SemperParatus

Greenbelt National Park is your best bet. Close to the subway line. Youth group area with shower house. http://www.nps.gov/gree/

Thank you Unc! Unit leaders have several choices: 1. They can do their thing without CO involvement and be perfectly happy. 2. They can complain that there CO is nowhere and do nothing about it (except complain and wait to be noticed). 3. They can initiate the CO contact and seek its involvement. A strong CO-Unit relationship can make both better. CO can be a great source of funds, resources, leaders, etc. Sometimes all it takes is to ask. If CO doesn't know you, don't expect much. To what end...to make your Unit better.

Moving to a new pack is like pulling off a bandaid - if you are going to do it, do it quick once you have decided. Pinewood and Blue & Gold is just around the corner - where would you and your son rather be for these signature cub scouting activities? You can beat your head against a wall over the next couple of years or put yourself in a better position to have a good time. To me its a no brainer. Well-run packs have a way of attracting good leaders, while poorly run packs eventually die off (as they should) until someone steps forward to pick up the pieces (which really can't hap

Some ideas: 1. Service Projects (more visible the better) 2. Scout Sunday (if church) 3. Invites of CO leaders to COH, Blue&Gold, Other Large Events, Charter presentations. 4. Articles for CO bulletins/newsletters 5. Push for strong COR - scouting background preferred. 6. Engage in fundraising for CO 7. Scout presentations at CO meetings 8. A Unit Annual Report showing all the great things you are doing - present at CO meeting. 9. Perform annual meeting facility inspection with COR (especially if problems). 10. Recruit MBC from CO (e.g., firemen for fire saf

Recap so far: 5 Churches - Avg. Rating 3.40 3 Schools - Avg. Rating 2.00 1 Fire Dept- Avg. Rating 10.00 1 Township - Avg. Rating 1.00 Keep 'em coming, let's see where this unscientific poll goes.

Since I picked up Follow Me Boys a couple months ago, I think I have watched it a half a dozen times - drawn to it by a strange combination of sentimentality and a goal of identifying every violation of the Guide to Safe Scouting. I especially liked the comment that Lem has been souped up on pep pills so he could keep up with the boys in his older age. I have Scouts to the Rescue with Jackie Cooper - it is actually like a series of 20 minute to be continued shorts all around the same plot. The authentic uniforms and scenes from the DC jamboree make up for the fake indians (sounds like t

So, it sounds like the B&G Club pack is not off the ground yet and you are just in a recruiting stage now. Your shirt says Den Leader now, so is it safe to assume you will continue as a Den Leader after you become CM? When I was a CM and DL, I just wore the CM patch, although if you want to do the velcro thing (there is another recent thread on velcro) you could switch the two for your Pack and Den duties - although you haven't done that in the past with an ACM patch. Personally, I would just leave the uniform alone until February and then sew on the CM patch.

I am a little confused - are you operating as a CM of the B&G club now? Are you going to be the CM of two packs? If so, are you crazy? Out of respect for the CM of your current pack, I would not put a CM patch on until you assume those duties. If you think the ACM patch may throw people off at the B&G club pack, then you can explain it to them or maybe just consider not wearing a leader patch for the next two months. Of course, there is always the velcro solution.

Scouting seems to have a wide disparity in CO involvement. Out of curiosity and to maybe ascertain some trends... Who is your Chartered Organization and how do you rate them (scale of 1 -10, 10 being the best) as far as their involvement/support of your scouting program? Our CO is a rather large Catholic Church (2,000+ congregation). I would rate them a 9.0 - the priests and staff offer encouragement, we are provided a more than large enough meeting facility, the congregation and related Knights Council strongly support our fundraising efforts, the COR is a big supporter and ha

Thank you very much for the scouting report!

All you guys from KY - can you give me some scoop on this locale as a possible week-long high adventure destination. I see canoeing, caving, rapelling, hiking...what else? Enough to keep us busy for a week?

Since that will be the 95th anniversary of OA, I predict a very big PARTAYYY!

acco40, Being new, I did not know this was a popular past topic...so let's redirect along OGE's response. Does anyone know the how this idea (the corner rip or snip) may have originated?

TySim, So any news from your CC?

Our VC was just started last year, so far only the VCA has been coming, but I do think we need to extend to VC President as well, as you suggested. Our CO has several GS troops but the leader of the oldest GS troop serves as the GS coordinator for the CO (essentially a mini-cluster leader) and so kind of knows what is going on with the other troops. To get the GS on board (and everyone else) you have to clearly demonstrate how this coordination can help all the individual programs become better in terms of planning and execution. We think benefits are significant in terms of meshing of cale

Our Scouting at XXX Church Committee is just as EagleinKY describes...includes the COR, CCs, SM, CM, VCA, GS leaders - about 8-10 people total. It works very well. I will go through my files and see if I can't find the initial proposal for this org setup and PM it to you. The best part is finding where our individual concentric circle programs overlap - one is the annual Scout Expo that our CO lets us put on.

Now flowerchild...perhaps its just your spelling, but the combination of your hippy handle and the reference to the tokin' chip has me wondering exactly what those boys were doing in those weeds...ur, woods.

Fscouter, Why would the SM's presence in the room make you feel uncomfortable? I have sat through many Eagle BORs and I have never seen the Board chair refuse the SM permission to observe. Most chairs welcome the SM's presence.

In the deep recesses of my mind, I remember the practice of tearing off a corner of the Totin' Chip and Firem'n Chit when a scout broke the rules for wood tools/fire safety. After four tears, the privilege was lost and the scout had to go through remedial training to get a new card. Is this still a common practice?

The average American is just trying to get through the day, avoid the kooks and be happy. The Boy Scouts are still held in high-esteem by mainstream America and probably always will be. The louder the kooks, the less folks will listen.

You got me in mid-bite. I was eating a Christmas cookie when I read your post and started choking. I too have noticed the similarities of many scouters, too much good eating on camping trips I guess. I've got to drop 10 pounds before Philmont...wish me luck.

Have to wait until boy scouts...but being exposed to this early should give them a leg-up when they re-demonstrate these skills for boy scout advancement purposes.

Plus...the post Board waiting period is an excellent time for the SM to congratulate (or console) the candidate for his answers. Some of the scout's best reflection is done immediately after the Board, you would not want to miss that.

Similar situation here - although probably on a larger scale. We recognized the need to coordinate and cross-pollinate several years ago. Created a Scouting at XXX Church to kind of be the umbrella 'committee' - covers cub scouts, boy scouts, venture and girl scouts too. Purpose is to (i) help oversee coordination of facility use by all the groups, (ii) have a better focused message to our CO through bulletin postings, fundraising, etc., (iii) avoid calendar conflicts for larger scouting events so families with children in more than one program may fully participate in all, (iv) offer o

From American Atheists website: MEMBERSHIP IN AMERICAN ATHEISTS Benefits and Privileges... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your membership in American Atheists shows that you care about taking a stand for Reason, civil liberties for Atheists, and the total, absolute separation of church and state! Membership is open to all who agree with our Statement of Principles. Joining American Atheists, though, also has it rewards! Benefits and Privileges of Membership include... (click here to apply) Membership dues and donations to America