Deaf Scouter

5 year Scouter,

THANKS for taking the time to write all you wrote. Just reading your post I see how much my Adults are inputting in which is why my PLC isn't going so well. Scouts are clamming up along with not knowing how. It is so much to take in that I'll have to come back and finish reading it and rereading it. You've really NAILED MUCH.. *thankful smile!

You really nailed the parent involvement/parent influence that I was overlooking. Looks like I need to have a parent/leaders meeting, don't ya think, to tell them SHUT UP while getting the parents & leaders on the same page of how to turn this over to the Scouts as a PLC. You just made me realize big time that I need to include in the aspect of transition the leadership especially the ASM who was previously in our Troop. He is gonna be the same way as the previous SM and he has a son in our Troop. 3 of us leaders do not have sons in the Troop, myself included. Now that I think about it, its the parents that are vetoing the district and council camporees that I just know the boys will have fun at.

How does the approach of having interest survey broken down into categories of: camping, hiking and/ or backpacking, biking, canoeing, sailing, Trip ideas, sporting Events and / or Activities, Whitewater Rafting or Tubing, Outdoor Cooking, Stars - Environment Study, Crafts, Archery Range/Rifle or BB Shooting and then have ideas of places, events, and etc. with a blank one for other that the scouts fills in sound? I'm thinking I need to separate the parents and the scouts while the Scout fills it out. Scouts choose 5 categories that interest them and then circle the places they like. Better yet put the scouts in the small board room by themselves but give the directions before hand to the second class scout while keeping the parents in the community room with their own copy with specific directions THEIR scout is DECIDING without THEIR input.

Next would be the survey of the Merit Badge, broken into two parts. I'll separate the required from the rest of the list and ask them to pick 4 required ones. Then hand them the list of all the other MB broken down into groups like this list:

http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Work_Sheet_for_Building_a_Merit_Badge_Counselor_List

I really would like to do this at my next campout. Do you think this is a good approach? Pros and cons?

Basement Dweller..

Yeah I'll go CAMPING BUT WITH my scouts... *pfft WITH A SMILE

We've only done ONE campout this year. (We've got the second one this coming weekend.) I'm used to doing 10-12 campouts in a year through scouting with my son. Don't ya think there is a problem with this picture?? .. *pfft while laughing

Beavah...

So THAT's what Wisdom Woods is.. *laughing Got two whole bins of notebooks and quick look through had me realizing most were nothing but training material. Some of it Council level and some SO old they still had slides.. *snickers this powerpoint user.

By the way.. took the income tax refund and BOUGHT several books from the scout store including ALL 3 Program Plans, Troop Record book and Rank Advancement chart... *grins

Okay.. enough browbeating me on MBs. Granted even I wouldn't do fly fishing at a Troop meeting... *sighing on the limits of the forums. I guess when I say work on MB at a Troop meeting, I should spell it out that not all of it is in the registered meeting place... *grins In fact, we're doing movie in the Rec office community room free of charge so we can use their nice size TV to watch Blindside for Community MB in exchange for doing their parks cleaning. Nice exchange, don't ya agree.. *impish grin

By the way Scouters.. did swing over into the other Forum to hunt down some 'How to start a PLC' and etc. to glean some more helpful hints. Won't ask ya again since many of your answers still hold true today even if ya gave them back in 2004 - 2009.. *laughing Implementation is the key and I LOVE the 100 feet back rule.. *Grins I'm kinda done being a parent ya know... *winka I REALLY want to go CAMPING again and in a darn tent. Cabins aren't really that FUN... *smirks

Basement Dweller... In answer to your questions:

'you have never mentioned your Senior Patrol leader in any of your posts.....Do you have one? Is he trained?????

How about the PLC????? Do you have one and is it active???????'

