SeattlePioneer

It's all to easy to lose track of paperwork of any kind, in my experience. I have to be quite disciplined in order to avoid losing track of bits of paper.

<<He said "homosexual sodomy." There you are, eating lunch (actually probably finishing up dessert at that point) in a very nice setting (it was actually in a museum) with a bunch of very well-dressed people (mostly lawyers) and the words "homosexual sodomy" go floating by. From a Supreme Court justice no less. I am fairly certain I have never heard those words at lunch before. >> Nothing wrong with that, in my view. Indeed, it's an example of Standard English. He was describing a particular kind of human behavior in polite terms. Just what I'd expect from

<< SP, I proposed that our Klondike program consist of events each "sponsored" by a troop, I called a meeting and invited each interested troop to send its SPL and a Scouter. The units that came with the most complete proposals were our better troops, and we had, and have had since, no problem presenting a day of events that are operated very well. That process has gone on for twenty-five years. (How time flies !!), complete with an elected event "SPL." Are they clear that you only want them to operate one event?>> Sounds like this is an idea that has promise, but

Right now I'm trying to track down a 2015 pack membership a parent said they made in early March to the Cubmaster. He doesn't remember receiving such a payment. The payment was apparently a check. I've asked the parent to send me a copy of the check if it was cashed, and a replacement check if it wasn't. This has generated eight or ten e-mails so far.

My experience is that the first day of Cub Scout Day Camp is pretty chaotic. Part of that is due to the lack of suitable gathering activities boys can join in while adults sort out paperwork issues. These would need to be used before dens are formed and boys are usually running around and creating problems. Any ideas?

Our district is coming off an extended period of weak leadership. As Day Camp Program Director, I'm looking for ways of organizing and staffing a quality program. What I'd like to do is to encourage strong units in the district to take charge of a day camp activity each year. Rather than trying to recruit and train individuals to staff day camp, we would rely on Cub Packs and Troops who would take charge of an activity each year. Doing this would enable the unit to become expert at providing a great program. Good theory I think, but I'm having trouble getting units to bite.

<< I wish that when the decision was made a few years ago, that local option would have been the choice. We already allow the local option for almost everything else in terms of BSA leaders, why not this?>> Because the Supreme Court decision said that the BSA's policy could be sustained because it was consistantly enforced nationwide. Since BSA is allowing local councils to get away with homosexual adult leaders, that protection very likely is already gone. I suspect that's why Gates said that the courts would likely force BSA to admit homosexuals before long.

<< I have found that the easiest and most credible process for handling money is to turn in receipts and get reimbursed. Records of money which belongs to the CO are fully documented, and if the family wants their money, they'll keep their receipts and turn them in. If that's too much of a hassle, they can simply toss the receipts and suck up the expense on their own. >> I agree that's aule to follow. However, there may be families that can't afford or be willing to front such expenses. I've encountered people who wanted a petty cash fund to buy food for an overnigh

As the pack treasurer, I prefer and usually get receipts which I use to reimburse pack leaders for expenses. However, if a leader has lost receipts, they can give me their best recollection of expenses they have incurred. So far, I've found such estimates reasonable and paid them. No guarantees on that though. Where families don't want to front expenses, I've occasionally funded a petty cash fund up front, which I then charge off when I receive receipts for expenses. "Told by the leadership" is a vague statement. And you say that the purpose is to defer costs --- what

<<The local option will remain local for about 6 months to a year, tops. Due to the risk of lawsuits for discrimination against any remaining resisting COs, a uniform policy requiring that homosexual men can become leaders will then become the status quo throughout the BSA. Traditionally-minded troops will close down, if they cannot accept the moral compromise the new policy and the court decisions will require.>> Yes, I think that's true. If you read the USSC decision that gave BSA the right to be free of state no discrimination laws, one of the chief arguments sup

Unfortunately, I'm starting to develop a real appreciation for child molesters. They are the only people who appear to respect the right of the Boy Scouts to exclude them from membership or leadership positions.

<<But let's not pretend that districts must exist at all costs. They are the welfare office of councils. Units that need them use them. Those that don't, won't. But don't tell me I need them or have to support them if they do nothing for me. >> There are usually several Troops and Packs that have excellent leadership at a given time in a district and can manage quite well without the district --- perhaps for an extended time. But it's quite common for even strong units to fall in a rough patch and to need help to rebuild effective leadership and program. The dis

<<The problem still exists though, that if your unit is healthy most of your volunteers are already too stretched to do more, thus most focus on their unit and not district volunteering.>> I don't agree with that. Most units do a poor job of soliciting adults to help with stuff. If they asked more people to help, they'd have more people to help. I'm currently involved with helping our district Cub Scout Day Camp to work this summer. Towards that end, and the Cubmaster has agreed to be the Tiger Twilight Camp Director, a Den Leader is sharing the Program Direct

Yep, you and/or the committee need to decide who is the best person for the job and ask them to do it. If they refuse, go on to candidate two. And the best way to get adults used to helping is to ask NEWLY RECRUITED FAMILIES to help with an activity soon after they join. Then ask them again. If they have good experiences, they will become pack leaders.

