Thunderbird

7 hours ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Are you prepared to fully fund this project now?  Doing a GoFundMe, or soliciting donations from anyone outside your family will require additional paperwork which will further slow things down.  That paperwork DOES have to go to council.  But, only AFTER the Proposal has been approved by Council or District Project Approval Representative.  See Fundraising Application Page A  (did he already get signatures on this one, too??)

If you have the ability to fund the project, do it.

You don't need approval by the local council if all of your contributions come from:

• the beneficiary
• the candidate
• the chartered organization
• the candidate’s parents, guardians, or relatives
• the unit or individuals in the unit

Guide to Advancement section 9.0.2.10 Fundraising Issues

16 hours ago, malraux said:

Yes, key 3, Unit commissioners, some district folks, have access to the training manager. You can easily add courses like IOLS S11. to people's training records rather than trying to get it submitted to council. If your ASMs took IOLS out of council, it's unlikely that it would get entered into the electronic record. You should add those courses if you have access to the training manager. The only limitation is that you cannot add training for yourself.

Units also have access to the Training Manager:

Scoutmasters (Cubmasters / Advisors / Skippers) - unit Key 3
Committee Chairs - unit Key 3
Chartered Org. Reps. - unit Key 3
Key 3 Delegates
Unit Training Chairs

If you run into difficulty adding the training, another person to contact could be your District Training Chair.

1 hour ago, SSScout said:

Rule the first:::    ALWAYS use the same version of your name, everywhere in BSALand.   John L. Sullivan, NOT Johnny Sullivan, NOT  Sully Sullivan,  NOT   J.L. Sullivan....   

Good advice.

1 hour ago, SSScout said:

Rule the second::::  INSIST ON and keep  a solid, card/paper copy of the "graduation"   from your course.  The Leetle White (or blue?) card as PROOF that you were there/then with HIM/HER....  Print it out. Do not depend on the eCertification.....

Also excellent advice.

1 hour ago, SSScout said:

Rule the third::::    IF and WHEN  you have to spend that time in the delightful company of the Council Registrar,  insist she/he get CONFIRMATION FROM NATIONAL,  then and there. You should have ONLY ONE  BSA Registration number,  associated with your name  AT THIS COUNCIL.  Note that if you MOVE to another Council (so I have been told)  you MAY ( or may not) need to obtain a NEW BSA number, specific to THAT new Council....   

Unfortunately, council Registrars no longer have the ability to merge and retire BSA member numbers.  Right now, they can combine BSA member numbers under your my.scouting username, which is basically the same thing that users can usually do for themselves at my.scouting (using Manage Member ID).  However, you can only do this for yourself if your name and date of birth match exactly between the different BSA member numbers (goes back to your rule #1).

The Trained Leader report at my.scouting can be difficult to read, but Scoutmasters / Assistant Scoutmasters need the following in order to be considered "trained":

• Y01 - Youth Protection Training Certification
• Scoutmaster (and Assistant Scoutmaster) position specific training (online learning plan)  OR  S24 - Scoutmaster Specific Training (in person)
• SCO_800 - Hazardous Weather Training (online only) - supposed to be renewed every 2 years.
• S11 - IOLS (overnight campout / in person only)

If you have proof of the training (for example: training certificate for IOLS taken in a different council) then someone in the troop with access to the Training Manager at my.scouting can add your training.  With the Training Manager, they would need to go to "Add/Search", make sure the "Add Training" tab is selected, then select the program (Scouts BSA), select the course (Intro to Outdoor Leader Skills (S11)), enter the date, and then click on the blue "Add Members" button to select the individual(s).

At the troop level, the registered adult leaders who should have access to the Training Manager are the Key 3 (Scoutmaster, Committee Chair, and Chartered Org. Rep.), adult leaders designated as Key 3 Delegates (up to 3 people), and the Unit Training Chair.  Key 3 Delegates and Unit Training Chairs are functional roles that can be designated with the my.scouting Roster -> Position Manager -> Functional Roles.

