ConnCM

Prayers & best wishes for a full & speedy recovery.

Beavah said

....."If yeh really have one of da former, and other people really recognize it, then a wise CC or COR will talk to 'em about how much they need help in the adult Quartermaster position (keepin' the trailer in repair!) or some other such task that uses the fellow for his talents but keeps him out of the kids' way.

Ultimately at the point when you tell a parent he/she is not welcome on events you're makin' a decision to lose the kid. It's a rare parent who will accept that, eh? If there are shorter steps, they're worth pursuing.

end clip

Outstanding!

We will soon have need of this sort of technician & this guy would be a decent fit.

It takes smooth sales skills to help this fella find his way to where he needs to be without detection. This particular guy would bail if he detected the manipulation. It's worth the effort if the boy stays.

We'll see if the timing & tact works out.

....and a good old eagle too. NE-II-143

Beahvah sounds like he's been down this path & shares good counsel. It isn't wise to jump to conclusions. To read this thread many would throw this guy under the bus without all the details.

That aside, the Troops elders are well aware of the belligerence & foul mouthedness issue. The SM & I spoke on the phone today about these happenings. Too many folks have borne witness for this matter to be denied. The "rough handling" was not a physical assault. It was just extreme rudeness on the edge of abuse (I know...these are fine lines). Again there were multiple witnesses. Some moms got very hot but the boys just considered it rude. My son was the latest recipient & he dismissed it as rude. My wife got hot & addressed it on the spot as she should have. She's also been a registered leader for years. I wasn't there.

Other than this flask thing, no one in the Troop is debating WHAT is going on. Even that has been admitted to several folks by the offender though there are fewer actual witnesses.

The thing is this: This man isn't going to lead. PERIOD. At this point the goal is to let him save some face for his son's sake. So the boy stays in Scouting.

I agree Eagle92. This is a very serioius matter. It could be a sign of something much bigger than what is apparent.

In all my years of Scouting I've never been faced with such a troubling or serious situation.

Don't worry. I have sufficient clout with Council this man will never attain the leadership position he desires.

I appreciate all of your concerns & advice.

Right now I'm still "just a dad" who used to be the District Training Chair. I'm still on the District & Pack Committees (the pack my son just moved up from last year where I was CM). Tragically I wasn't at last night's adult meeting.

Other than the belligerence, the SM just became aware of the situation last night so the COR & other leaders probably aren't yet aware of the situation yet. The shoving incident occurred this past weekend. My son was the target. My wife was a witness.

This individual is on the charter but hasn't completed any training other than online YP & SM (according to him). For the record, I detest online training for anything other than YP renewal. I like to look new Scouters in the eye, shake their hand & engage them in conversation. Computers lack this ability.

The brandy flask was apparently witnessed by two Eagles on a recent outing. Coincidentally, I remember a "medicine" comment during a camping trip last fall but dismissed it as cough medicine. Now I wonder.

I'm thinking the COR would be the first in line for this situation but I'm not yet responsible to take action on "he said, she said". Suffice to say this matter will be dealt with.

He'd like to be Scoutmaster yet he's rough handled a few boys (just shoving & very rude).

The swearing might be in the policy somewhere but I can't find it.

He's known to take brandy from a flask too. Some of the boys have seen this nipping of "medicine".

There is no debating the official position. There's no debating it must be addressed. It's just what to do about it? To address this issue won't be pretty.

How have others dealt with this?

Perhaps the easiest way to shorten the sash is a fold held with small safety pins.

My wife stopped at the CYC Store & grabbed a 36 incher.

Thanks for all the feedback.

...and a good old Eagle too!

NE-II-143

Wow...It's been a while.

Funny subject.

My son moved up to Boy Scouts last year. He's earned a few merit badges now so I decided to order him a sash this afternoon. BSA offers the new Centennial sash in 30 & 36" lengths.

Sash length is a subject I've never heard mentioned before & I've had all the training offered to leaders around here to date. Odd this subject has never come up all these years. Maybe the next roundtable.

I'm thinking the taller boys should get the longer sash but this might suggest that dad is implying he should fill it up. The sash is only for formal events so tripping should be a non-issue.

Thoughts?

NE-II-143

We have a boy in our District who has great difficulty handling conventional athletic equipment particularly the long bow. Can anyone recommend a youth friendly supplier of archery equipment &/or other special needs athletic apparatus?

Private emails are appreciated.

ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Thanks,

Steve Jepsen Pack 177 Stratford, CT

Thanks for all of the feedback.

