SSScout

And we are on the 11th page of this topic (we are still on this topic, yes?) What it boils down to is the ScoutLeader, if he/she is doing his Duty as he/she sees fit, should ask the Scout "how do you 'do your duty to God?' " and stand back. If he/she insists on trying to get the Scout to say "his" right answer, then , yeah, we got trouble. If he/she nods and says " umm-mmm", then I see no problem.. Again, the ScoutLeader CANNOT judge the Scouts answer in any way. There is no right or wrong answer. It is not a "skills test". It CAN be educational in both directions, if, again there is no judgement, right/wrong. Only enlightenment.

I still find the light text on a light background in a light colored venue to be too light. I really find, as I think about it, I preferred the darker, brighter, more "definite" format of the last version of our discussion set-up. Am I alone in this perception?

Well, I just posted the above entry, tried to add something, and I get the message "you do not have permission for this action". Here goes.... I wanted to note that the religious awards are from the faith, not the BSA.

More than once, in my role as a Chaplain, or Commisher, or Trainer, I have had to disbuse a willing Scouter of the idea that the BSA is a quote Christian organization unquote. That is where this new "requirement" will get into trouble, with the implication that the SM , in his Conference, needs to "pass" the Scout in his Faith. As I wrote waaay earlier, this requirement ONLY can be to LISTEN to the Scout explain how he does or doesn't do it (Duty to God). Like the previous writer espoused, we only need to worry if the BSA inquisition shows up. And , yes, the BSA does have a list of "recognized" faiths. Not "official" religions. These are the ones that have a religious award the Scout may earn.

The implication here is that the CC wants to "be in charge". What does the SM think about this? What does the COR think about this? Maybe the CC could be encouraged to found his own Troop (as SM?) at another CO? Perhaps the CC does not see himself as others see him, and that is why he needs to be reminded about what he learned in his Training. Oh, what? Training? What training? Perhaps the http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Troop_Committee_Chair might help . It points to the Offishul BSA website, but is more to the point.... " Keep your stick on the ice. We're all in this together. I'm pullin' for ya."

How can we forward this thread to the Scout folks meeting in Atlanta? I like just about everything I have read here. Our concerns seem to be about "listening" without judging. Give the Scout a query (Stosh?) and sit back. Ask him to describe how he lives his faith (Ducttape?) . Work such things into your SMMinute (a lost art for many), let the Scout talk about such things on the hike, around the campfire (Hedgehog?), or reminding them about the promise and law they mouth before or after the meeting. Do those words MEAN anything? Can our words count? "" It is a sad Reflection, that many Men hardly have any Religion at all; and most Men have none of their own: For that which is the Religion of their Education, and not of their Judgment, is the Religion of Another, and not Theirs."" = William Penn, The Fruits of Solitude =

Very nice. I will pass it on.

Don't change Councils or Districts. Change the way you run your Unit. By "run", I mean the "program" your boys do. If you set a great example, the rest of the D or C will notice, believe me. Need more challenge in camporees or Klondikes? Attend a different District's! Need more opportunity in summer camp? Look on the Internet! Any Scout can attend any BSA certified Camp! THANK YOU Mr. Cerf and Mr. Kahn! Scoutson met a truckdriver in his work, fellow was a Scouter in a neighboring Council, lived in PA. They got to talking, next thing I know, Scoutson and I are staffing an archery range in a Camporee maybe 90 miles from home! It was great! Met some great Scouts and Scouters. Learned how "they " do it. Had a free (!) campout, and got to tell the same old campfire jokes to folks that had never heard them! Really! So I say, the Council is a geographical construct. Your town ain't gonna move to another state, Your Troop isn't gonna move to another Council, but YOU can travel and experience the wonders of other Scout people's efforts. See the example, bring it home and let the rest of your Scout world benefit thereby.

Welcome, indeed , Teddy. We learn from each other and give to our Scouts, eh? I must disagree alittle with Stosh. If you ask any fifty posters here, you will probably read fifty two opinions....And, yes, it doesn't bother any of us.

The requirement is ""to have the Scout describe how he has done his duty to God. (The new requirements will be released at the National Annual Meeting in May.)"" There is and CANNOT BE any requirement as to WHAT that duty must be. For the Scout to describe his "Duty to God" MUST be sufficient. If the SM even attempts to judge that, either good or bad, sufficient or no, it will be an unwarranted intrusion and an undesirable attempt at religious instruction. Unless that SM is indeed the Scout's religious leader (Rabbi, Pastor, Priest, etc. ), there CANNOT be any other requirement than to listen respectfully to the Scout's honest (we hope) description and discussion of his faith. This is not the demonstration of a skill (tying a bowline) or the accomplishment of a task (hike 3 miles) or the gaining of experience (plan and accomplish a service project). It is (should be?) the opportunity for the Scout to explain where he is , in his faith, without judgement or the assignment of guilt or shame. Such hearing will definitely be educational on both parties, and not destructive to either , or to the BSA. I hope.

Pull up a virtual log and join the virtual cracker barrel for some virtual discussions, metaphorically speaking! And remember, it's only an hour per week, per Scout, per idea, per position, per .....

Don't worry about a requirement, take'm hiking anyway!

Oriental Trading sells cheap/good compass for less than 50cents. DO NOT get the black and white ones, they are painted on things. Get the plastic, multi color ones on a caribiner. They actually point north and can be used to Navigate! Practice pacing (so many steps for 100 feet) and send them on a compass scavenger hunt. Even Tigers with a parent can do it, especially if they are in a fairly open field area. Four 90degree turns, they should be back to start! That sort of thing. Dens draw a map of the campsite. Pace off the distances, do it at lunch break. Scout Scavenger hunt is good, record the "sign" they see on the "landmark", like an orienteering course, but simpler, smaller.