It depends.

Does your pack advance its dens to the next den level at the end of the school year?  If so, when is the last day of school?

Your Pack Committee has some discretion to grant time extensions at the end of the Cub Scout program year:
 

Quote

 

BSA Guide to Advancement
4.1.0.4 "Do Your Best"

In the same spirit as “Do Your Best,” if a Cub Scout is close to earning a badge of rank when it is time to transition to a new den, the pack committee, in consultation with the den leader and the Cub Scout’s parent or guardian, may allow a few weeks to complete the badge before going on to the next rank. Earning it will give the youth added incentive to continue in Scouting and carry on and tackle the next rank.

 

I agree with @5thGenTexan .  I would recommend using the Protect Yourself Rules adventure in place of the Cyber Chip:

https://www.scouting.org/programs/cub-scouts/preview-adventures/protect-yourself-rules/

Sounds kind of similar to the videos that the BSA used to have online for some of the (older) rank requirements for Tenderfoot - First Class.  You can still find the videos at YouTube:

BSA rank videos

Don't use it!  Go to scoutbook.com/mobile/, and login to regular Scoutbook.  After you log in at regular Scoutbook, go to your calendar where you should see a Hide DLE events button.  Alternatively, you can move the calendar events into the past.

Having said that, the Resources section of the Den Leader Experience is kind of nice.  There is a free pdf of the Den Leader Guide.

If I remember correctly from a conversation a while ago, I think the "white sheet" @Eagledad is referring to is his council's version of the blue card.

Updated BSA COVID-19 FAQ (advancement) are at the following link:

https://www.scouting.org/coronavirus/covid-19-faq/

5 hours ago, Owls_are_cool said:

How would we defer these items in scoutbook?

I would leave the individual requirements blank (SC 5b and FC 6a) in Scoutbook if the Scout has not passed them yet.

Scoutbook has a Notepad & Comments feature that is available for each individual requirement and at the bottom of each rank, merit badge, and award.  You could add a note to First Class / Star / Life ranks and maybe one or more of the individual requirements that the Scout still needs to pass the swim test (the first requirement for each rank, Scoutmaster conference, board of review, etc.).

At Scoutmaster conferences and boards of review, check to see if the BSA's COVID-19 swim test deferment is still in effect and whether or not the Scout has passed the swim test.  You could also write notes in the Scout's Handbook saying that the Scout still needs to pass the swim test for the next rank(s).

2 hours ago, skeptic said:

We get back to interpretation; but this does appear to rule out fencing.  As noted of course, with proper supervision and equipment it is likely as safe as many other activities still allowed.  I am confused by the last one: "Intramural, interscholastic, or club sport competitions or activities".  Are they saying that scouts cannot participate in normal team sports in school or the various youth sports leagues?  That is what it appears to say to me, which makes not sense at all.  What am I missing on this one?

 

Not sure if this helps, but there is a Prohibited Activities FAQs that says:

Quote

Q. Does the prohibition on club sports mean that my son or daughter can’t play basketball?

A. No. It means that the Scouting program does not exist to supply programming or insurance coverage to organizations that seek a charter only for a competitive sport. Our experience and the industry data have shown that this is a hazardous activity and risk, and it should not be a part of Scouting.

Note the key words:  "at this time".

Help a Venturer earn the Silver Hornaday Award & Venturing Summit Award by helping to pick up 1 million pieces of trash by August 30 (his project close date).  Anyone who spends at least 2 hours on the project and has their collection reported on the project's Google Form is eligible for the Messengers of Peace award (environmental dimension). You can find more information at the following links:

Bryan on Scouting:  Venturer’s conservation project involves worldwide effort to pick up 1 million pieces of trash

Facebook:  1,000,000 Piece of Trash

Great service project for all ages!

