SemperParatus

Whippity dee...good for thee. Welcome and good luck with your schoolin' and scoutin'

Cookie, I would have to say that those Eagle boards did not do any service to those scouts. Having an Eagle Board slapped together at the last minute, consisting of a bunch of adults that know nothing of the scout or the program and whose only guidance is some sample questions from a manual, is very sloppy and weak. Likewise, scheduling four in one night, while it may be efficient, certainly reinforces the message that this is an assembly line approach. I do not fault the scouts in this situation, it is the troop leadership that has created an environment that sounds as if 'following the process' is granted greater attention and value then the scout's personal development as an individual young man of character. The scouts were a mere product of this system. While slapping age and tenure requirements on advancement may seem to be a solution, IMO it does not address the underlying problem of a troop that is run by 'process' with weak advancement/requirements review. In such a system, you will surely end up with 'immature' 17 year-old Eagles that really can't tell you what they did, how they did it and, most importantly, why they did it. As others have said, in your scouting life you will run into incredibly mature 13-year old Eagles and incredibly immature 17-year old Eagles, and the complete spectrum in between. Maturity levels are primarily a function of the scout's individual personality and constitution, as developed during his interactions with family, peers, teachers, coaches and scout leaders. Putting age/tenure requirements, without addressing the underlying troop advancement philosophy, could easily stifle that highly gifted young adolescent that lives scouting, while continuing to just pass along (albeit more slowly) those less interested.

Maybe its just me. But ever since I was young, there was always this feeling I had as I slid into my scout pants and pulled on my uniform shirt that there was something special or different going on. It wasn't like changing into a super-hero costume or anything like that, but it definitely made me think that I was preparing myself for something special - even if it was just a weekly troop meeting. Even today, when I put on the uniform its not like putting on 'normal' clothes, which is done with so little thought. There is always that ever so slight pause to make sure that it is clean and neat, the patches are secure and a final once over in the mirror. Like I said, maybe its just me.

Welcome rour! He completed the requirements so...yes he is ready. I don't see any requirement, even for Eagle, that says, "demonstrate strong leadership..." Follow the good advice of Mike and OneHour, work with the scout to help him develop his leadership qualities, not as a means to advancement but as a means to helping this young man develop his character and understand himself better.

Hooooooowwwwwwwllllllllll! Dismantle the patrol?!? Me thinks that may be a bit rash. If you don't deal with the behavior on an individual basis, moving misbehavin' scouts to other patrols may only serve to taint the other patrols. Here's another idea - ask the offended ASM to serve as patrol advisor to the out-of-control-patrol...they will get to know each other much better.

Great to hear how scouting has been a part of your family. Welcome.

I hear you Eamonn. The BSA is a poorly-run business. That is true at the national and council levels. Costs continue to escalate, while revenues continue to decline due to decreasing membership and loss of large donor support. National lacks the vision (and resources) to implement new and exciting programs, effectively market the scouting image, and do what is necessary to secure a strong source of significant donors and increasing membership levels. The current Council-structure is archaic, producing substantial waste throughout the system. Council staffs of 25+ folks managing a budget of only a couple million dollars makes absolutely no sense in today's world of high tech web-based communications, marketing, reporting and financial management. Replicating this inefficiency several hundred times over throughout the system results in exponentially poor financial performance. The whole business side of the house is screaming for consolidation of the Council structure into Regional Centers that offer 24/7 call center support for members, full on-line distribution channels for information and merchandise, and an overhead structure that makes far more sense. As the business aspect of scouting is transitioned to a more 'impersonal' (albeit more efficient, professional and less costly) structure, the program side would benefit from a greater percentage of available resources that could drive attractive program initiatives and property improvements that can actually fuel membership recruitment and retention, with the resultant increase in fees and ancillary revenues. The local support of units w/should continue to be carried on by the mass of dedicated volunteer scouters who have always been the bulwark of the program, and who can best provide the 'personal/high touch' service that unit leaders have come to expect and will need to grow their units. Until such measures are taken, scout properties will continue to be put up for sale to finance a highly inefficient and archaic business model. Why not change the business model (just like practically every other successful business has done over the past ten years of the information age), rather than sell off appreciating hard assets to support a fiscally inefficient system. Absent an unprecedented surge in new members, something will need to be done sooner or later. Selling camp properties does not fix the financial problems that council's face, it only provides temporary relief to prop up an organization with a highly inefficient cost-structure. Council execs will think they are geniuses when they deposit $5 million in the bank after selling off acreage. Ten years later the next Council exec will wonder whatever happened to that money and wish they had another camp to sell.

