acco40

I believe we should have the option of buying an American made BSA uniform and a foreign made uniform - that look the same with possibly different pricing. My thoughts - if someone can make a uniform 3000 miles away from the USA and have it shipped here and still make it for less then my hat's off to them. Same for autos, beer, refrigerators, etc. True, all countries don't have the same pollution, OSHA, child labor and other laws but why should China have the same laws we do? I didn't hear too many complaints when the USA imported Chinese labor to build our railroads.

Rank can be "taken back" - ask a few "former" Eagles who've had their rank removed. Now, if a BOR has agreed to advance a Scout - they should stick to their guns. If the BOR does not, they need to provide specific written instructions for the Scout defining what he needs to do in order to advance. Not weasel words like 'be a better Scout', or 'act more mature' or 'show leadership.' John in KC - the Den Chief should have been selected by both the SPL and Scoutmaster and approved by the Cubmaster and pack committee. I don't think having an SA attend the den meetings or pack meetings is necessary or desirable.

I have to disagree with you on this one Beavah. Or, I gotta disgree? Annual planning should provide the opportunity for boys to obtain 1st Class in their first year. For an active scout who attend 8 - 10 outings and has a desire to accomplish this - it should be a piece of cake. The reason the BSA has pushed this is that statistics has shown that Scouts who earn 1st Class in their first year tend to stay with the program.

Many ways. One thing to think about - don't think of dividing up a troop to make patrols. Think of patrols coming together to form a troop. What we've done for Jamboree troops is the following - get all the boys together in one room. Ask them to pick a buddy. Now you should have everyone paired up. Let the boys make that decision. If there is an odd number of boys, let there be one and only one "trio." Next, ask each pair to pick another pair - so now you have a group of 4. If an odd amount a few groups of four and a group of two. Then do this once more and voil, you have patrols.

Not to get too technical but what constitues 'male' and 'female." I've know both youth (earned 1st Class) and a former Scoutmaster who are transgender. There are no sex/gender requirements for OA. Just age, rank, and camping reqs.

Yes, troops are restricted to a council - you need to belong to one. No, you don't have to change your geographical location nor your Charter Organization to belong to a new Council. My CO & troop are going nowhere but we will have a new council shortly. I'd tell you the name but it has not been decided just yet.

"Old" Wood Badge - (Cub or Boy Scout? I'll assume Boy Scout) - sort of an advanced Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills. "New" Wood Badge - sort of like a corporate training session on team formation, leadership skills, etc. Old Wood Badge is more like IOLS. New Woodbadge is more like an adult version of NYLT. Yes, all the above are gross generalizations. I used to be a Bear ... P.S. Novices type Woodbadge. Pros type Wood Badge.

12:01 AM.

Talked to my district professional and yes, citizenship is not required. However, a background check is required so if not a citizen, the person would need a valid driver's license or an SSN so that a background check could be made (according to what I was told).

Bottom line - an arrest record does not mean automatic exlusion from holding membership in the BSA. Conversely, not having an arrest record does not mean automatic inclusion into the BSA. If one wants to be a member, see if you meet the membership reqirements and if so be truthful, apply and go for it.

First, the SM should determine what constitutes service hours. Myself, no way would I count this as service hours. What do you think is the purpose for having service hours requirements for the Scouts? Would teaching a younger scout in your troop how to tie a bowline be considered a service? How about making ones bed? Going to church with your family? Shoveling your grandmothers driveway (snow removal)?

If you have a capable SM, it is the easiest job in the world. You're not the QM, nor the 3rd assistant and have to deal with the youth. It is sort of the the Vice President, it is either the easiest job in the world or if disaster strikes - a very involved one. That said, in our council, one "applies" to be SM and for those who do not make it - you may get selected as 1st assistant. That is what happened to me in 2005. Our council had 5 troops go to Jambo and around 35 folks applied to be SM for those troops. Out of that cache, they chose 5 SM and 5 1st SAs.(This message has been edited by acco40)

The Scoutmaster Handbook states that one must be a U.S. Citizen to hold the office of SM or SA. However, I seem to recall that this is not necessarily the case. Does anyone know if this is something a Scout Executive may waive? I just got finished teaching the the Scoutmaster Specific course and a gentleman with dual Canadian / British citizenship (living in the USA) asked if could be an SA.

Last time I looked the requirement stated that a Scout must be active, in his troop and patrol, as a Life Scout, for at least six months. Attending merit badge sessions and OA events may show that the Scout is active in Scouting but it does indicate that he is being active in his patrol and troop. The requirement does not say active for six consecutive months. It does not imply the last six consecutive months before earning Eagle. It does not state attendance requirements. The Scoutmaster is in charge of advancement within their troop. The Scoutmaster should determine what is and what is not "active in your troop and patrol" and be consistent, above board and clear. No one can not allow the Scout to begin an Eagle Leadership Service Project just because the Scout has been scarcely seen at meetings. P.S. Now as an engineer I have to ask the following. Isn't requirement #1 not necessary? Can a Scout meet requirement #4 and not requirement #1? 1. Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 6 months as a Life Scout. 4. While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility: ...(This message has been edited by acco40)

An 18 year old female would be considered a youth in the eyes of the OA and wrt Venture Crews. She would be viewed as an adult in the eyes of the Boy Scouts. The OA has no restrictions on gender, only that youth members obtain at least a 1st Class rank.

I would require Boy Scout parents to be trained - have a minimum understanding of the program. The boys are great. The parents? That's another story!

