Eagle92

perei said A speed trap is a town that does certain things. One indicator of a speed trap town in Alabama is that the speed limit goes down by 5 mph each sign. That said, I have an easy solution to speed traps. When you drive through small towns, drive the speed limit (not 5, 10 or 15 mph over). That's what I do, and it works every time. Are you talking about the town outside Dothan on a state highway that drops from 55 to 50 for one block, then down to 45 for a block, then 40 for a block, then 35 for a block, then reversing the process?

Fscouter, I was using a different set of charts. She would be considered overweight on this chart, http://www.rush.edu/rumc/page-1108048103230.html and max weight in the US Army for her would be 136 lbs. at the time I knew her. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/army/l/blweightfemale.htm Grant you for BSA purposes, she would be allowed to do HA activities, since she is under the 178 pounds max like you said.

Lots of good advice. Here's my input. 1) In addition to talking to the SM talk to the SPL and/or PLC to get their vision of whatthey want from the troop. Boy Scouts is suppose to be Scout led, not parent led. 2) Recruit parents and community members to take on roles on the committee so that you are not a 'one man show" 3)Recruit parents and community members to take on roles on the committee so that you are not a 'one man show" 4) Recruit parents and community members to take on roles on the committee so that you are not a 'one man show" 2-4 is kinda important The more folks you have involved, the easier your job will be and the better the program can be. Just make sure that the committee understands that this is Boy Scouts, and not Cub Scouts, and that the Boy Scouts will screw up, make mistakes, etc etc, so they should not interfere with programing and let the PLC run it.

Hawk, No prob. I read into it that everyone inthe troop must have the exact same hat. In my neckof the woods, uniform inspections are part of camporee's interpatrol competitions, and it can be interesting. In ref to the loops, sorry your troop felt compelled to do away with the red loops. I know of one unit that is making "reproduction red loops" b/c they also use red neckers.

Hawk, One question, who was the letter addressed to as I know of no letter from anyone from national to volunteers that stated the red loops were to be destroyed. Not doubting ya one bit b/c I bet they did show you a letter. BUT I bet it was addressed to national scout shop managers and employees tellig them to destroy their inventory. I used to work in supply and know that sometimes, not often but sometimes, national tells shops to destroy merchandise for whatever reason. I remember working for supply and all Garfield merchandise had to be destroyed b/c the contract was about to expire. I wish I could have saved some of the stuff I had to throw in the dumpster as i am a collector and some of the stuff I couldn't afford, but thems the brakes. EDITED: While you are correct that a troop has to decide what hat to wear, a PLC can vote to allow any Scouting hat, evan a mixing of them, if they want. My troop growing up orignally had members in 2 types of hats: the ball caps, and for those who earned them via Brownsea 22 or WB the Campaign Covers. Then after having folks go to Philmont, Jambo, workign summer camp staff, etc the PLC decided to allow ANY scouting hat. So that varies form unit to unit.(This message has been edited by Eagle92) EDIT 2: You can't be a member of the Uniform Police unless the thread at MYSCOUTING.ORG, entitled "...You Might be an Uniform Policeman" applies to ya and Welcome to the boards!(This message has been edited by Eagle92)

YP training prior to recharter, yes, but i think you would lose some attendance if you offered it during RT. Now if you offered it prior to or after RT, maybe.

I've seen it done only after he knows the skill and can do it completley on his own, so the Scout should have already learned the skill. Mostly I've seen it used to keep the scout proficient with the skill after sign off.

I have a problem with height/weight charts b/c I have met folks who are "overweight" according to the chart, but when you do a BMI, they have low body fat. One example I know of was a prior military guy who constantly had to get a waiver b/c accordign to the chart, he was fat, but he had 6% body fat b/c he was a PT monger. Also knew a gymnast who was "fat" at 146 pounds and 5'2" according to the charts. Yeah right with 9% body fat, she was fat. tell that to all the guys watching her when she went swimming in her bikini!

