scoutldr

You need at least three MC to hold a proper BOR. You need a CC to have a charter. I would say the answer depends on the size of the troop. As to the training issue, it's unrealistic. Are you to tell all parents that they are no longer welcome on overnights because they haven't been trained? According to BSA policy, any parent can attend and observe (but not necessarily lead) any scout function.

I have over 250 transactions on ebay without a problem. There are many bargains to be had, including brand new items with tags still attached. If you are wary about credit card security, use Pay Pal, which is a third party payment system. The seller never sees your credit card number. I have tried selling on ebay, but it is time intensive, tracking your items and then packing and shipping. Sometimes the shipping and handling fees sound high, but properly packing and shipping a coffee mug cost me over $5 in actual cost. Most patches can be sent for the price of a postage stamp.

When I die, one of my regrets will be that I can't have a flag on my casket, because I am not a veteran. The funeral director will probably not go along with that. I would suggest that perhaps a scout or two could read a scriptural passage (make sure the scout is a good reader) that is appropriate to scouting. How about finding a verse from the Bible that illustrates each point of the Scout Law (or Girl Scout law)? Or, more simply, round up all the scouts you can find (Boy, Girl and Venturers) and just show up in uniform and sit together. Your mere presence will speak volumes.

For Scouting to work, it requires family volunteer involvement. Moms and Dads working to deliver the program. Recent CDC statistics show that 68% of black babies are born out of wedlock, compared to 27% of white babies. I can only conclude that Scouting's values are simply not important to this sector of the community, which is failing to provide the most basic parental supervision to its children. A significant percentage of these "parents" are children themselves, with zero parenting skills. It has nothing to do with funding or poverty. It has to do with keeping your pants zipped because it's the morally straight and mentally awake thing to do. If there is no solid foundation of family values, including a 2 parent family unit, why would Scouting be a priority? Also not meaning to come across as racist...but the statistics don't lie. Money can't fix everything.

The camping requirement also includes a long term camp of at least 6 days/5 nights as part of the 15. Sounds like the scout maybe did not meet the camping requirement, but all he heard was "2 years".

The last requirement listed is important. Any modification of requirements must be approved by the Council Advancement Committee with proper medical documentation. It's not enough for the SM to decide, "he did his best".

My Cuban friend says "perhaps we should just let the lying dogs sleep!" When the volcano on the island of Montserrat was erupting, my father in law would remark about that "Monistat Volcano".

Please teach them that we are guests in the critters' home. Not every "danger" needs to be eliminated. It needs to be recognized, admired, and left alone. I have scouts who, upon arriving at summer camp, empty a can of RAID trying to kill every spider and daddy=longlegs within a mile radius.

I assume you mean a man and woman married to each other? I know of no reason not to.

I have visited the NCAC Council center in Bethesda MD.. It was donated by some guy named "Marriott" if memory serves me right.

Ditto here. Can't buy a patch without an advancement report. Won't happen the same night as a BOR. We use the pins. The downside is that when the patch is awarded, it seldom makes it onto the uniform before the next one is awarded.

"When he asked for another date, he was told by the Charter rep that he a was sorry he was not co-operating and his son was OUT." Sounds like the COR did the expelling... I agree this was handled poorly. But unfortunately, scoutingagain is correct. There is no right to membership or due process. Membership is at the pleasure of the CO, provided the member meets the minimum standards of the BSA. The only recourse would be for Council to reconsider renewing the unit charter, if that is the way the CO handles things. But I doubt that would happen....it's all about the numbers.

I've lived in Virginia for all of my 52 years. The weather's just fine, thanks. And it's predictable. As I've said before, i wouldn't take my troop winter camping in Michigan without proper training and equipment. I don't expect troops to come here without the same aforethought and preparation. It's hot and humid EVERY summer...always has been since the Jamestown settlers landed 399 years ago...so it should not be surprise to anyone, least of all the Jambo planners. At least we didn't have a CAT 4 hurricane...this time. Be Prepared!

As our DE told us..."when we bash "Council" we are talking about ourselves." Someone recently referred to "p--- poor camporees". Well, who should run them, then? If the volunteers aren't delivering a quality program at the District and Unit levels, who do we have left to blame? Do I think there's too much emphasis on funds and numbers? Yes. Do I have a better solution? No. A Council is a business which markets and distributes a product. We, the volunteers are charged with making that product as desirable as possible to as many boys as possible.

