schleining

Congratulations!!!

I cant wait till the 30th for mine...

Wood Badgers are the best!

Jerry

A good Ol Beaver too

Simple...

Wear the color shoulder loop that matches the Unit number and office you are in.

COR, while not always active in the unit, and a voting member of the District/Council, is still a part of the unit. If you participate as a member of the Pack.. wear blue and the numbers.

Velcro.. works.. but I choose to go simple...

Like everyone else, many hats are worn. I am a member of the district committee, a Scoutmaster, and on the Pack committee.. oh and Committee chair for our Venturing Crew.

I have three Shirts.. two with Scoutmaster insignia and all that goes with it.. and the other with Cub Scout insignia etc.

I wear my Scoutmaster shirts to everything except Pack events.

I don't own silver/grey loops.

As with most people in Scouting.. those that care and are hyper active in Scouting.. we wear the shirt that best represents our PRIMARY position in Scouting... Mine being Scoutmaster.

Just my 2.5 cents...

Keep it simple

Jerry

Thanks... I thought I learned something in Wood Badge...

Besides that awesome song!

I used to be a Beaver.. and a good ol Beaver too!

Jerry

Having the ceremony in front of the boys was really the only choice.

When I started my Ticket I sat the Scouts down and explained to them what I was doing and why.

My entire ticket revolved around the Troop, so I thought it was appropriate to do the ceremony with the people that really earned it for me. These beads are as much for them as they are for me..in fact they are more for them, that is why we do this...right?

Jerry

hehehe....

Oops... need to check that spelling...

Jerry

I am doing my beading at a modified Troop Meeting.

Since my Troop was the center of my ticket. I want them to share in the experience.

I am the Scoutmaster of the Troop.

Good for me? HECK YEAH! I AM A HAPPY BEAVER!

Jerry

Nibbling on my share of the Beaver log.

All-

Just got off the phone with my Troop Guide.

My Beading Ceremony is the 30th of January!!!

YEEEEEHAAWWW!

Jerry

and a Good 'Ol Beaver too!

What private message?

Hey there..

I am looking for some plans to construct a Water Bottle Rocket Launcher.

Looking at doing this with the Troop.

We had a great one at Wood Badge...

Any Help... greatly appreciated.

Jerry

And a Good Ol Beaver too...

Thanks Sue-

I am not sure when the actual "Beading" will be yet. But I am stoked.

I have the Beanie sitting with the log.

Love it.

Jerry

In our Troop we currently use both.

When we started we were all on First Name basis. Now we are leaning to the Mr/Mrs. [insert last name].

Why? because it does add to the lesson of respecting your elders. Respect needs to be tought, and while I agree that not all people are deserving of respect, I would like to think that the adult leaders in Scouting are deserving. At least in my unit.

PET PEEVE-- MR JERRY... NO GO...

Either call me by my first name or call me Mr. Schleining... But MR. Jerry...NO.

I grew up spending a lot of my time in the South... they do that down there (from my experience) and I hated it then.... and I can't stand it now.

So our Troop does not even consider that one.

We are working on the last names.. and not really pushing hard. It will come. It starts with the adults and once it becomes standard.. the boys will catch on.

Mr. Schleining aka Jerry

(edited for typos... oopps sorry)(This message has been edited by schleining)

I got the Bennie Baby Beaver for Christmas.. a great addition to the collection.

Got the Big Beaver sitting on the Dash of my Truck (it was given to all of us Beavers by our Troop Guide)

Beaver Zone sign etc..

Getting Beads soon... just finished my Ticket YEEEEHAWWW!

Jerry

And a Good ol Beaver too!

"Fully" Trained?

Does that mean ALL the adult leaders are trained?

Does it mean that a certain % are trained?

Does it mean that the JR LDRS are trained?

The reason I ask is because the level and % of trained people make a big difference. Also, what they do with the training is also a huge factor.

I know people that have been to Wood Badge that do not have boy led troops. But the reason is not him... its that his JR LDRS are young and not trained.

In my Troop all of the Adults that work directly with the Boys are Trained, but many of the Committee members are not. This does not bother me too much as long as they do their jobs, it would bother me if the ASMs were not trained.

Jerry

SM

And a good ol Beaver too

First of all this will be my last post on this issue.

The reason, I believe after watching Merlyn on this board for some time, if you get caught in a "Discussion" it will soon become a catch 22 and start spiraling out of control...as this topic has.

So my final comment on the issue...

MY OPINION is that yes Schools should not be Chartered Organizations. Why... because typically they are terrible COs.