Bucket, plunger??? We don't need no stinkin bucket and plunger, we got the Brownsea Washing machine!

the reason why they say, "once official, always official,' is b/c it is copyrighted or tradedmarked, whichever is the correct term, to the BSA, and if the BSA was to make it unoffical, they would lose the copyright/trademark and anyone could wear it. BSA has gone after folks wearing the uniform, ie TLC when they wore components of BSA uniforms to an awards ceremony or concert. One of the problems with older items is that the IG doesn't keepthe info in them. best Example I can give is the old Leadership Corps patches of the 1972-89, both trapezoid and round, were authorized to be worn on the red jacket's right pocket. Another is the BROWNSEA strip authorized for wear between the CSP and Unit numbers. For stuff that is no longer used, you got to get literature form that time period and/or use pictures form that period. ROCKWELLs are a great source of info. Old BSHB are too. As to the red epaulets, and numbers too for that matter, according to the PDF that national put out introducing the centennial uniforms, they did say items on the ODLs and CUs were interchangeable. The didn't specify exactly what items were interchangable, which has lead to some discussions on the topic. My thought is that since insignia are uniform items, and the official document, and only uniform regs from May 2008- April 2009 really, state that uniform items are interchangeable, you can wear red loops and numbers with your CUs if you are a boy scout leader. Just as Webelos and Cub leaders can wear the tan and green numbers if in the CUs since that is a 'vintage Aug 2008-April 2009" uniform

'732, You may be surprised. We have one troop in my area that has more ASMs than scouts, witht he bulk of the ASMs being in the 18-21 range! Whenever college is out, they get together with the troop and go somewhere. The've been to Philmont, AT, etc.

Folks, Let's not over think this. All I was wondering was if anyone modified the current Switchback uniform pants, the ones without the lower leg verticle zipper that allows you to take off the leg over a boot, with a zipper so that they perform like the orignial switchback pants. Now I admit I was skeptical of the Switchbacks when they first came out. But I got the old ones when they went on sale, and have been using, and like them alot. Grant you the sizes were way off, but overall I like them. Wish the new switchbacks had those lower leg zippers.

WOA, Instead of Elmers, invest in a professional fray guard solution you can find in craft stores. I use it on all my ribbonwork for my Straight Dance rig, and only the areas of hard use (my otter drop that has ribbons draggin on the ground to be specific)have frayed. And the solution does help make those ribbons last a little longer.

Short, I can ask my friend later today the details as he did just that. but here is what I know. He was a paid staffer for the entire summer and his job was training SMs and ASMs in SM Specific, IOLS, and if need be This I scouting. One of the advantages of having an lost his job was that he had the time to work summer camp. One idea I proposed elsewhere was using SCOUTCRAFT staff for IOLS. Either expanding the staff to include more folks, or figuring out how to use your present staff more effiecenlty. Or You can use your First Year Camper Staff since they should be teaching the T-2-1 outdoor skills already. Why use SCOUTCRAFT or FYC staff. For the following reasons: 1) forces the staff to truly master their skills so that they not only teach new scouts, but also new leaders. 2) Shows new leaders what older scouts, Venturers, and young ASMs. For whatever reason, as a young ASM I had problems with other leaders acknowledging that I did have the KSAs to do the job despite my age. 3) By having folks who are youth, or younger leaders teach them their skills, they may get a better feel for the patrol method. 4) They may also get a feel for what the youth want in their OUTDOOR (emphasis, not shouting) adventures. 5) they may understand that while some camping activities may be new to them and outside their comfort zone, they can look to resources within their troop, i.e. youth leaders who do have the KSAs and experience to do some, to do more advance activities.

BDPT, They are quoting the Uniform Inspection sheet found here: http://scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/images/pdfs/34048.pdf Don't you love the lack of uniformity in BSA publications. The IG states only female leaders can wear 1 temp patch either above the pocket or on it, BUT the Uniform Inspection Sheet states all Cub Scout leaders, and female Boy Scout and Venturing leaders have that option. Don't matter much to me as I wear a patch in both positions WSJ patch above and CS NCS patch on it.

'732, I've been told all specific courses will be online in the very near future, so they may be able to do it online when it comes out. maybe they can have their T-2-1 outdoor skills tested next time they are in town so they can test out of IOLS? or get them registered int eh College Scouter Reserve. Only training they would need is YP.

if you have some money to SPEND and want to got to Europe on the cheap, try the European Camp Staff Program. Free food, free shelter, and 1/2 your travel expenses paid for when you return. You commit to working a minimum of 6 weeks at a camp in Europe. I did 11 weeks.

Actually district patches are not allowed by the BSA, but I know we all have seen them. Heck one district sold them as a fundraiser for training funds. We had one guy in my scout shop adamant that there was such a thing as a district patch, despite me showing him in the IG that district patches are not allowed. Luckily his DE showed up and talked to him, and more than likely went to his stash of district patches to sell him Yep Cub Scout leaders, irrergdless of gender, and female leaders can wear 1 temp patch either on the pocket or in the jambo spot. No mention of female Venturers having that option.