Cub Scout books are available in Spanish for Tiger and Wolf Scouts. I think the Bear and Webelos will be coming out soon. http://www.scouting.org/media/press/041029/ Here is a slightly dated listing of BSA literature in Spanish. http://www.scoutingvalelapena.org/literature.e.html My only advice is to use your bilingual resources to communicate until their English improves. There are plenty of jobs parents can do without opening their mouths (set up, clean up, material gathering, etc.), maybe have them say the pledge of allegiance in spanish, or help put together a fiesta blue & gold, give a presentation on their old country. Put your mind to it and discuss with them (even through an interpreter) and the possibilities will present themselves.(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

Just the Scout Law. Scouts say it enough, its our job as leaders to reinforce it, model it, discuss it, help them to understand it and apply it. I would get the list of grievances from the ASM and then sit down with the patrol and talk about the application of the Scout Law, in a conversational, non-threatening manner.

"Buy land. It's the one thing they've stopped making." ~ Mark Twain The money will eventually be spent and the properties will never be reacquired. At the end of the day, nothing will be left except for the memories. Selling off council property is a short sighted solution contrived by marginal businessmen and perfunctory bureaucrats with little regard for the intentions and desires of those who originally donated the property, the many volunteers who maintained the property over the years, and the future scouts that will never have the chance to enjoy a scout camp experience. It is a scourge on scouting that needs to be stopped whenever it rears its ugly head. Blaming underutilization is the easy road. It is the Council's current leadership, as stewards of the land legacy passed to them, to implement sound plans, promotion and events to drive utilization if it is lacking. If they are not doing their jobs, then they are the ones that must go, not the camps.

You could depreciate Rory...but you would have to put him out to stud. That way, everybody wins. Especially Rory!

Well Wingnut, as you can guess the tax depreciation rules are rather complex. Computers have a class life of 6 years, resulting in a depreciable life under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System of 5 years. Of course, as you know for Alternative Minimum Tax purposes, the depreciable life would be 6 years using a straight line depreciation method. Now, if the computer was acquired over the past two years, bonus depreciation rules could apply such that an additional 30% or 50% could be claimed in the year of acquisition, further accelerating the write-off. Likewise, assuming less than $400K of equipment acquisitions for a year, a company may avail themselves of the IRC section 179 expensing that would make it possible to deduct the cost of the computer all in the first year. Any questions?(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

Howdy Jim. Welcome to the forum. We look forward to your participation. Go Packers!

I am sorry your first post has to relay such sad news about a continuing and growing problem. While I have never been to Owasippe, I do join you in mourning the loss of scouting opportunities for future generations. On the bright side, our 2,000+ acre Council camp property was just this month placed in a land trust to forever protect it from development.

That's a shame. St. Joachim Church has let your program down. Maybe in the future, consider scheduling your B&G elsewhere so your CO doesn't blindside you again. I would do it next month (rather than not at all). I am sure your FOS folks won't mind a bit.

Mr. D's merit badge review does a nice job (it may be a little dated now). meritbadge.com has a link to it (see below) - but I think this takes you to usssp which should, hopefully, be back up soon. http://www.meritbadge.com/mblinks.htm

I love my scout pants... the fabric is not too heavy, not too light... the construction is not too flimsy, not too rugged... the cut is not too dressy, not too casual... the pockets are not too small, not too big... the beltloops are not too wide, not too narrow... the fit is not too loose, not too binding... the snap is not too difficult, not too easy... the color is not too...well, I suppose they are a little too green.

"Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind." ~ Albert Einstein

I have never seen the Historic Trail Specs (no 20-140) on-line...have to get from your council. Here is the application for national's review and approval, which is the only thing that seems to be available on-line. http://www.longhorncouncil.org/forms/historic_trail_approval_appl.pdf Good luck on the trail!

Dirty Harry!?!...you've made my day...thanks.

I was wondering whose vacant stump that was next to mine. Welcome back to the campfire.

...and lest we forget Lady Baden-Powell who was also born on February 22 (1889), 32 years after B-P that sly ole dog.

Other than the requirements listed on the application? http://www.scouting.org/forms/34408.pdf

No surprise there. Let's not just limit this to merit badge pamphlets. The entire publication distribution system needs to be put on-line, so that scouts and scouters have free and unfettered access to current advancement and program literature when they need it...merit badge pamphlets, cub scout sports & academics, program features, SM handbook, committee guidebook, insignia guide, etc etc. etc. etc. Don't tell me its about anything but the money. It would take one person less than a day to create the pdf files for every piece of BSA literature. Give 'em another day to post links to a library system on national's website. With information at people's fingertips, when they need it, unit programs will only be strengthened resulting in membership increases that would offset any revenue loss from publication sales. Worst case, the registration fee is bumped up a couple of bucks - still the best money a family would ever spend. BTW, any suggestions on movies to watch for new CitCom requirement no. 5?(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

Let me see... Pitch a tent Lay a fire Cook a meal Purify water Pack a backpack etc etc etc