FScouter

There may be more than one way to skin a cat. It is possible to prepare young people to make ethical choices by not using the Methods of Boy Scouting. There are other youth programs that do this. It can be done in the home by a set of good parents. These groups and these parents can be successful. They may be skinning the cat, but they are not doing Scouting. Scouting is not defined by simply fulfilling the Mission. Scouting is fulfilling the mission through the Aims and Methods. All of them. If you want to do Scouting, the Methods are required. It does not say heres a few suggestions, try them if you like, or invent your own ideas. A boy is not required to have a uniform. That does not mean the troop may skip the uniform method. A youth program without a uniform is not Scouting. A program without youth leadership is not Scouting. A program without personal growth is not Scouting. A program without all 8 methods is not Scouting. Scouting is defined by the Mission, the Aims, and the Methods. None of that is required. Scouting is not required. Re-invent the wheel, do other stuff, be successful, and have a nice day, but other stuff is not Scouting.

Patrol patches are for youth members. There is no such thing as an adult leader patrol, outside the duration of a training course.

A solution cannot be found without first looking at the problem. It needs to be re-stated. If the problem is "poor Camporee attendance", then how does the proposed solution solve that problem? First analyze the reasons for poor attendance. Dates? Cost? Activities? Leadership? Camping conditions? Then find solutions that address those reasons. Does that chairman's idea fix one of the reasons for non-attendance? If not, it's a non-solution.

The Mission of Scouting cannot be achieved without achieving the Aims of Scouting. The Aims cannot be achieved without using the Methods. A program without the Methods is not Scouting. Adults that play this Game with a Purpose without using the Methods are not qualified to be leaders in this Movement.

Ya gotta knoe, them pipples that wrote them rules don't know the business end of a stick. We gotta fix that and we done did that with our own wrules that work in these here parts. We don't need no stinkin national rules! Locals only!

Clothes aren't required either. Hey Ed, maybe you and the other uniform haters can go naked?

The problem hasn't yet been stated. How is YPT the solution?

"Scout accounts" is not a program of BSA , so it's not surprising BSA has no policy describing how to operate them. I cannot imagine how a boy or parent would think that the troop would maintain a personal savings account for the boy. Thats what banks are for.

Troops do fundraising to support the activities and operations of the troop, not to give boys personal spending money. The fact that the proceeds may be allocated to a Scout account for the use of the participating boys does not mean the money is the boys personal money. It's troop money that will be used for the benefit of the boy. The troop planned the money-earning event, the troop did the publicity, the troop leaders supervised the event, the troop did the record keeping, the troop provided the location for the event, and the troop provided the product. The income comes from customers that purchase the product or the service. They come to the car wash because the sign says "BOY SCOUT CARWASH" and they want to support Scouting. How much would little Billy earn if he set up his own personal car wash in his driveway, with the proceeds for his own personal benefit? Considering that the boy would have no proceeds at all were it not for the efforts of the troop, its really a stretch to think the proceeds belong to him.

"But they are not physically attached to the uniform." Why not?

BSA publishes updated requirements every year in the book "Boy Scout Requirements" #33215. The cost is about $3. It's available at the Scout Shop early January every year. The inside front cover lists which merit badges have revised requirements. The inside back cover lists ALL merit badge phamplets and the current revision date.

A PLC meeting is not a trip or outing. 2-deep leadership is not required. As long as you have no one-on-one contact, you're OK. Those are indeed strange terms. I've never heard of a Scoutmaster being given a "packet" from the council. Did it include the Scoutmaster Handbook or Guide to Safe Scouting?

"Uniform" is part of the program. "Requiring" is not a part of the program. The neckerchief is optional to the troop. Individuals follow the decision of the troop.

PLC meetings are designed for boy leaders. The SM is there only as an advisor. Additional adults alter the focus of the meeting and are detrimental.

What does the MB counselor say?

Sorry, guess I hit a nerve.

In my opinion "religious leader" refers to the minister, pastor, priest, rabbi, Sunday school teacher, etc. If a family is not religious and doesn't attend church, they have no religious leader. That makes fulfilling the requirement problematic.

"I guess what I am saying is that it is not a big deal to use such terms ..." It does seem to be a big deal. People continue to use the term knowing it has no basis, and defend themselves when corrected. John-in-KC went out of his way to use the term and then thumb his nose about doing so. So, why is it such a big deal that some people insist on perpetuating a silly practice?

There seems to be a fairly common belief among Scouts and adults that if a knife is to be carried or used, a Totin' Chip card must be carried. And if a boy loses his card he may not carry or use a knife or woods tool until he gets a new card. What is the practice in other troops? Do you require that the new card be re-earned, or can a replacement be issued without testing? The requirements for 2nd Class rank include all the requirements for the Totin' Chip. If a boy has earned that rank or higher, should a Totin' Chip card be required to carry a knife? Is there any reason for a boy at 2nd Class rank or higher to carry a Totin' chip card?

The Insignia Guide addresses insignia. I wouldn't infer much from any lack of discussion about anything other than insignia. As you pointed out, the section on hats talks mainly about what pins (insignia) may be worn on the hat.

That sounds like a cool design! Makes me want to go out and test it. Yeah, I'd test it before stumbling around in front of the new Scouts. Show them how easy it is.

For certain, you all should vote on one uniform for the crew.

"The older Scouts would teach the new scouts the skill awards and even sign off on the requirements. In doing this the older scouts never forgot the skills learn and even improved on then when they had to teach it to others." That process still works well today for rank advancements.

I question how important it is that a Scout or parent knows in advance the consequence of not following the Scout Oath & Law. A Scout already understands that by being a member, he has agreed to live by the Scout Oath and Law in his daily life. It's part of the joining requirements and is written at the beginning of the Scout Handbook. Why would it be necessary to spell this out separately? What would a Scout or parent do differently knowing in advance the specific consequence?

The uniform inspection sheet says either the cap or the campaign hat must be worn. The choice of which is by vote of the troop. Another publication says the hat is optional, by vote of the troop. I don't know which is more current. In any case, individuals abide by the troop decision.