MtnScouter

Do a forum search on Kudu.  He's a forum member who has set the tone for many of the boy led, patrol method champions on the forum.  Yes, he is one that lived at the extreme, but the ideas he presented make a ton of sense.  Any time someone is Channeling Kudu, they are harkening back to the "good old days" of scouting in a very good way.  Scouting would be a lot different today if we all had Kudu for a SM.  And I mean that in a good way.  I use a lot of his work when dealing with my boys.  His website is www.inquiry.net  I miss his posts a lot!

 

\\http://www.inquiry.net/

Ahhhh! Now it makes sense. 

I must respectfully disagree as I channel KUDU. Reprint the 3rd ed. SMHB volumes 1 and 2. From what I've been told and saw in a later SMHB  Green Bar Bill, all his other SMHBs are condensed versions of the 3rd. ed.

Hi there!

Ya lost me at "Channel KUDU" (I don't know what that is).

The latest FUN from national scout shop when this morning I went to order Vol 2 is that they STILL don't have 'em and they have absolutely no idea when they will get it, but they vehemently STILL blame the publisher. *shrug* Darn it. I don't know if that is true or not, that's been the story they have handed me as far back as September 2015 when I first tried to get my grubby paws on it. I don't know who they use for a publisher, but if it's true that it's the publisher's fault, they might want to consider a more "motivated" publisher to print those goodies up before we all break out with the SMHB measles. 

Vol, vol 2. *spit* How about sticking it in one actual book, slap some Norman Rockwell scout art on the cover and call it a Scoutmaster's Handbook. Dog gone it.

Krampus,

You got it.

Hi Eric!

I miss AZ. It's been a while since I lived there, *cough* 3 decades... 

An older link, yet quite valid. 

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/01/27/ask-the-expert-when-should-scouts-and-scouters-wear-their-oa-sash/

The problem is that the SM and his family have too much power on the troop. Other poeple have come in and tried to get involved but they get run off. We had an ex-military guy as the ASM for a spell, but our SM and him couldn't stand one another. At one point the SM's kid accused the ASM of hitting his own child; so I had to suspend him while there was investigation. I mean, basically the whole thing is a ******* sideshow. I had pulled my kid out and traded troops before, but my teenager just hated me for since he has friends in this troop. And this SM does do a load of outings, which is good. But the guy himself is a wreck.

 

Right now the leadership team is:

 

SM: "Smith Family Son"

 

Crew Leader: "Smith Family "Daughter""

ACL: Someone else.

 

Person highly involved: "Smith Family Mother"

Other person highly involved: "Smith Family Father"

And these "Smiths" have a way of just running off other people who want to help. They are highly disorganized. They show up late to everything, up to an hour late for outings. It's a wreck. But there's not anyone who can take it over because they have prevented others from giving quality time, they hold all the reigns. Look, it's a cluster. The only reason I'm involved is because my kid insists on going. And now I'm staring down this problem of the "Smiths" just doing whatever. They do not, and have not, ever done what the committee suggests, nor do they seemingly ever follow Scout procedures as related to Troop Hierarchy. They just do whatever they like whenever they like. And, honest to God, I just want to let them do whatever and not worry about it. But my kid insists he go, and I'm the committee chair, so I stick around.

The below quote from another quote elsewhere and so on and so forth, won't fix your dilemma, but, it will make you laugh, maybe even feel better, and in shed light too! 

Moose Turd Pie

"The worst job I ever had was working for the Pacific Railroad, doing a thing called "gandy-dancing." Now most of you know the railroad was built partially by Irish labor. Well, back then the workers would use this long handled shovel, made by the Gandy Shovel Company of Great Neck New York. Well, they'd shove one end of the shovel under a railroad tie, and then run out to the other end of the shovel, when they could find it, and do a little jig on it, and they called it "gandy-dancin'". This would lift the tie up so they could shove gravel under it, which would level the roadbed, so when the train came along, it wouldn't tip over, which would be a real drag for everyone.

