Eagle92

I personally do not mind the repetition, as it is a skill that does need constant practice. Heck I work at a hospital and teach CPR on average 1/month and PRAY i never have to use it for real! That said, the ones who are my best students are the critical care nurses, i.e. ED and ICU, as they do have to use those skills more often than everyone else. As for First Aid and WFA, at this time, it is real easy to get FA instructor and WFA instructor certification through the ARC. You take the class for Instructor, then do a self study for WFA. And there is a need wfor WFA cause it appears that it will be necessary in the future for all units to have someone certified.

Skipper And Hal, I know that AHA still teaches the rescue breathing as part of CPR, especially for infant child as most of those cases are respiratory in nature. The only time AHA recommends compression only CPR is unde the follwoing circumstances A) Victim is an adult, again stress ADULT B) You do not have a barrier device C) You are uncomfortable doing mouth to mouth on them. Infant/Child CPR stillyou still need to do mouth to mouth (or mouth to nose for infants) irregardless if you have abarrier device or not. Extra edited bit: Compression only CPR is so new, and important, that AHA came out with it last year and has issued an errata sheet for BLS and Heartsaver courses discussing it. All AHA insgtructors had to go over it in their instructor updates, and are suppsoe to discuss it with their students, but the way AHA has the program formatted, it can be forgotten oby accident. Almost forgot to mention it in one of my classes, had to place the erratum in my book.(This message has been edited by eagle92)

Ah talks to the dean, brings back memories. When I was an adjunct, I actually has a student tell me I couldn't fail them b/c her work was paying for her to go back to school! She was having some challenges,and I was trying to help her pass. She kept giving me excuses why she didn't have time to study, and I told her that she needed to consider her education as a part time job. It was hard work that requried a little sacrifice at this point, but would open up a world of doors later. She didn't like the 'consider school to be a part time job" comment, and complained to the dean. The dean was not a happy camper It seems as if the younger generation wants things handed to them. I see it with my nieces,and some of the scouts I work with.

I don't know why CPR is required for so many MBs now, but one troop I know of has the policy that once it's signed off, I beleive for 1st Class, then they will give you credit for the MBs. The only reason I can think of to require it for so many MBs si that it does change very 5 years. AHA holds a big conference with the experts, and they hash together the best practices form the research since the previous conference 5 years prior. Good case for showing the changes; 30:2 compression to breath rate, and the Compression Only CPR to be used on adults only IF yu do not have a barrier device to do the mouth to mouth. My trainer said that the conference will benext year, and that it looks as if more changes maybe headed out way in refernce to CPR.

NAH, I got two of each also. 1 broomstick that was issued to me at JLT and 1 I recently made. As for smokeys, my old council awarded those for those who completed the Brownsea 22 or JLT. So the 1st for compelting BA22 and 2nd one was for staffing JLT.

Sherm, The scout stave is NOT an artifact, just a misunderstood and underused item that mainstream scouting seems to forgotten about I have a stave, made using some of the diagrams from the past, and i actually used it this past summer at CSDC. I used it for crowd control, attaching the den flag, nature hikes, and games. As for the smokey bears, "they're quite comfortable and expect them to all the rage...." maybe I should change my name to OLD FOGEY

Al, That website posted IS the most up to date info and comes from the national advancement committee. yep the book doesn't say eagle, but the book was set to press a few months back. the NAC probably met in May, and decided to add Eagle as well.

One thing I have seen, and this was back in the day when you had SM Fundametnals and it was an all or nothing set up, was a 'Training Troop" necker. Staff wore red necker with a gold border, participants wore red necker with white border. It was part of the uniform requirements for training and it looked good. It provided a nice memento of training. PLUS it brings back in use a great uniform item As for swank with adults, I can see it as a problem,and I admit I'm one of the guilty. I've been fortunate in that I've done alot with the BSA over the past 27 years now. So I do have a lot of swank on the uniform: 2 rows of knots, temp insig, OA flap, WSJ patch, ES CSP, etc. But this is stuff I've either done or been given, so it has some meaning. And with the exception of 2 knots and the WSJ patch, everything is stuff I did as a youth. IF national was to come out with trainers swank, then i would recommend a temp patch. a KISS designed patch. Although a necker would also be nice too.

