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InquisitiveScouter

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Everything posted by InquisitiveScouter

  1. If they don't have a yell, then they are not a patrol. It is part of the Patrol Method. Scout Handbook, page 26: "Patrols have yells, too. If your patrol is named for an animal, you can use that animal's sound - the howl of a wolf, for example, or the hoot of an howl. Or your patrol might decide on some other shout that identifies it. Members can give the patrol yell whenever they do well in a troop competition or reach an important goal, and even when they're ready to chow down on a camp meal." (Reading between the lines... not optional...) Scout rank requirements:
  2. We do it at all meeting openings and whenever we gather for an activity. The adults have a "Patrol Yell" also... "Ask your Patrol Leader!!!
  3. Transferring is no cost. Do you know of another good unit nearby?
  4. Greetings @ASMPeter! And welcome to the forum! Congratulations to your daughter on these impressive achievements! And I know what it takes as a parent to guide them on their road to these recognitions, so good on you, too! Congratulations also on your first post stirring up the old hornet's nest! I love it. You'll find here two kinds of folks: the letter of the law, and the spirit of law. The letter of the law folks will tell you, NO!, if it isn't written in the Guide to Awards and Insignia, then you are wrong to do it. The spirit of the law folks, are more aligned wi
  5. And yet, you named them "friends"... the horror 😛 LOL
  6. Email them telling them you want to know how to donate $1000. They'll get back to you really fast 😜 Of course, when they get back to you, you then ask your questions. When they ask about the money, just say, "Oh, I wanted to know HOW to make a donation so, in the future, if I should decide to do so, I'll know how. Thanks!"
  7. Here's what we really need. Invoking Murphy's Laws of Combat, #2: If it looks stupid, but it works, it isn't stupid 😜
  8. I just hope the brim is as wide as the old BSA Expedition Hat I do like that is is oiled cloth, versus the old felt one. That felt hat is hot in the summer, and the dye would bleed out when it got wet or sweaty. Maybe the new one will be a bit cooler as well.
  9. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html
  10. Best when taught by older Scouts. If older Scouts or an adult do it, just like everything else, use EDGE. (Which means they see one demonstrated before having to do it.) Too many times I see this turned into TWGL-EDGE (pronounced Twiggle-Edge) Tell, Watch, Gasp, Laugh, then realize you need to do EDGE.
  11. Welcome to the forum!! Teach them... 😜 Some notes that will definitely raise some hackles around here... enjoy the discussion. 1. You can select meats that have lower fat content, or all already cooked, and therefore produce less grease. They are more expensive. Think 93% lean ground beef instead of 85% lean. Think brown and serve sausage patties or links. (Once they master these, they can move on to raw meats...) Or, here's a wild idea... teach them about tofu!! 2. For their first few trips, recommend you avoid the dreaded three... pancakes, bacon, and scrambled
  12. How big is the C10 endowment? Inquiring minds want to know...
  13. Who told you this? One person or multiple? SM or other? Do other parents/leaders in the Troop feel as you do?
  14. Respectfully disagree... Scoutbook has more functionality now than when it was free. I used it extensively then, and use it extensively now. It runs even better with the Scoutbook Feature Assistant add-on (which Gary Feutz keeps up) from the Goggle Play Store. I do agree that Scoutbook support by BSA is sorely lacking. It is mostly volunteers (Scoutbook User Advisory Council) who assist with day to day problems. BSA definitely lost a LOT of credibility in my book when they dumped user support, and expected the Registrars to answer peoples questions about Scoutbook (with no trainin
  15. Scoutbook has decent high level account tracking. If done correctly, the balance matches what's actually in the bank account. For fine detail, like tracking fundraiser amounts, we use Excel spreadsheets stored on the Troop Google Drive. Once all the fine detail accounting is done there by the Fundraiser Chair, the Troop Treasurer makes entries into each Scout account in Scoutbook.
  16. We have a calendar on our Troop website. That calendar is public, and subscribes to the Troop calendar. You can see events there, but you cannot open an event without a Scoutbook log in. We encourage Packs to look at that calendar to see what events they may like to attend. Then they contact us to make arrangements. No, you cannot have anyone other than Scouters/Parents/Scouts with Scoutbook accounts, but you can send event notices to guests. (Although I have not used this feature to test capability.) We do not send out changes. We send up to three event notices, along w
  17. So, just had this convo with another leader asking kinda the same. Here was my "edited" response... Questions: I wanted to reach out to you regarding comparison & recommendation between Scoutbook and Troopmaster (& any other like products). P-XXX had Scoutbook. I don't know Troopmaster. Initially - What products does yours & other Troops in our area use & why? - Is there much of a cost difference - multi-year di$count? - Is one "Better" than the other? - What's their guarantee for data protection? - Any other go
  18. Email seems to be back up fine... at least for us. As far as the calendaring goes, you can email the entire group with notices from a specific event. One thing to address is culture. Most people want you to "Push versus Pull". This means most people wait around waiting for you to send them a message about stuff. They are waiting for you to "Push" to them. (Of course, when you do, a few do not respond and claim they didn't get the message.) We teach our Scouts that real leaders "Pull." They go out and get the information they need to make decisions. The easy way to do t
  19. And by adults allowing *some* 15 years-olds with little to no experience lecture around a picnic table at Summer Camp and giving the MB away.
  20. From the G2SS... "In situations not specifically covered in this guide, activity planners should evaluate the risk or potential risk of harm, and respond with action plans based on common sense, community standards, the Scout motto, and safety policies and practices commonly prescribed for the activity by experienced providers and practitioners." Two Scouts wanna hike a well-travelled, flat rail-to-trail section? No problem... I'll drop 'em off and go to the ice cream shop near the end to wait for them. Two Scouts wanna hike up Mount Washington? Maybe not... "Known as the
  21. Ask five different lawyers this question, and you'll get ten different answers!! My answer... "It depends 😜 "
  22. Careful @qwazse!! You'll anger the G2SS gods!! "Two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required at all Scouting activities, including meetings." This one kills me... two Scouts should be able to go for a day-hike together without adult supervision. If they have a plan, are properly outfitted, and let someone know where they will be and when they will be back, that should be enough...
  23. P.S. It is nice of you to do, but it is not your place to name your replacement. That is COR business. Of course, you can ask and help, but it is the COR's signature on the application. Period. I followed this exit plan when I was departing as the Scoutmaster. I gave them one year advanced notice, and gave a reminder at every Committee Meeting. I gave my recommendations to the CC and COR for who from the ASM Corps could be my replacement. I talked with each of the ASM Corps about taking the job. No one did anything until I announced in my Scoutmaster's Minute, "Scouts, it has
  24. Army guys People are lazy, and they will let you carry their water as long as you are willing to carry it. There is really no dilemma here. Set a deadline for your departure (recommend no more than 60 days from now.) Stick to it! Announce to the COR and Cubmaster that, as of that date, you will no longer be with the Pack. Stick to it! Tell everyone that you have asked, for some time, for someone to take the position, with no takers. Give them your departure date. Mass email, committee meetings, or whatever method of communication you use... Stick to it! At each
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