scoutldr

Like ranks and merit badges, we award stars when the scout earns them...not just at the end of the year.

When he crosses over to a troop, the clock resets, since he is now in a new program. Boy Scout service stars are green. After one year in the troop, he can wear a green "1" to go with his yellow cub scout star. (Color denotes the plastic backing which is worn with the metal star) Also, please remember, only one star of each color is worn. When you receive your new "2", the "1" comes off. (Sorry, pet peeve. I even see Eagle candidates who don't get it right)

Service stars denote individual tenure in the BSA. If a scout joins in January, then he should receive a star in January every year thereafter until he crosses over. Unit recharter date has nothing to do with it.

"They own the business and yes can dictate how it is run" And the same is true of the BSA. The Boy Scouts of America, Inc., is a not-for-profit corporation, which is governed by an Executive Board and the Chief Scout Executive. They control the program, content, publications, trademarks, etc. That program is licensed (chartered) through local COuncils to Chartering Organizations who agree to deliver the program as designed (with the exception of the LDS). They also decide the membership criteria, and since the Supreme COurt ruling, can discriminate however they want. I'm not sure what you mean by "stand up and take back" the BSA...we are customers of the BSA...not owners or shareholders. If you don't like the product, don't support it...or get yourself elected to the Executive Board. The important thing you are pointing out is the inconsistency in the interpretation of BSA policy among Councils. And, yes, the program is different from what B-P envisioned. It has morphed and changed with the times....as have we all. I personally think it is wrong to revoke the membership of a Scout who declares himself an atheist or gay. But I don't get to decide. So, my choices are to live with it, or leave the program.

Rikki, as you read more of these posts, you will learn that we volunteers have very little "power" over how the BSA is run. It's similar to going to McDonalds. If you want your kid to have the joy of a Happy Meal, you take him to McDonald's and get in line. If you don't like the way they put the mustard on the bun, you don't get a vote at the Board of Directors' table. All you can do is havea chat with the manager about your opinion. If the manager gets overruled by corporate headquarters, your only option is to refuse to go back and take your money to Wendy's. Sorry for the oversimplification of what is a very serious manner, but what would you like us to do? A lot of people like McDOnalds just the way it is. And those people provide a lot of money and members to the BSA.

Rikki, thanks for sharing this situation with us. It's making the decision I'm wrestling with become more clear day by day. I would venture to say that what the scouts did happen every day in Scouting...or worse. I admire the scout's honesty and his willngness to take responsibility for his lapse in judgement. I also admire the SM's wisdom in his handling of the situation and a very insightful reaction. As long as the basic membership requirements are met, I see no justification for the Council's interference. The units belong to the Chartered Organization, and decisions on how to handle discilplinary problems should rest at the unit/CO level, assuming that legal charges were not levied.

Still happening...

It's baaaacccckkkkkkk!

Not shooting the messenger, Beav, but this is another of my pet peeves. If there's "guidance somewhere" how is the Scout and the SM supposed to know about it? If it's not a published requirement, then it's just "guidance". In my line of work, which involves a good deal of regulatory compliance, I can't tell people, "well, there's guidance somewhere that says it's a good idea, so that's why you have to do it." I would be told in very clear terms what to do with my "guidance".

To clear up any misconceptions, the ACTUAL requirement on the Eagle application states: "Requirement 2. Demonstrate that you live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your daily life. List the names of individuals who know you personally and would be willing to provide a recommendation on your behalf." Note...there is nothing in there about a letter or personal statement...the space for name and address merely says "Religious"...not "Religious Leader" or "Pastor/Priest/Rabbi". It could be a neighbor, or a sister, or a parent, or his best friend. But as long as the candidate puts a name in the slot, the requirement has been met. Questions about "demonstrating" can be satisfied at the EBOR. IMHO, Councils which are REQUIRING letters are adding to the requirements, and getting away with it. Letters are nice, but not required.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Good analysis, Avid.

"Its also worth noting that you and your scouts are MEMBERS of your council - its not just the professional staff, or the "super-scouters" on all the high-falootin' committees!" I may be wrong, but I don't think this is correct. Scouts and unit scouters are members of their Unit, which is "owned" by the Chartering Organization. THe Council is an independent not for profit corporation. The only "members" of the Council are the members of the Executive Board (which includes the CORs) who hire the Council "CEO", the SCout Executive. He/She in turn hires the rest of the professional staff and office employees. We are "customers" of the Council, not members. If you were a member, you would have a vote. That's why most councils run roughshod over the volunteers...the ones with the power to vote (CORs), don't bother to participate. (Sound familiar?)

