OldGreyEagle

From tome to time, the phrase "signs up" has been uttered at our troop. Normally it's done once and then the Scoutmaster has a brief scoutmaster conference with the offender (youth or adult) and things are ok. The one issue we had was the "shushssssinng" , it seemed like a contest to see what ended first, the "shushssssinng" or the "signs up" finally one night after order was restored, I stepped forward and did a rift on the Tom Hanks charactor in "A League of Their Own". I said, "there is no "shushssssinng" in Boy Scouts", I went off on a few phrases about all the great scouting adventures I had experienced and ended it all with saying there is no ""shushssssinng"in Boy Scouts". It worked, so well the youth are ready to repeat that phrase as soon as someone gives a shush. Of course its done with the sign up so we still have some distance to cover

If you ain't a bear, you are nothing but part of the wonderful buffet that God provides to his favorite creatures

From my understanding of how Scouter.Com is financed, SCOUTER-TERRY suscribes to an advertising service which will run ads featuring products that are discussed in the thread. I claim no expertise in this matter, only that if we kept talking about a scout being found with a .45 caliper automatic at school, pretty soon the thread would be featuring ads for .45 caliper firearms. The best approach seems to be to ignore the ads you dont like and enjoy the benefits of the Scouter.Com forum

Minsi Trails Council in PA The Council has an opportunity to put up some scouting displays in a public space. I think having a power point on the different aspects of Cubs, Boy Scouts, Venturing etc would be a nice addition, The suggestion was accepted with me of course providing the presentation which is ok with me. I have some stuff but rather then re-invent the wheel, I thought if someone else had something I would love to adapt it if not outright steal. So, I am looking for general information about each aspect

I went to USSSP first and while it has great Venturing Power Points, I didnt find any relating to the other programs. Good catch on the Scouting Programs statement, I guess I should have said I need presentations that explain the programs that are offered by the Council

How strong is the Socut? What is your relationship with the scout? Would he be up to appealing the BOR verdict at the District Level? Maybe a wake-up call is needed. This may be going after a fly with TNT, but its up to you decide how to change things

According to the Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures BSA publication, when a scout does not pass a Board of Review the reason is to be explained to him. The members then specify what must be done to rework the scouts weakness and another Board of Review scheduled for him. A follow-up letter must be sent to the scout confirming the agreements necessary for advancement. If the scout disagrees, the appeals process should be explained to him. Was any of this done? Does the Board of Review know their role in the troop? As pointed out, there is no "leadership" component, only to satisfactory fill a position of responsibility. If the scout was underutilized, what is the Board of Review's plan to deal with the SPL who didnt demamd much or the scoutmaster who let this all happen? I am not saying the scout is blameless, but if he did what he was asked and no one told him his advancement could be withheld based on his behavior, its not fair to drop this on him at the BOR.

Ok, so I sorta kinda in a way "volunteered" to put together a power point presentation on the Scouting program that will run in a public place. The Venturing stuff I have down, its the other programs that I need help with. So, if you have any links to down-loadable presentations, please post them here or if you have one yourself, PM me and I will send you my email address

I guess the whole question comes down to whose program it is. Since the Chruch is the CO, its up to the Insitutional Head to see to it leaders deemed acceptable are approved. Now, I don't see why non-catholic leaders would not be acceptable, but then again, I am not the IH for that church. But since this is about what to do, I would invite the priest to your next meeting, every meeting and a big invite for your Blue and Gold. What did you do for Scout Sunday? Can you get all the boys in their uni's in the front rows? Has the Pack volunteered to run Bingo a few times a year? What has the unit done to make itself visible to the Priest? To the church community? When you as Cubmaster walk down a chuch corridor does everyone know you are the Cubmaster? What about your Asst CM? Are they well known? The Den Leaders? Is the Pack seen as an asset to the church or are you that bunch of loud mouthed rascals that descend upon the church at intermittent periods? I agree that that the priests actions are upsetting, but this may be an opportunity to schedule a meeting with him, discuss the Pack, the leaders and what both Church and Pack can do for each other

Have you gathered the target youth and asked them what they want to do?

