evmori

BobWhite, I would never tell someone to stop learning. The best way, in my opinion, to learn in Scouting is by doing. Where did you read I don't follow the methods of the program? Also, I do teach the 11 & 12 yr olds in my Troop to be leaders. I stress they must FIRST be good followers before they can be good leaders. By the time they are 13 or 14, they should be ready to be Patrol Leaders. mommascout, You are forgiven. A couple thing, though. 1. My ego isn't in question & very seldom get bruised. I admit I do make mistakes. 2. BobWhite might have more time in the program than I do, but that doesn't mean he is superior. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

I'm a talon you, I'm an Eagle! The best thing .... hmmm ..... I loved the whole experience! The best thing was finding what each patrol member's strength was & using it to make our patrol better. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1 I used to be an Eagle ....................

Bob, I would want my son in a Troop that is lead by the boys, but not totally in their control. I wasn't refering to the success of the Troop. I was referring to the "if something happens". Got a question - You are cabin camping in December & decide to let the Scouts watch a video. They pick an "R" rated video. Would you let them watch it? Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

BobWhite, Boy, you & I are bumping heads a lot lately! Toss a leader because he doesn't have a complete uniform? Your COR will let you do this? WOW! Doesn't this person need training? I have a ASM who doesn't own Scout pants but has all the other required parts and they are impeciable. He is an excellent leader & I would ask him to quit because he doesn't have Scout pants. The reason why he doesn't have them isn't important (I do know what it is). Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

featherswillfly, I'm from Pittsburgh, PA Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1 (The 1st post didn't take)

featherswillfly, I'm from Pittsburgh, PA Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

BobWhite, Thanks for all the great lines out of the printed BSA publications. I think it's time you take your head out of the books & put it in the real world. The thing I love so much about Scouting is teaching the kids & watching them take what they have learned & put it to use. Yes, I have all the manuals & books with all the rules & guidelines. Yes, I have read them. Apparently not as thorough as you have. And I don't feel I need to. My Troop (there is that reference again) is run by the SPL & ASPL. The Patrols are run by their Patrol Leaders. At Troop meetings, I teach. I don't preach. On camping trips (summer camp included) the Scouts are on their own. Do I do anything? You bet! I - along with the other adults - make sure we (adults) are comfortable & well fed. We also keep our 3rd eye on the Scouts for safety reasons. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

Luke, I haven't noticed that cookies have been disabled. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

BobWhite, I use the term "My Troop" because ultimatly, I am responsible for the entire Troop regardless if it is boy run (as mine is) or not. If you don't feel this way, then something is wrong. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

BobWhite, When I was a Cubmaster, we turned the new Bobcats upside down to pin their badge on. When they had done their 1st good turn, they could then get mom to sew it on the correct way. Naturally we didn't just grab the kids & turn them over. I'm not an idiot! They new this would happen well ahead of time & they were looking forward to it. It also made the ceremony more memorable. If a Cub didn't want to be turned over, that was OK. I have never heard of any Cub or parent complaining about this ceremony. Nor have I ever heard of anyone being injured. In a lot of cases, this helped some kids get over a fear of being in front of a big group and doing something. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

My mistake. Forgot about that one. My Troop is rather small (17 active Scouts 3 patrols) an I don't encourage separate patrol activities. I don't feel my Scouts are missing out on anything in Scouting. Our camping trips are always skill oriented & they are learning every minute. Mommmascout, I don't think you can lump 15-18 year olds in the same group. A 15 year old isn't ready for the same stuff an 18 year old is. You are correct stating there is a wide gap between an 11 yr old Scout & a 15 yr old Scout. I know they need to be handled differently. That's just common sense. I don't need a training course to tell me that. Also, are you saying patrols should be divided by age? If so, I don't agree. I feel each Patrol should be led by an older Scout & intermixed with different ages. This is a great way for the younger Scouts to learn from the older Scouts & a great way for the older Scouts to teach the younger ones. I have yet to meet an 11 or 12 year old Scout who is ready to be a Patrol Leader. These kids are just starting to figure out what Scouting is all about. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

Ages & Stages? What is this? Is this specific to your ares. In my 13 years in this program, I have been through numerous training programs as well as been a trainer. I have never heard of patrols running outside the Troop. Where in your BSA manuals does it state this is OK? Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

