SSScout

Your Scoutson is learning early a valuable lesson: how to get along with a boss. Some bosses are all over being good for their people, some blame all problems on the worker, some let the worker get all the credit for good things happening, some have a problem when things aren't EXACTLY as they think things should be. My advice for Scoutson: 1) Make sure he smiles and thanks (!) the SM for all his advice and suggestions (No Matter What), and anything the SM says to him is a suggestion. "A Scout Is Courteous" This will either greatly please the SM or bug him to pieces. 2) Make sure SM, and CCh, and AdCh and (?) are included in any communications. 3) If he talks to SM after the Tmeeting, make sure it is within eyeshot of another adult (Child Protection! SM will understand...). Sounds like the SM is a micromanager, and has a hard time admitting when he forgets something. SPL should be forgiving, but keep on with his successful Tmeeting plans. 4 ) SPL should enlist his (HIS!) PLC in all his planning and include the SM in the meeting and results/decisions . "Is this alright Mr. SM? We decided to A and not B. Okay?" 5) Give your Scoutson several grains of salt (with which to take things), He will need them. 6) Then back off, and let Scoutson come to you for advice. Try not to give it him before he asks....

Sentinel947: ""On what authority do you decide who's living Christianity and who's not SSScout?"" I tend to not make that judgement, but I can compare Jesus' suggestions on how one should behave as recorded in Gospel with how people do behave and speak. The bumper sticker WWJD is very evocative to me. I would never presume to instruct someone else in the organization or running of their church. I would encourage people to read their scripture for themselves and make their own choices of behavior. Remember, the Master and his disciples wore costumes without pockets. Merlyn? You out there?

"The purpose of life is the planting of trees in whose shade one does not expect to sit". Ya done good, Ranman.

"" So many experts on Catholicism that aren't actually Catholic. "" And, many who profess Christianity don't really follow Jesus' teachings, but we can discuss that in the "Chaplaincy and Faith " forum. Oh wait... Nice discussion on NPR about the Catholic Priest/Bishop child abuse cover-up on going scandal http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/catholic-church/ I remember a Catholic guidebook that mentioned something about a log in someone's eye, perhaps....

How about this: Scout is photo-ed in Scout activity, and picture isn't used until 5 years later, with no name attached? Some recruitment literature....

Here again is evidence of the desire to forget the past. I have all my MBcards (back in the days of candle lit TV watching) from my Scout days. I think it is nice to look at that signature (and I have, since first collecting them), and remember that man who complimented me on the airplane wing model I built. That SM who taught me the Square Lashing. That SPL that is now a professor of mathematics who saw me light a fire with two matches. Todays Scouts are being short changed by our desire to not pile up Advancement Reports in some dusty filing cabinet. White MBpaper? I had one card, that the MBC signed, I took that back to my SM who countersigned it and then handcopied the record of that (or somebody did) onto the Troop records. There was only the one card, and I kept that. Oh sure, I have the MBsash, and the old patches off the shirt. But that is not the same as the printing that an old man did on that yellow/buff card. It was by his hand. I desired to find out when my home Troop had been founded, maybe organize an anniversary BBQ. Went down to Council and asked about the old records, say, 1954, 1956. The nice lady at the desk led me over to a microfilm /fiche machine and a small cabinet and said "here you are. Help yourself". I had to figure out how the film records were arranged and how to operate the machine, I was the first to ask in a long time, it seemed. When I found the record, faded and hard to read in that negative even if it was magnified, I again read the names of the men who drove me to camp, helped me learn about the woods, let me cry on their shoulder when I was homesick ( and didn't laugh at me), let me take responsibility for water, wood, cooking and being buddies with my Patrol. Email ain't the same, not 50 years later..... What is wrong with making sure the Scout has a small card to file away in a folder or shoebox?

I know certain Scout Ranks are equivalent , nation to nation, but I cannot quote you the rules for it. WOSM might be able to give authoritative opinion. There are lots of WB Facebook pages with international members sharing pictures and lore.

Back in the pre dawn of Scouting, working on my Stegosaurus Husbandry Merit Badge (when you earned Eagle, it was a REAL Eagle, and you had to catch it yourself....), I remember that each Patrol was expected to have it's own PL (elected,), APL (chosen by consensus, who else didn't want it) Treasurer (collected the weekly dues, some of which went to the Troop treasurer, helped organize paying for campout grub, bought Patrol equipment), Scribe (filled out forms for camping trips, kept what small records we had) and Quartermster. No Troop property, it was Patrol stuff or personal stuff. It might be kept in the Troop closet at the church, or in the basement corner of the QM's basement, but it was marked with a Patrol name first, not the Troop number. All of these had to make a small report at each Patrol Meeting, sometimes before the Troop meeting, sometimes on a sunday afternoon in somebody's rec room or back yard. I was Patrol Treasurer for a time, I had a pipe tobacco zippered bag that held the Patrols funds, maybe ten or twelve dollars at time. More if we were about to buy food for a trip, or tickets to a movie. And I was Quartermaster for a time. Nested cook sets, tents, wow. I guess those duties did not count toward rank, but they were there to be done, none the less. The rest of the fellows expected me to take care of the money and I did. So much for "Patrol Method". With internal -to -the -Patrol PoRs, that would certainly lend a bit of organizational umpfth to the "Patrol Method" , wouldn't it? But then, the boys would have to insist on their buddy's responsibility and not the adults doing it? It was my money that bought that nesting, 5 lb cook kit. Take care of it, Ken!

