Eagle92

Eaternal rest grant onto him oh Lord. And may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.Amen.

Agree with checking local laws. What I bought was the following: http://www.opinel-usa.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Opinel-knives-No-7-carbon-steel-folding-knife I like carbon steel since it holds an edge much, much longer, and a sharp knife IS a safe knife. I also like the easy locking mechanism: pull out the blade and twist the top lock and it's done. untwist, fold blade, and twist to secure. Much easier than the button on official CS knives. But any knife will do. And yes Wolves and older can earn Whittling chip.

As mentioned, anytime after June 1 they can work on the next rank IF they are not still working on the previous rank. Some do that, most don't. I suggest not rushing things as if they do things too quickly, the get bored really fast. I've had a pack complain about my CSDC program because we did a lot of advancement work my first year, and they said the Cubs got bored at the den meetings. Got a better balance the 2nd year and I hope to improve this year. That said, there are some things that Cubs love. My son has made 3 tool boxes in Cubs: day camp, Bear den meeting, and Webelos den meeting. While you think he would be bored, he loved doing them because each time he got better and better.

Base, I cannot answer that question for all district folks, but I that when I was not in a unit, and a few others I know too, I was so much behind the scenes on district/council events, that I couldn't justify to the wife going to summer camp without having kids in the program. Now that the wife has stated "YOU WILL BE GOING TO SUMMER CAMP WITH YOUR BOYS" ( camps for theSWMBO tone of voice, not shouting at ya), I cannot wait for next year! I am already practicing "Have you asked your patrol leader?"

Dlister, Are you sure about the district members and camping requirement being waived? I don't recall that and we never nominated someone form the district unless they met the camping requirements. Yep I know that OA is considered free labor in some councils. But think about it, if it wasn't for OA lodges, a lot of camp maintenance infrastructure would have to be paid for, increasing the cost of going to camp. A few years back, I did a comparison of our summer camp and other local camps, and we were the cheapest by a lot. And I say that the OA is the reason for keepign the costs down. Now CSDC we are the second cheapest, but only b/c of a federal grant that pays for all expenses. As been repeatedly said, all scouting is local. Every lodge is different. I've been in lodges where the W.W.W. really meant Work, Work, Work, and I've been in lodges that had a balance. In relation to outdoor skills, unfortunately I've seen the same deterioration, and I blame it on the BSA's current emphasis on FCFY and not on mastery of skills as in the past. Also the current BSHB is woefully inadequate when it comes to outdoor skill. I had to make my own pamphlet for IOLS b/c the info was not there. Besides 15 days and nites of camping, including 1 long term is easily doable in a year. using my troop's calendar, 2 days and nites(Fri-Sun) times 10 months + 1 six day and nite summer camp (Sun - Sat) = 26 days and nites. Now the comment abut OA being a little more difficult gets a laff from me. I'm a "blue looper" now, and I was told at one OA event that "Cubs don't need to camp," and " Cub families dont' know how to camp, they pack everything in their cars and expect to drive up to the campsite and drop it off." Then at a camp event a month or so later, the same people drive up to where they are going to be at, and proceed to unpack their SUVs. While me the "Blue Looper" has parked my car in the main lot, and proceed to hike in with everything in my backpack for the event

I'm a little old school, so bear with me, I grew up in a mixed-age patrol troop as Basementdweeller describes: 15-17 yo SPLs and 13-15 yo PLs. We didn't do TLTs but did take advantage of district TLT training when offered, and Brownsea 22 and JLT offered by the council But the adults didn't do much we did. How did the PLs leanr what to do? Using the Patrol Method, we observed the youth leaders we were responsible to, and imitated them when we be came responsible for the patrols and troop. Also a lot of mentoring in SMCs, and peer to peer mentoring too. One on one instruction I guess you could call it.

Had a Scout was being pushed by Eagle dad and mom with the incentive of driver's license and car. On his way to getting Eagle too with 58 MBs. But he got tot he point that he rebelled and dropped out. Only needed to do is a project and POR. Definitely do not want them pitting one parent against the other. But need to encourage him to speak his mind, and take responsibility for his own life. That is the real goal of Scouting: molding a young man who can and will do what he wants and being an active, contributing member of society, not Eagle. And by talking to the parents and discusssing what he wants, is a first step.

My $.02 worth. 1) As others have said, get rid of the fluff PORs. you are a patrol sized troop. Nothing wrong with that. 2).Your guys are inexpereinced, they need a heavy dose of mentoring by you and other adults who understand the Patrol Method. Keep thoseadults who don't care about the Patrol method out opf the way. Those who are confused, mentor. 3) FORGET FCFY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to get kids to keep them involved in Scoutins and advance is PROGRAM, PROGRAM, PROGRAM. Oh and I forgot PROGRAM!. As Green Bar Bill stated, "OUTING is three-fourths of ScOUTING' The folks who came up with FCFY in 1989 didn't get to the root to why scouts who get First Class in a year, and they had time requirements for T-2-1 back then, was PROGRAM. 4) If you can get your hands on one, get the 3rd Ed. SM Handbook, vols 1 and 2. Green Bar Bill wrote a program to get a new troop up and running under the patrol method in about 6 months. More later

