Eagledad

I used to be a Bob White, and a Good 'ol Bob White too, But now I'm finished Bob White, I don't know what to do. I'm growing old and feeble and I can Bob White no more So I am going to work my ticket if I can Back to Gilwell, happy land; I'm going to work my ticket if I can. SR-197

In general, most in our council are happy to see the restrictions. The few adults who headed the old Wood Badge were so dug in, many felt it was easier getting the Silver Beaver than an invite to staff WB. The same adults started off with the 21st Centry WB and they did a good job. But there was the expectation of the same-ol club controlling and running the course. They were basically forced to loose their grip on the course and we are getting some really great fresh new staffs now. On Another note, the group I've personally watched benefit a lot from the new WB are the Cubs. I have personally seen a couple of Packs advance their program to a level that I'm pretty sure wouldn't have happen without the course. Barry

>>As an aside, I just spent an evening reviewing PL responsibilities with newly elected PL's (at the request of the SM). I used the PL handbook as my guide.

As a SM, I would be excited if my SPL called to brief me on the DL's request. I would be even more excited if he already put the Den visit on his agenda before he called me. Barry

>>I think we should hold a special meeting and decide what to do as a committee. I'm also considering contacting the Council if still nothing is done.

>>It is impossible for most Americans to imagine that B-P's Patrol System is based on appointed leadership because we live in a country where big government limits our choice in Scouting to a single monopoly religious corporation. The moral certainty that elections are the only way to teach citizenship ("the quality of an individual's response to membership in a community") is a result of our growing up without freedom of choice. >Hopefully we will soon have an alternative to the BSA for those who choose to operate today's troop on Baden-Powell's traditional Scouting practices.

>>Another question - is it appropriate, for me as SM, to ask the scout about the board of review process, and whether he thought he was treated fairly?

>>I wish the best of luck to those of you who are fighting on the side of the right in this debate.

>>I think you'll find that North American was secure and doing just fine and dandy under the thriving Native American nations that populated the area. It only became "insecure" when the Europeans decided to invade it. Since Hitler was the leader of Germany at the time, his seeing the Jews as a threat would seem to be enough, don't you think?

>>You know, I have the liability discussion every year with our CO. ....I think it's just the nature of our overly litiguous society to be worried about every possibility of liability.

>>Therefore, they seem to think every other troop ought to do the same. I keep hoping it will change, but until it does, we make do with what we have.

An idea I've seen and like a lot is scouts making an advancement book to hold all their advancement records. It's a three ring binder with several pages of those plastic baseball card holders. The scouts are suppose to put their MB cards in the slips where baseball cards usually go along with the cards for all their ranks. This is also where they keep records of leadership and service projects. And anything else the want to keep for record. The scouts are asked to bring their advancement book to all the BORs so the adults can review their experience. Our troop didn't do this, but I like the idea because its teaches a method and habit of maintaining records that he can use for the rest of his life. He could even have a partials section of the book. Have a great scouting day. Barry

An idea I've seen and like a lot is scouts making an advancement book to hold all their advancement records. It's a three ring binder with several pages of those plastic baseball card holders. The scouts are suppose to put their MB cards in the slips where baseball cards usually go along with the cards for all their ranks. This is also where they keep records of leadership and service projects. And anything else the want to keep for record. The scouts are asked to bring their advancement book to all the BORs so the adults can review their experience. Our troop didn't do this, but I like the idea because its teaches a method and habit of maintaining records that he can use for the rest of his life. He could even have a partials section of the book. Have a great scouting day. Barry

I have a story that kind of supports Trev's point. We had a 17 year old scout from another state trasnfer to our troop with just two MBs left to get his Eagle. When he finished, he brought all his paperwork to the Troop meeting, handed it all to me and told me to call him for the BOR. I handed it back to him and told him that the scouts handle all the paperwork, turn it into the Council, set up the BOR and then call to tell me the time and place. He was in shock, but once he got his wits about him, he went to our advancement ASM and handed her the same paperwork and asked her take care of it. Of course she handed it all back to him and told him in our troop, the scouts take care of the Eagle paperwork and set up the BOR. I knew I was in trouble when he came walking in the next meeting with his dad who looked like he wanted answers. I was quick to the point that we believe Eagles should have the maturity to handle the Eagle paperwork. By the way, he was about my 20th Eagle, so we knew he could do it. Once the dad heard my explination, he agreed and wanted his son to take care of it all. It was tough for him, he told us that in his previous troop, the adults hold on to all the MB cards and advancement cards and paper work. They find the Eagle project for each scout, set the date and basically tell the scout when to show up. Once the scout completes everything for Eagle, the adults fill out the packet and send it to Council. The only thing the scout needs to know is the time and place of the BOR. It took this Eagle three weeks to fill out the paperwork, get all the signitures and set up the BOR. His dad helped him a little and we did gave him some help, but only enough to keep him moving. It was a challenge for him. My point is don't do to much for the scouts or they may not learn enough to get the job done. I had a saying for our adults as they developed their responsibilities. Try not to make the job anymore complicated than what a scout can do so the next person can take over easily, and because maybe a scout will be the next person. This doesn't have anything to do with this subject, but this scout was a hero in our town a year later for resuscitating a baby found at the bottom of a baby pool near a pool he lifeguarded. Oh how I live this scouting stuff. Have a great evening. Barry

I have no trouble with an adult reminding scouts, but I don't think it helps all that much. If the scout wants to finish a badge, he usually does. If the scout is waiting for a better time, reminders don't usually help. But if you have an adult who feels good doing this, then that is a simple way of letting them feel they are contibuting. Barry

>>Boys may be somewhat lazy. However this sounds like it's a case of adult leadership that is just a lazy.

>>I agree most strongly that an NSP ASM is needed, as are WELL TRAINED Troop Guides.

>>Barry, do your existing patrols have any say in how this happens? If not, has this ever caused you any problems?

Great Monday all >>Eight out of ten times the boy wants to stay with his den mates.

>>But I do believe that the PLC roles are more than just fun and games. They are to teach the boys responsibility and leadership. And, you can't do that without a little work involved.

>>No one ever said everything we do in life is "fun". The PL and SPL positions are jobs.

>>That PLC was the best attended, then as time went on, attendance again dropped.

>>It did not give me the ability to diagnose or treat Scouts with learning disabilities, just an understanding. Diagnosing and treating Scouts was not my job as Scoutmaster. Understanding my Scouts and finding new ways to help them grow was my job.

Hi All Why do the parents want their sons to move so fast? I think that is your concern and your point of discussion. My experience is most parents who push their kids faster than the norm are looking to get a jumpstart ahead of their group, usually its advancement in scouts. Whatever the reason, you need to sit and explain why the program works as it does to change their inexperienced vision with a picture of reality. They need to learn and understand that the BSA looses more scouts the first year in a Troop than any other age. If they want their sons to have a long enjoyable scouting experience, then they need to understand why waiting a few months gets their son's maturity closer to the other boys in the troop and a better chance for a successful scouting experience. Also, you need to counter their motivations by painting the big picture of the troop program. Example is if advancement (Eagle) is their motivation, explain how boys who focus on one of the eight methods usually don't enjoy the program and quit early. Boys who experience all the methods at a rate their maturity can handle enjoy the program a lot more and hang around long enough to earn whatever rank or goals they seek. My suggestion is find out the parents motivation and quietly refute it with logic and compassion for their sons future of scouting. I hope this all makes sense. Good luck. Barry

>>STDs, child support payments, fury of a scorned woman - there is much fear to go around! Not that fear should be the motivation factor but as I've always believed, it takes two to tango.