SPL... I set them up when I first started and not much help they've been in planning except to do the opening and closing. Did do PLC meetings for 4 months and gave up. At the time I had two families so made the oldest boys SPL and ASPL according to age. Every time I'd have a PLC, the ASPL would not attend the Troop meeting. It was pulling teeth to get ideas from the SPL. When one family transferred out I started the SPL (life) and his brother (second class) on MBs work. SPL had only Eagle and MB on his mind, not troop activities. It worked quite well for both of them since they weren't working on the same thing: MB (second class) and Eagle work (life). Last couple meeting brought them together onto Physical Fitness MB and Community. When the crossover came I just included them in both.

Crossover scouting coming into my meeting WHEN is a whole 'nother forum. *prays and crosses fingers and toes that now that the Crossover had they 'finale' party they attend Monday's meeting to help plan the campout menu. This is where I'm trying to plan and teach the PLC too.

Do the boys plan your program???? YES in they put the ideas on the preliminary yearly calendar. I quickly learned there is much more to calendar planning than I thought. Trial and failure is a nice little (BIG) lesson. Now my aim is a WORKING yearly calender. I WANT TO GO TENT CAMPING. I'm TIRED of being STOPPED by other schedules... *pfft on parents who overbook their kids in so many other activities. If I can do in 4 campouts in 6 weeks in the fall and 5 campouts in 6 weeks in the spring, they can at least do a couple. This year was actually the first time I did a winter cabin camping as I was always politely shooed away for obvious reasons... *laughing

On the MB Academy, THAT had NOTHING to do with my boys! Nor are they working it. I know Basement Dweller you don't like them but our district is going to host one ANYWAYS. After sitting through this years that was poorly planned and last minute, my partner in crime and I said, we're taking charge and running it well... *shudders at poorly planned and last minute put together. There is also a HUGE difference between planning with adults and gearing the direction of scouts' PLC. I've already been working to put the tools into my scouts hands to run the PLC after I lead them by showing how and leaving skill and MB tools around for them to utilize that 'idea' section of their brain.

I've already signed up for district and council camporees for the Fall that I was told no to this year. I may be deaf but my scouts aren't. Let them overhear what other Troop have done for ever more ideas... *laughing

You guys have redirected some of my thinking but at the same time the teacher in me will prevail in how I approach things. I really want a PLC that spills over into retention, recruitment and Eagles with a strong 'guiders and hands off' leadership team.

Good reminders and benchmarks for myself to keep that goal oriented part of myself in check, ScoutNut... *winka

A neighboring Troop just gave me an AWESOME survey to use with the scouts in planning the monthly event calendar.

I will be honest and say I prefer the FUN hands on approach incorporated into planning. Maybe because I'm Deaf I sdislike lectures unless there is an interpreter. Between your writings and the survey, maybe a different approach is needed in letting the scout see how I plan their meetings using a tailored sheet of the PLC that fits our troops' learning/communication needs. If I weekly review it, they should be able to take off for Mid - May and June, don't ya think? Use Sept to review again and let them take off for Nov. (Not gonna give them Oct as it'll put them behind that working 3 months calendar. Sept is a busy month for parents)

On this quote below..

"Because of the importance of individual attention in the merit badge plan, group instruction should be limited to those scenarios where the benefits are compelling."

Would it hold true if I got only 4-5 scouts? On the community maps we have three helpers. I know things will change when the Troop has more then the minimum 5 scouts but hopefully by then someone else is in the SM role as I've been suggested I make a better CC... *laughing

Just a question.. how far is the Pennsylvania/ Philadelphia from the Virginia history triangle mentioned by PapaDaddy? Thinking can do both histories belts since they are not that far apart. Can even do the camp route in Gettysburg section as there is a nice Scout camp there too.

I have to laugh at the different perceptions on hectic and slow paced. Being a city gal from the NYC/LI area, DC is right up there with NYC but Boston will never come close that is if one is driving their own car. Boston is still s l o w paced.. *grins

Wondering Cambridge if you got all these wars of ours straight that is being mentioned??... *teasing laughter

Not surprising blw2 that you don't. Briefly, every scout, parent or leader that fills out a BSA application gets a small membership card like a driver's license. It has your ID number that useful for things like online training and council forms. Neither my son's Troop or Pack gave them out due to the number of scouts they had. Leaders usually got theirs because they needed the number on various forms.

