rkfrance

My opinion is the same as SP's.

I am an active SM and ACC. Previously District Commissioner same time as SM. Never had any conflicts, but if I did/do, I would bring in someone from outside to help resolve the issue. Amazingly, we seem to know and follow the rules.

You can keep the two separate and still do both well.

I'm not aware of a single commissioner in our council that does not wear numerous hats including every District Commissioner and even the Council Commissioner.

For those that continue to quote the Fieldbook of Commissioner Service like it's the Bible, I'm glad you have a council that can get volunteers like that.

I'm in Heart of Ohio Council and got to see the presentation directly from Michael Beck. We've had units that followed his plan increase their sales significantly over the last 2 years (when we began the Beck method).

Popcorn info will be available at heartofohiocouncil.org sometime next week.

Our council switched to Campmasters after Trails End went to the dog food bags. Campmasters still does tins. It's been good for us so far.

We've been having Pack and Troop meetings on Sundays for years. Best night of the week for everyone's availability.

Very strange 1st post. Why complain almost a year after the incident? I find it hard to believe.

This is not intended as a commercial. I have nothing to do with these products.

http://www.uvpaqlite.com/

I found this on Facebook and have been drooling to get any of these "toys" since then. I love that they don't need any batteries, never need charged (other than with light), lightweight, etc. The prices don't seem to be outrageous either.

Has anyone ever seen or used any of these products? Good or bad reviews?

Non-scouting ... a long time ago. I was about 5 or 6. Big canvas family tent of the 70's. I wouldn't call it the worst experience, but probably the most memorable.

My parents slept on the floor of the tent. Me, my sister and brother all had cots. I was closest to the door, my sister in the middle, and my brother against the back wall. I was awakened by my dad reaching in from outside the door telling me not to move or make any noise. He then pointed to under my brother's cot where our groceries were still in their bags, where I saw the black and white tail. (My mom was outside on the picnic table.)

I slowly propped myself on my elbow and watched. During the movement and the noise of peanut shells crunching, my sister (about 4) woke up and began screaming. My dad had to reach into the tent and pull her out. In the process, he ended up tipping over her cot. So my dad had to pull me out, fearing what was coming next. My brother (about 2) was still asleep with our visitor munching below his cot.

Being a large tent, my dad really didn't want to go back in if he could avoid it to pull out my still sleeping brother. We were sitting on the picnic table waiting for the ranger to arrive, when the visitor came out the door, went around the side of the tent and took off for parts unknown.

Thankfully there were no lingering affects as our visitor wasn't frightened in the tent, but had apparently cut its nose on a peanut shell which is what caused him to vacate. After that, my mom started leaving the food in the car.

junglehammock.com

I've wanted one for years. Just can't get my wife to go for the price.

Might be a little hard to stand up in though.

You can come do our CSRT anytime. Keep up the good work.

The biggest trick is building attendance. Don't count on word of mouth or even a good program to bring new people in. Time seems to be the common enemy of RTs.

Thanks, but I'm quite familiar with all the logos. I'm specifically looking for the font. If you image google "cub scout signature", it should be the first image that comes up.

It's a multilayered font that another Scouter told me the name of years ago, but I can't remember what it is.

Does anyone know which font is used for the "Cub Scout type" logo? It's the layered font logo.

It's not on the horizon, it's here. This is a pilot involving about 20 councils.

I happen to be the volunteer coordinator in my council. Details of the program are still light.

Hopefully things will really get kicked off in the next couple of weeks.

The Adult Training Statistics Report is one of the reports I get monthly from our council registrar. My DE usually sends a copy to me as well. These reports come from MyBSA, not MyScouting. As far as I know, there is not a program in MyScouting that does what you're asking.

Yes, the Adult Training Statistics report is broken down by council and district.

Moose,

You should be able to get from your DE or council office the "Adult Training Statistics Report" (council and district breakdowns) and "Training Not Completed" report (this is by district and unit specific within the report).

