Docrwm

Sounds like a serious set of issues here. Lots of folks will tell you what you should do. Problem is that when its your son you have every right to handle it however you choose. If he shoved your son without adequate provocation or reason then you could simply, and correctly, go to the Sheriff's office and file charges without talking to anyone at all. Folks need to get a grip and understand that just because BSA says something doesn't make it so. That said, if it were my son - I'd talk to him 1:1 and let him know a) if he touched my son again, for any reason other than saving him from ha

Hal, Don't wait for the paperwork - for YP it can be taken online without a number and it counts. Just make sure that they print off the certificate AND use the name exactly as they have put it on the official paperwork so it matches in the antiquated computer systems BSA uses.

It is tough to understand how folks aren't aware that BB & Archery can only be done at District and Council level events. Its printed on ALL the materials - I mean all the Cub Scout manuals, including the ones for the boys. District and Council means that its been SPECIFICALLY approved in WRITING so that the BSA and/or Council Liability Insurance applies. Also, a Shooting Sports Director is required to be on property for the Insurance to apply. The first rule of any shooting sport within BSA is SAFETY. Having someone else check your perimeter, flow, procedures, and lines of sight is re

Go with your son. But, try to get the new leaders up to speed by bringing in the Commissioner's staff from your District. You may or may not have a Unit Commissioner. I know you've been told here that every unit has one - fantasy. The Commissioner's Service is down roughly 40% nationwide from the last figures I saw at UC training. Your District does have a District Commissioner and probably Asst DCs who can help you. Frankly, given the very small size of your unit its likely that you're not on the Commissioner Staff's radar. Also, the Paid BSA Employee for your District has as part of t

Thanks for the update. Definitely NOT a fan of the new look.

The Trainer is plain wrong. The rules are Grade OR Age for each rank as are the rules for transition to Boy Scouts. YOU can choose to hold him back or his parents can but your District Trainer has no role in the process at all and really should read the manuals. Too many Red/Green tab folks know next to nothing about Cub Scouts but shoot their mouths off. I see it routinely with Roundtables with Commissioners that are Boy Scouters doing CS Roundtable and not knowing what they're talking about on a regular basis. Did the boy earn his rank - Yes or No. If yes, then why punish him and make

Just FYI - the old SB pants are on the BOGO again until July 4th. I finally picked up two and am so much happier with them than the old pants!

" The Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award is a COOL award that we are pushing strongly. The toughest part, really, is satisfying the summer camp portion. It isn't difficult, it is just that a lot of boys don't go to summer camp. We are trying to rectify that in our Pack. " FYI - the Summertime Camp option is an option not a requirement. Look at each rank and see that it has different requirements. For Wolves its " Assemble the "Six Essentials for Going Outdoors" (Wolf Handbook, Elective 23b) and discuss their purpose, and complete FOUR of the outdoor activities listed below." That means A

Taken directly from http://www.scouting.org/cubscouts/resources/csoutdooractivityaward.aspx Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award Tiger Cubs, Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts have the opportunity to earn the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award. Boys may earn the award in each of the program years as long as the requirements are completed each year. The first time the award is earned, the boy will receive the pocket flap award, which is to be worn on the right pocket flap of the uniform shirt. Each successive time the award is earned, a wolf track pin may be added to the flap. Lead

I am replying, as I said I was going to continue to read here, for 2 reasons: all the PMs I have gotten and some apparent mistaken conclusions. So I will try to clarify in an effort to not foster further dissent here. First, thank you for the PMs folks. As I said to most, I have two new District projects that may just eat up a substantial portion of my hour a week for scouting. Second, many PMs put the blame for my leaving on Bob White. Nothing could be further from the truth. His responses to me have been uniformly polite, respectful, and in keeping with what I see as the "Scout S

I am writing this and will then be removing myself from participation on this forum. So, many may want to ignore this post, or worse. They have that right - obviously. First, I've gotten several back channel emails that have been.....well.....a bit high and mighty. Basically, each of them has implied that since I have admitted to being new to Adult Scouting my views are not worth much. None has offered any, ANY, reasoning to support their positions other than their own self-proclaimed expertise based on their claims to having many years, held various posts, etc. I'm a reasonably

Does ANYONE here read the content of posts prior to posting? Sometimes I do wonder. I quoted both the relevant BSA manual AND the actual Commission (you know the document from NATIONAL that says you're a Commissioner) both of which say that "on advice of local Council" BSA National Commissions such-and-such. Are local Commissioners "managed" by the local Council - yes and no. Unit Commissioners actually are "managed" by the District Commissioner. The ADCs are "managed" by the DC. Roundtable Commissioners are "managed" by the DC. Who manages the DCs? The Council Commissioners.