OGE, we don't use words like "Butkus" on this forum. That should be "Buttockskus"...

Still getting it...

Starting this morning, I'm getting a popup saying "This website wants to run the following add-on:"Microsoft Data Access - Remote Data Services Dat..." from "Microsoft Corporation". If you trust this website and the add-on and want to allow it to run, click here..." Anyone else getting this and what does it mean???

COH only.

To get an idea of what a troop meeting should look like, take a look at the Program insert in Scouting magazine. I know SMs get it, maybe ASMs too. As a CC, I don't get it. But there are sample troop meeting agendas based on monthly themes.

None that I know of. I once saw someone I know register as a new member, but he's never posted.

Always 2 nights. It's not worth it to pack all that gear and set up for only 1 night. We meet at the church at 5 pm Friday, on the road by 5:30. Yeah in the winter, we set up in the dark...but that's part of the fun, eh? No big deal. Then we have a campfire and roast hot dogs and brats, in addition to the bag dinner that everyone is asked to bring (or eat before you leave). I usually take a half day off on Friday so I can pack and get there on time. Sunday morning, we cook a good breakfast, strike camp and home by noon.

We already have that. That's why "Issues and Politics" was created. Which, you will notice, seems to be the most popular. This forum reminds me of the old country store or barber shop where the good ole' boys would gather 'round and cuss and discuss anything and everything. Arguing for arguing's sake. Nobody wins, nobody loses, but ain't it fun?

I think philosophies have changed over the years (even if your long-term scouters haven't). I think the preferred practice now is that the rank patch is presented immediately following the BOR (same night). The COH is where he gets the formal recognition, card and parent's pin. Instant recognition...

One thing I never really thought about, but realized during our recent lake vacation, is that two GPS units are not necessarily calibrated to each other. We were renting a house on the lake, and a visitor launched his boat about 5 miles away. To find our location by water, I gave him my exact coordinates, which he then tried to navigate using his GPS. It got him to within about a quarter of a mile, when he called by cell phone and said "I'm right on the coordinates, where are you?" Due to the numerous coves and tree lined shore, line of sight was not possible. He eventually found us, but it wasn't as cut and dried as I expected.

I should know better than to try to quote uniform regulations, but I'll try again... Service stars are awarded for each year of registered membership in the BSA. The plastic backings indicate the program...yellow for Cubs, Green for Boy Scouts, Blue for adults, etc. You wear only ONE star of each color (with the appropriate number on them), until you get into the 20's and 30's, then you can wear, as I do, a 30 and a 2 to indicate 32 years of membership. Adults may combine all their years of membership into a blue star, or they may wear stars of each color, as appropriate. Sometimes, I will wear a yellow, green, red (Explorers) and blue to signify that I went through those programs. Another pet peeve of mine is when I see someone wearing three yellow or green or blue stars...when they get a new one, they just add it to the one already there. That's not really correct, because the stars are additive.

As a scout, I wore the approved uniform (CS, BS, Exp) without fail. As an adult Cub Scouter, i wore the shirt with blue jeans, which was the Pack custom. As a Boy Scouter, I continued to wear the shirt and blue jeans for field wear, and the official pants for "formal" wear. When I went on District Committee (Training), I wore nothing but the complete, approved field uniform, to set a good example. Now, as a mere unit scouter again, I usually attend troop meetings in my civilian clothes, since I usually go straight from work. When I do wear a uniform, it is correct and complete. I don't wear any insignia or patches that are not approved and I did not earn. One thing to consider...in B-P's time things were different. Often, the Scout uniform was the best clothes a boy had and he was proud to be able to wear clothes that were clean, untattered and unpatched. It was even cooler to look just like an Army soldier. As my Dad used to say when I asked him why he always got up at 5 am when he didn't have to, "because when I was a kid, the first one up got to wear the shoes to school!" (he was one of 5 kids) Nowadays, most boys get whatever they want, so if they have a choice, it won't be a dorky scout uniform.

Well, what can I say...sorry for the bum scoop. Perhaps I am recalling past insignia guides...or perhaps I made it up. My sincere apologies to those who I besmirched. 30 Lashes with a wet woggle for me.