committeechair

Thanks for your quick reply! I will give your directions over to Scoutmaster (my husband) to see if he can build this. I think I will just make the sandwiches for the COH! Those I cannot mess up.

Thanks Again!

Does anyone know how an "Eagle light box" is made to use in an Eagle COH? I have looked all day on line, trying to find directions.

Thanks

Eagle-To-Be's Eagle project is most definately benefitting the community! If it weren't, our District Eagle chair would have never given the go ahead. His project isn't within the city boundries. Therefore, this 12 year old kid stated it isn't benefitting "our community." The project is mapping and transcribing a historical cemetery, that is quite large for a rural cemetery. Eagle-To-Be has told the troop that this project benefits no only the town, but the state and anyone that is working on their family history. He plans to submit the information to several locations. It is an awsome project. One problem is that the guys in our troop only see planting trees as an eagle project. Our current Scoutmaster has said that our troop will not be planting trees! There are other things that can be done.

When you think about how many families have thrown away their family records, not realizing the importance in them...hopefully Eagle-To-Be can influence one or two of these Scouts to see the importance their family history.

An Eagle project must not be scheduled as a "troop activity." And, the Eagle project is the Eagle-To-Be's project, not a troop project. That has been understood by us all along. However, for only one out of a group of 20 or so Scouts, and 2 out of 19 leaders to show, is just horrible. Better odds playing poker in Vegas! The non support of the troop for his fellow Scout is showing a lack of Scout Spirit, and yes, this will hold them back until they start acting like Scouts. I typed up the Scout Law and checked off how much of the law has been disregarded by our troop. Trustworthy (they couldn't be trusted to help); loyal (they aren't showing any loyalty to their fellow Scout); helpful (no help);

Friendly (not friendly when putting down his project, and saying they weren't going to help); Courteous and Kind (nope); Obedient (well, they don't have to obey by attending so this wasn't broken); Cheerful (if they had only said "good luck, sorry I can't be there" they would be showing some cheerfulness)...So 7 out of 12 parts of the law. On the Oath: "To help people at all times." They were not willing to help Eagle To Be.

This past weekend Eagle to be had 1 troop member, and 2 leaders attend from his own troop. From another troop in town, he had 4 young Scouts (11 and 12 yr olds maybe), a friend, a couple of adult leaders from other troops that knew him from Cub Scouts, and his uncle drove over 200 miles each way to attend a few hours. Comments we heard was "this is a great project." And Scoutmaster said that if the troop had come along, very little would have gotten done (from past experience). Our troop is going to be asked again,tonight, to attend the 2nd day of the project this weekend. This is not a 8-12 project. Last Saturday was 7:30a - 6pm.

It is a well though out project that needs a lot of time. However, our troop has always been told they can stay as long as they can. In fact, Eagle to be only had 2 people remain past 2pm. That was fine. And he is very happy they helped out. Eagle-To-Be is less upset about this than I, as Advancement Chair, and the Scoutmaster have been. But Eagle to Be was "prepared" for his troop not to show. And he took it all in stride without any complaints. He didn't even grumble one bit about them not showing. So that shows he has learned something over the last 8 years!

Some questions posed was: 1) has this Scout helped me out in my times of "need", 2) is his activity well thought out and planned, 3) is food being provided, 4) are proper facilities available (bathrooms, running water, tools, etc., 5) has he looked to fellow students, siblings, friends, parents, etc

1. yes 2. yes 3. yes 4. yes 5. yes.

Scout has attended the majority of Eagle projects in our small town over the last 5 years he has been in Scouting. The cost of food is his biggest expense, and that was properly detailed in his write-up. Bathrooms are provided, as is the tissue, water and soap for cleaning hands. And last, he has mailed out at least a dozen letters, and has visited the local troops with invitations in hand. He has explained the project, and who is benefiting, and answered questions posed by the troops, including our own.

Our Troop isn't the one who had to approve the project (other than the SM and Committee Chair person, and I, the Adv. Chair had to verify he had all badge requirements met). It is our District Eagle Advancement Chair who has the final say, and he is a tough one. He was very impressed with Scouts pre-project write-up.