>>I stayed on as Webelos leader this last year because the Pack could not get anyone to step up for the position.

I think the history of the knots can be traced back to the military ribbons that B-P wore on his scout uniform. Indeed, the wearing of military ribbons on the scout uniform by veterans was at one time encouraged and allowed. This seems to be a European thing...often you see old British and Russian veterans still wearing their battle decorations on their civilian coats. God bless 'em. I once was in a hotel when a political dinner was being held, and on more than one civilian tux I saw miniature military medals being worn. Square knots were introduced as an alternative to military-looking ribbons. The original Eagle award has an accompanying r/w/b ribbon bar. I wear 7 square knots, including AOL, God and Country, Eagle, Cub Scouter, Cubmaster, Scouter Training, and District Award of Merit. As long as I earned them fair and square, I don't see where it's anyone else's business. Nor would I criticize anyone else for what they choose to wear or not wear.

Our troop has a bimodal distribution...one group of 11-12 year olds and one group of 16-17 year olds. Needless to say, the attendance of the older group is sporadic at best, due to jobs, band, sports, etc. Last Monday night, NONE of them showed up, not even the SPL. No phone calls, nothing. Nothing was planned, nothing passed to the ASPL or SM. Since the SM was out of town, I (CC) and the ASM had to "entertain" them for 90 minutes. We did manage to get a SM conference (thanks to the ASM) and a BOR done (two other MC were present). During the BOR, we drove home the point of personal responsibility and honor...how the group suffers when one person falls down on the job. A teaching moment. The SPL is working on his Eagle project, but has done nothing in his POR as SPL, except show up at a couple of meetings and lead the pledge. I'm afraid he's in for a rude awakening. I'm thinking of calling a pre-Eagle BOR for this Life Scout...to discuss his disappointing performance and let him know that now is the time to choose to change if indeed the Eagle is one of his goals.

And here I am feeling gloomy because already it's the 3rd day of Spring and the temp won't rise above 50 degrees! I can't wait for July and 90 degrees! It seems the older I get, the colder winter feels. Thanks for sharing.

Just a correction...the Roundtable is not a Training Committee function. It's a Commissioner staff function. The person in charge of the RT is called the Roundtable Commissioner.

EHS = Environmental, Health and Safety? Dave Steele (aka "Man-O-Steele") was (is) a professional Scouter whose job was eliminated due to financial problems. When he moved to a different council, he quit participating. I wondered at the time if he were "encouraged" to quit participating. We all enjoyed his frank and honest view from the Professional side, and I for one, miss his contribution. I sure did learn a lot about what the district level Professional is faced with on a daily basis, and it changed my attitude toward the ones I work with.

I have always disliked the "Trained" strip. Dogs and monkeys can be "trained". Leaders need to be "educated". Attending training courses imparts knowledge, hence "education". That doesn't ensure that people will put that knowledge into practice. In my opinion, there should be recognition for leaders whose programs exemplify the methods and ideals of their respective program. Sitting and watching a video is easy. Translating that into results is hard and takes a dedicated volunteer.

The "Pack Trainer" position was created just to address some of these issues. If your pack doesn't have a PT, you need to get one. THEY are the ones who are supposed to be delivering the training at the Pack level, and not waiting for the next District event. There's no reason that all new Cub leaders can't be fully "Trained" within 30 days of recruitment. Many district training chairmen have just refused to "let go" of the responsibility and delegate it. I have to agree that the materials need work; they are nearing 10 years old and are now sorely outdated.

Thanks, MaScout. I will stick it out...but sometimes I wonder what other people are thinking. We used to say in training..."If it's not for the boys, it's for the birds!" Sometimes we adults need to remind ourselves that we're not here just to fill a slot and gather more square knots or little wooden beads. And the professionals need to remind themselves that, as volunteers, we don't (or some of us don't) have time to do Scouting 24 hours a day/7 days a week, and we don't "take orders" from them. I appreciate the kind words. After 32 years in this program, I can count on one hand the compliments I've heard like that.

At the very least, he would not be able to advance...there's that pesky "Scout Spirit" requirement for every rank.