SSScout

Hello again. Where IS that "Faith and Chaplaincy" forum? Must be around here sum'ers... TT: as us Quakers say, "How doth the Spirit prosper with thee, Friend?"

I would be interested in this. Scout staff usta be a standard piece of uniform. Useful. Tent pole, signal flag pole, take three and make a tripod for some use, game piece, totem/award hanger, prop to rest on , lots of uses. How big are these Tiger Cub staffs? A Boy Scout one would be 2 meters long, at least. I used one for my recent Camino hike, and received one as an award at the NatJam.

I think this can be classified in the same file as "when do I wear my Woodbadge Beads/dove necker/DA dangle/adult religious dangle/QA sash.. " If you earned it, you can find the "appropriate" time to wear it. Or not wear it.

"The work is done by whoever shows up". In an ideal world, the campouts are led by fully IOLS trained Scouters who are also Eagle scouts and USArmy Ranger trained. The Commishers are independant of the Units they serve because this helps insulate them from the internecine politics and lends them credo as to being unbiased and expert. The Pros are ex Scouts and realize they are being judged by BSA on "numbers" and judged by the local volunteer Scouters by their sympathy and ability to "help". All Eagles are expert in campcraft (E.T.Seton) , stay with their home units as an example to the younger Scouts and stay away from unlawful activities. Every parent is there for their Scout, steps up when the Unit needs help but lets the boys "do their thing". And there is enough fully trained and experienced Commishers that each one has only two or three units they are assigned to. When it is time to recharter, and we start talking about it in November, every unit has a Adult that takes on that role, corrects all the records, collects all the signatures and turns in the 100% correct paper work and clicks on the online forms by 31 December. Other than that, I agree with everything that's been said above.

"Reverence to God and reverence for one's neighbour and reverence for oneself as a servant of God, is the basis of every form of religion. The method of expression of reverence to God varies with every sect and denomination. What sect or denomination a boy belongs to depends, as a rule, on his parents' wishes. It is they who decide. It is our business to respect their wishes and to second their efforts to inculcate reverence, whatever form of religion the boy professes." =Robert Baden-Powell, “Aids to Scoutmastershipâ€Â

"" I'm just looking for ideas for my troop and my son fordifferent things."" Well, you're in the right place for that. Don't spill your cocao with some of the things you'll read here. Greetings from the Western Shore of the Bay, NCAC MD here.

So the choices are: 1) Scouts (and parents?) do something so unit raises money (sells widgets, washes cars, spreads mulch, whatever). Money goes in unit treasury, and Committee decides how to spend it (charter expenses, room rental, new tents, travel expenses for trips, sign out front, badges and books and neckers, etc.). or 2) Scouts (and parents?) do something so unit raises money. Committee decides how money is spent AND who to spend it on (camperships? Backpack for deserving Scout? ) and the kicker is that some Scouts work better/harder and earn/sell more stuff than others, so why should that Scout get more goodies than my Scout? I know a Cub that sold $25,000. gross popcorn two years ago. His Council propered, his Pack prospered (they bought a new PWD track among other things), and he went to summer camp essentially free. I know of no one who claimed they were less benefitted by his efforts (the kid did easily 90% of the selling hisself, contacted many companies and sold internet, long story. ) . The Packs' "scout accounts are held in trust to pay for the Scout's dues, summercamp fees, and do not go to "private" use (ipods, boots, uniforms or other use) and it is well understood that the left overs do not go with the Scout when he leaves the Pack. I know one Scout who saved up his "Scout account" and bought the troop a new trailer with it. The unit benefits, the Scout who did the work benefits (because of his work for the unit). The Scout that did not do as much to help the fundraising must make up for that lack by paying his dues directly. If the Comittee judges that that Scout needs help, then they are within their rights (I think) to spend the general funds to help that Scout. Many I have spoken with agree that this is superior to awarding trinkets for "high numbers". I fully understand the IRS and BSA wanting to define things such that folks don't make a living by falsely letting others think that a non-profit entity is making the money when it is in reality going in a private pocket. But if the Scout unit defines and limits the Scout account correctly I think the Scouts that work for the Unit will benefit as well as the Scouts that can't or won't. It must go to a Scout activity and benefit the Scout, not the private person. I even have known some Scouts who use their Scout Accounts as a trust savings account to save up for summer camp and HA trips. Example: When the Troop goes to Philmont, it is not the individual Scouts that pay, it is the Troop that pays for the trip. All the Scouts pay to the Troop. They pay either by working extra at the fundraising (?Scout account?), or with daddy's check book. When a Scout goes to Jamboree, it is not the Troop paying for that, that must be the Scout paying individually , that cannot come from the Scout account, which stays with the Troop.

Sikh: An upcoming group in Scouting. Very much in agreement with the SP&L http://www.worldsikhcouncil.org/press/2013/28Jul2013.html

Nice programs. http://www.bayportsr.org/

Uniforms.... A uniform is NOT required to be a Scout. Nice to have, makes us feel part of the movement, etc., but.... In a lot of places, a Tee shirt and Neckerchief is sufficient. Look at pictures of the World Jamboree, not everyone is in a blinged out tan/green/blue shirt. The only thing a Scout is required to do is follow the Scout Promise and Law, and even that is somewhat adjustable. Not every SP&L around the world is the same as the USA-BSA ones, but we recognize the brother/sister Scout when we meet them. If the woman is exemplary of the SP&L, then welcome to my Den and here's how you can help.... Get her to Woodbadge!

