SSScout

In our District, EBoR are held first weds of every month, that's it. If , for some special reason, it has to be called for another night, you have to ask . We have , I think, three Eagle coordinators on the DistrictAdv. Committee. They each have a cadre of folks that help them set up and organize things. If the number of nascent Eagles do not warrant all three being present, then they don't come. The Eagle candidate's SM and parents usually accompany him. At the site, the Candidate's escorts are expected to serve on the other candidates BoR, thus there are always more than one BoR scheduled and "manned". The Candidate is escorted in to his BoR by the SM (or his designate) and then the SM leaves. The parents are never present in their Scout's BoR, but they are drafted to serve on another Candidate's BoR. There are, therefor, at least three people on each BoR, one official District person and two (or more) others. I sometimes serve thus. It is always an interesting time, and the conversations can be very inspiring or very mundane. BoR personnel do not need to be prior Eagles, but one must be a registered Scouter; at least that is how it was explained to me.

Once I organized a group of Scouts to earn the Railroad Merit Badge. We visited a well known Scouter/MBCounselor in Baltimore. He led us to a famous model railroad, a real train yard, helped the Scouts build a model train car, discussed the requirements at length. He carefully filled out and signed all their Blue Cards, kept his third piece and we went home They came away with a lot for their 5 or 6 hours of time. Six months later, the Scout's parent called me. They ("they") could not find his blue RRMB card, and could I sign a new one for him? I explained that I was not the MBCounselor and could not do that. I gave them the name and phone number of the man in Baltimore . They called me again, and again, as they could not get hold of this man and the Scout's EBoR was being scheduled. I did not hear from them again, but I see the Scout occasionally at events, and we exchange greetings. Evidently he managed to keep the rest of his cards, because he was awarded his Eagle.

Thank you Q. You define religion well, to my mind. CSDC is the prime example of the Council trying to make sure that there is no "loss" involved. Our CSDC has a tradition/reputation of doing a lot with a little. Mentioning Cub Scouts leads to all sorts of free or discounted things. When SWMBO was CD and I was the "First Assistant Everything Else", our camp would charge what the Council suggested, and use the overage for Staff lunches (among other things). Our Service Region includes three Districts, three CSDCs, so the CDs developed a habit of working together and sharing resources. Stuff used by the first camp would be passed down to the second to the third. Didn't know hay bales could last so long! Took awhile for Council to catch on, and they revamped the fee structure. The C PD issued a fatwa that ALL CSDC must REQUIRE staff to provide their own lunches. "Thus saving money for other purposes". All three CDs essentially said, well, we never saw any memo, did you see any memo? And pizza still showed up at camp around noon. And they STILL had a "profit".

Thank you for the "hour a week" you spend on behalf of our future. You sound like you are an organized person. I am reminded of a "Cathy" cartoon of several years back. Cathy is talking on the phone (with a cord attached!) to a colleague at work, and she is asking them , "I'd like to find out if you received the email I sent you asking if you got the letter about the memo I posted about responding to voicemails in a prompt manner?" Ultimately, if they aren't there, they aren't there. If they don't earn the badge, they don't get the badge. Sorry. Either YOU or the PARENT must sign off on the requirements, yes? You can only provide opportunities, you cannot guarantee anyone will avail themselves of that opportunity. I would first type up a schedule (you can always change it if you must) and either GIVE or MAIL it to your parents. NOT email. Handing personally is the best, of course. I would try to limit the emails, as folks do get tired of that. Schedule a regular date for meetings, if anyone can't make it, make your policy for "make-ups" known. And stick to it. Get money for projects and materials UP FRONT. When I was DL, I would say " I need $10. for the coming weeks, I will let you know if I need more for craft materials. Here is what we intend to do" and list the projects. Once, a boy did not come to the meetings for a while. I saw the handwriting on the wall, they were dropping out. So I visited their house one Saturday afternoon, Tommy was surprised when he answered the door and saw me there! His dad came up, I said "I saw Tommy wasn't at the meeting, but he paid for these kits, he should have them" and handed the kits to Tommy. His dad said thank you. Tommy said nothing. I said I hope to see them again at next weeks meeting, but I didn't hear from them again. I did my duty. I know you will "do your best". It will make a difference for some of them, for sure. Remember the Cub Scout Mantra: "KISMIF, KISMIF" . Keep it simple, make it fun.

