scoutldr

Then there's the elephant in the living room...the fact that if the BSA changed it's policy, the financial fallout from the major denominations withdrawing their support (the LDS and Methodists being the largest), would be a fatal blow.

That's a tough one. As a former District Trainer, I have had a wide range of student abilities, ranging from 18 yo high school students to MDs and PhDs, and all the blue collars and white collars and soccer moms in between. In my professsion, I have had a lot of experience in developing training and teaching adults, so I try not to "talk down" to anyone, but if there are questions, make sure they get answered before they leave, even if it meant "staying after class". It is challenging, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think the BSA materials are at the appropriate level, I just had issues with time...they allowed just enough time to read the syllabus and play the videos. Anything more in depth than that, and we ran overtime.

Aw,c'mon, GW...I've seen torn and tattered ones with covers missing go for only $850.

Hi, Tom and welcome to the campfire. I was a CM for 5 years, back in the early 80's. Things have changed a little, but not much. As I learned it, the CM's primary job is to Emcee the Pack meetings. Attend roundtable every month...if they are done well, you will come away with more ideas than you can use. Same goes for the Den Leaders. Your Pack Committee Chair is really the one who runs the business end of the Pack, along with the committee members. Let them figure out the logistics...you and the Den Leaders deliver the program. Best advice I can give...don't attempt to do everything yourself...recruit good people and let them do their thing. FIrst order of business: yearly planning meeting. Use the published themes for each month or do your own. Also have an active summer planned. Biggest mistake Packs and Dens make is to "take the summer off". The boys are paying for a year-round program. Cub Day Camp and Resident Camp are a must. If you have specific questions, let us know. There's probably a gazillion years of experience here on the forum!

Just a wild guess..."politics".

As we are reminded often, we are guests of Terry, the owner of this private forum. The only rights we have are those which he chooses to grant to us. If we want freedom of speech, we have the right to start our own forum.

Yes, there is an "Igpay Atinlay" strip, as well as "computerese", "Brooklynese", etc. Check eBay. (all unofficial, of course) I once heard a futurist speak at a conference I was attending. He said we are allowing our kids to waste their time studying French, Spanish, German, Latin, etc. In a few short years, most of the world will be speaking either Arabic or Mandarin Chinese.

This horse is dead! Let's move on! My days are filled with heat, humidity, mosquitoes and smoke from the Great Dismal Swamp peat fires. Makes me want to pitch a tent in the backyard and fire up the ole' Dutch oven!

Perhaps it's time to rotate the moderator jobs? I see nothing wrong with spirited debate, as long as it doesn't devolve into personal attacks. Two of our colleagues were "suspended" for a time due to this. One came back immediately following the suspension, another took a long time to come back, but eventually did. The current forum is mild compared to a few years ago. Just remember the British version of the Scout Law..."A Scout is a Friend to all and a Brother to every other Scout." But that doesn't mean we can't disagree without being disagreeable.

Perhaps an "up or out" policy. Of those who pass the ordeal, require active participation in the Chapter/Lodge to become a Brotherhood candidate. Those who do not achieve Brotherhood within a certain time frame (i.e., 2 years) would be dropped from membership and have to start over. I can't tell you how many "flap wearers" we have who are NEVER seen at OA events. Wearing the flap is only for Lodge members "in good standing", but that's not enforced, either.

"And come charter time, don't recharter this individual" Again, the final decision on that is the IH/COR...not the Committee. The committee can only recommend.

I found this on their web site. I plan to send a get well card and enclose a CSP from my council...let's FLOOD the young man with love! Send a "Get Well" Card Thomas Auen is a staff member from the Pahuk Pride NYLT course who is still hospitalized as a result of injuries he suffered when he went to the North shelter at Little Sioux Scout Ranch to warn the Scouts to take cover from severe weather. Please help him on his long road to recovery and send him get well wishes and thanks for his service to the Scouts. Lets flood his room with cards!! Thomas Auen C/O pediatrics Orange 7 Hennepin County Medical Center 701 Park Ave Minneapolis, Minn. 55415

In the "chain of command", the Institutional Head (IH) is the head of the organization which "owns" the scout unit. In most cases the authority is delegated to the "COR", who serves at the pleasure of the IH and who should be the liaison between the unit and the CO. How the COR and IH communicate with each other and the unit and delegate the responsibility is up to them. Both of these individuals are listed on the charter. All of the rest of the unit volunteers are approved by, and serve at the pleasure of, the IH/COR. (not the SM or CC or Unit Committee) In a perfect world, of course. (edited for typos)(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

It's not what I "do"...it's what I "am". Since becoming a Bobcat, circa 1962 and Eagle in 1970.

