shemgren

Yes, it consits of watching the video made 10 years ago. I hope this, like most of the trainings would be updated soon.(This message has been edited by shemgren)

As to # 4, as of Jan 1, 2003, every outing on a tour permit will require one leader to be youth protection trained, not BALOO trained. One leader BALOO trained is required for camping outings only.

When I was 16 (quite a while ago) I could sleep on a rock. Nowadays, I use self inflating 3" pad. The last outing with the troop, saw me carrying more gear than any by, although one boy came close. This coming weekend, I will be going for Scoutmaster's Training at our council camp for a refresher (it been 4 years since I last attended, I practice what I preach) I will use my pad, thank you very much.

Page 12 and 13 of The Boy Scout Handbook have full color pictures of the two forms of the offical uniform. Page 12 shows the field uniform, page 13 shows the activity uniform.

Any questions?

IMHO the advancement program is METHOD of the Boy Scout program, not the all the program.

The methods used to provide Boy Scouting to your community are:

1. The ideals

2. The patrol methods

3. The outdoors

4. Advancement

5. Assocation with adults

6. Personal growth

7. Leadership development

8. The uniform

(Scoutmaster Handbook, page 8)

A great deal of units ignore or try to rewrite this list to suit their own tastes. Adavncement is important, but to build your whole program on this is robbing the Scouts of the richness that Boy Scouting can offer them.

I will now get off my soap box.

YIS

Scott Hemgren

I always look to the wording of the requirement to set the standard of what does and does not fulifill the requirement. For example: Requirement 6 of the Scout Badge, "Demonstrate tying the Square Knot", I would show the Scout to tie the knot, have the Scout and I tie the knot at the same time, then have the Scout tie the knot alone. If he could tie the knot, after that process, I would pass him on that requirement. If he could not, then more instruction and practice is needed, until he could demonstrate tying the Square Knot. This process is the same as step one and two on page 24 of the Advancement Committee Polices Procedures and pages 119 and 120 of the Scoutmaster Handbook.

I use the same process for Merit Badges, since I am a counselor for several.

When I was a SM, I would expect a First Class Scout to do things better than a Tenderfoor, but not as good as a Star Scout. POR non withstanding, the advancement program is designed to teach the fundemental skills of Scouting (Tenderfoot - First Class), then to enhance those skills by adding citizenship training (service projects, Citizenship in Community, Nation and World Merit Badges), personal development (Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Communications Merit Badges), and character development (the Scout Law, Motto, Slogan in practice), these all happen from the ranks above First Class.

A Scout who is cheating the system will pay for this as he moves through the rank system, where the requirements build on skills that should have been at the lower ranks. This concept was true when I was Scout in the 1970's, when I was a SM in the 1980's and 1990's and are still true today.

Can the system be circumvented? Yes it can, but the circunvention normally is by several individuals, the SM and ASM's, the Advancement Chair, even the Troop Committee. To allow a complete sidestep of the process, the process must be side stepped by the troop as a whole. As this Scout continues, he must be approved by merit badge councelors, camp staffs, the SM, the ASMs, etc. Any break down in this chain can derail a Scout that is trying to slide through without truely doing the work.

The ASM in question may sign off on several of her son's path to Star Scout, but not all as in the case of Tenderfoot to First Class.

As stated by other posts, watch the Scout and see if can tie the First Class knots, lash a camp gadet, actually create a patrol menu, etc.

To be fair, the Scout may have actually done all the requirements and may be on a fast track to Eagle. Mom and boy should be given the benefit of doubt and above all, A Scout is Trustworthy!

If that not the case, it will become every evident at the campouts and troop meetings as the Scout is asked to put in practice the skills of a First Class Scout.

Just my humble opinion.

The only change I heard of is effective 1 Jan 03, 1 leader on a pack/troop/crew outing (Local Tour Permit or National Tour Permit) must be Youth Protection Trained.(This message has been edited by shemgren)

As a troop's Eagle Advisor, I have found such a notebook is invalueable at Eagle time, since occassionally merit badges are not properly recorded at the Council Service Center(earned at summer camp, bought at a distant Scout Shop, etc.). These records need to be accurate there and a notebook like one we are talking about is great for tracking a Scout's progress through the system, and make a wonderful display at the Eagle Court of Honor.

