SemperParatus

OK...so why does page 2 of this thread title the topic Rain! instead of Secret Forums? Me thinks some moderators are having too much fun.

I'm not familiar with that area, but have you done basic research of the... State Parks (nice map available showing park and highway locations) - http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/properties/stateparks.html Scout Camps - http://www.usscouts.org/databases/camp/ocd.cgi

Sounds like potential unrelated business income that would result in taxable income to my COR. Plus no correlation to scout effort. Thanks, but no thanks.

A good, long depression may be the answer...the kind that shaped and molded the 'greatest generation'.

Welcome. Bad behavior is never enjoyable to see, especially from scouts who are inculcated with the ideals of the Scout Law. My suspicion is that this troop may have been in-council and on its own turf, which could explain why the camp leadership seemingly gave them a pass (although, you do not know for sure if there was some form of discipline that eventually occurred). As a 'gypsy' troop, we see 'home' troops get preferential treatment all the time (just a fact of life, I don't blame the camp staff). My feeling is, let it go and redouble your efforts with your own troop to make sure that you raise scouts that are mature, follow the rules and don't embarass themselves or their unit with bad behavior.

A treasurer's report should be presented at the monthly committee meeting to keep things in the open (both for the leaders' and the treasurer's benefit). If this is not happening, then you and the DLs should request that it be added to the agenda for future pack committee meetings. If he refuses, then you should go to the COR for action to be taken. You can meet with anyone you like, whenever you like, but, 'official pack business' is carried on at the pack committee meeting.

Welcome. Neat tents? We try and set the expectation that tents should be kept relatively neat. Each day, our SPL and PLs hold tent inspections prior to leaving camp for breakfast and the day's activities. They are not grueling (20+/- tents are inspected in less than 5 minutes), merely a reminder to keep things looking presentable since tent flaps are rolled back most of the day. Invariably, there are one or two scouts that do not understand the concept of storage and neatness. In such cases, the PL works with the scout and by Wed he usually has it together. We offer no rewards, since it is considered a basic housekeeping chore.

This has been a popular fundraising avenue for youth in our church, raising funds for mission trips. I have no problem with this. For some reason, it did not translate well to our scouts. In addition to a pack, troop and crew, our CO (church) sponsors a scout scholarship fund that provides money for boys in our unit (as well as other units in our district) to attend summer camp who may not be able to otherwise afford it. One of the ideas the scholarship committee had was to basically set aside $10 per hour in 'camp bucks' for scouts doing work around the CO's facility (e.g., planting, weeding, mulching, housecleaning, etc.). This was opened up to all scouts in our unit regardless of financial situation. There were no takers...I still can't figure it out.

Our district maintains a list...at last count there were over 700 different counselors on the list, with all merit badges accounted for. Some badges had only two counselors, while others had over 40 different counselors to select from. The list and applications are maintained by a single designee of the District Advancement Committee, known as the Dean of Merit Badges. Recruitment of new counselors is essentially done at the unit level, with applications going through each unit's advancement chair (who, at least in our unit, maintains troop related counselor information on Troopmaster) to the dean. Some applications are taken from 'scouting friends' who know about the merit badge program and want to offer their help, but most apps come from the units. To get from 'here to there', speak with your District Advancement Chair and District Commissioner...find a volunteer to be the merit badge dean (I think the Troopmaster folks sell a separate program to track a large database of counselors)...get on the Roundtable circuit and share what you are doing, requesting each unit's list of 'registered' MBCs and copies of the apps...I know in our District a MBC is able to designate if they want to counsel for their unit only or for anyone (most are willing to counsel outside their unit). Accumulating the info will probably be a chore and frustrating and take some time. This job is probably best for someone that doesn't have a lot of unit responsibility, because it may prove to be a very time consuming project. Keeping it current seems to be difficult as well - with dropouts, address changes, phone number changes, new counselors. Our district puts out an updated list semi-annually, but I have some experience to suspect that 30% of the list is not current.

It would count in our troop. T, sounds familiar. In our troop the ASPL has as one of his duties, to lead our monthly service projects during his tenure. Takes some of the pressure and time commitments off of the SPL and gives the ASPL some experience in being the lead on certain troop events.

Welcome and good scouting to you. How do you pronounce Eau?