Don't hesitate to ask for it now that you know. I wished now I knew as I could use it as proof I was a member because of my knot awards. I now have to make a special trip to research the paper archives to 'find' my proof that I was a den leader 20 some years ago as my computer scouting record is not complete. I would like a veteran patch and we need the correct years for it. There is a big difference between 20 and 9.. *smiles

Forewarning.. If you do ANY trainings, make sure you get your training card. Sometimes those trainings don't make it to the computer and your card is your proof. I keep mine in a ziploc snack bag.. *winka

Beavah... More like revival enterprise for the Troop.. *grins

A few situations have had a HUGE impact in killing Troop numbers in just 3 years. Death of the current SM/CC had the Deaf parent contacting me because of my Scouting experience. Its true what they say that one never knows what they walk into... *smiles

Troop Guide is a good title. Like the JASM but already know hard to depend on him as pushing to finish his own Eagle and move out of the Troop. Attendance is an issue with the Life rank because of his sports.

I like the ideas on my 3-5 year plan and their (Committee) 3-5 year plan but how does one get the Committee to do THEIR work without me. I'm SM and not CC too unlike the previous SM.

On your year 1 comment of 'don't do it all yourself', I've just recently discovered that I stopped counting on them because of their attendance at Troop meetings. I know I'm new at the ropes of SM but realized that much of what my son and I did together (I went on all the campouts), I was never in a leadership role. I'm struggling to learn the SM and Troop ropes and make the changes together with them yet feeling alone in who I can depend on and in planning alone. Just recently decided to have leaders meetings. I also realize the changes within the committee has to come from me but kinda lost on how and also have so much on my own plate. I'm also taking the lessons learnt this year and trying to make next year better by starting now. The calendar is the first priority in getting dates LOCKED onto the calendar and setting up the pattern of planning ahead.

Advice on the dues.. Glad ya mentioned it as will give that much thought on discussion questions to bring to the committee and ask for clarity on rules. So true on transparency and thanks for that reminder!!

Now calendar and MBs...

Beavah, Qwazse, ScoutNut.. I think I need to clarify something...

MB calendar and yearly calendar are two different things and two different issues. Yearly calendar works on 3 months - 6 month thinking while MB works on a 1-3 months thinking. I know the boys pick the MB but I was trying to prevent the same ones from being picked again and again and this EXTENDED partials mentality of continuance that 3-4 years later that MB is still not done. Heck real life, you'd lose your job if you take that long. The boys will still be allowed to pick ANY MB but I want to see that the required ones do get picked to. In the past, they weren't picking the required one on a yearly basis.

I have a problem with understanding ScoutNut's thinking of Troop MB being few and far between. If you aren't doing rank advancement, what else do you do? True that MB are individual paced and had wanted to do round robin style but not working if I don't know what adult is going to be there.

Another thing to clarify is that MB's require activities. Let's use Citizenship in the Community as an example. It required 8 hour of community service with the organization chosen plus a court, board and something else (choices are given) visit. We picked Food Pantry just because Scouting for Food was happening so we could take advantage of it. Scouts don't see the bigger picture of the Food Pantry like holiday baskets, open hours of giving food, meals on wheels, soup kitchens, emergency aid like fire in one's home, and etc. We also picked town court to broaden our experiences since we've done town meeting. Those will require outings so they get put onto the short term calendar. It MUCH easier to put those kinds of things onto ones calendar then a camping trip to Smuggler's Notch, summer camp, cabin camping and etc.