48 minutes ago, Liz said:

So, which way do I go? As CC, do I try to push my authority around and try to push on her den leaders to facilitate? Even if they do get a fire lit under them at all, the other kids have a LOT of catch up to do and I'm not sure they're going to want to spend time working on AOL when they haven't got their Webelos badges yet. Then again, maybe they'd like to just skip ahead and go for AOL. Am I correct in the way I read the requirements that earning Webelos rank is not actually required to earn the AOL anymore? 

If they are rising 5th graders (going in to the 5th grade this fall), then they can choose to stop working on Webelos and just move on to AOL.

It's difficult right now, but if you can get your den leaders to have some online meetings, then you should be able to meet the den requirements -- even if you can't meet in person.

Not sure if you've seen the BSA's COVID-19 FAQs or not, but:

Quote

Q: Can the Arrow of Light (fifth-grade dens) requirements fulfill the requirement to visit a troop or attend a troop outing to function as a patrol? 

Yes. Two things to keep in mind, the standard of completion for Cub Scout advancement is “Do Your Best,” so given the circumstances, we want to look at the purpose behind the requirements. Remember that doing nothing is never doing your best. 

Dens can visit a virtual troop meeting to see the patrol method and youth leadership in action. Since the den cannot attend a troop campout or outing, the idea is for the den to function as a patrol while attending the virtual troop meeting. During this time, a virtual den meeting where the den functions as a patrol can be done. Elect a patrol leader, pick a patrol name, play a virtual game together as a patrol. Plenty of opportunities to Do Your Best to meet the intention of the requirement. Remember to maintain all youth protection standards online.

 

Hope this helps some!

7 hours ago, CaliGirl said:

I know this is from a long time ago but it deserves an update:

Would it surprise anyone here to learn that the Unit Commissioner from the old Unit was the very same Commissioner for the new Unit?  And guess who paid a visit to the new Unit on the very same night my Scout was to have his Life Board of Review?  Our Commissioner does not visit the Troop.  I sat on the other BORs for the night and our Commissioner was silent.  However, when I excused myself for my Scout's BOR, the Commissioner took over the BOR (even though the Troop's COR and Advancement Coordinator were in attendance) and he grilled the Scout mercilessly and RETESTED him for 45 minutes, until a Committee member told him to stop.  He then tried to persuade the Committee not to pass the Scout.  They passed him because they knew him, and this man did not.  He was basing his opinion on the old Scoutmaster, who was his buddy.

This is what happens in the BSA when you are treated unfairly and ask for help.  This is what happens when a District and Counsel are AWARE of a rogue Scoutmaster and allow him to continue.  My Scout was not the only victim of mistreatment in the old Troop.  But everyone knew about this Scoutmaster and just let it happen....

Just curious, but why was the Unit Commissioner acting as a member of the Life BOR?  Was he just supposed to be observing, but then got carried away?

@5thGenTexan  When my son crossed over at age 10 1/2, he could not swim.  We got him into private swimming lessons at a local YMCA.  It took several months with a very patient instructor, but he did eventually learn how to swim.  I agree with @Eagle94-A1, swimming is an important life skill, and I'm glad we stuck with it, and he learned how to swim.

The only way I know to limit the ads is to use pop-up blockers, like Adblocker Ultimate, Ghostery, etc.

The BSA adult application says:  "The chartered organization representative is approved by the head of the chartered organization."

As a general rule, the person with the power to appoint also has the power to remove / fire.

On 7/7/2020 at 7:34 AM, 69RoadRunner said:

Thank you! That is close to what I needed to do. I had to go to My Dashboard and then Administration to get the rest of the way.

Oddly, Scoutbook insists on giving me the mobile version of the site even on my laptop.

Like you, none of the counselors in my troop, including me, are in the report.

This means that your council has not uploaded its merit badge counselor list to Scoutbook, so you will need to contact your council and ask them which merit badges you are approved to counsel.

26 minutes ago, MattR said:

If the scout does a great job as APL then give him credit for it. It's up to the SM. There's nothing that says an apl can't get credit. That said, it's the pl that should give the apl a job to do. The pl might need guidance on how to do that, but that's okay. There's plenty of work to be done as pl. Good leadership is about working oneself out if a job.

