Eamonn

Not sure if SmT206, was pointing the finger at me, however if the cap fits, I will wear it. (Much as I dislike them.) I still belong to the group that follows the rules,and at this time do everything possible to get others to follow, what I hope is my good example. However, much as it pains me to have to say it, when I see the turn out of the units in my district, a good many of them are wearing "My uniform" If it is not theirs it sure is not, the BSA uniform. Even boys that I know have a full uniform opt to only wear parts of it. I know they have one because they wore it to the last jamboree. While, I thank the good Lord, not in my district, we do have units that on their own have redesigned parts of the uniform, for wear by the entire unit. To my way of thinking, we do need to do everything possible to get all our members to wear our uniform. I feel sure that everyone at every level is aware of the problems that we have with uniforming, and one day maybe not in the very near future, something will be done. Will everyone be happy ? I wonder.

My Uniform : No Hat - Don't like em. Shirt - Golf Shirt, with a pocket. Don't really care what the color is. Red is fine Pants - Some kind of easy care pants like Dockers, would be fine. I have very skinny legs, so you can keep the shorts. Belt - Don't care if it's there or not. Socks - Any dark color is fine. Neckerchief - rarely wear one, but if we have it as an option that is ok. Have to admit that I get a little upset, everytime I open my Scout Sock drawer, and see nearly $200.00 in socks looking up at me. Of all the uniform items the Socks seem to be way over- priced. My Wife tells me that if I buy anymore Scout Shirts, that my life will come to a premature end. I'm not sure how many. And even though I don't like hats, I do have way too many, including two Campaign hats. Have just looked over some of the comments on the Baseball Cap. I don't know a good one from a bad one, but OJ, my 14 year old thinks that the BSA Ball cap, stinks. He isn't that mad about my choice of uniform, and tells me that the one we have now is better then what I said. Boy, I must be growing old, to think that I asked a 14 year old - I really must be slipping !!! Who Knows one of these days I may even hear what he is saying. What is all that stuff about Active Listening ??(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

Some time back, when I was acting as a Roundtable Commissioner, I invited the local Drug And Alcohol County Team to make a presentation. It was very interesting, but went into a lot more detail then, we really needed to know. There was a lot of stuff about where drugs are hidden. In things like dummy pop cans. Drinks that can be purchased on the net, that can cover up drug use from employer drug tests. I voted no.To the training idea. While we have the BSA, Drugs A Deadly Game,maybe we could do more with our youth to explain the evils of drugs. I do have some concerns about, what, and how much non-syllabus material people are adding to the Youth Protection Training. This is where some of the "Misinformation" that keeps cropping up comes from. We do not have the right to keep adding more and more material to these trainings, worse still we have no right to add anything when it is wrong. We have in the past few months talked about, the BSA, position on Smoking, Alcohol, and illegal drug taking. To my mind the position is clear. While I think that the training we offer at this time is really good, we have to be careful, that we don't go overboard.

The Best Scoutmasters are those who let a handfull of Boys control the Troop activities and functions. Be sure to explain that you want to run a Scout Troop, not a Merit Badge factory. Ask your DE,when he/she last met with the Chartered Organization, and how have things gone in the past? If you are not a member of the Organization that charters the Troop, ask yourself Why Not? Will not being a member cause any problems? Check out what equipment they have and what plans are in place to provide you the tools to do your job, as Scoutmaster. The list could go on and on. However most of the adults in Scouting, are doing what they do due to the fact that they really do like kids, and at times are willing to forgive the Adults for not seeing what the real program is all about, and how it ought to be run. Welcome to the Forums, there are a lot of very talented people, who may at times see things, not in the same light as each other, but I think almost all of them have the good of our youth at heart.

