Eagle92

I spent 3 summers as a youth at Camp V-Bar, located at Salmen Scout Reservation outside Kiln, MS currently owned by the Southeast Louisiana Council. I also did a few summers there as an adult. I spent one summer at Avondale Scout Reservation as an adult, outside baton Rouge, LA. I did one summer up in LaDomaine, Quebec, Canada doing a 50 miler. I participated in the European Camp Staff Program, working at Kingsdown International Scout Campsite in Kingsdown, Kent, UK (now a privately owned campsite). I also worked at Youlbury International Scout Campsite (now called Youlbury Scout Activity Center) in Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK that same summer when Kingsdown was overstaffed. I did 2 years of staff duty at Camp Bonner, Blounts Creek, NC And I did 2 years of staff duty at Camp V-Bar

I have to agree the volunteers seeing the Pros work side by side in any activity other than FOS and RU really motivates people to respect you. My CS trainer was shocked to see me in her class, and appreciated that I did it to get a better understanbding of CS. The best memory as a DE is when I was covered in mud from working at an Ordeal with the chapter ceremony team. We were away from the rest of the chapter and when we met up with the chapter asdn the question "Where were you sleeping at?" arose, the CA said, " We got ourselves a REAL DE," and proceeded to discuss how we worked on the ceremony ring and I gaave saome last minute coached the ceremony team.

reason why camporees didn't work for basic training is that the leaders wanted to stay with their boys. Tried that one.

Eamon, Again I don't know about 2000 onwards, but I had to go through CS Basic Leader Training, already ddi the other two prior to being a pro, before goignto PDL-1. Also all my coworkers had to do the same. grant you this was before all the Position Specific training came out, so one course covered all CS leader PORs.

WOW, I pray I am never in that situation. yep have the COR remove her fromt he charter, and see if the COR wants the CC job. As for the district event, make sure event staff, both volunteer and professional, know what's up and that there maybe potential problems. That way the first sign of problems and they can be asked to leave. A friend of mine had to remove a leader from a council event one time. Gave them 30 minutes to pack up and leave, or the sheriff would be called in.

if memory serves, sorry I don't have the most current HB in my possession, but AOL recipeints automatically get Scout as they have met the entry requirements for AOL. You may want to suggest your son review the fine print at the bottom of the page for the joining requirements. Also if there is no troop guide, then why isn't the SPL or another senior YOUTH member signing off. This policy of adults only worries me, unless it is a brand new unit. In every unit I've been affilaited with, the senior youth sign off on T-2-1 requirements. In fact the only units I've ever encountered adults signing off on all rank advancement have been new units that don't have Star and above scouts in them. And even then, once they do get Star and above, they do have youth signing off. One of the things that has changed in recent years is that the scouts get recognized ASAP with the rank they earn. Grant you Scout is not technically a rank, but as AOL recipients, they should have received Scout either at the Crossover Ceremony, or a troop investiture ceremony, as troop tradition holds. they shouldn't have to wait months for a COH. Also welcome to the forum. Yep get trained, take a deep breath, step back form your son, and allow your son some freedom. Very hard to do, especially for former CS leaders, but it is the youth's chance to learn, grow, and shine. Good luck and may your son have years of great Scouting adventure ahead.

Don't know how PDL-1 or equivelent was run in the 80s or now, but in '98 we were required to complete SM Fundamentals, CS Basic Leader Training, and Explorer Basic Leader Training, prior to even arriving at the hotel. So we were supposed to have a basic understanding of program. If you didn't have that covered, you had to spend some of your limted free time taking the self study courses for CS and Explorer Basic Leader. I think they would have sentyou home if you didn't complete SM Fundamentals. Don know as everyone had those courses. During the two weeks at PDL-1, we got to meet with the various division heads and learn about the resources national has to offer. Also had one afternoon at a scout camp simulating a cookout and campfire. The rest of the time was spent on how to do fundraising, new unit organizations, and membership recuritment. I remember several of the "luncheons" and "dinners" focusing on model FOS amd membership dinners. Classes were both nites and days. very little free time as each patrol did have assignments and presentations to make. Had one social activity, a rodeo, on friday nite, had saturday evening and all day sunday off,spent mostly doing prep work. Also had the nite off for the Seinfield series finale. What was interesting was that my PDL-1 class was large enough to form 2 troops of 4 patrols each. But when we had the PDL-1 reunion at the '98 NLTC "All Hands" meeting, less than 3 months later, only about half the folks from both troops were there!

Most of the Web2 in my neck of the woods will wear a Turk's head woggle. Since they don't change neckers, they get a new slide. i've seen them in clothsline, green paracord, and my personal favorite, RWB paracord.

