scoutldr

But we ARE on the Homeland Security watch list as "right wing extremists" now...I'm surprised they let you have a checking account...all that Popcorn money could buy a lot of AK-47s.

The only thing you can sell to Cubbies is "fun". They don't care a whit about Trustworthy, etc. WHat do we do in Cub SCouts??? WE HAVE FUN!!! The fire truck idea is a good one. My BIL drove an 18-wheeler...one of my best den meetings is when I had him bring his truck to my house in the cul-de-sac (he had to back it in)...then we opened the doors and turned 'em loose. Even tilted the cab forward to show them the engine and check the oil, blow the air horn, etc. My neighbors hated me.

Safety

A Scout is courteous.

Of the things you list, Eagle92, my opinion is that those are the Commissioners' jobs. I do agree that "healthy committee" is a shared responsibility of the District Key 3. THe DE needs to ensure the District is staffed with volunteers to deliver the program...then go focus on new units and new money.

"But what if it is the PL or SPL who does not get up?" Time to have a SM Conference and remind them what the "R" in "POR" means. Being a successful leader means that you do what you need to do when you need to do it.

I assume it means "End of Year". It's a great idea, but I would call it something else. We don't want people to think that Scouting is not a year-round program.

I recommend you contact your local Council. They will find a spot for him, hopefully with an experienced unit who can handle the "challenges" of a first year camper (homesickness, etc). Over the years, we have had a number of provisionals camp with us. Never had a bad experience. In fact, one of them is now a HS senior and participated in one of our Eagle projects yesterday. Shortridge and I were typing at the same time...and the same answer! Great minds think alike!(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

WOO HOO! As someone famous once said, "Pity da fool dat shuts down for da summer"

Eamonn stole my comment...you can't hold people responsible for things they don't control For example, my DE has no control over whether I attend RT or not. And adjectives such as "healthy" and "engaging" are not useful, unless there are measurable outcomes. THe DE should be doing the following: 1. Meeting with prospective new COs in the District and "selling" the program to them. 2. Meeting with prospective FOS corporate donors and "selling" the program to them. 3. With the other members of the District Key 3, recruiting and training functioning members of the District Committee. 4. Advising the District Chair on Council goals and assisting him/her in developing a Vision for the District. Then get out of the way and let the Volunteers carry it out.

Our camp is rented out to other groups, and sometimes we're asked to volunteer to help. I don't think the council offers "program", though. We do have a series of "specialty weekends" for scouts, usually resulting in a MB.

IF they agree to hear the case. That's a big IF.

As our DE used to drill into us, "Parents are paying for a year-round program and that's what they should be getting". Doesn't matter if it's a Pack, Troop, Crew or Ship...there is nothing that says units should "shut down" over the summer. It's a proven phenomenon that you'll lose members that way. Keep them engaged and active. Summer camp/Day Camp just counts as the outdoor activity for that month.

This may be an urban legend, but I've always heard that the UW predetermines how much each organization will get. Your designated donation only counts if the total of all the designated donations exceeds the predetermined amount. Based on that, and I don't know if it's true or not, I have always donated to FOS and used UW (or CFC for us feds) to donate to other charities. I would donate directly (and I do), but it gets the people at work off my back...they like to have 100% "participation". Once the council gets the money, it really doesn't matter...it all goes in the same pot.

Here's the test. IF they did away with the beads, necker and woggle, would people still sign up? How about just a pocket training card and a handshake? If WB is really worth the experience, shouldn't make a difference, right? Or are they just in it for the status symbol doodads? I used to be just a Scouter...and still am.

Not sure I trust any site that lists Wikipedia as a reference.

In my way of thinking, an adult can only show up on the charter IF: 1. They are recruited and agree to serve. 2. They sign and submit an adult leader application, with SSN. 3. The COR and CC approve the application by signing it. 4. The appplication is forwarded to Council with appropriate fees. 5. The Council subjects the applicant to a National criminal background check with a positive result. Someone please explain to me how all that can happen without the applicant's knowledge and consent. To do anything else is fraud, plain and simple.

So, if I understand the Beav correctly...if I robbed a bank and did hard time, the BSA should still approve my application since it was not in a "scouting context"? OK, I'll stipulate to the idea that a DUI may not technically be a YP issue if it occured outside of scouting. But I do think it's a reason to reassess the perp's suitability for membership.