You should ask the departees for their 'specific' reasons, beyond 'just him'. Although 'just him' is a valid enough reason in their mind, if you couch your inquiry in terms of helping the boys and keeping their boy in scouting, you may get to the issue that can be appropriately addressed or appropriately ignored.

Did I miss something over the weekend? What did Juris do to warrant suspension from this forum?

http://www.inquiry.net/ideals/b-p/motto.htm

Are you Tom Cruise?

Now I've got it... Juris is an escapee from Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey...keep it up buddy, at least you provide some entertainment round the fire. But, please don't take that as meaning I agree with you, since I still haven't been able to figure out what you have said.

At first, I suspected he was a child as well. Now, I'm not so sure. His poor spelling, horrific punctuation and broken English now leads to me believe he is from a foreign land (or planet). A child trying to pretend to be an adult would, at least, make some attempt to come across as more knowledgable and legitimate. Read my other posts...amen.(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

Micah is so right. The Blue Ridge Mountains SR offers the best variety of stuff for all ages and interests. It is one of the few true 5-Star camps in the country.

Welcome to the forum. I agree with the others that the source for good conduct is found in the Scout Law. The problem with a written Discipline Policy is that you can't be nearly as imaginitive as a scout that enjoys acting up. They are most adroit at finding loopholes in whatever you and others can come up with. The 'bad eggs' need to be dealt with on an individual basis by the SM, who should be counseling them frequently on the meaning of the Scout Law and how it applies to their life and interactions with others. Severe violations of the scout law that cause harm (or potential) to others or property should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by responsible adults. Boy Scouting isn't so much about do's and don'ts, rules and regulations; but rather giving each boy the individual time and attention he needs from caring people (adults and scouts) to help him understand himself better as he matures.

T - You know what you are doing, but I'll share what we do... Our troop and brother pack are pretty tight. The pack is big enough that we really don't look to recruit from other packs, unless they call us. The cubs start getting to know our boy scouts from the time they are Tigers, with many older boys helping out at cub events - B&G, PWD, Haunted House, CO's annual scout expo, day camp, Pack meetings, etc. You can see in the youngest cubs that they really do look up to the older boys and the more opportunties they get to interact with them the stronger the impression is made that they want to grow up to be like them. To that extent, we really do not focus on this as a webelos-boy scout 'transition' but rather a mere continuation and expansion of scouting as the boy grows older. The COR, CM, SM, CCs, DLs and other adults all hold and support this view that its not so much a 12-month transition period that we focus on, but rather modeling and providing opportunities for the youngest scouts to see and understand what scouting is about and that scouting is the thing to do for a very long time. To that extent, we don't see it as a small pipe that can develop leaks but rather a large tunnel that can capture all cubs from Tigers to Webelos in thinking that boy scouting is too cool to pass up. We still do all the normal stuff most troops do - SM/SPL visits to new Webelos I dens, hosting Webelos on a fun-filled, action packed camping trip, new scout/parent meetings, etc. but I tend to believe that these are essentially filler with the real work having been done over the previous years as the younger boys witnessed the older boys in action time and time again and having developed a tie that binds them. Our success rate is near perfect. In the past five years, I can think of only one Webelos that did not cross over to the troop and only one that choose not to continue during his first year as a boy scout.

"You see BSA,Inc.claims they can train any one to become a leader of boys ?" Where is that claim made?

Visit your scout shop and buy the JLT Course Guide (or whatever its called). It contains a complete 'turn-key' course. Also, see on this site... http://www.scouter.com/compass/Training/Junior_Leader(JLT)/ (This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

"We did camping, canoeng, knot tying, cooking and earned all the awards..." I'm sorry, but how is it they were 'ruined' by cub scouts?

Ringbo, You sound like a reasonable guy that had one isolated event for which you seem to be repentive of. [Plus you can spell and demonstrate proper punctuation.] I am sure a troop would welcome your participation after you have explained the situation.

copyrighted by Bruce Cameron...my 16 year daughter cringes when I suggest relaying these rules to her male friends (all of whom seem perfectly non-evil)... Daddy's Daughter - Rules for the boyfriends Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up. Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them. Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist. Rule Four: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a "Barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you. Rule Five: It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is: "early". Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry. Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process than can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car? Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: 1. Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden tool. 2. Places where there is darkness. 3. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. 4. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. 5. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which feature chainsaws are OK. 6. Hockey games are okay. 7. Old folks homes are better. Rule Nine: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dim-witted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Rule Ten: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit the car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.