Here, It has always been a District BoR, even thru the six Districts I have lived in (and I haven't moved in 25 years). Each Troop has already done their own BoR. Routine: EBoR are held the same second and third Tuesday every month in the same church social halls and class rooms. Rarely are they rescheduled, but there was one where the Scout had to be moving (parents overseas assignment) and they accommodated this. I sat the EBoR in a rec room of the ECoordinator. Every Eagle candidate is expected to have his SM or ASM to introduce him, and the parent(s) are invited to accompany him but NOT be in the BoR room. Other Adults (SM, ASMs, parents) are invited to participate in some one else's BoR (not their Scout's) during the evening. The District Advancement Committee (Chair et al) chair each Board, and they have at least two other folks with them, sometimes three more. Rarely four, but if there are enough eager people, it might happen. I have assisted at BoR evenings with as many as 6 BsoR happening, and as few as none. They still come and meet, just in case, but these are scheduled in advance. Board is made up, new folks are prepped as to what to expect, the records are reviewed (yep, sometimes there is a glich in them , even after all the checking) and when the board is ready, they ask the SM to introduce the candidate. He/she will speak pretty much as has been stated above ("Scouters, I am pleased to introduce..."). And so it proceeds.

"YOU MUST BE THIS HIGH TO GO ON THIS RIDE". IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO DUCK TO PASS THIS DOOR, YOU CANNOT GO ON THIS RIDE" "NO SHOES NO SHIRT NO BEER". "IF I ASK FOR YOUR ID, YOU CAN FEEL PROUD OR INSULTED, MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME."

B&G is a "Banquet", without awards. Skits, intros of some guests and local dignitaries, SHORT speeches, maybe a special entertainment like a pro Indian story teller, or "Scales and Tales". Pack meeting is for awards and "moving up". AoL is a rank and treated as such, but with perhaps a bit more brouhaha , but no "bridge". A special Pack meeting at the end of the year (?picnic?) marks the graduation of Cubs to the next year rank. Cross Over is done "depending", but it is only for those going on to Boy Scouts, not graduating out of Cubs.

Found this in my internet skimming.... http://www.girlscouts.org/en/cookies/all-about-cookies.html Right there in the corner of the AOL news... You can find a cookie seller, volunteer to sell them yourself, do a search to find local GSUSA groups, educate yourself about how valuable the Girl Scout Cookie is to the success of civilization...

It was for Wood Badge bird watchers: The SUPERB OWL..... As for the commercials, the Jeep one was neat, if only for using a left eye dominant Cub archer... and as for the Cub Scout references in the Toyota.... I got it right up til he mentioned "nursed their young". I will always encourage folks who need to understand football to learn from Andy Griffith's instruction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNxLxTZHKM8

Yep. Hardware store in our District charters a Cub Pack.

Gives one pause. What is important in Scouting, then? What Irving sez is important? Or what you and I think is important?

