9muckraker7

www.jumpstart.oa-bsa.org

Ehh..what can you do? Some people are just like that...they love to take control and direct the troop to do what they want to do... I've had a similar problem in my troop, and I've come to that conclusion. No, I've not necessarily given up hope; however, I've made that conclusion about the personality of the current scoutmaster. The patrol leader(s) and SPL/ASPL and other junior leaders seem to have the right idea about how the troop program should be run, and the scoutmaster TRIES to agree with them, he TRIES to implement what HE THINKS is "boy-led" program, but the boys only run the troop at his discretion, and this has often led to tensions between the scoutmaster and the scouts of the troop. Don't worry about me though...I've seen that the scoutmaster/troop committee is slowly coming to give the scouts more and more responsibility and discretion in running the troop (meetings and outings) and in no time the troop should be run ideally. The transition into a boy-led unit is not often something that happens overnight; it requires much training and experience, both on the adult leaders' and the youth scouts' part.

The most important thing I've learned through scouting and working with kids has been to learn from those who are younger and less experienced than I: I've learned the most valuable lessons in life from those who are younger than I, and for that I am grateful. Aside from that, the most important lesson I've learned would be that of establishing and preserving brotherhood and fellowship through cheerful service. The culmination of my entire scouting career came when I was bestowed with the brotherhood honor in my OA lodge, for it was then when I realized how important my friends were, and how important my role was in guiding younger scouts. Scouting has taught me many things, and again, the ability to share those teaching with others is the most valuable thing I've learned. "You must be the change you want to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi

My lodge is in the process of implementing Scoutreach Mentoring into the lodge-unit assistance program. I think this program is the epitomy of what the OA is all about: serving others. It seems appropriate that the society of "honor campers" should help other units to establish better outdoor and advancement programs. Many people think that the OA is just a club that goes on exclusive outings every so often, but through this program they can realize what the OA does, and upon which principles its members have obliged themselves to live and act as scouts. Seeing as how my lodge has just begun planning the logistics of this program, I'd like to ask: Has your lodge assisted [the district/council] with this program? How does your lodge operate/organize this program? What success (if any) have your lodge had in achieving the goals of the Scoutreach program?

If you relocate and then [for lack of a better word] "join" a different lodge than from whence you came, you must also be registered with the council that the lodge serves. You cannot be registered with more than one council at one time; however, it has often been the case when some paperwork and filing has been overlooked and one can acutually "get away" with having duel membership. This doesn't really make much sense, to be registered in 2 different councils/lodges, especially if they are a great distance away from each other...

Wonderful poem! It truly brings a good unselfish message to the honor of being an eagle. I think that the 5th and 9th points sum up the whole idea of the Eagle Scout. The Eagle medal would be worthless without those who helped you because even the mighty Eagle needed a parent to feed it, to protect it, to teach it to fly; without such help, the eagle would never have the freedom, dominion, or the honor as it does as it soars throughout the skies, above the mountaintops. He who has climbed to the peak of the mountain to reach the realm of the Eagles did it not for the other Eagles amongst which he now lives, but for the people at the bottom of the mountain whose spirits urged him along this lofty journey. And now, it is up to that particular Eagle to feed, to protect, and to teach others, as was once done unto him.

Hey, a trailer is a trailer. It's a piece of troop equipment. I'm no lawyer, but unless there's an ordinance that says that all troop gear must not have any commercial logo on it, then it's ok to do what you've explained...

The wage of summer camp staff greatly depends on the financial resources of the council and council camp themselves. A council that relies heavily on the "benevolent generosity" of those "friends of scouting," of which there aren't many, would probably pay their staff small wages, and the summer camp staff even lesser wages. My council isn't very affluent in that, and the once camp director and program director, being the same person, only got paid for the former (camp director). Since then, financial conditions have improved, and everything in that matter has been run a lot more smoothly. Generally, the positions which entail most responsibility would have the greatest pay: Amongst the rest of the camp "administration," (not including any professional scouters involved with the summer camp program) the camp director would be paid most, then the program director, then the area directors and head chefs, then the other workers (merit badge counselors, kitchen staff, trading post workers, etc.). The CITs, from my experiences, have never really been paid anything, as they are generally younger scouts who go just for the experience and their love of scouting.

inay inkthay inay ankay eakspay igpay atinlay, ethay eatestgray anguagelay ofnay allnay imetay!!!! ahay ahay ahay!!

I recently saw a magazine booklet type newsletter thing that showcased all or most of the NOAC patches. I understand that this is compiled by a group of people who are the "foremost authorities" on patch collecting; those who put together the blue-books. Among the showcased NOAC patches was a list of the "editor's picks." Does anyone know what this booklet is called, and if/where I can find a copy of it on the internet?

Our troop has an annual court of honor camping trip in the fall. The boys as well as the parents seem to enjoy this event very much. Every spring we have a white water rafting trip, open for all scouts and parents involved in the troop.

...Surely SOMEONE out there must know where to acquire unofficial black sashes with white arrows

Just a reminder not to disclose any "secrets" of the Order of the Arrow; namely, the brotherhood ceremony.

My lodge is thinking about doing a reenactment of the original ceremony, and the black sashes would seem appropriate...