There are no short cuts in developing an SPL. If you need one ASAP you need a heavy dose of mentoring and coaching. Based upon my expereince and observations, developing a good SPL starts the nite that Webelos enters the meeting room and he sees the SPL runnign the meeting, the instructors and older scouts teaching, and the PLs keepign their patrols under control. That's Step 1 Now my troop was one of the guinea pigs with the New Scout Patrol prior to it becoming a BSA recommendation in 1989. My troop was a traditional troop and the NSP failed both times we tried it: in 1986 as part of the experiment and again in 1990 when we had a new troop tag along with us. So Step 2 is using Mixed aged patrols in which "expereinced" Scouts, i.e. your Tenderfoots, Second Class and First Class Scouts, buddy up with new scouts in their patrol and work with them. It gives the T-2-1 group responsibility and some expereince workign with others. It also gives them ownership of the troop and program. Step 3 is making sure you use the Patrol Method by giving the PLs responsibility. 'TRAIN 'EM. TRUST 'EM, LET 'EM LEAD!"] is what Green Bar Bill Woudl say. Step 4 is giving them troop level responsibilities, ie QM, Librarian, Instuctor, etc. if they do not get elected SPL. Again it gives them ownership and more prep for being SPL. Step 5 is repeated after every step mentor and guide the youth in thier various responsibilites. Doesn't have to be an adult doignthe mentor. It may mean a lot more and be taken to heart is a respected older scout does it. Heck I still remember the words of wisdom my SPL gave me in regards to "how do I knwo when to sign off in his book?" Step 6 STAY OUT OF THEIR WAY AND LET THEM FAIL!!! Scouting is one of the few places left where kids can lscrew up and learn form their mistakes. It seems like parents are getingmor eand more invovled and everyone wins a trophy now adays. Ok off the soapbox now

I to had problems loggin in. After about 40 minutes and 5 changes, I gave up. Been back once since, and had no problems checking someone's YPT. Thing I hate most is the Unit Visit Tracking System. grant you I know why the system is in place and it's usefulness. BUT A) it is too slow and B) It will not allow you to enter multiple units for a single activity, i.e. I cannot input the data for Round Table attendnce on one screen but need to spend a bunch of time entering the info on multiple screens one unit at a time. BUT it is a heckuvalot better than when SCOUTNET first came out and it took 3 months, yes THREE MONTHS! to print out a council mailout for an activity. Reason we knwo that is that the command could not be cancelled once it was started, or the person doing the list didn't know how to, and we had to keep the printer on. We actuall got other printers hooked up to the system.

Also LDS pack still use the pre August 1982 three year Cub Scout Program ( Wolves =3rd grade, Bears=4th rgade, and Webelos = 5th grafe) and no Tigers.

Every other week, but not meetings but activities.

With the exception of 2 folks in my neck of the woods, everything I've heard is negative, very negative. So negative, that only two of the liberal folks I know are for the change. When the topci came up at RT, I mentioned how the UMC and Presbyterian Churches are internal movers for this change. One of the comments was "Can I give you my dollar now?" as my CO is more conservative and he is sponsored by a local UMC. I do not know what will happen, but I see us losing members. As stated repeatedly, I lost one CO when DALE was going to SCOTUS. And I think we just loss the district commissioner over this issue. When I talked to him prior to the postponement announcement, he was furious. One fear I do have if the change occurs, those outside groups applying pressure will NOT be happy with local option, and will continue with the iractivities. Several folks have already said "it is a good first step," and "while not the ultimate, it's better than 7 months ago" (referring to the report that came out on the topic after a 2 year study).

Pack, Illustrated children's books have 2 copyrights: one for the author and one for the illustrator. Wife used the cover art, and if memory serves as the published journal is in the attic, one .additional illustration from each book. Lawyers got involved b/c wife sent a letter tryign to get permission per the association's instructions. And she did try to stop the presses, but it was to late. Funny thing is this. First lawyer had no problem with it, and we only talked once. Second lawyer didn' think it would eb a problem, but wanted to double check. His second call said it was no problem. Third lawyer was the P.I.T.A. First she wanted over $1000 since it was already published and my wife 'got paid for it already.' Explained the situation to her, but apparently it did not go through her head. Over the next 3 months wwe would get calls with lower and lower prices, until secodn to last call it was $100 she wanted us to pay. that's when I had it. Explained for the umpteenth time the situation, and then said "maybe I should contact the journal and have them charge your client for a three page add since A) the article promoted the book and B) the journal went to every single public library, school library, and college library in the state as well as other ALA members." the next call was whenthey said fine.

Unit key three is very old news. I heard rthe term used to descript the top leader, CC and COR back in PDL1 in '98. Work on the net though id they are goginto haev soem cool feature availabel in MY SCOUTING soon.

To my knowledge, the concept of "immediate recognition" came out in 1989. Prior to that, you got recognized for your advancment, but got everythign at the COH. Some troops continued that model. My tropp didn't change until 1993 when we got a new SM. The way to build up "war chest" is to fill out an advancement report with several scouts names who have earned the rank, write " REPLACEMENTS" on the form, and submit. i would not buy many, maybe one or two extras at a time. I'm a big proponent of "war chests" b/c there are times when national runs out of stuff, especially CS ranks in Jan-Mar. and MBs July.- Sept.