I think each scout sets his own pace on advancement. Holding back POR until a scout is 1st Class is just adding to the requirement. I agree that not allowing a Scout to hold a POR due to reank is not the way the run the program. However, this does not impede rank advancement (of that Scout) because POR have to be served during the appropriate rank. Holding the position of PL as a tenderfoot does not help with rank advancement. Advancement is one of the 8 methods, no more nor less important than the patrol method. Almost 100% of the Scouts and parents forget that. The aim of the BSA is not to produce Eagle Scouts.

The affidavit said Helm arrived at the meeting with condoms, chocolate syrup and beer in his possession. New meaning to the motto "Be Prepared?" Gern - his Boy Scout service may have been more in evmori's area than yours.(This message has been edited by acco40)

I was once a Webelos den leader, a Scoutmaster and a Unit Commissioner. I wore different shirts - each appropriately "patched." By the way, the epaulets are all the same - its the shoulder loops that change color. Are your trained for any of the positions you state? If so, you may wear the "trained" patch only with the position patch for which you are trained.

Eric, The correct responses to the 12 yr old's questions are shown below: What is it? A sin. If it was right No. Do you do it? Of course not and you can tell if someone does because frequent participants grow hair on their palms and go blind. Occasional participants just need glasses. At this age (12) many of the boys have nocturnal "emmissions" and don't really understand the physiology behind it. Because you were asked to "not tell an adult" you may want to just inform the CM or SM a few weeks later that "a young scout" (assuming your troop is large enough to keep him anonymous) brought up this topic to me and you think it may be a good idea for parents to know. Some parents will be furious with what you did, some grateful you did this and the vast majority in the middle. My personal feeling, don't make a big deal out of it. This reminds me of one evening when I was rushing home from work, changing into my Scoutmaster uniform and my daughter (about 12) came up and asked me, "Dad, what is a period?" Of course, my response what that is was the "dot" at the end of a sentence. Well, she didn't let it go at that.

Personally, I think it would be cool to be a Fuji Scout (Japan) Scout of the Fatherland (Brazil) Knight of the Fatherland (Portugal) Garuda Scout (Indonesia - Garuda is a mythical Hindu bird)

When my youngest son went to summer camp, his mother bought a disposable camera so he could take some pictures. She is always criticizing me because I don't take enough pictures. This was about six years ago so digital cameras were not quite as common as they are now. Well, a week after camp my wife is furious with me (father & Scoutmaster). It seems some of the Scouts, for whatever reason, took the disposable camera, shoved it down their pants and took pictures! Not knowing what was on film until she picked up the developed pictures - my wife was not is the best of moods. How could I have let this happen, she asks. Well, at the next troop meeting I stated, with a straight face, what had happened and if any of the boys would like to come forward and confess. No takers. I then stated that I "had proof" and there was a way in which I could identify the culprits! After that, four of the boys came to me in private and apologized. It was a prank but the boys were not aware of the "seriousness" of their actions.

I'm confused. What events are not optional in Scouting? We can't make attendance mandatory. What we can do as leaders is to set the expected behavior. I'm tired of folks blaming the adult leaders about attendance at events like these. What role to the Scouts parents play in this? Year after year in our troop it was the same folks with the same excuses. Well our family always family camps on Memorial Day weekend. It was always something. I made sure my boys knew that my expectation was that they attend the parade. Yes, their attendance was sporadic - I think they attended about 4 out of 6 years, but I don't believe you can force the issue - either as a parent and definitely not as a Scout leader.

Some random comments: 1. The CO/COR chooses adult leaders. Not the troop itself (at least on paper). 2. My oldest "Scout" is 48 years old. He makes 30 ft camp fires, has been know to light off firecrackers, etc. Nothing to serious but I treat him more like one of the boys - but he is a good driver. 3. Shouldn't all leaders be judged on their individual characteristics instead of global stereotype? It is easier to let a blanket policy make your decisions than to "get personal" and judge individuals. 4. The point about 18-20 year olds serving in the military is frequently brought up, occasionally even by me! In a combat vehicle, such as the M1 Abram MBT, the youngest/least senior soldier is the driver. Studies have shown that the Army has experienced fatalities and injuries due to the fact that these 19-21 year old "drivers" act like civilian drivers and hot dog - jumping sand berms utilizing the 1500 HP engine. Their driving skills are top notch; their common sense is not. 5. I teach my children (14, 17 & 18) to know the driver and their ability before they get in a vehicle. My father taught me this - only with aircraft. When I was 19-21 I worked at a private airport. I flew some and was offered "rides" by many different pilots on occasion. I took them up on their offers quite frequently. My father sat me down one day and very rationally explained that it was in my best interest to know a little about the piloting skills of the folks, many weekend fliers, who took me up.

The Scoutmaster is the "face" of the troop. They should be the leader in charge on the outing. The SAs report to him. The Troop Committee does not "do" the outdoor program. If the Scoutmaster is not in attendance, they should have designated someone to act as SM in their absence. Now, should a SM be a dictator? No. Should they listen to the advice of other? Yes. But ultimately, the decision should be theirs. Now, if individuals deem something unsafe - sure opt out. That's called common sense. What I've seen at outings is that it rains, rains and rains. The temperatures are in the low 60s. Some of the Scouts have not come fully prepared for the weather. Some of the adults and Scouts mention that the troop should just call it quits and go home. The Scoutmaster says no. You as individuals are free to leave but the outing is not cut short - states the SM. Much gnashing of teeth ensue by some of the adults and Scouts. Is that a safety issue or comfort issue? Should the unprepared learn from their lack of planning or should "fun" be the driver?(This message has been edited by acco40)