KenD500

@@koolaidman - I got the best sparks using the back of my knife.  2nd best using the serrated edge of the hack saw blade & 3rd best with the opposite edge of the hacksaw blade.

I suspect it's due to the paint on the blade but I haven't scraped it entirely clean yet.

My dryer lint always has dog hair in it.  We have 3 dogs.  Burning dog hair stinks!

I received the fire starters on Friday.  After removing the protective coating, they work fine.  Nice big sparks.

IF the BSA went back to an all male organization, there would be a huge hole left. 

I can only speak for my Troop as I don't have data on others - the # of positions that females fill on the committee 3 of 6.  I only have 1 ASM - male.  But we've had camp outs when it was just myself & the CC (female).

The females add value to the program in their skill set & their willingness to work.  They set good examples (adult association).

Do all females set good examples and add value?  No.  But on the flip side, do all males set good examples and add value?  No.

I don't care if they are male or female.  If an adult volunteer adds value to the program, is willing to work & sets a good example, they can be in my Troop.

I would think so but won't guarantee it.

There is a whole chapter in the Troop Committee Guidebook just for this.  Chapter 5 - Selecting & Recruiting Adult Leaders.

Here's a link to the previous version.  The current version is not online yet.

 

Pardon me if I state the obvious.  Others come here besides yourself.

And I appreciate you pointing out the Doan.

My Scouts will be using vaseline coated cotton balls, Fritos & popsicle sticks to teach the Webelo's.  Relatively easy, & inexpensive.  Plus watching a Frito burn is cool.  And making a fire with a ferro rod & striker is fun.

I agree the Doan is better quality.  It's the one I carry in my day pack.  It's also ~$15.

I need these so my Troop can teach Webelo's how to start fires with ferro rods & strikers.  I don't have $75 in my personal Scouting budget for this month.  I do have $20.

Yep, that's it.  The coupon says for #69457 but it worked for 66560.

If y'all haven't seen the Harbor Freight ad in this month's Scouting magazine, it's worth a look.  There's a coupon for the magnesium firestarters.  With it I was able to get 6 for $20.49 (shipping & tax included).

@@blw2 - I'm guessing the reason he is asking about your certifications is that SCUBA merit badge counselor is one that requires particular certs in order to be an approved counselor.

From the Guide to Advancement Section 7.0.1.1 Qualifications of Counselors

Scuba Diving. All phases of scuba instruction—classroom, pool, and open-water training—are limited to instructors trained and certified by one of the BSA’s recognized scuba agencies as found in the Guide to Safe Scouting.

I'm of two minds about this. 

1.  I feel (no data or supporting documents/study) that boys need a place to be boys.  The way they act changes when a girl is around. 

2.  I don't see a program that provides the same type of opportunities for the girls.  As a father of 2 girls, by the time they're old enough for Venturing, they're committed to other time consuming activities.

I think we need to look at the Scouting program in Canada & in England.  They've both been co-ed for awhile now.  How did it affect their program? 

Looking at the BSA mission statement, it says nothing about boys.  It does say "youth".

Link to source

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

The Boy Scouts of America will prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law.

I didn't answer all of your questions.  I apologize.

Different people run the fundraisers each year.

We did camp cards last year & will do them again this year.  This is the first year for mistletoe for this Troop.

My Scouts come up with their year of Scouting.  We look at it together and determine if there is anything beyond average camping / food fees.  Example:  spelunking requires rental of equipment, McDonald observatory requires entrance fee, etc.  We determine what we want to fund through fundraisers.

We provide that number to the committee.  The committee also budgets for equipment replacement/maintenance, COHs & summer camp.  Once it's determined what we need for the year, the number / type of fundraisers are set for the year. 

This year we're doing 2 - one in the fall - selling mistletoe; and one in the spring - selling camp cards.

We based this on the "Ideal Year of Scouting".  It's not our council, but it laid it out pretty well.

We had one Scout meet with an individual within the beneficiary.  They had come to an agreement as to what needed to be done.  Scout goes off, gets the plan approved by district and starts along the plan. 

2 months later he's trying to get in touch with aforementioned individual to schedule the when.  Finds out the person is no longer working for the beneficiary and the beneficiary had no idea about the project.

It worked out okay as the head of the beneficiary allowed the Scout to continue with the project.  Time was lost but nothing else.

I have a small Troop.  The older Scouts want to go on a high adventure trip but they don't know where.  All of them have been to Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area.  1 has been to Philmont.  I'm looking for ideas to give them.

Where has your Troop gone?  And it doesn't have to be BSA.

Has anyone tried these merit badge classes at Bass Pro shops?

Link

Around here (north of Dallas), the norm is a neckerchief, a handbook, ball cap, & epaulets at cross-over.

Our Troop limits it to the epaulets.

I recommend joining the mailing list for "Counselor's Compass".  It's an online document for Merit Badge Counselors that the BSA Advancement Committee puts out.

link to current issue

In this issue, you'll find another link to "Essentials of Merit Badge Counseling" power point.

Can anyone point me to the original quote from Baden-Powell? 

@ is correct - I live in a suburb of Dallas.

A lot of groups here use FB for advertising/marketing.  I've set one up now for the Troop. 

The biggest challenge I foresee is keeping the families from trying to use it for personal communications.  Example:  Mom1 posting "can someone pickup Johnny?"

I think I've made it plain to the parents/Troop that it's for spreading the word about our Troop not internal communications.  We shall see.

And we're using a Facebook Page.

Does your unit use a Facebook page or group?  Any suggestions? Do's & Don'ts?

My unit is considering it.  The purpose would be advertising/marketing our Troop.

Reviving an old thread.

What flag retirement ceremony does your unit use?  Everyone has a different one.

A couple of the threads got me thinking about this whole idea of dealing with problems in the troops/packs.  

 

What is the tipping point for standing and working with the pack/troop (fight) to make it a better unit and when does it make more sense to move on (flight)?

 

So, what say ye?  When do you stand and roll up your sleeves and when do you leave?

I'm one who did both.

2011 - my son found a Troop & crossed-over.  The Troop had an "old guard" of adults.  Troop doubled in size - ~40 Scouts to 84.  After a couple of months, the SM asked/told me to be an ASM.  I did so & got trained. 

Change in the Troop was slow but steady. 

2014 - final straw for me - new SM required everyone to sign a contract for participation in fundraising activities. 

2014 - found a Troop that was going under.  Brought a few Scouts into new Troop and began rebuilding process.

Everyone has a different "last straw".  Mine was removing the Oath/Law from our actions & replacing it with a contract.

Has anyone successfully found the VOS dashboard and findings on MyScouting?  I'm guessing it's available to the District Key 3?