SemperParatus

I can fill in some blanks...

Yes, the Beav went on to Webelos along with Larry Mondelo and Whitey Whitney. The den was kicked out of Mayfield Elementary School when Miss Canfield received a call from the local chapter of the ACLU. Being a real pearl of a mom, June took the den into her home where she and Gus, the fireman, traded off den leader duties. June did make the unfortunate mistake of asking Eddie Haskell to be a Den Chief. His playfulness eventually led the BSA to instutute its anti-hazing policies. Recovering from the trauma of Scout Haskell, the Beav crossed over into Wally's troop in May 1966. Lumpy Rutherford served as his Senior Patrol Leader until Fred was able to turn him into a paper eagle, whereupon he flew the coop. Along with Gilbert and Richard, the Beav was very disappointed when the troop merged out of existence with Ricky Nelson's troop. There was a giant schism between the philosphies of Ward and Ozzie, which could never be bridged.

"if not by FOS, how else do you propose that councils fund their salaries?"

How about THEY sell popcorn door-to-door.

Our local school system superintendent (a county northeast of Baltimore) just had her contract renewed at $190K salary + $20K deferred = $210K. She oversees a budget of $350 million, a paid staff of 4,000 and 52 schools. By contrast, our SE oversees a budget $4 million, a paid staff of less than 30 people and 500 acres of woods. Like I said, he is way way way overpaid.

Maybe I am just blind or am in a very happy place, but there is no schism issues in our pack and troop. If there was one, I would buy a schism trap and catch that darn thing before it could do any damage.

I suspect our fortune is that so many of our scouters have a foot in each that they have a clear understanding of the natural progression of both the boys and the programs, and are able to share that with the other parents.

Thanks.

Often times its the saddest stories that are the best. No doubt, it will take years for this family to recover from this tragedy, but I suspect they are beginning to realize that ultimately they will gain more than they lost. Furniture and clothes and toys can be replaced. But good friends like they have in your troop and community is what matters the most.

At my son's ECOH last week, we put this book out at the welcome table and invited guests to write congratulatory notes in the inside cover. My son is reading it now and says its very interesting.

From 2003 - 2005, the Council's fund balance (its net worth) has declined from $3,370,000 to $2,961,000 - a loss of $409,000 over the three year period. These funds have been diverted from building the scouting program to feathering the nest of the exec. Director of Field Services was paid $121K in 2005, Director of Support Services - $107K, a half dozen of other suits were paid in the $80 - $90K range. It appears all of these underlings are tracking along at 10-15% annual raises which is 4x inflation and way more than average pay increases in the area's commercial sector.

I was reviewing our Baltimore Area Council's 990s for the years 2003 - 2005 online the other day.

Here is the compensation (current and deferred) paid to our Scout Executive -

2003 $168,333

2004 $225,075

2005 $273,333

Total revenues for our council were as follows -

2003 $4,469,434

2004 $4,638,127

2005 $4,925,768

Based on these numbers, our council revenues increased 10% from 2003 to 2005, while our SE's pay increased 62%. This is completely absurd. I will be having a very difficult time keeping my mouth shut at the next FOS campaign pitch.

When you can't beat 'em...join the good ol' boys from Texas. I would combine OneHour's movie night with Trevorum's BBQ.

Some suggestions for your viewing pleasure...

Smoked Encounters of the Third Swine...Natural Born Grillers...Jurassic Pork...Barefoot in the Pork...

The Hogfather...Franknswine...Grills Gone Wild...

Love your town -

Fishing derby

Local museum

Historical hike

Play soccer

A field day olympiad

Parent-scout softball/wiffle ball game

Space Derby

Raingutter Regatta

Build and hang birdhouses

Day at the zoo

Kite building/flying

Tractor pulls

Amusement park

Pack Pet show

Night hike

Water festival

Tour a hospital, police station, airport etc

Service project - park cleanup

Talent show

Scout expo for your CO

Invite a boy scout troop to put on an event

Marbles Tournament

Some local options for you...

Civil war tour

A play at Shenandoah Univ's new arts center

Disc golf at Sherando Park

Luray Caverns

Harpers Ferry

Hike on the Appalachian Trail

Washington, DC

"What does your troop do with hangers-on?"

Well, first we don't identify them with a derogatory label. Second, we use recharter as an opportune time to dialog with them in hopes of returning them to an active status. I would never de-list someone without their permission, especially if they are paying either with an annual check or debit to a carryover scout account. Unless you speak with them, you do not understand their motivations. Understanding motivations is the first step to recruiting their re-involvement. I don't see where some names on a piece of paper or a once-a-year check leads to any degree of confusion that can't be resolved in a few seconds.

Glad to see you overcame that case of lockjaw and joined the conversation. Welcome aboard.