Oh, they were short staffed last summer. Our in house Scout told us about everybody doing double duty , serving at stations they were not originally signed up for, not having any time off except at night. Flu, saving money by not (originally) hiring enough people, not enough "qualified" folks signing up, didn't want to cancel programs/stations and disappoint the campers.... we still had a bang up time, the Scout staff did yeoman work throughout. We could see the fatigue in their faces sometimes, but they still had fun with us and appreciated it when some of us Old Folk volunteered at some stations to give them more bodies for oversight. Even when we had a "lost Scout " drill, which turned out to be NOT a drill, but the Scout wasn't really "lost", just not counted correctly at the waterfront (those tags do stick together sometimes).

Religion can be blessed for much and blamed for much. Faith is a different issue. One's faith can be in logic, or a Spirit, or a ritual, or science. ( now where did I leave that "Faith and Chaplaincy" shortcut button?) . You can have faith in the US of A, is that a religion? Or I can have faith in my lovely wife. Or I can have faith in Jesus or Vishnu or the Buddha..... "is a puzzlement", to quote one Buddhist king of the stage. "By their fruits ye shall know them". is Biblical, but applies easily to this standard. The Westboro Baptist Church professes a Christianity I would not agree with. Would their Scout (if there is such a thing) pass a EboR How 'bout Gandhi? Would he pass a Ebor? His faith was decidedly not of any one defined religion. Hindu? Christian? He declared that Christ could be followed, but not as a Christian! ".... duty to God" is our stumbling block here. I would not suggest ridding our Scout movement of that. What needs to be done is to early on ask our Scouts to see what real obeisance to that undefinable quality really means, no matter what faith title one wears. Reverent can mean a shared belief (a religion?) , it can also mean understanding and respecting another's ritual (breakfast must include things other than bacon. I will not offer my left hand to my Muslim Scout brother. ). It can mean not being flippant or "trying to be funny" at one's EboR. So is our problem allowing a "Belief", or in not allowing certain "Religions"? Thought provoking article: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/no-2-religion-yes-2-faith/2012/feb/12/what-best-definition-religion/ "Keep your stick on the ice. I'm pulling for ya, we're all in this together. "

Welcome to the forums. You will at least have many sympathetic ears here around the virtual crackerbarrel. Suggestions from my side of the campfire..... Many SMminutes for the Troop to come , about what's important. Leaning on artificial stuff (drugs, weed, beer, tobacco, whiskey, ) to have a "good time"? This is necessary? Breaking or supporting laws. Playing fair. Getting high on life (mountain climbing? White Water canoeing? football? ), being "Trustworthy" , What's it mean to be "a man"? Where do you want your money to go? To a Columbian drug lord? a Homeless shelter? Your Mustang GT? Your IRA? Consequences of actions? Taking responsibility for your actions? Lots of ideas come to mind. As to the SMconference, I suspect you will have to have some regular , scheduled ones with these boys, either singularly or together. They do not have to "pass" them, only have the conferences, letting them know they have some catching up to do , to prove their worthiness of Eagle. Breaking the law does not, to my mind, show a "following of the Scout Promise and Law in the Scout's life" . You , as their Scoutmaster, are disappointed in them, and they need to know that in no uncertain terms. You should set them some expectations over the coming months, and keep up with them in tallying their progress in meeting these expectations. Do not let things slide. Do not "forget" anything. The "offishul" Eagle SMconference can wait. These conferences should be "private" (keep to YP standards!) but realize that the rest of the Troop community certainly know what has happened and is happening. These things never happen in a vacuum. You may never know the "rest of the story", but you DO know your side of it. Your side may be the side they latch on to, if you are consistent and absolute in your standards and expectations. Or they may bail..... You will np doubt get other ideas and reactions from my fellow forumites, but hat's what comes to my mind tonite. Good luck and thanks for your "hour a week".

Buy him a long sleeve shirt

"It is hard to explain the development of the human eye in purely evolutionary terms, but it is a slight possibility" .

Dens are supposed to be the "Gang" that all boys love to be in. It was no mistake that the original Cub Scouting program was so heavily owing to Rudyard Kipling and the Jungle Book. Wolf Packs, Dens, animal imaging, etc. With a little "in loco parentis" of the Den Leader, you have a good chance to really guide and influence these little guys. Even influence the "ex-loco parentis". A thoughtful Den Leader can even get the parent to appreciate being a parent! Once a week is needed to allow the boys to advance and get into the Scout Spirit. Twice a month in the rec room or kitchen, one "field trip", one Pack meeting is a minimum, really. Without the regularity of expecting a good time with his pals, how's a Cub to find out what Scouting can be about? I knew that my competition was TV, and sports, and videogames. But human Cub buddies was a draw. It is worth the effort. I still see some of the Cubs I worked with every so often in the community and Scout world. It is worth the effort.

