evillama

Ah, that's right...but I guess no rewards points then. So basically no way to gain points without also paying the fee.

Thanks.

Does anybody know of a "scouting-friendly" internet company that does what PayPal does but without the 3% commission or at least cheaper?

We use SOAR for our websites (Pack and Troop) and their PayPal feature to collect funds for events and trips but apparently every transaction comes with a 3% overhead cost. Our Treasurer stated that PayPal will only discount for 501c3's which we are not?

So if I want to transfer $1000 to the troop from my bank account so a check to Philmont can be made from the Troop's account, that transaction will cost me an additional $30 just to PayPal? No thanks, I'll write a check. Was hoping to get the credit card points for discounts but the $30 negates that.

Is there another company out there?

ENV

In the Age-Appropriate Guidelines, it says Tigers, Wolves, and Bears can climb "Commercial" and "Horizontal" (whatever that is) walls, but that only Webelos and Boy Scouts can climb "Towers" and "Vertical" walls. At a local scout camp where I have taken Troops rock climbing, they have towers where they let Tigers climb during summer camp (this facility has been inspected and approved by National.)

We are having our last pack meeting next week and planned to have a portable tower with auto-belays come to our school for the kids to climb (they've been to local birthday parties and such.)

I'm confused then what's the deal...wouldn't a tower be considered commercial? I can understand not allowing kids to belay themselves, but this tower has mechanical belays. Does commercial mean only indoor climbing gyms? You'd think they would be more clear on that. Does a tower mean like a 50 Ft. "fire tower" found at the top of a mountain peak?

Advice welcome. But let's face it - we're doing the tower for the kids regardless, even if they have to take off their Class B's (which we were going to let them wear for this meeting) and make this a non-pack event. If whoever writes the Age Appropriate Guidelines reads this, I'd suggest some edits to clarify more.

ENV

The den leaders divide up the year's meetings with responsibilities laid out. One meeting the Smith's will bring a snack for everyone and the Jones's will coordinate the activity (along with the leaders). Another family may be assigned to watch over the siblings that were brought along, whatever. Also the dens ask for annual dues, maybe $15 or $20 per year to help pay for supplies. If they show up 4 or 5 times out of the year, are the dues prorated? It's not big money but hard if not impossible to get from these "frequently absent scouts".

Are they not obliged to help the den with these responsibilities? What is that teaching the kids?

I've tried to search for this topic but can't really think of key words to look for, so I'm starting a new thread.

We have a pack of ~60 scouts, the vast majority of which are active and engaged. Many are involved with sports; some missed den and pack meetings are no big deal.

But we had one family sign-on as Tigers in September and the dad even volunteered to be an Assistant Den Leader. They paid their dues and were VERY active until around Thanksgiving, when they just disappeared off the planet. No e-mails, no den meetings, no responses, nothing. Then the father came back and said they were "busy with hockey" and would "be back in the spring". They didn't even attend our Blue & Gold banquet last week where all the ranks received their badges.

So what's the general response to this? Having missed many den meetings and activities, does the scout "deserve" the Tiger badge? What happens if they come back for a few meetings and then decide to take up baseball and disappear again?

I realize some families consider scouting can be "part time" since the parents sign-off on achievements and also some sports coaches can say, "be at every practice or you're out" but how do you emphasize the balance needed between both? I don't think this family has anything against the pack, I just think they thought they'd take up something else; maybe the son doesn't want to come to the meetings but the dad wants to give it another try. It's hard to get to the truth when there's no communication.

The last family that was this way were coming back as Bears last September, but were always very late in paying their dues - as late as January and February. They showed up once in September then disappeared "due to football commitments" but were going to "come back after the season". The father loved the Pinewood Derby races so it almost seemed like they would only come back just for that. The den leaders were pretty miffed at this because it screwed up scheduling, planning, dividing up responsibilities (bringing snacks, paying den dues, etc.) I had to tell the family in October, "poop or get off the pot" and well, they chose football. Part of me felt guilty but at the same time, I felt like we were standing up for scouting, and weren't going to be seen as a come-and-go-as-you-please hobby.

Thoughts and advice appreciated.

ENV

I am setting up two new parents as Tiger Adults and they are hesitant to give up their birth dates due to privacy concerns.

While I can relate with their trepidation, is it mandatory for the BSA to have this exact information, and is it publicized anywhere I can show them why?

Thanks in advance.

Thanks Richard. Hence why I originally posted the question in the first place - to be sure there was clarity in the Webelos Handbook in case there are leaders out there "only" following the handbook and not knowing the broader rules around safe scouting.

ENV

Thanks all. Alongside safe scouting, I just want to be sure we're always covered under that huge multi-million $ BSA insurance policy. Have heard some horror stories about not following "the Guidelines" when incidents happen. Don't want anyone to lose their house over a canoe!

ENV

The aquanaut badge specifically says to use a rowboat for the achievement.

Herein lies the true problem, not that there is misinterpretation with "canoe". Where is a Webelos scout supposed to use a rowboat, if not with a District/Council run event? This is what is not clear in the handbook.

@Hueymungus Thanks, I will write to that e-mail address. I suspect it is skipped a lot too.

ENV

I pretty much know the answer already here, but wanted to see if others saw the confusion as well. It clearly states in multiple locations on the scouting.org site, as well as the Safety Afloat training course, that any activities involving Webelos and Canoeing must only be at District or Council run events. However, within the Aquanaut badge section of the handbook, one of the optional requirements is "6. With an adult on board, show that you know how to handle a rowboat" and also further on pages 98-100 there is a section on "Aquanauts Are Safe Boaters" and talks about what a scout should know while on a vessel. There are absolutely no references to the BSA rules for Safety Afloat or District/Council events.

There may be Webelos dens out there planning activities like canoeing, under the assumption that it is OK for the sole purpose of completing the Aquanaut Badge.

I think the handbook needs to be amended and clarified. Who's attention should this be brought to?

ENV