FYI...We planned a calendar with TOTAL boys work from their ideas to inserting those ideas into a Troop calendar for the year 2011-2012. The outcome... we've had one campout so far with another one actually happening. The calendar had one for EVERY month. Realistically our Troop can't do 3 cabin camping as the deposit aspect kills us. We don't take advantage of district or council stuff but made it totally Troop only activity. I was behind in follow ups even when I brought up that campouts 3-4 months ahead of time. The committee is still learning so things were being planned in that month so of course failure. I'm now going to set deadlines of when things must be locked in by. (something I wasn't doing before)

There is a reason for the 3 month ahead thinking. Hence the reason for wanting to plan a 2012-2013 calendar NOW and get a few more perceptions on things I should look at when putting things on the calendar. Some have given GREAT advice in area here and else where in the forums. I recreated our preliminary calendar so its one page with 6 rows, 2 columns for the 12 months. In each block there is fundraiser, service project, outing with space for whomever needs it. This will be a reference guide for the entire year. (as I typed this I'm adding in a deadline by in each block)

I'm going to take care of Sept, Oct, Nov monthly outing for now as trying to do it in August is awful. Parents come back with I can't so it NEVER makes it ON the Troop calendar. If I have just one Scout going, I can piggyback another Troop so that scout has the scOUTING experience. I have a HUGE problem with middle school sports that is totally NEW to me. My son's Troop was high school.

Now do you Scouters still find flaws in my thinking?? Suggestions on another outlook or things I still need to conisder??

THANK YOU infoscouter.

Posted a couple I wasn't even aware of: Commissioner and Wire.

Hi there again Beavah!!... *loving the greeting and laughing

My Troop:

Scout working on Eagle so really not into planning. I finally stopped doing PLC with him as it was a dead end.

Sibling Brother is working on Star and not sure where he is headed yet

and 5 new crossovers that are active minded and body.

I'm basically doing the calendar myself with their ideas then gonna teach them how to plan come fall. It really needs to be done step by step because even the leaders have weaknesses or they are newbies. (My leader planned many hours of 'community service' yet never read the Citizenship-Community that it needs to be with the organization we chose. I'm still clueless as to how changed to confusion when it was properly executed and understood in the Troop meeting... *still scratching head Should I tell ya HE chose the organization??... *laughing)

MB calendar: I see your point. Maybe a twist on the idea is to have a 5 year calendar and write in which MB were covered? I've seen a pattern through the TM of the same MB so the required ones are NOT getting done. I've already go plan the MB activity cards but ONLY for the required ones. Will have the list and book for the others MB handy.. over there---->... *laughing

Last years calendar: The problem with the committee is get the places reserved so they can be locked in on the calendar. Fundraisers chaired, started and etc, etc, etc. Committee approves the initial one at the same time gives me feedback on their 'quirky' way of doing things since we're new to each other...*winka

Jamborees: I want to bring an awareness of them to the scout and parent as no one brought them to my son and I. Financially I wouldn't have been able but had I been then my son and I would have sold way more popcorn to do so. I really want to be able to have the info at the parents finger tips WHEN they come into Boy Scouts. We are going to start collecting dues that go into a parent account so we can do more high adventure kinds of things that haven't been done. Who knows how much is a dream or reality?

I would do Boston over DC just from your comment of wanting a less hectic pace. The other concern is information overload. DC traffic is FAST to sum it lightly and crowded. Boston is slower pace, space and still has the history. From Boston you can do a couple of day trips to see other historic areas. Boston has some unique places to eat: Cheers, public market and etc. Just down the road is the beach.

Not sure about the biking part but can tell ya there is walking and a subway in Boston. (the subway kinda took me by surprised as I grew up with NY City's. There is only 2 cars for some lines compared to 10.) We have Triple AAA here that really gives a nice book of places to see.

