dan

A "Little" more info on double H http://www.lns.cornell.edu/~seb/double-h/index.html http://www.lns.cornell.edu/~seb/philmont-doubleh.html We are checking into flights but they are accepting any reservations yet. Thinking about using Blue Sky Adventures or renting 2 vans. I take some of yous have issues with hunting? Part of it is also a cattle ranch. Eagle 54 did you get in? If so when will you be there?

Well shoot, and I have been telling the scouts that they stand for left and right! I am such a YAHOO!

SM has input into the selection of the Troop Guide.

FScouter Do not be so sure about that, I have been watching a troop for 4 years that elects all positions, talk about an SPL that does not have a team to help him or back him up! Sandyt888 When I read your message yesterday, I had to look to see if we where "in" the same troop. I have been trying to get this troop to change the process of electing all positions changed for the last 2 years. At the last two meetings the SM told me that only the SPL will be elected. I was on the phone with him for a hour on Saturday, and at a Blue and Gold with him Sunday, he said nothing about not doing this. At the meeting last night ballots where passed out and all POR where elected again. Another ASM made these ballots up, he had been working with the SM for the last 2 weeks on these ballots. But, the worse part is that on the way to the meeting, I told my son that the process for electing POR would change and how. On the way home he said, I thought you said . . . At this point I am going to start explain to my son the BSA program, so that at least if he becomes a leader when he is an adult, he will have a chance to do it right! Another 2 years and he will be done!

Fuzzy Bear This is the first post that you have posted that I disagree with! I do really enjoy your posts. But with this one it seems to me that you are saying turn the other cheek and work with or around the issues. As volunteers we should not have to do that because someone thinks it's so and so kitchen. Or that when someone says that is the way we have all which done it. That we should just do along our merry way. This gets pretty frustration after a few years. JimmyD and Sturgen Wow your issues makes my issue seem small! Which just does to show you, it could all which be worse!(This message has been edited by dan)

It sounds like we are in the same council! I have seen many volunteers give up because of issue like the ones you posted. When I hear someone complaining about not enough volunteers. I usually tell them, if you want more help, let them help, and help does not mean doing it your way.

My vote would be to keep the rating system. Even in the Issues and Politcs forum. If someone cannot discuss issues or poltics and follow the Scout Law and Oath they deserve a thumb down!

Response times are much better!

First I would have the PLC set the meeting time. Tell the persons that what to change the meeting time, that this is when the PLC has set the meeting time and stick to it. I have a feeling that a scout may come to the PLC meeting (one of the adults son that want a different time) and try to change the meeting time, I would prepare the SPL for this and have him explain that the time was already set by the PLC and it was not going to change for a while, that he (the SPL) wants to try this time out for a while and see how it works. For the campouts I would suggest that you have a campout prep meeting one or two weeks before the campout, this would be done during a normal meeting. Where the patrols get together to decide on a menu and duty rotations. This meeting would also be the sign up meeting for the campout, if a scout did not sign up, he would not be going, how can the grub master purchase the food if he does not know how many are going. How can transportation be arraigned if a final count is not known? For the scouts that are coming late and leaving early, make sure that you have scouts doing the training, games and so on at the meeting, they cannot leave if they are running a demo or game. Make sure that the PLC has games, and fun hands on things to do at the meeting. remember that the only thing an adult should be doing at the meetings is the SM minute. Talk to the scouts that are coming in late and leaving early, have a SM conference with them and find out why they are leaving early. Keep us informed on how its going.(This message has been edited by dan)

evmori ?!? All I did was ask you why you thought WHEELER was another poster? I am sorry that you felt that I was being heavy handed in my post, I did not mean it that way, and as I reread my post, I do not see how you could have taken it that way? Can you explain to me what I did in the post that made you say, that I need to lighten up? Once again I am confused!?!?

Evmori Why would you ask if WHEELER is yaworski? That thought never even crossed my mine. My though was that he very young and just wanted to see how we (BSA leaders) would handle different and unpopular ideas.

