Eagle92

'90 That was my situation: did project at 14, did EBOR at 18. As I mentioned, I lucked out as the DAC who approved the project was still active and sat on my EBOR. He just wasn't the DAC at the time of my EBOR.

I know all the Anniversary hoopla created supply problems last year, so I bet it is also this year. Trust me it does take time to enter all the info into SCOUTNET. I do not know how much time is saved doing internet rechartering, but doing it the paperwork method does indeed take time. I remember waiting at the office for my district's charters to be inputed into SCOUTNET on Dec 23 with my then fiance' sleeping in a cubicle waiting for the 3 secretaries to enter all the info to see if I was short in membership and would not be able to go home for Christmas, or if I met goals and would. I knew I met the goals, but had to wait until it was official. We left straight from the office and was able to get a nap before my family's Christmas Eve party.

With permission of the SM and/or CC at a regular COH, not a problem, but at an ECOH!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?! Was you DE ever involved in Scouting as a youth? Trust me there is a lot of pressure to make your FOS goal, esp in today's economy, BUT AT AN ECOH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! (Caps to emphasize my disgust, not screaming)

So I need to pick up my ALICE accessories now? I haven't played with MOLLE stuff yet, but I thought that MOLLE accessory pouches would work on the ALICE packs, they just don't use the metal clips.

I don't know where Moose is implying that one group approves the project, and another sits on the board, maybe on the website link, but I do agree with her that the same person or group that approves the project should be on the EBOR. I know in my case, as an 18 yo Life Scout going for his EBOR, the DAC was not going to approve me for my Eagle b/c I did not get his approval for my project. It was only when I explained that I did everything by the book just after turning Life 4 years earlier,i.e. coming up with the project, filling out the paperwork, and getting the then DAC's approval, me wanting to know if there was an appeal process as I would be appealing if there was, AND me leaving the EBOR while the exDAC who approved my project (and was sitting on my EBOR) and the rest of the EBOR discussed matters. If the exDAC would not have been on the EBOR, I think I would have been rejected for Eagle, and would have had to appeal.

You will find that in relation to units, there are few formal rules. In reference to the SPL, what is going on to make folks unhappy? Sometimes you have to counsel and advise your SPL, after all they are usually teenagers who might have limited expereince being a leader. They need to learn, grow, make mistakes, and improve in their expereince as SPL. Also sometimes folks need to live with their mistakes. If the troop elected the guy for his popularity, then they need to see that the most popular guy does not always make the best leader. Sometimes it's the person who few to any think will be the best choice sometimes proves everyone wrong, and is the best choice. Abe Lincoln was one of those. And sometimes "impeachment" is the best choice if teh problems are serious enough.

here's the deal though, becasue school systems vary as to when school ends, In my hometown we were finished before Memorial Day, June 1 is the de facto date that scouts complete the grade in SCOUTNET.

Sorry to hear that SM elect is stepping down. Threatening to go to the media and employer is very juvenile. Good luck to him and the troop. I know I would nto step up and volunteer in that unit, or district, with a commish like yours.

I know for a fact that it can work at the district level. My current district is only 1 county and 2 towns in another county. We got the 2 towns b/c the units in those town had their COR complain. The two towns were closer transportation wise to the center of my district than their own. So they could easily get to us, go to our functions, etc than their own county's functions. As for council level, you got to get the CORs invovled.

Or they may have taken the old course, where they did not want you to know what's up ahead of time. Everythign was designed so that you used the Patrol method to go up the chain of command.

'732, Sounds like ya got a game plan to me let those two keep pluging away at AOL. Again nothing says you can only do Crossover at BnG. Heck I know 1 pack that scheduled an AOL and Crossover as needed. So you might get 1 Cub one month, and 2 months later 3 cubs, etc. If the pack is not willing to do another ceremony, and if politics is involved I'm sorry to say that is a possibility, do a Troop Investiture Ceremony for the two young men instead. If you need ideas, PM me.