We only have 21 on our roster (16 are regulars). In the other 3 troops, I think there are 15, 15, 10. Scouting is not looked at with high regards in our community, and we are constantly trying to work on the problem by doing service for churches, and parks, etc.

As far as the Youngers vs. Olders go, the youngers are always wondering "whats in it for me." Service for others just... they have been very selfish and it is keeping many from advancing for lack of "Scout spirit." In our troop, the Senior patrol must be high school and at least 14. We have a few who have balked this past year because they want to be Senior Patrol Leaders, and whine "but I can do a better job." These same kids yell at others, are disrepectful to adult and Scout leaders, and refuse to do what they are supposed to do on campouts (set up their tents, cook when it is their turn, etc). It is "me, me, me, why didn't I get..." The olders are 10th grade, and half are in sports that require them to be out of town on Saturdays. Eagle-To-Be has been in the high school band, and for his grades he must be at all Friday football games. There is band/marching practice 4 nights a week. Luckily, our troop meeting night is not one of them! However, he still regards meeting night above the band, and if practice is rescheduled to troop night, he tells his teacher he cannot attend band. Scout has only missed one meeting night and one campout over the last couple of years. One night was due to a band concert (grade related) and the campout was missed due to a UIL event (also grade related).

Scout will be the troops first Eagle in almost 3 years. We have no other Eagles registered. He also is the most active, and has strived to earn the most badges in our troop. He is quiet, and never boasts about what badges he has earned. He is Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. Both the SPLs are contantly talked back to. It isn't a problem with the SPLs, it is with the youngers not wanting to be the bottom man on the totem pole! One problem may be the fact that Scout is the SM son (however, he was already a Life Scout before his dad became SM).

Scout service should be performed because you want to help others. However, it really shines badly on the troop when there is a lack of volunteers. But, we were not reponsible to raise these children to care about others before they joined Scouts. We can only hope that one day they will start acting on that Scout Oath and law they recite weekly. And they are reminded of why they are in Scouting. It just seems that 3/4 of the kids are in the troop for baby sitting!

I guess we could just blame the Eagle to Be for not convincing the younger boys to participate. But in this case, nintendo, cartoons, cokes and candies on Saturday mornings from their parents who have over-indulged them to make up for time not spent with them is too big of a force. He should be proud that he has convinced the other troops to show, and he has a good family base to depend on.

As far as the comment that I shouldn't be in this to see the other Olders reach Eagle... Well, they might not reach Eagle. They have a ways to go. But as Adv. Chair I regularly give each and every Scout a printout of what they have, and what they need for their next rank. Most ignore the report. But I will stay in to see these boys to either Eagle or the end of their Scouting. And I totally disagree it is only the boys job. As far as doing the work, it is absolutely the boys job, and only his job. But, it is my job as a leader to lead By directing them onto the right path! If I sat and did nothing, I'd be just a Baby Sitter of America!

Our troop has a Scout who has been in the Scouting program longer than any of the rest. He went all the way from Wolf Cub to Arrow of light, then directly into the troop. He is 15, and most of the troop is 13. Scout is the Asst SPL.

Scout has had his Eagle project ideas approved by the District Adv. Chair, as well as the Troop Committee Chair (not me, I am now a MC, and Adv. Chair), and SM. Next weekend is the planned date for the project. He announced the date, and what the project entailed to our troop a month ago. This week when he passed out the invites and sign up sheet in our troop, he was told by one Scout, "This doesn't benefit the community, I am not going." Scout explained how it benefited the community, and that it has been approved. He was very patient with the troop, although he is getting tired of Scouts because of the way the youngers act. Out of 21 Scouts, he only had 3 sign his sheet, and one will not be there (his ASM grandfather said he couldn't be there). Scout went to other troops in town, and had several people sign up for the project. We have been having trouble with the Scouts lately being disrespectful to both Troop leadership and adults. I have told the adult leaders that something needs to be done to get the Scouts to be "helpful" to the Eagle to be, but I have been told "We can't make them do what they don't want to do." While that is absolutely true, I believe that they need to be strongly encouraged to volunteer, as that counts as "Scout spirit." Has anyone ran into a similar problem?

