T164Scoutmaster

I slept in a Holiday inn last night!

Ask away!

I think some of you have your panties in a bunch. A Simple knot to Recognize those that support the program and help fund teh scholarships awarded to Eagle Scouts non discriminatively!

In My troop any Youth Earning the Eagle Scout Award receives a Lifetime memebership from the Troop.

When I earned My Eagle I was given a one year membership for earning the Eagle and My Troop Bought me a ten year membership. when I was finacially secure I purchsed my own Life Membership mainly because I renewed once and thought it would be easier. I didn't do it for any knot. I did it because I am proud of the work I put into my Eagle Scout and Proud to support an Organization ehlping other Eagles reach their goals.

Is teh heated animosity really necessary? I am of the mindset that if you believe in s program you do what is in the best interest to support that program. I am also a life member of the NRA, North American Hunting Club, North American Fishing club and the North American Handyman club all of which cost a heck of a lot more then the little bit of money the Life membership in NESA Costs. After all was is $180 dollars these days. Cheap bargain to help give some deserving Eagle Scout a Scholarship.

Most of you probably spend more then the $180 dollars on your Dunkin Donuts Extra Large French Vannilla Extra Extra and a Bagel.

I will fight these battles all day long. Support the program and do it any way you can.

Stephen R. Gallagher

Eagle Scout Class of 1985

SMAM 1996

DAM 1997

Scouters training knot 1994

Scoutmasters Key 1995

OA Brotherhood.

I didn't beg or pay for any of them and I didn't work for them. I gave of my time and dedication to provide a program to the Boys. I was Asked why I give so much once. My Answer was because I believe in the Program and Someone had given their time for me!

If it's not for the Boys it's for the Birds.

I used to be an Owl.... A good ole Staffer too.....

I'll Always be an Eagle!

We jsut had our District dinner at the Masconic (sp) lodge and the evening was grand!

District committee, merit badge counselors, troop committee, Eagle Projects, fundraising are all areas where help could be used!

What a great topic!

Congrats to the new Eagle!

When I went before the Egale Board in 1984 I was 14 and had not yet been able to formulate what my religious beliefs were. I had gone to church a few times and participated in Youth Group, but not becuase I had discovered GOD, believed in GOD, or practiced any form of religion. I went and did, because that is what my mother wanted. My father did not go to church when I was growing up and did not push religion. He was an Alter boy and left the Catholic church at nine years old never to return and never surrendering why he wanted nothing to do with religion. I thanked God I was not asked any relisious questions at my Board of Review, I would not have had an answer.

I did not have an answer for many years after. Even after I married a pastors daughter, I still had not grown spiratually or religiously. I did have some thoughts and did believe in something supreme but was not welded in my religious beliefs, To this day I am not sure I am either but at least now I am educated enough to know teh direction I want to be headed.

We all need to grow in our religious obligations and grow with God at our own pace. Some of you know when you start living and growing, through family and friends and accepted beliefs. There are many more that Struggle for an entier life time.

I think I have always believed in a supreme being or a greater power, Maybe I always believed in God. My wife and I have had several discussions because I lack the desire to go to church weekly. I tend to think that church is for fellowhip and my practicing of religion does not need to be at church. When I want to talk to GOD I do! I need not a pastor, reverend, priest, or any other religious figure head to tell me how to talk to GOD.

My religious growth took a turn more toward the mainstream accepted religious program, thanks to my wood badge ticket. one of my Ticket items was to grow in my spirtiual life. I have never been one to go at things with half an effort. I somehow found myself on the Search Commmitte for a new pastor and also filling a vacant term as deacon. If you want to grow spiritually get on a search team. The search lasted over a year and I grew more then I know. I witnessed many styles of preaching and many deliveries. Some people are gifted to spread the word and some are taught to spread the word. Some messages hit home and some are against my thinking and believing, but one of the greatest gifts through my growth cycle is that everyone is entitled to their oppinion. I was not put on this earth to Condemn and I certainly am not forced to Condone. I really have no say or no oppinion should you choose to practice mainstream religion or be a Homosexual. Judgement day will come to you and it won't be me rendering the verdict.

