Eagledad

Good Day All >> Ask them to choose one and only one that they all want to do. Then ask if Merit Badges ought to be done at Troop meetings. If all you are doing at your Troop meetings is First Aid and Knots, take a look at the pages of Scouting Magazine (The ones in the middle)

OK Dsteel, are you saying when your pants are unzipped, they are not offical. But once the wearer zips them back up, then they are official? So much to ponder. Barry

>>Another badge i would REALLY like to offer is Photography -

>>How many troops do merit badges as part of there meeting time?? I feel that should not be done but it is.

>>Bob White, I can read the wording as many times as you like but 'reading between the lines' still seems necessary for its application to activities that are not specifically mentioned. I agree with NJ that the wording could be clarified. I think he was just making a point with the flashlight analogy.

>>We file it once a year, with all the registered leaders and drivers, vehicles, etc listed, and all known planned activities then on the calendar.

Hi Bear155Scout The SM needs to try and train the SPL so well that he the SM is not needed at the meetings. Of course he has to attend some of the meetings to know what is going on and to learn where the SPL is struggling. But an attitude of not having to be there forces the SM to train the SPL to be independently skills to run the meetings. I sometimes give the SPL the impression that I hated the meetings and didnt want to be there. That goes along with my belief that the best SM is a lazy SM. So, start off small, teach him how to write a meeting agenda. I have found that the performance of the troop program is a direct relationship of how the agenda was presented to the PLC. Or not presented if you know what I mean. It seems our SPLs got in a pattern where they would use the agenda for the first two months when they were new at the job and the meetings would follow as well. Then next two months they would ignore a written agenda and go by memory. They would forget things here and there and the meetings started struggling as well. The wise old SM only needs to ask one question after the meeting to get the SPL thinking. It seem like the SPL in his last two months would start using the Agenda to get the program on track. Let the SPL run the meeting. Part of Scout Mastering is allowing the scout to see his failings in leadership skills. IF he can't control the meeting, then let him loose control of the meeting. After the meeting, sit down and ask what happen. Allow him to humble himself into saying he needs more guidance. If he is having trouble controlling misbehaving scouts, then teach him two, at most three ideas to help him deal with the problem. I say two, because really that is all they can remember on the spot. Something like asking the scout once to behave and then to leave the room the second time. Ask him to go speak to the SM and explain what he was doing. Don't raise your voice or act angry. Just ask him to leave. I'm sure there are a lot of other ideas on this forum. Suggest he try these ideas at the next meeting. Give the SPL some room. Leave the room for a few minutes at each meeting allowing the scouts to get use to no adults. Not too much at first, but the better he gets, the longer you stay out of the room. My goals were to not be in the meeting at all in the SPLs last month of leadership unless I had adult announcements or something. Give him the Troop. Take all other adults out of the room and let them listen from the hallway. Adults are intimidating and really change the confidence of the scouts running the meeting. Teach the adults to ask the SPL for permission to be in the room, and then really only to present their subject. Always have a meeting with him before he leaves for home. Ask him how it went first. Allow him to point out the successes and failures. Then ask him some questions that will get him thinking other ideas for the next meeting. Teach him to succeed, allow his performance motivate him to seek more guidance. Finally, the BSA suggests one PLC meeting a month. Our troop moved to a 25 minute meeting each week. I think it's next to impossible to struggle with a meeting, learn a new idea than wait four weeks to try those ideas. You can't develop habits once a month and the agenda is huge. A weekly agenda allows the scouts to keep up with the troop business easier and now you can set weekly goals. The SPL gets to practice with a least 24 meetings in six months instead of only six. The confidence factor increases greatly. OK, that is a lot. Is it too much? Barry

>> have no idea what other variables exist here, but it seems to me that if your COR has a problem with your program, you have a problem.

>>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