scoutldr

At our camp, the most injuries came from the weekly Staff/Scoutmaster softball game. Softball is now a banned activity, but it sure was fun! Other stuff is pretty minor...bug bites, poison ivy, sunburn, scrapes from the pool deck concrete, etc. Dining hall staff are subject to burns and cuts. Simple rules can prevent a lot of pain...no running in camp, buddy system, sanitation, totin chip enforcement, sunscreen, hydration, limit junk food, thunderstorm safety, adult supervision at aquatics and climbing areas, etc. Review the G2SS for more ideas.

I have always heard that Eagles enter the military as E-3. Got this from another bulletin board: "Almost anything will let you enter the military as an E-3. Two years of college, signing to a longer initial enlistment, attaining Warrant Officer in the Civil Air Patrol...I wasn't aware of the Eagle Scout condition but it wouldn't surprise me." My son's best friend enlisted in the Army and started as an E-4 because he had a 4 year degree and signed a 6 year contract. (Stupid on so many levels, but that's another discussion...5 years later he has a chest full of ribbons, two tours in Iraq, but is still an E-4).

The rules for fundraising are on the application form for a fundraiser that must be submitted for Council approval. In general, a product or service of value must be given in return for the "donation". Outright solicitation of direct donations of cash or goods is against BSA policy...only Council gets to do that. Run your idea past your DE for an interpretation.

Good thought, but it sounds more like the responsibility of your SPL and Troop OA Representative.

You sound almost as "shocked and disgusted" as the last time I saw an Eagle Scout candidate butcher the Scout Oath and Law at the BOR. Unfortunately, Scouting may have unwittingly taken the same path as our schools where graduating is more important than learning. After all, we're not allowed to "retest" at a BOR. It's not about learning...it's about getting the "signoff" in your book.

Most camps have a first year camper program designed to work on requirements from Tenderfoot to First Class...usually a half day with an overnighter included ("outpost hike"). The rest of the time, though, they are with their own troops, especially for meals, flags, evening wide games, troop swims, etc. I, too, am having a hard time with segregating them into a "provisional troop" all their own.

The interruptions don't matter. Based on the above, you can wear: Green 6 Blue 12 (10 and 2) OR: You can combine all years into a Blue 18 (10 and 8)(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

In GS, it's probably the same thing. In Boy Scouts, a "bridging ceremony" means "crossing the bridge" from Cubs to Boy Scouts. Usually a small wooden bridge is built and the cubs leave their den on one side of the bridge and cross over to meet their new Troop on the other side, where they receive their new neckerchief and shoulder loops. There are many scripts available for this in the literature or on Google. It can be very symbolic and impressive if done right. If you need a bridge, contact some of the neighboring Packs and they can probably lend you one until you get one built.

First of all, I agree with the concerns expressed here. I also agree with HIPAA. My council is not so careful about medical forms...check in at summer camp involves lining up in front of a table staffed by the "health officer of the week" who could be a nurse, EMT, E-3 Navy Corpsman, or a retired MD who just came up for the afternoon. Helping him/her are 3-4 staff members who are pressed into service to keep the lines moving. The "health officer" last year, when I got sick, tried to take my temp with an ear thermometer by pointing it down my throat. (WOW, you have a low temp...only 93.4!!!) Imagine a 50 year old leader being interviewed by a 14 year old female CIT about your intimate medical history and medications...in front of 50 other people including your sons and his troop-mates. (Yeah, dad, what ARE those little blue pills for, anyway???) If I have a condition such as brittle diabetes, epilepsy, etc, I should be wearing a Medic-Alert bracelet, and everyone in my troop should be briefed on what to look for. We always teach that in First Aid MB, but how many of us actually wear one, at least when we are out in the woods? Other than that, if my MD says I'm good to go, then that's all you need to know. One thing I would tighten up is to require an annual physical for youth, signed by an MD. Having a form filled out by the parents is not adequate, esp for high adventure stuff. Oh, by the way, if someone has HIV, they are not required to disclose that to anyone, so universal precautions should be used for ANY contact with body fluids. I agree with HIPAA since most all healthcare providers in this area, including hospitals, labs and Dr offices are now owned by the same conglomerate and all records are on the same computer system. If I go to the Dr or hospital, I know at least 6 people in my circle of family, friends and acquaintances who will have immediate access to my records. If I am taken to the ER from summer camp, my complete history will be three mouse-clicks away on the ER computer.

Thanks, Shawnee...what I posted was directly from the KAC web site. Perhaps your information is more current.

Now I understand. Simple rule...you must be present to "race".