We all (I hope) learn from prior episodes and history. My question here is: Where was the camp? I do not know of any state or national park where alcoholic beverages are allowed. So: two problems... BSA policy and possible legality. Would've been good to start the conversation in a friendly manner or pass it on to the Park Ranger or Camp Director. Good for you and your concern. You can be a Fire Warden in my camp anytime....

Truly, that is what we are all about. I wish you and your collegues the best in this endeavor. Have you thought about partnering with another Troop? I know we have lots of unused equipment in our attic (it gets loaned out ), surely with some PR to the rest of the Scout District/Council you can find some where withall to make things happen for your boys. Uniforms are good, but not the most important thing. More to come, gotta go with wifey to work on the office(church) yard.

Cambridge: A minute's APPLAUSE? Not "silence"? Usually, at least in my experience, respect for such a thing would mean holding a period of silence.

Faith and Chaplaincy.... mmmm.... mmmm... mmm... try https://www.facebook.com/groups/103580129706482/ on for size. BSA Chaplains Facebook.. Thumb thru for many suggestions and teeth gnash sharing.,

This is known as the "Free Market" economy, yes? The good, available program, will attract the participants. Go forth and Scout, my friend.

""~~ I ended up just talking about how we should be good people and live like Jesus taught us."" With no knowledge of the actual event, that sounds like an excellent "Scout's Own". Think about how the world would be if all so titled Christians lived that way.... The rest of any such "service" is mere googaws and dressing. I would shake your hand, lo these many years later.

BP was once asked , "Be prepared for what?" and he reportedly replied, "why , for any old thing." When the cell battery dies, when it gets lost overboard, when the GPS satellites are out of range or you are too close to the umpteen gigawatt power line, when you HAVE TO listen to that new download, when the course teacher is SO booorrriinng...., yeah , there are lots of reasons to "leave the electronics behind" and learn to use a paper map and compass, listen to the bugle between classes, learn to TALK to others, get used to learning from folks that don't necessarily know how to teach (but have stuff good to know), find out that the music of the woods might be superior to the fugawees, . More to come, I gotta go show the inlaws visiting the neat ar exhibit at the Strathmore.....

~~William Penn (1644-1718) , from “Some Fruits of Solitude†1682: 519. ""The Humble, Meek, Merciful, Just, Pious and Devout Souls, are everywhere of one Religion; and when Death has taken off the Mask, they will know one another, tho' the divers Liveries they wear here make them Strangers.""

Merry Christmas. Jason, I trust you are not saying the Scout keeps the money ($2.50) from the sale of the card...? I can understand the Troop bankrolling the funds for the Scout, but not directly, yes?

Thank you, R/S for the reminder of something very important. The soldiers declared the peace, the leaders did not, and, indeed, I read where the military and political leaders on both sides were, shall we say, aghast. 56 million dead attributed to WW2. So many lives shortened, so few lessons learned..

Rick: I understand your comment totally. It is the gist of every argument AGAINST the idea of a "Scout's Own" service that is not type #1 or type 4. But anything other than "my" religion is hard to accept as the right way to worship, yes? So what is a Scout to do? Again, it is perhaps the best thing in a multi-faith Troop (this would never be done in a Cub Pack? Or not?) to allow each Scout or group to find their own way. I reiterate, the majority faith does usually dictate how things proceed, but , yeah, that's not always the best thing if the prevailing attitude is that "my" faith is THE way to worship, and everyone else's is (?) incorrect(?). We come up against this idea when our First Day students do their "Comparative Religion" section, and make arrangements to exchange visits with other neighboring Sunday/Sabbath School classes. Makes for interesting discussions, finally get the kids talking about the faith of their fathers.... I refer you to the Thanksgiving Week Interfaith Service organized by the Olney Ministerium, comprised of faith leaders from Jewish, Baptist, Methodist, Prebyterian, Muslim, Quaker and Catholic houses.... http://goyim.org/ and http://www.gazette.net/article/20141119/NEWS/141119425&template=gazette We had perhaps 300 in attendance, with a Scout presence to help organize the grocery collecting.

D77, thank YOU for the kind words. "Perspective"? I was always told "perspective" is where all the lines come together to a point in the d-i-s-t-a-n-c-e....Funny thing is, when you are at that place, you'd think that everything would spread out, but it doesn't. Everything STILL comes to a point waaaaay out there. Or several points. Does one's personal history give "perspective", show where things come to a point? Maybe, maybe it helps others, with less or a different history to see another way to go, to do things? Maybe. Sounds like a SMminute, ummm.

