T2Eagle

It probably is related to the new FLSA rules. It defines a position that is not intended to be an "exempt" position under FLSA. Likely there are many DEs who are at or close to the new $47k rate, and any that are anywhere near it will just be bumped up (see the other thread on council level fee increases). Newly hired entry level professionals and maybe some who are still paid close to the old FLSA rate will be given this title. A new title let's everyone in the organization, probably especially crusty old SEs who will be mad that the whippersnappers aren't properly "paying their dues li

Our fees are not going up. But I am skeptical that the whole $26/scout is actually a direct result of the change in the law. I'm not sure how big your council is, but the old exempt salary minimum was $23,660, the new salary is $47,476 so for every 900 or so scouts they would be able to increase a DE from the old minimum to the new. How many DEs do they have at the actual rock bottom minimum, how many scouts in the council? I'm just skeptical that they can attribute that whole increase into coming into compliance. A characteristic that I find really distasteful in any organizat

I had a fellow scoutmaster tell me I was breaking some sort of rule because I didn't have a fire bucket outside every tent. He was being pretty annoying about it so I told him I stopped doing that back when I stopped letting the kids smoke in their tents.

Ultra Runner Karl Meltzer Sets Appalachian Trail Record, Fueled by Beer and Candy http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/19/sports/fueled-by-beer-and-candy-bars-ultra-runner-karl-meltzer-sets-appalachian-trail-record.html?rref=collection%2Fspotlightcollection%2Fsports-limitless-athletes&_r=0 Beer and Candy --- turns out I've been training for through hiking since I was in college.

i disagree, urging people to do what is virtuous is a good idea, and I believe voting is a virtuous act. The underpinning theory of democracy is that the people through their collective will produce the best governance. The more people who vote the more accurately our will is expressed, and therefore the better our governance will be. As for giving an opponent a ride, without hesitation, and if you have a friend voting the same way I'll drive him also.

I stumbled across that a month or so ago. There are some great videos for games and challenges on it. No idea why it's not more widely touted or easier to find.

We're one ministry in a very large parish, so we're mostly left to our own devices so long as there's not a problem, just like CYO, Men's basketball league, and most of the other non-Liturgical ministries. But the parish would step in if they had to, and if you're talking about getting a CC to resign you're probably at that point. In other units I've seen Chartering Orgs step in when the unit is struggling, when the COR happens to be a life long scouter who really understands the role, and like in the situation here when the adults fundamentally can't get along.

Pasta is really easy, Taco/Nacho buffet can work well too. Get a local troop to come out and cook for you, any troop worth it's salt will jump at the chance to serve a Pack that way. We have a joint Troop/Pack weekend every year; at a PLC this month, the Cub leaders said how about just hot dogs for lunch, my scouts were kind of appalled that they would settle for that, probably the only time they plan hot dogs is as a late night snack/cracker barrel when we have to leave town early on a Friday.

Varsity scouting will have no more impact on your troop than any other random extra curricular activity. We don't have any Varsity scouts in our area, but if you look at the numbers nationwide they are a small, small, component of scouting. What area of the country do you live in? Do you have any idea why someone there thinks this is a good idea, or viable program, or what unmet need it will serve?

In any organization it's important to know the rules, formal and informal, that govern it. When folks are ignorant of the rules, but try to exercise power, it will almost always fail --- and frankly it's the ignorance that is the cause. However well meaning they may be, and however accurate their judgment, it's not for the leaders to ask a CC to step down. The CC was selected by and reports to the Chartering Org Rep (COR), if the collected leaders wanted to change CCs the way to go was to approach the COR and work with that person to affect change. Any other method was almost certainly

BSA units are not democracies, there is no "voting in." The Committee Chair (CC), with the approval of the Chartered Organization Rep (COR) selects who is and is not a registered adult with the unit --- committee members, den leaders, etc. So either the CC or COR needs to make the call about who is on the committee. That said, in pursuit of consensus and service to the boys, it should be noted that there is no limit to how many folks can be on a committee, maybe everybody serves for now, and frankly most of the other folks will probably lose interest when their boys are no longer ther

United Way cut back funding for our council several years ago, not because of membership policies but because of a philosophy change to target and support "advancing the common good by mobilizing our community around education, income, and health with the ultimate goal of graduating kids. Together we are ensuring kids enter and graduate from school prepared for work and life, families are increasing financial stability and independence, and people are increasing access to health care, nutrition, and healthy environments. United Way believes the success and sustainability of our community are d

