Wallace

All great and useful thoughts. Thank you very much.

I seek your wise counsel. The Scoutmaster has become overbearing to a point that it is dramatically affecting the program. Scoutmaster minutes have become either 15 minute tirades or the same repeated topics over and over again. In fact he has "Scoutmaster minutes" at CORs and PLCs as well. He undermines his assistants. He makes Troop policy without consulting anyone. He is not training the Scouts (His primary job as Scoutmaster) or supporting his assistants when they do. The first 40 minutes of last night's PLC consisted of the SM "talking at" the Scouts and telling them what to do. Ou

...of course you meant to type "Tennessean" for Mr. Crockett.

For the game, try the best Scout game ever. Hide and go seek!

to be correct... It is the quickly expanding air that surrounds the bolt that makes the noise. The object being "hit" does not make the noise.

Talk about lightning for about 5 minutes max. Explain the causes, effects, etc.. Be dramatic... Then let the boys make up their own cheer.

...and it has been the same poll for at least 2 years. So...an open ended poll with no results in sight. Sounds like the BSA bureaucracy in action!

I saw this at my local Scout Shop last week. I vote for it to be the new Field Uniform fabric and design.

For the best info possible on Boxwell Scout Reservation go to: http://www.virtualboxwell.org/

I have a Scout handbook (9th ed.)autographed to me by William Hillcourt...I know that's a keeper!

Ditto to all previous.. 27 years now an Eagle Scout.

Yep...I don't use the dutch oven much anymore. The boys have learned to bake rolls, cupcakes, muffins, biscuits, cookies, pizza, etc.. We have used the same oven for 2 years now and only just torched the cardboard this past weekend. I over heated it and was distracted with the rest of the meal. Taping the foil with aluminum duct tape was the key to longevity.

As I have said before in these forums, the BSA is a voluntary organization and it is a honor to be a member. Not every boy can be a member. If you have done all you can to bring the program to the boy and his family, (sounds like you have) you have completed you obligation.

I may be crazy... I remember finding an OA movie presentation on a website. It was directed at the troop election process. It was also very well done. Anyone have any idea where I saw this? Thanks!

We are giving one to our son when he crosses over to Boy Scouts this Month. Maybe he will let me borrow it...

All of the boys in the Webelos den earned the AOL. All of them will join Boy Scouts next month. All of them are still excited about the BSA and what their future holds! I cannot ask for more than that.

Sorry about that... go to http://www.scouting.org and click on "site map" and you will see it listed. You can then view on line or download and print.

Try here: http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?c=xds&terms=guide+to+safe+scouting+pdf for the Guide to Safe Scouting

Ditto to Bob White's comments. Here are my additions... Verify that the C.O. (if that is where you meet) will allow knives on the property. The first week, we covered safety first and then used plastic knives to practice carving the Ivory Soap. I sent a new large size bar of Ivory Soap home with the boys with instructions to carve a boat out of the soap and add a sail and whatever " boat accessories" they wanted. The second week, the boys arrived with their boats and we raced them "raingutter regatta" fashion. They had a great time, learned the basics of carving, a little

Bob White, Any thoughts on why the BSA has been so slow to put the Insignia Guide "on line"? Thanks.

In our Pack, the Webelos that have earned the AOL will receive it this month at B and G. Next month they cross over to Boy Scouts with the help of the OA. The bridge ceremony is a great "first reward" for choosing to stay in the BSA and join a Troop. The boys who do not choose to continue do not get the honor of participating in the ceremony. If everyone gets to cross the bridge, what's next? Let them go through the high school/college graduation ceremony even though they have not finished the work? No! Will future employers give them a job even though they went to class but di

Ditto to nldscout...

In the unit you serve... What is the farthest distance travelled by any youth member for meetings? What reasons do they give for the extra effort/expense? Thanks!

This kind of "school system stupidity" is one of reasons that our family is moving out of Nashville this summer. sad, sad, sad... The town is great, but the schools are not. There is too much administration and not enough education. I had a similar discussion at a recent leaders meeting. A few leaders want to award every boy that participates in the PWD with a trophy. A few others and I do not. Life is about winning and losing. Both have great value. How you deal with both shows your true measure.

Congratulations on your election! I echo what Bob White has posted with my own life observations. Long ago, I had the opportunity to serve an excellent Troop as SPL for two terms. It was a thrilling and humbling experience - and great preparation for life. I recently ran into an familiar adult leader at a training event. We were in the same Troop as kids and had not seen each other for 30 yrs! He was the Troop SPL before me (and a great one!) and had a huge affect on how I did my SPL job. Remember that many other Scouts have stood in your "SPL shoes" before you. Make sure a