scoutldr

Is the SM military by chance? This sounds vaguely like military etiquette. You never call a superior and leave a message for them to call back. It's up to you to make contact, not to put the monkey on their back. I was a civilian in a military organization and a young enlisted person [taught me this.

Technically, all equipment and funds belong to the CO. Really can't sell it without their permission. According to the "Rules and Regulations", the DE should meet with the CO and determine their intent to recharter now or sometime in the future. This really does not affect current members. If you have an established troop to go to, contact them and submit a transfer application for each youth/adult. Transfer fee is $1. Then walk away and let Council and the old CO handle the details of the old troop. You have already done the "Courteous" thing and advised them of your intent.

Have the scout draw up and submit the proposal, just like any other Eagle project. Emphasize "planning and leading", not "doing". I have seen projects approved for much less. Good luck.

Looks like fun, but the first thing I noticed was the lack of personal flotation devices (PFDs), a must-have for any boating activity under BSA auspices. Our Safety Afloat program is pretty specific.

If the council no longer exists, who would give permission? You would just need to avoid BSA protected trademarks. And make sure the patches are clearly represented as reproductions. caveat: I am not an attorney, just opinionated.

If the applicant works for DoD or a DoD contractor, the Office of Personnel Management has already breached his information...several times. I know, I got free "credit monitoring" , not that it's worth anything.

And a "Made in China" sticker.

My GPS is "Martha". A friend of my son's was taking a long road trip with her husband and 3 year old son. For fun, they selected a different voice for the GPS. By the end of the trip, the son was speaking with a distinct British accent. (I know, you don't have an accent...we do!).LOL.

Forgive me if some thought I was making an unreasonable "knee-jerk" reaction to seeing a Professional Scouter surrounded by youth in uniform endorsing a commercial product on national TV. Now it seems the product is of questionable effectiveness (Trustworthy) and exorbitantly priced (Thrifty). After some 40 years of being told that in unit fundraising, we can't wear uniforms to sell any product, lest it be inferred by the public that the BSA is officially endorsing it, unless of course, the product is the officially endorsed popcorn of questionable quality (Trustworthy) and exorbitantly priced (Thrifty). No, wait...never mind. I see the pattern here. Never mind.

Scout Salute to a brother Eagle to be. This illustrates the admonition that "your project plan should be written in such detail that if something happens to you, someone else can pick it up and complete it as written."

It's available on Amazon for cheap. 2 day shipping if you have Prime.

Just saw the commercial again several times on Fox News. The front and center Scouter is a Professional (as determined by a square knot and position patch). I guess that makes it an official endorsement. Thanks to T2Eagle for the analysis above. I will stick with Dawn liquid at a small fraction of the cost.

In my day, Districts held individual Camporees. When all districts camped together, it was a Camporall. When they got to be over 1200 campers, they were too unwieldy and discontinued. Scout O Ramas and "Scout Shows" are also a thing of the past. WHatever they call this STEM event, it sounds like fun. As long as it doesn't replace actual "camping'.

Non-members are permitted IF they are prospective members. Girls cannot be prospective members of Boy Scout Troops. End of discussion. Keep in mind, however, that you will probably lose this family if challenged. Your move. (My opinion is this ASM should have better sense. A 14 year old should not require 'babysitting", unless she has a "history" of needing constant supervision)

You can always replace your Eagle credentials, and it will come back with current signatures on it. If it's important to him, I would give it a year or so and try it.

It was recently reported in my area (Virginia) that there is an increase in a tick borne virus that causes a lifelong allergy to red meat.

Also keep in mind that some badges are not suited to younger or smaller kids. Things such as rowing, shotgun, lifesaving, etc require more stamina and upper body strength.

Our local AAA team does this also. It is a Council event and any registered scout can attend, regardless of whether his troop does or not.

There are also patch collector groups on Facebook who may be able to help.

Most camps have a first or second year camper program...ours was called "Finish First" and focused on T-2-1 skills for the first half of the day. I would strongly recommend the younger scouts do that, plus one or two other MB like Swimming. Scouts who are already first class should have free rein, but should not be allowed to just "hang out" for the week. Too much free time can lead to unpleasantness.

Zanfel. Yep, that was it. I thought using BSA uniforms and trademarks for commercial purposes was strictly prohibited???

So, I just caught a glimpse of a commercial for a Poison Ivy remedy and when they said "as used by the military and the Boy Scouts of America" and featured uniformed scouter (a commissioner, I think) it grabbed my attention. So, has the BSA started endorsing commercial products? I only saw it once and didn't catch the name of the product.

Bravo!

Would make a good episode for Undercover Boss.

Ahh...merit badges. Well, as the program was designed back in the day, the earning of merit badges was supposed to be an individual effort (or in more modern times, with a buddy). It fosters the "Adult Association" method whereby a Scout (not Mom) is expected to a) identify a MB of interest, b) tell his SM and ask for a blue card and a referral to a Counselor from the District-approved list, c) the SCOUT (not Mom) calls the counselor and sets up an appointment to meet...etc. There are obviously some MB that are "summer camp" badges, such as Wilderness Survival, and the Aquatics. The badges that can be done anywhere else, should be, in my opinion (Citizenships, First Aid, Cooking, etc.). The idea was that the MB Counselor was an "expert" in the field, either by vocation or avocation...not Timmy's mom who volunteered to do 5 different badges for "Troop XX only" (I hate seeing that on the District List). As others have noted, Troop meetings should be primarily for the purpose of planning the next monthly outing, and developing scout skills for advancement, not sitting in MB "classes". Boys sit in class all day long...if you make them also do it in the evenings and on weekends, you will lose them.