Scout is at the point he is happy to have other troops helping, and doesn't pay any mind to the cold response from his troop. However, as an adult leader, I am about to throw in the towel. I am just sticking it out for our 3 oldest (15 year olds) Scout to make sure they see Eagle! By the way, the other 15 year olds have become less active, but I am determined to see them through Eagle. They are Life, but still have several badges to earn first.

An actual percentage rate for how many meetings and events you much attend.

This is left up to the individual troops to come up with.

One example I have (this was actually about an OA qualification, not regular troop...). I am now advancement chair since my husband took over SM duties. I was asked for a list of which Scouts had 15 nights of camping over 2 years. We have one kid who was very active one year, but since then stopped being active. Last year: 6 nights of camping, and that was from summer camp. No other camping! He hasn't gone camping at all this year. But he is still eligible for the "honor camper" organization as long as the boys vote for him! I have gone around and around with the men on this one, and told "This may be what he needs." Hmmm. I don't think so. Anyhow, any kind of advancement, percentages would help. I have seen too many get bumped up when they don't show up at meetings. If you make it easy, they don't learn anything. They just expect something for nothing.

In our small town we have 3 troops. One troop we call "the eagle factory" because they have parents who sit and work badges with them and get them to eagle before they reach 13. The problem is, that troop doesn't retain those Scouts! And some of those, after getting the eagle rank transfered to another troop to get the actual experience they lacked before. One dad told us if he had known before, he would have slowed his kid down.

We tell our guys that one of the most important parts of the goal is the journey itself. Don't rush it! We do not look at the book "Oh, little Johnny has been at this rank for 4 months now, time to move him up!" What has he done? Has he gone to all campouts? Did he fully master all skills? Did he get along with others (for the most part)? Some time they just need to sit back and work on it without looking at the time in the book. That is only a minimum. And too many are using that as an absolute now.

(I am advance chair now) I tell parents that in reality, not every Scout reaches Eagle. And those troops who are handing out Eagles like pinewood derby ribbons are cheapening the award for those who are really deserving.

This post is rather old, but there is a similar problem occuring in our troop (BTW, I am no longer Committee Chair, but adv. chair in our group) My husband became Scoutmaster last year. It has taken him about a year to settle into the new job. In the meantime, one of the Assitant SM has decided to bully-pulpit his way to the front of the the troop each week and start telling them what they are going to do and how to do it. Never mind that my husband had an agenda typed out, and had plans for the Senior leadership to lead the troop in activities each week. Once Mr Bully starts, the boys get intimidated and just shirk off. "I don't know WHY those boys aren't being leaders" he complains all the time. Our committee chair has told him to back off back off back off. But he still pops right back up. He has made all of the other Assistants mad, and they quit coming. (so we have lost our leadership for camping). This assistant made our treasurer mad this week because my husband was speaking to her about a problem at the time HE blasts her kid in front of the group (about the very same problem). I didn't even go because I told my husband I could not stand to see him marching around anymore. The week prior he was telling the kids that the adults would be cooking a meal for them on the backpacking trip. I corrected him, "No, the adults will not be cooking a meal for everyone at the campout." He snapped back "Well, Your husband and I talked about it last week." Hmmm. That was strange, since I live with my husband, and talked with him about it and we agreed that the kids needed to cook all meals themselves. We have certain guidelines to follow for the badge they are to work on. I got up and walked out, because I did not want to lose it in front of the children.

My husband is so easy going, he says "Ron" is just gung-ho at this time and we don't need to make him mad. It is a volunteer organization. We can't fire him." So, what do we do? Scoutmaster has talked with him, so has committee chair. And he knows he has made everyone else mad, because we have told him.

What can we do? Has anyone been successful at de-throning a person like this?

Thanks.

In Noah's original note, he states: "In and of itself a flag pole is not terribly difficult to do and would not require a whole lot of leadership." This all depends on who is putting in the pole. I couldn't do it and have it stand straight! I think it will take leadership skills to get the job done correctly. I do wonder about the school financing 1/2 the cost of the pole. I am new to the Eagle project area. I know that you must earn the money for your project. I would just get advise from people who are in charge of signing off on the Eagle project before doing anything.

