debbi821

Most merit badge councelors in our district only are willing to work with 1-2 troops. Very few are willing to work district wide because we are very spread out.

Thank you Qwazse. That makes perfect sense to not share names. Our minutes are not like that and I don't believe they are available to parents. Since I quit our committee, the others have been told they are not allowed to discuss anything with me.... I do still want to be informed, just tired of the politics. I didn't think the information in meetings was "secret", but I 100% understand eliminating names and such for us non-committee members. =]

A quick question.... Committee meetings have a secretary... meetings are recorded. Is that information available to parents, troop MB councelors, etc? Or, is that information for only committee to know?

Thanks for the info on Guide to Safe Scouting.... but what about Youth Protection and 2 deep leadership? I completely see the boys doing a day Patrol meeting/hike without an adult. But, our troop says as an adult, if my son's patrol wants to go swimming at the rec center and I chose to stay, I have to have another adult there with me, because of Youth Protection.... How great it would be if I didn't need that other adult! His patrol could do a lot more things!!!

Wow! Well at least I know our troop does something right... We ALWAYS require 2 adults. The only time we let this slide is when an adult drives and has his/her own scout in the vehicle. I'll keep you all posted on when we have an issue that requires med forms and it isn't there. Oh wait - I have one! Well, an old one.... A couple years ago our Cub Pack was having a Pie Throwing event at their meeting site. Whipped cream + cafeteria floow = SLIPPERY! A den leader went down, hit her head on a table and passed out. Her glasses were broken, and she broken the bone around her eye socket.

Actually, it is the PLs that schedule patrol meetings... but they are required to have an ASM + 1 adult (2 deep leadership) with them. Our troop likes to think it is boy led... and troop meetings are chaos. Let's not talk about summer camp where the ASM was oblivious to the bullying, disrespectfulness to other troops and swearing.... but, the adults are the one who carry all the behind the scenes stuff.....

So, here is how this turned out.... First off - after giving the troop more than 6 weeks (deadline of 2/16 since we rechartered on 2/17) the compliance rate of turned in med forms was 38%! And that was just scouts and adult leaders. I didn't include parents or committee memnbers in that number because our parents that participate change each year. At committee - they agreed that all scouts and leaders needed to have forms on file. But, gave me no authority to madate this. (I actually have an ASM that also works/volunteers at District who is refusing to do med forms for him or his sons - the

Thank you Richard! I will print that and take it to the next committee meeting!!! RememberSchiff - a parent driving - HECK YES! they need a medical form! In fact, each driver is supposed to have a medical form IN THEIR VEHICLE for EACH PERSON in their vehicle if they are driving scouts to an event.

qwazee, I did not scoff at your phone list... I think it is a brilliant idea. I laughed because I KNOW our troop does not have one and would not make one. Heaven forbid a change be made to a troop that has had the same 4 people (SM & wife, Committee CHair & wife) running it for the last 10 years. I think all the ideas here have been wonderful and have really given me some things to think about. I appreciate the diversity of the answers and thoughts. I will say that I started a spreadsheet that I give to the person running each event that has allergy information. However, due to

Here is what we are running in to. Our troop used to never collect forms except when a new scout joined. I was given the task of taking over med forms and making sure they were current. No problem, right? Well, we have at least 1 campout a month and 1-3 activities away from our meeting site. It was taking me over 5 hours each month to confirm current medical forms and to get forms from people who were expired. So, I asked that we make the national policy (current medical forms for everyone) mandatory and also that everyone (active scouts and all adult leaders) have to fill out a new medical fo

I like your comment regarding parents. Our troop is a babysitter though. 90%+ of our parents are drop and go. We have had a few times that a parent has not be reachable when we have needed to get ahold of them. So, what about: anyone who needs their swimming/life saving for 1st/2nd class, scoutmaster will be holding a lesson at the rec pool.... rsvp if you will be there. Scoutmaster will be holding Operation First Class (to finish your ranking) at his house this weekend... RSVP SPL and troop guides will be leading orienteering for new scouts at the local park - rsvp. Meeting aft

Please interpret what is meant by "any and all activities" in the following sentences: ~~For any and all Scouting activities, all participants must complete Part A and Part B. "All participants" includes parents, guardians, siblings, youth, staff, and unit leaders. I really NEED TO KNOW how others would interpret this. Does it mean ALL Activities, as in troop meetings, patrol meetings, eagle projects, any time scouts get together? Or does it mean campouts? Or just outings away from where normal meetings are held? I am desperate for clarification. Every time I call council

Thank you all. This helps me understand a little better. So, from there, how do I make the understand medical forms are a national policy and we have to follow it? As I said above, I would not have the support of the COR, District or Council... I am honestly at my breaking point and ready to quit my voluntary position. Do you have any idea how many hours it takes to make sure all med forms are on file and filled out correctly (we have a troop of 90 boys) every month for campouts? Especially when you don't get the roster until 2-5 days before the actual campout? And, there are always new

Our committee usually does function on consensus. However, twice recently, we have had a consensus on a new policy. Once the ASM or SM hear about it (they never attend committee meetings), one will throw a temper tantrum and complain to the CC. At this point, the CC will disregard the new policy. In this instance it is about medical forms and who has to turn them in annually. Some adults in our troop don't want to fill them out and have their information known. So, the CC has decided that only scouts need to do them. I am a follow the rules kind of person (as well as the person who col

If a committee votes unanimously on a new policy and then someone complains to the CC, does the CC have the right to over turn the vote without notifying the committee or without another vote?