<< I agree with you, it would be nice if the BSA never got in the middle of the culture wars in the first place. Then we could focus on what matters, helping scouts grow into men of character. It's should be about service to others, personal character, and the golden rule. Not about vilifying others or telling then their religious faith is wrong or doesn't cut it to be "one of us". As for the loss of innocence, I also agree with you. While I'm not sure as children we were ever that innocent, nor do I think it's healthy to keep kids ignorant, but kids today are pushed to "grow up" so

Our pack meets at a Catholic Church. Our CO is a Kiwanis Club that has no association with the church. Personally, I'd like to have the pack contribute $100 "to help with the good work of the parish." They've never asked us for anything. The pack doesn't do much for the CO. No one has even hinted that the church would like a contribution, but I think it would be a nice thing to do. It would be a tangible way of saying "Thank You" for the many generous things the church does for the pack, including giving us yet another evening use of the parish hall for a recruiting event Ju

I hope you guys sign up to be Tiger Den Leaders June 1st. The new program is going to be much harder to track completion of requirements. I think the new Tiger Den Handbook has about twice as many pages as the Tiger Cub Den Handbook, although that's just a casual comparison at the moment. I don't doubt that some boys and some parents will like stuff such as the "Backyard Jungle," but I'll bet there are a LOT more parents who ignore it and a lot more boys who find it boring. I suspect the program will be a lot harder for a Tiger Den Leader to conduct, too. Personally I vi

<<There were several scout huts in some small towns in my area, the land was donated to the local troops 75 years ago. The huts were used by the BSA/GSA jointly and worked out quite well for many years. Several years ago the Council SE found a legal loophole in the donation stating that land could not be donated to a local troop or troops since the units were part of the council and the land legally belonged to the council. After a six month trial the court agreed with the SE and title was turned over to the council. The sad result was the council was in a financial mess so the council s

Here's the "Backyard Jungle" requirements. http://scoutermom.com/achievement/tiger-adventure-requirements-backyard-jungle/ This is for Tigers (1st graders) FAR too detailed, in my view. Making a determined effort to pitch boys on environmentalist values ---- such politics should not be controlling the Scout program, in my view. And I'll bet plenty of boys (and parents) would find this BORING. I certainly do. In Scouting I aim to do things I WANT TO DO or am INTERESTED IN DOING. The new Tiger program doesn't qualify for me on either count. I have more

<<Nope. Districts and councils serve the units, not the other way around. >> That's my understanding of how things should work. When I was rebuilding a Cub Pack pretty much from scratch, it was a huge benefit to have an excellent district bowling tournament and district marble tournament for our small, weak pack to participate in, as well as an excellent day camp. Thjey provided yartdsticks the mpack could use in setting standards for our own pack activities.

When you abandon natural law as the basis for moral sexual behavior, the ramifications are endless.

Well, I got the new Tiger Handbook a few days ago and have looked through it. In my view, the existing Tiger Cub program is the best part of the Cub Scout program. It has an emphasis on adventure and simple styraighforward requirements to win the Bobcat and Tiger Cub Badge (by and large). I've been the Tiger Cub Den Leader for eight years. The new Tigwer program IS WORSE IN EVERY WAY in my opinion, I regret to say. I will no longer be a Cub Scout Den Leader or Cubmaster. Requirements are much too detailed. The environmentalists have taken over the program and kicked out th

<< Okay is that bragging rights for the adults or the boys? $300k would go a long way to outfit 100 boys and pay for summer camp for the next 10 years. To me this ranks right up there with the massive plop camp trailers.>> Personally, I think one of the smartest thing BSA does is encourage unitsa to have chartered partners that provide meeting space. This does a huige amount to keep costs down, and prevents adult leadership from being involved in building maintenance and fundraising rather than the program. Yes, it would be neat to have your own cabin,

Well, good luck. You are doing a lot more than I would be wqilling to do, and I do a lot. I have to wonder if Scouting is actually a distraction from other things these boys need to be doing. I would expect boys insuch families to be spending their time studying or working to bring in what income they could for their families. After eight years of rebuiolding a pack that was down to one boy, I have the opportunity to get out with the hope that parents in the pack will keep the unit alive. It's unlikely you will have that option. I wish you the best, but I wonder if what

<<We've had similar experiences in recruiting at community events. Lots of good feelings and interest, no actual scouts signed up. Last year we ran a raingutter regatta-style activity at a local festival. It was the most popular activity for kids. No cub scouts. We've been asked back but I don't know if it is worth the time investment.>> Yes. The theory I want to try to avoid that is to strongly link building a boat with racing the boat, which would take place at a Cub Scout Den meeting or recruiting event that follows shortly after the public event. Boys would build a