Double dipping rank and merit badges, and how do you define "participate"?

[Tron]

7 hours ago, Eagle94-A1 said:

I think my time in Scouting is coming to a close. Troop is fighting to survive another year. Wife is hoping it doesn't.  She says I have given so much to the program that the changes in the program are affecting me. Plus the lack of support from the council. She says I need to reclaim my time. and she may be right.

Support from the council is one of those weird things. The council is the volunteers; there is no one to help if no one is staffing those district and council committees. If your time at the troop is sunsetting, and if the troop is folding, it might be time to consider a district role.

[Eagle94-A1]

On 8/8/2025 at 4:08 PM, Tron said:

Support from the council is one of those weird things. The council is the volunteers; there is no one to help if no one is staffing those district and council committees. If your time at the troop is sunsetting, and if the troop is folding, it might be time to consider a district role.

I have stepped back from all council and district positions to focus on the troop. What ticks me off is that I had done so much to help the council in the past when I was able, but now when I need help because I an not able,  I am on my own.

 

On another note, this past weekend will probably be the last weekend when all my registered Scouts, "adult participants," and 20 y.o. ASM got together and had a blast. One final campout before school and college starts up.

[skeptic]

On 8/8/2025 at 1:08 PM, Tron said:

Support from the council is one of those weird things. The council is the volunteers; there is no one to help if no one is staffing those district and council committees. If your time at the troop is sunsetting, and if the troop is folding, it might be time to consider a district role.

Sadly the council often sees those coming from independently viable units as somehow out of their "often set in stone" plans.  Particularly true if the unit was doing their won thing much of the time due to a weak council that ignored new or established success stories.  I have been suggesting that ours may find more success over time if they develop, or redevelop, Council-level options for more adventurous activities that tend to need more adult help and that would draw independent youth from a larger pool.  And not just High Adventure Bases, but also things like the annual Desert Caravan we once had, or Ships opening a cruise to new places, or planning repetitive service events on local trails and community recreational areas.  Too often, the resource help in people are simply waiting to be asked.  The largest issue with our council seems to be umbrage by the Council Exec board and the executive when troops that have gone on their own most of the time due to poor council plans and support choose to continue that most of the time.  Then when those units decide to step in and offer to participate and even help, they are given a cold shoulder.  

[InquisitiveScouter]

6 minutes ago, skeptic said:

Sadly the council often sees those coming from independently viable units as somehow out of their "often set in stone" plans.  Particularly true if the unit was doing their won thing much of the time due to a weak council that ignored new or established success stories.  I have been suggesting that ours may find more success over time if they develop, or redevelop, Council-level options for more adventurous activities that tend to need more adult help and that would draw independent youth from a larger pool.  And not just High Adventure Bases, but also things like the annual Desert Caravan we once had, or Ships opening a cruise to new places, or planning repetitive service events on local trails and community recreational areas.  Too often, the resource help in people are simply waiting to be asked.  The largest issue with our council seems to be umbrage by the Council Exec board and the executive when troops that have gone on their own most of the time due to poor council plans and support choose to continue that most of the time.  Then when those units decide to step in and offer to participate and even help, they are given a cold shoulder.  

We get this all the time...

Our council and district calendar is slap full of activities.  If a Patrol Leaders Council wanted to, they could simply attend all these events, and not have to plan much at all in the way of outdoor activities.

But, the PLC in our unit simply does not want to attend the events.  The are often sub-par events, with many units attending with youth who simply do not act according to the Scout Oath and Law.  Since our Troop is large, our PLC plans events that they want to do, and that, then, are well attended.  These have built a great unit identity and sense of Troop cohesion... and our PLC wants to guard that, as I understand it.

District and Council volunteers and professionals often ask me why our Troop does not attend their events.  I answer simply, "Because our PLC has chosen to do other events." 

There are a great many volunteers and professionals out there who actually think that unit adults should tell the youth where to go and what to do.