Eagle94-A1

Very interesting that the author picked the year 1972 as high water point.    Gosh, something else happened in the BSA that year...that's right, the Improved Scouting Program.   Where National scuttled every winning strategy in its arsenal for something that they perceived as hip, cool, modern, and PC (before there was such a phrase).  Too bad no one outside of National thought so.   Didn't work out so well.  

 

IMHO, it was probably the last year you can get accurate membership records. Remember all those inflated records being discovered in various councils in the late 1990s?   Those SEs pushing membership at any cost and telling their staff how make the membership quotas without getting caught were the DEs of the 1970s who started the membership mess.

Easiest way to bump membership is to now merge LfL with traditional Scouting since the membership policies have changed.

Accident insurance is an interesting, and confusing topic. It can be handled a multitude of ways, and if anyone can give a better, or more current, explanation please do so.

If memory serves correctly, individual units can get the supplemental accident insurance that covers all of their activities. So if you take you troop to the local scout camp and get a dislocated shoulder with fractures, the UNIT ACCIDENT insurance covers it. If you do not take it, then you have to pay out of pocket.

Councils MUST have accident insurance for their events. They need to charge a per person.per event fee to cover it. Again they must have it. So when district/council events are planned, the insurance must be budgeted. So if your unit opted out of the supplemental unit policy above, and go to a district/council camporee, you  will be covered. It sounds like that is what your council is doing.

Another option, one that my council does, is make it MANDATORY for all units to have through the council. At recharter, in addition to the $24 national fee, all participants, INCLUDING TIGER PARTNERS (emphasis) pay $1 for accident insurance. BEST DOLLAR SPENT EVER!

On a personal note, the BSA's insurance company is AWESOME!  I've been dealing with them for the past 2 months. Problems I've have had were VERY easily resolved, and great customer service. Well worth it.

@@scoutldr,

No problem. 

@@John-in-KC

Thanks for the clarification. I could not remember the formal process.

I can't believe that BSA has discontinuied the nesting Patrol Cook Set, that has been around forever.  The skillets weren't anything to write home about, but having the nesting pots was great.   My troop went inactive and after a few years the CO said they needed the space where all the gear was so i had to get rid of it, I made sure I kept the BSA Cook set that i had bought 30+ years ago for the leaders to use.

Unfortunately not everyone in the Supply Division has an actual Scouting or even camping background. So they do not know what they really need to keep and what they don't. Sad thing is at the annual planning conference in December, the PLC was talking about getting those for the patrols. BSA still sold them, and they were about $80 a set. I'm  hoping when they raise the money, we may be able to find some stragglers at council stores or at the nearby national scout shops. Sometimes you can get lucky and find discontinued merchandise. BUT I bet the patrol cook kit goes fast!

Taps on an instrument is a simple melody but very powerful. I think it only has 21 notes. Don't touch the keys on a trumpet and it's a bugle. Have the bugler back away from the audience, where it can be heard but not too sharply.

 

Agree with you.  One of the most powerful versions of TAPS I ever heard is what was locally called "Echo Taps".  2 buglers, either on opposites sides of the parade ground out of view, or one out of view on the parade ground, and the other out of view on the roof at the opposite end of the field,

I think Scoutldr's concern is with UNIT LEADERS ( emphasis) short cutting the system that can affect health and safety.  Compared to legitimate  physical disabilities with COUNCIL/NATIONAL APPROVED modifications to advancement.

@@Krampus ,

PLEASE (begging) tell your buddy Saint Nick I've been good, really! Oh and I look forward to watching you in action on December 4th.

We have one troop that traditionally serves meals at one of the local restaurant chains that was started by veterans. Other than that, the Scouts in my area do not do anything special for Veteran's day as it is called in the US.

Now our Memorial Day is different. We have a district wide service project in conjunction with several veterans' groups. We are the ones putting the flags on Veterans' graves at 5 cemeteries.

As others have commented, Memorial Day has turned more into a "Beginning of Summer" or a three day weekend than a day of remembrance for most Americans. When the local school system decided to start holding school on Memorial Day, most parents protested because it interferred with their day off plans.

Then again I can't say the scouts have always honored Memorial Day either. When I first moved to the area, school was finished by Memorial Day. We were not putting out flags, and Cub Scout day camp started on Memorial Day.

And now we get helicopter recess...