Before folks take time away from actually working to improve programming for actual scouts, please read my response to Beavah in the original thread. Thanks. -Robert

Beavah, The Commissioner training that I took told me that the main role of BSA Commissioners is to support units, help them access resources, clarify how BSA sets out things to be done, and generally to be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. We were also given several examples of how we might have folks in units who had been there a long time, were wedded to how they did things, and would argue that they knew best because of their tenure.......... -Robert

Evmori wrote: "Just Google "The Game of Life" or "Win All You Can" and you will find it! I question why there needs to be games like this in the 1st place?" The point isn't that the information is not available online but rather that apparently many associated with WB seem to think that keeping things private, avoiding answering direct questions about the nature and content of the training, etc. is just fine. Yes, I can find out about TGofL online, but then if I've asked a polite and direct question of another scouter about what goes on at WB I really shouldn't have to then go to Googl

Bob White, I was referring to the pattern of behavior across multiple posters regarding keeping the information hidden. Many have argued that it should not be talked about, that is a form of secrecy. As for the actions of the moderator - I respect his personal decision and am in no way challenging his right to decide as mod what is, and is not, allowed to be posted. My point is broader. From my reads here on this topic and in the OA area it seems clear as crystal to me that many still cling to ideas about how things should be instead of abiding by BSA policy on how they are regar

Thank you for letting us know about these additions. -Robert

I'd honor his stated wish by not singling him out. That said, I'd also given him a framed photo of the boys. It can be done privately with no one involved who does not already know or it can be done publicly but no mention of his financial role can be mentioned. I'd tell him that the photo was just the boys way of thanking him. -Robert(This message has been edited by docrwm)

To answer your question about the adult earned knots - you can either show your current uniform or the certificate that was issued when you were awarded the knot. As for the AOL - that's a hard one as many adults have lost their certificates or any documentation. Our Cubmaster has gotten replacements by signing a form attesting to something for the Scout Shop. Best bet, wear your current shirt and tell them you need new ones for new uniforms.

I am quickly coming to the conclusion that I should stick to working with those in my local Pack and District as that seems productive and those with whom I interact focus on facts. I've interacted via the internet since the Bitnet days and this is the first time I have ever resorted to the squelch option for any members. One last attempt - I have posted what the BSA literature that I have gotten from my very recent Commissioner training states. No one has contradicted what I have posted by citing, referencing, or otherwise pointing to any other contradictory authority. What has happen

Interesting assertions and such. Not being a volunteer with Boy Scouts but with Cub Scouts I'll refer to the Cub Scout Leaders Book. Chapter 23 (p. 23-4) states, in the list of Committee Chair responsibilities, that the Chair: "Ask the committee to assist with recommendations for Cubmaster, assistant Cubmasters, Tiger Cub Den leaders, Cub Scout den leaders, and Webelos den leaders, as needed." There is language describing each Committee Members role and nowhere in that langauge for a number of positions (e.g., secretary, treas., advancement comm chair, etc.) does it say anything

BW, Thanks. It is secrecy and thats all there is too it. Sadly, I am seeing more of it the more I get involved in BSA beyond my District. Its why I stopped posting to or even reading the OA threads. So far, thank G*d, I haven't run in to it locally. When I ask a reasonable question about a course I am to take and I get either double-talk or evasive answers I pass on it. I do that as a professional and now, unfortunately, as a Volunteer. As for the content. Been a manager, been a professor, am a Clinical Psychologist who has taught conflict resolution, active listening, and

I'm probably going to make more friends with my comments here but..... A big problem with secrecy or "in group" information is that one defense by the "in group" is to claim that only those who have gone through what they did can truly have an opinion on the ordeal/process/event/experience. Sorry but that is complete nonsense. Like I have told my Cubs - you don't have to jump off a cliff to know it hurts a lot at the end and its stupid under nearly all circumstances. My problem with ALL this is that BSA has a VERY specific rule about no secrecy. I keep seeing it broken in regards

NeiLup, No problem. Email is an imprecise communication mechanism at best. -Robert

There are recommendations for how to distribute the load, yes. However, when one distributes the work that does not mean that the originally responsible party has delegated, or has the authority to delegate, the authority granted to them by the higher agency. What that means is that it may be well and good to have an adult volunteer selection committee in order to lighten the CC's load (Great - all for that), but it is a committee that has several people who can veto ANY action it recommends - the CC, the IH, and the SE.(This message has been edited by docrwm)