UCEagle72

I must say ... being all the way down here in Floor-a-dee, between QBSA (when the streaming works), the multiple Twitter streams, the pix that have been posted, uStream, and the Facebook postings, it really has given those of us who could not make it a way to live vicariously!

Here is a Venturing Commissioner Orientation presentation that I include in my "Commissioner's Toolkit" (a 4Gb thumb drive) that I hand out during Commissioner Basic Training: http://www.box.net/shared/g6nn9lpriz

The Resources Page on the Venturing section of Scouting.org has a PDF for the PADI Scholarship program: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/padischolar.pdf

Granted, it is from 2007, but I would think the program is still the same, and it has contact information if you'd like to contact someone for an update.(This message has been edited by UCEagle72)

While I know we are "supposed to wear the pewter, adult universal hat emblem" I prefer to wear the World Scout Emblem - http://j.mp/bGcA0Y

I like to remind Scouts (and Scouters) that we are all a part of a much larger world-wide confraternity.

I understood there was a new Powederhorn device that included pins on the back so that you did not need a button.

Welcome!

Feel free to look around and comment as you see fit. Exploring really did not becoming Venturing, they both exist -- Exploring just became career focused, and Venturing took everything else (including Sea Scouting).

But I do understand the "change shock" -- I stepped out in 1995 and came back just recently (albeit for a brief stint as a Chartered Organization Rep in 2003-2005) and have been "adjusting" as well.

I hope you find your experiences in Scouting with your son wonderful -- and don't be afraid to ask a question or two.

Packsaddle -

What Beavah was alluding to is the point at which a failing program (in this case, a TV show) will "do anything" to improve its situation, but actually, it is going into decline.

The actual phrase comes from the old "Happy Days" TV show, which near the end of it's run, had an episode where Fonzie jumps a shark in a pen on water skis (Ron Howard is driving the boat). If you have never seen this ... YouTube is your friend:

Gary --

The point of the discussion is to debate rules which are more than decade old (the exact ones you site, issued in 1998 & 1999). For those of us who remember such things, until the late 70s/early-80s, there were OA elections in Explorer posts - and Exploring became co-ed in 1969.

In 1988, we allowed female Scout Leaders to be nominated to the adult selection committee for OA.

Rather than clinging to antiquated rulings, do you think it would be better if you could site a sound reason why young women in Venturing who have completed the camping requirement, who have shown leadership, should be overlooked?

Liz --

While you may have this covered already, make sure your advisors are taking both regular YPT and the Venturing YPT.

There has already been some conflict over which one is needed, and there is no reason to have things held up over an on-line class (if you know what I mean).

I can think of at least three "Friends of Baden Powell" that have sponsored units I have been associated with as a Commissioner ... so that is always an option.

Responsibilities of the Chartered Organization:

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/Relationships/TheNew-UnitProcess/cocr.aspx

Take a look under "Civic Chartered Organization" at the #1 entry:

http://www.scouting.org/about/factsheets/operating_orgs.aspx

And if you have not seen this, it is the standard 12-step process to starting a new unit:

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/media/relationships/thenew-unitprocess.aspx

(Personally, new units that follow this process, from my personal experience, are far more likely to succeed long-term.)

And while I have only seen a few youth members actually receive the Wm Boyce Award, I hope your son does for all his hard work:

http://www.boyscouttrail.com/square-knots.asp#boyce

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The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is still quite strong: http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/home

Ok ... y'all seem to be convincing me to make it a co-ed program throughout, with the option for COs to make the decision if they want their program co-ed or not.

I think I like the idea co-ed Cubs, then splitting into Scouts and Guides for the 11 -> 13/14 (completion of 8th grade), and then transition to Venturing.

And if you want to deal with a builder directly - I would use Old Town Canoes - http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/canoes/

Sherminator -

On a tangent - why would the BSA lower the entry age for Venturing if it was concerned about retaining boys in its core program?

What they did was allow those who completed 8th grade by age 13 to join Venturing. The completion of 8th grade is still the key criteria. Had we not moved, my daughter would have completed 8th grade when she was 13 (her birthday is mid-summer).

