scoutldr

I'm too enhanced as it is...

"Revoke her e-mail privileges?" I wasn't aware that e-mail was a privilege granted by the Troop Committee. You could threaten to sue her for libel, however.

Thanks for posting this, which is not widely advertised. Apparently it's a BSA product being piloted by two councils, and other councils can be added if they find a sponsor.

What you're looking for is called a "Deadman anchor". Campmor sells one for around 10 bucks, but it sounds like you can make one, as OGE says. The trick is to bury them deep enough into the wet sand so they won't pull out. They are also used for snow. See also: http://www.paddling.net/sameboat/archives/sameboat215.html

It's not you, Lisa. I have the same problem. I take a separate tarp to throw over my tent if it rains. The "new" nylon tents (as opposed to the canvas tents of my youth) that you get at the department store are mostly crap. I haven't taken the plunge yet, (and at this point in my life, I may not) but I hear the $250 tents are better. I did try treating my tent with spray waterproofing and seam sealer...didn't help a bit. If the forecast calls for rain, I also pack a green garbage bag to slip the foot of my sleeping bag into...if it touches the tent, the water will wick right through.

Frequently, when scouters write in with issues, the answer is, "Contact your Unit Commissioner". Previous threads have lamented that the Commissioner Service is broken. In the unit I am privileged to serve, the SM and CC are both Eagles, with a combined service star total of over 60 years. After being chartered for 15 years as a Troop, we were finally appointed a Unit Commissioner. She is a nice enough person, and doesn't interfere, however the sum total of her experience in scouting is a few years as a Den Leader. I can see where some long term scouters may take issue with someone who doesn't know a Merit Badge from a Wood Badge coming in to "assess the health of your unit" and give you advice on how to make it better. On the other hand, I agree with Eamonn that joining the Commissioner coffee klatsch should not be a reward for retired Scoutmasters. So how competent is your UC? Do you even have a UC? Does your UC actually help when you have an issue that needs wise counsel?

Someone did blow up the WTC...they were Saudis. So why did we invade Iraq? I am much conflicted about this whole issue. A secretary in my office is black and a Muslim. I have learned much about the Islamic faith from this lady. She is one of the most kindest, gentlest souls I know. She is also dying of metastatic breast cancer. I have never seen anyone with so much strength and faith. She has gone through about 5 rounds of radiation and chemo, has lost half her body weight, and still comes to work every day. But I digress... I am of the mind that there are good Muslims and bad Muslims (ie., "Islamofascists"). Those people are not to be reasoned with and they will not cease their fanaticism until the last "Infidel" is dead or converted. They do not hold allegiance to any country...only to Allah, whom they believe will reward them for their efforts. Life, even their own, means nothing to them. The only way to fight an enemy like this is to kill them before they kill us...if you can figure out which ones they are. I don't think they'll be wearing Scout uniforms, so that narrows it down some.

t158 = Just my opinion...if the troop leadership AND Camp Director were ok with it, then it's nobody else's business, as long as the Web is not disruptive. I think the Web should have attended as a guest, not as a Scout. As I stated before, nothing he did at camp can count toward Boy Scout advancement if he is not registered in a TRoop at the time.

They're not "bending" the rules...it's a pretty clean break.

Wrong T-shirt???

Looks like you're out of options. 1. Give all the parents a map and tell them it's their responsibility to get Junior to camp. 2. Cancel the trip and go to your local council camp.

Ross Perot for BSA President!!!!

I have to agree with the others who are voting "NO". Sorry if it's unfair, because I don't know the young female, however one has to wonder WHY in the world a 22 year old single mom would WANT to be around young boys so much. My YP alarms would be going off.

1971 - Explorer in a Post sponsored by a VFD/Rescue Squad, specializing in fire, rescue, first aid, etc. We were asked by our high school PE teachers to give a demonstration, using our moulage kit (rubber wounds). So our Advisor takes the day off, and brings our 1959 Cadillac ambulance. The demos are going well, until I (15 years old) try to lower the stokes stretcher with the "patient" still lying on it. I (a Red Cross Advanced First Aid Instructor) reach in and release the lever and the stretcher drops to the ground, the mechanism slicing my hand open in the process. Dripping with blood, the students get a real live demo of "direct pressure" and off we go in the ambulance with red lights and everything. It was great, and at 53, I still have the scar!