How to improve Scout Summer Camp Purpose: to encourage the ideals of Scouting and provide opportunities for the Scout to learn and exhibit those ideals. Technique: 1) Eliminate the dining hall. All Scouts live and work in Patrols, "under canvas". Patrols build their own campsite (except tent platforms and tents), setting up their own Dining flies and Dining/Cooking areas. Because of the need to reuse and not totally destroy the campsite, the camp would provide the poles and ropes and such, and would provide "guides" to help the Troop/Patrols lash up and set up their camp gear. Cooking done over camp stoves , lighting is by battery or moon. Permanent "Patrol Boxes" provided. Water tap, privy provided. (?ice chests? Real refrigerator?) Food and such drawn on the Quartermaster daily. Tools signed out and signed in by the SPL. SMs required to sit and smile. 2) All "ScoutSkill" activities are done under /in the woods, a hike away from the Patrol sites. Merit Badges are limited to those not ordinarily available to the local Scout: All watercraft, Pioneering, Axework (actually chop down a tree?), Nature, Birding (before dawn? Most birders go out before dawn to hear the calls...), Astronomy, Geology , etc. Bugling can be offered with the camp bugler.... Field trips are built into the camp schedule, to historic sites, quarries, lumber camps, white water river trips, etc. as available. Craft MBs are offered at the Craft Hall. Drama, Communication etc. can be accommodated by including them in the CampFire area. So-called "academic" Merit Badges are not offered. 3) All needs around the Troop/Patrol sites are the responsibility of the Troop/Patrol. Duty/work rosters are posted on the Bulletin Board in camp. Patrol camps are visited and rated by Camp Staff daily and SPLs and PLs are counseled by the Camp Guide (each Pcamp has an assigned Guide). All work is shared equally by the boys. Adults take their turn, as appropriate. 4) All electronics are put away for the week, with the sole exception of the SMs cell phone, and web access in the Camp HQ Hall. 5) Morse code/semaphore is taught and allowed and encouraged across the Camp Lake and between campsites. Speed contest? 6) Awards are given for good inspection scores. Awards include but are not limited to: Ribbons for the Patrol Flag, watermelons for the Patrol, Patches, ice cream chits for the Camp Store, extra time on the Archery /BB/22 ranges, extra time on the beach, a guided/catered canoe trip around the lake to "The Island". 7) Reveille is at 6am. Lights out (OUT. except for Astronomy MB class...) at 10pm. 8) Camp is populated and settled Sunday afternoon. First meal scheduled at 5pm. Last meal is Friday Dinner. Camp inspection and check out begins at 8am Saturday (no breakfast, only a take with you bagels/cheese snack), camp is clear by noon. 9) No visiting parents thruout the week, only by Camp Director permission. Howzat?

Pointing a finger at the source of a problem can be useful, or not... http://mcnyblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/who-stole-the-peoples-money1.jpg Recognizing the problem as an actual problem, needs a lot of agreement among the folks involved. If agreement on the definition of the problem is not attained, nothing can be done. Often, the need is to first agree on the GOAL and then the problem becomes non- existent. If the GOAL is seen as different by different people, you are never going to have a happy group. Such is Scouting. We have lots of GOALS (see all the handbooks and charts and such), and very often, as I read these threads, we find that the "problem" is one of not agreeing on the GOAL involved. The SM sees a different goal, the CC sees a different goal, the SPL sees a different goal for the Troop/Patrol/CO, etc. Finding agreement in GOAL takes conversation and communication. And , boy, do we have a lot of communication available to us, if only we can use it. Email, websites, blogs, TELEPHONES, (!), Roundtables..... the refusal to communicate (not read emails? Not attrend RTs? Not make the phonecalls?) is often, I feel, a root of many problems. And then we have some who CHANGE the goals, just when we seem to be "getting it" , but that's another subject....

It's a different time. My Patrol would RARELY pack and go on a Friday night, which seems to be the norm hereabouts. We usually got going maybe 6am Saturday, (country boys we were) and (thanks, pop) stop at the Safeway going out of town (they were open early!) and do our shopping then, as I said, with the money that was collected the meeting before. Sure, we often had leftovers from the last camping trip (dried milk, Tang, catsup(?), oatmeal, ) but we did our shopping on the fly. "Paul, you get the hamburger. Jeff, go for the carrots and potatoes and onions. Jake, we need more Creamofwheat for breakfast" , the PL did the assigning and we all shopped quickly that way. It was a Patrol thing. Then, out in the parking lot, the stuff got packed and divvied up for carrying. I remember it as being a fun part of the trip. Sunday afternoon we ate the leftovers for lunch (bread, fruit cocktail, cheese,,) before starting for home. That was even planned into the menu. Little or nothing to divvy up between us for "real" leftovers!. Nothing to worry about to store til next time. And None of this "gotta be home by one" for a soccer game. We didn't expect to be back home before 3 or 4pm, and that was because we went a ways to camp! It is a different time....