The Music and songs played with the fireworks at the closing of the last jamboree were outstanding

I think that my Scout Exec. Would be pushing me out on my ear. No we have never done this sort of thing. However, we have had Golf outings, with very high price tags, that have included an open bar at the end.Needless to say there were no youth and no one was in uniform. This does however bring to mind the tale of a Summer Camp, that I ran back in England, we camped on the estate of a Lord,in Kent. While we were there, the annual fete, was being held. A very small affair ran by the local village people. We dressed the Scouts in their Sunday best uniforms and off we went. Some of the boys came back, with cocoa-nuts or other prizes that they had won, but soon they started coming back with bottles of booze, which they won. As luck would have it they had no interest in drinking it, so they sold it back to the stall holder, much to the disappointment of our 65 year old Assistant Scout Leader. Now there was a man who would have enjoyed a good wine tasting, but once Fred got going, no one would have made very much money !!!

I'm a form filler from way back when. Yes ALL the permits have to be filed. You, would be doing your Scoutmaster a favor, if you, in as nice a way possible pointed out that without filling in the forms, he/she might be liable if things went wrong. Of course he/she may have given this job, to a member of the Troop Committee.

Baden-Powell, once said - Never do anything for a boy, that he can do for himself. The "Trick" in making the Patrol Method work, is keeping the Adults in their place. Even with such a small number, you can still have a Boy Led Troop, which will lay the framework for when you have a lot more Scouts.

I'm not sure what the term district trainers means? Maybe there are some lucky councils, that have members that only wear one hat. We only have one person in our council that does that. He is our council Boy Scout Training Chair. Being a small council, we have a mixed bag of who does what when it comes to training. The Fast Track, while presented at the Unit Level, is under the District Training Chair. He or She is to ensure that each unit has the up to date tapes and the guide. New Leader Essentials, is again presented at the District Level, under the direction of the District Training Chair. Some have a team that they use all the time and others try to bring more people in and have them present the training. Cub Scout Leader Specific Training, Webelos Leader Outdoor Training,Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation, all come under the District Cub Scout Training Chair. Working with the District Training Chair. They recruit a staff, from the district who will present these trainings. They work hand in hand with the Council Cub Scout Training Chair, and the Council Training Committee. Pow Wow, is the job of the Council Cub Scout Training Chair. Round Tables are a service of the Commissioner Staff,who may at times call on the training committee for help. Boy Sout Training, is mainly managed at the Council level, due to there being smaller numbers. With the Troop Committee Training done by the District Boy Scout Training Chair. As the Council Training Chair, I really want to bring as many people to help with training as possible. They are asked to present what is in the Syllabus. They are not, in fact none of us are experts. As I say they if they are doing the job right will stick to the syllabus, which has the correct information in it. They ought not add or leave any thing out, just present what is there. When it comes to a question like yours, which by the way I don't have the "Offical BSA answer" to you are best served asking one of the professionals in your council. I do have an opinion. My thoughts would be that they do not have to wear the uniform, depending on what the activity was and where t was being held. You Make A REALLY GREAT PIONT -"REFER TO THE MANUALS"

It seems to me that a lot of the problem is that someone, be it the Field Director, or one of the Scout Execs. Has "Things" that he/she thinks are important. These "Things" are not shared with anyone. I have sat on our Executive Board and there is never a word about these. These are given to the DE. I don't know what input they have on how and why. But that is fine. As the Boss, that person has the right to set goals for his workers. We volunteers, at the District level are aware that we are helping the district and the council meet the long term plan of the council. I like to think that we do a good job, yes we have the odd moan and groan, and may like or dislike one person more then another, we are still human !! But as dsteele, stated we perform better when we know the why. Then there is the "What may be imporant to you, might not be, to me." I was at another council last summer, and visited their Council Camp site. It was outstanding, all sorts of new buildings and improvements. The Scout Exec, was a really super nice chap. We walked around the site, all the time me saying how good it was and what a great job they must have done getting the money for such a great camp. He shook his head and said yes, but it doesn't mean a thing, all they want is numbers. The poor chap looked so forlorn, I didn't have the heart to ask who "They" were. Sad to say this fellow is no longer working for the BSA. Who sets the goals for the Councils?

Of course, I have not said this ? But some rules have to be followed to the letter. But There are a few that can at times be "Forgotten" Yes some of the rules on pioneering projects are a bit over the top!! A five foot tower is not worth building (OK, give me twenty lashes with a wet Wood Badge ) But the rules on things like Fund Raising, Youth Protection, and making sure that Scouting is a safe haven can never be ignored.