I have suggested this notebook idea for many years at the various troops I visit. National now has created such a notebook, entitled Scout Memories, also a seperate one for Eagle Scout Memories.

The SPL is elected by all members of the troop. Each troop sets its own requiremnts and schedule of elections, though the SPL are ususally chosen at six-to-twelve-month intervals and can be reelected. The senior patrol leader of an established troop is often selected from experienced Scouts of a certian age and rank. In a new troop or a troop without older members, boys are still likely to choose a Scout whom they respect and believe will provide the best leadership. (The Scoutmaster Handbook, No. 33009, page 13) The same requirements are laid out in The Senior Patrol Leader Handbook, No. 32501, page 9.

Troops are completely allowed to set requirements for the office of SPL. This should be done at the Patrol Leader's Council (PLC) level. In a large troop (135 members)I served as a ASM during my Air Force Days, the SPL had to be a Life Scout.

I just found out that two Scouts in my troop who worked at the same time on their projects and had their BOR on same night (seperate BOR's of course) are planning to have their Courts together. These Scouts came up as Cubs and into the troop. This was their idea and in their case, as Eagle Advisor, I support it. We will take steps to issure that each Scout gets his proper recognition.

I was onboard when the current uniform was introduced in 1979. One of the selling points of the new tan/olive uniform was that the olive pants were made of a jean like material. The last issue of the green pants were very thin. The olive pants were much thicker and stronger. In recent years, the pants are getting thinner again, just as they were in the late 1970's.

This may be done in an effort to cut cost of the uniform, but I have seen this trend before.

The uniforms should be rugged and wear like iron as they did when this design was first issued in 1979.

I would to see a "field grade" uniform and a "dress" unform. The "field grade" would be tougher and more durable than the "dress" uniform.

The only ways I would interfer with a patrol's setup is if:

1) The patrol was too large for the PL to handle. Younger Scout usually cannot handle more than the recommended size of 8 scouts. Above 10, the patrol is difficult for Scouts to handle.

2) A patrol member is having serious difficulties with other members. If the situation has been attempted to be solved by the PL, then the SPL and finally the PLC, and the problems continue, then and only then I would move the Scout having the issues.

The purpose of the BOR is:

To make sure the Scout has done what he was supposed to do for the rank.

To see how good an experience the Scout is having in the unit.

To encourage the Scout to progress further.

(Adavncement Committee Policies and Procedures, page 28)

The decision of all boards is arrived at through discussion and must be unanimous. The Scout should be asked where he learned his skill, who taught him, and the value he gained from passing this requirement. The Scout reviews what he did for his rank. From this review, it can be deterined whether he did what he was suppose to do. (ibid, page 29 & 30)

In the case of this Scout, the BOR has occured and he is a First Class Scout. I would advise that in the future, the SM and the specifically the BOR look closely at this Scout has he approaches Star. Merit Badge must be signed off by the Counselor, not the ASM in question.

The purpose of the First Class program as it is, is to allow the new Scouts to quickly gain some rank, and National has studies that show Scouts who gain First Class in the first year have higher retention and much better chances at becoming Eagles.

The chance of this Scout to proceeding to being "pencil-whipped" into rank decreases are the ranks grow harder. THe ASM can continue to sign off on things, but the BOR should become more careful in it's reviewing of this Scout.

Go to your SM and discuss your feelings and let the SM deal with the ASM. If this doesn't solve the issue, discuss the issue with your troop committe. Many units have a policy concerning relatives signing off on advancements. Officially by BSA policy, there is not to be such a policy in the troop.

The best advice I can give is this 5th grader needs to do his best, like any other Cub Scout. Pushing him to get the Arrow of Light when that isn't his best will only frustrate him and his parents. The Scout will find his level, and as a den leader you need to provide support for him to be the best he can be.

The only Cub Scout award that transfers to the Boy Scout uniform is the Arrow of Light Award. The Religous Embelem program is operated outside the BSA and recognized by the BSA by allowing members to wear the medal and square knot on the uniform. If a Cub Scout is recognized with a Lifesaving award or religous embelem, the Cub may wear the square knot on his uniform when not wearing the medal. These knots will stay with Scout the rest of his Scouting career, Boy Scout, Venturer and adult. I personally have have a knot that I earned as a Cub Scout.