They do not hold the same set of values as the BSA and therefore do not understand the program in total.

For the same reasons I do not expect school teachers to raise the kids. I expect them to teach and do it within a budget.

Schools should not be political. IF they are then they might (and do) spread their liberal rhetoric to my conservative children, children that do believe in God and practice their faith. Children that do believe that the USA is the greatest country on Earth and are developing into good citizens of this country. Children that try their very best to live the Scout law.. all Twelve of them, not just the ones they think they like or are easy.

Good judgement... where does that come from? Its got to start with good reason.

Is it ok to steal an apple to give to someone that is hungry?

NO... buy that apple and give it someone that is hungry.

That is better (good) judgement. And comes from good reason.

Which policy don't you like? The one that says a Scout is reverent and therefore should hold a religious belief? That is terrible... how dare the BSA want the boys to grow and act according to the Golden rule...

What other policies? Two deep leadership? No Sky diving? Practicing Leave no trace? Having an updated medical form? Trained leaders? Refusing to tolerate name-calling, put-downs, discrimination, or any form of physical aggression?

Yeah... I think the BSA is way off base, maybe Merlyn is right.

OR NOT.

The BSA is good, just the way it is. Civil Law... don't forget we are a PRIVATE CLUB. No one gets turned away as long as they agree to participate in accordance with the rules of the BSA.

Thats not hateful or in violation of any civil law.

I belong to the Knights of Columbus... we discriminate all the time in our membership... You have to be a practical Catholic MAN that agrees to by laws and constitution of the Knights. If you don't... then you can not be a member. Is that against the law? NOPE.

The same with Boy Scouts.

OK.. I am done. I am jumping out of Merlyns never ending spinning loop.

Jerry(This message has been edited by schleining)

I have seen some really great COH's and some not so great ones.

Our Troop does about 4 a year.

We have done the COH in our meeting hall and at campfires during Campouts. The Campout COH's are by far the better ones, but not alot of parents come, even when we do it locally. So, we have to try to accomodate those parents that are not to fond of the woods.

For the Campfire COH's we have the fire, Tiki torches that outline a "Stage", Opening Ceremony, We do sing some songs, and do the awards. The best is ending it with a Scoutmaster's minute and vespers... really adds a special touch.

For the indoors COH's we try to have a nice presentation. At one, we did a year in review power point presentation, set to music, it was cool.

One very important thing that has been mention already...

THE BOYS RUN THE SHOW...

The SPL needs to be the MC.. let the PLS halp with awards.

In our Troop the SPL does it all... he even gives Advancement, gives the Scouts the moms pins and all...

Jerry

AMEN-

VIVA LA BASEBALL HAT!

Jerry

First of all Ed and Merlyn... you both are out there.

Second.. I think it is a bad habit to pick and choose which policies you follow or enforce.

Just because you don't agree or think it is bad form... does not give you the right to not follow this organizations policies. You are always welcome to leave Scouting (private Club) if you are not happy.

Choose not to follow Youth Protection Guidlines and get a Scout hurt. I hope you rot after you are nailed to the tree. And I hope in your defense that you say, well it was a policy I did not agree with.

The policies are there for a reason. Follow them or leave the club.

Anne Frank... c'mon... you are equating life and death with the decision to have COs in the Schools... give me a break. You must have to much time on your hands.

You must hang out with that clown in California that wants God out of the Pledge....

Like it or not God is a part of America and the BSA.

Like or leave it.

Jerry

Glad they are not available anymore through the Scout Shop.

I wore one in my Troop as a youngster.. we only wore them for COH's etc, wore the Baseball type hat camping and pretty much all the rest of the time.

The beret is a dumb idea. Not practical and unless worn right (define right).. the wearer looks as stated before a "dork".

I have worn berets for the Army for the last 21 years.. again very "High speed" looking when I was with the Rangers and wore a High and tight hair style.

Once you put hair under it, the beret "Sits" on the head like a dead cat.

Our Troop has had our own hats made. They are baseball style and look great. They are practical,l comfortable, and stylish. That and they can be made for 5 bucks a piece. All the boys (and leaders) have at least two.. one for camping and one for "Formal" wear.

In short... DING DONG THE BERET IS DEAD.. THE BERET IS DEAD... THE BERET IS DEAD.

Jerry

I could not agree with you more Barry...

and to John's point-

Shared leadership is the key in Scouting. And working as a team is critical in the success of a Scouting unit.

