Twocubdad

We should remember that district activities should be supplemental to unit programs. If a unit has a robust outdoor program and chooses to pass on district camporees, so be it. Their Scouts are getting their nights camping in, it shouldn't be an issue. It's not the responsibility of the unit to support the district, but the job of the district to support the units. 100% seems like a pretty high bar. Can all the First Class Scouts pass the challenge? How about the newbies who complete the course? Can they pass that standard? If not do you require them to retake it? Sounds to m

Yeah, Castor, I decided it wasn't worth the ensuing hassle.

Disgusting. I have the same reaction to this as I do seeing pictures of families at Klan rallies with babies dressed in white robes.

Wow. This group never agrees on anything.

There are two of us. I help the guys with the proposal Eagle app paperwork, another guy helps with more construction-oriented stuff, if needed. We do not have the district-appointed coaches contemplated in the Guide to Advancement.

There was shrinkage, Packsaddle! There was shrinkage!

Too late. http://www.theonion.com/video/12yearold-boy-scouts-volunteer-to-give-women-breas,14276/

I guess getting wings at Hooters on the way home would be a let down, huh? Reminds me of sitting in the very large pub inside the staff area at World Jamboree outside London, sipping on a pint of Guinness with my new-found mates from the UK. One of the other Americans looked around and said, astonishedly, "Wow, you've got girls AND beer? I'd have 700 guys in my troop!" And I thought I had problems with all dads who want to go on shooting and whitewater trips with the troop.

Funny you should ask. Here's the presentation I'll be making this weekend: Crafts & Woodworking 20 Minutes Resources: All levels of Cub Scout handbooks Cub Scout Leader Handbook Age-appropriateness Guidelines Chart Whittlin’ Chip pocket cards Idea books Sample Tool Kit: Hammer, saw, coping saw, hand drill, tape/ruler, square, screw drivers, wrench, clamps, shooting boards, sandpaper, goggles, gloves, thumb guard, pencil. Project Materials Sweet potatoes, carving knives, instruction poster, step stick, finished carving, dr

That being the case, you should have resigned yesterday. If you are responsible for maintaining the medical records and they are essentially telling you to violate national policy -- and a rather important, black-letter policy at that -- I'd have no part of it. Whether they change things or not really isn't your problem. Put your resignation in writing and send a copy to every parent in the troop, the COR, the institutional head and the Scout Executive. While they aren't putting the youth at direct risk, they are putting the youth in the position of having one of their adult leaders cr

If the SM and ASMs are throwing a tantrum, then you really didn't have a consensus. No, the SM/ASMs aren't members of the committee. But they are generally the ones carrying out the policy and in a volunteer organization you best have them on board. But the bigger problem is the committee is voting on policy in the first place. That's not the proper role of a troop committee. Troop committees are neither legislative bodies nor democracies. Troop committees are simply a clearinghouse for different folks who have different roles in the troop organization to come together, report and coordin

What a pompous ass.

I should have figured the exemptions on immunizations was only about covering BSA's butt.... Was it 3 or 4 years ago swine flu was a problem at several camps? One of our neighboring camps attracts a lot of out-of-state campers. They were hit hard by the flu and If memory serves, closed for a week. When the headlines regarding the measles outbreaks change from "Disneyland" to "Local Scout Camp" I wonder how long it will take national to rethink this? While national may only be concerned with their liability, we know our COs can enforce stricter policies. I wonder about this. If

I should have figured the immunization exemption was only about covering BSA's butt. But we know chartered organizations are allowed to enforce more stringent membership requirements. That could include requiring immunizations without exception. If the issue became a more serious concern, I don't see out CO giving a lot of quarter to conscientious exemptions.

Best defense is a good offense. Make sure you have a strong connection with the pack. Provide den chiefs to dens who want them. Work closely with the Webelos den and plan a great campout for the Webelos. As SM I try to attend about one pack committee meeting a quarter just to keep in touch. We also have a big joint service project we do which supports one of the ministries supported by our CO. But don't take any guff either. If the other troop is causing problems, set the record straight. Never let a falsehood stand.

Asking of a Scout who is purported to hold the maturity and ability to handle himself as an Eagle Scout if his socks are on the right feet is now considered hazing? This is PRECISELY left-handed smoke shifter stuff. Actually, sending a new kid out looking for a smoke shifter can be hazing. The Eagle Scouts in our troop would have the chutzpah and sense of humor enough to throw it right back at them by telling them he never washes his right socks so he always knows to put the crunchy socks on the right foot. Or something equally silly. Even the introverts would just grin and shake their hea

There is an organization called Bugles Across America which is a registry of buglers who volunteer to play real bugles at veteran funerals. When some one requests a bugler, a notification is sent out and some one volunteers to take the request. I was on the registry for several years but never saw a request which was inside a two hour drive.

As you're working your WB ticket, I'm sure you will remember the session in the course on managing change. You will recall that when pushing for change in a unit, you should expect to loose volunteers who do not agree with the change. Be prepared for that.

It's a bit of money, but the wool jac-shirts are really nice and something they will appreciate if they're continuing on.

My old football coach used to say the same thing.

Have you ever seen BSA roll out a new program and have all the parts fitting together? Me either. You should see the syllabus for CSDC camp school. There are still sections referring to the old camp standards.

I think our recent membership changes are driving a push toward individual shower stalls. Almost immediately following the membership vote our council properties committee had a quick about-face on the topic of new showers. Of course money is the big stumbling block. Until then, I think you need to look at who else is using the showers when mom or dad decides she/he must to accompany Dear Sweet Thing to the showers. A 10-y.o. Webelos may not be too thrilled about the Tiger mom walking in on him. A shower house full of grown women may not appreciate being checked out by your 8 year old.

A flaw in the process is that proposal writing is not a skill we teach out Scouts. But then we expect them to put together a detailed, written plan for their Eagle project. Prior to the 2011 policy changes 50 page proposals were not uncommon in our council. That was insane. A dad in our troop is a Six-Sigma instructor and would shake his head and laugh at the complexity of EP proposals. The 2011 changes to the process fixed a lot of that and I was a very early supporter of the new process. (Unfortunately they went too far in other areas, but that's a different thread.) The key to an Eagl

q- I'm having that framed and put on the wall in the scout house.

In spirit at least, here's the right answer, despite Schiff's missing the change where BSA turned a Scoutmaster's signature on a blue card to meaningless scribbling: Personally, if I were the SM in this case, I would let your son move forward with the badge. He did the work so I'm not going to hold him up on a technicality. When I give the card, we will have a talk about why I fell the way I do about advancement. That is, I believe it is my job to help the Scouts I serve get the most out of their years in Scouting. Part of that is looking at the long term -- the whole 7 years h