Eagledad

>>perdidochas - those bic lights now have that safty guard on top to keep little kids from getting them to light... if you take a plyers and pull that off your lighter will dry much quicker if it gets wet!

Maybe its the engineer in me, but I think it's a pretty cool, but then I like the battery and steel wool idea also. My scouts once used a Estes rocket motor to start an impressive campfire for the parents. No one was within 30 feet of the stacked logs and all of a sudden the flames were 15 feet in the air. The parents were impressed. Their scout leader was proud, but then again like that kind of stuff. I admit that I'm a gadget guy but I thought most scouts were. Aren't the same principles (friction, pressure) used to start a fire using a bow and rod use in the Fire Piston. Good things to teach. I guess it is a bit pricey compared to flint and steel, but how are the prices of a GPS pricey compared to the compass? My opinion is teach all the different methods and tools because one never knows what may be in reach when the need comes. Be prepared. Barry

>>I think that a Scoutmaster who gets dropped off by his second or third wife, or the girlfriend he left his last wife for, sends an equally powerful message, particularly in a unit that is chartered by a Christian church of some sort. Jesus spoke specifically on that point. If we are to be an exclusive organization, then perhaps we should be a bit more consistent in our exclusions. I wonder how many leaders we'd lose if we actually walked the talk... Which is the point of accepting role models who exibit immoral behavior, there were no adults like that in my troop when I was a scout and I am pretty sure they weren't invited to be a leader. So what has changed in the last 40 years? Barry

Our Scouts organized a few Mafeking campouts, but they change the theme to Star Wars and Star Trek. They enjoyed the games because they did them at night. They started about 9:00 PM after the campfire and ended around 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning. It was the only campouts where the adults fixed breakfast for them. Barry

We had around 15 Eagles while I was Scoutmaster. Of the 15, 10 finished their Eagle within six months of their 18th birthday. However, we have an active program that the scouts like to hang around. 40% of our scouts are 14 and older. Around the corner is a much larger troop that gives each new scout a road map to earning Eagle by age 14. They pick 14 because they loose 75% of their scouts at that age. For what ever reason, the scouts don't like to hang around after that. So, if a scout wants to get his Eagle in that troop, he needs to get it by age 14. There is no hurry in our troop. Troops make a difference. I've done this a while and have worked with many moms like your wife. They rarely are quick to change. They have an agenda that in their mind is in the "best" interest of their son. It takes a lot of educating and time to convince mom that everyone else has that same best interest. So, I'm not sure much can change in the short time. We leaders think in a five or six year time frame. Moms typically think in two or three. I'm pretty sure your wife doesn't see your son in a scout uniform past 14 because she has other things lined up for her son to build is resume for life. I think your son is going to have to set the course here, but it would be nice if dad could help soften the path a little. Barry

>>The only effect would be more field uniforms at the parade, at the camporee, at the scout shop, at summer camp. Is that bad?

>>"Too often, Venturing Crews are simply nothing more than Boy Scout Troops with forest green shirts."

Boy there is some really good advice. I do agree that two of the same family should not have access to the account. My wife was our treasure and it was difficult since I was the SM. I do agree with the annual audit. I dont agree with having a pre approval for spending money. Unforeseen things pop up. We had a discretionary limit for unforeseen items. It still requires two signatures, just not a committee preapproval. I think you will have to find your style of doing the job, but try to always consider the next person who takes your job. My wife counted that she had processed 40,000 checks in the eight years as the troop treasure, so it can take a lot of time and get out of control rather quickly. If you need to set some ground rules to maintain control, dont be afraid to approach the committee. Barry

>>And yes, I know that behavior is part of the story here, but how far do you want to take that?

>>I wouldn't worry about the BSA changing its policy, it probably isn't going to happen anytime soon. And I know they don't listen to "NJCubScouter",

>>I don't know if this is per say JLT.. But, I do think it is more JLT the TLT.. The one thing with district JLT is that our district use to run it. All Troops depended on it, and when district stopped doing it, the Troops did not know how to run their own. That's because Adult Trainers organized and ran it.

>>Cna an instructor use the book as a referecne, i.e. he forgot to make his note cards, absolutely.

>>I have some ideas, but I have not approached my District with it, and I am worried about the response of if we can pull it off. If I can convince them the youth can rise to this challenge. I also worry about those on my training staff worring that the youth will replace them so I am looking for ways to include the staff with helping train the youth instructors and making sure what they plan to present is of quality.. I am curious if this is something you guys have already put into action. If so, I would love to know more on how to successfully implement this.