I am really confused about what qualifies as an Eagle project. We have a troop in our town who has given our Eagles to several for planting gardens kindergarten age kids could do. Last night one comes over inviting our Scouts to his project that is going to plant "two shrubs" and take "13 hours". This kid was a trouble maker when he was in our troop, and everyone was very sure his grandmother was the one who was doing his badge work. This is very sad.

"Scout Spirit." In our troop we keep a roster each week of who comes prepared with their book, wearing a uniform, is present, etc. If a Scout does not come prepared, this shows a lack of Scout spirit. And for rank advancement, our troop does expect a Scout to come looking like he is wanting to be a Scout! To sign off a Scout to advance when he hasn't been coming dressed properly, or hasn't been coming regularly, that would be just running an Eagle Mill. We have one of those in our town. And we don't run one at our troop!

To have 75% attending an outing is great! At times we have had less than 10% attend a campout in our troop. Our PLC has suggested activities that cost lots of money, and not really related to "Scouts" But they are allowed to list everything. As a committee, we tell them why certain things really can't be done: whether it is too expensive, date interferes with something else, it isn't safe, etc. They are never told it is "stupid," but that it just isn't appropriate and we tell them alternatives. In our case, we live in a small town. Most people don't make a living minimum wage. My kid gets sent to wonderful expensive camps and activites because we can afford it, but when it comes to Scouts, he has to learn to do as the rest do. I believe that putting too much money into campouts throughout the year goes against teaching the boys to learn to live using their own skills.

In Dec of 2003 our troop swelled from under 8 regularly attending Scouts to 35.

My husband took over the role of Scoutmaster for recharter time. We tried to get the young Scouts to go to activities, and get their parents involved. "We don't like camping." Or it was some other excuse. We'd have boys walk in asking to join, and we'd say, "we'd like you to attend a couple of meetings before signing up to make sure you are interested." No, they wanted to sign then. After a campout and a few meetings, they'd quit coming. We'd call. My husband spent his own money sending letters to Scouts and parents. Nothing.We are now down to about 15 Scouts attending. The biggest problem has been the parents. They learned that it wasn't Baby Sitters of America. To go camping, we needed parents to transport, to camp also. It was just "inconvenient." So we are most likely going to lose our quality unit status, that we always had for over 10 years. It cost our troop extra money to set up folders and such for these new Scouts, to buy all the new equipment that we didn't have before for that large of group. Personally, I like the smaller group, but this has been a frustrating year. We just never seem to improve the real condition of our troop over time. No one can participate because of a lack of money, or there aren't enough leaders to go. Very frustrating!

Rents are high nowadays. If my 21 year old son should EVER (please, please)

move out, he most likely will have to share rent with a friend. And I do prefer the friend not to be female unless he is married to her!

I hope everyone gets to know the new DE and learns to see what is under that

little beard. The beard phase may pass in time.

In our troop, a Scout's account can be used for uniforms, camp dues, weekly dues,

anything from the Scout shop, or camping supplies from Wal-Mart or other stores (as long as it pertains to Scouts). So if the food has to do with the Court of Honor ceremony, like the special cake and decorations I would think our treasurer would approve of that being a "Scout" expense. It would be different if you were starting out, probably. But at this point in your journey I don't see why not. But, how a Scout account is able to be spent is left up to individual Troops.

For example, several years ago in my town (I live in a small town with 3 troops)we had one troop that allowed their Scouts to pocket their percentage of the Trails End popcorn "earnings." Scouts from another troop got wind of this and had a major fit, screaming to their Scoutmaster and treasurer how "unfair" it was that he and his buddies had to only spend their money on Scout supplies. So, at a district meeting this was brought up and as a district (or maybe just within the town, I don't know, it was before my time) a rule was passed that all troops spend their Scout accounts only on supplies.

Good luck, and most of all, congradulations! My son is 1 Eagle badge (and a project) away from Eagle also. It is so exciting!