Perhaps Freethought could ask for a recruiting session and if they are rejected, sue for discrimination? What are their membership requirements? Agreement with their lack of belief? Could William Penn and is "free thinking" join?

I just noticed:::: There is a time notification under my nom de scout. And... It is actually 10:46pm where I are.

“The thirteenth point of the Scout Law is… A Scout is Hungry. He is grateful for the efforts of others in feeding him. He is eager to learn how to successfully feed others. He cleans as he cooks. There is no dish so mediocre that it cannot be improved with ketchup.†= From an old IOLS handout =

Need better contrast for these old eyes. Light blue against lighter blue is not the best thing....

Pargolf: Not so crazy.. WRONG! I would hope someone in that Troop, the Committee, the Commissioner, someone , would take the SM aside and remind him that "A Scout is Trustworthy" and that , according to the training he must have had ( sometime in the distant past) , he is not really following the BSA standards. If the Scout can't tie a bowline, the fault must be addressed in the training in his Patrol or Troop, NOT in his BoR. Patrol competitions, camping trips (where bowlines are needed), even asking the Scout to demonstrate the knot for his buds, to hone the skill and keep it "useful",,,,but once he has passed it , he has "passed" it.

The present problem comes from putting the cart before the proverbial horse. In the present Troop (I see this in every Troop) the boys buy the food, with parental help, and then divvy up the expense. At the end of the trip/campout, they divvy up the leftovers. And there is always a lot of leftovers. The proliferation of available money (before the trip) makes this an expectation. The bill is paid to the grubmaster AFTER the trip. And sometimes , the planned menu is overbought when Jack and Joe say (on Saturday morning) they aren't coming. Grubmaster Scout is left with extra food. Patrol boxes NEVER have food left in them. Back in the GODays, the Patrol collected the money FIRST, say three dollars per each, , and on Friday afternoon, we visited the Safeway on the way out to the campsite! This limited our budget and possible purchases! If we had a left over can of fruit cocktail, that was the snack going home sunday afternoon! Anything else had been eaten or burned or traded to another Patrol for something we had forgotten or planned to trade for! If today's Scout collected the money upfront, there would be less leftovers and more Scouts going on the trips.

Go thou on said quest. Taketh thee thy CSDCDirectors Handbook and be thee ready for the Camp! Thy GRRRRRRAIL is found! And what Eagle94 said... If you don't have a good time, let'em know.... And take some silly hats with you . And extra sash cord rope. And duct tape. If you are to be the Program Director, as opposed to the Camp Director, discuss those differences . My good wife went to Camp School, came home pumped to be Camp Director, but could find no Program D, so yours truly became (official title!)) the First Assistant Everything Else. We had a ball, enlisted new people when they saw how much fun we were having and how easy it (appeared) to be! The next CSDCD and PD were our proteges . And, DO NOT take on any other Scout responsibility until Camp is over. Believe me in this.

Go for the chivalry aspect. Tie things in to the Cub Promise. Knights and princes are polite! Quintain? How will they get "bopped" by the turner? Older Scouts might build a Trebuchet and have competition for accuracy, knock down a cardboard block wall? Scout Skills pavilion is the Knight's Squire School. Avoid water balloons, they just get messy and you have to fill them and clean up the little shards of rubber afterward. Use tennis balls or wads of newspaper wrapped in masking tape. reuse the ammunition to each side..... Build a cathedral with haybales?

Go to Monty Python " And the Holy Grail" and enlist your adult helpers there by. " We're knights of the round table, we dance when ere we're able, and imitate Clark Gable..." etc. Name your Staff appropriately: Sir Cumference, Sir Pentine, Lady LadeeLa, Sir Leeyoujest, Prince Hereprince, Name the CSDCDirector the Queen or King, do some research to find the local chapter of the Markland Mercenaries: http://www.markland.org/pages/about_us.php who do medieval re-enacting. "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my Den Leader, prepare to get wet!" Shields, are okay, but go easy on the wooden swords. Cubs can really get into the joisting stuff and can hurt each other! We made the play swords out of reinforced pipe insulation.

Is you is or is you ain't my Scoutmaster (apologies to Louis Jordan)? In fairness to you , you deserve to know when(if ever) the "old" SM will step down, or not.... If there are activities to take care of, then between you and the CC and the present SM, you might take on some of those (you are a ASM, yes? If not, re-register...). I have been asked, on occasion, to take on the SM mantel, temporarily, when the regular SM was not available, since I had the training, the experience and the ASM on my sleeve. No problem. When the time came to name a new SM , after 15 plus years, I made it known I COULD, but liked my role as Commisher and Trainer and CSDC person. The Troop found a good man to take the role, and I made sure he knew I would be there to help. Make sure all involved know what YOU expect and what YOU are willing to do, no insult intended, no idea of a coup de'tat. Buen Scouting !

My comment: My aged glaucoma'd eyes find the light colors and faint contrast a challenge. I guess I liked the bright colors and contrasting work areas in the last version superior. As to ease of operation and "user friendly" I will think about that. Scout on!

"The work is done by whoever shows up". Congratulations and thank you for your service. When my good wife became CSDCDirector, there was no one else to be her assistant, so I was titled (officially!) "First Assistant Everything Else" and we had a ball. The CSDCs in later years became locally famous and we were able to recruit and train our successors (but no more FAEEs!).