I sometimes pass this out at IOLS : "Courageous Cookery" by John Echo* Once the convert backpacker or cycle camper has accepted the subtle gustatory nuances associated with sustained operations beyond the chrome, he should try the advantages of ultra fringe living so that he will realize what he is paying for his nested pots and pretty pans carried so diligently and brought home so dirty after every "wilderness experience". The following system works. It is dependable and functional. It works on the big rock. It even works when the weather has gone to hell, you are wet and cold and the wind is blowing down the back of your hairy neck. It is not for the timid. It consists of a stove, a six inch sauce pan, a plastic cup and a soup spoon. If you insist on a metal cup, you must never fail to mutter "I'm having fun, I'm having fun", every time you spill the soup on your sleeping bag. Breakfast: Instant wheat cereal-- sugar and powdered milk added-- ready two minutes after water boils. Eat from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water, boil, and add powdered eggs and ham. You'll never taste the cereal anyway. In three minutes, eat eggs. Do not wash pot. Add water or snow and boil for tea. Do not wash pot. Most of the residue eggs will come off in the tea water. Make it strong and add sugar. Tastes like tea. Do not wash pot. With reasonable technique, it should be clean. Pack pot in rucksack and enjoy last cup of tea while others are dirtying entire series of nested cookware. Lunch: Boil pot of tea. Have snack of rye bread, cheese and dried beef Continue journey in 10 minutes if necessary. Dinner: Boil pot of water, add Wylers dried vegetable soup and beef bar. Eat from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water and potatoes from dry potatoe powder. Add gravy mix to taste. Eat potatoes from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water and boil for tea. Fortuitous fish or meat can be cooked easily. You do not need oil or fat. Put half inch of water in pot. Add cleaned and salted fish. Do not let water boil away. Eat from pot when done. Process can be done rapidly. Fish can even be browned somewhat by a masterful hand. Do not change menu. Variation only recedes from the optimum. Beginners may be allowed to wash pot once a day for three consecutive days only. It is obvious that burning or sticking food destroys the beauty of the technique. If you insist on carrying a heavier pack, make up the weight you save with extra food. Stay three days longer. *(( The true author of this article is unknown. It is here copied from the COME HOSTELING newsletter, Sept. 1980, of the Potomac Area Council of the American Youth Hostels, who received it from Dick Schwanke, Senior PAC Staff Trainer, who read it in the APPALACHIAN HIKER by Ed Garvey, who got it from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Conference Bulletin, which quoted it from THE RAMBLER of the Wasatch Mountain Club of Salt Lake City, which reportedly cribbed it from the I.A.C. News of Idaho Falls, which reported it from the 1966 PEAKS & TRAILS. I offer it here for your enjoyment and inspiration. Note that some of the ingredients are a bit dated. Adjust as necessary. Enjoy!))

Yes, it needs a theme. Emergency response: First aid demo stations, State police helo makes an appearance, climbing walls, extrication practice, etc. Pioneering: Ignore the G2SS and download the Brits site: http://www.pioneeringmadeeasy.co.uk/ among others. Eliminate trailers: Hike and carry in only. Cooking: "Iron Chef" stuff. OA judges the cuisine. Over fire, or charcoal or cookstove classes for judging. Nature: Stations for judging names of trees, animals, scavenger hunt, bird spotting, History: Civil War camping, Revolutionary war stuff .... contact your local museum. Canvas tents? No bungee cords? No battery lights? Flint and steel etc. Communication: Signaling, lights, flags, etc.

Home Troop had 28 Scouts last year, 22 right now. New SM less than 6 months, 3 official ASMs. Will soon have one more, the Last Eagle Scout , he will be 19 in 3 months and is gung ho to keep involved, local Junior College and all. He even asked me about Wood Badge last Com Meeting! It is, I see , a combination of who asks to be, and who acquiesces when asked. Lord knows, I have gently prodded a couple of good candidates, but they just keep on driving and attending camp trips in "civies".

Just a thought: Cub Scouts are "Parent Led"... Boy Scouts are "Boy Led"... Venture/Explorers are "Boy/Girl Run".... It is "Boy Scouts of America", not "Parent Scouts of America".

Usual thing with home Troop is cookies and punch/soda. Scouts plan and see to it, so it is the easy way out. Communication Merit Badge and all that. I have suggested that some of the Cooking MB candidates get together and organize a cook out . CO has a big enough parking lot, it could be done. Depends on the grandeur desired of the CoH , I guess.

""FWIW, I wouldn't split 12 scouts into 2 patrols unless you're getting at least 10 boys on every camp out."" Irrelevant. A Patrol is a Patrol. If some of the boys don't come, the rest ARE the Patrol. Six cooking in a Patrol, if it is THEIR Patrol, and not the ASM's Patrol, is good. Three cooking in a Patrol can easily demonstrate nutrition, cuisine and hygiene in the wilds . Only if you have a drop down to only one Scout, and there is no reason he can't cook for himself as the XYZ Patrol of one, should you meld them back into one Troop/Patrol. I heard someone comment at a recent IOLS " Remember it is Boy Scouts of America, not Parents of Scouts of America". Roger's Rangers were adults. ASM's Patrol won't be, but could be Scouts. The Ugly Sneaker Patrol might be Scouts, if they are "allowed". .

""Recommend Baltimore Inner Harbor: USS Constellation, USCGC Taney... Crabs for lunch.... and the B&O Museum , 10 blocks away on Pratt St. "" OH!! And I forgot to mention Fort McHenry!

The new syllabus was cut back from the old one because folks were complaining about the length of time. A lot of the old syllabus was included because nascent SMs need to know stuff. My favorite thing to include? Let the Scouts (encourage the Scouts!) plan and execute the Troop meeting, but ALWAYS the SM should do his SM minute at the end to wrap things up. I see many Troops that merely march the flags back down the hall, and that's it. Good bye. Close the meeting with something meaningful. A friendship circle. A SM minute. A short "God Speed"., Make the ending an Ending.