SemperParatus

A hole is nothing, the absence of matter.

So we are either talking about nothing or something that doesn't matter.

CM has made a serious blunder which has called into question his fitness to lead a group of young, impressionable children. I would be surprised if the SE makes a decision or gets involved. The Pack Committee needs to handle this issue and come to terms with the inappropriate behavior. If it is their position that it was a 'just fun', then suggest that their own children be lined up at the next pack meeting and let the CM administer multi-wedges to everyone's delight.

Bad decisions have bad consequences. It is time for him to step down or be dismissed. A year away with retooling sounds reasonable, although I would always be wary of this person in the future.

Any discussion about the decline in BSA numbers must look to the overall demographics of potential members, as well as the changes in race/ethnicity over the past decade. I think few will argue that, historically, the BSAs membership roles have reflected a greater percentage of whites than that of the general population. While over the past decade, more emphasis has been placed on increasing participation in the black and hispanic communities, for the most part these efforts have not been as successful as many had hoped. Population statistics indicate that the echo boomers reached there zenith in the 2001 2002 period and have since been in decline as each year more and more reach the age of adulthood. This, coupled with the fertility rates of US whites (1.98), blacks (2.43) and hispanics (2.98), as well as increased immigration especially of those of hispanic descent, has created an environment in which the market of potential BSA members (i.e., white boys) is shrinking.

In the year 2000, there were 31,454,000 males in the US between the ages of 5 19. By the year 2010, this number is expected to increase in real numbers by less than of 1% to 31,622,000. In twenty years, census projections show continued small growth to 33,704,000. Based on fertility rates, the population of white boys will continue to decline over the next ten years with all growth coming from minority groups (overall Hispanic 34%, Blacks 12%). Census projections show an overall increase in Hispanic males between the ages of 5 19 of over 1.5 million to 6,517,800 from 2000 to 2010, as well as an increase of 500K black males between the ages of 5 19. Conversely, projections indicate that white males in the 5-19 age group will decline by nearly 2 million through 2010. This trend has been a reality for nearly a decade now and is expected to continue well into the 21st century.

Increasing membership in the BSA (core program) at the national level will clearly necessitate the organization making greater inroads within the minority communities, especially among Hispanics. Historically, the BSAs efforts in this area have been slow (handbook translations are still not fully complete) and suspect (BSA Soccer and Scouting Program). While it is doubtful many boys imbedded in the Hispanic culture will find a dead English soldier of great interest, or a round of Old MacDonald rousing, my experience (which is admittedly limited and entirely anecdotal) is that Hispanic families do relate strongly to the traditional values espoused by the scouting program. BSAs marketing to this segment will require significant efforts in terms of time and money (much more than past and current efforts). The question will certainly arise, as to whether it is worth it and how much program change is necessary to transform the program into a multi-cultural attraction. Scouting has made inroads into virtually every area of the globe, so there must be something to this endeavor that has universal appeal.

BSA could certainly continue on its present course, with limited efforts in reaching out to minority populations, and be successful for another 100 years or so. The sheer number of its core base of members, strong message and accumulated goodwill will see it through. However, at some point the society which it serves will demand that the organization change if it is to remain vibrant. I suspect we are at or near the infancy of that process and the next twenty years or so could be very interesting indeed.

"She was very upset that we were wasting her sons time with listening to a football game when we could be using the time to better advantage."

I don't get this at all. Campfire is a time to unwind, relax and hang-out. If the boys want to listen to a football game on a radio, it is no big deal.

What exactly does she think the troop should be doing? Round-the-clock advancement?

She shows up for a couple of hours, forms an immediate opinion that her son's time is being wasted, and then proceeds to cause a big stink. She's got issues. The Committee Chair needs to support you and the boys here. If she chooses to pull her son over this inconsequential event then so be it.

I get suspicious when someone tells me somebody else doesn't approve. There is a good possibility that your UC is making this up. Call your Scout Executive and ask him the Council's position.

Very cool

http://www.angelfire.com/wy/gilwell/plates.html

Best of luck to you. May the trail you follow be long and enjoyable.

Welcome. Hope your son enjoys his experience as much as you enjoyed yours.

"At Rex Kwan Do, we use the buddy system. No more flying solo. You need somebody watching your back at all times. Second off, you're gonna learn to discipline your image. You think I got where I am today because I dressed like Peter Pan over here?" ~ Rex

Rex really knew scouting and what cool was and wasn't too

Just out of curiosity, how many Napolean Dynamite lines have you heard from from your son and his friends over the past year? The line between dorky and cool has been blurred for years.

In a few more years, I venture to guess that your son may have a completely different take on cool.

I'd rather have a troop of a dozen highly committed scouts that understand and appreciate their dedication to and involvement in a century-old organization that has been at the vanguard of character development and speaks to them personally for a higher calling, then a troop of 100 lukewarm, middle of the road, could care less, speed through the dorkiness, quit as soon as my parents let me, scouts. Maybe shrinkage is a good thing and will make scouting stronger than ever.

Rather than running afoul of BSA uniforming guidelines (wearing an unlicensed patch for a nonexistent BSA position), perhaps consider a special neckerchief and slide for your 'retired' Scoutmaster emeriti.