It sounds like a lot of fun. I read the alcohol prohibition rules as being primarily about events that are centered on youth participation, like camporees, scout camps, etc., so I don't see any problem here. Seems like a set up similar to what our Church and many churches do for festivals. Here's the description: Features something for all ages! Over 50 local and nationally recognized food and non-food vendors, adult beverage area, live entertainment, free kids zone, free local celebrity chef demonstrations, BBQ and Dutch Oven Cookoffs with local celebrity judges and much more! Food V

What?? If you live in Ohio November does not qualify as cold.

I was shocked the first time I came upon a trailside fire left to smolder (left by another camper,not a scout), and even more shocked when one of my fellow leaders said oh it will be fine, it will burn itself out. Drown it, stir it, and drown it again. If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave.

If our organization's success, or even part of that success, is dependent on a making small number of people working 50 hour weeks for wages that are near to the bottom third of wages paid in the U.S. than we need to do something differently.

I'm going to both agree and disagree with you. First, I doubt there's anyone who would be generous enough to donate to scouts but actually object to sending some popcorn to someone deployed overseas. Further, one of the uses of funds raised by scouts is to do the good turns that scouts are known for, and that can include any number of projects --- snacks at service project, Blue & Gold banquet entertainment, or even working on care packages for anyone, from deployed soldiers to folks in a nursing home, to refugees. So I don't think that the use of these funds for buying other popcorn i

I can't quote chapter and verse, but I believe soliciting cash donations without some good or service attached is a no go under the rules for unit fundraising. You can accept them when offered. So if instead of buying popcorn I just give a $10 check to every kid who shows up at my house that's OK, likewise if someone tells you to keep the change, you can accept it as a donation.

I've never read " A scout pays his own way..." to mean a only a scout should be paying for his own way, I've always believed it was about the scout making his fair contribution to a program that he was benefiting from, and I think that can take a variety of different forms of time, treasure, and talent. Part of what colors my thinking is that I view scouting as a necessary component of my sons' education and development. I don't think of it as a luxury or wholly discretionary activity akin to a trip to the movies, a video game, Disney World, or even sports teams. I see its value as great

I can think of a lot of ways to describe a Council Service Center, but school or Church are not among them.

I think that while keeping some reserve for equipment, like tires for trailer, and maybe being conservative about the ups and downs of fundraising, you should spend the vast marority of the money you bring in each year. At one point in our troop I had to point out to folks that unlike with our home budgets saving for college or retirement wasn't an alternative to spending our current income. If you're saving money for the future what is it you intend to spend it on then, and when do you intend to spend it.

Has anyone used either an Interactive digital MB pamphlet or the Augmented Reality (AR) Scouting 4D App. I picked up an old fashioned Cooking MB paper pamphlet today and the inside cover is touting both these things. I'd be interested in any feedback anyone has on either new digital product.

I read through a bunch of articles, and although it's not entirely clear, it appears that the other scout leader that the boys confided in helped them to eventually report to the police: "...he had a sleepover with several of his friends and said he learned he wasn’t the only one that had allegedly been touched by Kelsey during that trip. The two boys made a plan and spoke to a Scout leader they both trusted which set the ball in motion to involve the police, the teen said." http://www.registerstar.com/news/article_0ba79faa-115a-11e6-8fa3-7f4507b3a3f7.html But the SE did not report t

Lower Great Lakes Region here. We do at least one Wilderness Survival campout in either January or February. The other month varies depending on the activity we're concentrating on, sometimes we do tents sometimes a cabin. It's virtually always below freezing at night, in the past few years we've had two eight inch snow storms, smaller snow showers, one below zero F event and one near zero event. It's all about proper equipment, especially sleeping bags, and proper training.

I was canoeing the Saco river in Maine/NH once and ran into a troop from Mass. that did a week in the White Mtns. every other summer in lieu of summer camp. They spent two days up and down in the Presidential range, two days on the Saco, and a couple other days in the area but I forget the full itinerary. I was very jealous, but I live in the midwest so that particular trip would be very different logistically for us. Thinking how to do something lie that I think you need to find an area with a variety of outdoor possibilities: have to spend a couple of days on the water, a couple days