Have to admit that things were getting a little heavy in another thread, so I thought that it was time to lighten up a little. One of our local papers runs a "Faces Around Town" They ask a passerby some Questions such as Home, Occupation, Favorite TV Show and that sort of thing, the last question is "What would you do if you won the lottery? Just for Fun, let's suppose that You Had Won, and were going to spend the money in your local Council. How would you Spend it? I think that I would spend the money on our little used Camp Site, and change it into a Cub World, which could also be used as a Training Center. It would be great, swimming pool, fun accommodations for the Cubs, really nice bathrooms for the Leaders. You would need dark glasses to get past the glare of the stainless steel in the kitchen and dining room. And best of all it would not be near our Boy Scout Camp, so when it came time to go to Boy Scout Summer Camp it would be a totally new experiance. As for the Training Center, it would put training on a new level, with all the latest and best equipment, along with chairs that didn't leave you walking like a duck for three days after a training session. While I was at it I think some place to look after the young children of those attending the trainings would be nice. Hey Buddy can you spare six or seven million ?

Scoutldr, makes a lot of very good points. But here is an example of the kind of stuff that makes my blood boil. Our Family FOS Campaign. Kicked off last October, I held a meeting for all the presenters, where we covered the Who, How, What, Where, and tried to get the When. The When is hard at that time. At the November, roundtable most of the units signed up for a date. The Packs are easy, it normally happens at the Blue and Gold Banquet. Troops are a little harder to tie down, it is normally done at a Court of Honor, and not all the Troops have set dates for these. I did try to get a date from all of them by phone. But one just wasn't sure when. However they are a troop that always does a good job. In fact their Chartered Rep. Is also an Assistant Council Commissioner. This Guy never misses a troop meeting and is the life and soul of that troop. I arrive home to an E-mail, from the DE, She tells me that the Field Director wants/needs the date of that troops FOS presentation. The Field Director and this chap were at the same meeting five days ago. This chap is retired, why can't the DE, or the Field Director pick up the phone. (The DE, has the time to E-mail me !!) So I phone, and he still has no idea. Now, I'm E-mailing the DE,She will fax the Field Director and they still won't have an answer. Will the FOS presentation get done ? Yes, when the unit is ready. Did everyone know this, yes. But if they didn't we sure took a scenic route to find out.

A strange thing happened tonight. I had a meeting with the staff of our Wood Badge. I never really thought about what their roles in Scouting are or were. They are just really great Scouters. The course mentor, is our council Vice President of Program. He was the District Chair. of my District, and served for ten years, before handing it over to the one before me. Then there was the current and past Chairs of one of the other Districts, the current chair, is a Lutheran Minister. Mike, the V.P, was teasing the Minister, saying that now that we have him on the staff, we will be sure of good weather. Gene, the Minister, was very quick to answer, that he was in sales, not service. Somewhere, hidden in that is a message for us all. Maybe if we had Genes' outlook we might be more able to do a better job. There are a few things that RMV, mentioned, that I think do need to be addressed. I have all the information that is needed to take care of all the things that you brought up. I have always thought that having a DE, act as a delivery person is not only a waste of time, but very expensive. Fedx, does a really good job. Last year we had the highest percentage of trained leaders in the nation, and each district had a list of all training that the leaders had taken, thanks to the work of the district training committees. Somewhere, I think it is Hawk Mountain Council, there is a council, that has not dropped a unit in many years. I have been told (By a Scout Exec, when I attended the conference on district service at Philmont.) That this was due to the fact that each year every Chartered Organization had a meeting with: The DE, District Commissioner, Unit Commissioner and the Unit Leaders, at this meeting they sang the praises of Scouting, making the organization aware of how well things were going, details like how many boys had gone to camp, and how many had advanced. This type of busy work is the stuff that I think is great and if what I have been told is true, what a great record. You are right about my hero - Baden-Powell, not always being right, but if we look at many great men, they had a vision, that while it has not yet been met still lives on. So WWII,and many other conflicts and wars have happened, but I for one still hold true to the idea that Scouting can bring the youth of the world together and one day they will lead us to a world of peace. I will have to look up the TAY, before I will let you get away with Where Scouting is stronger. I do wholeheartedly agree that the critical achievements are the way to ensure that your employees are doing the job, however they must understand it is their job. Just like the Cub Scout camp promotion, if that was on a list that my boss gave to me, I would do everything possible to ensure that I was there at each and everyone of them. Why? Because that would be my job. If I worked for whoever was assigning these and I thought it was too much or out of line, I would have to let that person know, at the time it was assigned. My boss wanted us to make a budget for this year which was to cut expenses by five percent, we came back with the numbers that showed how this wasn't possible, so we only cut three percent. Most of the people that I have met in Scouting are capable of compromise, yes even those tough hard nosed Scout Execs !! (That was an attempt at humor.) Maybe when all is said and done we are all in "Sales, not Service" Maybe the Service Department is on a far higher level ?