At the moment, BSA is recommending that ALL participants, parents and siblings included, at scouting events have a medical form completed. District/Council events in my neck of the woods are mandating them. If you look at the new, new medical forms, the ones as of 11-2010 and will be the only ones accepted after 3-1-11, (The ones that have Parts A and B necessary for overnite camping and Part C long term and HA activities) and found here http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34605_Letter.pdf Part B has the consent section on it. While I do not deal with the paperwork side of of the medical profession (thankfully); I know that the "legalese" can cause problems, so I recommend it. Is it overkill, yes, but unfortunately in today's world it's needed.

DRM, The way to get the patches and Badge Magic residue off is to take the items to the dry cleaners. otherwise it leaves a horrible mess. Needle and thread is the way to go! I used the older Badge Bond stuff one time to try it out, as I refuse to recommend anything I haven't either used or seen used and want. HORIBLE STUFF!

HEHEHE this question came up in my district back when I was a DE. District folks did not like the SE at the time and wanted to join of of the two neighboring councils. We also had units talking about joining one neigboring council, and the county line was less than a 1/4 mile from their CO. To be honest I do not know what it takes for national take a look and intervene.

Beav, Yep I think it's spam too, but i do like to give the benefit of the doubt. Plus ALICE packs do make good packs. While I have a Wind River internal frame pack now, I do love my ALICE and we have been through so much together: 2 Fifty Milers, NSJ, WSJ, 3 Months in Europe, and numerous trips, that I just cannot part with it. That's why it's on loan, stressing LOAN, to oldest son. I do recommend ALICE packs to anyone. On a side note Arc'teryx DID create both the MOLLE and ICBE packs used by the military today. They based it on their civilian packs, with mil-spec imprevements. Want to get one of those bad boys for myself, just cannot justify a new pack when the 10yo Wind River is still very usable.

A few thoughts. 1) Crossover does not have to occur at BnG. 2) Webelos dens are encourage to visit units. He can still be a Webelos and finish up his AOL while visiting the troop.

Speedy, Didn't know you were in Occoneechee. You gotta got to Camp Charles, in Bailey, NC about 15-20 minutes down the road from ya on US 264. All, The decision to go/no go needs to rest with the PLC and ultimately the SM. IMHO factors to cancel or modify a trip should include the following off the top of my head: Road conditions to and from Preparedness of the scouts for the weather Weather emergencies, i.e. tornados, flooding, hurricanes, etc Location Medical emergencies I do not know why the SM cancelled. If it was b/c he didn't feel that the troop was prepared, or oneof the reasons above, then I'll back him up 100% If he just thought that the weather was too cold and didn't want to deal with it, then I think he is wrong. BUT without more details we really cannot judge. I'll give you my perspective from personal expereince and one unit's expereince. I went camping through a hurricane. yep you heard me I camped out in a hurricane. I was going through BA22, in the wilderness survival portion of the course on the second to last nite. We had no idea what was going on until the troop guides came in and told us to maek sure our shelters were secure and waterproof as the outerbands of a hurricane were goign to hit us that nite, and the next. That was the only time the entire patrol actually worked together as a patrol. We survived it. BUT were were also prepared for almost anything having been given a list of equipment that we had to bring, and additional items that might want to be bring. We had the KSAs as well as the supplies to make that shelter and stay relatively dry. Now two troops were doing their survival campout in December at the Bridgestone-Firestone Wildlife Habitat area in Wilson, NC( about 35-40 minutes from ya Speedy). Most of the scouts were prepared for a drop in the temperatures and some rain. But when the temps dropped lower than expected, and about 1 foot of snow landed on the ground, the SMs decided move the scouts from their survival shelters to one of the permanent shelters that had drop down sides b/c only 1 or 2 of the scouts had the gear for the lower temps. Good call if ya ask me.

