scoutldr

Yes, the BOR question is typical...we use it at every BOR. Your troop's camping "policy" is not. In fact, it borders on hazing, which has no place in a Scouting program. Your son's "proposal" is spot on, and in fact, is the way most troops operate, in my experience.

I'll bet they were "Quality Units", though.

At our District meetings we have one, maybe two CORs show up out of about 70 units. That's on a good month. No amount of training, cajoling, or inviting seems to change that. On a REALLY good month, the District Chairman shows up and actually presides over the meeting instead of the DE (even though the DE plans the agenda and prints it out for him). In my opinion, the answer is pretty simple. As I understand it, the professionals' jobs are to 1)get major donations from corporate and private sources (not the volunteers), 2)form new units, and 3) get more youth, in that order. If they are not producing and meeting goals set by the Council Executive Boards, they need to be replaced. Yes, the volunteers have a role...that is to deliver the program with the resources provided by the fruits of the professionals' labors. Too often, I see the pros getting down into the weeds with things like camporee planning, training, Roundtables, etc. As has been mentioned on this forum before, Executive Boards are hand picked by the SE, and they just rubber stamp what he wants, even if it includes selling off property to pay salaries or buy new office furniture. Perhaps Executive Boards should be nominated and elected by the Council membership at large, instead of just a majority vote of the few CORs who bother to show up for the annual meeting. My perceptions...yours may differ.

I always thought the BSA had a "made in USA" policy, which is the excuse I always hear for the poor quality and high prices of uniform items. At the last RT, we were given our Quality Unit 2006 patches...official "Scout Stuff" printed on the plastic back. Also on the back of EACH patch was a small gold sticker, proclaiming "MADE IN CHINA". I have a vision of some 10 year old cranking these things out in a sweat shop for 14 hours a day making 12 cents an hour. They are of acceptable quality, though I'm not sure I want to wear it on my uniform right under the American flag. Seems kinda hypocritical.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

I would tell him that maybe God has presented him with a perfect opportunity to "turn the other cheek" and to "forgive those who trespass against us."

My wish is for Scouters to rediscover the true meaning of Scouting. Let's renew our commitment to the principles of the Founders, who didn't give a whit about popcorn, FOS, committee squabbles, gays or atheists. Scouting is about developing character and confidence, fun in the outdoors, brotherhood, friendship, and service to others.

The original neckerchief design was the "full square". It was designed to be a tool, useful for many things, including bandaging, and carrying things, along with the scout stave. The stave has faded into history, and the neckerchief is a vestigial shadow of it's former self, if worn at all. I say, celebrate your Troop's long and rich history...go with the full square.

Whatever you did, it seems to have worked. Thanks!

It's not you. The forum has become extremely slow and non-responsive recently. Very frustrating. Moderators, wassup????

While I appreciate Terry's efforts as much as anyone, negotiating this site is becoming too hard. I used the "Today's Active Topics" link almost exclusively to sneak a peek during the day. If I can't do that, I won't be around much. Maybe some will say that's a good thing.

Am I the only one having trouble accessing this link? THe server times out with an "Internal Server Error" (both locations, so it's not my computers)

Why not ask your son what he wants and then do that? I am more concerned as to why the other 4 are choosing not to cross over.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

The art of "manners" is dying. Like the "RSVP", or simply returning borrowed items in a timely fashion without having to be asked for them...don't get me started. I wish there was a "Social Graces" MB...they probably wouldn't sell too many, though. It would be tough to find qualified counselors.

I'm not a lawyer...however... certain BSA symbols and logos are registered trademarks and/or copyrighted. I feel certain that you would not be able to use those in making up your own patches.

I would sit the Board. Not having a uniform on would certainly be fair game for discussion with the candidate, but it can't be a deal breaker. I would want to know the reasons that the Scout chose not to wear one. Remember, a BOR is supposed to be a learning experience on both sides. After seeing an Eagle board overturned on appeal to District after the Unit BOR felt there were serious character flaws and reason to deny the Eagle, I am convinced that any negative decision based on uniforming would be overturned without a second thought.