When I was a CM, the Webelos choose their patrol name when they became Sr. Webelos in May. We checked with our brother troop to choose a patrol name not in use in the troop. During the Webelos senior ear, the pack referred to the den as the "" patrol (fill in their name), at committee meetings, pack meetings, on the pack phone list. This was done to help their transistion the Boy Scouts, and it kept the Scouts together better in the troop.(This message has been edited by shemgren)

Welcome to the Commissioner Ranks.

A commissioner should be expected to provide:

Stimlulation - Encouragement & help

Unity - Make the units feel that they are a part of something bigger

Perspective - Bring the unit a fresh viewpoint

Program - Council and district events

Organization - How they best use the Den and Patrol Methods

Ratings - How can the leaders do a better job

Troop and Pack Committee - Assist the units with the committee and charter organization.

This is adapted from an article in a 1953 issue of Scouting.

The role of the Commissioner is to be a friend of the unit, a coach, a cheerleader, and there when needed.

As an ADC myself, I look for people to be commissioners who work well with people (a people person), experienced with Scouts and most important, teachable!

Your attitude will make the biggest difference. If you love Scouting, your love will come through strong and clear and be infectious! Good Scouting!

Since the troop committee's primary funcution is to support the program that the PLC puts together, the committee needs to be aware of the calendar when it is done. Approval is by the same standard that the SM approves it, health and safety issues. The committe must pave the way for the Scouts to run the program they want, within reason, which the SM should have had input on during the planning session.

If this Scout has left your troop, then he has no right to ask for financial aid since he isn't active with your unit. In most units I work with, the policy on financial assistance requires the Scout to be active in the troop and participate actively with fundraising activities of the unit.

A Scout can be registered in a Troop and a Venture Crew at the same time. However, this Scout in question must make up his mind which troop he wishes to be part of and transfer into that unit, inform the other units of his decision and request record transfers form the other units.

Multiple unit registration will be caught at recharter time, for each troop should ensure that the membershiip on the charter is accurate. The rosters at the council aren't updated unless: 1) a application is submitted for membership or transfer (the new application has a place for transfer). 2) charter renew, and for adults, a change of positition application. Most times, the council isn't notified of such changes without the paperwork.

The Packs can try wood projects, my pack for years did a totem pole; community service (child safety, home safety, etc.), gardening, forestry, etc. Hands on and take home projects are big hit.

You should have participation ribbons for each unit, then also have judging by your distrcit committee and/or commissioner staff. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and lower is good idea, troop, pack and crew divisions.

Your site sounds good, Troops should outdoors, Packs and Crews maybe indoors, lots of signage.

Our Council pre sold tickets to the event, as well as tickets at the door. The ticket had a discout coupon on it as an incentive to buy.

Hip hip hip huray! Bob White is allways informative and on the beam!

I find Bob White informative and factual. As a Commissioner, I often find myself having to point out the offical policy on a given issue. Boy Scouting has a strong tradition in my community and the communities I serve, and I serve the volunteers in my area to help them present the best program possible to the youth in my area. Bob White helps me to locate resources, policies and other information to fulfill that goal.

KoreaScouter:

You can get "Young Eagles", "Scouts to the Rescue" and "Tex Ritter Rides with the Scouts" at Honor Publishing at the following: www.honorpub.com/item/video.htm(This message has been edited by shemgren)

I am a Scouter with no youth in the program. I'm single and when I became Cubmaster a number of years ago, the pack ran a background check on me.

As far as your comments, sctmom: being in a rural council, I have heard all these statements and more, especially concerning the council itself. As a Commissioner, I spend a lot of time debunking and correcting these attitudes among the Scouters I meet in my travels.

I agree that Eagles are good, but losing boys and especially older boys in a warning sign for a unit.

Scouting is about character development, citizenship training, physical and mental growth. The program should always be applied in the Pack or Troop, or it is not Scouting.

Training can help, but as you pointed out, some traininers add to the material with their own interpations of the BSA program.

We who are willing to follow the program, must be willing to evangelize (tell it to all) the Scouters and parents who don't follow the program.