Eagledad

>>but since so many of these elections ARE affected by popularity, rather than by need or ability - I think it's a shame a kid can be held back in advancement simply because he's not popular or because there aren't enough positions to go around.

>>but instead is, using the knot board idea, creating a knot board and then teaching the knots during that time frame.

Not at all. I know I'm not a good writter of my thoughts. Sometimes I just need a second chance. I just keep practicing and thankful for everyones patience. Barry

>>They need to hear the reasoning behind our behavior.>In fact, my concern is very consistent with the mission statement.

Hi All >>I feel the "lead by example" mantra is an excuse to not do the real work - Talking to our children.

Hi CubsRgr8 I don't have a lot of time right now, but I wrote something on this subject a few years ago that another SM put on his Web Site. http://iss.westhost.com/scouts/troop_size.html See if it helps at all. I know this is a forum design for discussion, I apologize to the list for not giving highlights in this post. I will do better in the future. Scouting Cheers Barry

Good morning KS I have experience. We had a slightly autistic scout that was deathly afraid of water. Just looking at a glass of water brought fear in his eyes. I went to our District Commissioner and gave him a letter explaining the situation. He came back a week later and told me it was done. Scouting Cheers Barry

Hi All I really enjoyed your post WoodBadgeEagle. I did something simalar for OA elections. After a couple years, the SPLs didn't even bother to come and get me, they just started teaching the lesson themselves. One less reason to get out of my chair I guess. You just did "teach them" part. Now you're doing the "trust them, let them go" part. I'm going to take a copy of your post to our present SM. I can see it working in a lot of applications. Thanks again. Barry

>>Well, my son opted to be the Woodbadge staff rather than take part in the trip. That may be one of my best scouting memories.

Hi All I thought I had sent Bob a private note about a post he wrote in the Open Discussion forum under the "Whose Troop is it?" subject. I was in a hurry and didn't go back to the discussion until a couple hours later to see I had mistakenly sent it public. I am sorry for any hurt that I may have brought you or your family, Bob. The note was my personal opinion and wasn't intended to influence the discussion or publicize my opinion. I also apologize to you OGE for changing the direction of your post. It was enjoying the subject and some of the discussion. I've grown tired of the juvenal attacks of each other on this forum. I believe the forum was intended to help each other improve our program. I believe that was OGE's intent as well. My note was intended only for one person to read. But pushing one wrong button kind of changes all that, doesn't it? Man, my whole day has been like this. I've seen the smiley faces that bang their head against the wall. I don't have them, but I have been humbled by the experience. Barry

>>Once again FOG spews forth adding absolutely no substance to the discussion.

REally? See how the weekend goes without it. Just like the roster, it is a directive way of controlling the group. I am amazed how few PLCs use them and how many wait for the adults to tell them the next step. What happens in most troops when the SPL doesn't get the scouts up? We find in JLTC that creating and following the agenda is the third most challenging leadership skill to grasp behind communication and delegation. Barry

Maybe, but the example I gave was the agenda was handed out to all the leaders including the SM before the campout so they would know the times for flag, eating, program and so on. There is little difference from that and the SPL, or SM in some troops, walking around telling everyone the time for flag. Barry

>>Do you think that an agenda is a form of directive leadership?

Hi All >>Set your compass to N and aim it at Polaris (true North), the needle will then point to Mag North giving you your declination for your area.... < That's pretty cool. Learn something new and fun everyday. One other source may be your car owners manual. Some manuals provide declination for adjusting the compass in the car to the local area. Have a great weekend. Barry

>>They manage to get dinner cooked, but then have to do dishes at 9:30 pm after the campfire instead of the planned "capture the flag" game. Everyone suffers for the poor planning, and a lesson is learned.

Hi Twocubdad By the way, you can have twoeagledad, I have have to get within seven digits to fit my license plate. Anyway, what you are describing is not an autism issue, but an adult one. A parent one really. I have learned the hard way several times that it is best to get EVERYONES expectations out up front. Everyone involved needs to talk about this and lay out the conditions. My experience is that mom will not change much with her son at this young age. As the son grows, she will get more comfortable with other people working with her son, better, but that will take time. I think we all would be this way. If your adults are scared of her, I would bring that out and explain her choices, one being that she doesn't have to join right now or this pack. I have a real concern in scouting which is adult leader burnout. One problem I have found are the Webelos who don't crossover into scouts in our area come from dens of burned out adults who provide bad programs. When we add stressful situations or people into the program, that makes the burnout problem even worse. So for the health of your scouts, leaders and program, have everyone meet and be honest about the fears and expectations for both the family and your program. In long run, everyone will appreciate it. Good luck, I've been where your at and it pulls at the heart. Barry

>>But is may be fun sometime to see how long a troop realizes the gear isnt getting unloaded and what they do about it. One a troop I knew had a camp out where the leaders didnt wake anybody up and never told anyone to start breakfast, around 10 am they woke up, literally and figuratively.

Hi All Hope you don't mind something a little different. I really enjoy some of the log on user names we see on this forum. I was wondering what some of them mean. Mine is pretty obvious, but this is from my license plate I had made after my favorite oldest son got eagle. I hope to change it to 2eagledad soon. Some seem more obvious than others, I would enjoy hearing everyones story. Barry

>>Teach these principles to your most mature scout, too, and your SPL/ASPL. You'll be doing them a favor too as these principles work for all kinds of people.

>>Bob White did a very good job of answering my question.

Hi NJ I understand, but come on. Someone in need has asked for help to fix a car and all the adults can say is your driving the wrong model. Like he has a big choice in the matter or has the ability to instantly change the adults program. First help the scout with his immediate needs then we can sit down and pow wow about his program. I know there are some who will preach the ideal program will solve all the problems. But my experience is you better understand the big picture first because no matter how good you build your program, it will have it's problems because boy run troops have lots of individuals and you can build for every unexpected situation that comes up. If you understand the big picture, your program will achieve the intended goals. There is too much attention given to the structure and not enough of the foundation. The program structure will go through a lot of struggles and test, but the foundation (big picture) never changes. You know, these guys are so amazing and God has given us the gift to help them. Leave the adult junk to the adults and help the scouts grow to be the men they are capable of being. Sorry for the soapbox, I can't help it. I love this scouting stuff. Barry

>>I appreciate that what you are doing works. But there are alot of things that you could do that "work". That fact that it works does not make it scouting. Hope this helps, bob White

Hi all This is a great idea. We do new scout orintation each year where we spend a great deal of time talking about advancement and answering questions such as these. I think this is a good place to do the Bob White thing and list the pages of the BSA publication that support the answers to all your questions. That prevents a lot of why does you troop do it this way when the other does it different. And it adds integrity to your adult leaders and program. A couple of questions I've heard a lot are does the SM sign a MB Card before the scout starts or finishes his MB? Can the parent be a conselor for most of the sons MBs? Can anybody be a MB counselor? Great job CharityAK. Barry

>>Sure didn't mean to sound like that...and if I did, I apologize. Rarely would I purposely attempt to come across that way. But if I did, I'd let you know without you having to guess.....:-)