UCEagle72

"Immediate recognition beads" are really a modern innovation in the Cub Scout program ... and I really don't remember being taught anything about "scouting history" until I became a Tenderfoot, and then read the legend about Boyce and the London fog. So ... I'm not sure what the problem is here. A DL should be able to run his or her den as they see fit. Unless the DL is doing something in direct violation of the G2SS or YP. As long as the den is active, young men are advancing, and they are having fun, then the CS program is being delivered.

Units setting the goals only happened with the Centennial program -- in the past, and again in JTE, National set the standards. The two units excel because the have a boy run program. The PLCs make the decisions, and honestly, they both do a fine job of getting parents involved as ASMs or CMs. They are proud to be scouts, and they stick with a traditional program. Heck, they do multiple weeks of summer camp at different locations -- and no, the SM does not attend them all -- that's what ASMs are for. And for all the necker proponents out there -- they both wear neckers as part of th

E732 -- We have made "quality units" public as long as the program (in all of its various names and forms) has existed. And many of us have worn the "distinctive patches" on our uniform. However, I can honestly say, that in my years as CM or SM, I was never once asked by a prospective scout, or their family, if we were a "quality unit." You'd really need to be down to some tight decision making if you were asking that question! "Good units" with "good programs" are known. This year in our District, 75 Webelos of the 90 who were in Webelos II transitioned to one of two troo

Moose -- Never had that problem ... and I follow the steps in the MBP quite regularly! Wonder if that is a local phenomena? Anybody else run into the issue Moose is describing?

The JTE system does allow each unit (district, council) to be either "bronze, silver, or gold" in each of their respective categories. So, you "might" be able to call that a rating, PE, but not in the sense of what is being discussed here. This is what we refer to as a "health rating" in the process improvement biz.

Years back, in my early days as a UC (late 70s) there were such things, but I am sure they were local in scope. Currently, as an ADC, I rely on a variety of information I collect from reports and the UCs in the area to determine how units are doing, and if they need some extra help.

Eagerly awaiting my copy ...

"search term" site:scouting.org Works best in Google, BTW. And re-charter really did not go that badly in our district (and we turned in at the November RT) - I just wish the system would print a correct "invoice" when you are done, and not require us to review the entire contents to do the calculations! And sailingpj - while I understand what you are saying, there are those adult volunteers who have offered to help with the web site designs and layouts for the older Scouting programs, and we are told "No, a youth needs to do it." (This message has been edited by UCEagle72)

I think that until National publishes the criteria we are putting the cart before the horse. We really do not know what the requirements are for this knot! Everything thus far is pure speculation.

Hear, hear! When I served as SM, I always encouraged my Scouts to be "the best first class scout you can be." I had what most would consider a small Troop (started with 10, ended with 30 boys) but we were always the Troop that won the Camporee, or the Summer Camp contests. I had a handful scouts who were Star, Life, and actually never had an Eagle until the end of my tenure as SM. It's not that we did not encourage advancement, it is that we encouraged the Scouts to enjoy Scouting, and to get the "full experience" instead of blowing through like a hurricane and leaving just as quic

The Locator did a decent job for the Crews, not so well for the Ships, unfortunately.

'92 -- thanks for picking up the slack for me, I actually spent the early morning working on a new district database, and forgot to check the forum! I appreciate the assist. MT -- It's sad that people think they "control" everything and refuse to follow the guidelines the rest of us support. I hope that sometime soon a good Key 3 person asks them to "retire." Then, maybe, normalcy will be restored.

MT -- I have sat on EBoR's where the young man did not have a uniform. He was however in a suit. In one case, he had a extreme growth spurt over summer, and it just did not fit (the parents were strapped, but the grandparents did just buy him the new suit), two other cases were Explorer's, whose unit did not have a uniform - so they wore suits. BTW - if you read the Advancement Guide, a suit is a valid option.

'04 - When I was a ASM & SM I did the same thing ... great minds ;-)

As an adult leader, you do have the option to wear one or two service stars, with the blue background for your total years of service, instead of individual stars for each group. (From the Insignia Guide: "Or, leaders may combine youth and adult tenure into one or two stars with blue background." - http://scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/InsigniaGuide/10D.aspx) That does make it much simpler - and pencil erasers make dandy (and comfortable) pin backs (or you can purchase the rubber ones which seem to stay on better)

Brotherhood -- What specifically was not working?

'92 -- Down here, the Crews are told that if they are participating in any Council-sponsored leadership training (VLSC/ILSC, Powderhorn, Kodiak, or NYLT) they are expected to have the "greens" (or I guess, greens and grays).

The BSA national sites suffered a "denial of service" attack at the beginning of November. It took them until a week ago to get the Unit Visit Tracking System back up and working like it had prior to the attack. I suggest you email myscouting@scouting.org and see if they can give you an update.

Clemlaw -- If you only earned one religious award, then wearing a device is not needed. Devices are meant to signify more than one award. I don't wear the scout device on my youth religious knot - I only earned one. I wear devices on my "Key" knot because I have earned three.

Neil -- Having already been through the earlier District & Council webinars, is there any insight to be gained from sitting through the Commish brand? I do process improvement for a living, so I understand leading indicators and KPI (in fact, I have helped to dispel quite a few misunderstandings about the program here locally) - I just want to get a feel for the content to see if there is anything "new" in it for me. Thanks!

In our neck of the woods, the W2S transition is focused on by the District Programs Chair and the District Membership Chair. And while I understand your concern, the Key 3 usually has a lot of different items that they need to concentrate on. If they have good people in those two positions on their District Committee, then, they, themselves, should be comfortable that the program will happen and will happen well. We transitioned 90% of our Webelos this year during the traditional cross-over period, and found another 5% when the Troops started doing their school kick-offs this past f

"Traditionally" devices are only attached to knots when you have multiple awards. I have a Scoutmaster's Key, Cubmaster's Key (yeah, long time ago, '87 or '88), and Commissioner's Key, so I have one knot, three devices (and not three knots). This is also true in the Youth Religious Awards, which 92 explained quite well. And there are some others that qualify for devices ... I don't have a complete list.

Lemuel Siddons in "Follow Me Boys" If you look at how he handled his Troop (in, albeit, a much simpler era) you have an excellent role model.

Nothing says you can't have more than one -- heck, I had three. ACM #1 was there to oversee the Tiger program and bring them some cub scout "experience" (of course that was back when the Tiger program was "new" and not really part of the Pack). ACM #2 has oversight on the Wolf & Bear program -- he was the "heir apparent." ACM #3 was a former SM and old friend who looked over the two Webelos Dens (no Webelos I & II in those days -- we just had a large pack). ACM #2 and I handled the Pack meetings ... while one was "on" the other was prepping for their next segment, a

I did check my new copy of the Sea Scout handbook and it mute on the WOSM emblem ... however, I know that our Council Commodore wears a International Sea Scout emblem on a white background in that location on his whites. Nice to see the six knot limit still in place -- and adults cannot wear the youth Arrow of Light knot either! (Eagle & Youth Religious Award are ok.)