scoutldr

Of the specific memories of my childhood, I distinctly remember the night I came home after being inducted into a Troop from Webelos. My new green uniform was hung on the doorknob where I could see it all night. I was up well past midnight reading my new Boy Scout Handbook (with Norman Rockwell cover). I still have a 6th grade class picture with 3 of us wearing our Scout uniforms to school. We always wore them to school on meeting days. This was 40 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. Scouting is more than camping and having fun. It's all about creating memories and friendships that last a lifetime.

OGE, perhaps the "Eagle Mills" out there are balanced by the units who never produce an Eagle because they are holding tight to the standards. In my mind, it's not the number of Eagles produced, but the number of Eagles who decide to earn it and then do so on their own, showing initiative, proficiency and determination. I am an Eagle, but my own two sons aged out at Star and Life, respectively. Making Eagle was not their highest priority and I refused to interfere with their decisions by threatening, pleading, reminding, or doing it for them. They both now have their college degrees and are successful young adults...but they did it on their own terms, not mine.

OK, BSA. I just went to the SCOUTSTUFF.ORG web site. If you are serious about wanting my opinion, put a "CONTACT US" link on your web site and start reading our ideas and complaints. Putting a "survey" on the web site, with pre-determined answers (choose only one) is not a very scientific way to conduct a poll. (How about an "all of the above" choice, or an "add additional comments" box?) And if you are really considering adding "yolks" to the shirt, please don't. That yellow stuff is really hard to wash out.

Our troop charges actual costs for both youth and adults, determined on a per-trip basis. No reimbursement for gas or membership registration. Patrols do their own menus and the designated food-buyer (Grubmaster) determines what each scout's share will be. If there is an extra charge for campsite ($1 per night per person to use Council camp), patches ($3), etc, it is added to the food charge. Typical troop campout runs $6-10 for food. More for adults, but we eat well and don't mind paying for it!

If you have a loyal den and 25 more boys waiting to "come back", just call the DE and offer to form a new unit if he can find you a CO. Problem solved. It sounds like the current CO doesn't care whether their Pack folds or not, and that's something you can't win.

Thanks, Torveaux. But, seeing as how I was teaching a SM Specific course, we didn't have our Cub Scout Leader books handy. Since the word "should" is used, I assume it is "guidance" and not "policy". Since a uniform is not "required", if a Patrol all showed up in civilian attire for a uniform inspection, would they win, since there would be no points deducted? Hmmm.

"I like this uniform, I liked the one before it and the one before that. I will like the next one. I will wear it complete because that is how you wear a uniform." Gosh, I DO hope the next uniform is not a thong. "What the book says is that a uniform should not be mixed with civilian clothes. That it is better to wear no uniform than a mixed uniform." I need a chapter and verse for that, please. I made that statement in a SM Specific course once and some grumpy old man challenged me on it. All I could find was "encouraged to wear as complete a uniform as possible". I have a 100% cotton shirt that I bought new from eBay. It looks good as long as it is freshly washed, starched and pressed. Can't wear it right from the dryer, tho. I doesn't seem to be holding it's color as well, either. As for comfort, it is superior.

I have seen "creativity" in chartering units. For example a unit CO (church) is physically located in one district, however, the SM, all of the boys, the COR and IH all live in a different district, so they are registered and participate in that district. I guess the DE wasn't smart enough to figure out there was a unit in his district that he wasn't getting credit for. In this particular council, we have 7 districts within a 50 mile radius, so distance is not an issue. It all depends on how you fill out the paperwork. Think outside the box.

Try this: http://www.scouttroop.org/stl/bsa/58/Firebuilding.html

As a former District Training Chair, we were asked for name suggestions every year, and whatever names we submitted got an invitation. If you are interested, let your District Training Guy know that you are a) interested, b) able to go, and c) what course you want to attend. I don't think there's any limit to how many names can be submitted. Most people who get invited don't or can't accept due to cost or work schedules.

Pipsico Scout Reservation, Tidewater Council $180 ($195 after March 1) (all troops use dining hall) Leaders - 2 free per troop, $50 each additional

Is this an LDS troop by any chance?

Your pack should be scheduling summer activities in quest of the National Summertime Pack Award. Packs who have year-round programs generally have higher retention rates. I have seen Packs who struggle to "get started" again in Sept, and frequently don't get the ball rolling until Oct, Nov or even December, losing boys and leaders in the process.

Ahh, but that's why companies are taking their mfg business overseas. No EPA, No OSHA, no minimum wage laws, no labor unions demanding more benefits. That equates to more profit for the stockholders.

The Troop is owned by the Chartering Organization. They and the Troop Committee decide how to run the troop, ideally through the Patrol Leaders Council. A District Commissioner's job is to recruit and train the Commissioner Corps within the District, which consists of Assistant District Commissioners, Roundtable Commissioners, and Unit Commissioners. A Unit Commissioner is typically assigned 2-4 units which he/she will routinely visit, get to know, and monitor their program. The UC's job is that of a friend and mentor to offer advice on improving the program. Also, a UC can be sent in to trouble-shoot a troop that is not advancing, not participating in District events, etc. All are symptoms of a troop in trouble, and keeping a unit from folding is a #1 priority of the District Committee. In the situation you describe, it sounds like the DC was asked for advice and he gave it. I don't disagree with the advice. In the Troop I serve, we don't inform or involve parents except in the most serious situations. I think the Scouts appreciate the fact that every little infraction is not going to be reported back to the parents, but we deal with it "man to man", so to speak. Of course, I would have no problem calling a parent if the situation warranted it.