Is this the BSA JLTC course or is it the White Stage program or something completely different?

I am the Scoutmaster for the week long JLTC (Thunderbird in this district). This is a huge event in the district. The course has 3 troops. Meaning that I am one of three SM. Each troop has 8 patrols with 8 per patrol. Which also means that on staff there are 3 SPL, 3 ASPL, 6 Quartermasters, 24 troop guides, and at least 3 JASM. Needless to say this is a big event. This course has been full for the last 6 years, meaning that there is a waiting list for the scouts. Has anyone else heard of such a large JLTC? Or is this unusual?

OGE I see you are posting more now. Hope your doing better. Good to have you back! And why am I a five starer! I am not worthy!

WHEELER I posted how I thought you would be as a BSA leader. You did not deny it nor did you agree with it. Do you understand the patrol method? boy lead? The AIMS? Quoting from your bible tells me nothing about you. If your goal is to to confuse, you have meet your goal in my case. It seems like you have a goal to change the BSA, do you?

dana_renner Why do you say Co-ed crews are different because an advisor has to be somewhat tolerant and treat the youth more like adults. Can you explain why you think this a crew advisor would have to be more tolerant if it was co-ed?

Sturgen Would you want this guy in a troop you where associated with? I am trying to imagine what he would be doing with the scouts. As he is having them do a task and the scouts are saying it hurts, he would be screaming in the background, WE needs to makes MEN out of ya! That that does not kill ya only makes ya stronger! I know you can carry a backpack that weighs the same as you! Now hoist that backpack and double time BOY!

As I read this, it seems to me that if someone starts a post and no one responds to it, there ratings will go down. HINT HINT!

Last weekend winterall had 720 participants! JLTC first meeting last weekend, 22 scouts showed up for staff, 6 more due for the next meeting in March. The 3 SPLs really did a great job with the meeting. 42 new scouts are joining the troop! (lets save the issues of this for another discussion) Going to Double H ranch in July! Troop going to Philmont in 2005, 1st time in 7 years. The new email register worked for us where the phone call in did not! Scouts are getting the new SM trained! and vice of versa! The new parents are starting to wear the committee down a little bit to see both sides of the issues!

nldscouter I know that they are military terms, I was must wondering how the terms became so popular with the BSA crowd, if it has never been in a BSA publication.

I have been informed that Class A or B uniforms have never been in the BSA handbook. I can only inform you that is is not in this edition nor is it in the 1965 edition. Has it ever been in the BSA handbook? If not how did the terms Class A and B get started? The edited part. Another thought that popped into my head. A scout is clean in thought word and deed.(This message has been edited by dan)

NJCS I should have said majority and not someone. When I wrote this the only name that I could think of was Jimmy Carter, but right now Mr. Carter is out making anti war speeches which I think he would do at a BSA fund raiser at this time.

Achilleez Why are you posting here? The other atheist is here to destroy the BSA. Why are you here? You are not even in the BSA. Does your son know you are an atheist? I will need more data before I can answer if I respect you. I will also say a prayer for you and your family tonight.

sm41 I am not sure where you are located, but here we have a store called Menards, at least twice a year they have a sale on tarps, the ones that Fuzzy Bear referred to, after rebate they are about 5 bucks each. Have you seen the BSA dining flies? Model yours after those. If you have not look in your Scouting catalog. For the poles use conduit, there are 2 grades of conduit get the heavy one. I would suggest 3/4" OD. I would use a 2"x4" pine for the top piece and the conduit for the 2 poles on the end. My sons troop has one of those monster canopies, that I detest as do the scouts when they have to set them up, and they do nothing for the patrol method, some year I will convince the leaders to do away with this thing, except for training and special events. This monster canopy we have is all made from 3/4 inch conduit. On the 2x4 you will have to drill holes in the end where the poles can slip into the 2x4, and some type of connection will have to be added to the top of the conduit. I hope this is clear if not, please ask for more info.

Arrow of Light is a rank? I thought it was the highest award to be earned for Cub Scouts.