scoutldr

C'mon, eisely. Those Chinese children are doing the best they can.

Math, science and computer nerds...isn't that what Exploring is for? I'm sooo confused.

I wish someone would call ME a jerk...at least that way I would know they were listening and getting the message.

Thank goodness for pedantic book-thumpers. There has been a void here that needed filling. The problem is, we need "book(s)-thumpers". God forbid they should put all relevant rules, requirements and information in one location.

Abel....first of all, welcome to the campfire. My first impression of your letter is that, while I agree with most of it, it's way too long. A CEO doesn't have time to read that much. Take three key messages and put them on a one page letter...three paragraphs max. That being said, I think you are tilting at windmills. THe only real power we have as volunteers is our wallets and our participation. If you feel that strongly, just don't buy the stuff. If enough of us do that, they will get the message. If your UC or DE want to know where your uniforms are, tell them "Beijing, and they're gonna stay there". And before Ed beats me to it, "Uniforms are not required".

That statement is in there because there is NO requirement for reference letters. The requirement is on the Eagle Application..."list the names of people who WOULD BE WILLING to serve as a reference". You can't MAKE them send one in. And it doesn't say it has to be a letter. Could be a phone call or face to face conversation. If your council is requiring letters received by the 18th birthday, they are adding to requirements and would probably be overturned on appeal. Furthermore, of all the EBOR I have been involved in, the SCOUT merely provides the names...the CC takes care of requesting the references. (We do Unit EBOR with a District rep present).

Why don't you put the SE on the spot...call or e-mail him/her and tell him what you told us...that you are planning for next year's camp and havce been unsuccessful at finding timely information on the Council website, and does he have any suggestions for you. Otherwise, scratch them off the list and keep looking.

It's an epidemic of narcissism. Not to hijack this into a political discussion, but I firmly believe that's what swept the current Administration into power, and I see it in all ages, from my teenage nieces and nephews to my 78 year old MIL. "Someone else" should give me what I want.

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone. And John, I may try that soup tomorrow...rehearsal is at 1600 with dinner after at a local seafood restaurant, so all I have to do is show up with the checkbook. She's a little better tonight...fever is gone, but the body aches have set in...and real congested. Hope for the best...

"We vote at an Eagle BOR, don't we?" Actually, no. Not in our district. The chair asks, "anyone have any concerns?".

Thanks, Lisa. The Doc did a "rapid flu test" and a strep test, since she had "the worst sore throat I've ever had". Flu test was positive, and they are not doing further serotyping, because it's ALL H1N1 right now. The regular flu has not showed up yet. He did say if anyone else in the house gets sick to just stay home and NOT go to the Dr. They are doing vaccinations in the schools, but hers is the last on the list...some 3 weeks away. It will probably be too late by then, because her clinic has been full every day this week. I really don't understand the sudden shortage in vaccine...just a few weeks ago we were being told there was plenty and not to worry... We had the same publicity (and absence policy) here...if you're sick, stay home and don't go back until you are fever-free for 24 hrs without meds. But some people just will NOT do it. Some of the kids never make it to the classroom...get off the bus and go straight to the clinic with a fever. I don't know if it's stupidity, or cluelessness, or they just don't care. I suspect all three. I just don't get it. She swears she will be at the wedding come hell or high water...we'll see. We may all be wearing masks in the wedding pictures...talk about memories! Thanks for all the good wishes...and keep up the hand-washing and sneeze etiquette!(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Well, I knew it would happen. SWMBO, the school nurse, is down hard with swine flu...oops, I mean "Novel H1N1 flu"...don't want to hurt the pork industry, dontcha know. Woke up yesterday with a sore throat and temp rose steadily through the day to 102. Dr confirmed and prescribed Tamiflu. Just in time for #2 son's wedding this weekend and Friday rehearsal dinner that we (I mean, ME) are hosting. A special thanks to all those parents whose kids were sick with 101 fevers, but put them on the bus anyway, hoping no one would notice. Really appreciate it. Put her and her 78 year old mother with severe COPD at risk, not to mention ruining my son's wedding. But at least they didn't miss a day of work and made someone else deal with their sick kid. Did I mention my wife doesn't have any sick leave, because she's always having to take her mother to the Dr. Of course, H1N1 shots aren't available. One location had people lining up at 12:30 am for a 9-12 am clinic...then at 10 am, they ran out of the 200 doses they had available. Talk about some pissed off people.

I agree, nothing wrong with your process, that I can see. If the "District Commissioner" is not a registered leader in your Unit, he doesn't get a vote...or even an opinion. Tell him that your "boy-led" troop is going to Blue Ridge (a great camp, BTW) and you're going to miss him. Truth be told, he's probably being badgered by the SE to get all his units to go the local Council camp. Been there, done that.

Welcome, Jeff-O. We started out the same way...it's a long, hard climb, but well worth it!

I think what everyone is saying is "don't make life any harder than it needs to be." A small group of like-minded adults ought to be able to play nice and figure it out. Ya wanna see anal-retentive decision making, go to a PTA convention...sheesh. They have a full time professional parliamentarian in the room.

