Eagledad

>>Regarding the cub scout Bobcat rank, I'm not sure why anyone would use a Native American ceremony. The ranks used in Cub Scouts (Bobcat, Tiger, Wolf, and Bear) are based on characters from the Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling. The symbols and ranks used in Cub Scouts have nothing to do with Native American lore. Further, the symbols and ranks used in Boy Scouting have nothing to do with Native American Lore.

Our troop is very much like Buffalo Skipper. Time depends on the distance, but usually the earliest is 1:00. The patrols can work and leave independently if they want. Its rare, but it happens sometimes. Barry

Why are Sundays different from any other day? I have never understood that. How can your adults break camp with the scouts if they are 100 yards away breaking down their own camp? Our troop averages 40 to 60 scouts on a campout and they break camp in about 45 minutes without adults anywhere in sight. And, we include Sunday Lunch on our campouts. I've said this before, there is no better teacher of discipline than the agenda. If the patrols know the troop assembly is at 8:00am, then they know when they have to have everything done. If they can't get it done in time, then they have to change something. And that something isn't help from the adults. Our scouts are in the habit of stopping at a convenance store on the way home from the campouts for a junk food stop . The parents are told when the troop will be back at the church, so the SPL writes the agenda to meet the parents on time. The scouts only had to miss one junk food stop to make a change in their future camp break down habits. You guys work way to hard at this scouitng stuff. You need to start thinking like the boys. Barry

>>BSA's membership numbers continue to plummet from year to year because BSA is more and more seen as a group of country, overweight bubbas and far right wingnuts. Not all of us are like that. Some of us understand the difference between our own selfish fun and being sensitive and courteous and kind to others around us

>>Is it just me, or does that sound like Tom Blanchard's version of a WoodBadge ticket item?

What is your main goal for each scout? He should have vision or goal for all the scouts. Barry

>>Since that link showed up on a public scouter forum, maybe we all need to apologize or be thrown out or somethin'.

>>I'm not just thinking continental US here.

>>I'd give credit to both religion and military service for the popularity of tattoos, ..

>>but I see it as trying to get Scouting to find its way out of principals that I see as outside the Scout Oath and Law.

Wisdom is only gained when actions are reflected with humility. If the scout in his heart doesn't understand the harm of his initial action, he will likely repeat it. If he truely sees the harm in his action, he will respond appropriatly. It's only our job to guide him toward a humble reflection. His heart must do the rest. That is what is meant by "prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law" So the first question is "what does the SPL say?". Barry

Well done drmbear, that is how it supposed to be done. I spent a lot of time teaching Webelos leaders to use activity pins themes for developing fun program activities and pay less attention to advancement. If they are having fun, advancement will come by itself. Its the same thing with PLCs scheduling MB themes in their meetings; use the themes for program, not advancement and the rest will follow. Our older scouts simulated a car wreck once on a campout with fake blood and wounds on the month first-aid was the theme. The scouts talked about that for months. It was a very fun way to learn and practice first-aid. And sadly, too much is made of Webelos learning the Scout Oath and Law. I let my guys read off a card while they recited the oath and law at each meeting. They pretty much knew them when they crossed over. Barry

>>What does the scout have to say for himself?

>>Gee my webelos patrol had 2 dads who were trial lawyers so I guess I dodged a bullet. I also had 2 dads who were Marine officers so it kinda balanced out.

>>Oh that's what you chaps call a spanner! Now all those issues of Popular Mechanics makes sense. Ingenious

>>Barry you calling us spineless or a wimps for not giving boys knives or fire starting kits for a gift???????

Interesting, there is another thread on the forum discussing the difference between todays leaders vs leaders we remember, going on at the same time of this thread with some of todays leaders saying they wouldnt give a fire starter kit to a boy scout. There is a word for this, but I can't think of it. Barry

I guess I see the subject as simplistic. Of course adults are in it to have fun. If they werent most wouldnt do it. I think the tougher question is how much are we in it for the boys? Ive never been one to suggest that Boy Scouts is for the boys. I believe BSA is an adult organization intended to develop boys into men of character. Is that selfish or what. I learned the hard way that if the parents are having fun, they will happily bring their sons. That is especially true with Cubs and I wish I could get Cub leaders to take that to heart. But it has its application in the troop as well, even the best run troop will not succeed if the parents are uncomfortable dropping off their sons. If the adults are having fun, everyone is having fun. Barry

>>I, alone, already know what my intent is when I apply a term. That isn't in question

Find a competent Assistant CM to work with the CM. It will work itself out. Barry

>>I think it was a BIG mistake that their was not a War Tax. Everyone, beyond the families of servicemen and women needed to have skin in the game.

The Bush Tax cuts was a bipartisan vote to boost the economy and save jobs. Barry

Which makes one asks, what was the motivation to get a bipartisan agreement for the Bush tax cuts in the first place and what is different now? Barry

Eagle is right, it can depend on what works best for your scouts. Our PLC met 30 minutes before each troop meeting. They might meet an hour before the troop meeting once in a while if they needed some extra time for planning. Usually the SM brought the pizza. Barry

Communication. Our scouts, First Class or higher, take a basic leadership course before they could be on the PLC, and basic communication was one of the primary classes. The class taught simple things like how to politely greet people when answering the phone or making a call. Our troop used the phone tree at least twice a week to communicate to all the scouts, so they got lots of practice. But the main motivation for creating the class was the scouts' inability to communicate clearly and politely when calling a MB Counselor or speaker for meetings. Barry