So what's your unit, council, position in scouting, etc etc? As for ALICE packs, love them, have mine the past 23 years. Done 2 of my 3 50 milers with it, went to Europe for 3 month with it, and only got a replacement when I began carrying more stuff than it could hold. That's what happens when you get married, you start playing pack mule Now folks do know EBAY, local Army surplus stores, CRAIGSLIST, etc are other alternatives to getting one? Also the MOLLE gear has supplanted ALICE, and are based upon I beleicve ArcTeranyx packs right?

national use to sell replacemetn buttons in the sewing kits, the little brown ones that were designed for camping. The buttons were for the ODL shirts. Do not know if they still do this or not.

M2E brings up some other equipment that may be needed. And having your son talk to the PL and SPL about equipment he may want to get is a very good idea. I didn't mention mess kits as each patrol had their own set that fed 8. we didn't need them. And don't get overwhelmed at teh amount of gear. Yes some of it is VERY important, but you may be able to find substitues at home, i.e. plastic bowls, palstic cutlery, extra blankets to use as a sleepign pad, etc. if you can find the 2nd ed. BSFB, it has some great ideas ion how to use common stuff and make your own. Works VERY well too. I just don't recommend using the hipbelt it describes with a cheap Kmart frame

SctDad, Me personally I'd hold off. With the new job, young child, getting back invovled in the OA as an AA, involved on the outdoor committee, etc in addition to your CM duties, you already got a very full plate. I know that I am waiting until I have more time to make that 18 month committment, 2 weekends plus 18 months to work the ticket, whenever that happens . On the other hand, that full plate would probably give you a bunch of ticket items if you do decide to take WB. Good luck.

One of the challenges of putting more "oomph" in the book is the availability of resources in one's area. I.e. I cannot go to a TV station, as the nearest one is about an hour away. The book is there to provide a foundation, and Scouters are encouraged to add to it. I too have used it as a guide. I too have adjusted the schedule to fit the local events. It's a good foundation, especially for new leaders, but does need to be adapted to. As to what I would change, I agree a better ToC would be nice. Instead of having each section it's own. Keep that, but add an overview one.

Two words of advice I have are teh following: 1)Do not skimp on some of the equipment. Backpack and sleeping bap are vital pieces that you do not want to sklimp on. You may $90+ dollars on a good sleeping bag, but if the scout takes care of it, it will last 10+ years. Ditto on a backpack. DO NOT GET THE BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL FROM WALMART Make sure the backpack is sized for him and HAS A HIPBELT! I made the mistake of buying a KMart special and I had the most miserable time on my first backpacking trip. No hipbelt, and the belt I made per Green Bar Bill's instructions in the old field book, while helped part of the first day, caused the cheap frame to break. No hipbelt AND broken aluminum frame jutting into back to not make a fun trip. I still have my second backpack after 22 years, it's still servicable, and it is on loan to oldest son until he buys a new one for himslef. I also have a 22yo sleeping bag (replacing the one I used on that first trip)that's still servicable, but I've grown out of (do not buy youth size sleeping bags, you'll outgrow it), and it's replacement. Only problem with the repalcement is the zipper broke, and I need to use safety pins to secure. If your troop doesn't provide tents, mine did, then a tent is another investment you don't skimp on. 2) Make sure you scout has a financial investment in it. Yep if he pays for it, in whole or partially, he will take better care of it.

10 short term campouts/year is the Gold Standard for troops. As others have mentioned ususally in the $10-$20 to cover food and gas. Sometimes a little more, depending upon what is being done. Growing up my unit did 1 fundraiser in 2 stages every year. We worked a local fair in which the Scouts cleaned up, and the adults sold hot dogs and lemonade. Scouts earned money for their accounts. Parents earned it for the troop.

If they are wearing the older Lodge Chief POR patch, then they donot wear unit numbers, unit POR patch, and wear the SILVER loops. If they weay wear district committee or lodge committee patches, ditto above, no unit numbers and silver loops.