Nick, I was fortunate in that I stayed home and went to school, so i stayed with the troop I grew up with. I did leave for a job for a total of 3 years, and when I came back, it was interesting in that I knew a few faces, but mostly a new crop of scouts. Also new bunch of leaders as the SM when I left decided to sell his company and move to Hawaii. Grant yo I didn't do much with them, especially since I moved again within 6 months of returning home, but I did go to meetings, and one event. Campouts were a no go as I had to work,otherwise I would have went. Nothing odd about it, or getting involved in another unit. I know of one unit who had an alum return after college. They were having some challenges, and within 2 years of his return, he was SM. Been there I don't know how long as SM too and he has no sons, only daughters. Also A good friend of mine when he came home one summer went to summer camp for 2 deep leadership as he was the only 21+ y.o. who could stay all week. I know I was welcomed with open arms with the two troops I joined as a 26 and 27 y.o. (I moved around way to much) Obviously I had no kids in the program at that time. But the units welcomed my KSAs, and one unit vent got my wife on the committee I wouldn't worry about it as others have said school is your number 1 priority. But if possible, do attend any special events the troop may have. Also go on an occasional camp out, especially summer camp, even if only for part of the week. I always say one of the most underutilized resources the BSA has is its young leaders/ older Venturers as they have the KSAs to guide, mentor, and trian youth and other adults. Goo luck.

HICO, Please do not tell me you are talking about the BSHB that came out last week? While I admit I have not read it cover to cover yet, but from what I've seen and read so far, it's the best edition to come out since 1979.

I guess the BSA now officially has a Class A uniform!

I second the neckers Idea!!! And I may be a corrupting influence as my pack is in the process of looking for custom neckers for the leaders, and they want them long!

Is it a current merger, i.e within the past month or so, or has it been longer. If longer may have been set up already. unfortunatley I can't help too much as when my district merged, I was working summer camp. If memory serves, and it;s been 14 years and I wasn't there, one district merged with 3 districts. Those folks who lived in the territory that became part of my district were part of the committee still and had it actually helped us out as they were people who complemented our abilities. The district committee book may have the answer, but I no longer have a copy.

I know it can be a challenge, been there done that, but in order to be in the OA you must be registered in a unit capacity, either as a venturing member, Asst. Den Leader, Asst. Web. DL, or an ASM. All the other positions require you to be 21. I bet if you talk to the SM and CC, they will allow you to stay on the charter, with the expectations that you do participate when you can, especially over the summer. Another option: are you part of the summer camp staff, and do they have their own Crew? I know the camps I've worked at had their own crew set up, so that those in situations like yours could remain in scouting while in college, and work summer camp. Most of the staff also happen to be OA members, so that may be an option.

I also know of a few scouts who have to leave early due to their church commitments, and my son will be one of those shortly. As kbandit has suggested, since they are leaving the patrol in a lurch on sunday, then it is only right for him to get assigned extra duties. I also think the best way to handle it, esp since dad is an enabler and a MC, is to let the PL and his patrol make the decision n how to handle it. The patrol method will solve this, and really as an adult we are not directly affected by this behavior, but the patrol is. As for the few scout sI knwo who leave either saturday nite, or very early sunday, all of them feel guilty about leave the patrol, or in my dealings with them the OA chapter, behind. But a Scout is reverent, and I also go to the church they go to and understand.

Sherm, WB beads do mean something. Problem is you got sum folks deciding to degrade them, and they are fast losing their meaning.

