cchoat

(Edited for spelling errors) Here in lies the rub... Until the first lawsuit is filed by a transgender boy who feels discriminated against, we will not know which way this whole issue will go. National has stated that it will allow transgender boys to join, but again allows the local unit to decide if the "boy' can join thier unit. It quotes the right of the religious chartering organization to select leaders and youth members that are not in conflict with their churches teaching. So... In my neck of the woods (Southwest Louisiana), we lost many of our units when national ma

Let's try and look at the bright side of this issue. Now we will have to spend money to provide additional "Gender neutral" rest rooms and shower facilities at our council and national scout camps in order to not discriminate against the transsexual scouts (and Scouters, yes we might as well prepare for them too.) so that they can be treated like every other boy. And since National is expecting its handling of this issue to apease the PC crowd, (like all their other great changes) they can spread some of the new wealth they expect to gain from all the corporate sponcers that will come rushing

"Welcome to the "campfire" Be_Prep! always room for another. I guess some scoutmasters were never told that the word scout master is like unto school master. to wit a teacher, a mentor, a friend, not the lord and master of all scouts, sad." Oldscout448 I remember reading somewhere that Baden-Powell wasn't happy about the BSA when it used the term "Scoutmaster" for it's adult leader. He saw the negative in the term "Master". If you look around the world, the term "Leader" is used to reflect this (Troop Leader, Cub Leader, etc)

Had a "Generic patrol" in the troop two years ago. They got creative. Their patrol flag was a white flag with the words "Insert Design here" in the center. Their motto was "Insert motto here" and they used a blank patrol patch

How could you have seen anything in that pocket? Most people found the easiest way to sew on a Position of Responcibility patch on the little pocket meant you sewed the darn thing shut.

As a long time OA member (1977) and father of the current Lodge Chief, I have seen many changes that have IMO brought about a lessening of the luster being in the OA use to have. The biggest problem in my neck of the woods is the "Sash and Dash" canidates, who after going through the ordeal, are either never seen again at a lodge function, or choose to only attend the "fun' activities such as Fellowships and Conclaves. This is because again, IMHO, the changing of the election rules from so many per troop based on troop size, to all that are eliable can be elected has cheapen the admission st

Rights, duty and obligation. You have the right to vote, the duty to research and make yourself familiar with the various canidates, and the obligation to cast an informed vote. That's how i would boil down Mike Rowes long comment on voting.

Same here. While the local Scout shop here will sell the scout badges, they will check the ScoutNet before the sale. Trust, but verify.

I think the real problem is going to be the new laws coming out of the Department of Labor effecting overtime pay for those making less than $913 per week or $47,476 annually. That could most easily be our District Executives and below professional staffers. And what about hiring staffers for summer camps? They easily put in more than eight hours a day.

As a long time active member of the OA (Tapped out and Ordeal in 1978, Brotherhood in 1985) who has had the opportunity thanks to a twenty-one year Army career to be a member in multiple Lodges around the world, I can say that it is thelocal council lodge that makes or breaks the reputation in it's area for the boys within it's reach. Good lodges with good programs and support do well and attract members. Poor ones do not. Simple as that. In my current neck of the woods, the local lodge is still rebuilding after losing many of the dedicated adults, who due to changes in BSA policy, cut

"Once a Scout has been tested and signed off by someone approved to do so, the requirement has been met." Section 7.0.0.3 in the “Guide to Advancement†states the Scout must discuss the merit badge with his unit leader and get a signed blue card from him or her. The leader then proceeds to give the Scout contact information of a registered, approved merit badge counselor. The unit leader authorizes those who may test and pass the Scout on rank requirements. They might include his patrol leader, senior patrol leader, an assistant unit leader, another Scout, or the unit leader himself

Thanks JJLASH, Yes, this is my first time staffing a Wood Badge course. It's going to be a cluster course, between to different councils in two different states. I was selected for this position by my council based on the fact that I am a Disbursing Officer with the Department of defense and known to be a "detail oriented" guy. (I wanted to be a troop guide, or maybe Scribe, but...I serve where I am needed.) If you could e-mail that budget, i'd really appreciate it. clive.s.choat.civ@mail.mil is my address. I like the idea of a "smores kit" and am going to use it. I

One thing that I have got in my request for feedback, was in addion to Coffee, provide Tea and Hot Chocolate for those who dont drink Coffee.