The Advancement plan was changed via the "First Class, First Year" emphasis allegedly because a study showed that most drop-outs occurred before a Scout achieved First Class rank. Back in my day, you had to earn Tenderfoot before you could start working on any Second Class requirements. My experience is that Scouts do not make FC any faster than they did in my day. Theoretically, a Webelos can bridge over in February and be First Class by the end of July if they attend Summer Camp. I have not heard how the FCFY emphasis has affected retention rates. It has been my observation that most drop outs occur when a Scout turns 16 and now has competing priorities of cars, girls, sports and jobs.

So, were there any "actionable outcomes" or was it just a gripe session of the obvious.

I agree the demand to remove the ear ring was out of line. Good on the SCout for standing tall for his convictions. Yes, the armed services allow tasteful ear rings, but only for the girls.

Let's see...they are all Boy Scouts, on a Scout outing, playing a game with friends, having fun, using chips with no value that they can't keep anyway. And we are looking real hard for a reason to stop all this. Sheesh. We should probably ban Root Beer, too, just to be safe. Magic and YuGiOh deal with the occult and supernatural, so they have to go. Capture the Flag is a war game - nyet. As to the religious question, whether cards, gambling or food, I don't see it as my role to be the keeper of the Kosher, although I love Kosher food. If a boy has been raised in a Kosher household, it is up to him and his parents to keep the family religious tradition. Of course, if the Scout requests accomodation of his dietary requirements, religious or otherwise, we gladly agree and provide alternatives, but if he voluntarily piles the bacon on his plate, that's between him and his God. I work with a Jewish guy who will meticulously pick the bacon off of his cheeseburger, but will always show up for "all you can eat shrimp" night. I don't begin to try to understand or keep track of how individuals interpret their religious obligations. I know what Leviticus says, but there seem to be a lot of people out there who didn't get the same translation.

The important thing to remember is that Eagle boards are not conducted the same nation-wide. In the Council in which I serve, the EBOR is a unit function, just like the other BORs. It does require a District Rep present, which is usually someone from the District Committee...I have frequently filled that role. In addition to myself and the Unit CC, there are usually several other members present, some of which are chosen by the Scout. These have been family friends, religious leaders, former unit leaders, teachers, etc. Frequently, these people have no scouting background, but they do have a pre-conceived notion of what an Eagle Scout should be. Rarely, are they off the mark by much. The first 30 minutes are spent explaining the BOR process, reviewing letters of recommendation, the Scout's personal goals statement, Eagle application, and project notebook. As the District rep, I serve to answer questions that the other Board members may have about the process, explain that we can not add to the requirements, it's not a "retest", etc. I also have a copy of suggested questions that I have downloaded from the internet to give the other members an idea of what type of questions can be asked. I also remind them to ask "open ended" questions that cannot be answered with a "yeah" "Nah" or grunt. Usually, they "get it". Then the SM brings the Scout in, introduces him to the Board, and then leaves (or stays to observe, if the Scout requests it). If everyone else is shy, I start the questioning, and the others then follow my lead and join in. I have yet to have a less than enjoyable and rewarding experience. Bottom line is, the situation you described does not seem too odd to me, albeit a little disorganized. It's also rare to do four at one time, although there's nothing wrong with it as long as the process is not shortchanged for each Scout.

My guess it's considered a temporary patch and is worn centered on the right pocket.

As a govt employee, I am required to obtain and use a Government Travel Card (VISA) issued by the Bank of America. The account is in my name and misuse or nonpayment affects my personal credit rating, although I am forbidden to use it for personal purchases. Those account files were recently "lost" by BOA. I guess it's like riding a motorcycle...it's not a question of "IF" I get trashed, it's "WHEN". All these organizations passing your personal information all around the world, saying "trust us, it's secure." Baloney.

My main issue is with quality, not the look. When I am forced to pay premium prices, I expect goods that fit well and are made of quality fabrics and construction methods. The suggestion that BSA adopt zip-off trousers and Thor-lo socks makes me shudder at what the BSA catalog price would be for such goods. The red wool jac-shirt is now pushing $200 and is out of reach of the average volunteer or youth. I just want pants that fit (44x29) without the crotch ending up down around my knees somewhere because they are all cut unhemmed and I guess the mfr figures that the average 44 waist will have a 34 inch inseam, so the rise is cut accordingly. The shirt fabric is like a limp rag after a few washings and pills around the neckline. I also expect a shirt that doesn't come unbuttoned at the stomach every time I sit down. My dress shirts don't do that, and they cost me half as much.

I think I read he was a CS leader in the early 80's. Back then, the only background check was whatever the COR did to check your references and make sure you didn't check "yes" to the question "Do you use illegal drugs?"...98% of the time, nothing was done. Not that it would have mattered.

FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!!!