ThunderFox

BSA will pass on portrayals in film, video etc. to make sure Scouting is not shown in a negative way. They enforce it with threat of copyright infringement if they cannot get the degree of image control they require. I personally have some mixed emotions here but overall, I am thankful Scouting is protected from those who do not understand and could abuse the portrayal. It is readily apparent that even when "Hollywood" has the best of intensions, they will sacrifice accuracy and image for the story they wish to portray. I would trust Spielberg to do it correctly with real advisors on b

Nettie welcome, Unfortunately Nettie you will find in this program you will never cease to be astounded by the number of people who can read the very same manual or attend the very same training and have as many differing interpretations as those who read the book or took the training. Re-attending training and sampling these boards should help to verify what you think you know; I know it helps me. I always told my Scouts to "Run The Twelve" when faced with decision. 1. Is it Helpful 2. Is it Friendly and run all 12. At the end, if you have 12 yeses or maybe a few "not appl

My belief is what I was taught someplace - Share Leadership (but do your job) The following is published in our "Parents Handbook & Troop Committee Guide". It is shared with W2 parents when they visit as part of an Orientation and Q&A session. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ THE ADULT PATROL "THE OLD TIMER PATROL" PURPOSE: 1. Provide support to the troop program and the adult troop leaders. 2. Be a positive adult role model. Boys copy adults with whom they are c

I can only speak to my belief about creating patrols. DO NOT DO IT!!!! DO NOT DO IT!!!! DO NOT DO IT!!! As SM, I would discuss the need for membership accomodation with the SPL. I would explain that we had XX numbers of Webelos coming and remind him what size patrol our troop seemed to be comfortable with. I would explain that the troop has voted every six months that new Scouts would always be blended into existing patrols or into new patrols with 3 or 4 experienced Scouts who volunteered to mentor the new ones. Then the SPL would put this before the PLC and under h

Materials, My personal preference is natural and weatherproof while it is sized to be comfortable for the smallest Scout in the patrol to be able to proudly carry it along with his gear. I like a slender, sturdy forked branch with a lashed crossbar at the top suspending a small leather banner. Designs "woodburned" into the leather and highlighted with leather dyes are long lasting and weatherproof. The fabrication should be a group effort by the patrol members with only adult info when asked. IMHO Cheers, Ol' Thunder Fox

One thing about patrol flags the always seems be left out of discussions is validity. We humans are usually practical, sometimes even overly pratical. Young folks are no different. If they have no reason to carry a patrol flag and take care of it, they will soon leave it and home and lose it. The patrol flag is a symbol for the boys to rally around and it is a bonding tool. We as adults need to provide the additional relevance they need to make their flag meaningful and have validity. One of the tools we use is RECOGNITION. Patrol competitions call for recognition. We use bl

I thought I would share our troop's rules, both sets. APPENDIX ITEM "A-3" TROOP CODE OF CONDUCT Troop ___, as all troops should, operates by the Scout Oath and Law. Because we function under this precept, each and every Scout should expect Scout-like behavior of all his brother troop members. The Patrol Leaders' Council is responsible for discipline and Scouts' Honor. There are two groups of specific rules and are published here so each Scout and his parents may know what is to be part of a young man's behavior and what is not. The first group of rules were

Every day in a Scout Troop is a new day in the world! There will be all sorts of opportunities for mandates, variations and violations. We have addressed this over the years by publishing two sets of rules. 1. Adult made rules that address safety, CO concerns and BSA Policies. 2. Scout Rules authored by the Scouts. These rules are reviewed/revised at the leader training after Troop Elections every six months. Now the new PLC has adopted this new set of rules and has agreed to the validity. We also do a session about how the PLC will review mis-behaviour with compassion and the aim

Home school kids were mede to feel unwelcome??? What is wrong with this picture? Lord Robert Baden-Powell took youngsters from all walks of life to Brownsea Island to see if his concept would work. NEWS FLASH! It worked.

Unless you are with a CO that holds women as 2nd class citizens, why is no one offended with the well off ASM that helps with equipment and sets a negative sexist example for the Scouts? Whatever happens in this situation, the Scouts do not need a leader who sets a negative example.

Following is what I say to units who shut down for the summer. If Scouting is a program to teach character building and values to your son, why would you take three months off? What happens during the summer that makes teaching character building and values to your son unnecessary? Cheers, Ol' Thunder Fox

I have two items to share that I feel are relevant to this topic: 1. Our troop is strong and we have a good group of adults who are trained and have been taught that WE set the example. We are the "Old Timer" patrol. Our patrol leader position rotates among the trained leaders, we use the same duty roster and menu planner the Scouts use. Our patrol campsite is the "Model" campsite and has an "Old Timers" gateway. New adults camping with us are guests who are oriented by the patrol and explained "Why Training". We have patrol guidelines that are published in the second item I wish to

