SM406

"Much information flows in the upper levels of any organization that is inaccessible to most of the membership unless they really need to know it."

I guess it was deemed unnecessary for the lower levels (i.e. packs) to know it was okay for packs to have an option on tan or khaki shirts.

Sm406

Fat Old Guy,

We have not experienced any problems with the clear thread either. It has survived the dyer and ironing with out a hitch for several years now. I would recommend you give it a try the next time you have a need.

SM406

I also believe that requiring the camping to be troop or scouting related is adding to the requirements. In the ideal world if the troop program is done properly, there should only be a few nights (if any) that will need to be credited to family camping. As a camping merit badge counselor I have given credit for family camping.

SM406

Hi BCT106,

I was on staff for the 2001 Jamboree. The position I had was a Dining assistant for the Northeast region at subcamp three. Although I can not give you any insight to the position in the fire protection group, I can share about my over all experience.

As staff you arrive early, leave late, work hard and have one of the memorable times of your life. Since you and others pay to do this everybody wants to be there, the staff that surrounds you is usually great people and wonderful Scouters. It is really cool to watch the troops come in and a city of over 25,000 springs to life in less than a day. It is equally sad to see the same city dismantled as fast once it is all over. Be prepared to be emotionally drained if not also physically when you are done. But the reward is memory of a fantastic historical event that will be rekindled when you come across the few patches that you have traded for from some far away part of the country or the world, which only this event can provide. The reward is also knowing that you in some way helped a scout also have a tremendous experience. For without the support of the thousands of Scouters like you who volunteer their time this event would not be possible.

I do not know if this has helped, if you have some specific questions this forum is a great resource to get some responses.

SM406

We use the clear or invisible thread for sewing on badges. It saves alot of time and expenses searching for the right color thread.

SM406

We do, for not advancing and unscoutlike behavior.

SM406

I agree with packsaddle. Most of the entitlements from various levels of government to the BSA that are coming under scrutiny now, where granted long before the issues of atheism and homosexuality became mainstream. Rather than succumb to pressures to change its policy (guaranteed by the Supreme Court) in order to retain some clear advantages (in the present view of righteousness), on a case by case basis, the BSA should abandoned those entitlements. What this means for those of us that support the BSA and its policies is as Trail Pounder has said .. vow to begin raising 10 times the money I have raised and have been responsible for raising in the past and donating it to District and Council funds. If we did this then we wont need government handouts (I am not convinced we need them anyway).

SM406

Bob,

After I posted I saw I missed the main points of discussion, sorry.

I do not have at hand written policy in support of how our pack has handle this issue in the past, but it is similiar to your last post. We left it up to the individual Webelo. If he had out grown his "blue" and was a second year or close to second year Webelo, we would reccomend the next shirt be a tan one. At a cross over to Boy Scouts last year we had several Webelos still in blue and their parents had chosen to give the tan shirts as a gift for moving into the Boy Scouts. I believe it should be a individual choice.

SM406

Hey Guys,

The uniform inspection sheet states on page two under shirt that the tan shirt with blue shoulder loops is an option for Webelos.

Fat Old Guy, I'm not sure exactly when the AOL moved down, but has been for a couple of years now.

SM406

Bob is right on the mark about training. The other thing to be aware of is it is going to take time, so be patient. I have recently taken over a troop were the former scoutmaster was a good scouter, but the years wore on him and he slowly moved away from the scouting program for the boys, he tried to do it all. We are down to 7 active boys, but they are starting to bring their friends to troop meetings, which is a positive sign. I have been slowly introducing to the scouts again about the patrol method and being scout lead. It is really neat to see the scouts attitude change to the positive. If we get one goal accomplished per troop meeting towards being scout lead, then I'm happy. It has been eight months to get to where we are now and we still have a ways to go. Good Luck!

SM406

I do everything lefthanded. Even snoring.

SM406

CubsRgr8,

Our present JASM happens to be an Eagle, I am not sure that is a requirement though. They do have to be 16 or older. It would make sense for them to be Eagle. This is an opportunity for Eagles to demonstrate leadership to earn the Eagle palms and not deprive Life and Star scouts of other POR so they can advance.

SM406

My thoughts on Uniforming are if one is registered as an ASM or SM, a uniform should not be an option (it is). You are working directly with the Scouts and are setting the example. If one is registered as a MC it is optional. As a guide line though if one, is going to be very active in the troops activities and around the Scouts a lot, then a uniform will help with setting the example. In addition, as mentioned earlier by others, the uniform helps establish credibility for the wearer at roundtables and other non youth BSA activities.