Trust me, you do not want to deal with copyright lawyers. They will hound you. Long story short, wife did book review in grad school. paper got submitted for some competition, and was one of three finalists. The "payout" was a free ticket to the lcoal librarian convention and the paper being publiched in the group's journal. Due to the three publishers being housed in the WTC on 9-11, copyright permission was never secured, and it was too late for the paper to be pulled form the journal. 3 years and a move later, we get calls from 3 copyright laywers. After several conversations, 2 back off. One is a P.I.T.A. Could not understand that no financial compensation was given for the paper the wife wrote. after several months of being harassed, It finally got to her when I mentioned that maybe the journal should charge her client for the 3 full pages of advertising they got from the paper my wife wrote since it was a book review promoting the the book to all the libaries and school systems in the state. I got one final call saying fine, don't do it again.

In regards to what do the Scouts want? Some events may be so special that folks do not do away with them. I knwo one event, our survival weekend, woudl have ASMs caming back from college for the weekend.

Awards are nice, but it seems like "Everyone gets a trophy" these days. I know that I still get surprised looks when I talk abtou soe of the things I did in Scouting as a youth and how much responsibility i had placed on me at a young age.

Namu, A couple of things. 1) there are two types of insurance, accident and liability. Most units pay for the accident, or councils can make it mandatory at registratrion. But the liability insurance is charged on a per event basis, at least in my neck of the woods. 2) Insurance prices will vary form council to council. So it may be a council policy.

Kahuna, if there is one definitive item that says "SCOUT" ( emphasis not shouting) It's a neckerchief. When I was in the UK, they couldn't understand not wearing one. To paraphrase the Doctor; neckerchiefs are cool. -

If memory serves, the Vatican has pushed for a mandatory retirement of 75, except the Pope. I know my pastor, when he retired, did pastoral work on a cruise line for a year, and then did pastoral work with various hospitals. Some retired priests will serve as needed to give other vacations and fill in in emergencies, and some teach.

If any Life Scouts do this for their Eagle projects, I also suggest contacting their local state archives, and if the are interviewing a WWII vet, the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. I know they, and he NC Archives actually has a "how to" guide to use. Just don't contact New Orleans on Tuesday Feb. 12th as they will be out partying due to Mardi Gras.

Nike, Agree with you 110%, pull records NOW to prevent this from happening again. Fred, Must respectfully disagree. I can understand how hard it would be to say no, but the boy was not registered, and did not meet requirements. He did not meet requirement 2 for Scout rank which is Complete a Boy Scout application and health history signed by your parent or guardian. Since he never completed Scout which is the Joing Requirements, he could not earn any of the other ranks. Further the boy does not meet the ACTIVE ( emphasis not shouting) requirement fro S-L-E whis is defined as the following according to the GTA [h=2]4.2.3.1 Active Participation[/h] The purpose of Star, Life, and Eagle Scout requirements calling for Scouts to be active for a period of months involves impact. Since we prepare young people to go forth, and essentially, make a positive difference in our American society, we judge that a member is "active" when his level of activity in Scouting, whether high or minimal, has had a sufficiently positive influence toward this end. Use the following three sequential tests to determine whether the requirement has been met. The first and second are required, along with either the third or its alternative. The Scout is registered. The youth is registered in his unit for at least the time period indicated in the requirement, and he has indicated in some way, through word or action, that he considers himself a member. If a boy was supposed to have been registered, but for whatever reason was not, discuss with the local council registrar the possibility of back-registering him. So I would not give him an Eagle. I would look into the possibility of back-registering him as that does seem a possibility. Do not know how that works, but he may be able to get as far as First Class under this possibility. May need to redo some S-L-E requirements: PORs, ACTIVE requirement, and service projects, including an Eage one. Question: How did the district advancement committee approve the Eagle project? Something doesn't seem right in this situation.

You are correct that devices are suppose to be worn on the knot, even if not earned multiple times. Unlike the military, one knot may cover multiple awards, i.e. the youth religious knot covers multiple awards in multiple programs, and the Training Award you have covered not only Boy Scouts, but also Sea Scouts, Exploring prior to1998. and Venturing. Same with the Key. So a device on the knot tells a person in what program and/or what actual award was earned. In my case I am suppose to wear on my religious knot a CS, BS, and Sea Scout devices, on my Trainging Award a BS device, and on my Key a district committee device. To be honest I don't wear the devices on my knots since I left Supply and needed to wear them to show correct uniforming ( yes I was a full blown Uniform Policeman ). They fall off easily in normal wear unless using an eraser as a backing, are litterally a pain in the chest at times, and, in reference to my Sea Scout device, is considered a restricted item by national and has to be special ordered by the council or take a 60 minute drive to a Scout Shop. Now my Training Award medal has the device on it. Don't have the Key medal yet. But eventually when I get it, I'll put a device on it. Hope it helps.