scoutldr

There is also another option open to girls now...American Heritage Girls. Are Campfire Girls still around? I think it is a common theme running rampant through society now...the entitlement attitude of "I want what you have and you need to accommodate me." There is no prohibition on forming your own organization like Baden Powell, Lady B-P, Ernest Thompson-Seton and Juliette Low did back in the day. It's hard. It's a lot of work. Just like it always has been.

If a Scout has no belief in a "higher power" or whatever the politically correct terminology du jour is that satisfies "A Scout is Reverent", the Eagle board is not the place to be questioning it for the first time. Likewise, if he had blue cards that had not been properly approved, the troop committee did not do its job when awarding the merit badge. Once the badge is awarded, it cannot be nullified. As the current SM, your job is to work with your Committee to fix the process.

I have sat on EBOR as the District rep. At the conclusion of each one, the Committee Chair, almost without exception, calls the young man back in the room and says "Congratulations, you are now an Eagle Scout." In one case, he was going to Philmont within a week or two, and wanted to wear the Eagle patch on his uniform. I see nothing wrong with that. It's not like he will be hauled up before the "Stolen valor" inquisition.

Thank you Terry, for your efforts!

What is your age and location (city, state)?

I've read in this forum before, from those who know much more about it than I, that all Councils are independent corporations. Seems like that water is sure muddy. I'm guessing it's so they can sheild National from liability when it's convenient to do so.

A troop that's organized into patrols of about 8 boys, who elect their own PL. The PLs comprise the PLC, led by the SPL. The SM's main function is to train and mentor the SPL. The SPL trains and mentors the PLs. The PLC develops the annual plan and the SPL presents it to the Troop Committee for approval. Upon approval, the PLC executes the plan.

Welcome!

When our Pack was meeting at the local elementary school, as Cubmaster, I made sure the school library had a current BL subscription and copies of all the BSA handbooks in the library. Most of the time, I paid for it myself. My dentist's office also has BL in the waiting room.

I'm just guessing here, but the Unit Accident insurance covers individual registered MEMBERS and is always secondary to their own health insurance. The insurance charged for events (even training sessions I put on) is liability insurance for the council. For instance, if the custodian trips over the pinewood derby track on Saturday morning and breaks a leg and they sue the Council. When you use a venue that is not Council property, you usually have to show proof of insurance for the event.

When in doubt, I always would ask the Scout. "It says 'do X, Y, Z. Did you do that'" "Could you do it with a little more effort"? Usually, they could...and did.

But we did a good job of beating it to death, didn't we?

Sounds like donors didn't make good on their pledges.

Thanks, Eagle94-A1. That's exactly what I meant. If a scout has special needs that affect his ability to advance, that needs to be brought up to the Council Advancement Committee. In my own troop, we had a scout who was 16 before he passed the Swimmer's test at camp. His handicap? He just "didn't like" the water. We would not bend and he eventually made it. Boy was he proud of himself. He is now an Eagle Scout.

They can only play games from that day's "approved list". OMG.

I respect anyone who spent 5 years as a DL. Toughest job in Scouting, IMHO.

Most people I know are put off by the fact that it's not been shifted to a Monday like all the other holidays to enable a long weekend.

"An advancement example is jumping feet 1st into water over your head and swimming 25 feet, it does not say you can't have a flotation device on." Oh, come on, seriously? I am a former aquatics instructor and WSI certified. The intent of the requirement is to determine who can SAFELY participate in aquatics activities. This particular requirement demonstrates that IF a scout falls into the water, he can safely come back to the surface and make it to safety WITHOUT having to wear a PFD all the time. WHen you start parsing the requirements that affect health and safety, I have to object.

So sorry for your loss...and our loss. Scout Salute for her service to youth.

I have to disagree with Fred. "Do Your Best" is the Cub scout motto. In Boy Scouting it is "do the requirement"...no more, no less.

