Wood_Owl

You're restating what I copied directly from the Health and Safety guide. (You read it right?)

Again, It's his choice as to what kind of role model he wants to be. That is a reflection on his honor.

More importantly:

Health and Safety Guide, Section E

Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use and Abuse

The Boy Scouts of America prohibits the use of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances at encampments or activities on property owned and/or operated by the Boy Scouts of America, or at any activity involving participation of youth members.

Adult leaders should support the attitude that young adults are better off without tobacco and may not allow the use of tobacco products at any BSA activity involving youth participants.

All Scouting functions, meetings, and activities should be conducted on a smoke-free basis, with smoking areas located away from all participants.

...He's just gonna have to suck it up, and be a good role model for his troop. It will be impossible to hide the odor of smoke from his youth, they WILL know what he's up to.

You might want to recommend he 'wear the patch' for that week.

Are we good role models?

The topic has gone from discussing the merits of wearing uniforms, to interpersonal arguments.

In life, we don't get to choose if we are a role model to our Scouts. We are. We only get to choose wether we are a good role model, or a poor one. Be the Scout you want your Scouts to be.

The troop committee does not have the power to set BSA policy.

Uniforms can be requested, but are not required in BSA regulations. Scouts cannot be 'discriminated agaisnt' for not wearing their uniforms.

(This message has been edited by Wood_Owl)

Pioneer is 100% correct.

In addition to teaching the Scouts to earn their way and save up for expenses, the uniform is FREE advertising for your troops.

I can assure you that in todays "Thug Culture", people a genuinely pleased to see Boy Scouts in uniform!

I mean, holding the actual WEEKLY meetings as normal.

Yes or no?

My unit was almost lost... barley made charter one year. Now we have over 20 active.

It wasn't because of "luck of the draw" in recruiting cubs. We did two main thing that were simple and easy.

Started recruiting Webelos in a respectful manner... having campout designed to cater to them specifically. Ones that promised more adventures, and showing that we cared . This got them out to visit us.

Internally we changed the troop from adult lead - to boy lead, using little more than the 8 methods of Scouting. This made a troop where Scouts wanted to stay.

Sometimes you have to replace people. Because some things are worth saving...

^ That is a crying shame. Sounds like either the committee chair is weak, or worse the chair prevents communication. In either case, the chair needs to be replaced to restore order. If you wish to fix the committee I recommend you take over as Chair.

According to procedure, file a grievance with your Chartered Organization Rep detailing the reason why the CC needs to be replaced.

...Or do they simply need to be trained?

I can't say as I don't know the persons involved. But even sports teams have rules of conduct for a reason, no?

Oh I never said full committee. In truth none of us fill more that the most basic positions; treasurer, advancement coordinator, uhh... Chair. That's all.

As for interpretations and axes to grind. Those are already present.

A clueless committee is far less efficient than one would realize!

A committee that does not know the BSA cannot support the scoutmaster in any way, effectively leaving it a one man show. It wasn't until our committee became useful that our poor scoutmaster started to have fun and enjoy his position again!

=o)

It only took a year to get over the"We've always done it this way" phenomenon.

They used to call it "Woodcraft" back in the day.

But I am olde fashioned... =op

Look, I'm new to scouting. Only have two years in it and was never a Scout when I was a kid.

I took some training, and learned where to look things up on policy and Poof! Made a huge impact on the health of the troop!

Learning to apply the 8 methods of scouting to our program was dead easy and turned our troop around.

I still have a ton to learn, but I know much more than most of the committee that has been around for years. Id say that is proof positive that taking BSA training and reading BSA literature is indeed very effective.

I concur with just about everything Bart said.

While I, and our unit are finding pride in our uniforms... National REALLY REALLY needs to rethink the idea of functional.

Vents belong under the arms.

The nylon swithcbacks are too hot and too cold.

I havent heard about the polyester ones yet... Scouts still giving feedback on that one.

But i do think they got the length right. I have had switchbacks that zipped off at the knee. After about an hour and a half of hiking the covered zippers did a number on my knees! I was red and raw from them. I'd rather wear sunblock on my knees, that mole skin. lol

But it would be nice if they did more R&D first; ask some seasoned experts their opinions and field tested examples under harsh conditions before rolling them out on the poor scouts. THEN work on making it look good. Function before fashion.

What would Baden Powell design with todays materials?

One of the problems we are facing is that the execution of duties is not in keeping with what is expected. They can't advise the scoutmaster on Policy, because they don't know what it is. Training would help them a great deal I think, as they don't have a clear grasp of their job description.

As for picking the right members, see the first duty of the troop committee.

Yes there are personality issues, we all deal with that. But training never negatively impacted performance. It either works, or remains neutral. Even a modest improvement is worth it. Agreed?

Our troop only requires the shirt. We provide the neckerchief, slide and epaulette flashes, and pretty cool neckerchief patch.

We DO require the class A in meetings and while traveling. (its MUCH easier to spot your scouts in a crowd for a proper head count & they DO get more respect from the locals) Some of the leaders make it a point to wear our uniforms with pride, and that rubs off on the Scouts.

What is really impressive is that some of our Scouts have begun to wear the uniform functionally, all campout long... of their own free will! They are even getting the switchbacks to go with that.

It's become important to them. Not because they are "more" of a Scout than any other. It's because they WANT people to KNOW they are a Scout!

=o)

I would like to talk about the importance of having a trained troop committee,

In my experience as a scouter I have seen and heard many tails of woe from troops about the failure of a leader, a patrol, or an entire unit.

I believe most of these problems could be avoided if volunteers (and local councils) held committee training of higher importance. A trained committee could have corrected or even prevented most of the issues faced, whatever the 'apparent' cause.

In brief, the roles of the troop committee are:

1) Advise the Scoutmaster on BSA policy and ensure that quality adult leaders are chosen.

2) Review the results of the PLC annual planning meeting.

3) Conduct fundraising operations

4) Arrange transportation for Scouting adventures.

All of these run best when the committee is aware of the methods and polices, but the 1st on the list is foremost! A committee unfamiliar with the 8 methods of Scouting, and the national and council rules cannot properly support the Scoutmaster, or be able to spot trouble before it starts. There may be one or two individuals on a committee that can do this but if the others cannot be made to understand the issue faced, they may not respond appropriately or in time (believe me!).

For the sake of your Scouts, encourage the committee to have a local trainer come in and present the Troop Committee Challenge to the group. The online version does not properly prepare us for our job.

"Personally, I put on the uniform even if I have only a patrol to inspect, because I feel it raises the moral tone of the boys. It heightens their estimation of their uniform when they see it is not beneath a grown man to wear it. It heightens their estimation of themselves, when they find themselves taken seriously by men who also count it of importance, to be in the same brotherhood with them."

Baden-Powell

Our Scouts no longer have qualms about wearing the uniform because they have been treated with great respect and dignity by the community when we go out. When we were a bunch of street clothed urchins, we were viewed with skepticism.

As Boy Scouts in uniform, they greeted with big smiles and genuine warmth. And they know it!

The only ones who seem to have trouble 'uniforming'... are some of the adults.

=op