acco40

Immediate recognition does not necessarily mean immediate cloth badge. I immediately recognize boys who earn rank advancement the day of or if the BOR is done "after hours" at the next troop meeting. The badges are awarded only AFTER the paperwork is turned in. This should not take more than a week. The next recognition (3rd) is at the following COH.

Two hot button issues in the USA are the military and hunting. The BSA goes to great lengths to keep at arms length from both. Scouts & Scouters may join the military and many are ex-military. Same with hunting. However, hunting is not a Scout activity (tracking was BIG time in the past and less so now). Especially with many BSA units overseas, associations with the military are not encouraged. A friend of mine was a Boy Scout in the 60s in Korea. On most of his outings a Sergeant accompanied the boys, complete with his M-16. I don't believe that would occur now. Now, I'm not ex-military or a hunter. Both of my parents were in the USN during WWII and my father was an avid deer-pheasant-quail hunter. I'm not against either activity, I just am not an active participant. Now, last year I wanted to buy a good pair of lightweight insulated boots for use in Michigan winters for Scouts. The pair I settled on had a camouflage pattern and came with a scent blocker (can't have those deer sniffing that tell-tale human foot odor!). Neither feature was needed for Scouts nor would I use them for any other activities but all of the high end boots had these features. I couldn't find that brand (Red Head) without them. As for those that have camouflage jackets, pants, etc. For practical reasons, I would not to wear that type of gear during any type of hunting season out in the wild. I prefer to be seen! Our council's summer camp is surronded by state lands and is closed during deer season (rifle) because of safety issues. The BSA has a uniform. Get it and wear it.

Our Council (or was it our district?) was involved in a race / fundraiser last year that looks like it is goig to be an annual event. It includes a 10 kilometer (6.2 miles) race along with some shorter rare for the novices (1 mile run/walk). I'm not sure if the sponsor was a local running shop (Hansons) or our council with Hansons providing assistance. It was used to generate money for the council/district but I'm not aware of how much was raised. As for popularity. These types of races were more popular in the late 70s and early 80s and then waned and are becoming more popular again recently.

I respectfully disagree. I won't use your "lecturing" tone Bob but: I'm sure you can find in many, many, many BSA reference materials that the Scouts are encouraged to be self-motivated in their desire to learn and in their opportunities to advance. A Scout learns at his own speed and should not be pressured to advance on someone else's timetable. Part of their advancement requirements are to participate in a SM conference. For the purposes of advancement, they should initiate it. From the perspective of the SM, they should allow the greatest opportunities for the boys to pursue advancement by having a well-rounded annual program and by making sure the opportunities of SM conferences and BOHs are available. From the SM perspective, he (or she) may initiate a conference at any time for many different reasons (build trust, recognize achievement, goal setting, gather personal insights, etc.). I don't call a SM conference for the purpose of advancement.

I have a plastic box that carries hanging file folders that I bring to troop meetings and outings. It contains the G2SS and tour permits, our troops own medical forms (includes a picture of each scout) and blue cards. To meetings I rarely bring the SM handbook (not a handbook but a 3 ring binder) PL or SPL handbooks but I try to always bring my Boy Scout handbook. I always bring a writing stick (pen or pencil) and paper to all meetings and outings (something I'm trying to get all Scouts to do to no avail). I also bring a troop roster with all the boys and adults names including phone (cell, home, business) and email addresses on it. Of course the essential go on every outing: toilet paper (that roll must be a few years old by now!), personal first aid kit, watch, toothbrush, garbage bag, etc.

Our council will sell ranks, knots, etc. without an advancement report, especially if they know the customer but sometimes asks for an advancement report. At the troop level, I do not award the Scout his rank badge until I (or someone) has turned in his advancement report to the council. The keeping of a stockpile of rank advancement patches is wrong. A Scout should be recognized thrice. First, when he completes his rank requirements (usually immediately after a BOR and WITHOUT a patch), second immediately after his rank patch is obtained, and third at a formal COH.