My understanding was that any deviation from requirements due to medical reasons had to be approved by the Council Advancement Committee who would agree on an "alternate" set of requirements with the unit leaders and parents. Many times, I have had cases where the parents (and scout) wanted a "pass" on certain requirements and when push came to shove, the scout was able to complete it as written with extra effort and perseverance. Believe me, you would not have seen a prouder scout when he finally achieved the goal.

So, Hedgehog, you don't use the Buddy System in your troop? I would be worried, too.

Copying this from a Facebook post. CVC is my neighboring council and Bayport is a relatively new camp which replaced Camp Chickahominy which became surrounded by residential development. Located on a river, Bayport had one of the finest aquatics programs in the region. Last year we were informed that our council camp, Bayport Scout Reservation (http://www.bayportsr.org) was in in jeopardy of being closed due to its financial burden to the council. Since this time, the situation has only grown worse, now not only is the camp in serious peril but the council, our family, operations are also at an all-time low. Yes Bayport is the camp, the home, for CVC and that home is in danger – but more importantly the family is in danger. The family is the core, a home can be relocated – the family must be saved or a home is useless. The problem has become so dire that we had to turn the deed to the camp and council office building over to the lien holder. Furthermore the National leadership is considering dissolving our council, our family, and splitting us into other groups. The bank has not decided what they are going to do with the deed; they too do not want to see the family fall apart. So we still have a chance to save the family and also maybe, with enough support also save the house our camp. We earnestly need donors that will help us to not lose our scouting family and if possible our scouting family’s home. After a careful review of the books, our goals are; 1. Raise a minimum of $60,000 by the end of November 2015 for the operating costs of providing our scouting program – to keep the family strong. 2. Attempt to raise $380,000 by the end of November 2015 to go to the operating costs with the hope that National will recognize this effort and save the family. 3. Attempt to ultimately raise $6 million as quickly as possible to save not only the family but to pay off the capital loan, thus saving the camp – our home. All reading this can help in a couple of ways; 1) Donate, whatever you can $1, $10, $100 to the CVC Friends of Scouting (FOS) campaign. Every dollar gets us “one†step closer. To donate, you can send a check to Colonial Virginia Council at 11721 Jefferson Ave, Newport News Va. 23606 or on line at,https://cvcboyscouts.doubleknot.com/event/1538149. But more importantly, 2) Raise awareness of our situation. Use your social networks to get this word and request for assistance to as many as possible. Place a post on your social pages and reach out to those in your circles that would help if they knew the severity of the problem. But if you are a Scout/Scouter in the CVC I am asking for each of you to “Do a Good Turn†today and be that Scout/Scouter that “helps other people at all timesâ€. There are some simple ways that we can solve this crisis from the grass roots level; 1) Support and actively engage in youth recruitment – the youth is what this is about. 2) Support the Popcorn Sale; it is to us what cookies are to Girls Scouts. 3) Individual Scout Units, BE CREATIVE, it is what we as Scouts/Scouters do best, heck have your unit do a carwash with the proceeds going to FOS or talk to charter organization about sponsoring a fund raising event such as a spaghetti dinner, oyster roast, barbeque, etc. with them furnishing the fixings and you furnishing the labor. 4) Family Friends of Scouting is a great way to support local Scouting; consideration should be given to conducting a presentation in your unit for this year. Contact your District Executive or our Acting Scout Executive to schedule a presentation. Remember that all DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE by using our id number of 54-0505994 which is in good standing with the IRS. The goal remains firm, to serve a growing number of youth in our community with an incredible Scouting program and Scouting experience. On behalf of the 7,000+ scouts just in our Colonial Virginia Council family that you are helping – I want THANK YOU. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. Remember the “Power of Oneâ€, one person, one church, one business, one group, one action… it all starts with one. Please help by being part of the “One that Saves the CVC and Bayport Scout Reservationâ€. With my deepest gratitude, Tommy Volunteer Scouter – Venturing Crew #595

I guess it is their right to do it that way, since all funds and equipment technically belong to them. But then why have a Unit Treasurer?

If you sell popcorn, make sure and do it when the buses are loading...they still have all their money then.