Cigarsquid

uz2bnowl -- don't know if they were from Calapooia or not. We held a three-District Camporall this summer and I saw two other troop flags with the star.

Since I've only been with the troop about 18 months, and none of the other Scouters knew why it was there, I figured I'd ask the ?

Tim

Troop 99

Albany, OR

Thanks FScouter -- I'm going to keep digging on this one, as my troop isn't the only one in the local area to have a blue star on the flag.

Tim

Troop 99

Albany, OR

Great idea, Calico -- I'll start doing some digging and see if I can come up with a name.

Tim

Troop 99

Albany, OR

Okay -- if it's to honor someone serving on active duty, then it can remain -- I don't retire from the Navy for another 18 months or so.

Thanks,

Tim

Troop 99

Albany, OR

I consider myself very blessed in having the COR we have.

He earned his Eagle when I was only 4 years old -- long time ago -- and his son recently earned Eagle in our Troop.

Not only is he active as the COR, he is also an active ASM -- and a man I consider to be one of the best mentors a man could ask for.

He has also recently taken on the District Training Chair position.

The patience and support he has shown me this past year have made it easy for me to learn and grow as an SM.

Tim

Troop 99

Albany, OR

After seeing the question about gold stars on the troop flag, I was curious to know about blue stars.

My troop as a blue star in the top left corner (nearest the pole) of the flag, and noone seems to know why.

I've asked our DE as well as numerous "old-timers".

Tim

Troop 99

Albany, OR

Greetings, all -- it's been a day or two since I've posted.

This past weekend our Troop held its annual Junior Leader Training -- now called Troop Leader Training, and during the Module 2 "Scoutmaster's Vision of Success", I had all sorts of great ideas on what would make the Troop successful. But after my SPL and I had discussed our vision, I asked the ASMs and CR if they had anything to add. Our CR (an Eagle and active in Scouting the past 40 years) immediatley piped in with "Fun"

What does that have to do with this thread, you ask? I'm glad you asked.

If a female SM can provide the Scout program and make it fun for boys, good on her. If she would prefer to take on one of the committee positions instead -- great. If she'd rather leave it up to the dads -- great.

I have one mom who has been to every outing -- including Klondike -- and boy can she cook! She has taught me how to use a dutch oven -- something 24 years in the Navy didn't teach me.

One of my ASM's is very knowledgeable in plants -- so I'm learning from him how to identify the local flora and fauna. Something I really don't need to know in the Navy.

Our DE is female -- and she's one heck of a Scouter, too!

There are several female SMs in this Council -- and from what I've seen, every one of them delivers the promise.

Do I have some moms who are a pain in the backside -- you betcha -- but I've got some dads who are just as bad. Do any of them participate in Committee or attend campouts? No -- but they've always got a comment about how things should be done.

My point is that if a woman in my Troop is willing to step up and take a leadership position, I'll be glad to have her.

Now lets go out and have some fun!

Tim

Troop 99

Albany, OR

We've been having this problem of late on campouts, and the idea we came up with is to have some laminated cards (neon yellow or orange). On one side it would tell the Scout that he now has a simulated injury and that if he can call for help or take care of the injury using his 10 Essentials, he may do so, but that he must remain in place until a group of Scouts comes by to assist him back to his camp. It would also tell the Scout that he must show the card to any Scouts walking past.

On the other side it would, in big bold letters, say: Simulated Injury -- Please help -- I have a ... (pick from any injury a Scout might incur during a campout).

1 -- this would teach the Scouts the importance of having a buddy at all times

2 -- it would remind them that having their 10 Essentials on them at all times is important

3 -- it would help other Scouts work on 1st Aid

Your methods?

YiS,

Tim

One of my favorite questions to ask young Sailors and Marines is: "How many ** times do you have to say ** in a ** sentence before you begin to sound like a ** idiot?"

As a Sailor for the past 23+ years, I've seen more than my share of foul-mouthed individuals -- was even one of them until a salty old-timer asked me the above question.

I'm still guilty of an occasional curse, but have been really good about "cleaning" my vocabulary.

As I mentioned in another thread, we had a problem with profanity during last year's summer camp. The former SM and CC sent a letter to the parents, explaining that cursing goes against the Oath and Law and that it would not be tolerated. If it happened again, the parents would be called and would be required to either come pick up their Scout (sometimes a 2 hour drive to our campsites) or come and stay with the Scout for the remainder of the weekend. Second offense would require that the parent attend every Scout function for a period of six months. Third offense the Scout would be asked to leave the Troop.

So far we've only had to call two parents -- that seems to have worked so far. I know there have been a few more incidents, but the SPL has been handling it very nicely.

YiS,

Tim

"If we could sell our experiences for what they cost us, we'd all be millionaires."

(This message has been edited by a staff member.)

During last year's summer camp, our Troop had a major problem with profanity. So, our former SM and CC sent a letter to all the parents and simply stated that from now on, first offense, the boys parents would be called and they would have to come get the boy and take him home or stay the remainder of the weekend. Second offense -- parents must attend every event with the boy for six months. Third offense -- the young man would be asked to leave the troop.