Honestly, based on the maturity difference, I'm glad she had to wait until she completed 8th grade when she was 14.

Moosetracker:

Do they get any paperwork if taken on-line?

Thus far, all online courses have provided "certificates" (aka training cards) - and I would expect that trend would continue with any new online training.

If you have not checked out the new "Training Validation" module in MyScouting (it worked with IE8, but not FF or Chrome) it was interesting to look at my own record and realize that only one of the five "in person" training classes I have taken or re-taken this year were on my record -- but all of the online were there.

(So yes, I sent copies of my certificates off to have my records updated -- sad part is, one of the courses is the primary course I need to be considered "trained.")

An Arrowman is an Arrowman, regardless of how they got there.

As long as they give 'service' - then why does it matter?

While I have no problem with the "star" on the POR (for those of us who remember the mylar POR for trained leaders) - what I fail to understand is why change the knot!

The old knot, white knot, white border, on tan background -- was replaced with a gold knot, gold border on blue background. Extremely close to the Community Organization award, which is the same color knot and border on a purple background.

Having looked over the Outdoor Bronze requirements, I would rather make it Ranger. You have the number of days camping covered if you use Ranger.

There *was* specific training for Troop Committee members, it was replaced by the on-line "Troop Committee Challenge."

A Troop Committee member is required to complete:

- This is Scouting

- Youth Protection

- Troop Committee Challenge

To be considered fully "trained" and eligible to wear the trained patch. There is a nice chart on page 7 of the Spring/Summer "The Commissioner" newsletter - http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/522-975_Spring_summer2010.pdf

Boy Scout Leader Specific Training and IOLS is only required for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters in addition to:

- This is Scouting

- Youth Protection

- Scoutmaster Fast Start

According to the conference calls that were held, Cub position specific was to be online 6/21. Of course, it is not there yet, and the monthly Training Update page - http://scouting.org/training/trainingupdates.aspx - still says "May 2010".

Guess we closed down for summer camp and jambo.

I too agree with what OGE has said, but I have hope that GenY when they start having children old enough will be there to support the Boomers as leaders.

As a (long-time) student of sociology, I just spent two years working with a group of largely GenY employees at a local computer company. They seem to have the same desire to "serve" their community as the Boomers. But they don't want to waste their time. I think this may be one of the reasons why we are seeing some of the Basic trainings becoming "online" courses. (Yes, separate topic and rant.)

In that group, there were a couple of "border children" (on the end of the GenX start of the GenY group) - they all had sons old enough for Scouts and other programs -- and they were all involved in one fashion or another.

The biggest challenge for us "boomers," will be to find the right size "slice of pie" for them to want to take.

I look at it this way ... I taught the old Scoutmaster Fundamentals class (which was a combo of the SM Basic & IOLS) -- yet, that was several (20) years back -- so, I am taking all the new training over.

Not that I need to, but I am doing it for myself. I believe that a good Commissioner should have at least the same training as those he serves -- so -- with a Pack, Troop & Crew I have been busy!

(BTW - I always listed my training staff on the training attendance class roster, provided they stayed for the whole thing.)(This message has been edited by UCEagle72)

My 3rd Scoutmaster is celebrating his 40th anniversary as SM this year (and we were not the 1st Troop he was SM for, either). It is a large Troop (since he took the reins) - they re-registered just under 100 this year - and he has a number of ASMs and other registered adults (I counted 55) who assist him with the Troop.

Now, mind you, in 1969 when I joined the Troop there were 20 or so Scouts - and before he took over there had been six Eagles in the history of the Troop (since 1955). Since he took over there have been more than 250 over those 40 years.

@Kahuna - especially when they are opening the Harry Potter area at Universal!

I'm in Seminole Springs District myself.

For those of us who grew up on the US-Canadian border, and were active in Scouts in the 1960-70s, the WC was common as most of us spent time on "International" events. I know I did my first International event back in 1971.

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