If you narrow down you place to visit, we can all come back with the must see places, places the stay and etc.... *Smiles on the naturalness of the scout is ever helpful.. *laughing

After doing a GREAT calendar session in the beginning of the year of getting a preliminary calendar with something every month, I've learned that the beginning was really a NEWBIE case.. *laughing Out of all those dates we've ACTUALLY done 2 campouts. We planned 3 cabin camping and could only do one after realizing the fund needs for deposit.. *sighs

Other than taking the school, council and district calendar, what other things should I consider or questions should I ask when putting things on a preliminary calendar to create a WORKED calendar? Also do any of you do a 5 year calendar or a special MB calendar for the required MB in your 'calendar' planning? Always wanted to do a jamboree but the expense and time to come up with the money didn't work for my son and I'd like it to work for my scout parents.

Also any of you experienced calendar planning yet while trying to transition your Troop and Committee? In the past the SM was both SM and CC. I wanna be SM...*tired grin

My committee is still weak and I realize I've got to come up with sheet guides for us all to make the committee work for the SM yet redirect the follow ups. The calendar is one of many topics of changes needed for us. Learned A LOT by DOING with my first calendar so getting a jump start now. Any advice, wisdom and experiences to share is WELCOMED... *smiles

We want to set up a website for our Troop. It seems to me there are four free hosting sites: Scoutlander, Yola and two others that are bookmarked on my other laptop. By the way, I'm VERY familiar with GoDaddy.

Many seem to pick Scoutlander but I'm finding I don't like their presentation style and getting the automatic email notices.

What other website hostings are out there? Pros and cons of them? Things I should consider BESIDES the BSA policy of websites.. *laughing

On the calendar: pros and cons on making it visible? Scoutlander puts it behind a password that I think defeats the purpose of a Troop webpage and I noticed our neighbor Troops don't keep theirs hidden either.

Why not change your routine of how you do things?

I would keep the calendar format and tell parents to start using the Scout calendar as their main calendar. Print out the first one at the beginning of the year and put in some kind of thing report file type folder or a notebook.

Use a 3 months cycle of update. End of September, print out December's.

Instead of you printing all the copies, tell the parents to do their own.

Hope this helps as I can't change the computer program for the life of me but I NEED my SCOUT calendar.. *grins

Worst... on a backpack trip...

Rudely woken up in the middle of the night and having a wet scout thrust on us. It seems the scout didn't set up his tent properly so it collapsed when it POURED that night. He got soaked. To stop his chills, he was told to take off his wet shirt (thank goodness the shorts were dry says this lady leader.. WHEW) and use my sleeping bag.

sleeping positions.. I can't be next to the scout so that puts my son in the middle. Sharing a sleeping bag not meant to be shared is a REAL toughie. Especially when my son NEVER woke up during this whole change. Thank goodness morning came quickly along with warmth... * reminiscing smile

To do list...

Get a BACKPACKING tent so no one get thrust on us because we have the biggest tent... *laughing

Would I go backpacking again??... YEP

For me it would be:

Grand Canyon

Alaska

Oregon/Washington

Yellowstone National Park

Mount Rushmore

The Erie Canal Bike week from Buffalo to Albany

Not my bucket list huh??

Happy Birthday Terry!!

May it be your BESTIEST year yet... *smiles

(PS.. THANK YOU for starting these forum boards!! They really are truly a treasure of info and gaining feedback, wisdom or advice!!!.. *winka)

Yeah. Eamonn really had a different approach that made me take a step back on the answers given. For the English to see Massachusetts and our take on the Revolutionary War with them might be an eye opener or taken as an insult... *laughing Eamonn's right that we're a strange lot with our 'American' view.

Question begs since you posted in Scouting forum and coming in June.. what are your interests, hobbies and etc. Looking for the city or the country? Food or people? History or nature? What kind of pas trips have you taken and REALLY enjoyed and why?

People are suggesting New York City (NYC) but this New York'er Gal says skip NYC and come right on upstate as there is MUCH more to see and do as New York is more than NYC.. *grins

We're got wine country, backpacking trails, white water rafting, Kodak, Jello, Erie Canal, flour mills, flower miles and much more. You can do a bit of both NYC and upstate but don't limit yourselves to just cities.

