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Onslow

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Everything posted by Onslow

  1. This past Summer, Covid was an issue, but not a terribly imposing issue, and although help is on the way, there are 5 very dark months ahead. There is an appropriate time for "program", and citizenship training, but it makes no sense to sit about, and watch power points of fire behavior when the classroom is on fire. We should all know what to do in this situation.
  2. There is much room for meaningful UC leadership/help/ e Explore branch of scouting. Some Post committee/Advisor folk do not have backgrounds in scouting, and do not receive the same support from the general population to the DEs. Some do YP, then proceed not knowing about the 360 page handbook, online training, awards program. Units need to be diverse in their approaches to serve the larger scouting community effectively. I don't thing UCs should be arguing over unit administration unless there are serious violations of protocol. In my view, UCs should be prompting, and reminding unit
  3. I've lived in rural areas most of my life. I now live in a very small town. Being a rural dweller signifies nothing, and many rural people are successful in rural areas, or move to the cities, and become successful. Rural folk are neither monochromatic or monolithic. People in rural areas tend to be related in communities that are stable. Nothing evil there, it's just the way things are. However, an outsider may never be accepted or welcome. I thought this was common knowledge, and not offensive. Some rural areas are ravaged by people who have chosen to play with drugs, bed hop, and re
  4. Please allow me to clarify. The data selling issue I'm referring to is the assertion by many that the BSA plans to sell our data gathered by the CR and ICRs that are now required. I'm very well aware of what Google and Facebook are up to. This is precisely why I'm baffled by some protesting over the CR and ICR consent request/demand. As stated early, I suspect most employers of any size require the same thing. Some employees now must consent to their employer snooping in all social media activities.
  5. I not terrified of the people, but the challenge. Working in these environs will be emotionally taxing, and very depressing. Tangible success will be essential for the sake of sanity, and there is no path to success....more like bushwacking a rhodo thicket.
  6. I have no disdain for youth or people of any given geographic area. However, we all should have disdain for lifestyle choices that adversely affect the physical and mental health and development of youth. If one does not, perhaps he or she should reconsider their place in scouting.
  7. I keep hearing the "selling data" issue come up. I think this concern is kinda silly being most of us provide data to facebook and google willingly on a daily basis. Being self employed for most of my life, I was amazed how much paperwork I had to sign when I became an employee three years ago. Point being, many employers require the same checks, if not more. I suspect some may want IP addresses soon.
  8. I was one of those who was indifferent about the OA scene due to time constraints and other issues. Over time due to arm twisting, I became more involved, and so has my son. Yes, there are youth that should not be there, and are troublemakers, but it is no sin to rally the troops, and encourage youth and adults to serve. We should be reminded that the chief goal of scouting is to develop young men into engaged citizens and leaders of the future. Being tapped is not an award for the self involved overachievers, but a call to service. Relationships and strengthening the bonds of brotherhood
  9. I would like to hear from those who have first hand experience running units in poor rural areas where ignorance is a badge of honor, families are mostly broken, most adults are drug users. Oh, did I mention cliquish because everyone is related. I'm trying to understand how adult leaders are developed in blighted areas which obviously is a key requirement for administering a unit, particularly in the long term when leadership succession is a given. I desperately need some tried and tested ideas that work. Secondly, is trying to organize in such godforsaken places a fool's errand?
  10. The unit should set its own priorities provided operations conform to the BSA program. Some folks are very community/service focused, and are big on visiting historic sites, and participating in patriotic ceremonies. Others units may be into old school outdoor stuff, while others are trail preppies. Some folks are fixated on inclusivity......Other units may struggle to achieve the most basic tasks, e.g. communicating via email or phone. I believe there is enough leeway to run a good program even if/when National strays. No need to blame national for our own failures or mental illness
  11. It is important to instruct the other scouts not to tolerate a pervy mouth being the goal is to grow the youth into respectable citizens. I'm not suggesting the scouts give a weak whisper of disapproval, but a forceful shut down. Many crap stirring kids enjoy the power of disruption, and seek to turn a group of youth south, or against the adult leadership. However when the figurative knives come out within the peer group, such behavior looses its appeal quickly....and yes, sometimes the whole group needs to suffer for the deeds of one if the group is enabling. My wife has been teacher on th
  12. I like this menu very much. I detest overly processed food with excessive packaging, tons of sodium and sugar. This menu is very affordable, and the food is relatively nutritious.