Thanks all for the good advise. I am not one to reinvent the wheel, but a good planner and organizer, so it's important to me to be the best QM I can be. Already have a "obsessively compusive detail guy" lined up, willing to help and approved as assistant QM, so that's one box checked off. So far, I have reviewed the 2016 course sylibus and I am starting a list of questions that I hope will help steer everything in the right direction. What does the staff really want? Is there anything extra I can provide to help them "kick the training up a notch"? What type of trinkets sold well

This is a request for assistance to anyone who has ever been asked to staff a Wood Badge course as the Quartermaster. What, if any, difficulties did you encounter? What should I be on the lookout for? I want to provide the best experance for the participants, by "being prepared" for as much as possible.

I always sit down with the new parents and let them know that i will only say no to the boys if its a health or safety matter. At the PLC, I gently steer the youth leaders to consider ways to mediate any issues that I may feel that would be serious, but will allow them to try whatever they plan, to the point where they fail. Hiking, canoeing or swiming when it's raining, check. Doing so during a thunderstorm, Nope. Wait it out, and move on to alternate plan. (Weather safety taken by all youth leaders and incorporated into planning). Expensive trip planned, but fund raising planned fails t

In our troop, we provide the Eagle Presentation Kit (Patch, Mom, Dad and Mentor Pins and Medal) and eagle necker. The new eagle scout is responcible to plan and put on his ceremony. This is all discussed with the parents when the scout reaches Life and begins to progress toward Eagle so there is no surprise. It's up to the eagle scout family as to where and how fancy the ECOH will be.

My apologies, I didn't mean to say that women couldn't serve as Webelos Den Leaders, and yes, even Scoutmasters for that fact. If you had read my post correctly ("Webelos is more dad and scout. Moms may be stil involved, but it is still an adult planned and led activity.") you may have noticed that I did not say that women could not serve as Webelos Den leaders. I have been to Philmont. I went through my Wood Badge course with two females, one a Cubmaster and the other a Troop Committee Chairperson, both life long friends and respected leaders. So if my opinion is to you a bit "1940's" (B

Today most scouts are on other social medias such as Messenger,Twitter or Snapchat so e-mail can not be relied on as the first line of communication. A Life Scout who needs assistance with his Eagle project should have asked his SPL for a few minutes to address the troop at a scout meeting. Following up with e-mail is acceptable, but to send it to a parent to remind his or her scout is kind of defeating the purpose of teaching the scout responcibility.

As a Scoutmaster, I can understand that it can be a challenge for the new, younger scouts to enter into a scout troop. The hard fact is that a 10 1/2 year old has alot to learn, and a short time to do it in a troop, in order to come up to speed. I like to explain the scouting experance as follows: Lion and Tiger is a family and scout program. Adults plan, lead and guide the boys through the activities. Wolf and Bear are a mom and scout program. again, adults take the lead planning, leading and guiding the boys. Webelos is more dad and scout. Moms may be stil involved, but it is stil

I must be one of the lucky one's. After 25 years of marriage, the wife understands that when we got married, I was a scouter, and that Iit was apart of my life. So, if I go to a scouting function, she'd find something to do to also get out of the house. Lately, the wife goes to visit our grandchildren. So I guess, in my house, the problem is solved. And thanks to my daughter and son-in-law having grandkids, I have two additional scouting oppertunities already lined up after my last son ages out. So I am waiting for the invite to work as a staffer.

For night alone that rests our thought For quiet dawn that lights our trail For evening fire that warms and cheers For each repast that fuels our work We give thanks, O Lord. Amen. Is this the grace your talking about? We use it on conclaves as an alternative to the camp grace, and at the annual OA banquet

Ever think about talking to your District Commissioner and seeing if he could be made a Unit Commissioner? That much experance could be of great value to another struggling unit in need.

Ah Desertrat 77, You brought back memories of my OA Ordeal. A match, half an orange, slice a bread and a raw egg. As for Guiness JoeBob, I don't think we can serve that on a Scouting activity. (And I would prefer my Guiness egg free please)