Armymutt

Was at our District PWD yesterday.  Saw an adult leader who had a Ukrainian flag in place of the US flag on his uniform.  I've seen all sorts of oddities on uniforms, but I've never seen someone replace our flag with that of another nation.  

53 minutes ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

I spent many a day and night on both Green and Yellow ramps at Pope waiting for you guys to load up in my trusty C-141.

Our airdrop speed was usually about 150 knots, depending on weight.  If I was tail end Charlie of the formation, I'd slack off ten or 15 knots over the DZ to make your opening shock a little less.  (Love what you did!!)  Later did some DZ control there...

Both my Dad and brother were 82nd... and I was born on Fort Campbell, and lived on Fort Bragg.  Dad retired out of Fort Gordon.  Both told me to go Air Force!  (brother in Navy said the same!) Still have family in Raeford and Augusta. 😜

Airborne All the Way! 

(I trained for the nylon letdown, but was never daft enough to jump out of a perfectly good airplane 😜 )

 

The 141 was before my time.  We had the cramped C-130s and the luxurious C-17s.  Those were nice.  I grew up in the Air Force.  Saw my stepdad wear a time to work everyday.  Didn't want to do that.  Joined the Army, then the AF decided that every day was combat uniform day across the board.  Oh well, only a couple years left to go.  

2 minutes ago, acema606 said:

I respect the name change to Fort Liberty, but it's gonna take a while before I consistently call the Center of the Universe by its new name.  AATW!

You can tell who is who by how they refer to that place outside of official communications.

13 minutes ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Careful!  You'll be put on the IVF!!

That was going through my mind when I wrote that.  I think we're both safe.  He is one of my background check references.

On 2/28/2024 at 12:32 PM, Eagle94-A1 said:

 He has already stated he will not stay on as an ASM because he refuses to give up his friends, and he is in college.

That right there is a shame.  This is where the lawyers drive out potentially excellent volunteers.  We probably were violating what passed for YPT when I was a senior in HS.  I was an ASM but I was also on the school sports teams, so I was changing in the locker room with Scouts.  I was even assigned to share a hotel room with a Scout on a school trip.  He was a junior.  

2 minutes ago, DannyG said:

There is an AOL-Building a Better World requirement "Meet with a government or community leader, and learn about his or her role in your community." Here in the states, we have a few local government officials who like to get involved in our ceremonies: like Blue and Gold and Eagle Courts of Honor. But it could be a politician, a government official (appointed), or somebody else...

The new requirement seems oddly specific.

For us, the government leaders are all around.  We have military officers and NCOs in pretty much every unit around Ft. Bragg.  May not be in the exact spirit of whoever wrote the requirement, but we get it done to the letter.

2 hours ago, DannyG said:

Sorry to hear that... It does require shared leadership. Cubmaster to organize the Pack meeting activity. Another parent to coordinate Scouting for Food. Another parent to coordinate a community event., etc... We put ourselves in position to provide lots of opportunity, so each family only has to commit to one or two. 

We tried that.  It didn't work.  We're in an economically depressed area where there are lots of opportunities to do things but everyone is "too busy" to do anything else beyond bring their kid to a meeting.  Some can't even do that and then get surprised that they didn't earn anything.  

1 hour ago, AwakeEnergyScouter said:

Sidebar: Why couldn't you just find an elected German official? Why restrict yourself to the base?

Normally Americans stationed overseas don't wade into local politics or want to be seen doing so.  It really wouldn't be a good look, no matter how noble the cause.  I know when I was a kid in England, our parents weren't out talking to the politicians.  There wasn't a requirement to talk to politicians for any of the merit badges.  Seems like an odd requirement for cubs.

