SSScout

Until the thread gets relocated, allow me to congratulate you and say WOO HOO! Take the Cub master training. Take BALOO training, and take some others with you (bonding experience). Make sure you have everyones email and address. Hold your Pack Leadership meetings in a local caffeinated venue, not the church basement (wonderful tho it may be). Get the Den Leaders into your confidence and make sure THEY are connected and THEY have fun. Plan your Pack meetings around the BSA monthly theme and GO to the RoundTable (or have your trusted Assistant go) to pick up ideas and inspiration. Meet thereby like minded folks and gain confidence "You Are Not Alone". Get well acquainted with your Committee Chair and COR....Make sure your CO is aware of your activities and needs. Make sure your Pack attends the Day Camp, the Webelos Woods/weekend/world, any Beltloop Universities, etc. Put a parent in charge of each activity, you should not have to do everything (altho you will want to),. Don't be afraid to politely ASK a parent to volunteer (!!)...... You are the hub of the Pack around which alot will rotate, but you are NOT the Pack. Servant Leadership. Be in the background gently reminding and pushing, , but also upfront as ringmaster. Be prepared for grown up Cubs to accost you in the Safeway and say hello. Repeat the Cub Scout Mantra : "KISMIF, KISMIF" (keep it simple, make it fun) Enjoy your time in the well cushioned Cub trenches!

Yes, but where did you FIND it? What is it's title?

Ya gotta go back to the future, my friend..... Green kneesocks with the light green tabs on the side or Red tabs or Dark green tabs..... Trivia: Which color for which type of Scout?

Duct Tape. Put'em on withdoubled over duct tape, that way you can redo the insignia when they cross over to Boy Scouts. Never use the glue/iron on stuff, which is quick and neat INITIALLY, but gets messy and unsightly with age and washing (a Scout is clean). Or big safety pins. Staples work well, but can fall off and are "pointy" the boys say, but what can you do? They're boys. Or you might even try that thin thready stuff I've seen , goes around the outside of the patch? Some folks think it works, even easy to change, they say, I don't know. Some of this new fangled stuff, I think I heard it called "so-ing"? you need a small, thin special tool ( I bet it's expensive!) to do. Something like that....

Where did you find the music?

Editing function does not work as it did. Hit "edit" on a recent (within seconds!) post and you get a "write something" note. To change or add to a post, experimentation shows the need to "copy" the original, then "paste" into the "write something" space, retype the offending area, then "save" it, which replaces the new "copy" into the post space on the thread. But sometimes the "original" is there too, so you have two posts, and must delete the "original" to leave the "correct" copy. If you are not very careful, some of the "write something" note shows up too. Offends my editor sensitivities.

Write sWell, as has happened before in many other thread presentations, we have an ongoing drama. We have some of the back story, but certainly not all. We are not even a "fly on the wall". We here in the etherworld of Scouter.com can sympathize, advise and pragmatize but that is all. As a volunteer, Bayoustar, the CO is under no real obligation to even tell you why your services are no longer appreciated or desired. Good Christian courtesy might seem to require that they come and make things clear, however. It may or may not have to do with your inquiries into the Pack policy and finances. It may well be something else. I can't even guess from this distance. I once had a difference of opinion with a Scout situation, and it took MONTHS to track down someone who was honest and open enough to explain to me what the actual problem was. Things were then cleared up and policy was changed for the benefit of future folks, but in that particular situation, it was, as they say, MY water under the bridge. It will be ultimately up to you to say how far you wish to pursue this, for your sense of justice, for the perceived benefit of the CO (reputation?) and Scout families to come. I wish you and your family and Cub especially ("It's for the kids") good Scouting!

(From the Blues Brothers): "I've always loved you".

Firstly, as has been implied, only the Institution Head or the Charter Org Rep can "remove" the Cubmaster. The Pack Committee should concur, but by the book, doesn't need to. If you find that you have truly "been removed": I will review your choices for you: 1) Roll up your bed roll , saddle up and find a new ranch. Take the young Cub with you. Make sure all the other parents know you have been "removed" (by letter or email, but make it polite, simple and to the point), and graciously thank them for their past help. I dare say they will make their own conclusions. Smile and wave as you go by. 2) Contact the District Leadership (look it up on line under the Council website: District Commissioner, District Executive, et al) and make sure they know what you have found out about finances, leadership style, ownership of the Pack, and ask their opinion and advice. Keep Cub in Pack to continue his Scouting career with his friends and familiar surroundings. Make nice with Pack Leadership. Apologize to them for misunderstanding things. The Cub cannot be removed from the Pack without really good cause. "They" can bar you from the meetings, but do you see that as a possibility? Do you want to see that happen? How much of an threat by your questions have you become? 3) Raise hue and cry. Go to the newspapers and tv stations and divulge the corruption and betrayal you have discovered. .But I think you know that is not the track you want to take , not yet anyway. 4) Keep this website on your "favorites" bar and tells us what happens next in the melodrama, "As the Pack Turns".

