scoutldr

I am a boomer...class of '54. I stepped up to be the District Training Chair, because there was no one else who did. We are a brand new district because ours split. All of the musk oxen happened to fall into the other districts, so I saw my break and went for it. The book says "You don't have to DO the training, just manage it." Yeah, right. The Dist Commissioner is having similar problems assembling a Commissioner staff, and after a year, still doesn't have a RT staff, or Unit Commissioners. Perhaps it is because when people are recruited, we are not upfront with them and the job "mushrooms" way beyond the "only one hour a week", and then they bail out. To do these jobs right, one can really have no other outside interests, IMHO, because there is something that needs doing every night of the week, if not actual meetings, then in preparation time. And that doesn't even include my Troop and OA commitments. It is disheartening to plan a training event, not to mention the personal time and money spent making copies, only to have ten people register and then only half of them actually show up. This week I had at least 10 people call my house to ask if they could still attend, because they had not pre-registered. I said "sure!", and then I had to scramble to find a bigger meeting room at the last minute. ONE of them showed up. Boy did I feel like a big SUCKER! It's not the "what's in it for me" attitude...it's the common rudeness that seems to be pervading our society at all levels. It's certainly not Scout-like. One recommendation I am going to make to the Council Training Chair is to have combined training events with multiple districts. I'd much rather help teach one course of 20 people than have to prepare for four courses of 5 each. My time is valuable, too, and I don't appreciate being taken for granted.

I agree, equal opportunity for all! In fact, I think an Affirmative Action program is in order, until the armed forces reflect the population as a whole...approximately 50/50. Let the draft begin! (or other suitable "public service", such as the WPA or CCC).

One thing I would recommend is to contact your District Training Chair and make sure that the Council training records reflect reality. I was recently given a printout for my district and they have some 30-year Wood Badge SMs listed as "untrained". Had I not known these people, I would have looked like an idiot when I told them they needed basic training. As Troop training coordinator, another thing you may want to do is encourage the adults to work toward their square knots (aka, "training awards"). I find that often, people have met the requirements, they just don't bother to submit the paperwork. It's nice to be able to recognize the adults at COH as well.

To train, guide and mentor the Senior Patrol Leader. Conduct SM Conferences. Deliver the SM Minute at the end of Troop Meetings. Become "Trained" and attend District Roundtables.

To clarify my remarks, I consider most restaurants that serve alcohol to be "public places" to which children are routinely admitted. Moderate amounts of alcohol are considered safe, and indeed some studies think it to be preventive of some disease processes. No amount of tobacco is "safe". And yes, smokers are litterbugs. Next time you are stopped at a red light, just look on the ground. Even our camp is littered with butts after parents' night from those who think nothing of tossing them on the ground. If you are the one exception who actually uses an ash tray, I applaud you. During our annual "Clean the Bay Day", in which the Troop of which I serve participates, statistics are kept. Annually, the number one item collected is "cigarette butts", even from the remotest, pristine beaches. And with only a small percentage of the population smoking, they still manage to make a big impression on those of us who have to clean up after their filthy habit. I would like to see a 10 cent deposit placed on each butt...my troop would be rich! To be fair, my vitriol is fueled by the fact that I lost my Dad to inoperable lung cancer at age 69. It is not something that your children should be forced to watch. Now we are losing my mother in law (age 70) to emphysema, and cardiovascular disease. Everyone's lives are disrupted, while we care for her until the inevitable slow suffocation takes it's toll. Again, not a pretty sight to see this once vibrant, active GS leader struggle and gasp for air just to get to the bathroom, and be heartbroken because we had to tell her last night it is no longer safe for her to have the grandkids spend the night without another adult present. No one has the right to affect others' lives like that because of a habit they refuse to stop (and don't tell me its' "too hard" -- you want hard, try holding your father's head in your arms while he cries from the pain and begs you to end his suffering). You can't convince me otherwise. A Scout is not selfish.

Safety must be your top priority. Explain the rules up front so that all can hear (even Mom), e.g. "no playing with fire" and "only adults can put things in or take things out of the fire" (this prevents the empty bug spray can from exploding). Allow the group one warning. Then on the next offense, put the fire out. Period. For the rest of the weekend. Peer pressure can be a wonderful tool.

