Krampus

He barely had time to get back to work.

If your adults address the troop or patrols (unless it is a health or safety issue), you are adult-led.

He just got back from OKPIK.

I am curious. Exactly how can an election team do this (bolded above)? They don't know the candidates. They don't know their camping, leadership or service to the unit, district or community. For me that should come from the unit and the scouts. Our election team comes in, shows a video about OA (very boring), gives an overview of the election process, conducts the balloting, and then talks about summer camp and why we should go to our local summer camp (despite the fact we make our summer camp decision six months earlier). What we as a unit have done is to monthly updated in front of the scouts about the top campers, service project participants and leadership office holders. We also highlight them at all COHs. This raises awareness of who the elite campers are, who the elite and active leaders are, and who the super service project volunteers are.

Up to the Scouts coordinating it. Have had cakes, desserts, snacks, etc. Grab and dash fare.

BadWolf would have liked that reference.

If it is my district they'd do this with not enough time to plan a decent event. IMHO such events SHOULD BE planned a year out. In fact, the district should have a 2-3 year plan where they are planning such large events WELL in advance. Anything less is a recipe for disaster. I plan my vacations 6-12 months in advance and that's for 4 people. Why would I plan something for 800 people with any less time?

Nothing like startling a 8ft 900lbs grizzly with an air horn.

In my Pack we used to do the following: We gave all leaders the pack calendar so that they could see the important dates and plan around them. We had made up for each DL a sample annual calendar specifically for their rank. That allowed them to see when certain milestones needed to be done (e.g., Bobcat, etc.) during the year. We gave them all copies of the Program Helps (not sure what it is called now) so that they saw how to plan out their year. We developed what we can "Cub Year in a Box" which was an entire year of meeting ideas, planned on a calendar, with supplies, contact information, etc., so that they could have an example of how easy it is to plan out their year. If they were running behind the box could be used to plan and execute a meeting. We met regularly with the leaders to make sure they had everything they needed. We had a role description which DETAILED what the DL needed to do, what the important processes were (i.e., how to request a tour permit, when they were needed, BSA policies, Pack policies, Pack procedures around camping, travel, food purchase, reimbursement, etc. Essentially, we built (over time) a small notebook which all DLs got which outline their year for them. They could use it verbatim or do their own thing. They had an example of EVERYTHING they needed to do their job. We held check points with them where they needed to report their scouts' status on rank advancement. This was done at least monthly. This eliminated any surprises 4-5 months down the road. Hope this helps.

Remind her that no one is saying she needs to dress like these ladies below, be at least the shirt would help!!!

My first question to the ASM would be why HE is making any decisions to begin with. The Patrol Leader should make the decisions. My only comment is that 12 kids in a patrol is a bit much. My patrols have the same issue. My PLs has figured out a rotation that allows each guy to be cook at least once during the year, many times twice and in some cases 3-4 times. Sounds like the ASM wants to get this done fast. I agree 12 might be too many people for a patrol but that's a different issue altogether.

I assume he's responsible nationally for the commissioners program. Given the miserable failure it is, it is a wonder BSA staffs this role nationally anymore. http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Commissioners/newsletter/natl_comm_minute/09_2015.aspx http://www.scouting.org/Home/Commissioners.aspx

I'm interested in why District requires a tour plan if travel is within Council. Part of the reason for the revised tour plan several years back was to REDUCE the administrative burden on packs. The insurance covers you anywhere in council and does not require a tour plan, as long as the activity follows BSA guidelines and the age appropriate matrix. If I were pack chairman I would be asking District why they are making life so hard.

We spent the long holiday weekend last month in Palo Duro Canyon with night time temps between 18-24, winds up to 30 mph and windchills in the single to below 0 single digits. We had to drive through snow to get there. Day time temps went up to 30-42F and then back down. Texas panhandle has some odd and fast-moving weather. It's not 20" of snow but it does get cold. To Get Back On Topic... After reading the latest from the MB task force I started thinking about some of the various requirements they've "tweaked". One of the MBs I think they missed the mark on is Cooking; specifically, Requirement #7 for "trail meals" for backpacking trips. The requirements, IMHO, should have been written to require the Scouts to CREATE trail meals rather than simply wording it to allow pre-packaged trail meals. Why? This is the COOKING merit badge; it should be about using your creativity to develop healthy, good-tasting meals regardless if it is for your patrol, your home or on the trail. As Cooking MBC for my unit I urge the boys to create several meals using the archive of trail meals found here. I think doing so forces them to actually THINK about what to make, how it is made, packaged and used rather than simply heading out to REI and picking up an over-priced packaged meal. The other thing I do is "suggest" to them that for the home-made meals they pick something that is a family tradition. For example, most families have something they consider their "family dish". I challenge the boys to learn that recipe and cook it for their family. Why? When they are on their own and hankering for mom or dad's cooking, they can cook the "family dish" and feel satisfied. They also learn the dish and can pass it down to their kids. Anyone else find a MB that should be "fine tuned" a bit more?

I had my snow shoes on yesterday...while grilling.

It is not prohibited.Looking at their 2016 guide I see nothing in there.

Here's a good discussion from BSA. http://scoutingmagazine.org/2013/04/how-to-survive-a-bear-encounter/

According to previous threads? A tree or a rock?

Open PDF. Search on "subscribe". Find the following: "Subscribing. Send a message to advancement.team@@scouting.org, with “SUBSCRIBE†in the subject line. Indicate your name, email address, and council in the message text. Unsubscribing. To decline future issues please reply and enter “REMOVE†in the subject line. We will remove the subscription within the next two weeks."

@@blw2, we try to run meetings that are fun and "scout-relevant". Many times that means working on core skills (e.g., camping, cooking, orienteering, etc.) but even that can get old. Doing fun stuff like climbing, archery, shooting sports, rockets, building stuff (STEM projects) and things like that are also related to the program but not necessarily related to the core skills. It has to be a balance....and it HAS TO BE FUN!!!

Just gave me an idea for a spoof video for our COH. We show our annual promo video at COH. This year we do two. The second one is the real deal. The first one shows guys cleaning latrines, scrubbing pots, cleaning cook gear, loading the trailer, getting SMs their coffee, etc.

Exactly the problem. National or council "commercials" pitch what the THINK the kids want OR stuff that happens once a year. They don't provide the program-related "hooks" that will keep the kids coming back. That they leave up to volunteers, most of whom may not know what can/can't be done or struggle with simply putting a meeting together. I had a similar issue. Resolved it by finding out what the guys wanted to do and then found placed to do it. So archery, climbing, rockets, etc., were all things we could to SEVERAL times a year by simply finding the professional facilities that allowed you to do them. Rather than launching rockets once a year we do it 3-4 times a year. No pinewood derby but rather mousetrap racers. No bb guns but archery (even axe throwing). Indoor and outdoor climbing. Canoeing. Rafting. "Hunger Games" camp outs where patrols use survival skills and use map/compass to find things. Giving leaders easy ways to build and use the FUN things that scouting shows in their ads is what the kids are buying; not a boring meeting where some kid is using PowerPoint to talk about safe food handling.

Index of the newsletter is here.

Well, truth be told I have an email template that goes out automatically to the PLC that has these links embedded in the bottom. They are also on our website. That way no one can give me the excuse they don't have any ideas. Here's a link to Troop Program Resources. Essentially a game guide and idea book. The troop meeting plan template is a GREAT tool!

Or simply click here. I had the time...first cup of coffee.