HelpfulTracks

A question and some general observations. Was any reason(s) given for the policy change? SM Conference is not just about rank. So if the young man, who is First Class or Star, is having an issue that has nothing to do with rank, then he must attend a camp out to discuss it? I am guessing the reply would be "no, this is only for rank advancement," which would be literally adding a camping element to the requirement. Second, the SM Conference can be held prior to other requirements being complete. It is a common misunderstood and misapplied requirement that SM Conference is the la

What paper work? If it is the initial meeting then the signature is about the SM having an discussion, no paperwork required. If the merit badge is complete, and signed off by the MB counselor, that is the paperwork. That was a rhetorical question. Sadly, I am not surprised. Quality Scouters appear to be in the minority. At one end you have those that disregard all process/policies and will sign off on/allow anything, at the other are those that try to rule with an iron fist, make capricious decisions and add to the burden placed on Scouts. Neither have the faintest idea of how to r

You have the option of dual registration (no additional cost unless the ship has a fee). As long as he completes his ordeal before his registration lapses with the troop he should not have a problem, regardless of his active status with the unit. Though I will point out that a Arrowman's first obligation is to his unit. Though I have a bigger issue with the SM. He does not have the option to not give the Scout a blue card, his signature is meant to signify he has discussed the process with the Scout. Your scout should have a discussion asking the SM to give him a blue card. If he SM

There are a number of issues here. Are they registered? If not, no one else may be aware of the record. If you are truly concerned, then you may want to inquire with your CO as suggested above. I would start with the CC, if you do not get a satisfactory response then escalate to CoR. If still not satisfied, then check with the council. If they are registered, then: The CO approved them, and BSA ran a background check (assuming there was no paperwork error. If the background check came back clean, it could be because it was expunged (as stated above) or sealed. So backgroun

Our Council is training Trainers/Facilitators to conduct YPT sessions. The facilitators are mostly District Training Chairs, Coordinators with some additional trainers identified. Several training sessions are planned over the next month and a half. Facilitators will conduct the class and test the participants. Training chairs will record YPT in Scoutnet.

In mashmaster’s defense, I told the same to my son and his reply to me was similar to mm jr’s. I encouraged him to track them for future reference. He didn’t follow that advice. Now as he is closing in on Eagle, he commented he wish he had tracked them as it would save the time and effort of re-doing some of the, now, mundane task. I simply shrug and smile. There are a few life lessons in that exchange. I’m curious how many he recognizes.

I position all of my patches using Elmer’s washable glue. My wife uses her sewing machine to make the accessible ones permanent. The glue washes out in the first laundry cycle. (After my first/only effort in sewing with her machine, it was placed off limits and I am forbidden from touching it). The patches not easily accessible to the machine, like the pockets, she sews by hand, using a method I think she called appliqué (?). The needle never passes through that patches plastic, only the threads around the outside. It looks a bit tedious. Fortunately, I have no patches like that, but

A surprisingly well done article. Anytime I see articles/opinion pieces written by companies with a direct profit motive I expect it to be overly colored by said motive. I think this one is well balanced.

I think Badge Magic is a BSA semi-hazing, rite of passage. Most people fall in love with the magic of Badge Magic, only to be horrified by the evils of the black magic later. THEN everyone says “oh yeah, that stuff it horrible”, but only AFTER you have learned this for yourself. It seems no tells you to avoid it upfront. Snipe hunting, anyone?

I am not answering for T2Eagle, but vague issues like the term "active" are left to the SM discretion. Just like a vague MB requirement (assuming there are any) would be left to the MB Counselor.