I have had jewish scouts in my troop and I have had indian scouts in my troop and I have never had a difficulty honoring or accepting the way they practice their religion. We try to incorporate some of their methods to give exposure to everyone. We try to not praise God but to be Thank full. Everyone that chooses to worship can in their own way, those that want to say grace can, those that want to say thanks can.

I am not a master of the scripture and I do not preach. I do Promote and I do allow growth in religion to each scout. I ask how they practice reverent and what "Duty to God" means to them. Most of the time the scouts have no answers the first, second, even third time I ask the question, but they all start thinking about it.

I am growing in my religious beliefs and preference every day I get older. That is even more eveident with the passing of my father on the 15th of March, after a courageous battle with cancer. The funeral on Saturday the 22nd left me with an even greater appreciation of my duty to God.

We moved my parents in to our house for two winters in a row giving up our bedroom so my parents could live comfortably and not have to worry about plowing snow or shoveling. In that time I came to learn and Love the fact that my Dad was a very religious man. Often we would walk in the house and he would have the religious channeles playing or he was listening to hymns.

I often struggle with the question often asked! "How can God let that happen to someone so young?" In my dads case I look at the other side of things now. He was young at 62, but haveing had a stroke at 50 we were blessed with 12 more years of loving relationship, however diminished it was. A once vocal man silenced by a stroke that was explained as debilitating to the point of never walking again or talking again. My Dad fought and battled in recovery to a hobble and a limp and relearning about 10 words. A man silenced by the stroke but one whom never missed a word when singing hyms. Only to live 9 years like this then be diagnosed with cancer. A 3 year battle with colon cancer that was predicted to last only 3 weeks, one in which no treatment was chosen. We were truely blessed to see, even in a diminshed state of health, a courageous fighter right until the end. I honestly beleive because of my Dads Faith we were blessed to enjoy his company for as long as we did. In the end the pain and suffering was cut short when he took his last breath as I sang Jesus in the morning to him.

I think we all experience and grow in our religious responsibiliites and our faith. I also think that, we as leaders can plant the seed, water it, and help it to grow. Maybe, just maybe, those flowers will be able to tell the Eagle Board of Review how they practice the 12th point of the scout law and how the perform their "Duty to God" obligations of the Oath.

God is good all the time! All the time God is good!

I used to be an Owl...... I'll always be an Eagle...... Forever a servant....

here are a couple ideas!

http://www.t185.org/EagleCourt.gif

Do something simple like this till you can build the ornate!

http://troop353.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/dsc_0116.jpg

This one is nice and simple!

http://www.bsatroop74.com/Images/EagleCourtOfHonor.jpg

A real simple one!

http://tiny.cc/APd2f

Kind of cool

http://troop5yonkers.org/photos/Court_of_Honor1.jpg

Here is an ornate one I think like you were talking!

http://www.troop4.org/images/courthonor.jpg

When is the Court of honor?

I have not forgot about you!

My father died on Saturday the 15th and I have the funeral on the 22nd I have been a little wrapped up in things sorry not getting that to you yet!

The Pack chose to hold there blue and gold as well as awards ceremony and Arrow of light for 10 kids all the same night starting at 7pm. Maybe you are new to having that many arrow of light recipients and a substantial amount of awards to disperse to the other dens. By the time the pack got to the arrow of light it was already 9 pm and many of the tigers had already left for home.

Having had this experience with eight crossovers in the past I knew the length of the evening would be too much and the program could not hold itself to a reasonable end time with a formal crossover ceremony as well.

The Blue and Gold was in February and the Crossover will be in April. All the scouts will already of had their SM conferences and the advancement form completed so they will be bale to be awarded the scout badge at the cross over.

As I stated We as a pack and a troop had a back up plan and changed things to accomodate this plan.

I am getting somewhat frustrated with the number of holier then thou posters here. There is a reason there are not many new posters and the same diatribe from the few of you that are condemning and condescending with every post you write.

I have been reading this forum since its creation and althought this account has few posts, i have many.

Secret DE you are correct DWC has some of the best paid and unpaid staff in the program.

My original post was a question to ask if it was a council policy or a national policy to date no one still has answered that.

Thank you to the many of you that wrote to me in the private setting and offered to get the patches for me. I am a servant to the system and as such will have my advancement comittee memeber due her due diligence and follow the protocol of the council no matter how much I disagree with it.