Desertrat brings up a good point about council's focusing on WB and not on basic training. I think part of the reason is that national has separated SM and ASM training into 3 parts: This is Scouting, SM Specific, IOLS. I also know that some councils do have trouble getting trainers. That's my council's problem now. Trust me I was a traingin chair and had difficulty getting folks to volunteer to be trainers. When I went through SM Fundamentals, it was an all or nothing course in that you had to complete the day long session, night session, and campout to be "trained." Three districts organized the course, and it was a blast. We were organized by patrols, and everything was accomplished with that patrol. While we didn't have the 6 day and ticket expereince as WB, this was the best basic training I ever been through or taught, and is was the closest thing to Brownsea 22 and JLT i've expwereicned as an adult. The trainers went so far as to have custom neckers issued and required for the course. Maybe, just maybe, national needs to go back to the allor nothing format of basic leader training?

SM's getting ivolved with selecting MB classes?!?!?!? Heck no, the SM should NOT be involved EXCEPT if last minute changes are made, i.e. scout didn't pass swim test and needs to change Swimming and canoeing MB classes to something else I always recommended that the scouts talk to their PLs and SPL to see what classes to take, using their interests and advancement goals as guidance. Most new Scout programs I'm familiar with cover everything for T-2-1, so the class is a valid one.

I hear ya Pack. I've also kept a good bit of my stuff, but not everything. My mom agreed to keep some of my stuff until I was able to cart it off. Well Katrina did a number on her house, and some of the stuff she was holding on for me was lost. For the most part it was old temp insignia, but I did lose my CS uniforms that I wanted my boys to see, and possibly wear. Out of the adult Eagles in my district, only 2 others still have their medals. Everyone else has lost theirs in a move.

the chapter adviser a unique position in that we serve "two masters': the lodge adviser and the district chairman. When I was a DE, the DE recommended folks to the lodge staff adviser to be the CA. When I took over as CA, I was given"the box" with all the chapter's paperwork by the CA and I informed the LA I was taking over. With my replacement, I discussed it with the LA, who said whoever the chapter approves is OK with him, and the District chair, who said ht e same thing since he just transferred into the distrioct last year and is getting his feet wet with us. Usually the CA is part of the camping committee since we do camp promos, as well as run events at camporee and Webeloree. However we gave our own reports, and when the Chapter chief attends, he gives the report. CC even has silver loops and a repro CC patch that he wears. Unfortunately our discom isso small that we do not have breakout sessions, usually report only are given as it's mostly one man shows.

Yep i'm the one who mentioned the lifetiem guarentee. After sewing a bunch of patches on my new shirt, and being a little on the anal retentive uniform police side with sewing and resewing a few of them, I realized that I don't want to have to sew a bunch of new patches on another shirt. SWMBO loves me and said she will embroider the info as a bday present. You know your wife loves ya when she not only likes getting a vintage uniform for her birthday from you, she agrees to do some scout embroidery for your birthday

And don't forget the BOGO sale going on the classic uniforms from supply.

RJ, Not to sound contrary but if you look here, you will see that that is not the case. Checkout the "old" insignia guide found here: http://www.scouting.org/media/insigniaguide/10K.aspx Medals and Embroidered Knots Wearing medals and embroidered knots Only five medals may be worn at a time pinned in a single row immediately above the seam of the left pocket. (emphasis added) Knots are worn above the left pocket in rows of three. The order of wearing of medals and knots is at the discretion of the wearer. It is suggested that the medal or knot deemed most important by the wearer be worn on his or her own right. Embroidered knots are representative of pin-on medals or around-the-neck awards and are designed for the convenience of the wearer. In the case of the District Award of Merit and Professional Training Award, the knot is the only wearable insignia. The knots are listed here in alphabetical order. Hope this helps.

Ghermanno, I think the new pinnacle for outdoor skills is the new Philmont Leadership Challenge (PLC), which Scouting magazine did an article on. http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0903/a-first.html Problem is in order to play, you must A) gone through or staffed WB21C or B) Gone through WB AND staffed NYLT. According to the article there is NO classroom stuff as everythgin is outdoors. A close second may be POWDERHORN. I don't know. Me personally I am not eligible, nor could afford PLC, so i guess I'll have to try my hand at Powderhorn.(This message has been edited by eagle92)

yep as long as you haev at least 2 adults OR 2 youth (rule of 2) you are fine.

