FScouter

Do you think the patrol leaders might feel more more like a part of the team if they were permitted to participate in regular patrol leaders' council meetings? Excluding these leaders from you leadership group seems harsh. Why are they excluded?

Maybe you could clarify. Do the patrol leaders have any say in the operation of the troop? Is the troop run by your Corps Patrol?

"If the Scoutmaster wants to count (going to the extreme) sleeping at the Sheraton as camping then that his all on him." I would hope that troops or patrols don't camp at the Sheraton, thus that doesn't count as camping for rank requirements. I would doubt that the Sheraton offers tents, (to be pitched by the customers) nor offers beds under the stars, thus the Sheraton doesn't count for the merit badge either. Similarly, since trailers and RV's are not tents pitched nor under the stars, they cannot count for the merit badge. And unless the troop or patrol camps in trailers and RV's, that wouldn't count for rank requirements either. Doesn't the Scoutmaster generally "pre-approve" troop or patrol campouts anyway? What kind of troop or patrol campout would take place without the Scoutmaster knowing about it?? As Bob said, MB requirements have zip to do with rank requirements.

Interesting little story. Not really clear though what it is youre saying? Training and following the book causes units to fail? Training and following the book is no guarantee of success? Maybe professing to follow the book but not doing so causes units to fail? I believe that following the book absolutely guarantees a successful unit. I believe that failing units are not following the book. I believe that training teaches the book and why the book is important. Why would BSA have the book if it did not result in success? What I dont understand is why some have such disdain for the book and its proven successful methods? I dont understand why some refuse training? I dont understand why some take training courses but ignore what is taught? Regarding the uniform, I do believe that we know what is right. I do believe that many choose to do otherwise. I dont know why.

Sad to hear of your involvement with two dens with either untrained or rogue leaders.

Hmm I wonder if I have enough extra time to interview or otherwise get to know and categorize several counselors for each merit badge. There are well over 700 counselors on our district MB counselor list. Maybe the district Advancement Committee person in charge of approving and registering counselors would be better able to rank the characteristics of the counselors that submit applications? Counselors for bookworms, counselors for active boys, counselors for shy boys. Other categories? Maybe a category of counselor qualified for any boy? Im just thinking out loud here, but I cant help wondering why there would be registered, approved counselors that are not equipped to properly counsel boys. Then I wonder how I can reasonably be expected to select the best one and why that would even be necessary. How important is it that a boy have the best counselor? This brings to mind, is it possible for an adult be a good SM to all types of boys? Are MB counselors less capable? Surely we dont select Scoutmasters that are only good with shy boys or bookworms. Or is it more important for MB counselors to specialize in specific types of boy personalities? I dont know. Then I have to wonder how important SM selection of the boys MB counselor must be if our national organization has not addressed the question at all.

It is not right for any of us to do what we THINK is right, or what we WANT to be right. It is only right for us to do what IS right. So what is right? I would hope that we all know what is right. We use the methods of Scouting to achieve the aims of Scouting to fulfill the mission of Scouting. That is right. Various differing beliefs about what the uniform should be or should not be are not wrong. Opinions and ideas are not wrong. What is wrong is ignoring or disrespecting what is because we dont like it. Uniform is a method of Scouting. The uniform is defined and controlled by our national organization. We all know this. How could any adult leader possibly be confused about whether or not a unit should wear a uniform, or whether or not a unit may re-define the uniform? I do not know best, but there are few things I do know. I know what is, which may or may not be best. I know that I have no business unilaterally changing what is. I know if I dont like what is, I may work to change it through the channels of change. I know that over 94 years, BSA has figured out a few things. I know they work. I know that I do not know better. I know that I may not LIKE what is right, but I DO what is right because I am a member of this organization. We may believe that the right thing is something different than what is. Then work for change. Meanwhile, what is the right thing to do?

How does a SM select the best counselor for a boy? What counselor characteristics would be more suitable for one boy over another? How does a SM determine how to best match the characteristics of a counselor to a particular boy? Are there any guidelines that a SM can use to select the appropriate counselor for a boy?

Rules. Regulations. Policies. Should. May. Usually. Guidelines. Interpretation. It really does not matter at all how it is written. The intent is perfectly clear. Some that disagree with the meaning behind the words will use bend and manipulate these words to suit their own personal preferences. We all know what is right.

"Was thinking of staying on in cubs to help with the then new leaders. Serving wherever they needed or wanted me." That would be great. Then you can share all the pizzazz you learn with other leaders.

"While counselors are not supposed to retest, they do have the right for proof that the other requirements were performed." The original counselor would sign the back of the card as to what parts were completed, thus there should be no question.