I appologize for gettting the nickers of many of you all up in a bunch.

If anyone has the answer to my question I am listening!

Thank you all that replied! As I suspected it is a local policy, One in which i disagree. Train the leaders better instead of creating restrictive policy.

As I state in a PM to secretde I have the utmost repect for the volunteers and the paid staff in DWC. there are just some things that do not make sense.

I also reflected the plethora of available ranks on EBAY. Just today I saw a complete set scout to eagle.

Again, not meant to be derrogatory to those that are in the trenches.

Yours in Scouting,

A servant to the system!

I have the jlt set and the annual planning set that was put out if anyone needs them.

I have read the TLT in the scoutmaster handbook and find a lot of open area. when i get my first troop junior leader training off the ground in june, i will combine the two and work in the out doors.

No cookie cutter out there making identical troops. Do what works for you!

There are ornate plans for center pieces in the 1987 version of "Scout Ceremonies". not sure if it is in the current one.

we just use white birch logs cut flat on one side we have two with 6 holes each and one with 3 hole. the 3 holes go in the middle and the 6's astride!

Where in mass are you?

I might be able to scan them and fax them to you or e-mail them to you!

Stephen

All scouting is global but think local!

Every troop is going to have their own way to do things! Every troop will vary in Size, Age status, experience, and available leadership. There is no Cookie cutter producing troops and hence there are no cookie cutter solutions to the issues.

If we spent more time opening our minds and recognizing that people have varrying oppinions and varrying ways of doing things, all of which may or may not be successful, then new people walking in here might be able to take an idea back to their troop so they don't have to call a parent on thursday night and beg them to camp on Friday.

Maybe if your program is struggling to get adults you can benefit from some of the ways others do it. Maybe if you are flourishing you want to share what your secret is. Maybe if you have issues with too many parents getting in the way, a Patrol system might be needed. What ever the status some of you really need to step back and be less preachy less decidely dominating in your position and less of a dictatorship.

All scouting grows at its own pace and things grow and succeed as you allow it. plant the seed, sun it, water it and reap the rewards. Over water it or block out the sun or be too cold and it will die.

We have the caveman patrol and they operate as my logistics squad. They provide me the ability to operate the troop and be tied to worrying about when i or what i will eat. If I am invited to a patrol to eat with them i do. No matter how bad or how great it is. If I am not invited I eat with the adults. If I want to share some of camp cookery i usually do it as program agenda or as a troop wide feast where we all share our meals.

Scouting is supposed to be fun! Scouts are supposed to be kind and friendly, Some of you may need to refresh your memeory on the law and oath, THat isn't just for the Boys!

9 earned the AOL, one joined cub scouts as a Webelos, and 2 are friends of two of the AOL recipients.

They all will crossover to the troop and be received as new Scouts. Then they will get a troop neckerchief and slide and dedicate themselves to the troop and to scouting. There is also talk of a couple more new kids coming that are friends of some of the crossovers.

Provide a good program, be involved with the pack and have fun the boys will come. All kids want to have fun and aren't afraid of doing a little work to be able ot have some fun!

I never stated that the boy would just be handed the badge. They are all actually already attending the troop meetings since they have already had their blue and gold and receieved their Arrow of Light. The applications will be in hand at the next meeting and the requirements below will be met when i finish the scoutmaster conferences. Hopefully they will be ready in time and I will have completed all the requirements before the crossover ceremony in APril.

Everyone missed the question and I guess it was my way of asking it!

Is this a National policy or a local policy?

As I said in my first post i am a servant to the system!

no mention of BOard of review!

"Meet age requirements: Be a boy who has completed the fifth grade and be at least 10 years old, or be 11 years old, or have earned the Arrow of Light Award and be at least 10 years old, and be under 18 years old.

Complete a Boy Scout application and health history signed by your parent or guardian.

Find a Scout troop near your home. (To find a troop, contact your local Boy Scout Council. The Council name, address and phone number can be found on BSA's Council Locator Page.)

Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance.

Demonstrate the Scout sign, salute, and handshake.

Demonstrate tying the square knot (a joining knot).

Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath or Promise, Law, motto, and slogan, and the Outdoor Code.

Describe the Scout badge.

Complete the Pamphlet Exercises. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide".

Participate in a Scoutmaster conference. Turn in your Boy Scout application and health history form signed by your parent or guardian, then participate in a Scoutmaster conference.

"

I agree "What's up with that?"

I too am disapointed. not only the shirts all uniforms will be outsourced to China as all the patches are now. The savings will never be felt in the Volunteers pockets. One of many complaints that are piling up in my brain.

Think Gloabaly buy locally!

does anyone else have in their council a policy that a leader can not pick up rank badges unless the request is accompanied by an advancement report?

This is the most absurd and ridiculous policy I have seen in a long time. Daniel Webster Council in NH, has such a policy.

This is totally against everything we teach in the training sessions with immediate recognition.

We always had a few extras of each patch on hand so I never ran into this in the past. It has been our practice that as soon as the Scout has completed his board of review and passed, he was awarded the cloth patch and immediately recognized. The Card, Hat Pin and Mothers pin were given out at the Court of Honor where he receieved recognaition again for his accomplishemnts. I am no longer able to continue this process. What a shame.

The Sad fact is the "Scout" rank is no longer considered a rank at all it is a joining badge! I remember when it was a rank and you had to earn it, but now it is not even considered rank advancement on your re-charter! Why would this be restricted?

If your council does not have such a policy and you are near me in NH let me know I need to get 12 Scout ranks for my crossover on the 19th of April.

I used to be an owl, I'll always be an Eagle, i'm destined to be a servant to the system(This message has been edited by t164scoutmaster)

BW you said I would need to take the course in order to teach it. I disagree. I would only need to prepare my self for the course by reviewing the materials.

Week before last I went to our district cub speciffic training to take pack comm. As any good scout would do I read the sylabus and reviwed the ppt presentations prior to going. Upon arrival in the morning the district training staff was short handed. I ended up being the instructor and took the time while NLE was happening to prepare my teaching outline. We are not talking about rocket science here. We are talking about dissemenating information. I have enough personal expereinece to enlighten the basic curriculum and am not shy about being in front of people. One of the people taking the class was the District Chairman, his feed back was excellent.

Now I am not saying that wb21st is teh same as pack comm, but I also think that the end result is the same share the information and allow people to understand it.

WB21st easily could be treated as an update or a transisition program to bring old timers up to speed and allow them the current curriculum wihtout saying their old woodbadge has no merit any more. A TTT for 21st wood badge is the way to go. Just going through the course doesn't prepare you to be on staff i can tell you that. the Course prework and the mentoring of the staff and direction of the staff is what prepares you for being on staff for the course.

Yours in Scouting,

"Should the Scoutmaster be replaced or the training altered? Id have to say that the training has to take into account those being trained. We no longer have the pool to draw from that we once had. Since the acceptance by society that both parents must work to provide for the same family unit that one person provided for 40 years ago our pool has changed. Volunteerism has changed because free time has diminished and the scope of interests and opportunities of youth has increased. We just dont have the amount of adults willing to dedicate the amount of time required that we once had. Qualified candidates for SM are not as thick on the ground as they once were. Training for those that are willing is not; 1) as effective as it once was because everyone is looking for bullet point and catch phrase rather than concentration, and 2) as sought out due to the lack of free time or the perception that training is not needed.

LongHaul "

This is a very timely post! Yesterday I attended our council Trainier development conference. Not because I needed to or required to, but to better enhance my skills. While there I was taekn aback a little. I am a woodbadge graduate and also have served on staff for Woodbadge. The Current Scoutmaster for the upcoming course wb21st is one of the members thate was in the Patrol I was the advisor for whilst on staff. I asked how his staff development was going! He state he had one more posiosition to fill. I never said anything nor am interested in being on wood badge staff again at this time, but his next statement is what floored me.

