SemperParatus

Well now, I think this could be competitive in the daytime...thinking...thinking... The Young and the Fearless As the Mummy Bag Turns The Guiding Flashlight All My Children Wear Green The Lice is Right Lets Make a Meal

Weekend only?!?...I guess I'll finally have to learn to program my VCR. Courtroom coverage of the latest legal attacks. PeeWee Harris cartoonified. Adventures of Pedro the Mail Burro (knock off of Mr. Ed). Troop vs. Troop Scouting Competitions Scoutmaster Minutes with Baden-Powell (between shows) Scouting News (with Dan Rather - heard he's looking for a job). Only 60 Minutes A Week - Hardhitting exposes on controversial scouting issues (non-prime time of course).

Norm Abrams doing a Pinewood clinic. All 'in-door' training sessions conducted by national personnel with a consistent message. Tours and promotions of our high-adventure jewels. Run those old (and new) Scouting Movies to peek interest of non-members. Documentaries on the early days and big names. Basic instructional - tieing knots, picthing tents, building fires, etc. Highlights of cool activities of units. A weekly message from the Scout Exec.

Sometimes, I surprise myself. Suppose National started producing a cable channel - SCOUT TV. What programs would you like to see? Could this revolutionize our scouting information distribution and reception?

An 80 page rulebook? Hope it has lots of pictures. How about Scout TV! National produces a cable program that has 24 hour programming with training sessions, event promotions, highlights on unit activities, DIY pinewood workshop with Norm Abrams, etc....Everbody watches TV and it would be hard to come up with excuses for not having access.

Regarding qualifying service projects, here is one our troop has struggled with for years. Our internal discussions have centered around the concept of the term 'project'. A 'project' is of course referenced in the Boy Scout Handbook as part of the requirement. As I recall, the BSA Advancement Guidelines to do reference the term 'project' for ranks other than Eagle. The issue that has caused discussion in our troop as to whether or not it should be allowed as a 'service'/'service project' is altar serving. We have probably 6-8 scouts that act as altar servers for our CO. In the past, several have requested this as their service project for Star/Life. The discussion has centered around whether an ongoing service 'commitment' that already exists qualifies as a 'project' that would seemingly have a start and a finish during the advancement time period. What we have done is allow its use for one rank, but not for both (Star and Life), as sort of a compromise between our troop's hardliner's ('no way this is a project') and our troop's softies ('hey, its service - its groovy man'). As SM I have been caught in the middle of this for years and would appreciate the thoughts of the fine members of this forum. (This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

I'll admit that I read just about every piece of scouting literature I get my hands on, and return to reread parts all the time. I'm a reading nut and a scouting junkie. But, I would venture to say that most scouting volunteers are neither. They are just trying to do some good and will easily find other ways to spend their leisure time than curling up with the Scoutmaster Handbook. I must say that most scouting publications are too verbose for the average scouter - training sessions enable them to at least hear or experience the basics without taking the extra time required of reading and studying. That's a good thing.

I am on our town's Independence Day Parade Committee (just can't say no sometimes). A few years back one of the committee members (a local liberal lawyer) made a motion to restrict the number of scouting units that march in the parade (typically scout groups are only outnumbered by the fire trucks). The committee's silence and lack of a second was deafening. Needless to say, he learned that our little burg loves our scouts. Thanks for the ACLU reminder - think I will call up our local office and invite their participation...we can always use folks to clean up behind the horses.

Hopin' Hops is still on the team to keep you old fellers in line.

Sounds like you could use a leader that welcomes new scouts to the unit with some enthusiasm, presenting neckerchiefs (troop numbers, red tabs, etc). Start him out with this and maybe he grows to helping with your new scout patrol?

A few years ago, we suspended two boys for three months. One quit. The other one changed his behavior and attitude and has become one of our finest older scouts. I would have never guessed that, but he really took it to heart and assessed what it was he wanted to do and how much he wanted to put into and get out of scouting.

...from the mouths of our newest moderator? ...you have my vote!