I love the Scout Spirit Award even if I disagree with making it the "largest trophy". We have a couple boys that are really pouring themselves into the workshops & deserve special recognition for it.

A derby is still a race & I wouldn't want to down play the significance of that for the boy that wins the race.

Our last "Official Hands on Car Workshop" was today. Like the others it was a great time with plenty of learning & building. We even had 2 siblings get in on the affair. Because not every car is complete & to avoid any let downs, I'm having the last couple stragglers finish up here in our own home workshop next weekend.

As expected the eBay buyer did not attend. So to avoid a race day conflict I'll be making that call.

Our Pinewood Derby rules require the Boys use the standard BSA Grand Prix kits to build their own car. The Boys are permitted to make various improvements to enhance performance.

This year I successfully lobbied for 2 hands-on "Build Workshops" as well as 1 of our Packs more traditional "Skills Workshops" (no car - just practicing on scrap lumber). Single parents, the "all thumbs crowd" & the "tool challenged" really appreciated this effort. As their Cubmaster I enjoyed the chance to work more closely with some of the Boys too.

My wife is a Den Leader. Last night one of her Boys announced that his father bought him a finished car on eBay. A few of the other boys told him he can't race a car he didn't build. I usually stay out of Den Meetings so I didn't learn of this issue until after the Boys went home.

I've already reached out by email to the entire Pack offering added time slots in our final "Build Workshop" as well as other help if the date doesn't work for them. So far no response from the family involved. I cannot sit idly by knowing this car would violate the rules & the Boy won't be allowed to race it.

I already know that I'll end up calling them to offer assistance.

But I'm wondering if other Leaders have found themselves in this same position & what they have done about it.

Thanks in Advance,

Steve

Mr. Jepsen to the boys & (horrors) the younger parents.

This is a matter of our Boys learning & showing respect. Nothing more.

After 7 hours over 4 nights all of the ribbons have been removed. Some I was not able to detangle & they were cut. This was no great loss since once down deep into the maze it appears the older ribbons had been reinforced with new string which did hold the ribbons but made the resulting knots impossibly difficult to untangle.

Our Council store didn't have replacement cord nor did the local fabric store. tonight is Roundtable & I'm hoping to find a source of the correct cord. If not I'll contact Hodges who manufactured the pennants & streamers for many of the years.

Council did have this item in stock:

https://scoutnet.scouting.org/BSASupply/ItemDetail.aspx?ctlg=05NDC&ctgy=PRODUCTS&c2=FLAGS_RIBBONS&C3=FACCESSORIES&C4=&LV=3&item=1981

This item should serve to tether the newly organized mass with the dignity it deserves.

Thanks Everyone. I was composing as some additional posts were made. Too busy working to slouch off today I guess.

It would be great to display these in a brick & mortar building if we had one. Our Pack meets in the cafeteria of a local middle school so we don't have this option.

Thank you Anarchist

I like the idea of scanning the ribbons. I have already started to inventory the ribbons in Excel but scanning or a color copy to go along with it is a great idea & one I can handle here at home. Thus we can encourage folks to browse the book rather than handle the actual items.

Part of what prompted this concern was several Cub-O-Ree ribbons from 1977 that have become so brittle (not silk) they have torn off their cords. Even the grommets are missing & there is evidence of past repairs (staples). These I will find a plastic sleave for since they are nearly as brittle as dry leaves. I can only imagine how many have been lost for good already.

I do not foresee having to replace many cords. They haven't failed but are so frayed at their ends as to require a "haircut" to facilitate untying.

We delayed this effort in the name of preservation too long as it is. The US Flag had been reattached to the wooden poles at some point with drywall screws after the rings had been lost. Now the pole is split where the screws entered it. The two-peice socket adapters were held together with duct tape & beyond repair. There isn't enough of the original wood left in the pole to allow for repair even if replacement sockets could have been located. The poles would have ended up too short. Once the colors fell over at a Veteran's Day flag ceremony we decided that enough was enough.

How do most folks attach ribbons? I really need to come up with a better means of attachment so this effort needn't be repeated again any time soon.

Thanks,

Steve

I have a dilemma of sorts. Our Pack is 53 years old. Our flag poles were pretty close to that. So we just purchased new poles a toppers since the old wooden pole toppers won't fit the new vinyl coated metal poles we selected.

Our flags are in great shape & clean too. The gold cord will live to see another season.