I guess the question then becomes what point is being made by the scoutmaster?(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle) Ok I was the one who said that any amount of push-ups was corporal punishment, then I thought better of it and said it depends on what point the scoutmaster was trying to make. Beavah made a comment on what I had entered before I removed it. I guess in my mind this is what I see when I think of using push-ups as movivation/punishment/whatever: I see a scoutmaster and a scout, the scout does not meet the expectations of the scoutmaster so the scoutmaster says, "give me 20" as in pushups. Or "give me 10" as in pushups. There isnt any attempt to explain the reason for the rule that was transgressed or to elicit an reason why the transgression was made, just "give me X". Its easy to say that pushups are great because it motivtes the scout. its harder to work with the scout and reach each scout on a level that works for them. Pushups may work, but its the easy way out and no one said being a scouter would be easy (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Madmike, I think we need to distingish between "hazing" and corporal punishment. Hazing tends to be activities or humiliations foisted on new members of a group to prove their "worthiness" of belonging to a group. Corporal punishment, such as doing push-ups or the "front lean rest position" is not hazing, its corporal punishment both of which are prohibited in the Guide to Safe Scouting. So, while you were not "hazed" by digging up the stump, you were punished. Now, were you corporally punished? Depends...

And you forgot Trev, that we LLLLIIIKKKEEDDDDDD it !!!

Then again it may have been this: (Chorus ) Put eagle wings On my sons Chest Make him one Of Americas best He'll be a man They will test one day Raise him up In the Boy Scout Way Mothers don't you worry none For he's out there having fun Learning things he needs to know That will help him out And help him grow (chorus ) Fathers you can help us to Just show your sons What they Should do Help them grow to be a man Just reach out Give them your Hand (chorus ) Back at home the family waits Their Eagle Scout has made the grade He has passed his final test Making him one Of America's best Put Eagle Wings On my sons chest Make him one of America's best He'll be a man They will test one day Raise him up in the Boy Scout Ways (much slower) Raise him up In the Boy Scout Ways

I might be showing my age, well heck why not? Anyway, depending on the area you are in try researching the local "Toastmaster" Club. They have specific programs on teaching youth public speaking http://www.toastmasters.org/

who was it that said: "Our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for their elders and love chatter in place of exercise; they no longer rise when elders enter the room; they contradict their parents, chatter before company; gobble up their food and tyrannize their teachers." Oh yeah, Socrates, hope his assessment of youth is off... Anyway, as I thought had been established early on in this thread, the internet and MySpace is a tool. As a tool it is neither inherently good or bad, it just is. Now, how can troops use it? Well, heck, are you having a hard time getting the PLC together or is attendance sparse? How about a virtual PLC meeting. The SPL "hosts" it and others chime in contributions. It might be tough to get started, but how many flilaments did Edison try before he settled on tungsten? Private Chat room Patrol meetings might work as well as well as an internet bulletin board for patrol/troop members to post reminders and ask questions. If you dont have adults who know how to do this, I am sure some scout would love to explain it. (talk about youth lead!!!)

if you send me your Email address via personal message I can send you my COH resource book I did for Wood Badge, it has a large Eagle COH section and multiple scripts. I need an EMail address as I cant attach the file to the PMs

It may have been this song, the tune is to the Ballad of the Green Berets Ballad of an Eagle Scout Hiking Scouts go marching by, Cheerful boys who laugh and cry, Boys who mean just what they say, Make them Eagles all some day. Silver wings upon their chests, These are boys, America's best, One hundred boys will join the troop, But only three in the Eagle group. Trained to live off nature's land, Taught to build, and lend a hand, Boys who learn by nature's call, Courage from the Oath and Law. Silver wings upon their chests, These are boys, America's best, One hundred boys will join the troop, But only three in the Eagle group. Back at home a young mom waits, Her Scout is set to review his fate, He has just to pass this test, Leaving her this one request: Put silver wings on my son's chest, Make him one of America's best, He'll be a man they'll test him out, Have him be an Eagle Scout