I think you will find that a majority of scouters will not wear unlicensed patches on their uniforms for one reason or another. The special neckerchief will make it possible to recognize him appropriately and allow him to wear his recognition without the possible discomfort (from his own ideas or the UP) of wearing unlicensed patches. Besides, it will be much more recognizable and offer greater flexibility in terms of what it says.

In our troop, the SPL and ASPL are given special neckerchiefs that they can wear during their tenure in office. There is little old lady in our church that does the embroidery by hand. She enjoys that kind of thing.

Maybe its just me, but the many young men and women I see today, aren't into cool. They are into the passionate pursuit of their chosen activities.

The diversity hoopla of our generation has filtered down to our kids such that just about anything can be cool, as long as it is something that you are passionately committed to. They are into being 'hot' (not cold, lukewarm or cool) for their interests whether it is sports, music, scouts, school, politics, poetry, video games, history, dance, service, cooking, cars, or whatever. In fact, being 'cool' as in following the latest fads and showing a nonchalent indifference to ones surroundings, is antithetical to the new cool of being passionate and true to yourself.

Teenagers (and younger kids) are much wiser then you think. Changing some names, pictures and pants is not going to make things cool and increase numbers. Giving them a sense of belonging around a high purpose, is what develops the passion and commitment that people are looking for in their lives. It is that passion and commitment that has built the BSA program into what it is today and will, ultimately, see it through the future. Having a Spongebob patch will not cut it.

There was a recent survey of twentysomethings that sought to determine what made people cool today. It found that friendliness, loyalty and honesty were the traits associated with being cool in 2006. I think we have heard those words before.

It ranks right up there with Pulp & Paper. Aren't composites people who live in compost piles?

Believe me, a kilt-less troop will be at a serious competitive disadvantage if called on to toss the wellie or contest for bonnie knees.

Real men where kilts at

http://www.utilikilts.com/

Some ideas to get the ball rolling:

Wearing the webelos necker as a do-rag.

Designing a clan shield for the event.

Some drum & pipes mood music...I highly recommend The Rogues (just saw them again over the weekend at the MD Rennaisance Festival)

http://www.therogues.com/

Welcome back and good luck.

Some of my favorite forum members here are from Kentucky. Looking forward to hearing more as you jump back in.

Every once and I while, I just have to scratch my head in bewilderment. A boy earning 105 merit badges just seems completely over-the-top. This can't be a healthy pursuit...can it?

http://www.sar.org/youth/eagle05.html

"It's time to get real."

Welcome to the show.

You can certainly give it to him at the next troop meeting (she doesn't attend those, does she?).

People rarely carry out threats that they make in anger. If she makes a scene in front of everyone, she will most likely end up looking like a fool, rather than a victim. Add to this the embarassment to her own children, and the potential long-term effects on her relationship with them. My guess is that she will calm down and realize that making a public scene can be just as damaging to her as it may be to her husband.

Get him the plaque.

Let him know what she said, and he can hide the plaque from her if he wants. If you think she is coming to the Court of Honor, then you and the CC should tell her in advance to stay home if she is planning to make a scene. While you recognize the hurt that he has caused her, airing their dirty laundry in public and in front of youth (especially her own boys) will not be tolerated.(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

The old Camp Ranger was way out of bounds. He had no authority to do anything, the Camp Commissioner told him it wasn't a camp concern, and then he directs some boys to 'take care of it' for him. Sounds like a cowardly jerk to me. From your description, no one was having a problem until he showed up and took it upon himself to create a major problem. I don't blame the Troop for moving on to a different camp.

The Commissioner should make the SE aware of the actions of the Camp Ranger and the disruptions that he caused.

You folks out there sure do take your flags seriously. A story from a few years back, a neighboring troop of ours was at Heritage SR for summer camp. As a joke, they replaced a Steeler Flag that was hanging on a flagpole on the parade ground with a Ravens flag. As the story is told, one of the local SMs went totally ballistic, violently ripping the Ravens flag to shreds during morning colors and getting physical with some of the leaders of the visiting troop.

(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

I think you may be looking at a Royal Ranger uniform.

http://royalrangers.ag.org/adventure/uniform.cfm#

It sounds like the same elements, except they now use a blue beret.

We have a trip sign-up table open at each meeting. It usually has 2-3 upcoming trips laid out. For each trip there is a Sign-up sheet, a stack of flyers with the trip details, and a stack of permission slips. Boys sign up for the trip they want to go on, take a flyer, and have their parents sign the pre-printed permission slip right there and leave it in a box. Our parents know to come in when bringing their kids to a meeting to take care of business such as this.

I would follow the wishes of the TC. As SM, your focus should be on program, not adult behavior. You were not a witness to the event and have no direct knowledge of what transpired. Although I suspect the TC maybe overreacting (and you feel the same), better to let them figure that out themselves. I would, however, share your concerns with the CC before the meeting. Maybe some gentle redirection by the CC and you in a private conversation with the adult is in order, rather than a full-blown meeting.

It sounds like a lethal combination of dumb, off-the-cuff comments by a new unknown adult and a few overprotective parents.

Hey CA-S,

I was in Yosemite last week too - family vacation. What a beautiful place!

Good story.