Unless your group of leaders was like the group of German and Dutch scouts I encountered, very loud and rambunctios until 3 or 4AM, i'ld have to agree with EV, SR, and Eagle. Maybe the tents are too close. I also had some great mentoring/bonding with the other adults whenI was a new leader around the campfire after the scouts went to sleep. BUT if they are loud and distrubing other units, then that is a problem. I have ot agree with John and Lisa, a freindly cup is in order.

Also promote CSDC as a way yo keep them involved over the summer. My council has agreed to allow new TC the earlybird fee, no matter when they sign up. I know my TC wannabe is really pumped up for CSDC.

2Cub I think Neal's point was what we would like the DE's goals to be. Yep money is important. Yep we need fulltime recruiters during roundup season. Yes we need to get new units started. BUT if there are problems in a district, I think the DE needs to fix them. I know DEs tend to stay 3-5 years, usually 9-18 mos in my current district, but I the PRIMARY job should be finding and correcting the problems. Yes still do FO. Still recruit and yes start new units. BUT FIX THE PROBLEMS! Take my instance. I came into a district with no district chair; only a a dis. commish and 5 others who wore three and four hats. I had 1/3 of the district on paper only, to the point where several COs knew nothing about the units in question. Activities were happening, but all last minute planning, and to be honest poorly executed. Best example of this is the CS DC with only 7 people in attendance! And what happens, instead of letting me spend time in my district trying to get things accomplished, they send me to summer camp the entire summer. You know it gets interesting when the council president asks why you are at camp and not in your district, b/c your district is in the worse shape. My humble opinion is that there has been so much focus on numbers, that #1 we lost site of QUALITY over QUANTITY and #2 some pros did some unScoutlike, and illegal, things to get their goals. I know some of my predecessors did that because I tried to clean up their mess, and further the SE and DFS really didn't care how the goals were met, as long as we were First in our FOS division and the membership goals were met. Sorry I've ranted. This kinda hits home as I loved being a DE. FOS was no problem, always exceeded my goal. Memebrship would NOT have been a problem had I not had 1/3 of the district only on paper. I could go into any classroom and pump kids up. Attend any roundup session and get kids and parent to join Scouting. But refusing to turn in paperwork on those units that were paper only did hurt me.

John said it. the more expensive kit is completely sterling silver. me personally I wouldn't bother. Most of the Eagles I know have lost their medal in some move or another.

That was my problem with the powers that be, they focused solely on money and membership, and I they didn't care how you got membership. I am a program oriented guy. As a result of my experience in a Metro council, I knew that if you have a great program, you will be able to meet FOS and membership goals. I also knew you needed a group of volunteers to be on your dist. comm. to have that program. Commissioners to help units, Trainers to train new leaders, Activities folks to create and run good programs, etc. But I couldn't focus on getting a fully operational committee to "multiply myself" as national and my friend told me to do. When you have 6 people doing everything, things stagnate and people don't have the time to really prepare things. You get a lot of "crisis management" I spent the bulk of my time trying to figure out why 1/3 of my district existed only on paper, and how to get those units active. In addition to trying to start new units. No problem starting new ones, but can I at least get rid of the non-existing ones and have my goals on the actual numbers? I guess that whatI am reallysaying is that I wish the above would have been my goals back in the day.

Ok you got me on healthy, I probably should explain that definition. 1) They are actually meeting and are not just apiece of paper. 2) They are doing activities as seen with the use of tour permits. 3) Some type of advancement is going on as evidenced by arvancement reports being turned in. 4) and here's where the DE is directly involved, the unit know about program opportunities provided by the district and council, i.e. round tables, camporees. cubmobile, etc. As for attendance at district events, my philosophy is that if you have a great program, they will come. CSDC was a weakness in my district. First year there were only 7 cubs in attendance. CD said she had everythgin under control, plus I had to go to PDL-1, two council conferences, and summer camp, so I was not much help. We did triple the number of participants the following year to 21. As for healthy committee, I mean that you actually haev enough people to provide a quuailyt program with no one wearing three or four hats on the committee.

As a former pro, I would gladly tell you what I would have loved my performance to be based upon. Neal stole a bunch of good ones, so I will try not to repeat 1) How many active units compared to "registered" units are on the roles? This was my biggest problem as I inherited 1/3 of a district that was "registered" yet no one knew anything about them. 2) How healthy are the active units? 3) How is attendance at district functions, i.e. Webeloree, camporee, Cubmobile, etc? 4) How engaging is your CSDC? 5) How healthy is your district committee? 6) What relationship does the BSA have with the COs? 7) How healthy is the relationship with local media? 8) How healthy is the relationship with the school board? Ok I could probably think of a few more in the morning, just came back from a wonderful evening celebrating my Bday and I am tired.

Nei, I think you gaev everyone the best reason to attend WB.