He Said "If you are interested in being on woodbadge 21st steaff you need to do the course again"

I am somewhat discouraged that if this is the norm of the Scouting mentality then we are clearly in state of turmoil and degradation to the program. Training is beneficial and I promote it whenever I can. I am a certified fire instructor and have taught more then I can remember both scouting and fire service. The statements made lead me to believe that I am no longer qualified to be on any training staff because I have yet to go through wb21st. I could really care less if the program has changed so drastically (I doubt it has) that I am not knowing of the currrent curriculum. Curriculum is just that, the information that needs to be disemenated. The curriculum is the tool help deliver the message. I am sure that if this is the case across the scouting movement then there are a lot more out there then me that are not being utilized to the fullest potential. I will continue to concentrate my efforts on training the volunteers in my district that need the basics. By teaching the basics I am truely doing it for the kids. Those that come to my sessions are going to get teh best that I can give. they will get my name, number and E-mail, and if needed I will graciously give what I can or find someone that has the info.

What are you doing in your district to help the new leaders get to a level where we would have a copetent pool of trainied qualified leaders?

We all have issues at one time or another. YOu are in a situation where you can guide teh troop to a new horizon.

Your opportunity to handle this situation is to do it on the outings when the scoutmaster is not there. If the outings are boring, step up and do something about it.

You said you worked in a gourmet restaraunt for several years. Do a weekend of feast with a taste off and have some prizes to hand out. Small cast iron skillet painted gold etc.

Kids do nothing because they have nothing to do and not the education or expereince to come up with things on their own.

You are an Eagle! No one can take that away from you. Take on your past experiences and step up when the scoutmaster is not around. Be there to help guide, mentor and direct the troop on the outings. As has been said already the outings is scouting. sounds like the scoutmaster says we are camping here...... But I won't be there! So do the prep work yourself and incorporate some of those ideas you have.

Patrol meetings are things that should happen on their own and in my oppinion really don't need permission just two deep leadership. Work with your sons patrol when ever you want.

That will solve a bunch of your issues by you filling in the role without having the title. To fullfill the role of Scoutmaster you will need a tool box: Scout handbook, Scoutmaster Handbook, Committee Guidbook, and the requirments book to start. Don't just have them read them from cover to cover. Next if you have not already (sounds iffy on your training) Go to New Leader Essentials, ans asm speciffic, sm speciffic, and outdoor leader skills, and don't stop there, go to wood badge. Knowledge is power. Execution of your knowledge is leadership.

Your outings will work out and put the fun in the program. The first outing can be planned to go over why we do duty rosters, menus, and grocerey lists. Stress why that is th estuff that should be done at meetings.

So now on to meetings: My way or no Way at all. It is a free country. Start with yourself in the corner just start lashing something, or asking your son to help you review first aid, or set up some basic compass courses and keep doing it. even if none of the scouts are interested. you are not violating any rules and not pushing any program and if asked you are honing the skills you learned as a youth. If any youth asks, this is the perfect opportunity to ask them if they want to try or if they want to learn.

Use your strengths to promote the program as you can. as you start to gather interest ask then boys to follow the patrol method and implement it as you can.

My only stressor is make sure you know what you are doing inside and out and make sure you know what the current requirements are and the current handbook is teaching.

My first 5 years as Scoutmaster I had to read two hand books cover to cover as they changed requirements and handbooks after i was up to date. granted there were few changes but there were some taht needed to be corrected. Now I am on my third edition scout handbook as scoutmaster and again things have changed and been taken out. You need to know what you are talking about and where to find it.

Lastly, you didn't mention it but if you don't go then start attending roundtables, if you do go start bringing other parents to them.

Set the Example and remember you only need: "To do your BEST"

Hang in there and keep the candle of scout spirit shining! The glass is half full!

fcfy a guidline or a requirement?

Guideline!

Advancment is 1/8 of the methods of the scout program.

If you are following the boy run organization, I find it very rarely that a scout doing the signing off is easier on a scout wanting to be signed off, then they remember having it. On the contrary. If the guidlines are set and the PLC is funcitoning properly then teh #3 would be the norm and less pressure for first class in a year.

I have found that the higher expectations a leader places on a scout and the more opportunity to explore and try, THEY do. If the leaders are always trying new things (to the scouts) then most of the time the scouts want to try it on the next campout. Are we doing campsite inspections and critiquing the efforts from the weekend. Do you give patrol awards, points or kudos for making it to milestones.