Vision (in my view) has to be flexable in Scouting.

That is what I liked about my ticket... You get 5 angles to approach you vision from. 5 seperate goals that ulimately get you to that point at which you say... ok I have accomplished this on the way to seeing my vision become a reality. And if you really give it some thought and have a vision that has goals that can be reached, you surely will find that there is always more to be done or sustained.

I am the Scoutmaster of a troop that is 19 months old.

My ticket focused on the Troop and community.

Goal 1. was to work toward having Boy Led troop. up until June the Troop was pretty much led by me.

We are a Boy led Troop now.. The SPL and the PLC run pretty much EVERYTHING

Goal 2. was to work with the SPL to conduct monthly PLC meetings.

I provided the format and as of June we have held by weekly PLC mmetings (run by the SPL not me).

Goal 3. was to have the SPL and ASPL conduct the Troop JLT.

with practice and some coaching, they did a great job. The Troop leaders are going to a Leadership development Conference next month.. that will add to their success.

Goal 4. was the diversity goal. We had a fire side chat during a camp out to talk about how it takes all of us to make up the team. Scouts and their families that come from divorced parents, ethnic differences and economic backgrounds... it all adds to the value of us as a group.

Goal 5. is to establish a Scout Sunday committee at the Church and conduct the Scout Sunday event in February. That one is currently being worked, but it has spun off into three different lives.

Since starting that one, I have got the committee going, became a Religious emblems counselor, and started a Venture crew at the Church.

All this to say its all about the troop and what makes Scouting better for the youth.

My vision was make our Troop better and get more envolved in our community.

My vision is growing and changing, all the while it stays the same and we get to see immediate results and that helps the Troop.

One thing I thought was important was to get the Troop on board for my Ticket. If they don't help me I fail. They are doing a great job.

Shared leadership.

Jerry

Barry-

And thats what its all about... Understanding the thier vision and the mission of SCOUTING.

I went to my Wood Badge Course 5 months after I returned from Iraq.

There is NOTHING in the Wood Badge Course that equates to the daily life of a Soldier.

Leadership is in fact Leadership... but the difference is the context in which you apply it.

Leadership in Scouting is 180 out from the way it is applied in the Army or the corporate world for that matter.

Wood Badge not only provides a forum to establish or refocus vison, but I found it gave me a great set of resources and networking that I have used in the last months to make my unit better.

The people at Wood Badge made all the difference in the world.

I am afraid that if I had people in my Patrol that did not take it for what it was, than we would not have had the close knit group and the experience that we shared.

Anyone that comes to the course thinking they know it all and can do without it could just save the $185 and stay home. I know that when I get my beads it will be the culmination of alot of hard work and the pay off that my unit is better today than it was a year ago.

And I firmly believe that working the ticket is a Scouting career project. I don't think my ticket will ever truly be complete. I might earn the beads... but my vision will always need to be worked.

Jerry

My only question is ....

How can one go thru Wood Badge and have no Desire to work a ticket....

Hmmmmmmm...

That guy must have missed a verse in the Gilwell song... or.... heck I don't know... something misfired...

geez...

I had a two hour drive home from Wood Badge and I sang the song all the way home... thinking about working my ticket.

I must be a weirdo or something... or it had to be the water...

Jerry

Thats a great story Sue...

I can honestly say that I did not want to leave Gilwell on that final Sunday.

Typically folks just want to get done and get home... It took 2 hours to get our Patrol off Gilwell field and out of the Parking lot.

Love Gilwell!

Leave it to the Beavers!

Jerry

The meeting after the BOR the Scout should get his rank patch to sew on the uniform.

What our Troop does is give the Rank as soon as the next meeting (the following week).

Then we give the Moms pins and advancment cards at the COH. That way the Scout is recognized in his group and recognized again infront of friends and family at the COH.

Holding out on the Scout is not a good idea. Read the Scoutmaster Handbook.... Recognized Immediately!!

Jerry

Scoutmaster

Yes John... Our Staff went off on Saturday night too... They went to a "Special Dinner" not sure if they left Camp, but they were nowhere to be found.. not that we looked for them.

We did some interpatrol campfires.. had a blast that last night.

I pulled out my Dutch ovens and made cobblers. Some of the Bears and Bobwhites came over and we had a great time.

She's a Yes vote from me.

First things First...

Forums are not the gospel Truth and full of opinion.. and opinions are like feet... everyone has them and some of them stink.

Second..as long as the Communist News Network (CNN) does not like her... She automatically gets a yes vote from me.