'24, Ask them poliely and with respect when they are going to put on the proper numbers sicne they are part of the troop and the younger guys do look up to them should do the trick. Or if they know you well enough and can take a joke, stressing take a joke on this one, tell them they are out of uniform, toss them a sewing kit and numbers, and tell them to hop to it

Blanc nailed it, I'm talking about adding zippers vertically to the bottom of the legs so that you can take the pant's leg off without taking off the boots, just like the original switchbacks. As for wher the lower leg goes, it depends upon when and where. I've placed them in my cargo pocket, back pack, and dresser.

According to the 2010 National standards found here http://www.trcbsa.org/TRC_Committees/Camping%20Minutes/Camping_Minutes0910/430%20-%20311%202010%20Res%20Standards.pdf Page 16 M37 ... The minimum leadership requirements of any Cub Scout unit attending camp must meet the adult-to-boy ratio of two adults to a maximum of eight boys. now this is last year's standard, so it may change for 2011.

Moose, One thing you may consider in regards to IOLS and those who could test out if your council allowed it, don't get me started on that one, is to get them on staff for IOLS. Good friend of mine never went through IOLS, despite being a 3 beader (went to WB as a CM), until he served on summer camp staff with the assignment to teach SM Specific and IOLS all summer to the new SMs and ASMs. So he is finally "Trained" as an ASM and Crew Adviser.

HICO, Would you be OK with a "test out" option, i.e. for IOLS demonstrating the skills to a trainer, for certification? I know some organizations will allow a 'test out" or "challenge" so you don't have to recertify by takign the entire course again.

'24, Actually the Eagles I've encountered are so into scouting, they usually hold multiple positions, and don't have a lot of time for training that they consider pointless. Best example is my WB 3 beader friend. As a Boy Scout, he earned Eagle, did jambo, worked summer camp, did numerous camping activities, went through BA22, and staffed BA22. So heavy outdoor expereince Eventually he became CM. In addition to serving as a CM he also served on the district committee as a program member, and as a MBC for the following MBs: camping, backpacking, hiking, orienteering, canoeing, cooking, and I am probaly forgetting some. Basically anything outdoors he was an MBC for as he had the KSAs to do them and teach them. AS a CM he did all the required training, as well as BALOO which was a total waste of time for him. He also did WB21C as a CM, so he never had to do IOLS. When he became an ASM he did the SM Spec only because it was a day long course and it occured when he wasn't busy with the troop, the district, or starting the venturing crew. All he needed was IOLS to be considered "trained" by the BSA was IOLS for both the ASM and CA positions, but he couldn't justify taking an entire weekend away from his units, OA functions (forgot to mention he is a Vigil) or family for something he already knew. Can't say that I blame him really, as I had seen him in action and he knew his stuff. IOLS would have been a waste of time for him. However he finally attended IOLS: when he worked summer camp and taught IOLS all summer to new SM and ASMs. He is one of the reasons why I love the test out option for IOLS.

'24, Unfortunately I have met a few "Eagles" who couldn't teach a pyro wannabe how to start a fire using lighter fluid and matches Seriously though there are folks who have earned Eagle who have not mastered basic outdoor skills, like orienteering, fire starting, etc, and yes I have met a couple. Also as you get older, if you don't practice those skills, they do tend atrophy. I have seen Eagles who return to Scouting 15-20 years later and some of their skills need polishing or relearning. Heck I freely admit I need to practice my fire starting skills without matches, i.e. fire by friction, hot spark, batteries and steel wool, etc. Now in reference to eagles not wanting training, I do see it. Heck I admit, I was one of those Eagles who didn't want to go through training, as I thought I lived through the program. I did all the standard stuff as a youth and then some: Troop Leader training, DC Training, District Troop leader training course, and Brownsea 22 on the training side, plus Jambo and a 50 miler on the camping side.. I knew how a troop meeting was suppose to run, so that part of SM Fundamentals was boring (back in the day, This Is Scouting, SM Specific, and IOLS was 1 course which in my old council was done over a month of 2 weekends and 1 week nite). After going through BA 22 in which I not only mastered basic scoutcraft, but also learned how to teach it, the camping portion of SMF was boring. Not a waste as I met some good folks, but didn't learn a thing. It was the info portion where I learned policies, procedures, and paperwork where I learned the most. Which is one reason why I love the test Out Option for IOLS.