First and foremost,in answer to dststeele. Yes Sir you are right I'm very frustrated, however you are also very right that I was very wrong to use the term Nitwit, Please accept my deepest apology. Having said that, let me for a minute explain why I'm so frustrated. I had just received an E-mail, from my district commissioner, telling me that he was about to quit. The reason being that our Cub Scout Camping Chair. Had not made two Cub Camping promotions, and the DE, was upset, she had sent him a long E-mail, crying about her Critical Achievements, not being met. Harsh as it may sound, these goals are not our goals, we have no ownership in them. If my boss gives me a job to do, he has given it to me. So I have two choices, I go ahead and ensure that the job is done, or I don't do it and run the risk of being fired. As a key 3 we set the goals for Quality District, we own these and break our backs to get the job done. I have to go to my "Real Job" now but do want to add to this later. I do feel bad that you are upset, and want you to know that this was not my intention, so again, please accept my apology. I'm very sorry.

The Patrol Leaders Council, could. But my hope would be that the Scoutmaster, would take the time to try and fix whatever the problem was before it got to that stage. As to the reasons, there could be some things that can't be fixed. Theft, within the troop might be one that is not fixable. Where on the other hand a Patrol Leader not making the meetings might be able to be fixed over the phone with a word from the Scoutmaster. There are of course somethings that are just unforgivable, he might be a Browns or Rangers fan. Worse still he might say bad things about Mario!!Even if there were sixteen games without a win.(joke)

AS has been stated here before, I think that both myself and our District is very lucky to have an outstanding DE. I have been a member of the District Key 3, for six years, this will be seven. Over these past years we have only failed to reach Quality District one time. One year, out of all four districts in our council, we were the only one to reach it, and last year we were one of two. The year that we didn't was due to a lack of recruited Cub Scouts. We have never in the past six years failed to meet our unit,popcorn,or financial goal. I have to admit that Quality District, has been the goal that I have gone all out to get. And even if I do say so myself, we have done a really good job. I am aware of some of the other stuff, that the DE,has to deal with, but my thinking is that as we have no part in setting these goals, they really are not our goals. Yes it is great when the DE, is part of the Winners Circle, but that is her goal her award and is not shared with the district. The same can be said for her critical achievements. They belong to her and we have no ownership in them. We have been blessed with a Field Director, that is pushing the heck out, my DE. He is giving them (All the DE'S,.) So much "Busy Work" That they or at least mine, is not getting the basic job done.I really do want to see her out and about visiting all of the Chartered Organizations, but due to the junk in the darn Critical Achievements, it is just not happening. Of course junk like this rolls down hill, and as he pushes her, she trys to push us. Much as we all want to see her do well and shine,it has got to the stage where our District Commissioner, is reaching "Burn-out." My feelings are that we are spending more time trying to make the professional staff look good then caring for the district. When will these Nit-Wits, wake up and see that the entire answer to all of our problems lies in the program. A Quality Program, will retain the youth and bring more in,the families of these youth will be more lightly to support the program and the Council. The Families are the community, and just like the junk that is now rolling down to us, a good program will roll and grow. Goals are a good tool, but we are nearing the stage where the Critical Achievements, and the other stuff will put the entire organization in a critical position. I'm not sure if we are a stand a lone case, or if this is happening everywhere. But if we go back to Baden-Powell, we will see that he was not keen on the idea of paid professionals in Scouting. When I look at the time that is spent raising money to just pay the wages, at times I have to think, do we need them all ? Does a Council with 10,000 youth members need a staff of seven professionals? Half these youth are in the Learning for Life program, which has its' own staff. We as a District Committee, know what our job is, we break our backs, working to build the District, we don't want someone who is a full time employee, spending more then half the time doing busy work, that is doing little or nothing to help OUR DISTRICT, and we sure as heck don't want anyone making life any harder for us because they are doing it. So it is time the powers that be, take a look at what the role of a professional Scouter is. If they fail to see it, one day soon they are going to wake up to find that because they have not done what was expected by the rank and file members, all the busy work in the world will not save their jobs. So now is the time for them to back off. After us baby boomers are gone they will be left with the "What's in it for me," generation, then the fun will really start.(This message has been edited by Eamonn)(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