1910 Society (a device for the West knot?) A special national recognition program known as the 1910 Society was created in 1995 to encourage significant gifts to the council endowment fund. This support is vital to the financial stability of the Council, and will ensure our Scouting legacy for future generations of young Americans. To qualify as a member of the 1910 Society, an individual donor, company, or organization must contribute $25,000 or more to the local council endowment fund. Recognition will be given for gifts of cash, stock, bonds, lead trusts, or other assets that could be readily converted to cash. The gift to endowment may be in the form of a pledge, but the pledge must be paid within five years of the pledge date. The 1910 Society was named for the year in which the early, visionary leaders of Scouting founded the Boy Scouts of America. There are four levels of recognition in the 1910 Society: Ernest Thompson Seton, nationally known artist and naturalist, author of the first official American Scout handbook and many other books important to Scouting; Seton level membership: $25,000 minimum gift. Daniel Carter Beard, first chairman of the National Court of Honor, National Scout Commissioner, and author of many well- known books and stories for youth; Beard level membership: $100,000 minimum gift. Theodore Roosevelt, first Chief Scout Citizen, first vice president of the BSA, and President of the United States; Roosevelt level membership: $500,000 minimum gift. Waite Phillips, one of the BSA's first benefactors, and donor to the BSA of almost 130,000 acres of land in New Mexico and what is now Philmont Scout Ranch; Phillips level membership: $1,000,000 and up. Members receive a leather-bound edition of the Boy Scout Handbook with their name embossed in gold on the cover, an attractive personalized parchment certificate and a distinctive lapel pin or charm. They also receive invitations to special members-only events and receptions at National Meetings, Jamborees, and other major Scouting events.

The WSJ and NJ are just like any other event. The price of admission has to cover not only your expenses, but your share of the "overhead". Someone has to pay for the VIP tents, the free trinkets handed out to visiting dignitaries, the video productions, the expenses of the guest speakers and entertainment, the portapotties, ad infinitum. At $5000 a pop, I won't be going, although I, too am "comfortable" (the Democrats call us "rich"). I am trying to prepare for retirement, pay down my mortgages, pay off my cars, and buy gas and groceries. When I add it all up, the WSJ doesn't make the list, as I'm sure it won't for most of us. I won't be going on a cruise or to the Olympics, either. This year will be a "staycation" in the scoutldr household. (Not even going to summer camp, although not because of money).

I have been an advisor to an election team as well as hosted them in my unit. Once the SM signs the election form, he "certifies" the election and it's a done deal. I, too, have had SMs shake their heads in amazement...but it's not their call. For the record, I have never seen anything other than a written ballot. In recent years, we ask the SM to have them pre-printed with all eligible candidates' names on them. We go to great lengths to explain that it is not a competition...ALL can be elected if deemed worthy. Or NONE can be elected.

I doubt that this is a "National Policy", as it has not been disseminated in my Council. If it is, I continue to be amazed at the ways BSA thinks up to alienate it's customers.

According to what Fred posted, the term "Field Uniform" is no longer used, either. I work in a Navy command. On any given day, you can see all kinds of variations on the "uniform", but regardless of which "uniform" is chosen, it must be worn correctly and completely, down to the shoes, socks and underwear. The most popular now is the "summer khaki", khaki shirt and trousers with collar devices and ribbons. In the winter, they can add a black sweater and/or jacket. The "service dress whites/blues" are reserved for more formal occasions, such as inspections or ceremonies.

I just went through the Mpls airport, and was very careful not to take a wide stance or tap my foot. Ed smooching packsaddle? Oh, the visual...

Like the Eagle, I would say that all requirements must be completed prior to the 18th birthday. The Board of Review can occur after that, but within a reasonable time (like 90 days). If that's wrong, someone will let us know.

I would send them to the Mid-America Council SE. My understanding is that the scouts were from Nebraska and Iowa.

Sorry that my comment caused so much consternation. WHat I meant was, when severe weather threatens during camp (usually severe T-storms), our only response is to pull everyone out of the pool and off the waterfront, and if it doesn't pass in 30 minutes or so, send them back to their campsites...tents in the woods. We do not have ANY structure that would be considered "shelter" from heavy weather other than a heavy rain. But the fact is, these thunderstorms happen usually twice a week on average during July-August. We did send everyone home a day early one year when a hurricane was approaching.

I just watched the live briefing on CNN.com. The SE was asked, "did you give any thought to evacuating the camp, since we knew the storms were approaching out of Nebraska"? I understand he is going through a very difficult time, but his reply was "we camp every month and there are always severe storm warnings. They knew what to do." That's going to be hard for the public to swallow when you have four dead scouts. The reality is we have severe thunderstorms every summer too, and the response is to get everyone out of the water and back to their campsites.

The chapter Advisor/Chief relationship is analogous to the SM/SPL relationship. Has the Advisor tried to actively mentor and develop interest in the Chief? Do they even talk? If it is clear that the Chief is not interested, then talk to the Lodge advisor and remove him from office...just like an SPL who is AWOL. Then as shortridge said, appoint an "Interim Chief" until such time as valid elections can be held. And I agree, if the OA Troop Reps are not even showing up for Chapter meetings, they need to be removed from their POR as well. Good Luck to your son!