A silent auction is a great idea. As long as your CO approves it, I cannot see how the Council could deny it. Unless of course, you are auctioning off Pete Rose's jockstrap - in which case you may run afoul of the gambling issue.

"What say you?"

Well, my first reaction is to visit some more troops.

I would be very hesitant to 'project' your son's scouting future based on the existing make-up and program focus of the troop(s) you are visiting. Troop cultures do change, leadership turnover produces change in focus, and your son will no doubt experience unprecedented change in attitudes and interests over the next several years of adolescence. What he gets out of the boy scout program will be as much about what he wants to accomplish, as what the group offers in terms of immediate opportunities. You need to trust your son as to where he thinks he will be the happiest. In the end, that is all that matters and will ensure his continuation in the scouting program.

Just be careful you don't end up carving a niche for yourself on these forums. I think I've said eknife already.

Baden,

I like to think you made God smile.

Jeff,

You make some very good points and appear to be a sharp scouter, on the cutting edge of scout training opportunities. Doing a little slicing and dicing of the G2SS and handbooks, will help you get a handle on this situation which, as you found out in your leader meeting, cuts both ways.

"My question is; Did anyone else receive this sheet in their Eagle's package? or is this just an insert from my council?"

We received a Eagle Scout Challenge sheet...with the four obligations (Baltimore Area Council). I am not sure that makes it an official document.

Eamonn, I am in the process of working with my own son in planning his Eagle COH for later this month. He quickly dispensed with the Eagle Charge and Eagle Challenge...too much blah blah blah. He settled on just taking the Eagle Promise (I reaffirm my allegiance to the three promises of the Scout Oath. I thoughtfully recognize and take upon myself the obligations and responsibilities of an Eagle Scout. On my honor I will do my best to make my training and example, my rank and my influence count strongly for better scouting and for better citizenship in my troop, in my community, and in my contacts with other people, to this I pledge my sacred honor.) A few tweaks (oh horrors) here and there should make it something O.J. can live with.

Have fun.

(btw...I haven't received my invitation yet...must be lost in the mail).

IM,

Good luck. I used to have a former Olympic archer (neighbor) do the flaming arrow for each AOL recipient. He had small cloth wrapping his arrow tips, soaked in an alcohol mixture. Every shot was a bulleye. We stopped it when the hay bale behind the target caught fire once causing quite a stir.

So here is a variation I came up with. Little Akela (preferably Den Guide) tells a story of the great medicine man/indian chief that had died long ago...blah...blah...and now roams the forest in search of his brave scouts. At some point he shoots an arrow of light (spray painted gold) deep into the forest. During this time, you are hidden in the opposite direction of the arrow's flight. Dressed in native american garb, you have a matching arrow tucked up in your sleeve. After some time of more blah...blah, you slowly enter the cermony circle...raising your hand...you slowly pull the arrow out from the sleeve and present it to the archer. Then you start your own blah blah. It is very visual and the kids are usually speechless from the entry.

Just another log for the fire.

From Aids to Scoutmastership by Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell...

"One Reason Why a Troop Should not Exceed 32

The number in a Troop should preferably not exceed thirty-two. I suggest this number because in training boys myself I have found that sixteen was about as many as I could deal with-in getting at and bringing out the individual character in each. I allow for other people being twice as capable as myself and hence the total of thirty-two. Men talk of having fine Troops of 60 or even 100-and their leaders tell me that their boys are equally well trained as in smaller Troops. I express admiration ("admiration" literally translated means "surprise"), and I don't believe them.

"Why worry about individual training?" they ask. Because it is the only way by which you can educate. You can instruct any number of boys, a thousand at a time if you have a loud voice and attractive methods of disciplinary means. But that is not training-it is not education.

Education is the thing that counts in building character and In making men.

The incentive to perfect himself, when properly instilled into the individual, brings about his active effort on the line most suitable to his temperament and powers.

It is not the slightest use to preach the Scout Law or to give it out as orders to a crowd of boys: each mind requires its special exposition of them and the ambition to carry them out.

That is where the personality and ability of the Scoutmaster come in."

****

In my experience, B-P was right on the mark.

I went to the site and did the Troop Committee Challenge, Fast Start, Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat and Youth Protection Training. Combined, the five modules took a total of an hour and a half - and thats reading every word, listening to every audio, taking every test and printing out the certificates. I did not have to waste an hour driving to and fro, waste another 15 minutes for the trainer to wait until more people showed up, did not have to listen to the same information being repeated 3-4 times, and did not have to put up with hearing the 'war stories' and 'opinions' of people more interested in talking about themselves than learning or instructing. There were a few things I picked up on that I do not recall from live training. I was able to do it while half paying attention to American Idol and eating a bowl of chocolate almond ice cream.

Agree 100% with Ed.

Joel,

Welcome. The valley may indeed be one of the most beautiful places on this earth.

Bob, welcome. Don't lose that enthusiasm, it is contagious.

Welcome to the boards.