scoutldr

FOG: That explains the brand new Eagle medals for sale on eBay. I also thought those were controlled distribution and had to be ordered from National. If not, they should be.

The SM should check. He signs the card authorizing the Scout to begin work on the badge and one of the questions at that point should be "are you using a registered counsellor". If the scout brings a blue card back to the SM without an approved counsellor's name on it, it is rejected and not submitted to Council. This is a Youth Protection issue. Anyone performing volunteer work under the auspices of the BSA needs to be registered and trained.

Living in this country grants us certain liberties that even the BSA can't take away. Down here, south of the Mason-Dixon line, I dare anyone from Irving to come tell us we can't wear "hunting apparel"...whatever that is.

In the US, we encourage proper uniforming for all Scout activities. The BSA uniform does not include camouflage. If they are not in uniform, they can wear whatever they want, as long as it does not reflect poorly on the BSA, the Troop, or the Chartering Organization. Examples would be T-shirts which depict images of tobacco, alcohol, drugs, racism, weapons, profanity or sexual connotations. Welcome to the forum! Our international brothers and sisters in Scouting are always welcomed around the campfire!(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

I agree, Bob. But if the only thing holding this back is BSA Policy, aren't they adults? It sounds like "The Order" (i.e., the youth) have no objections.

I think OWL was asking what we thought, not what the rules are. But since you pointed out the source, it sounds like BSA is calling the shots, and if BSA changes its stance, then the OA is open to the idea: "The Order of the Arrow is a program for Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts between the ages of 11 - 18. If that Boy Scout policy changes, the Order would readily welcome venturers into the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service." It sounds like while they may be a "separate organization", they don't do anything without BSA approval. Rules can be changed...with the right justification.

I vote with you. But the membership requirements should be the same. Is the Outdoor Bronze analogous to earning First Class? Crews that don't go camping would not elect any members. After all, the OA is the "Society of Scout Honor Campers", and in my opinion, you can't be an honor camper if you don't have proficiency in Scoutcraft.

You're busy this morning, OWL! Thanks for the scout-related threads...what a concept! I like my GI issue poncho. It's heavy enough to withstand camping, and is not "single use" like those cellophane things you buy at the Dollar Store (which most of my scouts seem to bring, if anything). It's like carrying around a little tent with you...I can sit in my chair and drape it around me. It's baggy enough I can wear whatever I need to under it to stay warm, and it fits over my backpack. It's also good in the summer since the air freely circulates under it. On the downside, it's too bulky for backpacking, but with my 50 year old knees, I don't do much of that anymore.

Eagerly awaiting to hear how it turned out. You guys are saints for putting up with this for so long. I agree with KS...the negotiations are over. This has gone far beyond the point of "youthful energy." I would sit the parents down and tell them in no uncertain terms how it is going to be, and they are out of warnings. We operate by the Scout Oath and law, period. If their child needs medication or psychotherapy in order to fit in, that's not my problem, and if the program needs adjusting to accomdate them, there are "special needs units" for this in most Councils. We are not psychologists, psychiatrists or experts in emotionally disturbed children. We are experts in delivering the Scouting program and that's all we can do. They can take what we offer, on OUR terms, or take their disturbed delinquents elsewhere. And when a so-called scout does something that jeopardizes the safety of the group ON PURPOSE, he's out. Period. End of discussion.

The adults in the troop in which I serve provide transportation to and from camp, then pitch in where needed to assist the camp staff (my specialty is aquatics, BSA Lifeguard, etc), take adult leader training that is offered, or if they are skilled in a trade, report to the Ranger to see what needs doing. Some think that the week is for lounging around, reading, and drinking coffee, which I think makes for a long week and does nothing to benefit the program. Making sure the boys are not goofing off is the SPL's job. We do make a point to visit each program area during the week just to observe.

It is a local policy. My council will not sell one without a report. Of course, we do have a chronic problem with units getting their paperwork in. One unit had held registration forms for 6 months and didn't turn them in until recharter time.

