Eagledad

Happy Snow Days All >>Kids may not have changed but their behavior has and much of that is the fault of the parents.

Hi jwall. Is there another troop that you would consider? Go out and get a SM Handbook to get better idea of what the BSA expects from the SM. Unit Adult dynamics are interesting. It is hard to understand why we behave the way we do, and I've been amazed how blind we can be to our own distructiveness. Without really knowing your unit or adults, I can say usually if the CC and SM think as one and the COR allows it and you can't live with the present situation, I think it is time to move on. I would, however, call your DE and District Committee Chairman and give them the facts. At the very least they can suggest other troops. But sometimes they can add a perspective to the situation that you did not know or had not considered. Sorry for your problems. I hope you can get them worked out. Barry

Merry Christmas All >>When yeh consider the merits of a policy or program, I don't think it's enough just to consider its intent. Yeh have to also consider it's unintended consequences.

>>I do of course do my best to remember that we are dealing with young people and while life is better when everyone pulls their weight, doing what they should, this is an educational game where we learn as much from what goes wrong as we do from things that go well.

Merry Christmas Everyone >>She really has a hard time allowing the Scouts (One is her Son.) sort things out for themselves and take responsibility for what they are supposed to be doing or have done.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays All >>I can see myself on the Committee, I guess. Husband has been asked twice lately to take a role on the District. We have both found merit badges we could counsel. Does that sound about right for leaders who move from Cubs into Boy Scouts?

>>I sorta figure that criticizin' the government, even in very pointed terms, is always fair game . One of those First Amendment, American-type things. Especially seein' as how I'm a fairly conservative, Republican-type voter who helped get 'em elected.

Happy Holidays All My bad Beavah, you meant Incompetence, bumbling idiocy, Near total disregard, No strategic sense whatsoever, dodge the last war and fail History class, neo-con chicken hawks, current line of clowns, blind followership in the good way. Folks say our society has become too polarized. Maybe it's just a communication problem. Have a great scouting day all. Barry

>>It is fascinatin' that some neo-conservatives' response to criticizin' the administration over their tactical and strategic choices is the same as complainin' about the weather. Gotta admit, that attitude of blind followership really scares me. And I'm a lifelong Republican who used to agree with Rooster

>>He has since changed his mind on a number of issues since he decided to run for President. Who knows what he would say if asked the same question in Iowa today.

>>Looks like someone has been spending too much time watching the MSM/Drive-by news.

Well, I dont have a full grasp of your troop, but I would consider the idea of making youre old SPL a JASM with two responsibilities; SPL advisor, and New Scout Guide. My thinking is this; your oldest SPL was pushing the troop growth with his leadership and maturity. If you let him stand back now, you might loose that momentum. As a JASM, you can still advise him on a day to day basis, and the challenges of job responsibilities will provide him continued growth. You will still be the advisor for the SPL, but now a lot of what you advise can go through the JASM. I give him the additional task of New Scout Guide because I find guys like him to be very good with new scouts. I dont know if you put your new scouts with mixed age patrols or do a NSP, but by being an advisor, your JASM can advise a TG in the NSP, do the job himself, or guide the new scouts in the mixed age patrols or whatever. And advisor is flexible enough to fill in the gap where needed. It could be a little tricky, but advising the SPL shouldnt require a great deal of the JASMs time, just his experience and knowledge. So he should have time for the new scouts. Which I think he will be great. As for the new SPL, he needs to feel the weight of what he bought with his bribes. Make him grow faster then he is comfortable because the task is really above him. But dont let it be so uncomfortable that he mentally quits in the middle. Just make sure he has stretch marks from his growth. As I said, these ideas may not fit in with your troop dynamics at all. I just look for ways to keep scouts challenged and growing. JASM is kind of that next step for SPLs, and there is no reason why he shouldnt run for the SPL again next fall. In fact I would plant that expectation in him. Hope this doesnt confuse your thinking. Im sure this is difficult. Barry

Merry Christmas and happy holidays all >>Maybe my view is tainted by the council wood badge staff who waggled his beads at me and said, "This is why you go to Wood Badge, to get these so the boys will know that you care."

>>Furhter, a lot of people who are savvy about politics are just plain fed up with the apparent idiocy and fumbling of the Bush administration and want someone who appears to be both articulate and thoughtful, for a change. Again, Clinton and Obama fill that role nicely, whether you agree with their particular thoughts or not.

>>Also he was littering

>> Going to church every Sunday only serves to fill the church's coffers and rather than listen to some inane sermon, I'd rather be out putting Christ's teachings into practice.

>> CubmasterMike-Let your boy chose and change your handle to ASMMike.

>>Your religion should only be important to yourself and no one else.

>>I always tell 'em that a COH is an act of service. They don't need it, but the community needs it. It's a way of providin' an example for younger scouts, and a way to thank the SM, ASMs, parents and parent volunteers for all their efforts over da years. Yeh say "thank you" to those people by giving them a chance to celebrate. Beavah

Im with lisabob here. She seems to see something else here. Nowhere in your words do I read that the young man really wants the Eagle. I don't know, but maybe the focus of our replies arent quite on the mark. It sounds more like the problem is you have a scout who doesnt really want to fit in anymore. I agree with setting expectations for him, but Im more of the mind that he needs your expectations of him as a man tens years down the road, not as an Eagle now. For what ever reason, hes floundering in scouts, which maybe means he is floundering in his other life. I know that he is a pain, but maybe there is some way to get him to engage in some small way. Try something else. Think way out of the box. Find something that gets him excited in your troop, whatever that is and see if you can use that to give him some kind of motivation. Sometimes what we do doesnt seem to make a difference. But I think it does even for the ones who seem the most distant. At some point in each of our lives, those who gave something of themselves comes back to give us a boost. I love this scouting stuff. Barry

>>I consider that action to be the strongest form of statement of contempt for the targeted individual and, as such, represents an unfriendly (and unscoutlike) act.

>>What are you selling?>Who are you selling it to?

>> I think he is wanting some curve balls. Something to make it interesting.

Hi I am not one of those adults that preaches "first get trained then.....". But I really think Wood Badge is exactly what you and your leaders need right now. The course guides the unit in finding your gaols and building the adults into a team to reach your goals. Most of the problems adults have in units are caused because they don't have visions or goals as a unit, so they don't work as a team. Take the course and I think you will have a much better understanding for what you are supposed to do. If you still feel the need to make guidelines, I think they will be more focused. But because the course will get all your leaders in one frame of mind, I'm guessing you won't need to make additional guidelines. Barry

>>When someone so obviously misinterprets the data they've collected, it makes me question what else they got wrong. Yet we're quoting them as an authority on all of the facts of the case.