Silly, maybe to some, but we have young boys bridging from Webelos who look up to the older Scouts. They hear the older Scouts using profanity and think it's cool and the thing to do.

During our planning campout earlier in the year, we had a young man use profanity. When he was called before the adults and taken to task, he became belligerent and defensive. He told us that "everyone says it", and that, I think is part of our problem. They hear it in school, TV/Movies, from their friends, and sometimes at home, so the boys think it's okay.

Yesterday, as our Troop was preparing to depart from our Pre-Camporee weekend, I imposed a new rule. I told the boys that from now on on the last day of campout, no Scout would be allowed to leave the campsite until all bags/packs were packed, tents taken down, kitchens cleaned and dismantled, and everything staged for packing.

Why? Because on Friday night, when parents were dropping their boys off, they were asking me what time we'd be home. I told them that I was guessing 1400-1430, based on a 1230 departure from camp. Saturday night my SPL asked if he could work on his SIT on Sunday. I told him that as long as everything was packed up and ready to go, he could.

So, one of our ASMs and I did a walk-thru of the camp -- dishes not washed, bags not packed, tents not taken down, kitchens not cleaned/packed. We went and got the SPL from where he was working on his SIT and pulled him back -- explaining that it was his responsibility to ensure all this was completed before he could go off and do anything else. Oh, and where were the Scouts? They were down on the beach playing in the sand. They had been told they could play, but had to be back in camp by 1145. Finally at 1320 we were able to depart and didn't end up getting home until 1630.

Silly rule -- maybe to some, but our adult leaders have to get home and get ready for the next work day (I have to ensure my uniforms are washed and pressed for the week), and the parents were expecting their boys home much earlier.

That's my $.02 worth.

Tim

"There is nothing so easy to learn as experience and nothing so hard to apply."(This message has been edited by Cigarsquid)

Greetings all,

Just joined the forum last night.

Have been active (somewhat) with Scouting for four years, starting when my son joined Webelos Pack 22, Atsugi, Japan. Was an assistant for about a year and a half -- not that I was able to participate much, as I was deployed about half that time.

I was at sea when my son bridged to Boy Scout Troop 22 -- I got to go on a few of the campouts and activities, but once again, I was at sea most of the time.

We moved back to the States in June of last year and have been involved with Troop 99 here in Albany since then. Our SM had to leave in January to take a job, so I stuck my (foot in my mouth?) hand up and volunteered.

I do not have a Scouting background, but I grew up camping, fishing, and hunting with my father in the mountains of NE Oregon, so some of this is easy to pick back up.

Thankfully I have a GREAT group of adult leaders, ASMs, and MB councilors. Four or five of the adults are still active with our Troop, even though their son's have earned Eagle and moved on. LOTS of experience on which to draw.

I'm really happy to be on shore duty (my last tour before retirement) with time to spend with my son and our Troop and looking forward to getting to know some of you here, as well.

I know someone's going to ask, so I'll explain in advance -- Cigar, because I enjoy a good cigar; squid -- usually used derogatorally (mainly by Marines) when referring to a Sailor.

Tim

"Good judgement comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgement."

Its Me -- some great debate your comment created. I've just joined this form, as I've recently taken over as SM for my son's Troop.

I was only periferally involved with him in Webelo's, as I'm active duty Navy and we were stationed in Japan at the time. Most of the time I was at sea, so I ended up missing out on the "fun" stuff.

I was never a Scout. I went camping and fishing and hunting with my Dad as I was growing up, but I don't have the Scouting background that so many here seem to have.

I'm still on active duty, but now on shore duty where I can participate in the development of the Scouts in our Troop -- not just my son's. ROI -- I get it every Monday night when a Scout comes up and asks me for a SM conference. I get it every Court of Honor when our boys receive their advancement or merit badges. I get it when a parent or ASM comes up after the meeting and thanks me.

My $.02 is let your son at least experience Scouts. If he doesn't care for it, then fine -- there are plenty of opportunities for him to grow. Step back -- let the SM and ASMs do the work for awhile.

I have to say that I'm extremely blessed with our Troop. Four of my ASMs no longer have boys in Scouting -- they all earned their Eagle and have gone off to college or the military or to jobs. But those men LOVE Scouting enough that they're willing to show up at almost every meeting and quite a few of the campouts/events. Without those men, I would not be able to function as the SM -- I don't know enough about Scouting. So I rely on them the teach and guide me. Talk about your ROI. I've learned so much in the past three months that I've served as SM and I've gotten to watch my son grow in the process. Has he advanced as fast as I'd like him too? No. Has he worked on merit badges as I'd like him too? No. But I don't push him -- the agreement in our Troop is that if my son is goofing off and needs to be called to task -- an ASM or adult leader handles it. If he hasn't done any advancement work -- an ASM or adult leader talks to him about his progress.

And, like someone mentioned earlier in this thread -- I have at least five boys who live more than 30 minutes away, and in two weeks, we'll be bridging four more. Why? Because their parents like what we seem to have in this Troop.

I wish you the best,

Tim Hagey

SM, Troop 99

Albany, Oregon