Well, nowadays, they run three cars out on the rail: a bunk car, an equipment car, and a mess car. The only thing they don't give you is a cook. The bosses figure you'll find out who the best cook is, and use him. Well, they were wrong. Y'see, they just find out who complains the loudest about the cooking, and he gets to be the cook. Well, that was me, see. Ol' aligator mouth. That was the worst food I'd ever had, and I complained about it. Things like "dog bottom pie" and "pheasant sweat." I thought it was garbage. So I complained. And everyone said, "alright, you think you can do better? You're the cook." Well, that made me mad, see? But I knew, that anyone who complained about my cooking, they were gonna have to cook.

Armed with that knowledge, I sallied forth, over the muddy river. I was walking along, and I saw just this hell of a big moose turd, I mean it was a real steamer! So I said to myself, "self, we're going to make us some moose turd pie." So I tipped that prairie pastry on its side, got my "stuff" together, so to speak, and started rolling it down towards the cook car: flolump, flolump, flolump. I went in and made a big pie shell, and then I tipped that meadow muffin into it, laid strips of dough across it, and put a sprig of parsley on top. It was beautiful, poetry on a plate, and I served it up for dessert.

Well, this big guy come into the mess car, I mean, he's about 5 foot forty, and he sets himself down like a fool on a stool, picked up a fork and took a big bite of that moose turd pie. Well he threw down his fork and he let out a bellow, "My God, that's moose turd pie!"

"It's good though."

Trained below wood badge: I went to S.A.L.T when it was still SALT. Did the requisite courses, and even the updated adult training, then all those elective courses online, for some strange reason, I read when my wife watches chick shows. *Wince* It's cool, she's not reading this. Below Wood badge, it's sort of a "pending" description, prior to, the Army thoughtlessly monopolized much of my time, being the Army that they are, darn 'em. I CAN actually make a turks head woggle without having been to WB, strangely enough, discovered quite by accident, I think I was trying to make a Chinese finger puzzle. 

No, I actually use as little common sense as possible and pontificate as often as permitted, it preserves the illusion that I actually know what I am talking about, which also lends to the necessity of editing posts. Honest Injun, Sharkbait, Who-HA-HA!  I am in it for two reasons, my own ego and desire to be 12, it just happens to be where the boys are at in their lives too, so, since they and myself seem to be going in the same direction, I stuffed myself into a scout adult leader shirt (impersonating an adult) and jumped on the bus. 

Yes, we have banjos in SOUTHERN California. Ya'll know what I mean? 

Ignore the title.. I'm simply being........ME.

I'm semi new to the forum, I did not introduce myself initially, I thought I would lurk for a while, bounce a few posts around, that kind of thing. 

I'm a late 40s "returnee" (Yikes, right?) to scouting, A former scout, and former scouter(ASM), returned to scouting last September when my youngest boy, 11, moved to a traditional troop, as the LDS troop we had/have or whatever the story is today, was severely lacking.  I'm "trained" to just below Wood badge, and I am attending that this fall. (Really because I want to be 12 again, can I put: Eat more chocolate cake as one of my ticket items? I think it would improve scouting (for me). Presently, I am an ASM, or "cat-herder"...

Our troop recently did a huge turnover as a boatload, ok, all but one "eagled out", (SPL)and he's working on his EP. Our troop has gained a boatload of bridge-overs.

Posting: I am more of a reader. I don't always have an opinion on something, and usually when I do, I tend to need an edit or 100. *Shrug*

Hello from the mountains of Southern California (Insert banjo music).

HA! MORE DRAMA!

[sNIP]

 

[/uNSNIP]

 

That's the story.

Holy Smokes BATMAN! 

How is the DE not totally up that SM's southern hemisphere?

Isn't there a committee that votes up or down the SM there? Or is that SM's family the whole of the committee?  

I'm not just talking about the troop equipment either! 

If you're really a small troop then I reckon you'd be better havin' conversations, eh?  It would just be on you to make sure yeh took the time to have a conversation with everybody, rather than just da folks who are easiest to talk to.   I wouldn't do group conversations, because often folks in groups stay mum in da face of louder personalities.

 

For a bigger unit, doin' a survey isn't a bad thing.  It at least gives folks an outlet without disruptin' anything else.    Plus, Scoutmasters spend their time with kids and sometimes miss warnin' signs from parents.

