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sst3rd

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Everything posted by sst3rd

  1. JosephMD, Good points all. Our summer camp has a staff position that deals with all camp OA stuff. It's usually an older scout in high school or moving on to college. There's an adult staff position that advises him. Both of these people last year had power trips. Their way or the highway with complete control. But no chapter ceremony teams wanted to work under those conditions, so nobody volunteered. Begrudgingly, 5 chapter teams gave it a go. We were the first up, and evidently did a great job. The others, not so much. As I mentioned before, all members of the lodge ceremony team wer
  2. For years, our lodge has had a difficult time staffing Call-Out ceremony teams for our summer camp Friday night closing campfires. Summer camp staff would appoint someone to head up the ceremony using old half baked ceremony outfits, practice a short ceremony, and then perform a really lousy Call-Out in front of the whole camp. Last year,our lodge tried to bring back an old tradition of having each chapter ceremony team perform a Call-Out each Friday night at summer camp. We weren't asked. We were told. And very short notice was given. The lodge wanted us to use their ceremony and outfits, but
  3. Eagle94-A1, I see nothing changing. Start a new troop, as you will have a clean slate to start with. It sounds as if all of the pieces for a new troop are available. Finding a sponsor isn't difficult. Peace of mind is important to old and young alike. Gunship and his partners may understand the error of their ways when the new troop runs the BSA program and grows, but probably not. His threat, idle or not, can only be dealt with by scouts moving to a new troop. Oldest will have fun and grow, using the patrol method. Do NOT look back, but forward to an exciting program. sst3rd
  4. Krampus, Sorry it ain't working for you. I'm sure our lodge and chapters aren't perfect, but in my opinion we're delivering a good program. sst3rd
  5. Tampa, I'm so glad you folks "set the SM straight." So there shouldn't be a "Scoutmaster's approval" requirement on the nomination form? Wow. "Paltry campers" being "scared off" by the words "Ordeal" and "Service" and " and won't "follow through anyway." This is what the "Scoutmaster's approval" requirement is about. In the old days, votes for candidates were limited, and you really had to make good choices. You couldn't waste your vote. And now for years, the newer procedures allow you to vote for all of the scouts on the nomination list if you want to. I always sat down
  6. As our Scouts planned their annual activities every August for the upcoming program year, I (SM) always supplied calendars that had upcoming holidays, school vacations, council, district, and OA events already planned. Most established dates they had (or wanted) to avoid. Others, they could choose. We always avoided OA events. There were usually very few weekends left to choose from for our camp outs. Kind of worked itself out.
  7. stosh, You're working it SO hard. It's your way only, and other folks don't know what they're doing. This is so much fun. sst3rd
  8. I don't "rubber stamp" my signature on anything.
  9. .....unit leader approval before the election. Call it what you like. That's the requirement.
  10. Not sure how long you've been a Scoutmaster or if you guided your troop through any prior OA elections, but every year my old troop had OA elections, we'd all sit down and review the candidate qualifications for being nominated for an OA election. And as Scoutmaster, I made sure that the "Scoutmaster's approval" requirement is discussed.Several times over a 33 year SM career, we did not have an OA election because there were no qualified candidates. sst3rd
  11. I go back to the 60's, and I can't find one spring camporee patch. Maybe they knew then what we know now. Camporees are hard to execute nowadays, and spring time isn't a good time. Fall and winter have worked for us for many years. Our lodge adviser changed recently. He was able to encourage the LEC to water down our Ordeal Weekends, oooooopppppssss, so sorry, now called Service Weekends. There's more play time then service time. There's more goof off time then fellowship time. This was to not only attract the new members, but to get back the current members. Quantity over quality is the m
  12. cnew2, Things may not always be perfect, but I really don't ever expect them to be. Sounds like a great weekend. Rock on. My old troop would usually take a cabin trip each January out at our council camp. We'd do a service project for the ranger, and have a lot of fun. sst3rd
  13. Stosh, I realize you're not looking for approval for your plan, but I still like it and I approve. I've been in scouting for many years, and wish my community was in a position to do just what your planning. I like everything about each step your taking. Just keep your assistant and two scouts involved at all levels so they feel completely invested. With your experience and knowledge, I'm looking for these current and new scouts to have an absolutely fantastic program. No limits, sst3rd
  14. qwazse, "I think we're about the same rate of loss after one year from former cubs vs. non-cubs. The difference? With former cubs, it's usually the parent's decision over the boy's objection. With non-cubs, it's usually the boy's decision over the parent's objection." Truer words have not been spoken. sst3rd
  15. Qwazse, ".........the field they are in needs to be reseeded!" I realize that everybody else is co-ed on all levels. Enjoy. Leave BSA alone. It will be destroyed if girls are allowed in the troops specifically. We've lost so much already. sst3rd
  16. Lu, Like others have mentioned, it appears that you are going against troop tradition that has been established for years. Around my council, I have only heard of and participated in Eagle COH's that are separate from troop COH's. As a long time former SM, I always talk with the Scout about what "HE" would like to do for his Eagle Court. They need a reminder that they take the lead in this. We've had a couple of joint ECOH's, but most were stand alone ECOH's. I guide the Scout (and sometimes his family) on where, when, how big does he want it, the involvement of his troop, and any spec
  17. JustThinking, It appears that this Scoutmaster is ill prepared to explain what the purpose of the OA is. Since you're not interested, there's your answer. As far as your son, this Scoutmaster needs to have someone to talk with him who can explain the OA's purpose from a youth perspective. Your son can then make an informed decision. I'm sorry this SM wishes to keep this "tradition" going, as it seems forced. A SM can't force a Scout to stand for an OA election. If your son is not interested, he needs to tell his SM. I've had occasional years where I had no eligible Scouts for an OA ele
  18. Roc Doc, Yes. Several times over 33 years. Just say "NO." Don't let anyone change your mind. It's simple. He kept doing what he wanted to do but got tired of being counseled to death with you. So he went somewhere else. They made things tough for him there, so he wants to come back. Don't let that happen. sst3rd
  19. Faith, My district's Cub and Boy Scout Roundtables have always been excellent, and the staff over the years has also been great. Some meetings better than others, but they've always asked for input (every July at a special Roundtable meeting) and used most of it. Sounds like Roundtable staff training is nonexistent or ignored. I will assume that PCM stands for Pack Committee Meeting. As long as everyone is somehow getting the district and council updates and sharing them at your PCM's, sounds like that's the next best thing to a correctly executed Roundable program. Party on,,
  20. To answer the original question: If troops provide an active program with lots of input from their Scouts, troops will sustain membership. If troops have great relationships with local packs, they will get like minded Webelos to join and stay, and membership will grow locally. If excited Scouts ask their friends to give it a try just once, they'll join, and memerbership will grow locally. Boy Scout troops will "right size" for boys that want to camp, hike, swim, etc., in their area Weak troops will continue to fold due to lack of adult leadership, and boys that want that outdoor pro
  21. Twocubdad, I like that idea, and it keeps the 18yo's involved. Keeping it simple allows resources to go towards their program. Go for it! sst3rd
  22. We've been here before several times, but I respect all of the viewpoints. For me, I would leave. I have my memories.
  23. Direct and to the point. There is real value in Scouting. It should start parents thinking.
  24. boyledscouting, Again, we say that there is only ONE Scoutmaster. All other adults are Assistant Scoutmasters, Committee members, or parents. Your Scoutmaster works (training) with the PLC/SPL in developing and executing your Scout led program. Talk to the Scoutmaster first about all of this. Again, there is only one Scoutmaster. The assistant scoutmasters support the scoutmaster and his vision. Good luck, sst3rd
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