Unfortunately, it doesn't get better over time. There is a bully that started out in my son's Cub den (I was the leader) in 3rd grade. As long as I was the leader and didn't allow mistreatment of others, used timeouts, etc, the bully was kept at a 'tolerable'stage. Once he got into Boy Scouts, however, I was no longer in charge of rules. Since meetings were at night, his caretakers attended the meetings and interfered with any disciplining that went on. After 2 years of me complaining to Scoutmaster and going up the ladder to other people about what to do, the kid wasn't advance any longer. Bully moved to another troop.

But the harrasment he dished out to my son continued at school. And to others in our troop. Finally I sent a note to the principal, and a carbon copy to a board member (our superentendent had quit, or else one would have been sent). I said that the physical abuse in the halls must stop or I would get the police involved. I never got a response, but my son didn't get bothered again last year.

This bully is so bad he gets younger Scouts to come tell my husband (the new Scoutmaster) that he's fat at district events. My husband has sworn that as long as he is the SM, this kid will not be allowed back in our troop!

You have to take action right away or it just gets worse.

Yes, we had 7 adults on this campout with 14 Scouts. We had more than enough leadership. Of the 7, at least 5 of us have been trained. Three of us just last month.

When we heard from one Scout that another was 'acting gay' we asked what do you mean? His answer was "he is jumping on others backs." That doesn't mean anything other than roughhousing. All this was being done in a patrols campsite. Leadership DID go over to investigate and all the men were told came out as tattling, that "johnny wouldn't leave anyone alone and kept jumping on us, tearing up our tents." "Johnny" was told that it was not appropriate Scout behavior to bother the others, and all were warned that if tents kept being pulled down, etc moms could be called to drive out 3 hours to get their sons!

No report of sexual misconduct over the five days. If there had been, a report would have been made immediately and most likely the trip would have been cancelled. But no Scout mentioned any problems like that!

As of today, we have a report of 2 being involved in some way. Yes, as soon as the first mom called, someone put in a call to an executive. The problem was it was 7pm at night, and we don't have any home numbers for anyone except for our District Executive. So, we didn't slack off on this issue.

I know how the "book" reads on the issue, but I am just wanting to hear from someone who has had to deal with this in a troop, and how was it handled "at troop level". We are going to check out the video of the 3 R's for the troop to watch. But both of these kids had leadership positions. Do those get pulled from them?

Our problem, and the Scouts problems with this stems from the fact that the training focuses on "what if an adult...an older scout...etc" does the offending. These two were peers of the same age!

Yes, it was VERY inappropriate. And we did as much as we were taught in training. Training taught at a regular training session, NOT online.

(sorry, I am very upset after hearing about another Scout now...)

Where do I begin. Our troop went on a 5 day campout for Spring Break recently. The kids who attended the campout had been camping before without any problems. This campout was horrendous! We had been saying

that their rowdiness was due to "boys being boys," and needing to get out all their pent up energy (it had been raining a lot lately). We had been hearing a lot of tattling from boys. One said a Scout "hit your son and has been acting gay." We never could get more out of the kid what he meant by 'acting gay' so we just thought it was name calling. The kid who was hit was MY son and he didn't come tell me anything so I didn't pay any attention to it. Over- reacting, I thought. They were told to settle down, and no one was hurt.

Now that it is a week later we get a call from a mom saying that she and another mom were VERY upset. Their sons had their privates touched by this same kid who had jumped on my son and hit him.

They said another kid might have been been touched also.

My husband has only been Scoutmaster 2 months. In fact, people still don't come to him when there is a problem, but it is his job to figure out what to do! We started asking our son: "What exactly happened? Don't just shrug your shoulders, but did he touch your XYZ or ABC...." Then we called the most active ASM and he did the same line of questioning with his two sons. Something was being talked about, one said, as if there was something out of line. But no one reported the incident. Why? Because it was another kid, not an adult!!! And this kid was only 11 or 12 years old.

So, tomorrow night not only do we have Cub Scouts coming over because we have Camporee this weekend, and have to plan for Camporee, but we have OA elections, and we have to find out what may have happened to any other kid who went camping! This is a complete nightmare for us.

