Pack18Alex

Thanks for all the great feedback, keep it coming. I know that for the Pack Turnaround we used JTE as our standard for "How to Run a Committee" and we decided to do the same thing for the Troop. So some things come from there -- the Annual Plan/Budget -- (according to JTE the PLC should have input into the Plan then be responsible for all the decisions within that framework), which I think would help all involved. Established troops have the prior year's to start from, our Troop doesn't really have any records and it's all been ad hoc. After the first year, with a basic framework, I'd

Maybe. That's why I've discouraged registering early, since it's fine for Tiger, okay for Wolf, problematic by Bear where it gets more real. By Webelos, we see the kids pushed too early, they don't get anything out of the program. It's really sad actually.

scoutergipper, sorry for the confusion, but I think you have the gist of it. The boys aren't learning, and there aren't really senior scouts to teach them. Also, when there is a demoralized group that doesn't feel they can ever master anything, it feeds on itself. The Scoutmaster also seems to be slow at getting around to evaluating them. So the scouts complain (to their parents) that he's too tough and makes them do everything all at once and if they mess up a little, start over weeks later. So the parents blame the SM's standards. Now, I've NEVER found it beneficial to lower standa

So I am now helping the Troop's turnaround after completing the Pack's turnaround for our CO. One thing to date has been a SM VERY dedicated to "boy run/led EVERYTHING" including things for which they simply aren't capable yet... relatively young troop, nobody over 14, etc. The adults are really stepping back and letting the boys make every decision, but since they aren't guided, they aren't even sure what the universe of choices are. Two of the Scouts are in the Star/Life/Eagle circuit, the rest of the troop is all Scout/Tenderfoot realm with no ability to advance. Recruiting has been de

Someone asks how'd I'd register a Kindergartener? With the Youth Application. You enter their name/address/birthday/grade/etc, and turn it into Council with a check for dues, and you are now a Scout. I'd never dream of falsifying the documents, but I have kids in wrong grades/ranks all over the place. One parent red-shirted a kid, so he's Scout-year correct, but a grade behind. One parent red-shirted a kid and kept him back from Scouts. Others registered in Kindergarten. Whatever, I've been doing things by the book but some people predated my involvement. Life is too short to worry

We have two best friends that are 8 weeks apart in birthdays but straddle school years. They both joined together when the older boy was Tiger eligible. He's seeming a bit young in Webelos 2 this year, but we'll see what happens. I've had parents ask about Kindergarteners (particularly ones with sisters in Girl Scouts that started in Kindergarten or even Pre-K on turning 5). I tell them that if they want, I'll register them, the application will go through, and they'll have a blast with the Tiger year. However, when they get to Wolf/Bear, they need to be able to read the book more, take o

Technically speaking, it should be okay for a Troop, but not a Pack. The literature refers to a Pack as "all the Dens that are part of the Charter Organization" so you can't actually have two packs. In the case of the troop, I think it's probably more reasonable to have two, we've been trying to figure out what to do with our Troop's legacy problems and some very strong Webelos Dens coming up. Making the Troop Program 10-13 wouldn't certainly have some issues... Boy Run is harder with no leadership. Our plan once we stabilize the Troop, if the Girl Scout Troop retains the olde

The UC program makes no sense in light of new technology. As described they are supposed to attend committee and unit meetings to observe and bring problems to the district committee and district commissioner to get solutions. At 6 visits a year that means that a problem occurs, they bring to two meetings, they work on it for a month then bring help at the next visit two months later. Alternatively unit leaders can email in and resolve the problem.

I think that selling off scout property in general is a good thing. Real scouting takes place within the unit. Real estate is a more complicated business in 2014 than it was 40 years ago. Standards have changed, accessibility has changed, etc. Down here our county and state parks offer lots of camping options that are cheap because the parks are taxpayer subsidized, trying to run the properties to use two nights and two days a week is insanely expensive. Two thirds of scouts are in the cub program and I'd guess 2/3 of resources go to support troop level resources. Unless the scout camp

1. Severe allergies are terrifying, food can kill you. Processed food that is (sadly) the staple of American diets is likely lethal. 2. Peanuts and Corn are the staple crops of north America. They are staple legume and staple grain. Being an American allergic to either is like being Asian and allergic to rice. 3. Something in our environment has caused severe life threatening allergies to staple foods from our country to crop up in one generation, that's NOT genetic. Yes allergies existed 30 years ago, but they were rare and uncommon. It is absolutely terrifying that somethin

Technically speaking, there are Tiger Leaders, Den Leaders (Wolf/Bear), and Webelos Leaders. All three positions have separate codes. In theory, if your Tiger leader moved onto Wolf, or Bear Leader onto Webelos, one should submit a new application. In practice, they tend to just move up in June, and update the charter in December, but in theory, fresh applications to CC/COR should occur. CC/Committee are responsible for filling all leadership roles, but once named as Den Leaders, they are the responsibility of the Cubmaster to mentor/oversee. In a Pack with 2 Dens/level, for 10 De

Seriously... I volunteer to see the youth, if an adult wants my counsel, he can pay my hourly rate... Given the historical disputes between Catholics, Protestants, and Jews throughout history, I'd say what we encounter is trivial... we get along surprisingly well. There is a reason that the Jewish "toast" is L'chaim, "to Life." Alcohol is a poison, and can be drank for bad purposes, to death. When we have a drink, we sanctify the Lord with a blessing, and we drink to celebrate Life, not to abuse it, which would be to death.