Respect cuts both ways. When I'm talking to my wife and my son tells me he wants to talk with me, I tell him that he will have to wait and depending on my mood, may give him a lecture about interrupting conversations. In the SM - Scout relationship the same implies. I try to make myself available to the Scout. The last SM conference I gave was at the swimming pool after the Scout just finished his swimming MB and thus his 1st Class swimming requirements. I jokingly told him he didn't have to be in uniform! The Scout is a shy individual and I offered up the situation of having a SM conference at the pool. He accepted. However, if a Scout barges into a committee meeting and asks that I give him a SM conference right now I will poliitely decline. Currently, I have two boys who have completed all of their Star rank requirements except for the "show scout spirit", SM conference, and BOR. Do they know that? I purposely personally gave them a printed copy of the individual progress report from TroopMaster with that information. I told them the COH is in two weeks. I told them that if they needed to see me or my wife (advancement chair, sets up BORs) for anything just let me know. I got no response. You can lead a horse to water ... Now, I know these kids. If I want to get to know them better, I will (and have) scheduled a SM conference with them. IMO, they have to show some initiative and awareness of their advancement situation. They may be clueless or just not that driven to advance. I have no problem with that.

I believe, similar to district awards of merit, silver beaver, etc. that the adult (and youth) selection process should be held in confidence so there is no reason that one should be notified if one is disapproved. Possibly, the troop committee, the body that submits an adult candidate would be notified but not the nominated adult.

We enforce the buddy system at summer camp. Most kids comply and we only get a few complaints from the senior boys who feel it puts restrictions on their independence. Most of the boys are embarassed to have an adult trail them (or much worse lead them) from station to station. However, a few of the younger boys appreciate it. I ask the boys their preference and usually comply. If I get no feedback, they are on their own. If the unusual case comes up where an individual scout has no buddy going in his direction (our summer camp is over three square miles) an adult will accompany him to his destination. Just like the boys, an adult with time on his hands can get into mischief. That is why as SM, I always give them a "duty" if needed. That may be to earn their SM merit badge (not a real MB of course but something our summer camp has come up with to keep SAs and other adults busy), go get ice, check the mail at the post office, etc. Most have learned to chill out.(This message has been edited by acco40)

The nomination criteria for adults is much different than that of youth. For adults, "selection of the adult is based upon ability to perform the necessary functions to help the Order fulfill its purpose, and not for recognition of service, including current or prior achievement or position." Therefore, if adults "don't have much more time to give" they should not have been selected. In our lodge (the best in all the land), adults serve best by staying out of the way. Sometimes I feel my primary reason for being an OA member is the fact that I own an automobile and have a valid driver's license!(This message has been edited by acco40)

I don't think a "love of the laws" encouraged some to dump tea into Boston harbor. It is one thing to follow such laws (a Scout is obedient) but no such requirement to love the law. Some state laws vary quite markedly. Should my "love" change because of my residence? Did blacks in the south not show patriotism for not loving the Jim Crow laws on the books? Did Rosa Parks show the antithesis of patriotism for not sitting on the back of the bus? Wheeler, your shallow understanding of life continues to amaze me.

dan, eagleinKY, ed, etc. you are all partially right IMHO. Yes it is the SPLs troop but instead of having him choose or appoint someone in his absence or sanction OGE's "troop election" advice try the following: Don't have the SPL choose, have the SPL determine a solution to the problem. The SPL may decide an election is the way to go or maybe his appointment or maybe a novel idea that you or I have not even thought of yet. If he truly is in charge as dan, bluegrasseagle and Mr. Mori suggest, shouldn't he determine how the temp SPL is selected and not the SM?

In our council, we have a recommended script which is really more of an outline. We encourage FOS presenters who are "newbies" to work with a veteran FOS presenter a few times before venturing out on their own. I've seen great and lousy presenters. I've also seen low correlation between presentation expertise and dollars collected.

We had den and Pack activities in the summer back when I was involved as DL. I believe they still do to a lesser extent. The question I always had was about grade levels. The Cub Scout program is grade level based. I had a few Cubs who didn't finish their rank requirements by June due to apathy, lack of attendance, etc. I never could find a definitive answer to when does a boy change grade; in June (end of school year) or in September (start of school year)? I kind of fudged it to the boys advantage. If a boy completed the 2nd grade but did not yet start the third grade I gave him the option of working on finishing up Wolf (if needed) or starting Bear requirements. It was rare a boy did not finish his rank requirements by June but not unheard of.

I got the new Field Book a few weeks ago, thanks to my wife. The spiral bound was quite a bit more expensive and my wife go the other one instead (boo hoo). It is a nice reference to have.