*sigh* HWGA.... Scouting should have no business in anyones sexual activity, except as it injures our youth, and for that the BSA has a very good Youth. (?!adult?) Protection Program. As I tell inquiring minds, we do not have a Sexuality Merit Badge. As the Old Guard dies out, the new will change... Yes, we have a undeserved reputation as a paramilitary group. Comes from the uniform looking stuff we wear, comes from some of the ScoutLeaders we have that are frustrated DIs. Comes from the (sometimes) overly intense patriotic fervor we exhibit, but it is NOT official or encouraged except by over eager local folks. Join ROTC or Civil Air Patrol if you seek overt militarism. BSA shouldn't and isn't. Our troubles with membership decline does not stem from the stuff we should be known for: Camping, hiking, physical activities (rock climbing, canoeing, archery.....). It does not come from our educational activities (flag courtesy, history observance, leadership opportunities, tool skill use....) . It does not come from our "cheerful service" (now where did I hear that? ummm...) to others. Our membership decline stems from our organization's seeming predisposition to try and dictate morality to folks. The only thing we CAN do is DEMONSTRATE and example what good morality can accomplish. We can't demand the moral act, only encourage it theu our example. What is that? I'm not sure I could delineate such, maybe I should let one's religious faith (sorry, merlin) help to define that. But "Do to them what I'd like them to do to me" does come to mind . Scout Promise? Scout Law? Good start on what a worthy citizen and neighbor should aim for. See also Luke 10:29... but first get the kids doing the first Scouty stuff (see above). If we think we have a worthy organization that would benefit our youth, and teach them what we think they should know (survival skills, personal confidence, cooperation to accomplsh goals, manual dexterity, you name it), then THAT is what us "volunteers" should concentrate on and tell our CORs to GO to the rep meetings and VOTE the rascals out of office. Chicago Council had to do it a couple years ago. If the leadership in Irving is not appropriate to the definition of the BSA, then gee, look, things are changing, if slowly, but they are changing.

Exactly so. The Web Colors are attached as shown in the picture, pins attached to the dangles. JTE is placed as shown under the Den patch. The Cub at the bottom does not have a den patch, probably because, since the colors are only worn by Webs, the Pack may say THAT is the Den Patch. AND the bottom most sleeve is mislabeled, it is still the RIGHT sleeve. Council patches are wearable and collectable, and make money for the Council. Pick one that matches your eyes and wear that. Remember the Cub Mantra: KiSMiF, KiSMiF....and thank you for your service to our boys....

Already noted here: http://www.scouter.com/forum/working-with-kids/408343-a-tragic-event-leads-to-lawsuit#post408427 We will be seeing more of this, no doubt.

Daped01, yeah, it is usually the parent(s) that need to be sold, not the boy. If you can sell the camp idea to the parent, the boy is a shoo-in. Get the boy dirty, he'll be a Scout for a long while. Get the parent dirty, makes it easier.

Woakus! You're at camp?? Put that tablet down! Go chop some wood! Lash a table together! ID some trees! Roast a squirrel! Find and avoid some Poison Ivy! Fry some bacon! For petey sake, do some Scout Stuff! And welcome to our forums! Boy, talk about modern Scouts....

Depending on the number of beltloops, I have seen the "overage" (too many BLs for the skinny Cub's waist) displayed on a seperate "belt" worn as a bandoleer over the right shoulder (not "official", but hey), ala the Boy Scout Merit Badge Sash. The Pins could go on that , too. The Sport and Academic Pins , as has been said , can be displayed on the Cub's hat or better yet, on the red "Brag" vest. Get him the Big size, he will grow into it and then (with all the other patches for PWD, CSDC, B&G, overnights, etc. ) he can display it with his other memorabilia to his grandkids! KiSMiF, YiS

I once stood up after Meeting and announced that we had just become aware of a new invention that would revolutionize the transfer of information and knowledge. It was portable, easy to carry and inexpensive. Needed no batteries, worked out in the woods or in a building. Usable in many light levels, even in pitch dark with a small adapter. It was quickly adapted to many uses and anyone, young or old, could quickly learn how to avail themselves of its utility. Folks were even discussing how to loan and borrow them thru public venues. You could see folks start to sit up and pay attention, right up to when I said" it's called THE BOOK. " and reminded them I was on the Meeting's Library Committee.

Al: If you're still reading this, I second all the above advice, boy led, boy responsible, SM and ASMs, find a new Troop, be sure to talk to ALL the other families, check your ripcord, walk to the door.... One more thing comes to mind.... "follow the money" has always been good advice in many social situations. Who (as if I couldn't guess) is the Troop treasurer? How were dues and expenses handled? If "they" are the CO, then "they" own any money left over.... And when you call Council to check on the Charter , ask about the "slush fund" , some Councils keep seperate unit accounts to help even up shortages and overages on the books come charter time. If the unit otherwise has a respectable record, leave with a "good-by and thanks for the fish."