We use a video that is about 18 months old. It has a very annoying clock that counts down in places !! Not sure what the time line is elsewhere, we do it every year.

We are now faced with conflict in Iraq, we are all worried and concerned. The events in the Middle East will have an impact on all of us -including of course young people in our movement both now and for many years to come. Opinion about the war has been divided about the war in Iraq.This means that there will be different opinions amongst the members of our organization, which will make the response to the situation in Iraq more difficult. Many people, whilst hoping for peace, have said that there cannot be peace at any price,and sometimes it is right to go to war. Others say that, unlike in history when wars were fought on battlefields, keeping non combatants (especially children) out of it - now,90% of war victims are civilians, with women and children making up the majority. A war makes their position even more desperate. As adult leaders, in Scouting we will want to think about how we will react to the situation and the concerns that might be expressed by our young people. Many of these young people will have been exposed to media images that could be deeply upsetting, and the consequences of which are uncertain. We may have young people in our units that have parents or loved ones involved in the war. While many people think that this is a just war, there are clear implications for a youth organization. We must protect our children from danger. Maintain a balanced perspective. Looking to the future, help to create a society where the causes of war such as the one in Iraq are eliminated. At the same time we should be loyal to our country and show solidarity with all those who seek justice and freedom. Back in 1929 our founder Robert Baden-Powell, is quoted as saying: " We should take care in inculcating patriotism into our boys and girls, that it is a patriotism above the narrow sentiments which usally stops at one's own country, and thus inspires jelousy and enmity in dealing with others. Our patriotism should be of the wider, nobler kind which recognises justice and the reasonableness in the claims of others which leads our country into comradship with... the other nations of the world. The first step to this end is to develop peace and goodwill within our own borders, training our youth of both sexs to its practice as their habit of life; so that the jealousies of town against town, class against class and sect against sect no longer exist and then to extend this good feeling beyond our frontiers towards our neighbours...." A Scout Prayer For Peace. (link hands) O God, we join with Scouts throughout the world to pray for peace. Grant that through Scouting, we may come to understand each other better and learn to live in harmony. Please pray for our troops, now in harms way, and let us also pray for the young people and children of Iraq. (I have just noticed that this is in Uniforms, I don't know how to move it. Oh Well ??) (This message has been edited by Eamonn)

It would seem clear that someone is wearing too many hats. This happens a lot.(He says as he who wears more then one !!) You need to in as nice a way as possible look for a new Committee Chair. Or try and enlist someone to help out as much as needed, Is it the job of the Chairperson to make bookings and that sort of thing ? Could this be looked after by the Troop Activities Chair or the Secretary? Sometimes when things are not going as they should, it does open the door to bring more people into the job of making things work better. You may need to hold a meeting to help clear the air, as long as all this "Stuff" is out there, it will only fester and could in time bring the entire troop down.

