Thunderbird

There is a t-shirt / patch company called "ClassB". They are an official licensee of the BSA, so no need to worry about BSA trademarks if you choose to work with them. They offer free artwork services with unlimited art changes, free shipping over $50, no set up fees, and you can mix garment types for price breaks. I'm not affiliated with ClassB, but I've used them before, and they do good work. That said, you can use whoever you'd like. I think the words "troop" and "pack" are not trademarked, although you would have to check on that to be sure. You could maybe put P123 / T123 on the shirts to avoid that whole issue. If you wanted you could probably use the same design, but different color shirts to make a distinction between the pack & troop (for example: use navy blue shirts for the pack / dark green for the troop).

I hope so, too. 😟

@Eagledad @TAHAWK Thanks for the ideas! I like how your SPL goes around to each patrol and asks them separately for ideas.

Can parents access Internet Advancement? If not, you should be able to get a copy of your son's advancement records from your troop's advancement coordinator. Another option is to request a copy of the advancement record from your council registrar. Does your son's troop use Scoutbook? If so, then you should be able to print out a copy of his Boy Scout History Report or his Individual Advancement Record (although you might need an Admin to help you get a copy of the IAR).

I sounds It sounds like the troop did not realize that the pack had a female Webelos when they invited the pack's Webelos to go on a campout with them. Then after they found out, they seem to have gone back and forth on whether she can come too. I agree with you. Things are going to be problematic for many months until things get sorted out.

@Eagledad What kinds of themes does your troop typically come up with? Are they activity based (backpacking, climbing, canoeing, etc.) or something else (Scout Law, holidays)?

@Hawkwin It might also be helpful to get a copy of the Troop Leader Guidebook (replaced the Scoutmaster Handbook). I do not have a copy of it, but I believe that there is a section on Scoutmaster (unit leader) conferences.

@Hawkwin Take a look at section 4.2.3.5 Unit Leader (Scoutmaster) Conference: "The conference is not a retest of the requirements upon which a Scout has been signed off. It is a forum for discussing topics such as ambitions, life purpose, and goals for future achievement, for counseling, and also for obtaining feedback on the unit’s program." The board of review is also not supposed to be a retest (section 8.0.1.1 Not a Retest or “Examination”).

There is some good info. in the Senior Patrol Leader Handbook. You could use it as a starting point. There's also a video and some suggested steps at: https://troopleader.org/annual-planning-conference/ I view having the SPL/PLC invite other adults to the annual planning conference as a suggestion -- not policy. If they'd be helpful (as a resource on the budget, for example), then they could be invited. If they would be interfering in the process, then don't invite them -- have the SPL brief them at a later date.

That doesn't make any sense. Unit Scouter Reserve (USR) is a unit-level position, and it does require paying the registration fee. The only way I know of to register and get the criminal background check but avoid paying the registration fee is to register as a merit badge counselor, nova counselor, or supernova mentor (but these 3 positions are council / district level positions - not unit-level).

I assume he's gone through the Ordeal? Other than possibly helping to arrange car pools, I don't understand why she'd care.

@John-in-KC John, could you also post page 26? That has the active in a POR related stuff.

The BSA Guide to Advancement has whole sections on Active Participation (4.2.3.1) and Positions of Responsibility (4.2.3.4): https://www.scouting.org/resources/guide-to-advancement/mechanics-of-advancement/boy-and-varsity/

Charter organizations can already charter more than one pack, troop, etc., so IMO, the whole "linked troop" is just a way for them to say that the program isn't co-ed (yet) *wink*.

They have telegraphed what they are planning to do by putting girls in the Boy Scouting program and renaming the program "Scouts BSA". There will be a push for co-ed troops, because it will be difficult for some troops to get the minimum number of girls that they need (5) in order to start a girl troop. The argument will be that it isn't "fair" for these girls to not be able to join a troop and pursue Eagle Scout just because they couldn't get enough other girls to join, too. Scouts BSA will probably have co-ed troops, girl troops, and boy troops (as determined by their charter organization) in about 2-4 years. Mandatory co-ed troops will take longer (if at all - there isn't as much demand). As I understand it, Venturing Crews can be all girl, all boy, or co-ed, and people seem to be happy with having these options.