Does anyone know of any website that sells unofficial black OA sashes (the 75th anniversary ones with the white arrows)? I've seen [unofficial] beaded sashes for sale online, and I believe I once came across a site that also sold the black sashes, but since then I haven't been able to locate that site. Any help would be appreciated.

(This topic shouldn't be discussed in this forum, BUT) Is this "practical joke" of which Skyhook speaks considered a form of hazing, and therefore, discouraged by the BSA? I wouldn't think it would be...

I recall a past section chief at a section conclave encouraging all arrowmen to wear their sashes [with of course their full uniforms] to troop meetings and such so as to make the Order's presence known. The same might apply to other situations involving scouts with little knowledge of the Order of the Arrow. I, personally, agree with this idea, and I think that wearing the sash institutes a sense of respect and honor to those who wear it, and the ideals which it represents.

Try to incorporate any songs that really get your heart going...they don't really have to relate to scouting or the USA; but rather, choose some songs that really intensify the scout's experiences and really "capture the moment" of the court of honor. Here are some of my choices... "Time of your life" by Green Day "Alive" by POD U2's "Beautiful Day"

"Scouting is a game, NOT a science." I just thought we could use a reminder of this fact from time to time. I've noticed many people in this forum taking a more scientific approach to scouting, which I believe is an exercise in futility. .....Just a random thought.....

Try inquiring about this to Stadri Emblems. They might be able to supply you with what you need. www.stadriemblems.com

It's better to acknowledge and try to correct the problem now while the troop is still young than to let it go and be run this way for a couple more years. My troop has been run the same way for 20+ years and several of the troop "veterans" are the ones causing the difficulties I've mentioned.

I've experienced a VERY similar situation in my troop. Sadly, this situation hasn't very much improved since we've begun to make the transition into a boy-lead unit (which has been in action for the past 2 months or so). Often there have been times when the PLC would plan a trip to "Camp A," about 6 or 7 months in advance, and then a week before the trip the committee/scoutmaster would say NOPE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CAMP A, WE'RE GOING TO SCOUT CAMP B. Then, if worse comes to worst, the trip is cancelled due to a lack of adult leaders available to go on this trip. I can see this happening once in while with extenuating circumstances, but last year this happened about 5 or 6 times, and the troop had only gone on about 2 camping trips. The scouts (the PLC in particular) have now come to resent the committee's "disrupting of proper BOY-LED planning," but they're a determined group of scouts and they're never afraid to tell the committee what they think the committee is doing wrong and why the program isn't being delivered ideally. Slowly, but surely, the committee has begun to entrust the planning of the troop to the PLC, and the near future looks promising. What I'm saying is that the most effective method of making the transition into a boy-led unit may just be the boy's voices themselves. Assuming the responsibility of planning the year's activities and meetings is what the boys are to do for the troop, but it's not quite what they're expected to do. The committee needs to understand the boys' committment to the troop, and eventually they'll come to entrust most of the responsibilities to them.

Oh, how I LOVE trivia!

While the social or economic community does have an impact on the troop program, and that a negative environment may [objectively] have one troop at a disadvantage from other troops in a "better" environment (social or economic, I feel that a troop's way of adapting with the environment they are situated in often defines who they are, and their ways of delivering the methods and aims of scouting may be just as good as any other troop. There are some "economic situations" that a troop might have when most of, if not all the scouts do not have the money for camping trips. Will they let this economic burden stop them from going camping? For most troops, no it will not, and the leadership of the troop will make it their purpose to deliver a good scouting program by giving the boys the opportunity to go camping. With that in mind, I feel that if a troop must raise money in some way for nearly every trip they may go on, the success, satisfaction, and brotherhood the scouts/scouters in the troop will feel will top that of most other "more advantaged" troops. And these feelings, combined with the successful carrying out of the other aims of scouting, build character. And let no one be judged by how much money he has in his pocket, but by the content of his character; let no one be judged by the society they're a part of, but by the CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER! Scouting is a thing of the spirit, and if these scouts have spirit, then they will have no problem at all carrying out a successful troop program. (aahh that feels so good to say)

Before discerning the correct "disciplinary actions" to be administered, let us first look at the word and its fundamentals. The root-word for "discipline" is "disciple," meaning "follower of a teacher." Therefore, if the scouts are "undisciplined," then can it be that they are in need of a teacher; someone to teach and guide them on how to be a good scout? Can it be that they do have a teacher who does indeed try to instill the values of scouting in them, but they simply don't respect the teacher enough to abide by his rules? Making the kids do pushups does nothing for them to respect the leadership and rules of order in the troop. If you intended on instilling order in the troop so that things may get done, then you may have succeeded. If you intended on changing the scouts' behavior through the use of pushups, then you still may have succeeded in doing so. If you intended on changing the scouts' attitudes by means of this pushup institution, then I do not believe you have succeeded. These scouts need someone to look up to; they need a sense of honor, a sense of pride, so that they can truly come to respect those dedicated individuals who make the troop work, and realize that they're not helping those leaders by acting up. My best guess is that if the troop is full of 11-12 year-olds, then they will eventually come to this realization as they mature. Otherwise, if the troop consists of scouts only in one young age group, it is very difficult to have it boy-lead. I understand your difficulties. Always remember: scouting is a game, not a science. Learn to be flexible.