mashmaster

I know is Sea Scouts, the guide to advancement suggests using the same items for both Sea Scout ranks and Boy Scout ranks.  So position of responsibility can be taken credit for both Star and Apprentice ranks for example.  Kinda makes sense if you equate it to pass the BSA swim test, once passed it would count for both.  

They will join where their friends join.  Unless they really want Eagle rank I am not convinced a 14 year old would join a troop over a crew if they didn't have friends in the troop.  14 year olds vs. 11 year olds makes a huge maturity difference. 

My son is going, just registered.

11 minutes ago, ncscouterz said:

Hi!  So, I am trying to work on building up our cub and boy scout program and I can see a great many things in the future.  I think part of that is visibility, what are our scouts doing and what are they doing within our community.  To aid in my quest, I am trying to get some Class B shirts done and I know a very talented graphics designer that is willing to design a shirt for us.  We are a pretty small group so shirts tend to be more expensive.   We want something "cool" that the kids will want to wear not only for our events as deemed appropriate but also just because they are cool. 

So, onto the politics/issue.  We had 1 troop in our area and due to politics, had another troop be created.  The new troop and pack share a chartered organization and a pack/troop number.  Could I create a single shirt for both the new pack and troop?  Just incorporate the number and not tack pack or troop onto it?  We could increase our number of shirts to help decrease the cost.  Our designer knows all about trademarks/copyrights and how to not get in trouble.  I hope that makes sense.  Thank you!

You can do pretty much whatever you want that is scout appropriate and follows TM's and such.  Having the activity shirts "Class B is a company" is a great idea.  Makes it easy to identify your scouts in a crowded place.  Now, if you have a troop also wearing your colors, will that make it difficult for you?  If not, then go for it.

2 hours ago, LVAllen said:

Gblotter,  the fact the church ripped off huge portions of the Venturing program does not make me feel more inclined to believe that the Church can successfully create a program out of whole cloth. Rather, the opposite.

I'm glad you feel confident. I do not. I imagine the New and Shiny world wide program to look very much like the program provided to those outside the US and Canada for decades - barely conceived, poorly supported, poorly implemented. It will largely place the burden of creating and providing the program on the backs of parents and adult youth leaders, without the massive amount of support and training  previously offered by the Scouting curriculum.

I don't see this being different that the multiple Baden-Powell versions of scouting that exist already today.  I would be surprised if a brand program would be created.  I don't have experience in people in the Baden-Powell Scouting program or traillife to see how it works.  But with such a large group behind this one, I expect it to be consistant with the program they have been already running for a long time.  It is already run differently for LDS units now(not judging, just stating a fact) so I expect that this will be consistent with those long standing practices.

12 minutes ago, Thunderbird said:

Can parents access Internet Advancement?  If not, you should be able to get a copy of your son's advancement records from your troop's advancement coordinator.  Another option is to request a copy of the advancement record from your council registrar.  Does your son's troop use Scoutbook?  If so, then you should be able to print out a copy of his Boy Scout History Report or his Individual Advancement Record (although you might need an Admin to help you get a copy of the IAR).

I was able to print a report from Scoutbook.  I seriously hope there is no need for this.

7 hours ago, John-in-KC said:

While internet advancement isn’t perfect, if they play games with his records, at least there’s a computer record already. Log on to my Scouting for him and snag a download...or have him do it. 

Thanks.  I didn't think about that.

Problem solved, talked to several OA advisors and they all said she is dead wrong.  Talked with my son about switching troops and he was relieved.  He is happy to be free of the SM.  It makes me sad and frustrated that others will have to deal with her.  I can't wait to see there response when they receive my respectful letter to the CC that we are transferring troops and districts.

4 hours ago, arronisoutside said:

Scouting Magazine reached out to me, it will be awhile, but I think this can be good.

 

@CherokeeScouter - I would surely if I used any names.  

Great!  It is a win if it helps one scout.  And it could be very therapeutic for you as well.  

Thank you for being there for the kids.

4 minutes ago, The Latin Scot said:

As with any bully, the solution is simple.

Ignore her. 

