SM_Travis

Thanks for comments. I don't disagree with election comments, this is our 2nd cycle with this system. Problem we had 3 elections ago was no one really wanted SPL, and the scouts ended up electing a scout who had no leadership experience and not much interest. It was a rough 6 months for the troop. We had heard of other Troops using this method and last cycle worked well for us. Now not so much. We have 5 patrols, so we should be able to have a functioning PLC. We haven't really had one, at least not one that worked well. That's another question for another day. I will probably have

We elect ASPL for 6 months, who then becomes SPL for 6 months. This solved one problem (scout thrust into SPL role with no preparation), but created another that we hadn't considered. The SPL is a rule stickler, and a bit bossy. The ASPL has more respect from the Troop, and has a more laid back style. He is equally able to get the Scouts to do whatever task needs done, but in a very different way. His biggest maturity issue is that he is pretty openly disrespectful of the SPL, at least when adults are not present. If they were being honest both scouts would tell you that the other is t

Twocub I know both the fathers, and I think they are more stubborn than the 15 year olds. I get what you are saying about the attitude, but I guess my point is that if they are only there once a month for meetings and not at campouts, then I don't have them poisoning the well every week and at every campout. I'm not naive enough to think that I can permanently fix this problem. A 15 year old with a bad attitude isn't going to change just because I try to guilt them into it. But I can try to isolate it so the infection doesn't spread.

A couple of points: I am only using the merit badge because it is a convenient way for me to get those boys together to drop the hammer on them. Otherwise, it will be weeks before I can get them all together, and I don't have that kind of time. The bigger issue is that they are going to need me as Scoutmaster to sign off on Scout Spirit, and them actually doing something with their POR beyond accepting a position to fill a check box. At this point I'm not inclined to do so. At this point I actually do only care if they give me a few weeks. I want them to help for recruitment. Af

Quick background on me since I'm not a frequent poster. My son crossed over into this Troop about 18 months ago, about 6 months ago I agreed to take over as Scoutmaster, I am officially taking the position at our next court of honor (end of this month). I've gone through Woodbadge, but haven't completed my tickets yet. I have a small group of 15 year olds who revived a nearly dead troop when they crossed over from Webelos. For the first few years, they did everything. Now they are burned out, and I understand that. But they are dropping the ball with a really motivated group of 11-13

SP, A couple points. As much as you try to avoid it, some judgement is always involved. What if it is a sports illustrated swimsuit edition? A picture of a girl in a wet t shirt? I realize that I may have a legal obligation to have a blind zero tolerance policy. I also have a moral and ethical obligation to protect those boys. Both from pedophiles and from people who in their zeal to protect us from pornography would label a 14 year old showing his buddy a playboy as a sex offender. An economist would say I am making an irrational decision to jeopardize my freedom and net worth

I get where some of you are coming from about erring on the side of youth safety. And I am a former attorney myself, so I even sympathize somewhat with the CYA aspect. But seriously, anyone who thinks that two 14 year olds looking at porn should be reported to the authorities and potentially subject to being labeled sex offenders by an overly zealous prosecutor needs to quit working with scouts now before you screw up some kids life for doing what all of us were doing at his age.

We have historically done 2 camps. One for the local council camp and one farther afield. The local option is nice for the guys who can't seem to check out of baseball for a week, as they can just leave for an evening and come back a few hours later. It also lets some of the new boys who may have homesickness issues feel like they aren't so far away. The third reason is that having the council camp close by is a great resource, and I want to support them as much as possible. I really push the first years to do the local camp. If they can afford it and do well at the local camp they could

Thought I would give an update. Somewhat to my surprise, the changes appear to have stuck. And I haven't had to send any emails or address the issue at a Troop meeting. The adults are giving their announcements to the SPL before the meeting, and the adults are staying at the back of the room. I have probably been the worst offender, sometimes not giving the SPL enough information before the meeting so he has to ask me to make an announcement for something or other. I have also caught myself a couple of times stepping forward to help him out. Fortunately, I only get a couple of words