Little Johnny and Dad will be spending time together building a car. They will spend a day together racing and cheering and just having a good time. This may be the catalyst that gets them more active in Scouting. Where's the "bad" part again? How does this hurt anyone else? My attitude is always "we will accept whatever time they want to devote to Scouting. Some Scouting is always better than NO Scouting."

If they are at least First Class when they join the Crew, they may continue to work on Scout ranks up to Eagle until they turn 18. Perhaps OGE can address the "double dipping" question.

I just did a quick search on www.summercamps.com. Prices there range from $500 - $2000 per week, and I'll bet they have no problem filling their bunks. Our summer camp will be $165 per week this year, and we wonder why we can't attract qualified staff, maintain state of the art facilities, and serve quality meals. Go figure. Some parents pay more than that for a pair of shoes or a couple of video games for their little darlings. Expecting the best youth to essentially work for pennies per hour is naive at best.

The tiger service star used to be orange, but I think I read that they've been discontinued. In that case, I think he would wear a yellow "5".

I think the OA team is correct. You don't get a "do-over". The lesson here is "you get the results you earned -- as a group." If someone voted for Mickey and thus someone got screwed, the boys will sort it out. Everyone will know who the offender was sooner or later. If the troop did not understand the solemnity and honor associated with being elected to OA, then the troop PLC (including OA representative) need to do a better job in preparing the troop for the election process. Once the OA team shows up, it's too late. There's also a "Scout Spirit" aspect that I hope will be addressed at all BORs and SM conferences in the foreseeable future.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Don't know how big your unit is or how much historical data is at stake, but one extreme solution would be to purchase another copy of TM and start over. Then just feed the Adv person the data she needs to do her job and you maintain the rest. Quit feeding the beast, and maybe it'll go away. (although that didn't work with my grown kids!!!)

As you know, only the CO can appoint and approve unit leaders. One cannot "self-appoint" to a position. One can only volunteer to serve. How is the person registered on the charter? There's your answer. If the CO/COR has approved his continuance as an SA, then you're stuck. If the SA is undermining the SM's authority, then the SM and CC need to have a private meeting and set the boundaries. If he refuses to change, then the only recourse is for the CC to recommend to the COR that his membership not be renewed. Also, the SPL needs to be told that the authority is the SM, not the SA...if the SA tries to undermine, then the SPL can politely say, "I'm sorry but Mr. SM told me this and he's the one who decides." Hard for a youth to do, but that's part of the learning process.

The reason, IMHO that "nominatable" awards are so rare is not because the standards are so high, but because few people will take the time and effort to write up a nomination. There could be several reasons for this; many don't know enough about the candidate to provide all of the information required, without coming out and asking the person to help you fill out the paperwork. I was asked to serve on the District Awards selection committee this year and was saddened by both the number of nominations submitted and the quality of those submitted. Some nominations were merely a name and unit number without any supporting information. Needless to say, many available awards will not be presented this year, due to lack of interest. This includes the District Award of Merit, in addition to many other unit level awards that we offer (SM of the year, CM of the year, etc).

It's probably already too late... the collectors are out there scarfing them up as we speak. I think the Scout Shops should take them off the shelves now and only sell them on request with a completed blue card and advancement report.

If you have a strong CC and Pack Committee, the job of CM can be easy and fun. If not, and you have to do the job of CC too, that's way too much. A good annual planning meeting of the Pack Committee is the key. Then assign responsibilities for each task and just sit back and watch it run!

Sounds like a good candidate for Unit Commissioner. That way he can serve several units and attend all District events such as camporees.

THey worship a car?

Summer Camp 2004: Our "first year" boys dump their gear at the site and we hustle off to medical check-in and swim checks. When we return "Johnnie's" mom had his gear all unpacked and stowed and his bunk all made with his favorite sheets and pillow. The other boys whose moms did not come along razzed him unmercifully, in front of Mom. Peer pressure can be a wonderful thing.

HOV is not "new". It was renamed from "Robert E. Lee Council". Here's another one: UPDATE ON MERGER DISCUSSIONS: JANUARY 5, 2005 At a specially convened meeting held on January 4, 2005, the Keystone Area Council (KAC) Executive Board voted 30-6, with two abstentions, to accept the proposal of the Council Executive Committee to recommend that the KAC membership approve a merger with the Juniata Valley Council (JVC). The only change made to the plan submitted by the Merger Task Force was to recommend that, if the JVC membership agrees, the name of the new Council be the Keystone Juniata Council. The plan proposed by the Merger Task Force was to have a contest to adopt a name.