 

http://www.startribune.com/support-seesaws-for-recess-consultant-at-2-edina-elementary-schools/330529851/

REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?!

Agreed.  ... I am just frustrated with MBCs that really have no topical knowledge, interest or drive.  It produces lame experiences.  

 

Essentially, it's the situation where one person says "WE A MBC for XXXX" and someone volunteers.  Well, if they are just a warm body acting as a MBC and not bringing anything to the table as an MBC, they should not be volunteering.

Agree 100% A MBC needs to have the knowledge, skills, and abiltities to cover all aspects of the merit badges

I miss "Skill Awards". 

One of the few things I liked from the Improved Scouting Program on the 1970s.  I think those Skill Awards alllowed a Scout to focus on a skill, master it, and get immediate recognition for it while working on advancement.

I only wish I would not have traded my belt with all the Skill Awards I earned for that British neckerchief. But hey she was cute

MB are generally introductory.  But that's a different topic.  

 

I am just raising the topic of lame MB experiences.

While MBs are introductory,  the standard written in older BSHBs in regards to skills was "mastery."  Do not know if it is in the  current Guide to Advancement, but previous editions stated, " the badge represents what he can do, not what he has done. Lifesaving MB is one of those MB that IMHO mastery MUST be achieved, because even with mastery, there is a risk to self. Even with my extensive experience in lifeguarding ( 2 different lifeguard certs, lifeguard instructor, Lifesaving MBC for a number of years after certs expired until recently, and currently holding both Aquatics Supervision certs), I ended  up needing assistance  and being "victim #2" in an attempted rescue. Thankfully someone got to the Scout before I became victim #2.

I personally would be mortified and could not live with myself,  if I signed off on  a requirement that a Scout could barely do, and he ended up in trouble and drowning.

It depends upon the merit badge. Some are very easy to review with a Scout and sign off once you verify. Personal Management comes to my mind.

Some may require both review and teaching.Indian Lore is one example where you made need to mentor techniques (beadwork tricks), and teach the games or songs. First Aid is another example, especially when procedures change, like next year.

Then there are some MBs that no matter how much study a Scout does, he will need someone to work with him and teach him in order tomaster the skills. Lifesaving immediately comes to mind. Even someone with years of experience can get into unexpected trouble making a rescue, as I can testify to. That's one MB I made sure mastered before signing off on, and I had no problem dealing with angry SMs.

1. WELCOME TO DA FORUMS!

2. Lots of good advice.

3. My pack got a new CM & CC right when I joined. CM began a downward and for me frustrating, downward spiral. We lost half the pack between him and one our exleaders starting a new pack. BUT you do what you need to do for your den. Work with the other leaders, but set the example, and you will be noticed. It may even help the other leaders.

Recruiting issues are as varied as the locales. Growing up, each pack had 1 or 2 schools they recruited from. Because my current locale has gerrymandered school zones, 3 packs may recruit at the same school, and may have 4 or 5 schools to recruit from. Round ups starts mid Sept., and can extend up to Dec. When hurricanes are involved!

SDR,

In folks defense on terminology, BSA has caused some confusion on the topic. Even after Tigers became fully integrated into Cub Scouts, the terminology on charters, used in training, etc has divided Cub Scouts into three groups: Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos. I haven't done the new training yet (I'm focusing my attention on Boy Scouts), nor have any of the new leaders' guides, but I am hoping with the abandonment of "Cubs" after Tiger now, the new badge, the streamlining of advancement, etc with the new program, this will change. And folks will no longer divide Cub Scouts into three different groups.

BUT, you and I both know these discrepancies will in BSA literature for some time

Eternal rest grant unto her, oh Lord. and may perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

In regards to the original topic, the Webelos Badge required adventures can be used as electives for the new  Webelos working on AOL since he didn't get a chance to use them for the Webelos Badge.  IMHO, I would use the analogy of the Boy Scout MBs required Eagle. If a Scout has both Emergency Prep MB and Lifesaving MB, only one can be used as a required MB, the other can be used as an elective.