"I wonder is the extra cost of the uniforms (profit part) goes towards financing the BSA." At our FOS presentation there was a pie chart showing revenues. A piece of the revenue pie is "product sales", which includes everything sold through the Scout Shop. I think it is 3% or 4% of total revenue. I don't mind paying for Scout uniforms, literature, and other stuff, even if the price is higher, because I know that product sales help support BSA. When I make an FOS donation, I get nothing in return. That is to say I cannot wear my donation like a pair of Scout socks. So if the socks cost more than Walmart socks I don't care because I know that the extra cost goes to support our organization. Besides, as a leader, everything I buy for Scouts is tax deductible as a charitable contribution.

The Requirements book is updated and issued every year. The inside cover lists all changes including merit badges. Most merit badges change infrequently, but every year there are a few. Your son will need access to a MB book to be able to learn the subject matter and complete the requirements. His troop may have a library of books that may be borrowed.

"National is silent. Council and District do not have anything as a hard policy." The policy books would look like a set of encyclopedias if every possible Scouting scenario was written up as a prohibited/permitted policy. The policies are written in the Advancement book, SM Handbook, and MB Counselor Orientation phamplet. What is not written are policies that don't exist. That is to say that if one looking for a prohibited practice and can find no written policy, then the practice is not prohibited. Units that write their own policies prohibiting practices permitted by our national organization, or vice-versa, eventually run into problems. If challenged, those custom rules will not be supported. If a merit badge counselor does not have the honesty and character to be impartial with all boys, he should not be a counselor. The problem is more in the selection process than in the lack of a policy.

It's for the parents, so they don't have to pick the kid up at summer camp mid-week.

The parent brochure is a good idea. Rather than saying MUST HAVE and REQUIRED, I'd suggest that you describe the complete uniform, cap, shirt, neckerchief, slide, pants, belt, and socks. Explain several ways to get the uniform. The uniform closet is a very good idea. Ebay is a good source. Do a pack fundraiser like a spaghetti dinner to help boys complete their uniform. Make it clear that Cub Scouts wear the uniform. The uniform includes all the parts. A shirt and neckerchief is not a uniform; they are just 2 parts of a uniform. I'd strongly advise that you do NOT give permission to wear only a shirt and neckerchief. Once you do that, parents will never get the rest of the parts. Start good uniforming habits at the beginning and they will carry on through the ranks and into Boy Scouts. Its not right to mandate that a uniform must be worn at pack meetings. Rather, say each boy should wear as complete a uniform as he has. No boy should be turned away for lack of a uniform. If he doesnt have all the parts, find ways to help him get them. A complete uniform should be a goal for each boy, and a goal of the pack.

Have to agree with Unc. Too many un-trained leaders spend time re-inventing the wheel.

I've eaten some of those Lipton things and they're not bad. Check the cooking times. "Boil 9 minutes" weighs more than "boil 3 minutes" when you consider the extra fuel you need to carry. Freeze-dried things are fuel efficient; they say "add boiling" water, but they cost 5 times as much.

That's part of learning that we work with all kinds of different people in this world. A Scout is courteous.

This topic has been discussed (beat to death?): www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=70012&p=1

The booklet "Tours and Expeditions" #33737C details what you need to know. You will need to submit a nationl tour permit application, with a daily itinerary at least a month before you depart.

There is a university engineering school that does an egg drop competition. The objective is to build a container of sorts for the egg, then drop it from the second story balcony without breaking the egg.

"Our council is aware of our system and does not disapprove of it." Every council has a rogue unit or two. Sometimes they have to put up with 80% Scouting vs. nothing. No council would approve of your Board of Review practice. By the way, is yours a "Quality Unit"?

AwHeck - I agree every Scout ought to be able to recite the Scout Law. And I agree that there are times when the Board should turn down the Scout. Consider another approach to turning down the advancement. Let the boy come to his own conclusion that he is not ready for the rank. "Son, are you having a little trouble with the Scout Law?" "Do you think a First Class Scout should have a good understanding of the Scout Law, and be able to recite it?" "Are you as qualified for this rank as you should be?"

"Set a goal - 'everyone look the same'....leave it to them to accomplish that." If the boys all wear the uniform, then they will all look the same. Blue jeans are all the same, but what good is that? I don't think an un-uniformed boy is motivated to wear all the parts, if everyone else dresses down to meet his shortcoming. I don't think a uniformed boy is motivated to continue to wear the uniform if when he does, the group makes him remove parts. It's great the boys are thinking about this, but the thinking seems to be focusing on the wrong goal.