Welcome, Scout. Good to have a few young'uns to off set the old'ns around here. Feel free to speak your mind. Good practice for when you run for Governor ;-)

Could be has to do with this: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/financeimpact/pdf/Fiscal_Policies_and_Procedures_for_BSA_Units.pdf or this....http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/booster_club_field_directive_6-27.pdf or perhaps this.... http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-wd/02-0041.pdf But I was enjoying the banter about who gets what from whom.

Amen and dittos and absolutely to what has gone before. Tigers are a SCOUT and his ADULT partner. Texting is not an option. Pull them out of their comfort zone. Give them a task, as Denner, or as Scout. Each pair needs to be in charge of a "go see it" or Den meeting activity or somesuch. Give them expectations, and encourage them to meet those. Tiger Den should NOT be a spectator sport. I remember a CSDC I led the Nature Pavilion. One day we worked on Leave No Trace. Each boy got the LNT card, and I told stories and we went over the rules on it. I then sent the boys out in pairs for three minutes to pick up "everything that was NOT left there by God", and they collected a pile of trash! When the boys went out, one lady was IMMEDIATELY on her cell, complaining to who knows who about "I can't believe how much work I'll have next monday, I can't believe they talked me into this Den walker thing. Why couldn't SOMEbody else do this? Jeremy doesn't need me here, he's fine by himself. It is SUCH a waste of my time and..." then when the boys circled back in, the phone went away. *sigh* If they don't have a connection with their boy by the time he is 10, they won't have one when he is 18.

Popcorn is always an option. It is tailored for , as has been said, a"donation" with a "thank you" gift. Sort of like GSCookies, (better value? better handled? another topic). I know lots of BSunits that let the Cubpacks do the Popcorn (no competition there...) and the BSTroops do other things... sell Christmas trees, holiday wreaths, candy, campcards, flag display putup/takedowns, parkcars/do ice delivery/pickup trash at the county fair, spaghetti dinners, car washes, parade marshalling, mulch sale/delivery/installation, yard work, pet care/walking, .... Then we get into the definition of what is "service" or "good turns" versus "getting paid for it".

Yes-in-deedy... welcome to the ecrackerbarrel. The cocoa is there on the virtual table, next to the pepperoni slices. Don't step in the gazonga, and have a virtual seat. We'll get acquainted in due course. First bit of advice: Don't overstretch yourself (learn to say no with gratitude). Secondly, family comes first. Other than that, KiS, MiF!

Set the example. Adult leaders should wear them too. I see quite a few at my RT wear none, or merely WB beads under collar. Rarely the full necker. District Committee opted for 36" triangle neckers for District level folks. I wear it, fits and looks good. Now if all the District level folks would wear them...

Welcome back , KT. I would second the suggestions already made and add some more. If you attend a faith institution (or member of a service club, or ???) , check to see if they have a Scout unit, and if not, look into starting one. Make yourself known to the congregation (newsletter, deacons, elders, etc.) and find some like minded Scouty folks. Go to the Council website, find your appropriate District, get the names of your District Key Three and attend the next Roundtable. I know you will find your niche.

I would refer thee to the "Declaration of Religious Principal" on the back of your Adult Application.....

Well, that was refreshing. We get to complain about nothing, rather than something....

Boy Led: When the Troop plans an activity, theSPL tells the PLs at the planning meeting when, what and why. The PLs tell their Scouts to tell their parents that they (the Scouts) need cars & drivers for the activity. The PLs come back to the SPL and say, hey, our Patrol can't go because we have parents that can't drive (need gas money, gotta work, car broken, too small, etc.). SM and ASM helps SPL find help with other Patrols. I think this is what is called "Boy Led". If the boys want to climb Old Rag, get them involved in planning the 4 hour drive there, and back....

But it IS a sitting service. I woiuld welcome any boy into the Troop. Teach him what it means to be a Scout, despite his parents. The boy will figure it out.

Belt loops going away? The arrow points are neat, but try to sew'em on the shirt. The belt loops only need to be bandoleer'ed on the belt. I knew some Cubs that had'em over their shoulder, they had so many. It is a neat way to show off your skill and experience. What is happening to our Scout program? Cubs now need no knowledge of indian lore, Kipling, or Baden Powell. Just do .... what? Is there a reason for the Scout Promise? I only hope the new Cub Leader can help the young'uns to understand the nuances of the bigger Scout Promise and Law..... I remember (yes, I can) figuring out that the Cub promise (" ...and be square".) set me apart from the other boys in my school. What is going to happen now? Can a 8 year old be expected to take the same attitude toward "duty to..." as a 16 year old? It is a start, I guess.....

Oooooo.... I guess I forgot the ;-) But still, it would be good to know the Scout is serious about his efforts. If you can find it, I recommend a cable TV show named "Taste of History" . It features Chef Walter Staib, of Philadelphia. He owns the "City Tavern" there. He specializes in historic cooking, demonstrating how a cook might create a meal in Thomas Jefferson's kitchen, or a pioneer family's hearth . High class, open fire, camp cooking. Gourmet, but very interesting.

I have heard complaints about Scouts earning EVERY Merit Badge (how is that possible? Can't earn them for real. etc.), that some MBs are "too hard" to earn realistically, that some are "automatics" and too easy, that there are too many choices, that some of the classic, old MBs have been canceled as being "out of date"..... I'd like to suggest some of these complaints (valid or no, another discussion) could be addressed by COMBINING some Merit Badges to good effect... "Consider the possibilities" : Veterinary Science and Cooking..... Aviation and Emergency Preparedness..... Golf and Game Design ( gotta be a better way)...... Coin Collecting and Salesmanship.... Crime Prevention and Fingerprinting....

Wish we could "spin off" a related thread, like before....