FScouter

Fillable forms must be created that way. There is no way to make an existing PDF "fillable" without recreating the entire document.

If the chartered organization won't let you use their number to open a bank account, ask them to open one for you. Or, hand over your income to the CO treasurer, along with your check requests. My guess it they will change their mind.

"Also, I don't understand the difference between teaching the boys what is expected (i.e., on how foul language isn't "clean") and writing it down on a piece of paper." If you teach it, then writing it down serves no purpose. I believe troops write rules so they don't have to teach. The answer simply becomes "Because that's the rule". Nothing is learned. What a leader does when hearing foul language from a Scout has nothing to do with what a troop rule book says. Would you respond differently if there was no written rule? Why would the PLC feel they need to write a rule? What problem are they trying to solve, and will writing a rule solve the problem?

"And if you don't make a blanket rule, how do you (either the SM or the SPL) answer the question of a Scout who asks you if he can bring [a Gameboy]?" We are there to help boys make decisions for themselves. Giving him the "answer" from the troop rule book does not help him make decisions. Trying guiding him. We have a full schedule of activities planned. Will you have time to play with it? Will the other boys pester you to play it too? Is there room in your pack? Do you really want to carry it 10 miles? Will it need extra batteries? Is there a chance it may get damaged or be lost? Are you willing to accept the risks? Once the boy has evaluated all the possibilities, HE can make a decision. Guiding and teaching is more difficult than quoting from the rule book. But remember why we are here, and the answer becomes clear.

"To fill in these grey areas, why not have rules in writing." My personal experience has been that the gray areas really are not so gray at all. What used to appear gray has become more black and white. When you see a gray area, apply the situation to the 12 points of the Scout Law, the Scout Promise, the 8 methods of Boy Scouting, the 3 Aims, and the Mission. The challenge to adult leaders is to identify inappropriate behaviors and craft solutions by applying the principles of the Scout Law, Promise, and Mission. Bylaws cannot help do that. The Boy Scout Handbook and the Scoutmaster Handbook do help. Look to those books for guidance, instead of a set of bylaws.

What Bob said. Send the boy home. The committee meets with the parents to plan a course of action. Implement the plan. Bottom line, the boy's behavior cannot interfere with delivering a quality Scout program to the den and pack.

"I just happen to be the one that got the title of COR, since I do the recharter, packmaster,advancements & treasury." If you are trying to do the work of 3 or 4 committee members, you're in big trouble. You don't need to invent a new committee position. Just give up some of yours. Since you have no chartered org, CR in your case is an empty title. Our council no longer signs charters with "parents" groups. Without exception, they always fail.

"Can I be the Asst leader if he is the Leader? Our Cubmaster told me that it isnt allowed ??" There are no restrictions on any adult leader positions in Scouting based on marital status. Does the Cubmaster have a better candidate for the position?

Every rule and policy needed can be found within the Boy Scout Handbook, the Scoutmaster Handbook, and the other BSA publications. My experience has been that homegrown troop "bylaws" are an unnecessary futile pursuit at best. Our troop dumped ours long ago and it was one of the smartest things we ever did.

A non-locking blade is safe if it is not used for poking or stabbing. Would it not be better to teach how to safely use a regular knife rather than making up a rule against them? The Boy Scout pocketknife does not have a locking blade. Neither does the Cub Scout pocketknife

Sounds like the program is working well for you. A good testimonial too that a patrol of young inexperienced Scouts can succeed without being mixed up with older experienced Scouts.

I detect a bit of not-so-hidden guilt in the tone of some of these posts from those that do not wear the uniform and seek to justify their position. There is no reason to get upset. No one is going to be arrested for failing to wear the uniform. Do as your heart directs you and be comfortable in your decision. Strange as it may seem there are some of us that believe in the uniform and wear it. We promote uniforming and work to help every boy to have one. I would ask you, in the spirit of Scouting, and out of respect for the official uniform to not trample our efforts. Please don't tell boys or parents to wear something else. And please don't write unauthorized "bylaws" in an attempt to legitimize other practices.

No. They were discontinued years ago.