I guess I'm not following you, because the rank requirements specifically say that Assistant Patrol Leader is not an approved position of responsibility for the Star, Life, or Eagle rank.    The leadership project is an alternative way to fulfill this requirement, as long as it is Scoutmaster-approved and helps the troop.

Generally speaking, I think it would be better to find other ways to recognize and encourage APLs to serve.  While the leadership project that helps the unit is an option, I would be cautious about using it for reasons that @Eagledad mentioned.  The leadership project should provide lessons similar to the listed PORs.

Instead, there are some troop PORs that can be held by more than one Scout.  The position of Instructor, for example, can be held by more than one Scout, and the Scout can specialize in particular areas such as first aid, knot tying, etc.
 

Quote

 

4.2.3.4 Positions of Responsibility

“Serve actively in your unit for a period of … months in one or more … positions of responsibility” is an accomplishment every candidate for Star, Life, or Eagle must achieve. The following will help to determine whether a Scout has fulfilled the requirement.

4.2.3.4.1 Positions Must Be Chosen From Among Those Listed. The position must be listed in the position of responsibility requirement shown in the most current edition of Scouts BSA Requirements. Since more than one member may hold some positions—“instructor,” for example—it is expected that even very large units are able to provide sufficient opportunities within the list. The only exception involves Lone Scouts, who may use positions in school, in their religious organization, in a club, or elsewhere in the community. Units do not have authority to require specific positions of responsibility for a rank. For example, they must not require a Scout to be senior patrol leader to obtain the Eagle rank.

Service in positions of responsibility in provisional units, such as a jamboree troop or Philmont trek crew, do not count toward this requirement.

For Star and Life ranks only, a unit leader may assign, as a substitute for the position of responsibility, a leadership project that helps the unit. If this is done, the unit leader should consult the unit committee and unit advancement coordinator to arrive at suitable standards. The experience should provide lessons similar to those of the listed positions, but it must not be confused with, or compared to, the scope of an Eagle Scout service project. It may be productive in many cases for the Scout to propose a leadership project that is discussed with the unit leader and then “assigned.”

 

Depending on how long ago a council uploaded its MBC list to Scoutbook, a particular MBC might still be properly registered (although not all councils have uploaded their MBCs to Scoutbook).  But if it's been a long time since the MBC list was uploaded, you can't really be sure unless you contact the council directly.  Scoutbook does not currently do a good job of reflecting which adult leaders are currently registered as MBCs.  That is a BSA IT problem that needs to be solved.  Part of the problem is that many councils register their MBCs via ScoutNet, but they manage the list of merit badges in some other way outside of ScoutNet.  I am not sure why, but I think it is because ScoutNet is too limiting.

@CynicalScouter  I think we are talking past one another.  I am saying don't punish the Scout who appears to have acted in good faith at the end of the process.  Fill out the form and make the complaint, but don't punish the Scout.

10 minutes ago, CynicalScouter said:

If the SM believes the MBC was invalid or failed to meet the basic minimum standards for the merit badge (read: merit badge mill) they can and arguably should/must file a 11.1.0.0 Reporting Merit Badge Counseling Concerns. Neither 7.0.0.3 nor 7.0.4.6 preclude a review under 11.1.0.0. And this is in addition to the SM review under 7.0.4.7


From the 11.1.0.0 Reporting Merit Badge Counseling Concerns form itself.

Yes, I agree.  If the merit badge college (virtual or otherwise) is not following the Guide to Advancement (for example: by having a single class with 900+ Scouts and only 1 MBC), then that should be reported to the council.

What I am saying is that the Scout should not be punished at the end of the process.  If the Scout intentionally did not follow the BSAs procedure or policies, then that would be a different situation, but the issue here does not appear to be with the Scout -- it appears to be with the council having virtual merit badge classes that have way too many Scouts.