Since becoming Scoutmaster it has been everything at once to plan for (summer camps, etc) and assorted problems. Does anyone have any

advice? If this type of incident has happened in your troop, what action was taken with the Scout, and his parent/s? Our Committee Chair is reporting this to our District Executive, to ask him what we should do. (The CC was the old SM, who the upset mother went to). My husband is going to call the Council if he doesn't hear from them tomorrow. He thinks that someone should be asking him questions. Who knows. HELP!

PS. The offending Scout is also a Patrol Leader. If all this has happened should his position be up for vote again (if he stays in the troop)?

Your best "weapon" is becoming Scoutmaster. My son was bullied for years by a kid raised by grandparents who saw the devil as a little angel. This kid wasn't bright in school, and in fact had suffered brain damage from father. But he was very good at knowing when adults weren't looking! He'd do all sorts of abuse to my son and others, and as soon as they'd be pushing themselves away an adult would look and see a "fight." My son ended up doing so many hours of work because of this. The bully would cry and moan "HE DID IT!" My husband even saw the entire situation many times, but the others believed Bully.

Finally after 2 years in the troop, he wasn't being promoted. No one was. The troop was a mess because of this kid. Grandma got mad, moved Bully to another troop who is now about to give him an eagle! At school he is still beating my son up....

Anyhow, after the kid left our troop I became Committee Chairman. My husband and I agreed that as long as one of us were in a top position Grandma wouldn't bring Bully back. I spent a year as CC, then I resigned when my husband became Scoutmaster this year. It is our insurance! If there are any squabbles involving our son, an ASM is the one in charge to avoid favoratism. We are getting a lot more respect now.

Good Luck!

Our town has approx 12K people. We have 3 Boy Scout troops, and two Cub Scout troops (one recently absorbed another that folded).

At one time BS met on different nights, so people picked the troop for the night that was best for them. It isn't all that simple, however. Leadership styles, personalities, what kids are in the troops/packs determines where people want to go.

Our town had a fairly large pack that folded due to lack of a Committee Chair for 9 months, the Cub Master had change work hours

(and quit the pack), plus none of the leaders would do anything without being told what to do. Lots of problems. It was large, but not functioning well. Most of the cubs went over to other packs, but there were several who never transfered. It wasn't the night. They wanted the same people, and the same place! Not gonna happen, but...

In our 3 Boy Scout troops we are very different. Our troop gets the Scouts whos parents want them to do things the right way, not do what so-in-so was doing in another troop. We hear it all the time. Then we have had parents pull their kids after the Scoutmaster wasn't advancing them fast enough. We have a troop in town known as the 'eagle factory' because they don't have to do much to get advanced. That is where those parents move their kids. Later they come back "little Johnny didn't learn anything..."

One Big Troop? One big chaotic mess here in our town! Although it would be nice to have more parents to transport to campouts (we have had to cancel). By the way, we grew from a small group of about 6 regulars to 35. Same number of WILLING adults. We have tried everything to get help from these parents. Phone calls, letters, etc.

We wish we had only 6 again!

The Girl Scouts who were reprimanded for their cookie sales in the bowling alley - they probably didn't fill out a form they were suppost to. We (Boy Scout units) were told at Roundtable that we haven't been filling out a required "funraising request form." Some of the older Scouters were aware of such form, but ignored it. We just had our garage sales, taco dinners, etc. I am not sure if this form is an attempt by the council to get a cut of any fundraising or what. Our council has lost United Way funding because of the gay issue and I think the money people are trying to make up for the lost funds.

As far as the % from each GS cookie box, I am sure that they have some deal like the Boy Scouts do. The Girl Scouts I know get 25cents a box for their account. Our Boy Scout troop is very generous by giving the Scouts all of the money (I think it is 39%) instead of part of it going into the general troop account.

I totally agree that the Trails End is very good and the Wally World stuff is stale. But people around our town see the big $5 tin of popcorn and go for it. If only we sold our Trails End at a time Walmart wasn't stocking the junky corn for the holidays! Our stuff is more expensive than GS cookies. Our boys have to work a lot harder to get any of it sold in this town! If they only got 8% I don't think they'd bother selling.

