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MrBob

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Posts posted by MrBob

  1. Yes, they have their secrets. Look at this page, It says under the title "Keeper of the Sacred Bundle" that "By tradition, the most important responsibilities of a Keeper of the Sacred Bundle are never detailed in print."

     

    The most important responsibility of a Keeper of the Sacred Bundle is to keep the sacred bundle.

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  2. He is also MBC for "all" merit badges.  Most of the signatures on the scouts in this troop are SM's or ASM's. 

     

    He cannot be MBC for "all" merit badges... if he's signing off on merit badges he's not registered for, all of those merit badges are invalid.

     

    Which would explain why he never turns in any advancement reports.

  3. There is no requirement for any unit to buy or wear the uniform.

     

    If the UC is insisting that a unit be uniformed, he is way out of line.

     

    No, there's no requirement...  its just one of the METHODS of the program.  But don't let that stand in your way.

     

     

    Uniform

    The uniform makes the Boy Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Boy Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Boy Scout's commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Boy Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals. The uniform is practical attire for Boy Scout activities and provides a way for Boy Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished.

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  4. It sounds to me like SPL has been doing just great in the troop he is in.  The other boys seem to have liked him well enough that they elected him into the top youth position in the unit.

     

    There is no guarantee that the next group of boys in a new troop will feel the same way.  

     

    I think maybe he should consider distancing himself from all this adult drama and just concentrate on having a good time with his friends.

     

    If he hates being in the unit, due to the emotional stress caused by his Scoutmaster - someone who, as SPL, he needs to work closely with - why should he stay?

     

    You're basically advocating that someone stay in an abusive relationship and just "work it out".

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  5. Yup. All that checking needs to stop at some point or the finish line will never be met.

     

    We usually have one last check at the lad's Eagle Court of Honor.  Haven't had to rip a medal off a Scout's uniform yet, but you never know!!!

     

     

    (I kid, I kid!!!)

  6. I don't doubt your troop is justified in helping the scouts, but can you describe to me what the EBOR did to make the scout's feel ambushed? I am (warning for moderators) ignorant of such experiences. And, what is 'gotcha' star chambers? Is that some video game? Boy I feel old. :blink:

     

    Barry

     

    Probably not old enough if you missed the reference to The Star Chamber

     

    Or, perhaps, the secret English court of law

  7. "Most of the ceremonies and all their buildings are closed to non-members. Members are sworn to secrecy."

     

    I hope I'm not just being overly politically correct, but this rings massive alarm bells with me. Maybe that's just because, as someone else says, that kind of secret society schtick is "not my gig". It just doesn't sit well with me. If a scout is friendly and considerate (or kind and courteous), or a brother to all scouts, or part of the worldwide family of scouting, whatever your wording of the law, lording it over others because they aren't in your special club that you have to be invited to join doesn't sound like fitting the brief.

     

    And when the kid goes home, and tells his folks he joined a secret club run by the grownups and he's not allowed to talk about any of the things that happened in the club....

     

    Maybe I see monsters where there are none, but it seems ripe for potential abuse.

     

    Ian

     

    That (based on the description) has YPT violations written all over it.

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  8. "The BSA discourages mock or practice boards of review. “Practice†reviews may imply that board members will ask predetermined questions or that the board of review is anticipated to be other than a positive experience."

     

    G2A, pg. 56

     

     

    "10. An Eagle candidate may have only one board of review (though it may be adjourned and reconvened). Subsequent action falls under the appeals process. (See “Appealing a Decision,†8.0.4.0.)"

     

    G2A, pg. 59

     

     

     

    Don't do "troop" board of review prior to the "real thing", unless everyone participating, including the Scout and his parents, are completely aware that its a mock review and that it doesn't count and agree to it, otherwise you'll trigger an appeals process.

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  9.     This is why I asked " WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF ACTIVE" I would like to have something to show these bleeding heart feel good types that you need to put something in to get something out.

     

    The BSA definition is on page 24-25 of the current Guide to Advancement, that I linked to you in reply #3, above.  But, I'll paste the info below, so you don't have to go to the trouble...

