouts and scouters have the opportunity to celebrate Mother's Day today with their Moms, without conflict with some scheduled, mandatory unit outing.

My $0.02

Going to "color" dramatically improved the functional quality of the mb books, particularly for diagrams and illustrations and then there are the photos. Content quality, i.e. whether it is a good subject read regardless of merit badge, tends to be a reflection of the merit badge requirements. I think the new Robotics mb pamphlet has good content quality whereas Environmental Science well, needs more work.

Of all who actually read a merit badge pamphlet, I would guess the ratio is 70% MBC's, 25% parents, 5% scouts. When counseling a MB, my first questions are 1. Do you have this mb book? 2. Have you read it? The usual response is no and no. I wonder how many scouts ever read (not bought) the Swimming mb pamphlet.

I'm rambling but I see hardcopy pamphlets going away soon, replaced by iPocketknife apps and/or youScout videos with the "library" off in some scout cloud. More economical and easier to update and distribute.

My $0.01

Sounds like easy money for a council camp.

http://www.nssfblog.com/100000-in-nssf-grants-for-local-boy-scouts-councils/

...NSSF is taking its long-standing partnership with Boy Scouts of America to a new level with this challenge grant, said Chris Dolnack, NSSFs senior vice president and chief marketing officer. With the shooting sports among the most popular Scouting activities, NSSF is proud to assist local councils in developing new and expanded opportunities for Scouts to gain knowledge of the shooting sports.

BSA Councils applying for a grant must specifically earmark funds for shooting sports programs and provide matching funds at least equal to the grant request. NSSF will provide funding to the first 50 qualifying applicants up to a maximum of $2,000 in matching support...

Great information. Medivac/SAR insurance coverage seems to be the next gotta-have, after WFA, for high adventure treks.

I wonder if Garmin will soon offer a GPS product with an integrated satellite message uplink? Delorme did market their Earthmate PN-60 with a separate SPOT device. Bundling two separate, existing products together is often a hint of new product direction.

My $0.02

(This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

Hoping for better weather down there and happy news this morning.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42866691/ns/us_news/

Well...he can still be a Boy Scout.

Sorry to sidetrack the discussion, just wanted to followup.

"Could someone explain to me why the Dept of Ed. continues to partially fund Howard University as a budget line item to the tune of over $250mil annually?"

Because it's one of the very few colleges that were chartered by Congress,...

That's my point, those other federally chartered colleges - Gallaudet, George Washington, American,... are not annual line items, let alone BIG ticket line items, in the Dept of Education budget, so it seemed odd to me. As I understand, Congress is not required to fund entities chartered by them and these are private institutions (sound familiar?).

Another $0.01,

Could someone explain to me why the Dept of Ed. continues to partially fund Howard University as a budget line item to the tune of over $250mil annually?

I would put that money to pre-K or SPED programs in a heartbeat.

My $0.02

You also need to sell it to the parents who see

1. membership in yet-another-scout-unit along with the time commitment (me driving) and cost (another fundraiser yippy). Unknown leaders (to me) and in joining my permission was not sought (fix that).

2. secret squirrel stuff. Alarms go off when told or suggested that parents not attend.

Have answers to their common questions

1. What does OA do for my son that his Boy Scout troop does not?

1a. Okay, why doesn't his Scout troop do that, it earned a quality unit award? Parents are usually under the impression that summer camps are setup/taken-down by the camp counselors and the units/scouts attending.

Parents often do not see the need for OA or equate OA to being similar to their school National Honor Society - an honor with a ceremony and bounded service commitment.

Scouting tends to be invisible, parents rarely see scouts in the community but they do see them at troop meetings. Now OA, parents might NEVER see a sashed OAer well except at a Klondike Derby selling candy (ughh!).

My $0.02 and if you want to shoot the messenger, please use wood arrows.

Say that would make an interesting ordeal - make you own arrow(s) and shoot.

Who gets to decide what are stupid rules?

A leader, someone you and others are willing to follow.

Another $0.02