7 minutes ago, DannyG said:

Yes. Our Pack participates in Scouting for Food in the spring: One hour to distribute door tags one weekend. One hour to pick up food next weekend. We have devoted entire Pack meetings to creating care packages.  That's one hour each. We have organized park clean-ups, then play a game in the clean park afterwards. Our charter org. runs a food panty and is always looking for help. They have Cubs bag groceries and gopher supplies from the shed. Our community holds events that has scouts volunteer: ie. flag ceremonies, American Legion, etc. We offer plenty of opportunity for service for our scouts. I guess our Pack is different.

We don't have enough parents interested in doing stuff like that.  We can't get anyone to volunteer to run the PWD or B&G.  It's been the same two families organizing everything for the past three years.  Scouting For Food?  That would require dedicating two weekends to Scouting in a row.  That's too much for most of them.

10 hours ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Is there a PTA that works with the DoDDS there?  Maybe they elect somebody...  

Or could they talk with the SPL of the Scout Troop?  It does say "someone who is elected"

The SPL thing was what I thought of last night.  Of course, how many SPLs know the method by which they were elected?  Even the law research one seems a bit much for Cub Scouts and parents who can't figure out Scoutbook.  

1 hour ago, PACAN said:

@armymutt

Can you share the xls document or point us to where we all can get it.

Thanks

I found it here: https://www.facebook.com/download/420104303799034/NEW Cub Scout Adventures and Requirements.xlsx?av=1265951650&eav=AfaVFqGFLPp1FlqxAiHQ-ZJe6oZ07HLbNXHvHpRLg9x7RxYlOvjCXPBtE74HIFKhcaw&paipv=0&hash=Acrb32VljgE1dz4_rP4&__cft__[0]=AZX52xvwZPEfzRoPqxqO_pOeUXRORQQEombH2Fo3b_QbKrlk8KHnL-ZNU0v_M58nJHwgNShDuOY0SfRjDTR2TclnksN7J0OhV4pGQejDBnFARXTHR6Th7XtB4whjBHecuRQ49kx8qIUTzCSgeSif3YMLksx9xjUNGbqsp7U_s44HFQ&__tn__=H-R

I came across a posted xlsx document with what is purported to be the new CS program.  Looking through it, I came across this extremely fun sounding requirement in several of the ranks: Review your BSA Annual Health and Medical record with your parent or guardian.  Discuss your ability to participate in pack and den activities.

Now if that doesn't sound like an amazingly fun time for a 3rd grader, I don't know what does.  

The Webelos have this required gem:

I'm seeing these changes as further evidence of the decline of the Scouting program.  Parents are less and less inclined to get involved with their kids and their activities.  If it's not easy, they don't want to do it.  All of our den leaders are only in those positions because their kids won't have an activity if they don't do it.  The complaint that the non-rank advancement awards were not in front of them and thus they didn't do them is telling.  A 5 minute look through the tabs of Scoutbook will show you all of these awards that are apparently so hard to find.  Only 4% of Scouts earn Eagle.  Are we doing away with that too?  My daughter doesn't wear the belt.  Her uniform would look pretty empty if it just consisted of her Lion and Tiger badges.  Right now she wears the Shooting Sports patch and the Outdoor Activity award flap patch.  Future Cub Scouts will probably be pretty boring since there won't be any awards outside of advancement to work on.  Oh well, we can always tell the kids that they will be able to earn patches for their uniforms once they reach 5th grade.  

2 hours ago, yknot said:

I don't know how the new law affects this but in the past, affiliated or even unaffiliated tribes had a pathway to request them for funerary ceremonies if remains or if objects for their own musuems.   

I'm not sure how this is a good idea, especially if that tribe engaged in actions that made another tribe go extinct.  

I wonder how you repatriate artifacts to extinct tribes. 

A 5-Scout troop is doable.  I know a troop near St. Louis that hasn't had much more than that for the past 25 years.  It actually made logistics easy.  You'll have to coach the kids a bit more if they are inexperienced, but it can be fun.  As far as resources, what do you mean?  

