Buffalo Skipper

Beavah, As you brought up how the troops handle this, I should add a footnote to our unit proceedure. We have a "Life to Eagle Coach" who reviews with every Life scout the process and who is a "mentor" throughout the process. He is registered as an ASM, so he has no place to sign on the application; his role is strictly as an advisor. The SM signs, as does the Committee Chair. Personally, I do not necessarily appreciate the value of the L2EC, beyond someone who is up to date on what the process is. If this scout is a true Eagle candidate, I don't see how having a designated

Thanks Sir Scoutalot. Having been to Skymont last summer, that gives me a pretty good impression of their facilities. I am curious about the program, but as we have settled on Woodruff for this year, we will wait before evaluating next year's program. (I can't believe I am trying to evaluate programs 18+ months before summer camp season!?!)

Our district is both more and less formal than some of those described above, and we also run 4-6 ELSPs a month. Our scouts meet with members of the District Advancement during the hour before the District Committee meets. Each scout meets with 3 or 4 DC members, spending about 15-20 minutes reviewing the proposal and the nature of the project. Of course, ensuring that the paperwork is in order is important, but the expectation has been established, so it is uncommon for any project to be deferred for that reason. The primary purpose is to that the project is appropriate as an ELSP. Does

As a member of the DC (not advancement), I hear about Eagle projects every month (the hour before the meeting is spent with boys going through the project approval process). I rarely hear of a project being "rejected." The process being followed is more or less, to determine the merit of the project. In other words we don't really want an ELSP to carried out which is destined to be rejected because it is inaddequate. Paperwork is reviewed for signatures and such, but the "board" is really evaluating the scope of the proposal. Occasionally, I have heard things like: "be sure to include mo

The "hanging out" is always a crowd pleaser. But my personal favorite is to have a cub scout come out pulling a length of rope behind him. He is asked: "Why are you dragging that rope?" To which the cub scout replies: "Have you ever tried to push one?" Another one we use here is to have someone run up screaming "Run! the infantry's coming!" And another scout walks in carrying a potted sapling.(This message has been edited by Buffalo Skipper)

Actually, Vector is for Venturers and Boy Scouts. We ran the pilot course in our council back in March, and it was attended by both Venturers and (non-Venturing) Boy Scouts. The syllabus was supposed to be released in August. When it is released, it is one for 14+yo scouts delivering advanced leadership and teaching skills. These are exactly the skills we should be teaching our JASMs. Yes, hopefully, it will be out soon. Our Venturers who attended are already wearing the patch. It is pretty cool.

You might also consider Vector Training, if you can find a course in your council or one nearby.

Certainly this is a fluid document (especially where Sea Scouts is concerned). Keep in mind also, that this is the Volunteer chart, not the professional one, which shows a completely different heirarchal structure. Personally, I am surprised that Sea Scouting made this chart at all. I mean (I know that the divisions have been "reorganized," but...) that there is no CS, BS, Venturing or Varsity committees on this level, why should we in Sea Scouts be represented when the other programs are not? (that was a rhetorical question, BTW). I will be spending the weekend with the SR Commodore a

Kahuna, I may be able to put you in touch with a gentleman by the name of Vick Vickery. He is a SM in his mid 80s, and retired from professional service a few years ago. Shortly after his retirement, he was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (not your everyday recognition for professional scouters...). The scuttlebutt was that when he was presented the DESA, he was offered the position of national president, but he turned it down, citing that he had a troop to look after now (the oldest troop in the council), which was more important. I don't know how true that story really

And just what is wrong with a pink neckerchief? Our troop has one. Well sort of. The story goes, when our troop first chartered, one of the committee members owned an Italian restaurant, and as the troop needed neckerchiefs, he donated napkins for the troop's use (you know the kind, pink (red) and white checkerboard). That was in 1932 and we still use them to this day! Every scout in our district for decades associates our troop with the neckerchief. Others have traditional or unique, custom madeneckerchiefs, but no other troop is recognized as immediately as we are. John, if you like,

Great story! That is certainly a keeper. (wait, it is open season on SM minutes, isn't it?)

The PLC decided upon Woodruff, and we have our reservations locked in! Much of what sold the PLC on this camp was the multiple adventure programs (on and off site) for no additional cost. Talking to other troop leaders, the new scout program (called Mountain Man at this camp) is highly regarded. We have several older boys (16+) and will have a large crop of younger boys (11-12), with only 2 or 3 inbetween these ages. We will certainly evaluate the program this year. We still have material coming in from other camps around. We received in the mail a really great DVD from Rainey Mount

I was doing some reading up on the Bear Vault. Do you use the full sized or the "solo"? Just how hard (or easy) is this product to open? It also says it doubles as a seat. What do you think of this? Is it high enough and big enough to hold your tush?