REward the extra effort and praise for the mediocre effort. All youth want to succeeed and proove they can keep up. how you react in your role as a leader is a direct reflextion of how the scouts react in their roles.

Yes All of the Above!

I am a firefighter and and an EMT-I, my advancement chair is a nurse.

First aid has always been a good topic, both letting the scouts teach it and also being there to step in and stess the importatn stuff. we follow up the monthly first aid theme with a day hike that has emergencies pre-planned out. then we follow up with a weekend of peril with differnet scenarios that happen durring scout skills. pioneering accidents that could be a broken limb or object in the eye.

Simple moolage with wax works well.

come up with the things you want ot stress and come up with a scenario to put scouts in actions. utilize SIA out of boys life to help you. Coordinate with your local rescue squad or fire department or explorer post to help with instruction and practical.

This is a great way to teach utilizing hands on themes.

Re-inforce the issues on any outing. first aid drills can be put in place at any time! durring the troop game at the weekly meeting. cooking on a camp out, heat stroke on a hike. victim or 3x5 card with symptoms. If you have a drama club have them help woth props and make up. you can have a lot of fun with this theme.

"I Do it For the Boys", "I Do it For the Program", "I Do it For Ideals and Beliefs That Other Outstanding Men and Ladies Passed On To Me", " I Do it Because I am Doing My Best!"

I am in my second round as a Scoutmaster. The first round I started at 24, Taking over an Ill Fated Troop with but 3 Active Scouts. Through Ardous Labor and a Basic understanding (youth tenure only) of the program, I engorged myself with the program. At first to relive some of those meanigfull campouts, klondikes, and camp-o-rees I enjoyed as a youth. But that reminiscing was hsort lived and I realized my truest gift to give was to get a great program going. I served as Scoutmaster for 5 years and Committee Cahir for two after that. In that time I was not the do-all, but I was certainly a key player. With the help of a few others outreach to past scouts of the troop and past leaders as well as the schools, witnessed a troop of 2 youth grow to over 40 in the first four years. this dedication and devotion led to more then two outings a month. A program that was developed to instill the aims and methods into the scouts attitudes and one I would like to presume has effected them as much as the effects had on me. I had to leave the area and one of My Assistant scoutmasters took over, the number of boys dwindled down and eventually the troop folded. I don't think any fault is to lay here as the times changed a little and the particiaption dwindled. Durring this time I had no kids of my own and no vested interest in the troop, no ties to the troop and when I joined the troop no affiliation with the chartered organization. Why get involved you might ask? The answer is simple. I was Asked!

Fast Forward five years. I moved back in the area and now I have vested interest. I have a six year old son. The potential to resurrect the troop was presented to me and at first I had no interest in working with the getting the troop going as I want to be partof my sons scouting carreer. I went to several meetings and took the conversations and thoughts, fomrulating in my mind what I would do what I would say how I would react. I am not sure what actually happened, I thought that a leadership structure for the resurrection was in place. Come to find out the speculative structure did not meet the needs of the Chartered Organization. I did not know this until I was asked to be the SM again. I thought about it and agreed.

Here lies my personal interest: First Let me start off by saying I have always had issues with Dad Sm and Son Scout relationships. I think that the shakedown is tough on the scout and tough on the leader and neither is healthy for either. I accepted with the understanding that I would not be the scoutmaster when my son is in the troop. So Why do it some may be asking? The Reasons are selfish. I want a strong, viable troop, ready and working under the guidlines of Baden Powells program so my son can cross into a great troop and enjoy a smooth operating piece of machinery. I can't predict the future, but if History repaeats itself then the decisisons I am making over my lifetime and the beliefs and ideals instilled in me are working to the betterment of the program.

Now what is happening?

How do I know it is for the Boys?

The troop has be resurrected since June, we have eight boys, six I would consider active. We have five assistant scoutmasters, four of the five were scouts of mine last round, one I knew through OA. 3 of teh scouts earned their eagle scout after or around the time I departed the area. The other two are life scouts. My new CC was MY Old CC also an Eagle Scout and a scout from the troop. Five parents are on the committee )one made it to life, the others have only cub experience) and one of the wives from one of the ASM (they have no kids).