There is no BSA rule. I guess the PLC can implement such a rule, as long as the CO is good with it. In that case, I think the SM can assign "an alternative leadership role" to the young man, at the SM's discretion.

Well, I have a problem with a Unit Committee being hijacked by a bunch of "parents" who come to a meeting prepared with index cards to force a vote. They need to be politely told that, while welcome to sit and observe the meeting, the business of the Pack/Troop is the domain of the registered leaders, duly approved and authorized by the CO and the BSA to run things. If they don't like the way things are, submit an application and they can have my chair, and the BS that goes with it. They may be asked to serve on an ad hoc committee (or "working group" or "task action team", etc) to do WORK, like a fundraising project or Pinewood Derby, or B&G...but they are not the "Decider". That's the CC.

Legalistics aside, I am under the impression that the only path to NCS is if your COuncil sends you and pays for it. Individual unit leaders just can't sign up and go.

Yeah, it took a while to get our heads wrapped around it...and some never did. While we trusted the Executive, the thought of "unlimited power" was hard to accept...we had "fiduciary responsibility", dontcha know! (which Carver said was BS). One of the things Carver suggested was whittling down our Board from 18 to about 6 members. With limited time available (we were all volunteers), by the time we went around the table and everyone had their say on each issue, not much else got done. Everyone felt obligated to "contribute" to the discussion, even if to rehash or reiterate or agree, using different words. That's the danger of "consensus" decision making...it can take a lot longer than just a straight up or down vote. Unit committees can take a lesson from that. Maybe more "ad hoc committees" and fewer "Pack committee members" around the table to streamline things. I definitely would not open the meetings to anyone who feels they need to be there...as a practical matter. Too many opinions are not always a good thing.

Welcome to our campfire! You will get lots of advice here. Has anyone had training? I will start out by saying that I'm not clear on how the CM can influence boys one way or the other? Cubbing happens in the dens...the CM's primary job is to emcee the Pack Meeting, and to recruit and mentor the Den Leaders. Den Leaders run their dens and the Committee runs the business and planning end. As CC, you are in charge, and should NOT be "running the Webelos". So, my first bit of advice is to get everyone trained and then running in their own lanes, and NO multiple roles...there are enough jobs to fill so that everyone can have one. Contact your Unit Commissioner and ask for an objective assessment and guidance...that's their job and it's your job to ask them. Good luck...

To offer a different perspective, I recently completed a 6 year term on the Board of my national professional accreditation board. Almost my entire term was spent on transitioning the Board Governance to the "Carver Policy Governance Model" (you can google it). Basically, the model advocates a strong executive, empowered to do whatever he/she feels is necessary ("means") to achieve the policies and vision established by the Board ("ends"). It was stressed to us that Board time should be spent establishing overall goals, visions, and guidelines, rather than spend time "voting" to approve the minutes, or the budget, or approving expenditures, or, God forbid, getting wrapped up in Robert's Rules. The Executive is empowered to do anything that is not specifically prohibited by Board policy, such as hire and fire employees, raise dues, send out newsletters, form ad hoc committees (NOT board members, etc. The Board, meanwhile, is pontificating on lofty goals, such as building membership, increasing value to the public and stakeholders, etc., and communicating those goals to the Executive, whose compensation is tied to meeting those goals. (well, in our case, forget the compensation part!) Committee work is NEVER done at Board meetings...that is where results are reported. (a common flaw I see at District meetings). Anyway...don't know if this is relevant or not...but I would hate to see Unit committees waste time dictating "process" when they should be dictating "results", and let the process up to those whose job it is (CM, DL, etc).

They will, however, allow you to buy all the souvenirs you can carry at vastly inflated prices. I usually wait for the clearance sales on www.scoutstuff.org

At the rate we're going, we'll be like 3rd world countries where the electricity only flows for 3 hours a day. How's that for incentive? UNfortunately, Americans do not react to threats...they won't do anything until they find themselves cold and in the dark.

Visiting for the day does not sound appealing. Most of your time will be spent parking, walking to and from parking, and fighting crowds, which will be huge. Also, not sure if shuttle buses will be available for visitors, or just paid attendees...do your homework first. Not MY cup of tea. But then, I live 20 miles from Busch Gardens, and don't go there, either. (Kings Dominion is a lot closer to AP Hill).

"but dropped the idea of insurance that covered every visit to the doctors office, routine vaccination etc and handled that ourselves." I suggested that several days ago. That will never pass muster by the Liberals (like my MIL), who think that "someone else" should pay for everything and "we" should not have to pay anything. I think we are moving that direction anyway. The Democrats are right...the current trend is not sustainable...but the solution is to let the free market decide. We'd be amazed at how many MRI's are no longer "necessary" if the patient balks at paying $5000 for each one out of pocket. And if Docs are no longer able to pass the cost of the machine off to the Insurance companies and quit buying them, I'll bet the cost of the machines will drop. Simple supply and demand. Econ 101. Brings an analogy to mind...the Speedy Muffler place where I always got my car inspected (and always passed), got a new "laser headlight alignment" gizmo. Lo and behold, every time I took my car in after that, the headlights needed aligning, or they wouldn't pass it. Took my car to another inspection place and it passed, just fine. Haven't been back to Speedy since. Their loss, not mine.