ScoutMythBuster

I guess my dilemna is that the parents are not concerned with the crossover as much as the pomp and circumstance of the AOL ceremony. And they boys are getting bored so they are yearning to do Boy Scout things. So, I guess I will talk to the Cubmaster and parents about moving them up in November and having a nice AOL Ceremony in February to make the parents happy.

I have a bit of a pickle here. I have a new Cubmaster, she took over for me so I could focus on the Troop; and she has done a wonderful job planning the year but she never planned the WeBeLoS to Boy Scout / Arrow of Light Ceremony until May of next year. I have six boys ready to cross over next month and the first open night we have for it is February. I could just hand out the award but I feel to not do a special ceremony leesens its importance. Would it be fair and acceptable to cross them over into the Troop in November and do the official Crossover in February? I would of course apply for their AOL now, wait a week and hand in the crossover application. I would just present it February. My concern is that they are getting board and they are ready to move up.

Let's face it - September - October - November is shot for most of us. I hate the idea but the first weekend of December would probably be ideal for Training. It would give us time to recruit new leaders, get them situated with their YPT and have them with BSA ID Numbers. It would allow everybody to have a chance to catch their breath and not be overwhelmed.

And before anybody asks, yes I have submitted this idea multiple times.

@ Basementdweller

My Council has it set up that way. Popcorn return day is actually the same day as UoS and they are in two opposite ends of the Council at the same time. That is why I wonder if they know how to use calendars.

Pet peeve of mine for the past few years and I am curious if anybody else experiences this.

September, we spend the month organizing,recruiting and preparing for 5 weekends of popcorn sales. October is Popcorn (for us) with 1 weekend off before two weeks collecting food for the needy. Our Council has been using this 1 weekend off for University of Scouting!? There are 6 or 7 months with barely anything on the District or Council Calendars. This leads me to the conclussion that they cannot read calendars.

Any thoughts or comments?

Don't know; but what I am catching grief over is basically being a "whistle blower". When I see practices that seem out of place I say something. And the DE gets upset because others who were afraid to speak out speak out now.

Not yet. Since so many things are not in writing with the BSA I thought I would the brains of the fine people here and get some experienced guideance.

My question is, will a Council redraw the lines of a District for this ?

In our case it is city vs city. Our neighborhoods are very seperated and territorial. In my case, we are on the border of a neighboring District. Their Roundtable is 5 minutes away vs 30. Plus the closest units to mine are in the other District, 2 miles away instead of 15 miles.

In our ever changing world Councils and Districts are constantly merging and lines are changing. We just had a District Level Merger and all of the units near me are in a different district. I know I can go to whatever Roundtable I wish but I would prefer to go to my own District's. That being said; is there anyway for my unit to join another District officially. This is not for political reasons, head butting or anything else. It is 100% based on geographic location.

@The Blancmange

First, thank you for that very clear reply. As the OP, it was Item# 2 and I thought it seemed extreme. I would like to find this in text because I have heard this type of strong arming in many Districts and a few Councils now. Thanks for everybody's help.

@The Blancmange

I was told, in NO uncertain terms that organizing units to go elsewhere would be considered mutiny and I would be immediately dismissed by my DE. I don't believe that he has the authority. I also enjoyed the fact that he used the Military Term of Mutiny since he has constantly reminded me that we are not a military type organization. (LOL)

Thank God! I felt alone in this boat.

I have had my BSA membership threatened and told it was within the SE and DE's authority to do so. I have checked every publication I can find but the only person I found that has the ability to do so is the COR. Unless there is a youth protection violation (criminal act) involved.

Professionals get their pet projects, and even long time volunteers; they run a committee so long that it becomes kingdom. They believe this tenure grants them (in their egos) king like powers. From time to time situations need to be re-evaluated from the outside just like many corporations do.

A little more specific:

A cubmaster disagrees with a location for a council event. Many people disagree with the location but since it is all individual voices they are silenced and told only they dislike the location. When one person decides to get a petition started they are told by their DE that they are wrong for organizing the voices to show that it is not one person but many. The DE threatens to remove the person from BSA even though the volunteer is still willing to support the event and help at the event to make it successful. The reason why the volunteer did this is because less than 40% of the units can either actually get to the event or to travel that far.