Ask your Scoutmaster and Troop Committee to take a look at the Build A Troop material. It is on the National Site. Good Luck,with your upcoming board of review and it is great to have you and all the younger members joining in the forums. Welcome.

We had a case of a unit that just was unable to work with a leader. No big offense, just a case of "No one wanted to work with this poor Lady" The Chartered Rep. Had a word with me, painted a very bleak picture, and made it very clear that "She Had To Go." The Lady, had a son in the Troop and one in the Pack, both of these Lads are hyperactive, with a whole host of problems. I took it on myself to have a word with her (She likes me, and in the past was a walker at a couple of day camps, when I was the program director.) I was kind,but did explain that things just weren't working in that unit with the leaders that were there, and her being there. I then directed her to another pack in the district. Her one son stayed in the Troop, but she took the other one along with her to her new Pack, where things seem to be going well. We have I'm sad to say, in the past had to remove a volunteer, for matters of a serious nature, that is when we leave it to the Scout Exrcutive, and make sure that the Key 3 are aware of what is going down.

Can a Scout be too excitied about Scouting ? Many of the great leaders in Scouting are as excited about Scouting, just as much today as they were as when the first joined. Having your own child in your own unit can be a challenge. Of course,he gets to attend everything, because you attend everything. At times he may be the one who lands in hot water more then the other Scouts, because you don't have to think to remember his name. He will always be the one in uniform, because he is your kid, and you set the example. Please don't try and hold him back. Cub Scouting is family based, and it is the parent who signs off on the requirements, so if you as the parent are happy, and he is happy, that is all that counts. So much can happen from now till whenever he is ready to become an Eagle Scout, if he ever does. Advancement is only a part of Scouting, there is a lot more to it then just advancing. Oliver James is going on 15, and has been one merit badge and the planning of the project shy of his Eagle for well over a year. Yes I get the odd comment, but my answer is always the same. It is his Eagle. Welcome to the forum. The real joy in Scouting is staying as excited as the youth, and trying to provide activities that will keep that excitement alive.

Council Web Site ?? Links ?? I think we may need to send a great many of our (Well mine, anyway !!) Scout Execs. Back to a PDL Training for the 21st Century. Our poor little fellow, has mastered E-mail, lets the office staff try and work out Scoutnet, thinks Bill Gates is a talk show host on PBS,and a Mac, is a great thing to take on the golf course. On Line Training,will I feel sure be a tool that we all will in time get used to, and is a must for the X -Generation. However I do think that the powers that be, will need to offer help and guidance, and maybe set some sort of a standard, for Council Web Sites. Who knows in time our poor little Scout Exec, will graduate to playing the odd game of solitaire. This could be something that might /ought to be covered at the next Top Hands Meeting ??

OK,maybe a unit might not want to hold an activity, the same month as the district is holding a camporee. But, lets us for a minute think that this is a well ran unit,that is working a planned program following a theme, and the district camporee is not along the same theme ? Also please note That I was very careful, to say that it was a unit activity, which might not entail camping. But to tell the truth, I was being a bit over the top, in order to make my point. In another Thread, Bob White gave a really good listing of what makes a great scout troop. In his listing he had (I don't have it, at the moment) That a great troop participates in District and Council Activities. He also made a very sound argument,as to why. I really do think that, both the district and council would do a better job of serving the needs of the units, if there were less Council and District activities. By the way, Her who must be obeyed,is very happy here, where we are at. So far we have done more then our fair share of moving. and she would not be a happy camper, if we folded the tents yet again. I'm blessed with the one of the best professional staffs, we may not always see eye to eye, but at the end of the day, we know why we are doing what we do. It is for all the youth, the ones that are in the program, but just as much for the youth that we have to bring into the program. To this end we all work as a team and try to have as much fun as possible. This way of getting the job done has along the way helped us to become really good friends. At this time I don't see any of our professional staff going anywhere in the near future, but I will let you both know, if any opening should crop up. But thanks for the offer. Come to think of it there are one or two units that might be willing to pay my way, to move !!