We are not without our hurdles and our growing pains but the program is advancing the scouts are slowly coming out of cub scout mode and we have been working closely with the WEBLOS and the Pack. My wife is a Tiger Den Leader and I go to most pack meetings. It looks like we may have 8-12 crossing over in February. With That we will surely embrace more hurdles. But together we can make great things happen.

We All do things for reasons and the things I do in my life are led by my living the scout oath and law, remembering what has been don for me and knowing that it is in my best intrest to pay it forward. No one forces us to provide what ever we can and All we can Do is "Our Best". If others are better then bring them on board. If others can make it easier, bring them on board. Don't fear giving up somethign to someone if they can make your life easier and the program better.

"Do your BEST"

yis

Stephen

{

"Fixed blade is the policy I am aware of under health and safety."

You need to read that again, fixed blades are discouraged for reasons of size and weight but not prohibited.

}

I don't believe in my post I ever said anything was prohibited!

I said I was aware of the policy, and I stated in my district survival knives were prohibbited.

But thanks for your attention to detail!(This message has been edited by t164scoutmaster)

Fixed blade is the policy I am aware of under health and safety.

Pretty much took away the use of survival type knives. In our district some peopole interpreted a buck knife lock blade knife and outlawed them.

local rule is your jewel. Know what is accepted in your district and carry on.

think Safety!

"Maybe its not time to do away with advancement, but to remember that Advancement is one of 8 methods used to deliver the program. It may be a cliche to say so, but no method is more important or of lesser significance than another. Perhaps if units delivered the program presenting all methods equally, the pressure for advancement would lessen and scouts could enjoy themselves and the program. It's a thought"

My exact thoughts! Forget about the advancement process adn concentrate on what scouting is. A Game with a purpose. Don't stress the advancement stress the fun. Schedule the outings and expose the scouts to things they wouldn't normally get to experience. Help those boy leaders to come up with unique expereinces, one of a kind outings, and through the planning process have the boys interested in advancing discover how that can happen with the outings they schedule,

Thanks for the response.

I would say first of all it should be the scouts decisison if they want to require rank restrictions for the POR. Nothing in my mind would say a rule book needs to be created. The rules are already their. The Law the Oath, Motto, and Slogan are the only real guides we need.

What can you do?

SM conference is where I would start.

I would start with the current SPL. How do you think you have done as SPL? Have you met your own expectations of the job? Do you see any deficiencies in any of the troop operations that you would like to see imporoved upon? What if any POR do you think the troop needs that we aren't utilizing? What POR would have helped you in your position as SPL? If the same SPL is in that POR for a long duration is there any chance for your peers to proove they can do as good a job, maybe better? If you were not elected SPL, What POR do you think you could be put into that would make the troop improve and grow in numbers?

I would have a sm conference with each of the candidates similiar questions but those not already in the POR I would ask what they expect to accomplish, what could they improve on? what ideas for growth? what about succession and future Leaders?

Again like others have said ask the questions that get the troop thinking. Help guide them to the decisisons that ultimately should be theirs anyway. Encourage the utilization of all POR and stress the ability of growth and encourage the recruitment efforts.

Before the election I would tlak to the SPL about holding a debate where the other scouts question each candidate. Democracy in action.

I have had this same situtation in the past, a great SPL that made my job easy. Always prepared and always doing the right thing. All the scouts wanted to keep him as SPL. After the SM conference thing he decided that of all the things he wished were more effecient would be the Quartermaster. He opted to not run again allow some new blood in and the new patrol leader appointed him QM. He took on the QM role full bore. He stayed active, turned out to be the best QM the troop had ever seen. did a complete revamping of the gear and proposals on what to replace how to do it and fund raising ideas to make it happen. The replacement SPL went to him several times for advice and direction, but after a while turned out to be a great SPL and the troop was put on a higher plateau. both excelled and did a great job. If the old SPL didn't decide on his own to step aside he most likely would have been elected again and everythign wouold have stayed the same. Instead we had two great accomplishment and a lot of new ideas.

Guidance, and discussion are really where its at in my mind. give the scouts a problem and let them come up with a solution.

What a problem to have 5 candidates for SPL. One many SM's would love to have. A good SPL puts scouts in a position where they choose to want to do as good or proove they can do better. Give them the option and let them proove to you they can.