  13. Being the ASPL ad SPL do not belong in a patrol, who do they dine with in your unit? Does in make sense for the the duo to dine with the adults so they may have sufficient facetime to receive instruction, directives, and advice? I'm not seeing any recommendations in the TLGB regarding this matter. Currently, the SM has formed a "Leadership Patrol". From my perspective, this is a disaster. It has simply given the opportunity for the SPL, ASPL, TG, to slink off at some dark corner of camp and be special by themselves instead of keeping the PLs on task while on outings.
  14. The Scout Law is sufficient as overarching principles, but to assert that the SL is the only rules needed is incorrect. First off, if this were the case, there would be no need for Youth Protection guidelines. Communicating expectations regarding behavior, and consequences falls under the category of helpful.
  15. First, download the Troop Committee guidebook, or purchase a hard copy from your local council store. These are the tools you will need to explain the positions for new recruits Recruit a secretary, and a treasurer as these two positions are the most critical. Set a goal with your new recruits to take YP if needed. Once the recruits are fully registered, then they should proceed to take the relevant committee member training. School teachers, social service folk, and military folk generally make good committee candidates. Avoid those retired scout leaders who talk a good talk, and b
  16. I've enduring abuse in the name of religion as a youth, and find some of the comments above flip, and almost offensive. Legal or illegal abuse, those who embrace such behavior have a perverted sense of entitlement. I might would be ok with this person attending events, but hell no on leadership. The CO, District Exec, and the Council exec, should be made aware of your concerns. The CO should have their own rules regarding child safety. CO rules should be reviewed with the key three, and CO board of directors or Pastor. The CO can do what the heck they want with this guy, and the BSA
  17. Why the OA matters to my son: 1. As a scouts ages, they relate less and less to the scouts in the unit. OA lodge gatherings bring youth in similar phases of life to together. Arrowmen talk about college, and other aspirations. It is not uncommon for the entire chapter to pile in one adirondack while at a lodge event, and talk until 3 AM. See #2 2. Brotherhood...not the recognition. 3. OA High Adventure programs. These programs are more affordable and much more accessible to middle class folk then the generic scout HA programs, and do not require adult (parental) involvemen
  18. I'm a believer of sorts in the scouting program. The most direct answer to your question is just follow the instructions in the Troop Leader Guidebook particularly in the areas of youth leadership. Scheduling, and executing annual planning conferences, PLCs, ILST ensure a degree of youth ownership. That being said, it is challenging to engage youth that do not possess any depth of foundational knowledge, and are apathetic and lazy. Regarding getting newly bridged scouts excited, 10-11 year old youth will want to hang with the big boys. Back when there were age restrictions on outpost
  19. I've never met an adult or youth who've complained about physical injuries haunting them later in life resulting from scouting activities. I have met a multitude of people facing knee and shoulder injuries due to baseball and football. There is a relationship between sports injuries and prescription drug addictions. In many locales, there is a toxic drug culture to be found in HS football culture.
  20. The underlying issue here is just lack of knowledge, and poor judgment. Any trip that takes place on a river with shoals, rapids, strong eddy lines should be planned carefully. A maximum flow benchmark should be established well ahead of the trip by someone who has a has many river miles under their belt, and is flow literate. The flow was 11,000 cfs. A reasonable moderate flow for a river this size is 2000 cfs. If one has no clue what a USGS gage is, and the relevance of flow rates, aforementioned person has no business planning a trip on such a river. Looking at the sat. imagery, I wou
  21. The larger focus should be this; Being tapped for the OA is not a recognition award, but rather a call to service. I having a hard time believing someone who marginally qualifies to be to participate in an election would be contribute in any meaningful manner to the local chapter, lodge, council, or national, unless the youth scouter has entered scouting very late, and plans to serve with much energy and exuberance.
  22. I'm going with the gold doc. This is clearly a change from 2017. I suppose the GSS will catch up soon.
  23. Based on what your saying, this guy is not conforming to the program leadership protocols. People who try to create their own program in lieu of what the BSA mandates should be not wearing the uniform. I would call your district scout exec and district commissioner about the whole key 3 issue. The SE should have the courage to have a conversation with both the CO and SM.
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