sst3rd

ScoutMom22, I respect your son not wanting to leave his current troop because of his friends, etc.. But what do you think is going to be the troop environment for your son when you pull off this show at the committee meeting? I'm just saying............................................... sst3rd

ScoutMom22, I too have been locked out for a couple of days. Here is my response as of two days ago. As a long time Scoutmaster and given the situation as presented, I would congratulate the Scout on completing a difficult merit badge at such a young age. I would verify the qualifications of the merit badge counselor in case the other Scouts would like to contact him. What did the counselor give your Scout upon completion of the merit badge? Anything? I would also encourage this Scout that getting a blue card in advance is the better way to go. Scoutmasters, believe it or not, are

jamist649, If the PLC is handling what they should be handling, you adults can only support their program in a limited way. Don't allow yourselves to be overloaded. Chill. The program has to be simplified as needed, to account for the limited parent support. Work with the PLC in planning a great weekly troop meeting program, that leads up to fun and exciting camping trips, and don't look back. As long as the Scouts pay for the camping trips the meeting before the event, nobody loses money. Then, if and when a scouts bails on a trip, it's his loss. I'd love to have 20+ Scouts, bu

christineka, I'm still trying to figure out, "His 11 year old leader (LDS troop) lets him have his blue cards." My years of experience as a SM had me create files for each Scout where they could put all of their paperwork. I had too many Scouts lose advancement stuff through the years, and it was a lot of work to fix those problems. The files are available to all of the Scouts at all times. I handed out blue cards with my signature at summer camps as well as all other advancement opportunities. When I received incomplete merit badge cards for their files, I would always encourage the

And our lodge does not charge back dues. Pay just the annual dues when you get back involved. Paying back dues discourages inactive members once they make a decision to get back involved. Keep making those great all inclusive rules.

sprout18, If those Scouts have earned their AOL, they can join a Scout Troop NOW! I'm guessing that these leaders are following some old traditions, like calling the shots, their way or the highway, etc..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but if these AOL's have parents who know the Boy Scout program, they'd get them into a troop NOW. Anything else is doing a disservice to these Scouts (they've got to be bored). And they don't have to join the troop attached to their pack's charter organization. If that troop doesn't want them now, check out other troops. Don't wait, operators are standing by....

Atom, I'm sure you'll get more on this, but the bottom line is an ASPL isn't supposed to be in a patrol. The SPL, and if any ASPL, are on their own as far as the Troop organization. These positions are troop Staff positions. If this is corrected, you would no longer have this conflict in your patrol. Talk with your Scoutmaster. Have him review his "troop organizational chart" in his Scoutmaster's handbook. Or have your SPL review his "troop organizational chart" in his SPL handbook. Point is, do they still have those charts? It's been a few years............. sst3rd

Signman, There are national rules and protocols. I guess every Lodge may choose to use them or not, or some combination. Having an adult OA member in the Troop certainly allows the knowledge of these elections and call-outs used in your council. With this knowledge, problems can be addressed in a pro-active manner. Scouts need to have a positive experience in "their" troop. How did your son accidentally get called-out? Wow, it's now behind you. Become knowledable about these processes for the future, and make sure the election and call-out programs are a positive experience for

KJ, Get out now. Nothing is going to change. Let her take it on. Find a troop that's running the Scouting program. sst3rd

Andysmom, Was this your son's first summer camp experience? I'm impressed by the combination of merit badges he took and successfully completed. He came to camp prepared and ready to go. I hope he also had some fun as well. His taking personal responsibility is impressive as well. Maybe this was a second or third year, but sounds like he's getting some great support and encouragement from you. He's got a great Scouting future ahead. No doubt over the thirty odd years I've been a SM attending summer camps, programs have changed to meet demand. Out of nowhere this year, my home cam

Old_OX, Point taken on "unselfish service", but it's still the Scoutmaster's decision, as he/she may not be an OA member. sst3rd

KDD, The requirement is as follows: "While a First Class Scout, take part in service project(s) totaling at least six hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster." So, if the Scout gets approval from his Scoutmaster, it's all good. sst3rd

Calico, And I wish him and his supporters the very best as they clean up after the parade. It's really that simple. sst3rd

David CO, "why would OA encourage a boy to leave his troop in order to join OA?" Where do you get that from? sst3rd

Thomas, There is obviously nothing that we can say that will deter you from wanting to bring your fixed blade knives. Whether you're a youth or an adult, you simply don't need more than a simple pocket knife in the Boy Scouts. Your troop doesn't want sheathe knifes. Let it go. There is much more to the Scout program than knives. But I'm sure that's not the answer you wanted to hear. So, find a Troop that accepts your knives, or quit Scouting. sst3rd