Have you asked him what he would like to do? What talents and interests does he have?

Yeah! In honor of this special month, I will reread my copy of The Guide to Safe Scouting from cover to cover while on vacation. (This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

A scout should have the opportunity to pursue a merit badge with any registered counselor in any legitimate setting, including summer camp. While I am not a big fan of summercamp merit badges, I would not stand in the way of a scout's desire to earn a badge.

Why do folks need to make things more complicated then they are?

BSS, Please explain...if you were smart enough to skip two grade levels in school, how come you don't know the rules of capitalization?

Thanks... Hey remember when Bob and Ed used to have those big blowups on the scouter forum...before...Bob's son married Ed's daughter and now they all go on cruises together, playing shuffleboard and ping pong and enjoying carefree romantic sunsets on the poopdeck, while debating the relative merits of wearing knee high black socks with their bermuda shorts. (Come on guys...one little smile for the camera.)(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

If you like slow-cooking, here is the site for you. http://www.justslowcooking.com Most recipes can be adapted to the dutch oven.

Believe it or not, I think we are living in the 'good ol' days'... Anyone want to hazard a guess as to those scouting adventures/experiences that the scouters of tomorrow will yearn for in 2030? I'll start off with a few 'remember whens...' 1. Remember when the Order of the Arrow was based on Indian legend...before it was considered disrespectful of Native Americans. 2. Remember when we had only two adults on a trip...before we required a parent to attend all functions with their scout. 3. Remember when we used propane stoves...before the PNR (personal nuclear reactor) was invented. 4. Remember when the Pinewood Derby was fun...before NASCAR bought the property rights. 5. Remember when we used to camp down at ol' Bear Claw Reservation...before they built that shopping center. 6. Remember when it cost only $200 to go to summer camp...before they figured out what a great deal it was and raised the price to $2,400. 7. Remember when we used to sneak our Gameboys out at night in our tents...before the Virtual Reality Implant Chip made it possible to go camping lying on our couch. Please join in...serious or humorous...you pick.

Does your District/Council put on a Life-to-Eagle Seminar? Have you attended one? They are usually the best place to cover all the bases on the Eagle process and application submissions. I don't think there are any 'gotcha's'. Just errors on the parts of humans that either do not read or misunderstood the directions. Make sure everything that is asked for is provided, all dates are correct, all rank requirements were met and coincide with service and leadership dates, etc.

Agree wholeheartedly... A unit that can adhere to the BSA program has a much better chance for successful outcomes. All scouters should contantly seek to expand and refresh their knowledge of the scouting program so that they can deliver the promise, improve their units, and best serve their scouts.

Welcome. Have a marshmallow on me.

With all due respect, District relations are a two way street. If your CM and CC (and anyone else in your pack) can't, at a minimum, make the commitment to attend roundtables than your unit leadership is partly to blame. What information do you want your district to proactively provide your unit with, that is not available at a roundtable that your unit does not make an attempt to attend? I think your unit's energies may be better off supporting the district your lot has been cast with, rather than trying to figure out some way to transfer to another district. Just as with everything else in scouting, you reap what you sow. Convice your pack leaders to pick up a hoe and support your district.

A few years back there was a boy from our state that was on safari in Africa with his mother. A pack of hyenas (or lions - I can't remember which)entered his tent and dragged him away as a meal. A couple of years ago there was a murderer on the loose within 20 miles of our home, that was supposedly living out in the woods, escaping capture by the police. I guess I could see posting a guard in these cases (better that an adult get mauled or killed then a scout - right?). I would never ask folks to stay up to make sure that mischief isn't happening, when our philosophy is that we are teaching scouts to be responsible, respectful and trustworthy. Seems hypocritical to model and teach trustworthiness, only to watch over them while they sleep because we are not sure we can trust them. As a light sleeper, I hear just about everything going on in and around our campsite all night long. In nearly 20 years, nothing has happened of any consequence (other than headaches and hurting tummies).