scoutldr

Veeerrrrryyyy interesting.

Hey...don't put that in the .... FOOM! (fire)

A few years ago, our District tried to convince some of our units that they really didn't need more ASM's than they had boys, and maybe some of them could become Unit Commissioners. That wasn't successful, either.

It's my understanding that if a unit charter lapses, or if there is a gap for any reason, the clock starts over. Many units went into "hibernation" over the years (such as during WWII).

Camping Wilderness Survival Swimming Cit in Community First Aid

I'm married...what's this "cash" and "checkbook" stuff y'all are talking about? As to panhandlers...just give them a card with the White House phone number on it.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

After almost 40 years of wearing the uniform, I'm still not sure what a UC is supposed to do. They keep claiming that "we are not spies for the Council". So then they show up with a clipboard and a checklist that they then file with the Council. (DUH...we're not stupid). Any time someone says "I'm from Council and I'm here to help you", I hold on to my wallet and run. No, seriously...I do understand what a UC should do...just never met one who did it. But the above is a WIDELY held perception. And perceptions are reality. When the District Advancement Chair reports to the District Committee..."troop XX has not filed an advancement report in 2 years"...there should be a UC at the next troop committee meeting. And the UC assigned should have enough experience with running units that they can diagnose problems and recommend solutions.

OUR SENIOR EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN SCHOOLED IN THIS NEW PHILOSOPHY WHICH HOLDS THAT AS LONG AS A PERSON IS WELL VERSED IN A FEW SIMPLE RULES OF HOW TO HANDLE PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS, HE NEED NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMS HE IS MANAGING OR THE INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGIES ON WHICH MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE BASED. THIS HAS ALLOWED THE NON-PROFESSIONAL TO ACHIEVE HIGH STATUS AND HIGH PAY WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT. THESE MANAGERS CAN MOVE EASILY FROM ONE POSITION TO ANOTHER WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST PAUSE. AS LONG AS THEIR AREA DOES NOT BECOME A PUBLIC DISASTER, THEY ARE SAFE. IF TROUBLE ERUPTS, THEY ARE LOST; THEY CAN THEN BLAME THOSE BENEATH THEM OR THOSE WHO PRECEDED THEM. ADM Hyman G. Rickover, 1979 (please forgive the all-caps)

At what point do we say "maybe we can no longer afford an SE who makes 150,000 a year" when membership and donations keep falling. Kinda reminds me of Wall St.

Wherever you go...there you are.

I can quit any time I want to...I've done it hundreds of times.

Perhaps membership in OA should be treated more like a POR. Don't accept the title of "Arrowman" if you don't intend to fulfill the responsibilities. I like the idea of discussing OA participation at EBOR. I plan to use that in the future. "I see you're wearing the OA flap of our Lodge. Recite the Obligation for me and tell us what you've done to fulfill the oath."

THe local Lutheran WELS church just built a new bldg and relocated about a half mile down the road from me. I was thinking of either organizing new units there or moving my unit from the Methodist church that doesn't care if we exist or not. Guess I'll forget that idea.

Resistance is futile...

I am also Lutheran...of the ELCA variety. Interesting reading, NW. I would be interested in the source. I also find it interesting that other Christian denominations not only have no objections to Scouting, but embrace it as their youth program, e.g., United Methodists and LDS. Equally interesting to me are the attitudes of the Catholic churches in the area...the one down the street from me will NOT associate with the BSA in ANY way, including allowing us to use rooms for training events. THis is not priest-specific, because the policy doesn't change although the priests do. Meanwhile the one a mile away has an Eagle Scout priest and charters a Pack, Troop and Crew, and all of our District meetings are there. Go figure. No offense to my brothers and sisters here, but in the ELCA, we've always considered the LCMS and WELS as somewhat "weird". At one time, they wouldn't even allow each other the Sacraments.