I like mine via email so I belong to several Facebook groups and blogs along with the standard Scouting. I noticed that things don't trickle down from my district or council that 'I' think are important.

If I have a specific issue, I google. One can say the computer is my BESTIEST friend. Just WISH it was everyone else's too... *laughing

The best blog I think is Bryan on Scouting out of Scouting Magazine. Already seen the new dates on MB and what they were yet never heard it in council. Then again it pays to read when your DEAF... *laughing

Linkage for the Troop Committee Guidebook: http://www.bacarrowhead.org/training/TroopCommitteeGuidebook.pdf

At the late in the year, I have to wonder what sparked the committee to even use the word 'approve the activity' that has you as a SM concerned, CA Scouter. Maybe because it was an addition to the already laid out yearly calendar that they simply need more details and reassurance of the worthiness of the additional activity. I would instead ask straight out what seems to be the problem with this backpack trip. Maybe you have newbie parents that just crossed over wondering what supplies thus additional 'unexpected' expenses they need to buy and how soon they can fit it into their budget. Maybe sons have been planning this trip but are not informing parents of the details.

Routine doesn't change but an unexpected pieces can pop up that changes the whole dynamics thing within a committee: cross over parents, adding a back pack trip, and etc. I would think more about that then the committee 'approval' thing. Backpack trips, to many are scary things that involve a lot of special equipment & expenses plus in the 'dangerous' outback where cells are not. As newbie backpacker, it actually is the BEST scouting experience but not before doing it.. *winka Take a little more time on the before planning and reassurances...*smiles

Brewmeister,

I was NOT surprised at the average of Eagles. My son's Troop motto was Eaglemakers and it was that challenge of getting them done before 18 like my son did. Most made it the year before having learned that Senior year and Eagle projects are not a nice combination. It came from watching another before saying WHEW on making the deadline and comparing it to one that didn't have that deadline. Sometimes lessons are learnt from watching and listening than reading and talking...*smiles

Ahhhh the phone dilemma dg98adams.. *laughing

So glad to READ someone say they HATE phone calls. Having been totally immerse in the Deaf community for 3 years where everyone texts, emails and etc and GONE from Scouting in that time. I didn't know 'dinosaur' phone like my ASM has still existed when we exchanged phone numbers. Believe me when I say my eyes POPPED open when he took it out of his pocket...*laughing

Shall I tell ya my experience of Craiglist and looking for a used car? Feel FREE to get on your soapbox with little ol' moi as I understand yet another side of the 'famed phone issue' that you'll NEVER experienced. That is until you either become hard of hearing or Deaf.. *winka

Anyways that a WHOLE 'nother topic for the BSA 'Differently Abled' Awareness MB... *grins

For me they are just now coming up with a portable one that I can take via my smart phone that is NOT hooked up to my television (thinking how many Scouters are gonna scratch their heads on this comment of television phone... *laughing)

That's a whole 'nother Communication MB... *impish grin

Anyways DG...

Kidding aside.. THANKS for the connection tip. Guess I better add 'connection' job to my list and rope a few more in to help me. Even going to need to add in footwork needs to do list while adding meeting dates to the calendar. Only disadvantage is a printing of the MBC list since its now on the website...*thinking, thinking, thinking

Gonna do the dry erase board for openings as you're right in walk ins can't get into closed sections. I too don't like the idea of turning them away. (Will NOTE your wording on the open slots sign and the flyer.) Just crossed off the ones being taken. Good point on the tickets for adds one for the MBC as they will already have their attendance sheet plus keep scouts from just joining any class from reading the map. No name on the attendance sheet and no ticket means no entrance into the class. Means I will have to have a back up class NOT posted in case all the open slots are taken and I still have a walk-in. hmmm on the 'Be prepared' with plan D.. *laughing

I see your point on the MBC that won't come if not enough register. There is also the flip side in getting MBC to come/ commit. I will keep your 'NEXT' advice in mind.

