SSScout

""The Work Is Done By Whoever Shows Up."" = Scouter District mantra = Perhaps they could use someone who has been there- done that? Ummm?

Resurrect the thread: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson How to Shit in the Woods by Kathleen Meyer

As I understand BSA policy: 1) A Scout Unit may NOT solicit donations. The unit must earn its budget (selling, services, etc.). Voluntary donations can be accepted, but not asked for. 2) If a Scout Unit is doing a service project for a non-profit entity (can't clean up a gas station parking lot for free), and fund raising is necessary (gotta buy materials to build the picnic tables for the church), those funds (however raised. ?donations?) must ALL go to the benefiting entity. And any leftover materials. 3) Nothing the Unit does financially can personally benefit any individual Scout, except as it applies to his Scouting career. Camp scholarship okay, new xbox, no no. New back pack, maybe, new Air Jordans not a chance.... see previous discussions about "Scout Accounts". 4) Yes, the Unit is "owned " by the CO, but the understanding CO will let the Unit do it's thing with the Unit's money. And the understanding Unit will not knowingly embarrass or place the CO in any financial problems. 5 Therefore, if the Scout Unit wants to do a project/have a fundraiser/ etc. to benefit a separate non-profit entity (ie, not the Scout unit), they should fill out a "Fund Raising Permission " form (contact your DE) and figure out how all the above applies. Share the money raised between the Unit and another Non-profit? ? Well, we do that with popcorn, yes? so it is not out of the realm of believable. Outside sponsorship? mmmmmm.... Cub Pack helping at a charity race? Better chance. Relay for Life gets lots of Scout support around here, Scout Troop organizes team, and ALL the money goes to the RfL folks. That's appropriate. Unit helps with crowd control at the school track, good fit. Sells bottles of cold beverage to participants? Who gets that money? Half and half? seems okay to me.

Lessee now... From Gilwell Park to New York to New Jersey to Texas I 1979. Keep moving west? Denver got any cheap real estate?

Boy, that looks like a REALLY big backpack! But the stamps are notable. Makes me want to dig out my mom's stamp books and look'em over. Is the "Forever" stamp collectable? Any upside down 747s?

Junior Ranger Award is intended for Cub Scout age folks. Boy Scouts do a lot in the Parks, usually for their own ranks and badges, but the occasional Eagle or OA project comes to mind. I have also seen specific projects that Troops take on, one that comes to mind is the illumination of the Antietam Battlefield , where local Troops help set things up, other "civilians" help, but it is mostly Scouts herehttp://www.nps.gov/anti/planyourvisit/luminary.htm AND, some parks DO have a Boy Scout Ranger Program http://www.nps.gov/gettinginvolved/youthprograms/boyscouts.htm , just gotta ask about it.

Disabled? "Most of us are only temporarily Able."

WELL!!

She probably did not understand the description in her Treasurer Job Description as "volunteer".

Now if EagleSon can only stop making his "f"s look like "Euros" .... My dad worked as a "show card artist". He had impeccable print and flourished script writing. My mom was one of the first woman news reporters (Chicago Trib and Boston Globe). I did a Jr. High project on Cuneiform. Morse Code? Still useful. Communication is an underrated topic, for sure, especially when it comes to written English. I brought up the application materials on computer for the Council Jamboree application for adult leaders. So many typos and grammar errors. I am moved to write to my SE and ask him to proofread it....

((I pass this on to our OA brothers, everywhere)) The Order of the Arrow Broken Arrow Ceremony for Courtenay Marshall will be held on Sunday, June 14, 2015 at 5:30PM at the Transfiguration Episcopal Church , 13925 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD. Light desserts will follow the ceremony in the Parish Hall. Scheduling conflicts greatly delayed this meaningful ceremony and, while a year has gone by ( he passed away Sunday morning, June 8, 2014), it is only right that we honor the life of our colleague who dedicated so many years to Scouting, the Order of the Arrow, and the community. Mr. Marshall was a longtime Order of the Arrow Adviser, Vigil Honor, Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 1444 and active at the district level. His presence is still missed. This ceremony is open to both OA members and non-members. All Scouts, Scouters, and the public are welcome. It is appropriate for Scouts and Scouters to wear their uniform or appropriate civilian attire. All OA members, in uniform or not, should wear their OA sash. As an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 1444, Mr. Marshall was the epitome of a servant leader and beloved by those who truly knew him. In turn, Mr. Marshall loved scouting and the Order of the Arrow. He was a regular attendee at troop, district, chapter, and lodge functions and meetings for over three decades. If you have never seen this unique Broken Arrow Ceremony, it is both touching and symbolic. Please come to say your scouting goodbye and honor the scouting life of our friend and adviser. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F084FA8AB2EA0F85-broken Questions? email to : whiteoak.oa@gmail.com YiS WWW

"" I once visited another Council office during a business trip and got to chatting with one of the office staff. She said that, not only did she have to pay the fees to work at Jambo, but her SE was charging her 10 days' vacation time for being out of the office. "" As a prior Employee Rep, I can tell you that the Fed Labor Relations Board might take a dim view of this. If it is an "ASSIGNMENT" and requirement of her employment, then they cannot charge her leave time, and must PAY her regular wage. As Wolf suggested, if she "VOLUNTEERED" for it, then, yes, that's her vacation time, and her fee, but the SE might have been a bit more Scouty ("A Scout is Courteous, Loyal, " etc. ) Yeah, it's a stretch for many of us. But , as was discussed in BBlog last year, it can be seen as a bargain, what with all the activities, entertainment and built in food, accommodations (sure it's a tent), and the transportation etc. has to be considered, too.