If the boy is as you present, there are other witnesses, adult preferably. Ask to speak to the parent, this time with the other witness(s) in company. Make sure that the parent realizes that to accuse YOU of being (in effect) a liar about his boy's behavior is also accusing these other good people of the same. In my career as a sub teacher, I had to participate in such a meeting. It was not pretty, but it finally got the parent to confront his own daughter (!) about her behavior. Things improved over the next few weeks. If necessary , (it will be), you may have to have the same meeting between the parent, the witnesses, AND the boy. The provocation of such might even make the boy act up in his parent's presence to prove your point. Be prepared to give specific examples of his language and behavior, giving events and places and times. Good (better?) Scouting to YOU, my friend.

I think Mr. Rowe is doing Good Work, and he has been badly, unfairly treated by the self appointed pundits of both press sides (liberal and illiberal). There is, after all, "too much empty bandwidth" and "the air time has to be filled". After some consideration, I do think Mike hasn't come to grips with the facts of Walmart's labor relations history. Mike responded to the Aimee's comments " You guys are in a labor dispute, and my foundation doesn’t take sides between employers and employees. " well and good, but he has to understand how it looks. Niether of Mikes detractors played fair, and just jumped on the chance to make a splash, taking things out of context and not following up to check facts or quotes. He looked bad (from their seperate viewpoints ) despite his protestations. 250million over ten years? Paid out/invested how? In training programs? Pay and benefits for employees (who can then buy more American)? Buying new decor for Mr. Walton's board room? I would invite Mike to my Eagle CoH anyday, but WallyWorld can still afford to pay their employees a better salary and treat their overtime in a legal manner without being told to.

Nope. No luck. Tried sending to qwazse, I get " "Please enter at least one valid recipient. Type in the first four characters and you will get a list of matching user names" I will try again with and without caps. OK

This is a new system. Just got back in from a Scout org conference, saw the above, did not see anything from Scouter.com in my regular email, checked the "messages" block above by my log in, and there's Qwasze's test. So if this is the way it's suppose to work, I would not know I had a message unless I purposely checked the "message" section above right. In the "old" system, we received a notification in our regular email, but it would have a code number to respond to, so we would not have the direct email unless we listed it ourselves. Scouter.com acted as "chaperone" between folks. If we wanted to respond directly, we could, if they provided the email. Here, we still don''t have that directness. I cannot send a file directly. Like the song said, "Is that all there is?"

Five Rivers Council, Camp Gorton (Finger Lakes) , Camp Brule... smaller, personable camps . Very traditional camps. http://www.fiverivers.org/

Of course, we could talk about Discipline, Expectations, Plans, Activities on a cabin camp. What was expected? Were there outdoor activities planned that didn't come off? Was the Plan B not well thought out? SPL and PLC should have things in hand... Home Troop has a winter cabin camp at Broadcreek, MD. Expectations are that there WILL be hikes, map & compass, Totin' Chip instruction (wood stove to stoke), cooking requirements passed (both indoor and out) and for the evening, board games, the famous "I Doubt It" tourney, and a late movie (last time it was "Second Hand Lions" and Popeye cartoons). Too much snow or rain? Well, they are Scouts and the hikes and compass course still go out. You have a dry, warm cabin to come back to. Come sleepy time, ( 12 midnite ?) Scouts are detailed to serve the woodstove, and Scouts are tuckered out and sleep. Like every other boy, Scouts will tend to live up to expectations. If there are any.

I really like this Faith and Chaplaincy forum, it certainly ... oh, darn. As an "experienced " parent (read: OLD...), I have come to the conclusion that it is the parent's duty and responsibility to give their off-spring a belief that they can either accept or reject. And, the fact is that ALL parents are doing just that, whether they are conscious of it or not. The example of their lives is closely being observed, judged and accepted OR rejected. Is the "PM" function functional yet? I'd like to offer the "Scout's Own" curriculum I do at IOLS. I haven't figured out the Dropbox thingy to use. "Esoteric belief" : Something strange to my personal ken.... (?)

Way to go TwoCub. Couldn't have said it better. Scouting is what it is, and "making the best of it" is , or ought to be, the 17th point of the Scout Law. Or something. I was on a campout with 6 beginners and the SM. SM had a tent, I had a tent (both well used and trusted), boys divied up in three two boy tents, two Troop tents, and one boy shared his NEW tent. New tent was not seam sealed, it seemed. It poooouuurrreeed down rain. New tent became a covered bath tub. One troop tent had a corner leak. I gave up my tent to three of the boys, SM moved his son in with him, I slept in the car. We "the made the best of it". The next morning, sun came out, we had a hot breakfast (oatmeal and maple syrup as I remember). Dried things out, went home late. Soggy, muddy, sleepy, but Scouts still. Two of those six, come to think of it, became Eagles.