As Scoutmaster having served for many years, I have been blessed with many exceptional fellow volunteers who made me look good. One in particular was Robert (Bob) Helm. Bob was an Eagle Scout who came to the troop when his son crossed over. Bob was 6'-5" tall and was so skinny he had to run around in a shower to get wet. He was mostly bald, had a beard and a permanent smile. His picture should be in the Scout Handbook next to Cheerful except that it would have to be next to nearly every other positive attribute in the same book. One of many of the fabulous things about Bob was his whole he

Troop24, I never said, "No Drinking", I said follow the rules you agreed to abide by. That means no drinking at Scout events or on Scout property. I personally (just my feelings) extend that to (to me) No Drinking in Uniform. I still have a drink every once in a while, but these days it is rare and minimal due to diabetes. But, in my 50 years of Scouting, it has never been at a Scouting event or on Scout property (in or out of uniform). I have never stopped at the store on the way home from a Scouting event in uniform and purchased alcohol. That is a personal guideline that

WOW!!! Now days it is so easy to paint an entire people with just one brush!!! All you (Athiests/Christains/Jews/Catholics/Mormons/Republicans/Democrats/Rotarians/Hells Angels/Civil Air Patrol/PTA/chess players - pick one) are all (whining, intolerant, bigoted, misfits - pick one or more) who claim everyone else deprives them of their (rights/jobs/ice cream cones/M&M's/birth control/freedom and access to y-front underwear pick one). I would say that humans are all different and individuals of any group have differing opinions, but as this statement is empirical, I will not s

I see lots of posts in theis thread that say I think this is ok but that is not or I think this is not ok but that is. Folks, this is not a quilting Bee where we exchange opinions on how we should all behave, it is about being leaders to Boy Scouts who we expect to learn and follow rules. I remember many years ago that I signed a form that my signature attested to my pledge to follow the rules, regulations and policies of the Boys Scouts of America. Scouts know this and they are aware of the rules because we teach them the rules. They can tell you which leaders are the hypocrites

Here are a few things we use. 1. We have a Parents' Handbook that has a section called "You and Your Son" and this very subject is addressed. Visiting Webelos Parents get a copy before their son ever joins, we leave out the members only stuff. 2. The Scoutmaster and assistants usually perform a short skit utilizing role play and humor at each Troop Committee meeting to shed light on "the topic of the month" and hopefully teach those who need the lesson. It seems every couple of years this subject is the topic. 3. Our Parents' Handbook actually has an adults' rule that says at

The problem is NOT the conflicting program material because we all know what the REAL rule is: Parents may attend. The bottom line is being prepared to handle the situation if it arises and a verbal explanation is not accepted. A Council approved flyer (reflecting council policy)for parents is going to be more effective.

BSA_ldr, I have a "Parents' Handbook & Troop Committe Guide" that was written in MSWord by several Scouters based on all the stuff BobWhite wrote (Gee BobWhite that stuff looks familiar!). Of course in word, its editable. It is written for our troop that still runs a membership of 80+/- Scouts. But adapt it for your troop. It even has a job description for each of the sub-committees. Just do not let the committee start voting on what's in it! TRAIN EVERYBODY. I have never heard of a Scout Troop that failed because of the Scouts. Troops fall apart when adults do not

I think the thread has been hijacked, but Daddy-o should know this. When visiting a troop, it only takes two minutes to tell if you are in a good or bad troop and three more minutes to make sure your observations are correct. Then, if you are a Commissioner, it takes lots of time to determine the causes. If a boy is in charge, activities are going on and adults are just observing or counseling, its a good troop; its boy run. Boy Scout troops never have problems between Scouts, troops break-up because adults cannot get along. If the troop is more than two years old and only h

Daddy-O After all is said and done, the Scouting program offers your son an opportunity to: 1. Learn about Democracy and citizenship from the inside by being a member of a patrol (city) and a Troop (state) and Council (Country) and meet the candidates and vote for who he determines is the best candidate. 2. Put your son in an uncomfortable enviornment and have his slightly older peers teach him not only how to cope with the new environment but master it and gain confidence in his own coping skills and abilities. And many of these are Life Skills to follow him as long as he lives.

Guys, There are enough abuses within our program, parents will quite often be queasy about their son going off to a "confidential" event. Hopefully, the parent will contact someone to discuss attending the Ordeal. So, cooler heads in your district or council (or National?) will have a prepared "Official" pamphlet that explains the concerns OA has and lists "Guidelines" for non-members attending. This should be done by some adult "Official Leader" who will hand them the pamphlet and be there to explain, answer questions and address concerns. It should also present the Mystery aspect and

We started a new troop at a new Church with 15 Webelos and one Eagle Scout who had just moved to the area and his family joined the Church. Due to this Eagle's care and concern with the new Scouts, the boys remembered their first year struggles and told me they did not want New Scout Patrols in their troop; they wished to spread out among all the new Scouts so they would have "big brothers" in the troop to buddy-up one on one with new Scouts to make them welcome, teach them and make their troop stronger than troops they had seen in our district with NSPs. The troop is now 11 years old,

Deb, If I can ever be of service just let me know! Us old Mossbacks come in handy sometimes! Ol' TF

Welcome Everyone who is new!!! And greetings to all the stalwarts! I just got back myself after an absence of a few years!