I am known to quaff the occasional brew. Probably no more than a case a year, were I to keep track. So, following the impeccable logic of the smokers, I will feel free to sneak off into the woods for a cold one. - it doesn't affect anyone else, as long as I'm not legally inebriated - you can see people drinking in public places all the time, so it can't be a bad role model - if scouts start drinking because they see me drink, it's the result of poor parenting - it's not illegal, since I'm over 21 - and unlike most smokers, I will deposit my trash in a proper recepticle (it's even RECYCLABLE!), and will channel the effluent from my body so that others don't inhale it - and, regardless of what the G2SS says, it's not logical, so they probably really don't mean it that way

It's about the journey...not the destination.

Based on Rooster's G2ss discussion, I guess our annual "War on the River" at summer camp is a thing of the past. The kids will be heartbroken. It involved water balloons (simulated grenades), and swamping each others' canoes...in waist deep water. I guess we'll need another highlight of the week. A "speed-knitting" contest, perhaps.

I can envision reasons why adults would overrule the decisions of the PLC, albeit very rarely. But those reasons should be communicated and be crystal clear to the boys. If your son can not explain to you what those reasons were, then a private, non-threatening chat with the SM is not out of order. As you say, tact can go a long way to settling a dispute.

How can you tell if you're in a National Scout Shop vs. a Local Council-owned shop? The employees will be in full uniform, with gold loops, no council strip, and an "Employee" position patch. It will also be well-stocked with just about every item and publication in the catalog. Some that come to mind that I have visited are at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, and National Capital Area Council in Bethesda, MD.

I am an eBayer....I do it because my Dr advised me to "get a hobby...find something that you enjoy and do it for the pure fun of it." I'll have to admit, Scouting used to fit that description, but the more I learn about the District and Council and even unit politics, the more it feels like "work". I collect Scouting memorabilia, but like the others, only things that have a personal meaning to me...like from my council or OA lodge, or CSPs of councils I have visited, or replacements for things I used to have, but my Mother thought should go to the Thrift Store. My first year of summer camp was 1966...I now have 3 of those patches from eBay. Why? Because I don't want some dealer in Oregon to have them. They are special to me. I have never been to Philmont, therefore I have no Philmont items. My last 3 uniform shirts have come from eBay...like new, but half the cost. My favorite is the one with a DL patch on it and advertised as "worn only once"! (LOL)

It's not important what we think. What do the Scouts think? As you said, it's their money.

If he is a SM, the SPL should fill out and submit the Scoutmaster's Award of Merit application to the Troop Committee.

To those who dare criticize a woman's (or woman-child's) decision to have an abortion, I have just one question. How many have you adopted? Rhetoric and preaching are fine, but worthless. If you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. I have seen first hand how some of these children are raised and the living conditions that a poor, 14 year old unwed mother can provide (along with the 25 year old grandmother, if she's lucky). No, I am not "for" abortion. But neither am I "for" bringing an unwanted, unloved child into the world, to a "parent" who cannot care for it either financially or emotionally.

I'm sure it was due to the support from the Girl Scouts! I saw prominent signs in the crowd on the news..."Girl Scouts for Arnold"!!!

"Thompson", not "Thomas" 1860-1946, American writer and artist, b. England. His name was originally Ernest Seton Thompson. His stories and paintings of wildlife, especially Wild Animals I Have Known (1898, new ed. 1942), were standard works on nature study and wood lore for boys and girls in the first quarter of the 20th cent. In 1902 he organized the Woodcraft Indians (later the Woodcraft League), much in the spirit of the later Boy Scout movement.