Rooster7, I thought you were on sabatical!!! Good thread. I, too, like the BSA for the most part. There are some people in paid positions whom I don't feel know their knee from their elbow. These are the ones who really get under my skin. And the "yes" men! I could go on for hours about this, but I won't. I think we need to remember that a lot of what we feel is BSA policy isn't. A lot are guidelines. While I agree with most, there are those I think are stupid. A couple examples. Not turning a Cub upside down to place his Bobcat badges on because of potential liability. Not using the acronym PADBALLS to help teach safe swim defense because it contains the word BALLS. To me, these type of guidelines are stupid. Why you say. Well, I was always taught to plan for the norm & expect exceptions. If you start planning for exceptions you will have so many restrictions that event the best human in the worls wouldn't meet the requirements! Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

This guy sounds like a stiff board who forgot that kids will be kids. Personally, I agree with not letting patrols go on campouts without the Troop. I also agree if a Scout would miss a required Troop event, then he shouldn't be allowed to attend a "fun" event. Troops are to function as a single unit. The patrols in a Troop are not to function as separate units, but to helps build a stronger Troop. If patrols start camping on their own, then why even belong to a Troop? Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

FScouter, I might be wrong but the flag code is just a guideline, not a law. Therefore, it can't be violated. I do commend the Scout for noticing the flag not being properly displayed & noitfying the proper people. The purpose of the flag code was to set uniform guidelines to how the flag is to be displayed. Guidelines, not laws. Sorry I deviated from the thread. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

In my Troop, the SPL, APSL & PL's are all elected by the Scouts for a term of 1 year. Positions like Quartermaster, Troop Guide, etc. are appointed by myself for a term of 1 year. These appointed positions must be applied for & signed off by the parents prior to my even considering the Scout. Bob White, You have never made a rule in your Troop? I find that hard to believe. I also think this is taking the "boy run" method to an extreme. The Scouts need guidance and it is our job as adult leaders to provide that guidance. This means we as adults have to ly down the law from time to time. If we don't, we are letting the indians run the tribe! And that - I don't think - is what Baden Powell intended. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

Rooster7, I thought you were on sabatical! Packs have a tough time getting leaders. It seems when they do find a few, they only stick around for a couple years then move on with their sons. I have always felt it is up to the Cubmaster to find a replacement for his position when he hangs up his uniform. I feel it is also the Cubmaster's responsibility to find a replacement for his Assistant Cubmaster. I feel it is the responsibility of the Pack Committee to find replacements for all other positions in the Pack. When I was a Cubmaster (long ago) we recruited Den Leaders & other leaders when we had our Joining Night. The parents would always bring the kids & The CC & I would talk to the parents while the Den Leaders handled the kids. We usually got 1 or 2 parents to sign up each year. This helped aleviate the turnover problem. When I decided I was moving on with my son, I notified the CC prior to our August planning meeting & made the offical announcement at this planning meeting. I immediatly started looking for a replacement. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

Mike Long, Excellent post! The only thing I would change is the order of the questions. I would as #2 & #3 then #1. We all would like our Scouts to agree with everything we say! Yeah, right!!! Yes I want my Scouts to question the things they don't think are correct. This is a great way to open up discussions with the Scouts. I have always encouraged my Scouts to ask questions. I love spending time with them discussing issues they odn't understand or issues I don't understand. Does this mean I can tell a Scout who has met ever other reuqirement for a rank he can't have that rank because I don't like his appearance? NO. I repeat NO! Just because I don't like the way a Scout looks is not a reason to hold back advancement. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

Ditto to eagle90. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

OGE, You watch MTV! Ozzy Osbourn! WOW! I never would have guessed that! Once when I was watching the national news they were talking about the rebels in Grenada. They showed a clip of some of these rebels & one had a Scout shirt on with my council strip! I was flabergasted! Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

DD, If a Troop has rules regarding personal grooming then I feel they are out of line. It is NOT the responsibility of the BSA to define what acceptable personal grooming is. This isn't the Armed Forces. Personally, I don't like guys wearing earrings. But if a Scout wants to wear one, then that's his right. Will it effect my opinion of the Scout? I hope not. As long as the personal grooming issue doesn't present a safety hazard then I feel the SM in this case is out of line. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

OGE, Thanks for the help. I didn't use what you posted due to the length. My wife & I put something together that was a little shorter. If you're interested, I either post it or e-mail it to you. Thanks again. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

I have never heard of this before. If this is true, then the Scoutmaster is adding to the requirements for Eagle & that can't be done. I suggest you sit down with you Scoutmaster & Committee Chair & discuss this. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

cmray, Yes the site is still functional. I have a link on my Troop site at http://www.bsa.net/pa/t1. Go to the Scouting Resources page. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1

RE: Guide to Safe Scouting IF I'm not mistaken, these are guidelines. I would like to see the BSA actually state more of what is & isn't permitted. In words, take a stance & actually set policy at a national level. Ed Mori Scoutmaster Troop 1