Who and under what circumstances can a volunteer be dismissed. I know for a violation of Youth Protection. Any other circumstances?

Thank you all so much for all of the feedback. I shared everything here with my son which prompted him to draw up a proposal for his project before takin it to the advancement committee. He took instead to our DE who is on the AC for a read through. He made suggestions, so my son took the suggestions I made, the DE made and all of the ones here to heart as he started the Eagle Work Book.

PS - thank you for any help you can provide, the people here are always honest and helpful. Especially to a new Scoutmaster like myself.

I have all of the text requiring Eagle Projects and my own son came to me with his proposal. He is 14 and just made Life. I just wanted to get some feedback before he proceeds on planning to see if anybody finds this objectionable as a project since I have an advancement committee, both council and district level that is inconsistent.

Our chartered organization is a Catholic Church, the building is over 160 years old and has beuatifully preserved oak doors that stand 15 feet tall. A parishioner restored the doors finish about 8 years ago but neglected all of the brass fixtures (ei - the kick guards, pull handles, ect.) For the past few years at Christmas time our Scouts clean and polish all the brass so it looks nice for the holidays. My son noted how the hardware is actually breaking down from age, fitment has become poor and that the brass is thinning in some areas from age.

With that being said, he wants his Eagle project to be removing all of the brass, filling the holes in the doors with dowels and wood glue, cleaning the brass front and back with Brasso, and using some sort of metal sealer that is used in bars and military installations (which he has already researched) coat the brass to prevent the need for constant cleaning which is wearing the metal down. The plan also includes all new hardware for attaching these pieces. We are discussing a total 20 doors and each door has 2 kick plates measuring 3 foot by 2 foot plus 2 pull handles that are almost 22 inches tall with a 32 inch backing plate.

I know when they are polished it really looks nice and adds to the beauty of our chartered organization. He has already done a rough proposal, acquired MSDS sheets, enlisted volunteers and he feels that this is Eagle worthy. Being first a dad I dont want him to be rejected, our advancement committee is not always clear and it seems they have their peeves and their concepts are not always up to date. Secondly, as a new Scoutmaster; I want to be sure if I tell him to prepare his proposal I do not want him to waste his time on something that does not fit the requirement.

Our Troop is 2 years old, just reformerd after being gone for 12 years and if successfull he will be our first Eagle in 15 years (first in this newly reformed troop).

My youngest is a Bear. I constantly check my online charger through ScoutNet. I actually use it as my Attendance Sheet. He has disappeared off of my charter 7 times in three years. Mysteriously pops up in different Packs. I first discovered this when a buddy of mine who is a Cubmaster in a neighboring Pack said" I got your boy on my Charter, I expect my parents to help out"

A uniform is a uniform. There are dos and don'ts. When I was in the service if you did not wear all of your ribbons and your dress or service uniforms you were considered out of uniform. My question is: "if you have earned a knot should it be on your uniform?" I have recieved different answers but no explanation. So what are your opinions my fellow scouters?

3M makes an adhesive cleaner that works wonders and does not stain.

Ok, let's start with a little clarification. The "knife incident" cumilated with the mentioned scout waving his knife ate other scouts in a threatening matter. The father stated it was his son's right to do this. If this was a school situation it would be on a permament record or something. I really hate speculation, and when I give facts I give facts. I left this a little vague because I was told it is how I should do things on the forums.

In regards to ScoutNut, no this isn't hypothetical. Yes the incident happened a year ago. The troop just moved into the area temorarily waiting for its new home and the youth just joined that troop.

The incident involved the boy, a knife and his parent creaming at the other scouts for speaking out about improper knife handling. And yes it was repoted to the Unit Commissioner, DE and SE.

I have found the 11 and 12 years to be great DC's and a very powerful recruitment tool. They are older enough to be seen as youth leaders but closest enough in age for the boys to relate to them.