But in 6 month's it will matter. You have set an example. You and your CO have appointed yourselves the judge of which rules should and should not be followed in an organization you do not run alone. Your Scouts, other Scouters and Scouts have witnessed this and may well model you and your CO. Perhaps they will not have your advanced wisdom to know which rules are good and which are bad. Maybe they choose to ditch some important G2SS or YPT rules, because they know better. I once had a discussion with a famous athlete who stated he was not a role model, and people should not choose to mod

The OA has not set equivalencies. First, they have no authority to do so in any of the programs, the OA does not set policy for Boy Scouts, Venturing or Crew nor will they for ScoutsBSA. Secondly, the OA worked with Venturing and Sea Scouts to identify the appropriate award level to eligible for election to the OA. While they may have worked with those programs to identify awards that roughly approximated the time and effort of achieving First Class, no one set those as equivalencies. Earning First Class does not get you Discovery, or vice versa. Each must be earned on their own in their

You can lead the horse to water but you can't make him drink. The Den Chief serves the Troop by being a friend and guide to the den. He can do a great job and the Cubs can still choose to go elsewhere. However, he has introduced the Cubs to the Troop through his service. That service is for the Troop, even if it does not benefit them

There currently is no planned/organized presence for the OA at WSJ. To my knowledge the OA was not invited as it is a uniquely a U.S organization.

When unread “technicality” I immediately thought something like a Merit Badge was completed but not recorded properly, or paperwork was turned in but a signature was in the wrong place, or maybe he had an extended illness that delayed him. Those are technicalities beyond the Scouts control. There are remedies for those situations. But the time in rank is a well known and well documented requirement. That requirement nearly caught up with me more than 3 decades ago, it has nearly caught up with several Eagles I have mentored. It did trip up one I mentored. It is not a technicality, it is a

Hello to all those at NOAC. It would be cool to have a meet up while here. If anyone is interested and has an idea of where to meet, let us know.

There will indeed be discussions about optional ceremonies without the Native American regalia going on at NOAC, but nothing I have heard about requiring such a move. If that were to occur, it will come as a huge surprise to many, as about half of the sessions revolve around the traditional induction ceremonies, AIA and creating regalia. NOAC attendance is down from 2015, not surprisingly since it was the 100th anniversary, but pulling the rug out from under thousands of attendees would do far more damage than letting us know in advance of any moves toward doing away with Native Ame

I am sure National does. I read an article a couple of years back that stated only about 300 had been awarded nationally at that time. That sounds a little low but probably not too far off based on how many awardees I have seen personally.

In the good news column, the last session of OATC, which starts 7/13, is still on. In fact they are trying to expand and invite youth from earlier trail crews that were canceled. If the youth cannot attend in that time frame they are looking to get them on at one of the other high adventure base crews.

Funny, I have spent the last two weeks writing personal letters to each of my children as well as my wife. I will quietly leave the letters for them to see when they wake Sunday. I would not be a father without them, and they are the greatest gift I could hope to receive.

I see a good deal of opposition to girl units because some organizations will not follow policy and have coed units. Yet when organizations don’t follow policy in other areas (advancement, boy-led, patrol method, uniforms et al.) most argue they should be corrected rather not having that standard. I have seen units extremely lax with advancement standards. It doesn’t make sense to drop advancement from the program because some units won’t follow policy. Just as it doesn’t make sense to oppose female troops because some units will ignore policy and become coed. I support the new

Short answer, yes. Long answer, I’m to tired for a long answer.

I don’t know. Our troop and crew have same CO, COR, same meeting night, same meeting location (different rooms). We share equipment, but usually have different dates four outings, but not always. Sometimes we share programs or service projects. We have different Committee’s, different unit leaders and different youth leadership. The youth work out the logistics. Sometimes we have improvise on equipment. Our focus has been on providing the best program we can for our units, less about reasons we can’t.

Surplus army canteen (plastic) with cover is nearly indestructible and insulated. I still have some aluminum ones, but they are pretty banged up from years of use. I have several Nalgene bottles, 32 & 48 oz. I have never broken one yet. They work great and are easily sanitized. Not a fan of Hydro Flask. I have had 2 that allowed detergent to seep into the seam and could never get the taste out. Camelback or similar bladders work great if your pack accommodates them, or you use water packs.

I love neckers and routinely wear them. Over the years I have garnered quiet a collection. After a while a few of my Scouts began to wear them because they liked how they look. Eventually, they voted to wear them as a unit and created a custom necker for the troop.