Actually I'm being realistic. There probably was a day when summer camp staff worked for free (30's, 40's maybe? I'm not that old.), because they loved scouting, loved the chance to be in the "country" during the summer, and they had nothing else to do. They didn't need to generate $300 a week to support their cars and electronic toys. Those that had to get actual jobs, did so in order to help feed their families (my Dad was one of those). Unfortunately, those days don't exist any more, and if we didn't pay camp staffers a salary (meager as it is), there would not be a summer camp. But if it's gotten to the point that a scout can't donate a few hours to teach younger scouts how to tie knots, without expecting remuneration, that's sad indeed and our program is doomed.

It also won't count for OA eligibility. I remind the scouts of that when they want to go home early (on family night) from summer camp. "I guess you'll get your long term camp somewhere else?" Most just shrug and say "I don't care...my Playstation misses me."

There's already a Scouting job for the 22 year old new college grad with no life experience. It's called "District Executive"...

Not enough information. I personally would not choose a 22 year old female to be an SM. Too distracting to the 17 year old boys.

"Yah, so what do we all think of BSA summer camp, where boys with limited experience are hired as counselors and paid to teach skills to younger boys?" I think that we're talking apples and oranges. Summer camp counseling is a job, not a unit fundraiser. And the pay sucks, considering the hours they put in. "And what do we feel about DE's, who are paid to provide services to adult leaders (and to kids in direct service units)? " Ditto about the pay. It's the SE's who are making 4 times the salary of a DE that gives me heartburn. Ours doesn't do anything for the units, except publicly insult the volunteers and berate those who choose to go out of council for camp. "How about paying $ for training (or $$ for Woodbadge)?" Getting the "Trained" strip should be free, since "every scout deserves a trained leader" and we are told we're pond scum if we're not. Most people I know can't afford WB (in terms of both time and bucks). Maybe we could do without the custom shirts, caps, notebooks, coffee mugs, yada, yada, yada, and make it more accessible to the masses.

Wow...Camp Woodruff sounds like the Hilton! Ours has traditional gang showers for men and youth (separate), and a third section was added for women with individual stalls. My boys tell me that the showers in the High School gym are now used for storage. No showers required after PE.

Sometimes they do surprise us. Glad it worked out...

"Dat's the way the MB program is designed to work. As long as your troop is providin' reasonable T-2-1 opportunities each year, the rest of it is up to the boys." Beav, what are you saying??? You mean the boys are supposed to show initiative??? How in the world are the Eagle Mills supposed to stay in business? Our Eagle rate would drop back to 2% like it used to be! Seriously, though, our guys almost never take Camping at summer camp. Too many other things to do that they can't get anywhere else. Nothing wrong with saying to them, "Camping is Eagle required, and that means you need to include X, Y and Z into your campout plans."

Ekmiranda, no offense, but you have very high expectations. Having a non-involved CO is the norm, in my experience. We even have to pay the $20 recharter fee ourselves. Our CO (a struggling Methodist church) gave us a key to the "fellowship hall" out back (think portable classroom), that is termite ridden and falling apart. We even shared the room with a rat this past winter. (He seemed like a nice rat, so we co-existed.) They even went so far as to ask us not to use the heat, since it cost them money for the 90 minutes per week that we use the facility. In exchange, we are grateful that there is no meddling in the troop operations such as what some of our fellow posters experience, and we get signatures when we need them. Count your blessings.

First, welcome to the forums. I understand the frustration. So, I take it from the information provided that you are not a registered Scouter in this troop? Not a criticism, but it does limit your ability to influence the troop operations. As a parent, you have the right to voice your opinion and vote with your feet and checkbook. That's about it. You state that " I understand the Troop Committee has discussed this issue with the Scoutmaster over and over. The Scoutmaster has spoken to the senior Scouts and they are also frustrated since they are getting nowhere with the Troop." I presume the adults and senior scouts are "leading by example" and are in complete, proper uniform at every meeting? How often is the Unit Commissioner invited to do a uniform inspection? (Should happen at least annually). Offer a reward to the Patrol and individual scout with the highest score! (As a parent, you could offer to fund a pizza party or special outing for the "honor patrol") As some here will quickly remind us, BSA policy is that "a uniform is not a requirement to be a Scout". But it is taught as one of many methods to deliver the program. When the uniform is worn, it should be worn properly and with respect. As you said, when we were scouts in the 60's, we were proud to wear it correctly. Heck, we even wore ours to school on meeting days. I have a 6th grade class picture with 3 of us in uniform. Times are different now. Good luck!

I thought "volunteerism" was one of our "timeless values"...apparently I was wrong. So, lest I be thought of as a "pinko socialist", I'll notify my COR that my services as a Troop CC are now at the rate of $60 an hour. (If figure that's about right for 35 years' experience, and still less than our SE makes!). The boys had better get busy...that's a lot of popcorn!!! (This message has been edited by scoutldr)