I had to do that once and they made me submit an advacement report and the notation "Duplicate" was made next to the rank. Or, just buy them on e-Bay.

This link (flow chart) shows that the camping requirement for adults can be waived by the SE and Lodge advisor. Not sure if this is a valid interpretation of the rules...caveat emptor. http://www.shout.net/~stumpy/election/E01.PDF

Yes, this is an example of how a scout can suffer if the adults are not properly trained or do not take their jobs seriously. One good suggestion is that as soon as a scout makes Life, give him a copy of his Troopmaster record (or whatever the troop is using) and let him go to Council and ask the registrar to bounce that record against the Scoutnet record. If they don't match, he needs to find out why and start actions to rectify. If he waits until he's 17 and a half, it may be too late. One thing I agree with here...it's not the current SM's problem. This is a problem that the scout needs to unravel. HE is the one who needs to track down former leaders, MB counsellors, etc. and assemble the documentation. If he has to depend on Mom or other adults to lead him around by the hand or do it for him, he's not Eagle material, regardless of how many merit badges he thinks he's earned.

Stars are gone and the speed is back! Life is good!

I never said "attractive". Being female was enough. Oddly, when they hired a 350 pound male paramedic, health lodge visits dropped dramatically ;-)

Educate. Every tick goes to the health lodge to be removed and logged in. A PhD Entomologist I work with said that the tick must be attached for 48 hrs in order to transmit disease (but I wouldn't bet on it), so daily showers and tick checks while at camp and timely removal is imperative. Another problem is that the young deer tick (the only species which transmits the Lyme spirochete) is almost invisible to the naked eye (about the size of a spider mite) and is often mistaken for a speck of sand or dirt. Of course, if you have a young female paramedic at the health lodge, the guys will go hunting for ticks just to get a trip to the "Doc". Is the risk real? Absolutely...our SM contracted Lyme disease from our Council camp. But didn't know it until 6 months later when he started having joint pain. Not everyone gets the tell-tale "bullseye" rash.

Troop Committee Chair, District Committee and OA Associate Chapter Advisor. Since I was with the troop first, that is my "primary" registration, not that it seems to matter to anyone.

Just saw dramatic video on the TODAY show. Scout Craig Hicks notices friend choking on school bus and springs into action successfully performing the Heimlich Maneuver. "I learned it in the Boy Scouts". That's why we're here.

Where is your Troop's "OA Representative"? This is a relatively new leadership position, and if your troop doesn't have one, they obviously need one, and he should be mentoring new members and getting them active. The purpose is to promote OA at the unit level. OA is also a "boy led" organization. Have your son go to the National OA web site http://www.oa-bsa.org/ and click on the "Jumpstart" box at the bottom. This is a new initiative for just the purpose you are describing...to get new members engaged early. Also, the OA chapter meetings are held once a month and should be on your council calendar. If you are not an arrowman, you can help get him there.

So a Pack now has 8 Grand in their treasury. I have to ask, "Why?" That's an awful lot of badges and PW derby cars.

I agree with you, Matua. But, on the other hand, if 30 people cancelled from our District Dinner, the event would be cancelled. No event can sustain that kind of unplanned loss the day before. I think the fair thing to do would be to pay whatever cost the district has incurred and would be lost, whether that's the full ticket cost or not. The money has to come from somewhere.

I don't have a problem with the ARC Lifeguard Certification. The ARC and BSA have just entered into a reciprocity agreement, and we are taking steps to have our BSA Lifeguard Counsellors dual certified as ARC Water Safety Instructors. Then, when people qualify as BSA Lifeguards, they will also be certified as ARC, provided they meet the age requirement. As far as I know, the Camp Aquatics Director must be BSA Aquatics Instructor certified via Camp School. At our camp, the AD and the Waterfront Director are not the same person, since we have a pool and a "Waterfront".

Ditto on the stars. I vote to remove them. Being an over-achiever, I find them distracting and frustrating. ;-)>

B-P also wore his military honors (ribbons).