Do not respond to any of her emails on this subject. If she confronts you in person, simply tell her kindly and calmly "the issue is already decided." Do not offer up any other explanation, do not attempt to satisfy her demands, do not engage with her on this matter at all. She has absolutely no right nor authority nor legitimate reason to make any of these demands on you nor your son, so just let her scream and holler till her voice is hoarse and she collapses in frustration. These people always tend to dig their own graves, so don't waste your time trying to help with the process.

DO make sure you are not condescending nor patronizing about it though; the more polite and civil you are during this episode, the more control you will have over the discussion. And your goal is to eliminate the discussion entirely. Kill her with kindness, and don't give her an inch. Sometimes, the biggest victories are won from the battles you choose not to fight. 

sounds like good advice

wow!

Yes, Yes, and happened now 7 months later

She was an ASM at that point but part of the process.  She is upset because he has been much more active in the Ship than the troop.  Can't fault a kid for being active in scouting IMHO.

5 hours ago, fred johnson said:

"should" or "should not" ??

Should not.  

He is going through ordeal.  He was voted on and tapped out earlier this year.

Well talked with the SM, just a hugely frustrating call that she was trying to impose control and saying he should be allowed to go.  He was voted in, tapped out, and is still registered.

I think control since she knows via email that we are going.

36 minutes ago, ParkMan said:

I'd just sign up directly.  Nice thing about the OA is you get to ignore the SM if you want to.

yep, we did 2 months ago.

Not surprisingly my favorite scoutmaster put out an email that for anyone going to the OA Fall Assembly they needed to email her, then when emailed she said my son and I needed to see her first.  ummm, no, that isn't how it works she doesn't control OA attendance.  Some gaul she has....

We got a spot for the first week of the new year.  Just wondering if anyone is in the Lubbock, TX area and can help us with a place to crash on the way there and back to Philmont.

I am confused.....  Scouts like to have a resource of prayers for their own service just like having recipes for meal planning.  Also how is it not a prayer?  It is a prayer in Yom Kippur services.

That is awesome!

16 minutes ago, arronisoutside said:

Would this be a good article in "Scouting" magazine?

 

YES, anyone have a connection to Bryan?

29 minutes ago, arronisoutside said:

I will tell you, that my friends suicide ruined me for a year.  It, not to mention that I was the one who found him in the back of his dark house just 4 houses up from mine.  Its been a decade now, and after all that pain, I am very thankful to have had the experience in order to help out my scouts.  Not much good comes from a suicide, many times just destruction of multiple facets of life, but in this case, one thing positive came from it.

Its a tough go, but in all honesty, I don't believe that anyone would back down from helping a scout through something as difficult as this, as leaders we sometimes trudge though the difficulties to make the path easier.

Thanks for the feedback guys.  Again, I pray that this never happens to anyone, but if it does, know that things can be ok and let me know if you need any guidance.

I think it would be great to have your thoughts on paper about how to best deal with it as a resource.  Hopefully something that never gets used.

From the Jewish Faith:

A Prayer for Yom Kippur

To those I may have wronged,
I ask forgiveness.

To those I may have helped,
I wish I had done more.

To those I neglected to help,
I asked for understanding.

To those who helped me,
I thank you with all my Heart

What a hard time, thank you for being there for the boys.  I know it helped me to be involved as Scoutmaster when my father passed away last year.  Scouts needs to be a safe place for all of us. 

Sometimes it is a scout that doesn't camp and you find out it is because dad is out of work and he doesn't have boots.  Discretely, I found out shoe size and some clothing sizes, then gave him an old backpack of mine filled so he could camp.  He was in tears and gave me a hug, I told him to enjoy and don't be afraid to talk with us.  Mom and Dad still stop me in stores and tell me thank you and that he is still scouting.  

Maybe calmer heads will prevail and they will change.  I don't think that will happen but we will see.  Typically when a SM steps down to an ASM, they don't hang around much.  It is a hard change.  I know this from personal experience.  I would reach out to the new SM and go have lunch and just chat  about it.  Maybe see how you can help the troop in other ways.

For example this is how it should work.  Tonight a scout in our Sea Scout Ship asked for a Skipper conference 30 minutes after our meeting.  The Skipper(SM) is out of town next week, so he looks at me and asks me a Mate(ASM) if I can handle it next week and make sure that the bridge of review happens as well.  Scout asked, it couldn't be done at that moment but the Scouter made sure to come up with a plan that helps the scout move forward.