Gee, I wonder what "National" does with the "huge" profits they make on Scout uniforms? Any ideas what the money is used for? What does a non-profit organization do with its "profit"???

I wash my dutch oven with hot water and a small amount of regular dishwashing detergent. Seems to work well, does not remove the seasoning, and rinses clean. And no rancid oil and food residue to "flavor" the next meal.

There is no need for the SPL to attend troop committee meetings. If you are holding your committee meeting at the same time as the troop meeting, how can the SPL run the troop meeting if he has been pulled away for an adult meeting not designed for him? Committee meetings are not for boys. The Scoutmaster is the one that needs to be there to report on troop activities, plans, and needs. The SPL already has enough to do with the troop meetings and the Patrol Leaders Council meetings. As you learned in the Troop Committee Challenge training, the scribe works with the committee treasurer, the quartermaster works with the committee equipment coordinator. You could call this mentoring. The other troop positions work with the ASPL, SPL, Scoutmaster and assistant Scoutmasters. There would be no point in assigning mentoring duties to parents. Meetings are not needed if there is no work to do and nothing to report. In an active troop, there are plenty of things for the committee members to work on, and a monthly meeting doesnt seem too frequent. If your CC doesnt like meetings, maybe its because the committee members dont know what is expected of them and the meetings are not productive. Each meeting should include a work plan for the next 30 days; what needs to be done, and who will be responsible for getting it done. At the next meeting, brief reports are given by those that had tasks to complete. The meeting is not the time to do the work, but rather a time to report on what was completed, what is still needed, and to plan the work for the next 30 days. Refer to the Troop Committee Guidebook.

Well said, fgoodwin.

"He had to sing I'm a little teapot to make amends." The staff actually permitted/encouraged/taught that kind of stunt at Wood Badge?? I'd have given the course director a lecture on the spot.

"but to lay its existence on the men who brought forth this nation is just a bald-face lie..." That's a mighty strong statement. Are you suggesting that the Indians (native Americans) gave us slavery in America? One could call that a "bald-faced lie" too. Who do you think initiated the practice of slavery in Ameria?

"I understand that the exec. has responded but, does e-mail by a CC allow the exec. to assess the situation from both points of view?" Different points of view shouldn't make any difference. There no G2SS rules or any other rules that would not allow husband/wife leadership. The rules don't change because someone has a different point of view.

"The troop committee will probably discuss this issue in more depth over the next few months and decide if a troop policy covering this situation is warranted..." Why would you want a troop policy? In our troop we dispensed with custom troop policies. Our sole policy now is that we follow BSA policies. Easy.

When in uniform, salute. That includes both the field uniform and the activity uniform. A troop t-shirt is only one piece of the activity uniform and one piece of a uniform is not a uniform. A salute would not be appropriate while wearing only a T-shirt. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training syllabus describes the official Scout uniform and refers to it as the field uniform. It also describes the activity uniform in detail which includes a BSA T-shirt or activity shirt (designed by the troop or a Scout camp) along with all the other parts of the field uniform. The Uniform chapter of the Scoutmaster Handbook also describes the uniform, including the activity uniform which may be worn for informal activities, or physically active outdoor events. Boy Scout Handbook describes the official uniform on pages 12-13. The T- shirt option for outdoor activities is described there too, although the term activity uniform is not used.

"So is one of the largest councils in the nation in violation of BSA rules by proscribing a 'Class B' activity uniform, which can apparently include various Scout-themed T-shirts, as well as the 'official red' (we assume polo-style) activity shirt?" There is no rule against using the term "class b". Local councils are not immune to misinformation. Scout-themed tee shirts can be part of an official activity uniform. Did you think otherwise? "Joshua played the trumpet, so runs the ancient rhyme He taught the Israelites to play in syncopated time. But when they played in Jericho, their music raised a frown, So he set the boys to swinging, and the walls came tumbling down."

Boys, parents, adult leaders, and units that want to wear the uniform will do so. Those that don't want to, will find reasons to justify their decision.

It would be helpful to you to review the Cub Scout Fast Start training. http://www.scouting.org/cubscouts/faststart/