Can't tell ya enough DG how MUCH I've appreciated your advice, feedback and suggestions on the MBA so I be sure and plan ours well while giving the Scouts a great program.

FYI... we wanted a twist to separate ours from another in the district and came up with the idea of 'parenting' class. (YEAH.. go ahead and LAUGH as my Scouting buddy did the same after the initial HUH????) Its basically sessions for the parents to learn a scouting skill or help them obtain the knowledge in say shopping for sleeping bags, shopping for hiking shoes and etc. Still trying to come up with a way of wording it that catches interest yet doesn't insult the actual 'parenting skill'... *laughing Welcome your suggestions... *hint, hint, hint.. *laughing

emb01... No, not what I was looking for but THANKS for trying.. *winka.

That (APO) is basically a college honor society that helps college students help others.

NJCubScouter.. you really show me how much is on my mind that is so jumbled in expressing... *laughing

You really pinpoint the nail on succinct and trying to get my real point... *grins

Succinct I ain't... *laughing

My point is trying to take the principles of the Scout Law and showing how other organization practice the same principles scouting does. I have a problem with 'practice what we preach' thus having scouts and parents see the need to show up and practice their scout spirit at different service projects we do even if rank or MB advancement isn't involved.

Eagle Scout just had a report that Scouting Magazine's blogger Bryan on Scouting just posted on. In looking at some of the statistics of Eagle, volunteering has very high percent of Eagles doing. I never questioned the need to volunteer and found it an ingrained philosophy of my own that I realized AFTER my son become Eagle was an underlying Scouting principle that's in their Oath and Law.

I'm now in conflict with understanding others who don't as well as having problems getting scouts and parents to attend. I was trying to come up with some kind of activity and lesson plan to teach my scouts the deeper meaning to this weekly recite of the Scout Law and Oath they do. So I really want non-profit organizations I can point the scout toward that does practices a specific scouting principle. Who know maybe from this list I can even take it a step further if that organization has a branch locally.

Facebook brought up an idea of connecting organizations to the Scout Law as a good example of showing how the Scout Law/ Scout Spirit can work every day? Suggestions please on names of non-profit organizations you can think of who's philosophy incorporates virtue Scouts seek in reciting their 12 point character law?

A Scout is:

Trustworthy:

Loyal:

Helpful:

Friendly:

Courteous:

Kind: Random Acts of Kindness Foundation

Obedient:

Cheerful:

Thrifty:

Brave:

Clean:

and Reverent:

I realize some like Random Acts of Kindness can hit two points, Helpful and Kind. Would really like to show Scouts that these 12 points are not only important in Scouting but elsewhere. Who knows it might make for a nice Scoutmasters' Minutes from here.

Scoutfish,

With the online registration there is so many slots per class so a someone signs up the slot gets filled.

I like the dry erase idea at MBA for the walk ins. You're right in how it will emphasis the point of pre-registration. I'll even take it a step further and post the cancelled class. Monday is our cut off date for online registration with the event Saturday.

We really had a problem with a parent that was a walk-in last year for our district's first one. The counselor told MBA that he wouldn't do it unless he had 5 scouts. It seem there is lots involved in his presentation, including transporting and setting up his trains. Mom was annoyed because she came just so her son could take that class. It was an endless song for quite some time with her yet we all patiently listened to it.

Just had our first planning meeting and the bottleneck that happened last year at the first one Merit Badge Academy (MBA) was definitely talked about along with several other bookmarks so abuse of the MB program doesn't happen. We're going to stick to the 3 session approach of morning, afternoon and full day. For the bottleneck, we're going to learn and use the online registration this year. Those that already registered will by pass the check in and be checked off with their attendance sheets in the MB class they signed up for.

online registration site: http://www.meritbadge.info/index.html

OH Grey, that was good one. Guess it pays to always carry the card as one never knows what one can 'win'... *laughing