"In this country, 36,000 people die each year from whatever influenza strain is prevelent that year, which works out to nearly 100/day" And those stats are for strains that have vaccines and much of the population has immunity. For this strain, there is NO vaccine and NO immunity in the population. I remember the "swine flu" scare of 1975. If this one fizzles out like that one did, it will be all over by July. If not, we're in for a long siege. Things in our favor...most schools will be closed for the summer. More people will be outside and not "in close contact" indoors. A friend of mine works as an ER admitting clerk. She said they were "very busy" with patients last night thinking they had swine flu. Sheesh. My wife is a school nurse, and she sends home kids every day with 101-102 fevers that the narcissistic parents send to school anyway, because their jobs are more important than their kids. It's not the flu that's going to kill us. It's the morons who refuse to play by the rules. Regarding face masks...the CDC has said that masks are ineffective against the virus due to virus particle size. Being an expert in that, I agree..but the mask WILL filter out the spit and snot droplets that people sneeze on you. I think the politicians just don't want everyone walking around with masks on...bad for the public image, ya know. If you do buy a mask, look for "N95" or "N100" efficiency. Dust masks from Walmart, surgical masks and bandanas are not much use, except to keep YOU from spitting on someone. Bottom line is: wash hands at every opportunity. Do not touch your face, nose or eyes. Get away from people who appear sick. If YOU feel sick, STAY HOME and call your doctor...DO NOT clog up the emergency room, unless your Dr tells you to go. If your kid is sick, KEEP THEM HOME. Is a day at work worth someone's life???

So, how do you decide which "other" pack to foist them upon? That's just transferring the problem. We do that all the time in the Gov, because no one has the guts (nor the time to invest) to fire anyone.

What we are discussing here is the demise of a culture of common sense and etiquette. And I, for one, despise it. Whether the issue is cell phones, smoking, following the rules of the road, business ethics, social graces, or whatever. We have become and are raising the next generation of narcissistic, rude, hedonistic and disagreeable organisms, who think of nothing other than "what's in it for my pleasure" and "anything's ok if you don't get caught". Sad. Really sad...and scary. Animalistic behavior.

"A large percentage of our adults who would meet the eligibility criteria are already Arrowmen from their youth. So far as I know no more than one or two take any active role in the local chapter or lodge. Most still wear their pocket flap from their youth lodge." Just for the record, we all know this is inappropriate, right? Arrowmen should only wear the lodge flap of the lodge they are CURRENTLY dues-paying members of. Now with the Uniform Cop comment out of the way... Does your troop have an OA Representative (youth POR)and an adult counterpart/advisor (ASM)? Sounds like these guys need to do a better job of promoting OA within the unit. During the PLC annual planning conference, are OA events planned into the Troop calendar (or at least planned around to avoid conflict)?

Interesting analogy. And point well taken. Having earned my WSI at age 18 and more recently, BSA Lifeguard Counselor, I spent literally hundreds of hours in the pool under the watchful eye of people better at the skill than me before I was given my teaching credentials. More often than not, I went home tired, sore and bruised. Not only did I have to execute every stroke and rescue nearly perfectly, I also was judged on my teaching ability. Are we doing the same for the Scouters we charge with teaching Leadership?

I never really gave it much thought. I ask Johnny, "do you have a ride home", and he says "my Grandpa is picking me up". If I get a chance, I go over and introduce myself to Grandpa, so then we know each other. Not sure why you would need anything else. Now if there is a bitter custody battle going on, the mom might say "under no circumstances is Johnny to go home with his dad". Ok...but it's her responsibility to let us know there are restrictions, and we will do our best to accomodate it.

Curious...welcome to the campfire. You picked a good thread to jump in on! The BSA has membership requirements for all registered leaders. You must agree to the Declaration of Religious Priniciple. You must not be an avowed homosexual. You must pass a criminal background check. YOu must be wanted and approved by the Chartering Organization. If you don't pass the first three, the last one doesn't matter. I really don't know what the criteria are for a background check. Is one DUI conviction ok? Two? Only the SE and National know the answer to that. I still say the proper course is to alert the SE, then see what happens. IF the SE allows membership to continue, THEN the CO and unit committee have a decision to make. If the SE revokes membership, then your're done. As stated above, he can appeal for reinstatement at the appropriate time.