It sounds like from your post the info your DE sent was from the Training Validation. You need access to the member ID numbers to get this info.

SP

go to the home page > to Volunteer > middle of right hand side of page under Quicklinks = Scouting's Journey to Excellence

you can also view it from the Commissioner's page under Journey to Excellence

Been there. Done that.

The bushes have no more leaves to beat.

A previous administration caused a lot of mistrust and sour grapes. We are several years out and still reeling from the affects.

Maintaining would hopefully be easier than what most districts and councils face. Too many are in a continuous process of prospecting and recruiting. My question is how do you establish an effective commissioner corps?

I've read all the literature. I'm quite familiar with all the processes. I see recruiting new commissioners as the biggest obstacle a DC or ADC will deal with. Council commissioners face the same obstacles. I went the better part of a year as the only district commissioner in my council.

The same thing faces our district committees. Every district in the council is struggling to put effective silver tabs in place.

I've determined my staffing needs several times. For my district and our needs, we need between 30-35 commissioners and staff. I'd really love to have 40-45 for the different things we are expected to do. I have eight total. Of those, every one of us holds multiple positions at the unit, district and / or council levels. We do our best, but there's only so much we can do.

I believe in the Commissioner process. It can be effective and make a difference to Scouting, but at times I feel we are the forgotten step-children, of course until there's something that needs done NOW.

Apathy is our enemy. There are many great people in Scouting. Some do much more than expected. Some are a name on paper. It's really a sad affirmation for a program that's whole premiss is about service.

Ramblin

You may want to clarify with your District Commissioner what your title and role will be. To me it sounds more like an Assistant District Commissioner overseeing RT. I've seen this in some districts. Are you working directly with or guiding the RT Commissioners and Staff?

Eagle and Ramblin

Aside from learning as much as you can about RT and its functions, also remember you are still commissioners. You represent the district, council and the BSA.

Take the time to go thru all unit commissioner training as well. Although you will not go to visit units (because they come to you), you will get many of the same issues to help with that a UC does. A coordinated commissioner staff can resolve many issues.

Rob

Big applause for Thomas54.

Non-leader parents are always a concern.

Know-it-alls are high on the list too. Many times they still won't shut up even when you site why they can't/shouldn't do something.

From a commissioner's perspective, the majority of bigger unit issues arise from Untrained leaders or those that may have gone to training but didn't pay attention (or whatever) because they are know-it-alls.

Finally, don't forget the Generals. Those Scouters who've been around since Moses was a Scout. They were trained way back when, but never bothered to go back for training as things changed.

I was allowed to get an interactive phone recently and got an Android 2.0 style. I'm looking for relevant Scouting and outdoor apps for it and where to find them.

The only Scouting related apps I have found are for Iphones.

This was sent to our council office - official BSA communication from Health and Safety.

I was copied on the info since I was the first to inform them of the upcoming changes.

Back to the original topic, this is the most current info on the forms.

Effective March 1, 2011, what are currently known as local and national tour permits will be superseded by what will be called the tour plan. *The online tour permit system will be suspended. This update is the accumulation of work by a cross-functional team of volunteers and staff including the Health and Safety Support Committee, Council Solutions, Outdoor Program Group, and Risk Management Advisory Panels.

Here is the definition of the tour plan in the Language of Scouting: "Units complete this form when planning for local, national, or international adventure. The plan helps ensure the unit is properly prepared, that qualified and trained leadership is in place, and that the right equipment is available for the adventure."

The plan is available for your staff to see and begin training with at this link: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-014_fillable.pdf

What's different?

1) The council is the reviewer of all tour plans; there is no regional review required.

2) The tour plan consists of a tour planning worksheet to be completed by the unit/contingent. It is retained by the council and a tour plan is returned to the unit after processing.

3) It's on standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper!

4) There is a 21-day advance notice requested for units to submit the plan for your review.

5) A single point of contact (not on the tour) for council use is included.