On 12/3/2023 at 8:22 PM, Ojoman said:

Check out the Federal Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act https://www2.ed.gov/policy/rights/guid/ocr/boyscouts.html  

school districts are required by federal statute to provide the same access to scouts that they allow for any other outside group. If they bring in outside agencies, distribute any sort of flyer for sports, community events or activities that involve any outside group they must do the same for scouts. Don't use this as a club... use it to help them control access to students. Tell them that there are only a couple of groups on the list that might ever ask for any accomodation so the district can limit access to only those that are on the list. I had a very nice chat with our superintendent and ended up having the school not only pass out fliers but also running a PSA that you can download from National and they displayed posters in the school and invited us to have a table at the family fun back to school night. We ended up with over 20 families interested. 

 

I don't know if the schools will let us in or not.  Either way, there's no one to get into the schools.  I live 600 miles away.  Schools near the pack aren't in session on weekends.  My kids go to school 30 minutes away.  Until the kids in the pack start inviting their classmates or their parents volunteer to run a table on open house nights, we aren't getting into the schools.

On 12/4/2023 at 10:53 AM, fred8033 said:

Don't use fundraising as a decision factor.  It's noise; annoying yes, but still noise.  Key factors are fun and involvement and a healthy environment.  

For us, it's a pretty big factor.  It's very demoralizing to expend hours in front of a store with the kids and receive very little from it.  Even worse is when those who don't put in the time and effort receive the same benefits.  We get the excuse of "I don't have time."  I drive 600 miles, get in at midnight, and am up at 6AM to pick up popcorn, take it to the site, and stand there to sell it for 2 hours.  

On 12/2/2023 at 3:27 PM, RememberSchiff said:

@Armymutt   Did your scouts have fun with the other, closer pack this weekend?

Did you have fun?

RS

The CM and I had some discussions this weekend.  He's also fed up with the lack of participation from parents and so-called leaders.  He's considering a pack that meets on Sunday for his younger son.  He has some behavior issues that get worse after being in school all day. Add in that he doesn't behave well when his dad is in charge of things, and a change of scenery might be best for them.  We also talked to other pack leaders.  The boys had fun.  They didn't interact with the kids from the pack we are considering very much, but my son really liked hanging out with a kid who was considering joining us but didn't due to the meeting night of the week.  One of my biggest issues is their fundraising policy.  In our program, the Scouts gets credit for 100% of the commission earned.  The pack keeps any donations.  If we ever needed to buy anything, it would go into the annual budget and become part of dues across the board.  We feel this is the most fair method since it rewards Scout (and parents) for hard work.  These other packs are on a tier basis.  One pack maxes out at 30% of the commission, meaning that in order to simply pay for the renewal, the Scout has to sell $1800 worth of popcorn.  In our pack, that would cover renewal, pack dues (advancement, PWD car, B&G, end of year den advancement party, Christmas party, adult registrations, unit recharter, and a t-shirt), day camp, a new uniform, and the two council campouts each year.  

How do other packs recruit?  We can't get into the schools.  I've tried to nudge the DLs to plan hikes or something in the neighborhoods around where we meet.  I figure that might generate some interest.  So far, they haven't done it.  Hopefully the Army moves me back home this summer and I can get a little more hands-on with things.  Right now, we will probably continue until my oldest has AOL, then look to move with my daughter.  

23 minutes ago, Tron said:

So you're pack is small which limits your access to adults. Think about the pool of volunteers something like this: There are only so many adults that are at the same time capable of volunteering and able to volunteer. So what you have to do is grow your pack to a level of scouts that gives you access to enough capable and able adults. Typically that number is 30-45 scouts. 

Hard to grow when I'm the only one doing anything.  I don't expect every parent to be as dedicated as I am, but I expect them to at least participate when we have a pack meeting.  How hard is it to cheer for a Scout when they receive an award?  The only reason we have den leaders is because I told the parents that there will be no den unless they do it.  Another den got ADLs because the DL failed to put in any advancement for two months.  Their kids were getting no awards and they got fed up.