"At your wedding reception your best man leads a round of the Gilwell song and half the groom's side joins in while the bride's side looks on in complete confusion." ROFL! One of our troop's Eagle is in his mid 30s is soon to bemarried for the first time. He isa district scouter, WB ASM, Lodge Advisor,COR and much more. I will forward that to him (as a warning!). Brilliant!

I have had this list for some time. I imagine some of you have seen it as well. Finding that 25th hour in the day while at scout camp last weekend make me think of it. Add any if you like.... You might be taking your Scouting too seriously if... You buy that '89 Chevy Caprice because you really like that fleur di lis hood ornament. Your favorite color is olive drab. You decide to lash together the new deck on the back of your house. You plan to serve foil meals at your next dinner party. You walk the streets in broad daylight with a coffee cup and flashlight

My den(s) were at our camp for Webelos Weekend during this year's (and last year's, coincidentally) time change. Our program director "enforced" a policy of "camp time," in which no clocks changed until you left camp on Sunday. All the Sunday activities were run one hour early. That's two years in a row in which I really have found that 25th hour of the day.

I think Eagle1982 made some good observations, and I concur about the clean up. We choose our meals to create the least amount of waste, and for ease of clean-up. Our troop does mostly 2 backpack trips a year--a warm up hike (15-20 miles) in December and a long hike (20-30 miles) in January. Last December, we had daily temps in the low 80s, and though that did not affect our choice of food, we never take fresh meat. We do not allow packaged, freeze-dried, backpack meals at all. We have found them to be lacking in carbs, high in sodium and generally a poor choice, health wise (look at

We generally operate in an area in which black bear sightings are big news, and fairly rare (in 35 years of scouting, I have never heard of an encounter between a bear and scout in our area). In spite of that, we do sometimes forray into more populated bear country, and I would like to pick up one myself. What brand or style of bear cans do you use with your troops? What are their pros and cons? Any and all feedback is welcome.

Peridiochas, Our troop uses Troopmaster, and our previous advancement coordinator used the generated award cards and liked them; our current ac has not used them. The pack I am associated with uses Packmaster, but does not use the cards. We looked at using them and though they were great, our decision not to use them hinged on the cost. Our pack is well funded, but we would rather spend the money more directly on the boys. Sorry I cannot offer you more.

Respectfully, ChiefThundercloud, I disagree. We insist on presenting T-L (patch) at the troop meeting immediately upon being signed off with the BoR. We then present the card in a more formal ceremony at the CoH (one to three months later). I believe that once earned, the badge should be presented (at a troop meeting), and go through the formalities at the CoH. After all they are an Eagle Scout as soon as they pass their BoR. Why should we deny them the privilege of wearing the most significant rank they have earned? But as GW says, let the boy decide what he wants.(This me

Guy, It is my understanding that each unit (with their commissioner) fill out the CQU sheet, with each unit setting their own goals. I have seen the CQ District sheet, but I cannot recall if it includes advancement goals. It does have a provision for CQU participation, membership (both in individuals and units), commissioners and other areas. I have likes and dislikes about the CQU program, but as you said, that if for another thread.

I agree with most of those here. Once he earns his Eagle, he should be able to wear the rank emblem on his uniform (assuming he is below the age of 18). Like any other rank, he is entitled to wear it once he passes his BoR. I do not feel that he should wear the rank emblem if he is over 18 on his Boy Scout uniform, if he were to wear an ASM patch. Personally (not the consensus, I know), I would be less concerned about his being 18. His audience is financial supporters. How many of them are going to know he just turned 18 and should not be wearing the rank instead of the knot?

GKlose, Are you refering to a Centennial Quality Unit or Centennial Quality District? I can see where your coments could be refering to either....

What I think this all boils down to is perception. Part ofScoutMomSD's original remark (and I am not trying to take this out of context) was "My mom used to say, 'avoid the appearance of evil'." This is, I believe the key to ScoutMomSD's perception of what is creepy. Avoiding the appearance of "evil" is important. But how one sees that statement is important. Would one question the motives of achurch youth director who was unmaried or too young to have children, or whose children had left home to go off to school? Obviously not. I think we should all be concerned about how people percieve

But the 1981 was most current one I attended!