You might want to check to see if they object to getting text messages. I get charged 25 cents for each one. (I have an old plan, but I don't do texting anyway). NIce idea, though.

b

Poison ivy doesn't go away in the winter. The hairy vines attached to the side of the tree are still there...and poisonous, I think (I've never tested that theory).

I hear ya, SR540...but I think OGE has a good point. I believe cost is also a big roadblock. That's a huge investment in time and money for the fresh-caught Den Leader, who tend to be younger, with small-fry at home and limited budgets. The training may be excellent and I will freely admit, I have not budgeted the time and funds to complete it. But as the "silverbacks" in the movement, we should be coming up with ways to eliminate perceived barriers to training. As the district training guy, I went outside the box and delivered my training on weeknights, when every other district was doing weekends. My courses were always FULL of people from ALL districts who were grateful for the alternative. If we are in the business of "servant leadership", then we need to accomodate our customers, not expect the customer to accomodate us. I like OGE's idea of delivering modules...it's much easier to carve out 2 hours at a time than it is 3 days or a week. That needs further exploring.

So, maybe those skills (WB21) need to be the FIRST training given...before they have to face that first den meeting or troop meeting as "The Leader". For whatever reason, if WB comes too late in one's scouting career to do any good, what's the point? Maybe WB21 should be required to be considered "fully trained" for one's position. (yeah, good luck with that). The key to training is to deliver the right training to the right people at the right time (just in time). I think we do a poor job of that.

HAYYYY! Who you callin' grizzled? Here's an alternate perspective. I have been both "trained and a trainer". In fact I did a stint as the District Training Guy (I don't use the term "Chairman", since I had no committee...I was it). I have been trained as a trainer and have taught adults at the college level, so it's not new to me. But the materials left a lot to be desired. "Stick to the syllabus" was the mantra of one who used to post here. Well, that brought you in within time limits, however, the students left just as bewildered as when they came. Only when we put the "schedule" aside and started having directed discussions (Socratic method) did we start having "learning", but then we went way overtime because they really got into it. They came to NLE wanting to know "what the heck do I do next Tuesday night for my first Den meeting"...not "this is how the Council is funded". The training, as designed, is not a course in human relations, management techniques, or in child psychology. That leads us to the BSA recommended leader selection process. We need to be looking for people who ALREADY possess the desirable qualities of a leader and mentor, since the BSA training will not magically transform them. Too often, leader selection consists of "OK, who wants to be the new Scoutmaster", and the first hand in the air gets it. Then we wonder why we have conflict.

Thanks for the good news. Your DE sounds like a wise and experienced professional. You are lucky as they are rare. Good luck to your son and keep us advised as to his progress.

Moray: (noun) Any of numerous chiefly tropical, brightly colored marine eels of the family Muraenidae that are ferocious fighters and commonly inhabit coral reefs. (As long as we're discussing proper use of the language)

NO, that's NOT what we said. The troop doesn't NEED to do anything upon demand. What would be UNreasonable, however would be to tell the scout "you just missed our quarterly BOR night, so you need to wait 3 more months." In my opinion, it would be reasonable to say "fine, we'll talk to the troop CC and let you know the next possible date" (which, in my troop, could be tonight, or could be next meeting night, depending on adult schedules). BTW, there's nothing that would prevent the scout from saying, "Mr. SM, I'm planning on being ready for my next SMC and BOR in 30 days. Would you mind scheduling those for me?" No sense in waiting till the last minute, then expecting everyone to scramble to meet YOUR deadlines.

Wonder if Sea Scouting is going to mimic the new uniform changes by the US Navy? For example: No more chambray "dungarees". Replaced by a new digital camo work uniform in shades of blue and gray. No more winter blue (aka "Johnny Cash") or summer whites (white shirt and white pants). Replaced by the "black and tan". Khaki shirt and black pants for E-1 through E-6. Chiefs and Officers continue to wear khaki pants. Return of "Service Dress Khaki" for Officers and Chiefs. Khaki coat with shoulder boards, (WWII retro look).