My sons are now 25 and 21. Both were active Scouts, Senior Patrol Leaders, OA, one made Star, the other, Life. Neither made Eagle. Son #1's true love was baseball. I supported that with many hours on the bleachers. The only games I missed were when Uncle Sam said I needed to be somewhere else. He did Scouting only to make Dad happy, and I knew that at the time. He went on to graduate from college, on the Dean's list, has a good job, and is a good, solid young man. Son#2 is now a senior in college. He was Sr Class President, German Honor Society, Governor's School, Honor Roll, etc. He once told me."You need to give me deadlines and make sure I do them (referring to Eagle)." My response, "If that's what it takes to make you an Eagle, then you are not Eagle material." End of discussion. BTW, I am proud of them both, and have no regrets about how it all turned out. They have the values I want them to have, in part from Scouting. In my mind, the only TRUE Eagles are the ones who do it on thier own initiative because it's what THEY want to do. The rest are imposters.

When I was CM, "back in the day", each Cub was presented a "winter holiday gift"(can't say Christmas any more) of a PW Derby car kit at the December Pack mtg, purchased by the Pack. Those were the ones that had to be used. A Scout is Trustworthy.

The Boy Scouts of America has been selected by Delta Airlines to be Charity of the Quarter. The quarter concludes on September 30th. Members of Deltas SkyMiles program can donate miles to the Boy Scouts of America during this period. For every 5,000 miles donated, Delta will match with an additional 1,000 miles. Donation of SkyMiles can be made through Deltas Web site, www.delta.com. Sorry this info is so late...just found it myself. You'd think National would push this info out to the public, or at least to the BSA membership. - scoutldr

I think one brand name is "Ball Cap Buddy"....check in the "Dollar Store".

Some other items that we found useful after the storm cleared: Prescription meds (at least a 2 week supply) Cash (ATM machines and credit cards won't work) Full gas tanks, propane tanks and gas for generator and chain saw Batteries, all types Extra portable oxygen tanks for Mother in Law LARGE pot for heating/boiling water Valuable papers/pictures/family heirlooms stored in waterproof containers or safe deposit box Car charger for cell phones Extra cameras/film to document pre and post conditions Hope you and your family were as lucky as we were, LeV...I hear Camp Chickahominy (Colonial Va Council) was destroyed and will NOT be reopened. The damage estimate for Camp Pipsico has been increased to around $400,000. I had a battery powered TV, but without cable, all I could get were 3 football games and an infomercial for Bun/Thigh Master. Grrrrr.

Could you give us a hint what state that's in?

Just tell me how many boxes of popcorn to put you down for! ;-)

Greetings from the Virginia/NC coast. We survived. I was extremely lucky with a few limbs and lots of leaves to clean up. Power was out for 4 days, but had running potable water in most areas. Others were not so lucky and lost everything, as you probably saw on the news. Our council camp was devastated, only having just recently recovered from Hurricane Floyd. I want to put out a word of appreciation for the hundreds of electrical power workers who started heading for VA/NC even before the hurricane hit. They have done a phenomenal job restoring power to almost 75% of the area in less than a week. The electric grid had to be rebuilt from scratch in many areas. The following is an excerpt from our council e-newsletter with a link to some photos: "Next the Service Center. The service center lost 13 trees and with the help of Dan N., a neighbor and scouter, we were successful in removing most of the trees. Actually it was Dan, his son and a friend of his son. They really used their knot tying skills this day. Hurricane preparations spared the service center of any other damage. We did lose power and regained it late Saturday night. Next Pipsico Scout Reservation. Pipsico is Officially Closed until work crews are able to clear a few areas to ensure that the camp is safe to camp in. The damage was extensive. There are photos on our website at: www.tidewaterbsa.com. We have over 1,300 trees down and counting. About half of our tent platforms were destroyed by falling trees. Many latrines had their roofs and structures damaged. Some 140 trees fell on the power lines. Access to the river is by climbing over at least 40 trees and crawling under several more---I know, I was crawling along with Ranger Dan. The waterfront has a number of trees down, but it was impossible to access certain parts of the beach to survey the damage. The cliffs had from 10 to 15 feet eroded from the base. There are a number of trees down along the beach. The staff housing area was destroyed. The total loss at camp is probably at the $250,000 range if not higher. " Thank God we had no fatalities or major injuries in the scouting family to report. Damage to the camp will take years to repair. The money is simply not there. But I think we all have a new appreciation for a "Category 2" storm, and are rethinking what's really important in life.