Touche. There is a reason these guys are politicians. They know politics far better than you and I.

Jewish males having a higher percentage of homosexuals than the rest of the population? Maybe a few too many farsighted rabbi's performing a bris? Look, I don't like the BSA excluding anyone on the surface based on gender or sexuality. Do the boys need positive male role models? Yes. Do they need to see positive female role models? Yes. Nearly all boys know they are male and identify with male role models. The BSA would suffer if not enough positive male role models existed but to exclude females is not the answer. If you do not want you so to experience a troop with a female SM or SAs, don't choose a troop that has one. Wheeler, seems to me you need to get a life.(This message has been edited by acco40)

I like Mccain but he is as confused as many when it comes to "labeling" political parties. As for steriod use, it does have great mind altering capabilities, especially if the steriod use increases testosterone levels. I think he was trying to make a "funny" and being over 60 not really fitting in with his "drug" reference. I think a McCain/Kerry ticket would be very entertaining myself.(This message has been edited by acco40)

To be "manly" is a phrase that has about as much hogwash as the BSA's "traditional values." Both are marketing ploys. They are meant to invoke nice warm fuzzy feelings. They do not always do that. If the BSA has some values it wants to promote, use them! They do in my book. I just wish the term "traditional values" would be put in the waste basket. "Manly" can join it in the dumpster. Face it. Many women make lousy mothers. Many men make lousy fathers and/or providers. Some dads would do well to stay home and take care of the kids while mom went out and earned the proverbial bacon. Each couple should figure that out on their own. My only gripe is why my tax dollars are used to take care of others children because they decide to work? Why should individuals get aa tax deduction for child care or for that matter the simple act of having children? Our society amazes me sometimes. Now what does all this have to do with this treads topic?

I'm not big into patch trading (and I have a Greater STL CSP. I believe it has the Gateway Arch on it?) but is it a hard and fast rule in the BSA that adults should not trade patches with youth? If so, ones inquiring about patch swapping should make sure they include their age or at least youth/adult info in their profile.

I saw the video on our local news channel. The mentioned the the BSA. Medal or not, nice to see. Now what got my attention is that a school bus felt the need to have a video camera on board. What has become of our society? It is truly sad.

If he keeps insisting ... 1) Don't question his honesty. There is nothing to be gained in that. 2) You've told him about the need for valid documentation. Ask him how you can aid in his search for valid documentation. That puts the ball in his court and he will soon realize that a) if he has earned the MBs he has a willing partner to aid him in his documentation search; b) if he is not telling the truth, his SM is not going to aid in the perpetuation of that lie. Either way, you are presenting a good role model as a SM.

Bob, I'm fully aware of what it states on the official Commissioneer's web site. I was also not debating right/wrong. My only observance was that "must not be" is not the same as "cannot" because I can state many instances of unit leaders (CM, SM, etc.) being registered commissioners. Therefore, they can! Does that make it right? Not in the eyes of the BSA. I'm also aware of conflicts of interest that can arise when a unit leader acts as a commissioner, specifically a unit commissioner. However, there should also be a ratio of one unit commissioner for every three units tops. If a district can only recruit five unit commissioners for 45 units what is worse, violating the "no more than three units per commissioner" rule, having units with no assigned UC, or accept willing unit leaders to be unit commissioners? None are desirable if better alternative exist. Practicality does come into play sometimes. For others, I think I can safely say that BW did NOT mean to use the qualifier "for your own unit." One may (in the eyes of the BSA) be a UC for your own unit if you are not a unit leader (i.e. you may be UC and SA or UC and MC). Many feel this is the "fox watching the hen house" and don't think it is a good idea but it is not disallowed. P.S. I also noticed we are all now "starless." Was this intentional or is the rating system under contruction?(This message has been edited by acco40)

In our council, we ask that units buy dinner for the Unit Award of Appreciation recipients. It has been met with quite a bit of positive feedback. Recipients are notified by US mail a week or so before the dinner.

To my knowledge, Webelos dens/patrols are allowed to camp with Boy Scout troops, as guests, on outings that are not camp-o-rees. I understand that during patrol competitions of any sort, Webelos and Boy Scout patrols should not directly compete against each other. However, can anyone tell me the logic that was used to come up with the Webelos ban on camping with Boy Scout troops during camp-o-rees?