What they said...... Paperwork and assignments should be done in the weeks prior. The CSDC staff should be (on the first day) concentrating on the poor folks that haven't kept up with the prior announcements/requirements/rosters/applications.... Tshirts and Water bottles and Caps and such should already be bundled and ready to hand out to the DenWalkers for their Dens to receive. Angst should be reserved to the CDirector for the Last Minute Participants who show up with check and downloaded application in hand who were told by the Council Secretary that it would be "all right" to just "Show Up" at camp waaaaaay past the SIgn Up DeadLine..... Assembly and Flag Up should happen "ON TIME" , handled by the Scout Camp Staff (rehearsed and ready) Remember the Cub Scout Mantra "KisMif, KiSMif, KiSMiF" (Keep it simple, Make it fun)

Yep, FRaising appears to work properly. Now.

New info..... http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2015/05/28/2017-national-jamboree-registration-now-open-for-staff-and-attendees/#more-40025 Yes and no, maybe so, money and such...

Is it too early to start a SUB FORUM on this? Health and circumstances allowing, I will be there ( I hope)(maybe) (if I can afford it). Will there be a discount if I use my own (2013 ) Jamboree duffle?

Now when I click "fundraising", the response is "You are not allowed to view that page." Doesn't seem to be any "Fundraising" pages.... Not even "Stolen Popcorn Money". Ummmmm?

The Troop of my yoooth designed it's own Necker and patch. It was drawn by the Scouts, and translated into the patch by a local embroidery shop. Ask the kids what THEY want. Even Cubs (Webelos??) can produce really neat , evocative designs. Give them some parameters (should include the Cub Scout diamond, etc. ) and turn'em loose. Somebody in your Pack is computer literate , and can scan the design into a page to send around, etc. Have fun with it!

Good ideas/experience form all above. ECoH: Home Troop provides Eagle patch, pin/medal, special necker if desired, mom&dad pins, and Mentor pins (if the Scout would like). If a special party is desired, that is up to the Scout and family. Otherwise, as has been said, a normal, Troop CoH with a special ECoH tied on the end. Both have been done. Eagle project? Special accounting, separate from the Troop. Excess goes to the beneficiary, without question. Camp Scholarship? Hardship case? Again, a separate case, but it needs to be more out in the open than merely being told "write the check". Treasurers report every Committee meeting , in the mean time. "A Scout is Trustworthy.... Thrifty....Courteous...." etc. I would also bring this up to the next Unit Committee meeting for discussion.

The sexuality of a Scout, adult or youth, is not BSA's concern. The highly esteemed Youth Protection Training is affective for leaders (or Scouts) of any persuasion. The YPT , if enforced, requires a certain morality of overt behavior that has nothing to do with how the included person(s) behave in private. And I don't think we have established a "Sexuality Merit Badge". The fact of human sexuality should be discussed, but not , to my mind, in a Scout meeting. The argument/example given by NJCubmaster about his brother is instructive. "Living in sin" can be many things (to many people). If LDS can do Scouting, and Cambodian Buddhists can do Scouting, and Volunteer Firemen can do Scouting, and Sikhs can do Scouting, and American Legions can do Scouting, each with their own attached modifications, (I have had to disabuse folks many times of the idea that Scouting is a "Christian" organization), I fail to see how BSA can "offishully" declare that only X,Y,Z people can be Scouts? Anybody got any extra stones?

*sigh* "The work is done by whoever shows up" A Scout District is a way for like minded folks (Scouters) to organize for the greater good. Like a Labor Union. If the worker sees "the Union " as the office over there, and not as himself and his buddies, then "the Union" is not doing it's job. The Scout (BSA) vision of the District, like many things in Scouting, is often not fulfilled. It is up to the members (Scouters) to make it work. Roundtable? It can be a reading of somnolent memoes, or a gathering of friends who come to discuss with a podiatrist about shoes and socks and blister prevention. It can be a reason to get out of the house, or a reason to learn about new camping venues and techniques. Camporee? It can be a place to meet other Scouts from waaaay over there, or just another place to park the Troop trailer and veg around a charcoal grill. That is the difference between a Camporee themed after the Civil War or one themed about the Survivor TV show and one that just says "come and camp HERE." Your Troop can always do the latter. The idea is that a larger camp CAN offer more stuff to do ( climbing wall? Corps of Engineers? Pioneering in the extreme?) Takes planning and cooperation and phone calls (if not emails and tweets). Council? In BSA parlance, that is the franchise holder, them and the CO. They have money responsibility, own camps, charter COs, licenses CSDCs, etc. Done well and correctly, everybody has a role, everybody supports THE SCOUT in his (her?) journey with the Scout Promise and Law. Now, I gotta go cut the grass at my Yearly Meeting Office. See y'all later.

Not an Eagle story, but similar, so I will share... In my college career, I thought I'd be an engineer. Went to my counselor to sign up for my next semester classes, and for an elective, said I'd like to take a class in Art. He suggested some "History of" and "appreciation of" and I said, no, I'd like a studio class, maybe charcoal, pencil, black and white. He said those were not available to Science or Engineer majors, only Appreciation and History and such... I sighed and signed up a "Discussion on the Fire and Water of the 19th century". First class: Lecture room of ,oh, maybe 200 kids. Prof comes in , passes out the syllabus (no text book, research!), and asks, "who of you are science, math or engineering majors?" About half the hands went up . Prof says, "Alright. Put your name on a piece of paper, with your student ID number, the letter C, and leave it on the desk up here when you leave today, and we don't need to see each other ever again." And he began his lecture and showing examples of art. Next time, the hall had about 75 students, me among them. One of my more memorable classes.