6) Defined reasons/times when a tour plan must be submitted for council review:

a. Trips of 500 miles or more

b. Trips outside of council borders not to a council-owned property

c. Trips to any national high-adventure base, national Scout jamboree, National Order of the Arrow Conference, or regionally sponsored event

d. When conducting the following activities outside of council or district events:

Aquatics activities (swimming, boating, floating, scuba, etc.)

Climbing and rappelling

Orientation flights (process flying plan)

Shooting sports

Any activities involving motorized vehicles as part of the program (snowmobiles, boating, etc.)

e. At a council's request (allows council to add review times based on local needs)

7) There is an updated Pledge of Performance.

What is not changed?

1) A council can define "local" tour plan review needs in addition to the above.

2) The Scout executive still needs to have in place a policy/procedure for tour plans.

3) Requirements for qualified supervision, training, insurance, etc., remain unchanged-for example, CPR and Wilderness First Aid requirements for high-adventure camps.

Recommended council implementation strategies include:

1) Review and update your tour permit policy to a tour plan policy. Using the administrative review checklist points, you should make sure this includes:

a. Definition of activities or conditions that require a tour plan submission

b. Numbering, log sheet, and filing system for quick retrieval

c. Fax policy/procedure

d. Systems for handling and maintaining online tour plans*

e. Rules that find forms submitted after the fact, forms with only one signature, and incomplete forms defective (notify the submitters)

f. Procedure for "after-action" reporting

g. Retention of forms until the statute of limitations has expired

h. Training is provided on the use of and requirements for tour plans

2) Set up your newsletters, council websites, and roundtable helps to communicate the changes.

3) Destroy any paper copies of the local or national tour permits you may have in place.

4) Hyperlink the tour plan, http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-014_fillable.pdf, and the FAQ page, http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/TourPlanFAQ.aspx, on your websites effective March 1 vs. hosting the document so that it can remain evergreen.

This is the response our council received from National today.

"Tour planning sheet is going to replace the local and national tour permit, it

will take effect in February (last I was told) . As far as online permits -

they are going away. They will be turning off the on-line tour permit link on

February 1, 2011.

There are still quite a few changes that will be happening with the tour permits

so stay tuned for more information to come. Your updates will come in the form

of a database communication from the National office regarding this matter,

hopefully soon."

Our council uses this system. It's not scientific, but more of a guage of expectations. Each rating is pretty broad to allow flexibility for each program.

Green is a healthy unit with minor issues.

Yellow is cautionary - something we need to watch. A recent example would be we have a CO that is under investigation by a government agency. The 2 scout units attached to the CO are not under investigation, but because the CO is, the units are classified as yellow. Not necessarily in trouble, but definitely worth watching.

Red indicates major problems, usually meaning a unit on the verge of collapse, restructure, etc.

Some councils also add at least 2 more colors for id. I also use these in my district.

Orange for new units. These units are not considered good, bad or in between until they've established a history (typically 3 years). We use "new unit" commissioner teams specifically responsible to helping develop leaders with at least a 3 year commitment to the unit before the unit would be placed with a regular UC.

Black - dropped units. We keep these on record as black for 1 year and are considered by the professional staff and commissioners as opportunities for reestablishing the unit if possible.

These indicators help the SE and board to get another snap shot of the level and status of the programs within the council. Consider for the majority of board members, all they ever see is reports, with little or no direct contact to any of the programs. A color code is a quick visual indication of what's going on.

Check out this month's CubCast pt 2 which discussed the religious awards program and a new position, Religious Emblems Coordinator for districts and councils.

http://www.scouting.org/ScoutCast.aspx#cubcast~201012_2

1) Ratios for Pack camping are specific to each council based on guidelines from national. Each council is permitted to set their own policies based on those guidelines.

Check with your council office or website for their Cub Scout camping policy.

2) NOT!

3) BALOO is based on cub scout camping policy. See #1. If you change councils, you may be required to retake BALOO or your council may require you to retake it based on their own policies.