I wish we could do this.  However, of the 5 adults in attendance, 4 are already "Leaders" - the CM, Treasurer, and 2 Bear ADLs.  I really think the best course of action is to combine the units.  We currently have 2 Lions, 2 Tigers, 2 Wolves, 4 Bears, and 4 Webelos, of which one will drop at the end of the year.  

25 minutes ago, skeptic said:

And of course, there is much of the issue in our society, liability based on a warped legal system that allows these suits, most settled due to the exorbitant cost of fighting the case.  Add to that, illogical jurors who too often allow common sense to fly away when confronted with a sympathetic situation.  

There are other factors.  For example, it gives a sheltered person something to do besides sit on their cot all day.  Adds a little bit of their normal routine back to their life and gives them the opportunity to practice the human-animal bond.  The animals get to see and interact with their owners, reducing stress.  Most of the people running these facilities are far too busy to be engaging in routine pet care.  The intake, examinations, sanitation, and other operations take up enough time.  

23 hours ago, RememberSchiff said:

Perhaps instead of problematic trailers, how about Scouts helping (exercising animals!) at a designated emergency network of existing brick and mortar animal boarders, shelters, and vet clinics? 

 

As yknot said, it's a liability thing, both on the side of the volunteer and the owner.  As a person operating a facility, I wouldn't want to take responsibility if Fluffy slips her collar and runs off while I'm walking her.  As a pet owner, I wouldn't want to be responsible if Fluffy bites some volunteer.  It's safer for everyone if Disaster Response volunteers stick to disaster response operations and let the owners take care of their pets.  These aren't rescue shelters for unowned or lost animals.  They are places for people to house their animals while they are living in a shelter.  

I was at a veterinary conference early in November.  One of my areas of interest is disaster response.  The state has a group of volunteer vets that respond to emergencies.  One of the roles I thought of that would be great for Scouts is operating a temporary pet housing facility.  The owners are responsible for the care and feeding of their pets.  The facility operators simply establish it from a trailer provided by the state (sounds like a troop going camping) and process pets into the facility.  At the end, everything get cleaned up and the trailer is returned to the owning entity.  

7 hours ago, Tron said:

You can't carry the pack on your own. Have you voiced these same concerns to the other parents and leaders? 

I can't even get a response when asking about planning the PWD.  Parents just sit.  It's getting more and more frustrating every week.  The WDL won't publish a schedule or even give the parents an idea of how he plans to complete the program given the concerns I have raised with him.  I would love to plan some really cool activities, but I'm afraid no one will show up and those that do will just stand around expecting to be entertained.  

Tonight was our November pack meeting.  None of the DLs showed up.  I think we have 14 active Scouts and 6 were in attendance.  One DL didn't bother to communicate that he wasn't coming.  I'm getting tired of being one of the only ones who cares.  We have a Webelos parent who didn't bother coming inside to even pay for her son's renewal, let alone be present for him to receive his advancement.    Our next meeting will be the pack meeting in December because our CO won't let us meet there for the next two weeks.  I'm tired of the apathy from parents and leaders alike.  I'm even more tired of having to fight people to improve the program.  We drive an extra 5 miles because this pack is at our church, despite the church treating us as just some outside organization using their buildings.  We have a Webelos/Scouts BSA campout this weekend.  It's being championed by a pack closer to us.  I like the CM and it seems like the parents are actually interested in being involved.  I think this will serve as a sort of interview for that pack.  The problem is, if my family leaves, our current pack will collapse in short order.  I'm the CC.  My wife is the treasurer.  The CM lacks initiative and communication skills.  The secretary is just holding a title.  The ACM rarely shows up and is also the Lion DL.  It's very frustrating trying to run things from 600 miles away and not getting at least a little effort on the part of everyone else in keeping this train on the tracks.  I'm the one traveling an hour away to the Scout Shop to buy advancement on the Saturdays that I'm home.  I've put a lot of effort into this pack and I've been reluctant to watch it fail.  However, I'm growing tired of having to adult for Millennials.