In regards to BOR, uniforms are an option in my opinion. In one of the BSA Fast Start tapes a BOR is shown and none of the MCs has a uniform on. A Scout could be pretty intimidated by a Board composed of adult in uniforms. If the Scout is use to seeing the MC in a uniform it may not be much of a bother to him. To a Scout a uniform on a MC in a BOR could be directly associated to the leadership of the troop (i.e. SM or ASMs). This could result in the Scout being reserved and not fully open about his experiences in the Troop. I like to interpret the BOR as a check on the Scouts experience in the Troop and a litmus test on the program being offered to the Scouts in general by the Troop Committee. I have even participated in Eagle BORs when everyone there was registered in BSA but not all of Board members were wearing uniforms.

SM406

LauraT7,

Our troop has a JASM, currently his duties are to plan and lead the troops JLT. He is also charged with assisting the Advancement Chairman with keeping our Troopmaster database updated. In addition, I call on him to mentor the SPL where needed and patrols where needed in menu planning, troop elections, etc. He is also used as a role model for the younger scouts, being required to have the proper uniform, attitude basically Scout Spirit. He does not have a regular meeting type duty however.

SM406

Although it is not a common practice at our troop to give gifts to Eagles, I believe a small token from the heart is very meaningful. However, I suspect the reason you and your mother have been invited to the COH is the Eagle Scout would like to recognize your mother, the primary person through whom his project was made possible.

Twocubdad,

I meant no personal attack on you or anyone. My apologies, if I offended you. I have gathered from your posts that you have the best interests of the Scouts at heart. It is just from my experience with Scouters who are not careful with either word or deed they can and do great damage to the boys. I just feel strongly about the idea in this thread and it has been taken very lightly by some. That concerns me.

SM406

A little more for-thought about where they were going would have been better also. It sounds like they went to a BSA camp, if so they should have postponed the meal until they were at a non BSA facility. They also put the Campmaster in a compromising position (unintentional I know) none the less, how else was the Campmaster to react?

SM406

I also think of my patrol. I also think of the history and the connection to something good that the beads represent.

SM406

Oh-Oh, here we go again. This is similar to what is meant by active. I am curious also if there are any BSA guidelines that spell out how a scout is to serve as a leader (I doubt it). The requirement is just time based. This is going to be fun.

SM406

There is a huge difference between my and our. My is singular possessive and Our is plural possessive. The insinuation sent by our is not nearly as negative and suggests many owners as opposed to the insinuation of my with one owner.

Maybe 90% do use the words as you suggest (I wont confirm or deny your statistic) however, maybe more of us, since we have the understanding of who the program is for, will take the time to be a little more sensitive in our choice of words, for you never know who might be listening and how destructive it might be.

SM406

I realize that this thread is beginning to die, however I have been away from the forum for a little bit and I would like to respond to Twocubdad. Another reply could have easily have been our pack can do a skit. By using our, you are still being associated with the unit with out the connation of direct ownership. When ever I hear a Scouter say my troop, I think the person is claiming ownership and a doctorial style of leadership. I believe by using my it is a subconscious or conscious wish or desire to indicate ownership and if you truly believe the troop belongs to the CO and the Scouts, when you say my troop it should not feel and sound right. This thread has been extremely worth while to quibble over semantics because we have to be careful about becoming too casual about our speech. The use of my troop by scouts is totally appropriate.

SM406

I am looking for a book as a gift for my wife. Does anyone have or know where I can get "Creative Campfires" by Douglas Bowen. I believe it is compiled from Cache Valley Redwood and Oreida Councils. Thanks for your help!

SM406

I am glad to see that this thread is trailing off on a positive note. My tenure with this forum is still very short compared to most members but it has seemed to me that lately several of us are a little testy. I must add my scouting experience is improving by being here. One of the biggest lessons for me has been the realization that I can be too "casual" in the words I use and that by being too casual and not using a more fitting word, I can send all kinds of the wrong messages. Whether it is my troop or BSA representative, or whatever, These forums have awaken me to the concept that I am dealing with young impressionable minds and thus being a role model for these young men, I need to be a little more keen that the words I am choosing to use, are heard and understood the way I would intend them to be.

SM406

I have always been one for a good prank now and then; for instance taking all of my sons somewhere in our small car, letting rip with a good long one and then locking the windows briefly so they can't lower them. As parents we have to get our little victories where we can. However, since I have been a SM, I have taken a more somber tone, since I am there for the well being of all the boys. I am still for fun but from different avenues.

SM406

A 12 year old life scout? He had to have approval of the SM and BOR to get there. I do not see where Maturity is listed in the Scout Handbook as a reguirement. Having leadership skills - is this equated with maturity?

SM406