Jump to content

Eagle94-A1

Members
  • Content Count

    4852
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    116

Everything posted by Eagle94-A1

  1. I gotta third this sentiment. The troop I first joined wasn't a good match for me and I quit. I ended up joining a cousin's troop, and had a blast. Also two of my son's friends joined the troop I and others have issues with. They are now with us. But unfortunately 2 other friends of his got so discouraged and frustrated, they quit.
  2. In regards to recognition for adults at COHs, there's a time and a place IMHO. If it's something the troop is giving to an adult. no problem. If it's WB beads, training knots, etc. not so much. If the troop gave an outgoing SM or other leader a West Fellowship, I'm cool
  3. 1) You may need to "tag team" on recruiting a CM. By that I mean have the committee come up with a list of names, and 2 folks go and have a chat. 2) START RECRUITING NOW!!!! (emphasis) It can take some time to make the transition. GOOD LUCK!
  4. A while back I posted answers to something like this. I am going to my best to remember What I told my son to look for and ask: 1) Who's doing stuff; adults or youth. 2) Find out how often they go camping? 3) What other activities do they do beside camping? 4) Are you having fun or is it boring? 5) Are the Scout welcoming you or not? Things I looked for and asked 1) Who's running things, youth or adults? 2) How often do you camp? 3) If you are not camping, what other things you do? 4) Can CS leaders become leaders in the troop? (Remember, my troop growing up wanted adults 1 y
  5. As I am discovering, the kids are not telling the parents what is going on. We had a canoe day trip planned for today, and this si the first time several parents have heard of it. I can understand the ones just joined, but this is from folks who were part of the PLC that planned the weekend!. 'What we have here is a failure to communicate."
  6. Depends. Since the old SPL, my son, doesn't have email, cell phone, or facebook, either he A) made phone calls, or B) wrote the message and sent it via my account, to other Scouts and/or parents. Some of the Scouts are in the same situation as my son so the parents get the stuff. Current SPL has all of the above. Adults usually contact adults only.
  7. I was told that at one time pros were prohibited or discouraged too. However that did change before I was a DE. I wore 4: Eagle, AOL, Youth Religious, and Scouter Training Award. I knew one guy who had 2-3 rows, but he was a former volunteer who turned to the dark side when he retired from the military. He is now retired as a professional, and is the only volunteer with the Lord Vader knot. Yep, still volunteering. Now I do know it's either prohibited ot strongly dscouraged, I honestly don't know which, but the District Committee Key is not one you get while as a DE. It may be because Pro
  8. I think there are a lot of factors involved in folks wearing knots. Pride is one of them. I know I am very proud that I'm part of the then 2% that earned Eagle. Showing accomplishments is another. I have dealt mostly with Cub Scouts, and parents are more comfortable with folks with knots and other "swank" as BP called it, because it shows commitment and experience. Grant you, when I started back in Cubs with the oldest 6 years ago, those knots had more to do with Boy Scout level and district level service than Cubs. Also I too have had negative experiences with some folks looking
  9. That's a new one for me. Does the camp have a 'Provisional Week" or "Provisional Troop?" At one camp I worked at, there was a week set aside where 2 volunteers and/or camp staffers were put in charge of a troop os Scouts who attended camp on their own. One summeron staff I was the "Provisional SM" since about 1/3 of the Scouts were from my home troop coming for a second week of camp. At another camp, they have volunteers every week who serve as provisional SM. They go for free ( thankfully) and used to get a discount for a Scout in their troop for each week they are there. When I was on st
  10. I admit I haven't read any of the materials, been busy playing with my birthday gifts and other tools. But when reveiwing the requirements, and other intro materials for RT, I've noticed that while it is more completely laid out for the leaders, if you look at all of the requirements in toto, you will notice that some activities at the upper levels require the older Cubs to work with the younger Cubs. Also it may be easier to do some activities as a pack, with each Den doing their own thing within the pack's framework, than every den doing it on their own. Best example of that is the Aquatics
  11. I didn't see the post above mine when I wrote it. It's rather ironic the placement. I agree, let's be possitive. "Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?"
  12. One thing I've noticed and am preaching at my RTs: you need to coordinate schedules ASAP and PLAN, PLAN, PLAN! Some requirements can be met in a pack activity i.e. we are working on renting a pool to do the aquatics ones for everyone instead of doing it piecemeal by dens. Webnelos and Bears need to work with Tigers and Wolves on certain skills Again LOTS of planning will be needed. BUT I beleive once we get the planning process worked out, we wil be able to repeat it every year. Just as long as district keeps the original dates for district activities and not change them around last m
  13. I think some of the negativity in regards to the "Latin American Generals" comes from the negative attitudes. Not saying all knot wears have negative attitudes, but those knots are easily identifiable and memorable. One of the nicest, most helpful leaders with over 60 years in the BSA has 4 rows. Only time I ever saw him angry was when I had to tell him according the council training records, he was "untrained." You don't tell a a PTC staffer he isn't trained in his job
  14. It's a troop thing, but this year it was a nearly unanimous decision. Nearly unanimous because some folks didn't care where they would be going. We don't have the adult manpower to split up. However next year, we have a contingent going to Philmont, and the rest going to a regular summer camp. I am already working on getting leader for 2016 as the 2 folks who have been to every summer camp since the troop restarted are going to Philmont next year.