Absolutely not. And I hate "Mr. Mike"... what's THAT about...either show respect ... or not.

Took my troop up to the Blue Ridge mts last weekend...which happened to be the last weekend of deer season. Had to make them wear blaze orange the whole time because of all the "sportsmen" roaming the woods, desperate for a trophy. I was scared to death the whole time. Sunday morning, a hunting dog wandered into camp to visit with the boys. The dog was a sweet female beagle, maybe a year old. She enjoyed all the attention and the meal of leftover hot dogs that she devoured. She was freezing and emaciated...obviously neglected and abused. Every bone and rib was clearly visible, and the pleading look in her eyes was heartbreaking. I almost took her home with me, but I don't have a proper yard for a dog. On the way home, I passed many a pickup truck with a "dog box" in the back, doing 60 down the highway at 28 degrees...the wind chill on the poor dogs must have been 20 below zero. It should be illegal to hunt with dogs.

For a charter to expire unnoticed, a lot of people need to be asleep at the wheel. Usually, it is a top priority of the District Exec to keep a unit alive for another year. Sounds like, in a nutshell, if there was property/money involved, then it's simple theft. The CC stole from the CO. The CO needs to call the police and file charges. Or at least threaten to. I don't think Council will get involved...it's between the CO and the CC.

I tuned out the LNT instructor when he said that "human waste" (as if it's worse than "animal waste") had to be placed in a section of PVC pipe, capped off, and slung over your shoulder to be carried around with you. If that's not bidegradable, I don't know what is. If it's good enough for bears, it's good enough for me.

"...any campout longer than 4 days is considerd a long term camp. It then falls under the same regulations as council summer camps. They had to get a camp director and aquatics director certified through National Camp School." That would eliminate many 50 milers done at the unit level (I completed 3 as a scout). Since when is summer camp supposed to be a "money-making venture"? I thought if we covered expenses, that was doing extremely well.

From SM Specific Training, the primary job of the SM is to train junior leaders to run the troop. Has he ever conducted Junior Leader Training (JLT) within the troop? As a parent, your concerns should be voiced to the Committee Chair and/or the Chartered Org Rep (COR). If they need help dealing with the issue, their resource is the Unit Commissioner assigned to the unit.

Ok, I'll start: Publish a "Where to Go Camping Guide" Publish a camping promotion video and web site Provide dance teams for COH and Webs cross-over ceremonies Visit units to do camp promotion presentations Conduct inspections of cub camping locations Serve as staff assistants for adult outdoor skills training (BALOO,etc) Serve as staff for JLT training For more ideas, see http://www.oa-bsa.org/resources/spideas.htm

These can be commonly found on ebay, usually from the UK.

I have a picture of my girlfriend admiring my new Eagle badge at my Eagle COH in 1970 when we were both 16...she was a Sr Girl Scout (First Class) at the time. We first met in Lutheran confirmation class at age 12. This past summer, we celebrated our 30th anniversary with our two sons, aged 27 and 23 and an intimate group of about 200 friends and family. Also in attendance were several of my scouting buddies and the wife of my late Explorer Post advisor, who is in her 70s. She was forced into service as an associate advisor when the Post went co-ed in 1971, and they both were awarded the Silver Beaver. My wife got into PTA, then went back to work as a nurse, and I stayed with scouting. I proudly wear 31 years' worth of yellow, green, red and blue service stars.

Welcome to the forums, Mike! This is, I think, a local Council decision, however in my neck of the woods, Commissioners don't "Commission" for their own units. You are correct, it is an awkward situation to be in, especially if there are unit disputes that you may be called upon to mediate. Go with your gut and ask to be reassigned. Also, if you are going to be SM, my opinion is that you will not have time to do both jobs well. In fact, I recently heard through the grapevine that our Council Executive Board has decreed that Unit Commissioners may not also be dual registered with a Unit, which is going to put our meager Commissioner Corps in the "hurt locker".(This message has been edited by scoutldr)