The oldest ribbon on our Pack flag topper is dated 1959 & every decade since then is well represented with at least several ribbons from every year since 1963. The result is literally hundreds of ribbons weighing several pounds resulting in a very impressive (yet top heavy) dispaly. However the lengths some Leaders have gone to attach ribbons is making their respectful transfer quite difficult. In some cases thin wire was pierced into & through the gold cord to attach ribbons. In other cases the ribbon cords were supplemented & strung through & around other decades to insure firm attachment.

Tonight I was able to remove 20 years of ribbons without cutting a single strand. I did cut the wire.

How tacky would it be if I had to resort to cutting some of the older cords & replacing them? What of reattaching them? I'm thinking that attaching each decade to a seperate ring might make it easier for future Scouts to see & realize the history we carry with us to Pack Meeting & other significant events.

Has anyone ever tried having silk ribbons dry-cleaned? Some are dirty.

I will appreciate any & all feedback. These ribbons are a source of great pride to our senior Committee members. But due to their failing state, not much attention is drawn to them for fear of possible damage upon examination. My goal is to preserve & bring more awareness to them so that our existing Scouts have a better appreciation of the history of our Pack.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

Wow.....what a terrific set of resources you all are. I am in awe.

I suppose it was the very physical nature of the summer camp field events that coincided with his coming more aware of his disability that made him want to rethink Scouting. Timing had so much to do with his experience.

Like everyone this time of year we will be meeting in committees (Popcorn, recruitment, School nights, etc) but I will make the time to meet with all concerned leaders & discuss some of these ideas.

When the time is right, I will share the "little house" story & also intend to find out something of James E. West who was not only the Chief Scout Executive of the BSA but also physically handicapped. I won't dwell on the subject, but rather watch for a sign that he might appreciate hearing these things.

For the record, his condition is expected to improve some once a hip operation is performed to improve his gait & stance. With physical improvements he is likely to feel better about himself too. Scouting should only help him relaize this if we can craft a positive experience for him.

Thanks you all.

Steve

We have a boy entering our Pack as a Tiger (severe Dwarfism). His disablity limits use of his legs & hearing. His cognitive abilities, behavior & attention are generally outstanding.

His brother is a Bear & his mother a Bear Den Leader (staying with Bear den). The Tiger den will obviously be new with new leadership.

Speaking with his mother after Scout Camp (many of our boys attended), our new Tiger was getting down about Scouting after comparing his own physical performance to those of his colleagues. He failed to finish many field events & was disgusted by his inability to keep up at all. In particular was any effort to use the archery equipment. It was too large for his frame & the pull too great.

I know there was encouragement offered on behalf his "other strengths" but a boy down in the field isn't likely to consider his reading & math skills a very high priority.

The Tiger Scouting program shouldn't be rewritten for one boy. But I would like to help the new Den Leader explore areas where timed & coordination related physical activities don't require great stamina or lower body coordination. An undersized archery set might be built to accomadate his frame at such time as is appropriate for example.

If anyone has any ideas or resources to share we would very much appreciate it.

Steve

Washington was a Christian as has been well documented.

http://www.wallbuilders.com/resources/search/detail.php?ResourceID=13

I missed it live. Searching for it online turned up this article.

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=%5CNation%5Carchive%5C200107%5CNAT20010731b.html

Jamboree spokesman Gregg Shields said the accident happened between 4:30 and 5 p.m. while the leaders were setting up camp.

One other leader from Alaska and a contract worker were hospitalized in stable condition. All the youths with the Alaska group were fine, said Bill Haines, chief executive officer of the Western Alaska Council.

Those killed were longtime leaders with Anchorage's Troop 711, which along with another troop had brought 80 Scouts between the ages 13-15 to the event, Haines said. Three other Scout leaders had come with the group.

______end clip____________________________

Judging from the photographs, it appears the metal tent poles they were raising struck an overhead wire.

Our thoughts & prayers are with them all.

The Associated Press

Monday, July 25, 2005; 7:45 PM

BOWLING GREEN, Va. -- The Boy Scouts of America says five of the organization's leaders were killed in an electrical accident during the opening day of the Boy Scout Jamboree.

How difficult will Wood Badge training be for a person with a walking disability? Are the trainers able to accomodate the disabled?

Thanks & YIS,

Steve

Thanks everyone for the good ideas. Scouting related items would have been more appropriate. A policy to structure disbursement of leftover funds is good too.

Throughout the year the boys have noted a "bias" of sorts. So have I. Little things like prefered sunglasses for a Blue & Gold skit. First in line at every event. Front of the den in all photo-ops.

Eight year olds are much more attuned to these things than we give them credit for sometimes. When parents notice & make comments, then the issue is on the verge of becoming a problem.

Thanks again.