  15. I know my troop growing up wanted all new adult leaders, except the 18-20 year olds, to be on the troop committee for at least a year before becoming an ASM. Part of it was so that they could get the training. But a part of it was getting them accustomed to the Patrol Method and troop culture. We had issues with new ASMs right out of Cub Scouts, so the troop went that route. Maybe it was a good thing since it gave the adults a chance to see the Patrol Method in action? Forgot to add, I second summer camp as THE #1 bonding event for a new scout. There is something about a week of camp
  16. Beth, WELCOME TO DA FORUMS!!!!!!!! I've seen a similar situation where a female 3 beader went into an "Experts" session at PDL-1, and almost allof the guys in there looked at her as if she had a third eye. As for the devices, if you are active in your uniform, i.e. carrying merchandise, setting up displays and needing to l;ean into it, etc the pins can be physically uncomfortable. Especially if the backing falls off and you don't realize it. They are a figurative pain when the backings keep falling off. I eventually replaced all of my backings with rubber erasers. Also it's a pai
  17. I admit I wear knots. Some of it has to do with the "Bananana Republic Generals." Way back in the day, I had some folks who were not very scoutlike because I didn't have rows of knots. I was rather interesting because I could suggest something and be ignored. Yet when a friend of mine, who had his beads and multiple rows of knots, would repeat what i said about something, it was freaking brilliant. Depending upon the shirt depends upon which knots and how many. Only shirt that has everything is the commissioner shirt, my "camping" BS shirt has none. Sea Scouts khakis don't have knots,
  18. I know I went over AQUATICS last week at CS RT and the changes to boating for Cubs ( FYI Pack and Dens can now conduct boating activities, and not just row boat but sailboats, canoes, powerboats, and kayaks on flat water, as long as Safe Swim Defense and Safety AFloat are followed) One of the CMs asked me what the Scout Water Chant was and I had to tell him I had no idea as that is a new thing. When I read it, had to agree it was awfully complicated. The good news is that the Cub Scout Standard of "Do Your Best" applies. But like SP, I am also stepping down as a DL after 6 years,
  19. In my neck of the woods, you are required to have one "pre-camporee" camp out with the intent that you spend a month to two months prepping and have a practice campout before camporee competition. My son's troop spent 6 weeks prepping for camporee. They did a camp out with the intent to practice. With the exception of one district's camporee, usually the events are not known far enough in advance to have the PLC plan spending months. And unless it's all Scoutcraft, I'm dead set against it. Although I can see some accidental planning occurring. Like I mentioned, council camporee had a Wild
  20. In regards to the shop verifying you earned something, it may also depend on how well they know you. When I worked for national supply, I was suppose to see proof that you earned restricted items like knots. But sometimes folks I knew that had earned the item requested, so I wouldn't ask for proof since I knew they had it. I.e. was at the ceremony, heard about the ceremony, saw the newsletter article, etc. Only time I ever sold something to someone with out proof was the Heroism Award knot. I knew what the camp director was doing, buying a uniform for our camp chaplain. The chaplain did ea
  21. I admit I liked themed competition camporees. This year, my council camporee's theme was Wilderness Survival, and the competition was interesting. We had everything from plant ID, to survival shelter building where they dumped water on the shelter, to no match and no flint and steel firestarting ( don't know if anyone used the waterbottle and water method, but know of 3 patrols that used batteries an 000 steel wool ) to geocaching/first aid, to Tomahawk Throwing. Everyone had a blast, especially the Cubs who ended up on the Tomahawk range As others said, while competiions should focus
  22. CM & WD, One local tribe in my old stomping grounds had individual houses similar to your pic. But the community meeting place, was more substantial. Quinnipissa Lodge 479 built a replica of the Caddo House, and use it for their ceremonies. I like it
  23. I've bad expereince with just giving stuff to scouts. I've seen folks donate money for equipment or outright give them equipment, and it was not taken care of. Heck my son's troop is having some issues with tents being damaged, and they did some fundraising to get them. I like having some skin in the game, whether is is traditional fundraising, i.e. popcorn, spaghetti dinners etc, or having them work events. I remember picking up garbage at one event every year, and that is what paid for me to stay in the troop and do campouts after my father walked out. I cut grass, picked up garbage. and was
  24. CM&WD, One of the challenges of putting on good training, especially outdoor training, is the prep work. To do it correctly, and I stress correctly it takes 6-9 months of prepwork i.e. finding a date that can get the most people to attend, recruiting qualified staff, organizing who does what etc. I know the council I grew up in did the training 2 SMF, and later IOLS 2 times a year with one group of districts hosting the spring course, and another group of districts hosting the fall course. My "troop" had 6 patrols of 8 or 9 from all over the council, and the fall course had a similar
  25. After 7 years as a Boy Scout who attended Brownsea 22, the old Scoutmaster Fundamentals Course, which is now divided into SM Specific and IOLS ( and SF had a 3rd module on the "Model Troop Meeting" ) the only thing that I learned new was the paperwork side of things, i.e. the need for tour permits, getting Safe Swim Defense certified, etc. Like some others, I could have taught the course, especially the outdoor portion. When I was training chair, one of the things I did was get folks I knew who needed IOLS to be " trained" but already had the knowledge, skills, and abilitities to help st
×
×
  • Create New...