     

     

    Use the following three sequential tests to determine whether the requirement has been met. The first and second are required, along with either the third or its alternative.

     

    1. The Scout is registered.
    The youth is registered in his unit for at least the time period indicated in the requirement, and he has indicated in some way, through word or action, that he considers himself a member. If a boy was supposed to have been registered, but for whatever reason was not, discuss with the local council registrar the possibility of back-registering him.
     
    2. The Scout is in good standing.
    A Scout is considered in “good standing†with his unit as long as he has not been dismissed for disciplinary reasons. He must also be in good standing with the local council and the Boy Scouts of America. (In the rare case he is not, communications will have been delivered.)
     
    3. The Scout meets the unit’s reasonable expectations; or, if not, a lesser level of activity is explained. 
    If, for the time period required, a Scout or qualifying Venturer or Sea Scout meets those aspects of his unit’s pre-established expectations that refer to a level of activity, then he is considered active and the requirement is met. Time counted as “active†need not be consecutive. A boy may piece together any times he has been active and still qualify. If he does not meet his unit’s reasonable expectations, then he must be offered the alternative that follows.
     

    Alternative to the third test if expectations are not met:

     

    If a young man has fallen below his unit’s activity oriented expectations, then it must be due to other positive endeavors—in or out of Scouting—or due to noteworthy circumstances that have prevented a higher level of participation.

     

    A Scout in this case is still considered “active†if a board of review can agree that Scouting values have already taken hold and have been exhibited. This might be evidenced, for example, in how he lives his life and relates to others in his community, at school, in his religious life, or in Scouting. It is also acceptable to consider and “count†positive activities outside Scouting when they, too, contribute to his growth in character, citizenship, or personal fitness. Remember: It is not so much about what a Scout has done. It is about what he is able to do and how he has grown.

     
     
     
    If your unit doesn't currently have "reasonable expectations" documented somewhere in writing, you really should NOT make something up NOW and try to apply that retro-actively to someone who only has 5 months left.  That's intentionally setting him up for failure - changing the rules mid-way through.
  10. Son told me if SM does not give him his conference and sign his application at the meeting, he is going to politely shake SMS hand, grab his dad and brother and say good bye and search for a new troop. He was going to go to a different troop anyway after Eagle, no way would he stay here. Sniff Sniff. Boy do I have a headache

     

    Well, it sounds like your son has things figured out - good for him.  All you need to do now is sit back and be supportive of his decision :)

  11. In my opinion, Scout's best course of action would be to at least TALK TO the Scoutmaster of another Troop, preferably one that has had little to no history with the current Troop.  Explain the situation, past & present and how its making him feel about himself and about Scouting in general.  Ask this Scoutmaster if he has any suggestions for how to proceed.  Perhaps this SM will suggest contacting Council and going that route.  Perhaps the SM will hand Scout a transfer application.  Perhaps he'll tell Scout "you know.. your SM isn't being unreasonable.. buck up, young man."  Don't know.

     

     

    Yes, this Scout could "go over his SM's and CC's heads" and follow the route of a "Disputed Circumstances" board of review.  However if he does so, he will permanently burn bridges between himself and those two adults. 

     

    If he receives his Eagle this way, he'll need to find a new Troop, because based on what we've heard so far, the current SM will treat him like crap afterwards.

    If he does NOT receive his Eagle this way, he'll never get an SMC/BOR out of this Troop.  They'll hold his side-step attempt over his head until he ages out.

     

    Either way, he'll be looking for a new Troop, if he doesn't just outright quit the program.

  12. They pack met twice a month.  One meeting was a pack meeting/potluck the other was an activity, such as pack outing of some sort.  No DL's or den meetings.

     

    Lack of understanding of the program?  Lack of interested leaders?   That's just an awful shame :(

  13. Some of the boys put in 4 years of Cubbing and got NO Tiger, Wolf or Bear. 

     

    I just can't comprehend how that's possible... were the den leaders just that remiss in doing their jobs? or were the boys/parents that dis-engaged in the program?  Its not like Tiger, Wolf, or Bear are THAT complicated (especially under the pre-2015 requirements - hell, you could ALMOST knock those rank requirements out over two or three weekends at home).

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