In regards to AOL is now just another rank, I hate to say it but I agree. Although you never needed to have the Wolf and Bear Badges, and Tiger Cub when it became fully integrated into Cub Scouts in the mid-late 1990s, to get AOL in my day, You still needed Bobcat and Webelos in order to get AOL. I do not know how the Cubs feel, but I know a lot of leaders do not like it. However if the Cubs' reaction to a brand new Scout getting AOL in a year is anything like what happened when one of my Scouts crossed over 6 months ahead of his den at the end of May because he was 10.5 and had met all the other requirements, it will be one of confusion, puzzlement, and anger.

Cook sets are the one item where we feel like the BSA brand nesting pots and pans are preferable.  The big advantage is they are sized for a patrol of 8 rather than a family of four.  TexasSport makes a similar set, but it's designed for four.

BSA no longer sells them, at least according to scoutstuff.org . I really miss those kits as they were perfect for patrols.

With my troop, we use second hand pots and pans that make storage "interesting." Only one patrol has nesting pots and pans, and that's because it's backpacking gear found in chuckbox at a garage sale.

How much are you looking to spend?

What type of camping do you do?

How good is your quartermaster? This may be a good t\thing for him to work on. I say that becasue my old troop needed new tents one time, and the QM spent about a month doing research, making calls, talking to friends, etc. He found the ideal tent and place to get it at the best price. Went up thru the chain of command, and when it got to the troop committee's treasurer, he decided to buy a different tent because it was on sale. 6 of the 8 tents broke on the first camp out, and the last 2 broke on the next.

Bradne,

#1 WELCOME TO DA FORUMS!

#2 Unfortunately not every council has an individual in their council to put on the course, let alone charge it at cost.  I wish my council offered the course.

#3  THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THAT COURSE AT COST!!!!!!!!!!!!! If the process to get a WFA course approved and conducted is anything like doing AHA courses, it is a pain to set up.

It's not exactly the same, but it works in a similar way with my hearing. A while back my wife told me, "Go ahead, GET a motorcycle" and I actually thought she had given permission. Boy was I wrong.

You may need a Manslater!

Exibar,

I think the issues a lot of us old fogies have is that the first aid training in the past WAS more along the lines of wilderness first aid and not what is taught in a standard first aid class today. Trust me, I would not use the AHA Heartsaver First Aid video to teach the merit badge. It needs to be more hands on, and more relevant to an outdoor environment. In that respect from approx 1972 to 1989, EVERY Boy Scout had the necessary First Aid skills for HA since First Aid MB was required for First Class Scout in that time period.

Also, the requirement for WFA for HA is a relatively new requirement in BSA's history, and some see it as a way of CYA.

Other factors that affect folks view on WFA as mentioned are costs, availablity, and the need to use outside agencies for this requirement. If this was a course offered at a summer camp, or regularly by councils, great. But How many councils do?

It reminds me of the LNT trainer POR a few years back that required the Scout to go through a LNT Trainer course. Minimum age BSA put on the POR was 14, but some courses you had to be 16, and some you had to be 18!

I knew a number of kids in that situation. My son was on the opposite end of the year, because his birthday was less than 2 weeks after the cutoff for school. He was always one of the 2 or 3 oldest kids in his class. So when he was a Webelos 2 he had the opposite issue. Crossover was going to be in March but he turned 11 the previous October, so he could have joined a troop then, with or without the Arrow of Light. We told him he had the choice of earning AOL at an accelerated rate and becoming a Boy Scout in October, or not earning it at all, or waiting and crossing over in March with everybody else. He chose to wait. (Of course it turned out that when he was 17 and 11 months, he could have used those extra 5 months, but I'm sure it wouldn't have made a difference anyway.)

Middle son is in a similar situation, i.e. a late birthday. He realized under the new program that he could skip Webelos and go directly to AOL and get into the troop in time for summer camp. He changed his mind when he found out that he would not be joining the patrol his current Boy Scout friends were in, but a different NSP. And his buddies in the Webelos would also be in a different NSP when they moved up.

Thankfully he's sticking with his friends.

Boy, differs from my BALOO experience.

 

There was quite a big crowd of students.... probably 30 or more.  I think there was maybe a handful of folks with little or no camping experience.  The rest were eagle scouts, experienced scouters, lifelong campers, etc.... in it just because it was required.

In fact I think there was more knowledge about tour permits sitting down that there was standing up.

What part of the country? Sounds like mine.  While not  in a B.A.L.O.O. course, a comment from a new ASM, "Man, Scouting is cramping my camping. I haven't been backpacking in 4 months (due to the monthly troop camp outs). "