Yes, GS cookies are so much easier to sell. Just about everyone will

reach in their pockets to pay for a $3 box of a few cookies.

But, I was told they only make 25 cents from each box. That is only about 8% they make on their sales!

The popcorn is very hard to sell, especially once the boys get past Cub Scout age. Instead of the people thinking "oh, isn't he cute..." they are thinking "That stuff is a rip-off." It takes boys who really can speak well, and sell the product as something good for the organization. I live in a small town. The kids who do sell have their target areas and must get their first. These areas are the ones that have people who can afford the popcorn,and will come to their doors. The ones who sell the most go into the big cities, where the Scouts don't want to sell. Our top seller in town reguarly made $6000

from his percentage just from going to the city. And he has earned scholarships.

But yes, I wish there was something other than popcorn to sell. My son is always told "I can't eat popcorn...because of my dentures." Those who can afford to buy it can't eat it because of dental problems in our town! He will be handed donations at times.

The safest way to handle the popcorn sell is to get all money first.

There is a deadline that we must turn in our orders. This is the date our Scouts are told to bring in all money with their orders. I know, the money itself is not due until later. BUT! All boys are told to get payments with the orders. People will understand. We are an non-profit organization that is raising money, not the local grocery store that will give the popcorn to them. This is no different than if they ordered from a catalog, or a store over the phone. Payment is expected up front. Boys who don't have all their money when they turn in their orders must sit down and figure out who they didn't get money from. We live in a small town. Our troop has only about 15 boys who regularly sell popcorn. We cannot afford to pick up the tab for a kid who may have spent the money given for the popcorn or just didn't get the money. In the past we had people say "We decided we don't want to buy it." And who gets stuck paying for the popcorn? Usually the Cubmaster/Scoutmaster/Leader, etc.

Next year,when the packets are handed out, just make the announcment that money must be collected with the orders, or the orders won't be placed. A great burden will be lifted! Scouts honor!

Oh, and we don't give our boys the 'prizes.' You have the option of getting money or prizes, but you must tell your 'popcorn Colonal' I think (I am not the one who has done the popcorn stuff). If you sign a

form early that says your unit will be selling popcorn in the fall and you list a person to be in charge you will also get an extra percentage. In our troop we have so many boys who depend on this money for camps. We choose to get the money instead of prizes, plus we give them the extra amount for committing our unit early. One kid and his brother made $1000 just in their cut. Whatever is earned through popcorn, we hold the money. The boys can only use the money for camp (summer/winter/or monthly camping), uniforms, books, or Scout related supplies.

Behavior problems that rewarded by the parent/s only get worse.

And the only way to effectively deal with the problem is to face

the parent and say "this will not be tolerated during the meetings.

If the behavior continues, he will have to go home (or miss the next campout, etc)." My son's troop had a bully who ran off most of the kids, and kept all Webelos from joining. We actually had moms tell us that their son's were not joining our troop because of this Scout! The bully was raised by grandparents. Grandma thought whatever he did was cute, and unintentional. She was manipulative, and put money into the troop as a way to keep our SM from doing anything about the kid. My son was being hurt, as well as 2 other kids. My husband and I complained to the Scoutmaster and he didn't do a thing. It got so bad that the entire troop wasn't advancing, because it was in chaos. Grandma got mad that SM wasn't advancing her grandson, and transfered him into another troop. Now our troop has grown from 6 boys to 35! My husband is now SM and says that kid will not return while he is SM. The former SM is CC now, and he wasn't happy to hear my husband say that he'd turn away a kid, but there is only so much damage a family can do! Take control of the problem and chances are if you tell the mom little Johnny cannot come to the next campout due to disobeying of the rules... God Bless!

Old Guy: the mini-skirt and high heel wearer had a beard. lol.

He is a down-town regular. The girls are the ones wearing boots

and jeans. We have a Austin police in our Troop leadership, and

he gets to work downtown during the rowdy events. We don't take

the Scouts downtown except for the Report to State Parade, then

we leave ASAP!

God Bless America.