 

I would encourage yeh to structure any survey in terms of positives though, eh?  Don't ask lots and lots of "what's wrong with us?" questions or yeh might just get a gripefest.  Start with things that they like most about da program, what positive things the troop can build on, what da next steps are to continue to enhance the program.  Are there boys that they feel have really helped their son? (it's always great to give a PL or older scout some positive feedback at his next BOR).  Is there some skill they'd really like to share with the troop? (look to encourage volunteerin' and productive engagement).

 

Suggestions for improvement will naturally out on their own, but you might miss lots of good things if yeh don't ask.   It also helps keep the tone of comments productive.

 

Beavah

I'm likin' this reply very much! I think I'll squirrel it away in my bag o' trix for that moment most needful, which unless I missed my guess entirely, will come in just a mere handful of months.  

There's an art to dealing with controversial issues.  I try and use them here on the forum, but obviously it doesn't always work.  None needs to be "in person" for a lot of the subtleties. 

 

Jeopardy - phrase everything in the form of a question.

 

Always speak in the third person.

 

If somebody's going to get hung, make sure it's the jury.  "That's not what I heard.  I wonder which story is the truth?"

 

Mention the platforms of the non-dual party candidates.

 

The Peter Principle is your friend, rely on him. 

*chuckle* Oh dear God.... Is that working?

I wear the campaign hat and I'm under 55 by 6 years -

The scouts in the troop love seeing it, I love wearing it. My old SM wore one, I'll never forget him, the guy was 101 ways of awesome. "The HAT" just kind of belongs. 

@@Hedgehog is right on the instant coffee. Hmart has a great coffee section. Tons of freeze dried coffees at a fraction of the cost of Sbux.

AKA: "Ranger dip". Helping both Soldiers and Scouters get rid of their headaches whilst keeping up with the youngest hyper-active scout on nearly any day hike. Pack your lip and enjoy the trip. 

Borrow a friend's pack, or rent one from REI.

 

Military surplus is good. Joke in my troop growing up: Military surplus, if it's designed to survive combat, it may survive Scouts. And yes, I own a medium ALICE That I used for 2 fifty milers afloat, numerous camp outs, 2 years of high school, and 5 years of undergrad. She's had some surgery, both needed and cosmetic ( turned mine into a HELLCAT ALICE), but she is still around.

 

But with the advances in technology, I'm looking towards a USMC FILBE.

 

I also have an old Camp Trails' Wind River. In fct just used ti this weekend to prep for a trip later on.

*Chuckling* I don't know, scouts are pretty hard on gear! 

In truth, the Molle Rucks I have left over from OIF/OEF, I just can't "kill 'em", they've survived some pretty "stupid stuff".  I think your choice of the USMC FILBE will suit the purpose just fine.  Can you pick one up at a decent price? 

Tnmule20,

I don't know what your access to military surplus is, I lucked out in being former Army to have a few ruck sacks, I find them very useful for scouting as they have lots of storage space, spots for both sleep system (Sleeping bag AKA: Fart sack) as well as mat roll and tent. Check eBay for Molle ruck sacks, call around Mil surp stores. Rucks being decent for rucking it up. The molle systems are great for adding specialized pouches, even getting ahold of smaller 3 day assault packs are great, also having molle loops for specialized pouches as need presents, they also sport a spot for a camelbak hydration system. I use my 3 day for lots of stuff still. Lots of good stuff should be available. 

The kid was spot on in this case. Dad ONLY works during the week. The rest of the time after work and on weekends is all about dad. Sits in the car during his kid's soccer games. Goes to Starbucks and surfs wifi during daughter's dance class. Golf's rather than spending time with other son. The list goes on.

 

Sorry, but the reason you have kids is to spend time nurturing them. Glad to see the kid is NOT is father's son.

Fathers take weekends off, Dads work 7 days a week, 24 hours a day at the best job in the world, being a DAD. *Puffs out chest*

We're not getting any "deals" in cost for our uniforms that are made in china, anyone and everyone who has bought a scouting uniform knows this, we're paying for made in America prices, we're the BSA, they should be made in America.