So we had the Troop meeting last night. Overall, it went pretty well. I sent out emails to the parents Thursday, Monday, and Tuesday reminding them to pass along any announcements to the SPL so no adults talked during the meeting. Much to my surprise, all announcements were handled by the SPL. We also had all the adults behind the boys, rather than on the sides where it is easy for the ASM's to add, and easy for the SPL to call on the adults for help. The SM did walk up to the SPL and start giving him info, and eventually the SPL asked him to step back and ask for permission to enter the

I don't think adding the requirement would be keeping anyone from being 1st class in 6 months (2months at each rank). The problem is that since they work on these ranks at the same time, sometimes you have a scout getting 2 or 3 advancements pretty much simultaneously. We recently did the swimming portions of 1st and 2nd class. Several scouts were tenderfoot, but only needed an hour in the water to become first class. I don't see much need to make them be 2nd class for 2 months before giving them 1st class. Not doing anything positive, just discouraging the boys.

jblake, I get what you are saying. But I don't think right now the boys are empowered enough to stand up to the adults. I am trying to get them some breathing room. My hope would certainly be that in the future they will be able to handle this. I will point out to the SPL that the PLC can make other changes (or undo mine) if they don't think the meetings are going well. I do want to address a couple of your points. You asked "What say the boys about these rules?" When I approached the SPL with the proposed changes, his response was a big smile and to say thank you. He wants t

Our Troop has been moving this way for several years, and I have only been with the Troop a year. The 2 problems we have now are 1 the parents who were here from the beginning where it was a few 11 year olds not realizing that they can step back now, and 2 the couple of adults who have an overwhelming need to make sure everything is run by the boys, but only so long as it is run to the standard of adults. I am taking over as SM probably later this fall. Here is what happened this week. (apologies to those of you who read the story on the introductions forum, but it seemed more relevant her

Our Troop has been moving this way for several years, and I have only been with the Troop a year. The 2 problems we have now are 1 the parents who were here from the beginning where it was a few 11 year olds not realizing that they can step back now, and 2 the couple of adults who have an overwhelming need to make sure everything is run by the boys, but only so long as it is run to the standard of adults. I am taking over as SM probably later this fall. Here is what happened this week. (apologies to those of you who read the story on the introductions forum, but it seemed more relevant her

Yeah, interesting that you bring up not talking until the SM minute. Last week one of the ASM's barked at the boys (for a valid reason, but I don't care, it wasn't the proper way to handle the situation) during the meeting. We also have too many adults making announcements that the boys could handle themselves. And we have adults standing in the wings when the boys are trying to conduct their meeting, making occasional comments (helpful usually, but again not the proper place). Later in the meeting last week when the boys were doing an activity I told the ASM's (and the SM, as I don't hold

A couple of points: 1. If you become the COR, that pretty much makes this a moot point, doesn't it? Because if I became COR of a Troop with that rule, one of my first items of business would be to question the reason for the rule and then to eliminate it. Assuming that your CO will back you. (I'm male, by the way, in case anyone thinks that matters) 2. If that doesn't happen, I think that you can simply decline the invitation when it officially comes, once they make it clear that you are not welcome to attend. I think your obligation to the Webelos is to simply make them aware

Hello all. I've looked here briefly a few times, but just felt compelled to sign up and make a post for the first time (about something in Wood Badge, if you haven't been to the course yet I recommending not reading the "Win All You Can" thread, if you have been, you probably know why I had an experience I felt compelled to post about). I have been on the committee for a cub scout pack for several years, and followed that role with my oldest son last year when he joined a Troop. I am now an ASM, and will be transitioning to SM sometime in the next year. I'm a bit overwhelmed. As state

I just played this last weekend at Wood Badge. I am not a fan. I think our debriefing was ok, but the problem was that I was mad enough at that point that I wasn't really listening to the debriefing that closely. (Note to self - the scouts are probably the same way when I try to explain to them something that they are upset about) I felt that it caused quite a bit of tension between the groups, and was a disconnect with the bonding that we had going. I won't go as far as some posters have about it being anti-capitalist or whatever, but you have to put things into context. Based on t