cjlaird

Thick skin - that's a good one... haha. I was booted out because I was so vocal about the way the troop was being sabotaged by Jerk-1 and Jerk-2, and because I had the training and experience in scouting to know how things were supposed to be... same reason the old SM was booted in 2003 - we both knew what the program was, how it was supposed to be run, and were trying to get the bad dads to follow the published rules. Sadly, Option 2 may be the plan we will probably have to look at and consider if we can't salvage what's there in the next 6 to 12 months. However, I think Option 3, as p

Sorry guys & gals, I've been away a few days. To WAKWIB, hey... I love HOAC, took much of my commissioner training with your council's team... but no, I'm not a member there. As to training, so far as I know there's not a scrap of YPT with the problem dads. What I do know is that these guys have chronically resisted any kind of training over the last 9 years and haven't even shown up for meetings the past 2+ years. I would be amazed if they had any kind of proof of current training with dates prior to 12/2010. The crap of which you speak has cascaded since 2001 because these

SM & current CC both know exactly who borrowed the funds, and how much it was. It's me who is a little unclear in the details at the moment. As I understand it, the boys' troop accounts were all completely zeroed out. If there were still funds, I'm sure the Committee would have siezed what was needed to restore the troop's loss, with the full support of the COR. I'm still waiting for the paperwork to go through on my troop member application before I obtain more clearly defined information and prepare to step into the latrine pit. SM says it may take a few days (up to 2 or 3 week

I've been associated with this troop since 1998 in one form or another. And, I've been putting up with "holy hell" from the Neanderthals since 2001. They're responsible for the fact that I left the troop after 2006, once they wore me down to the point where I decided it wasn't worth the battle any longer. The old COR is now out - he was one of the problems between 2001 and 2007 - and the new COR wants what's best for the good of the troop. One of the two adults who has been the biggest jerks in the troop has been on the committee for what seems like eons. He has kept the committee fro

Following a 3- or 4-year hiatus, I was recently asked to apply for re-admittance into the membership of my son's old troop as a committee person. The leaders gave me an application and asked me to turn it in a couple of weeks ago, so I applied to be brought on board as a MC. When I turned in the app. I was told it's been unanimously decided that I will be appointed as CC as soon as the dust from the re-entry paperwork has settled (before re-chartering ends next month). The position title itself isn't a problem. I have adequate training - Doctorate of Commissioner Service, Woodbadge, 3 year

I suspect the BSA is being somewhat reactionary in demanding that their adult volunteers supply an SSN for background checks. And, quite frankly, I suppose it could be argued that it's at least in part due to the fact that the Wichita KS Quivira Council BSA suddenly had a major moral and legal embarrassment a while back when the BTK serial killer was caught and found to be an actively participating Boy Scout leader in the Wichita area who did a lot of camping with the boys and other leaders. Of course, Dennis Rader looked just like your regular guy on the street, and he had the "innoce

Depends on whether you're wanting to do this as a report to other troops, as a memory book within your own unit, or as a report to your home council on where you went and how everyone rated the place. For a council report (especially if you go to an out-of-council summer camp or merit badge activity), or fof an in-house troop report (for troop records or for the committee): it's helpful to state some of the reasons the boys elected to go elsewhere, outside the council perimeter, within the body of the report text - considerations like "we wanted to camp in the mountains" for a plains a

I don't know that this is the entire reason for the present requirement for adults to provide their SSN to the BSA, but I'm personally convinced that a major factor in forming this policy probably had a lot to do with the increasing reports of child sexual abuse by youth leaders (and priests), and the BTK guy in Wichita KS. Dennis Rader was a married man with children of his own, a city employee in good standing, a church deacon, the pastor's assistant, a Boy Scout Leader, and a serial killer. My son and I were actually at a couple of council-wide campouts where Rader was in attendance, and

Desert & talk? Is it a dry conversation then? (hehe) Personally, the boys in our troop always liked "dessert" - and I usually tried to remember to bring home-made cookies to BoR nights to celebrate the efforts of everyone who was "on the line of fire" that evening. Seriously - I agree that a good basic question to ask the Eagle candidate is, "aside from the work (he) has done on projects and merit badges, whether or not (he) feels sufficiently qualified, or thinks he possesses the necessary qualities, to justify being promoted to the next rank", and describe why he thinks so.

To Dcopl01 - re, tax deductions For adult leaders involved with youth organizations, the cost of the troop-related expenses you incur are deductible. This includes the cost of camping equipment, uniforms, fuel and/or mileage you put in/on your vehicle, as they are expenses related to your membership and active participation in what's considered, under the tax codes, as a "charitable" activity. Keep your receipts & use them to back up your claims. If you need information about how to declare these deductions, you can either call an accountant or go to the Publication 17 (information

Re: from Scoutldr / Old Dominion "A modest proposal...can the popcorn. Make up the difference by charging user fees for Council services. $10 to process a Tour Permit. $15 to record an advancement form. $50 for an Eagle Application. 25% surcharge on all Scout Shop sales. $100 to rent a meeting room for training. You get the idea. It works for banks!" I love seeing things from this guy - he's usually pretty level-headed & knowledgable. But --- (there's always one of those, isn't there?) The proposals Scoutldr/Old Dominion makes sounds good on the surface - BUT consider the possi

YES - it's TOO EXPENSIVE. Once the prices went up - about 5 or 6 years ago - I had to say no to everyone who was selling anything. I got so darned sick and tired of having these poor kids come to the door soliciting sales that I just quit buying altogether. Even from my own kids. I'll donate my time, I'll give a little cash occasionally to the unit, I'll donate things for the food bank or the homeless shelter, I'll drive a carload of kids to camp, and I'll even buy a scout shirt for a youth who hasn't the funds to buy his own. I'll help the troop sell candy bars (if they give good value f

I am an adult scouter. I had 8 years of experience as a youth Girl Scout (until my troop folded), 10 to 11 years years of experience as an adult Girl Scout assistant leader and apprentice leader trainer, and 14 years of experience in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts as a Cubmaster, an assistant leader, committee member, and advancements chairman. I have a daughter who was a Girl Scout for 8 years until she announced "GIRL SCOUTS IS FOR LOSERS" (and she still refuses to listen to anything to do with Girl Scouts or have any more to do with the programs GSUSA offers). I have a son who has been

"What's next? Participating in a popcorn or wreath sale?" "Too late, those activities have counted toward advancement to First Class for quite some time already." FC3 "Only if they sell popcorn/wreaths as a patrol/troop. Usually it's done individually." Hey now... what's with that? Our troop has been selling popcorn as a unit effort at WallyWorld for 2 or 3 years (in addition to individual sales). ASM7 & others: I agree - this new requirement for FC is lame, designed for troops that haven't got enough going for themselves to attract new members on their own merits. Tr