And I thought you were just paying homage to Phidippides

Ok, pick a date, any date as long as its at least 2 weeks or so in the future and on a day and time with as few scheduling conflicts as possible (IE not a troop meeting night, but maybe after) and announce the planning for the event will occur that night with whoever shows up. Promote it with phone calls, emails and meeting announcements. That night, plan the trip with who ever shows up, they get to pick the places and when in the trip. Be sure to let the scouts know the particulars: transportation, tour permits, medical forms will be adult done, but the where you going, what you going to do will be decided that night. Now, work with those who show up, if its only one or two, let them in on the secret, you will plan the trip heavy with museum stops and educational opportunities, in short, stuff they hate. Then announce the preliminary schedule. make sure they know its not yet "set in stone" but its the first pass and thats the schedule if no other suggestions come. Then set the date for the final planning, again with lots of notice and care for as few scheduling conflicts as possible. Be sure to let those who just cant attend can write/email suggestions and see what happens.(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

Any uniform part (such as the glorious red beret) that was an official part of the uniform may be worn with the uniform. Now, the flat envelope hat, replaced with the glorious red beret may not be worn with a cub scout uniform, but you guys knew that, right?

The Troop "reorganizes" every year in the spring. Its done at the same time as the SPL election. I didnt like the idea at first but have grown to tolerate it. What is the overall idea of a patrol? Is it to have a group of boys together who want to be together or is it a scientifically engineered collection of youth based on objective criteria such as age, rank, IQ, etc? We had a patrol named the Pyro's, their patrol "standard" was a miniature fake fire, replete with battery operated fan blown nylon flames. It was so popular the next year the Pyro II's were born, same standard and 60% same membes, as the otherr had aged out. The past few years we have had the Sons of Liberty (Liberty is the name of a local High School) and they have been around for 3 years, have won quite a few Camporee and Klondike competitions). Then we have patrols that exist for one year, the Great Plains Walking Herbivores were one, (used the buffalo patch), the Bushies were another (used the Pinr Tree patch). I think the members of the Bushies patrol wanted to see if the adults would censor them but we said fine and it confused them and they were stuck with the name for a year. Then there were the O. B. S. or Official Boy Scouts which ticked off quite a few of the other scouts. Funny, now that I think about it, we haven't had a bobtail or moose patrol in the troop for a 'coons age

I am normally against national multi-media recruiting campaigns but in the spirit of thinking out of the box, here goes: We get Eagle Scout Steven Spielberg to direct a Superbowl commercial. (I know Steve has issues with the BSA right now, but work with me) We show famous Eagle Scouts talking about how Boy Scouts helped them and maybe a few famous Life for Lifers who talk about how they wish they were scouts. Then in the final 20 seconds or so we have a montage of scouts doing whitewater, rapeling, climbing, hiking in the Grand Canyon, Horseback riding in Philmont, Canoeing the Boundary Waters maybe even a flash of AO dancers. We set the music to a rousing John Williams score so rousing and hip that it rises to number 7 on the AT40 list as an instrumental. Youth by the thousands come to pack, troop and crew meetings expecting high adventure and thrills and youth lead units only to get it with troop by-laws and restrictions on who can do what when and "we don't do that here" attitudes. Youth find the troops that Campcrafter's son quit. The youth that find true youth lead units with enthusiastic there for the youth adults would do quite well, units with adults who want to be in charge and do the program they want would be exposed. I guess the real question is after such a media blitz, how would your unit, Disitrct, Council fare? Are you delivering the promise the commercial would make?

Have the target group of scouts been approached as to what they want to do? hiking? Biking? Water activity? What do they want to do ?

Seeing as how there are no secret organizations in boy scouts, I cant see how you would exclude a parent from a Troop Committee meeting. Of course, if the parent shows up moer than once, I would have an adult application handy and ask what role they feel comfortable in doing, but still would not bar them from attendance. As you may get the idea, the troop I serve is active, has a lot of adult involvment and we have very few rules other than the scouting values and it seems to work for us. Getting bogged down in who can and cannot attend meetings would appear to get in the way of the program, then again I can only speak from my experience