I wouldn't worry about being dissed as things happen. 1 Eagle i know had his ECOF 4 years after earning it because he joined the USAF. had the ECOH after his discharge. Another also joined the USAF, which caused him to appeal to national (different story for a different day) and has yet to have his ECOH as he is still in. As for ECOHs, every unit does it a little differently. Some units do everything, others it's entirely up to the parents, others is a combo of the two. For two units I know of, they only do 1 ECOH per year for all their eagles, and if yo miss it, so sad too bad( one young man was at basic when the ECOH occurred and they wouldn't do another one). One unit works with the eagles and their families, the other does it only on Scout Sunday. So every unit does things differently.

emb has an excellent point. so i won't repeat. My change then would be even more emphasis on traditional scouting, as in "Outng is 3/4s of Scouting." GBB

Ditto what others have said, the purpose is to keep CS active over the summer. I remember a time when the pack essentially met during the 9 mos. of school, and then stopped for the summer. if memory serves, the Sumemrtime award was created to keep cubs active. The way my pack sees it is that it is not cheating the system, rather the council events are there to provide opportunities for folks who may not be able to make the pack events. It gives them CS and his family additional opportuinities to be active.

I know the way my pack works, they have multiple activities planned each month, save August, and they promote the council activities too. So they do count the council activities afro the summertime award. For example, we had two pack activities in June, plus the council family camp out and district baseball game. July had CSDC, council resident camps, and our pack events were supposed to be a baseball game, but due to rain we saw the 501st Legion "Vader's Fist" at he library instead, and a pool party. Since we start up early with regular meetings, our last summer activity will be an cub Scout Summer Olympics this monday. Oha nd we also started early witht he summer activities: the last weekend in May we did a service project, followed by a a skating party.

Here is the link to the new shorts that double as a swimsuit. http://scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/ItemDetail.aspx?cat=01RTL&ctgy=PRODUCTS&c2=NEW&C3=&C4=&LV=2&item=689SHORTS&prodid=689SHORTS^8^01RTL& Question, since these also serve as swimsuits, can you put yout BSA Lifeguard, Mile Swim, Snorkling BSA, etc awards on 'em

I've been in 5 councils, plus did the European Camp Staff program where I worked at 2 camps in the UK. Yes there are cliques at times. And yes sometimes the "old guard" will look at you with reservations, especially if your the brand new DE But Scouting is Scouting no matter where you go, and I've found that Scout spirit is the key to breaking those barriers. Being cheerful even when doing irksome tasks and getting involved is the best way to break down those barriers. Best example of this would be the time I was doing a major, muddy project at camp. Some folks wanted to knwo where I was sleepign at since they hadn't seen me all morning. One of the long time scouters who was with said "we got ourselves a real DE' and explained what our small group was doing and why I was covered in mud. That changed alot of my interactions with the scouters in my new district and broke down barriers.

To the best of my knowledge, the PLC can make requirements for PORS if they decide. I know in my troop growing up, the PLC decided that to run for SPL, you had to be at least First Class AND been a PL for 1 term (6 months). Rationale was that you needed to have mastered the basic scout skills, i.e be a First Class Scout, and have experience leading a patrol before taking on the responsibility of leading the troop. Ditto the then Leadership Corps, now Venture Patrol. You had to be at last First Class, again showing that you mastered the basic scout skills, and have been a PL for at least 6 months, with the rationale that since you were a PL, you understand why the QM,Instructor, Librarian etc positions are so important within the troop. Again the scouts implemented this.

Lookls like he said he was active in scouting. But no one seems to know him in the district.

F, Starting this past year, the Summertime Pack Award that the cubs wear IS now rank based. The new pins come in multicolored borders. Check out the website http://scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/SearchPage.aspx?page=LIST&free_text|=sumertime%20pack%20award&answers_per_page=15 Now it is my understanding that June 1 is when SCOUTNET will allow kindergartners into the system as frist graders,as the case with my son shows. SO The summer BEFORE the school year counts as that level. SO my son hopefully will get his TC Summertime award this year, all he has to do is attend the game nite monday. Then next summer he can earn the Wolf award, etc etc. If we waited until the summer AFTER the rank year, then Webelos 2 would be out of luck as they should be involved with a troop after they finishe their second year.