"I wonder if the Christians ever thought about how Jesus prayed considering he was Jewish and not Christian???" Probably in a mixture of Aramaic and Hebrew. Perhaps some Greek for when he was addressing the Romans drawn to him? (Eastern Roman empire spoke Greek, not Latin).

There isn't "Jewish prayer" there are specific Jewish prayers, and they are said in appropriate circumstances. Before eating, you say the blessing over the food you're about to eat. The morning, afternoon, and evening prayers are written out and standardized, the core for about 1700 years or so. In terms of the wording type situation... Jewish prayers fall into 3 general categories: Blessing, which are generally praising Hashem for commanding us to do something, or creating something that we're enjoying. They have a specific Hebrew wording. Tehillim (Psalms), that are read a

Try this for starters...

I for one took no offense to Scouter99, and I apologize if those thought it was intended as offense. I think with the exception of one or two active members of this forum, everyone here takes BSA and our mission seriously. So are there disagreements with what that means? Absolutely. Is "Reverence" and "Duty to God" complicated in a multi-religious organization? Absolutely. But I for one think it's worth hashing out in forums like this one.

I don't disagree with any of this. It's part of why we're trying to grow Jewish Units in our Council, so that Jewish Scouts have an opportunity to learn reverence within their own faith. I guess I disagree with the idea that they can be "well educated in their faith" and would "do the same thing." While one could certainly make an argument that a Jew offering a Protestant style prayer is doing so to the God of Israel, and therefore NOT a Christian prayer, it's certainly not ideal. It might NOT rise to the level of Idolatry/Blasphemy/Avodah Zara, but it's certainly moving in that di

I think next time I'm asked what could be done to include my unit in Scouts Own, I'm going to tell them that it starts with a Bris... Pretty sure that that's the last I'll hear of it.

Trail Life, with it's explicitly Christian and implicitly Protestant flavor, avoids this issue with a dejure religion. As long as BSA wishes to remain non-sectarian in a majority Protestant country, joint religious activities will have a Protestant flavor but in an organization committed to encouraging non-Protestant Scouts to grow in their religious identity, there should be active efforts to encourage them, not passive efforts to not-offend them. I find the Jewish tendency to get offended at public examples of Christianity silly and petty, and would be better channeled into growing in

Stosh, I would prefer that in these joint meals, etc., Jewish Scouts, especially when 10+ over 13 are present, be encouraged to Wash, make Hamotzi, and Bench afterwards, rejoining their Troops for the meal and being with their co-religionists for the religious portion, than the status quo... The status quo is to adopt the Protestant Grace ritual while leaving out Jesus's name. My suggestion, which obviously requires a "critical mass" of Jews and some of them educated enough to do so, would encourage Jewish Scouts to grow in their religion, instead of being accommodated into the majo

There is conflict between between being actively religious and the participation of minority religions. If BSA is really pushing the interfaith as required, they have crossed a line. In encouraging youth to grow in their religion, they will have people that take it seriously, and those religions come into conflict. That's not defensiveness, that's obviously, and what that means to people has different impacts.

Well, I have this conversation all the time. Our Pack/Troop do not participate in them. I won't discipline a boy if he chooses to head over to it, but it doesn't go on our schedule of events at our Campsites, and as a Unit, we do NOT participate in them. It's NOT a matter of content, it's the format of the prayer. Tefillot (prayers) take place at our Campsite each morning. Yup, and while those boys might know that they are Jewish, they have little to no Jewish education, nor know what that means. They are asked to lead a prayer, and they lead a Christian prayer. The fault fo

There is no non-Christian "grace" it's a Christian prayer. Jews and Muslims offer prayers to Hashem and Allah respectively according to Halacha and Sharia. We don't "offer grace."

BSA is non sectarian. Those within it are sectarian. No such thing as a non sectarian prayer. Prayer is offered to a deity. Pretending otherwise is silly. Prayers offered not to a deity aren't prayers, they are well wishes. Christians say grace, Jews say Hamotzi, Muslims offer their prayers. The idea of a non-sectarian prayer that includes non Christians is a Christian fantasy. Suggesting that dropping the name of the Christian savior while leading a Christian prayer includes non-Christian monotheist sis insulting to those of us of other faiths.

BSA allows leaders of all religious persuasions. An LDS Unit can require LDS leaders, a Catholic Unit can require catholic leaders, and a Jewish Unit can require Jewish leaders. Most units are relatively secular but chartered to Protestant churches, but nothing requires that.