Oldscout448, Our lodge has made a similar decision. The Lodge Executive Committee made the decision last month to move all Ordeal Ceremonies to before dinner, so that all new members can enjoy dinner free of restrictions. This will open the evening to fellowship and chapter meetings that will better explain the OA and how it is organized. Of course, all of this is the answer to increased membership retention and growing the lodge. This is also the reason that our long time Lodge Adviser resigned. This also includes the chapter ceremony teams taking over the Ordeal Ceremonies Saturday

abc123, I realize that you are a Scout, but as a former Scoutmaster of many years, the nomination and election process should have been explained to the troop before the annual election. And then, the OA Elections representative should have reviewed the OA election process to the troop just prior to the election. After all of the regular requirements for nomination for an OA election are met, one final requirement needs to be met. That is the Scoutmaster's approval. After all of this is done, I always wrote the nominated Scouts up on our blackboard for all to review several weeks prio

Another update, Had our monthly chapter meeting. It was planned by the Scouts for training in our two most active committees, elections and ceremonies. But because of the weather, snow and ice, we had low attendance and concentrated on the ceremonies committee only. But before that was to happen, a district guy gave a long winded speech on OA Journey To Excellence. This wasn't on the schedule, but the chapter adviser didn't intercede. Then we went through chapter business. So, that gave my youth leader about 30 minutes for training for upcoming Arrow of Light Ceremonies. Oh well.

Update; Our chapter adviser e-mailed me, that having attended this recent Lodge Executive Committee meeting, he took away the following: all OA members must be members of a lodge AND chapter committee. He seems to think the LEC thinks all of our current lodge committees are currently poorly attended, thus inactive, and need an infusion of sorts. The youth chairman, of the OA Chapter Ceremony Committee that I advise, called me last night and said: the Lodge Ceremony Team is asking all chapters to recruit for their lodge ceremony team (no deadline mentioned), as they will do the Or

Hitawtunhe and jpstodwftexas, Thanks for the responses. I know of what you speak. As I stated earlier, I received this info from the dad of two Scouts that attended this LEC meeting. The younger brother is the current chapter ceremony chairman. The older brother happens to be the prior chapter ceremony chairman. So we can say I received this info second hand. I've had e-mails and phone calls to the Chapter Adviser who also attended this Lodge Executive Committee meeting I spoke of earlier. Haven't had any responses as of yet. Our next chapter meeting is training for the cerem

Old_OX_Eagle83, Thanks for the response. I've advised the chapter ceremony team for many years. Experience has shown me that Scouts have less and less time for extra Scouting responsibilities. We are able to perform Arrow of Light Ceremonies for Packs usually during the February/March time frame (graduations and Blue and Golds), and perform Call-Out Ceremonies throughout the year at a Troop's request. It's worked for the 35 years I've been involved. I haven't been able to find out the details of what changed on the lodge level, but I will eventually. Your thoughts on execution, mentor

jpstodwftexas, Wow. So many questions. Thanks. I'll try to answer some of them. I've been in this lodge for many years, so here's how we're organized. Our council= our lodge Each of our districts= each of our chapters We follow all OA rules, procedures, and protocols with the Lodge Executive Committee taking the lead. Our three service weekends are what were our Ordeals. The program is the same, service too the camp, with Ordeal and Brotherhood Ceremonies done Saturday night

Our Lodge has three "service" weekends each year; September, March, and June. These used to be called Ordeal Weekends, but someone complained about the forced labor part of the cheerful service. I was informed tonight from our Chapter Adviser, that Ordeal Ceremonies will no longer be presented by the Lodge Ceremony Team at these service weekends, and will be presented by the Chapter Ceremony Teams. Three of the six chapters in our lodge, don't have a ceremony team (which traditionally provides Arrow of Light and Call-Out Ceremonies). Last weekend, our LEC made this decision. I'm not sure how t

The Order of the Arrow is what you do with it. If you expect your lodge/chapter to have an incredible program of which you get to pick and choose what you want to do, you will be very disappointed. It is unfair for any OA member to criticize the lodge or chapter, without getting directly involved. Scouts and Scouters make it work or not. I wish the OA hadn't opened up the nomination requirements, but they did. It is up to the Scoutmasters to make sure that if a Scout wants to be nominated for their annual OA Election, that they understand the benefits and responsibilities of the OA. The Scoutm

PA Scoutmaster, The last requirement for a Scout to be eligible for an OA Election, is the Scoutmaster's approval. That's where you get rid of " the oldest, the biggest, or the funniest." You need to have a serious conversation with each qualified Scout about their future commitment to the Troop with the addition of being a member of the OA, and then make that decision. I've had approved candidates remove themselves from the election, because they wanted their Scout time to be with the Troop, and didn't have extra time for the OA. That's a mature choice. There's always next year.