>>Barry, I can never keep track. Was that the good WB, the bad WB or the one in between?

I still have my s/s collarless shirt from the early 70's and 100lbs ago. The neckerchiefs were bigger then and they were important tools as well as uniform. My scouts laughed at me as I tried without success to teach first aid with todays size of neckerchief. Barry

Interestingly our Troop of uses the same list as Stosh's. The list was taught in JLT. 1. Introduce yourself and the subject you are teaching. 2. Hold up and describe all the resources used for the lesson. 3. Demonstrate the techniques or skills. 4. Have students practice the technique or skill. 5. Have students demonstrate and teach the skill to another student. 6. Thanks them and release the class. We also have a rule that a least 75% of the teaching session must be hands on. That rule forced our Council JLTC training to be much more enjoyable and productive. By the way, we learned that list from the old Wood Badge course. They taught every subject using it. Barry

>>Barry feels he works for the parents as he stated in his post

I'm one of those who has complained about parents that are too protective or too ambitious. We can him and haw about all day long but I seem too have either mellowed with age to understand that in much of this, its not a right or wrong issue, it is how well we work with the parents. I have said many times that I learned the hard way that at least 50% of the Scoutmasters job is working with the adults. This is an example of what Im talking about. Our troop never even hinted that a parent was not welcome to come along on a camp out. Personally I think parents who see their kids in action are the ones who buy into the boy run program the fastest. Once they understand it, they do what ever it takes to support it and willingly give you the space you need. Yes, there are the parents who go over the top, but that is where the SM needs to step it up a notch and develop new skills to teach the parents of not only where to stand, but more importantly the why. A lot of problem is that we leaders dont explain our jobs or the program very well. As I got more experienced, I learned better how to justify what every scout can gain while doing a troop activity. I learned to explain just learning how to tie one simple knot improved a scouts character and leadership than from the moment before he started learning that knot. If a boy could only spend one day of his life in a troop program, he will have grown in that one day for life. The adult leaders who tend to get in trouble are the ones who order parents and scouts to fall in step. They use the justification that they are the leader and that is all the justification they need. Its like making the scout wear a uniform without a reason that makes sense for his age and maturity. The scout will follow the adult authority, but he wont respect the absence of wisdom. At some point rebellion follows. That doesnt mean all scout leaders should know everything about scouting or why we do what we do. They just shouldnt justify their actions because they have the authority. In my mind, the SM works for the parent, not the other way around. In reality, we adults have to learn twice as much as the scouts twice as fast just so we can keep up and so that we dont restrict the scouts from growing. Its the adults who dont try to learn that have the most issues with parents. We as leaders really need to quit thinking about good parents and bad parents and instead think of how to deal with the different styles of different parents. Some are rather challenging and may require the style of a different leader to occomplish the goal. Rarely, but it happens that the two will never have a meeting of the minds and a separation is required. But, 99% of the other time, it just a matter of finding a way to get the parent to buy into the program. I love this scouting stuff. Barry

So what you are saying is all sins are OK and not harmful. That is your opinion and so why even do a check on adult applications. Hey, you want pedofile for a leader, you need to become an activist for them as well. A sin is a sin? Well I let you figure how far you want to go with that. Just warn the parents that there are no limits of role modeling behavior as far as you are concerned. The BSA, like it or not, is a values organization and they have to draw the line somewhere. You are lucky that you have a choice of staying with an organization that doesn't represent your principles, OR not. Barry

>>I don't need a big discussion to know that a gay person is not doing anything inherently wrong,

>>I wonder why some who do not prescribe to the scriptures of sexism, seem to want to follow the ones against homosexuality. Just seems inconsistent.

>>Definition of misogyny (several different sources)- "the hatred of women">but I think the term applies when hatred is not the motivator to the prejudice.

Definition of misogyny (several different sources)- "the hatred of women" That's not a hijack? Even your examples taken out of context don't suggest misogyny. Barry

>>And yet, many people feel they are qualified to be amateur psychologists. Now THAT would be an interesting research topic...

>> Unlike Eagledad, my views were formed before really considering da religious side of things, just because I hadn't yet personally found Christ at the time I was developing my opinion. While my faith supports my view now, my view preceded and is largely independent of my faith.