FScouter

The "Trained" patch refers only to the position for which the individual received training. If one changes positions, the trained patch should come off until the respective training is completed.

Every registered Scout or Scouter that hikes or paddles 50 miles and meets the other requirements has earned the award. If someone is telling you otherwise, ask them to show you where it says "boys only".

It sounds like you're doubting yourself. A parent is obligated to say "NO" to those things their kid wants, when those things will not positively influence the kid's learning and upbringing. There is no reason for him to not know that there are even Scouters that don't meet the high standards you set for him. After he is 18 there will be plenty of opportunities for him to meet and interact with people and activities which are wrong or bad and with which you won't approve. And after he is 18 you will not be able to say "NO". He will make his judgments about those future opportunities based on what he learns from you now. Consider that he may already "know" this is not the troop he should get connected with, and without speaking, is looking for your guidance. My son was part of an OA trail crew last year. He says it was the best thing he's done in Scouting. Have your son look at this video. Then watch him clear his calendar for an OA Trail Crew. http://www.oa-bsa.org/programs/tcrew/oatcflash.htm

We have opposing statements of fact. A boy must be 10. A boy need not be 10. For the benefit of inquiring minds, would you all (SWScouter, nldscout, BobWhite) be willing to cite your sources such that the rest of us can determine what is truly correct? It can't be both ways. Or can it?

Lack of oversight breeds temptation. If the committee doesnt require a monthly written treasurers report, and doesnt eyeball the books periodically, the unspoken message to the treasurer is we dont care, do whatever you want. In this case, in addition to the treasurer being prosecuted, the committee chair should be severely reprimanded for not insisting on basic reporting.

Some unit commissioners are more effective than others. Some Scoutmasters are more effective than others. Some committee members are more effective than others. Some Den Chiefs are more effective than others. So what's your point?

"... no change should be made simply because it wouldn't make everybody happy?" Change would not make everyone happy, but that is not a reason to not make a change. The best argument for not making a change is that the present uniform performs all its functions well. The uniform is already "right".

... and silver loops on your epaulets.

The age 10 AoL requirement came from Bob. Maybe he could elucidate. If that's not correct, then your illustration about a 5 year old boy earning AoL makes sense.

If a boy must be 10 to earn the AoL, it is redundant to say earn AoL AND be age 10. That would imply that a boy could earn AoL before age 10, which as Bob points out is no longer permitted, though it was OK in the past. Being age 10 has nothing to do with joining Boy Scouts other than being one of the many requirements necessary to earn AoL.

I see no point in muddying the Boy Scout joining requirements by calling attention to one of the Arrow of Light requirements. Its confusing to say on the one hand that an 11 year old may join, and in the next breath say that the minimum age is 10. There are several requirements to earn AoL. Completing all of them will earn the boy the award and admit him into Boy Scouting. Age 10 is only one of those requirements. AoL is only 1 of 3 possible tickets into Boy Scouts, and none of the AoL requirements are required to join Boy Scouts. Saying that a boy must earn AoL AND be age 10 is redundant and confuses the issue.

Thanks. I've seen that before. Could you post the link to it?

"A minimum age of 10 years old has been established" adds confusion to what should be simple joining requirements. Age 10 relates to a Cub Scout requirement. When a boy asks "Can I join the troop?", I tell him "Sure, you can join if you're at least 11 years old, or if you've completed 5th grade, or if you've earned the Arrow of Light award. If you meet any one of those 3 requirements, and are not yet 18, you may join the troop." Requirements to earn the Cub Scout Arrow of Light award are completely unrelated to Boy Scout joining requirements.

The point is, if a troop is going to raise funds, a money-earning application needs to be completed and submitted for approval prior to the event. It's not much different than filing a tour permit. BSA needs to know what the units are doing. Its not proper for units to decide that their event is saving lives or whatever and should be exempt from the normal process. Just take 2 minutes and file the application. Simple.

There are additional requirements to earn the Arrow of Light award, beyond being 10 years old.

Crafts are covered at the monthly Roundtable trainings.

There is no rule that positions must be rotated. The rule is that all positions are selected each year at re-charter time. The same individual may or may not be selected for another year. By the way, that would include the chartered organization rep too.

Do the Fast Start training on-line. The link is http://www.scouting.org/cubscouts/faststart/ Talk to your District Executive and get the publication #13-010, "The Pack's First Three Months, A Cub Scout Leader's Guide for Starting a New Pack."

From the website of the National Council: "Boy Scouting ... is available to boys who have earned the Arrow of Light Award or have completed the fifth grade, or who are 11 through 17 years old."

Have you considered letting the boys paint the trailer?

Districts (and councils) have four basic functions: Membership, Finance, and Program, and Unit Service. The first three functions are carried out by the district committee. The unit service function is carried out by the commissioner staff. All these functions are staffed by volunteers. The district committee forms sub-committees. The Membership committee handles membership, Finance committee handles finance, etc. Each sub-committee may form sub-committees. For example the Membership committee may have a Webelos-to-Boy Scouts transition committee, or a new-units committee. The Finance committee may have an FOS sub-committee or an endowments sub-committee. The Program committee has four sub-committees: Camp Promotion and Outdoor, Activities and Civic Service, Advancement and Recognition, and Training. Those sub-committees may have their own subcommittees. Camp promotion may have a Cub Day Camp subcommittee or Activities may have a Camporee subcommittee. The Unit Service function includes the commissioner service and Roundtable. The booklets "The District" and "The Council" have good explanations of the various functions and how they are designed to work.

In Outlook 2000, create a new contacts folder, then copy address entries to the new folder. Select the entries you want, then hold the CTL key and drag them to the new folder. If you want a backup of the entire contacts folder in a file you can save to a floppy or whatever: In Outlook, Select File, Import & Export, Export to a file, Personal Folder File (.PST), Select folder to export, Save as(filename). To open the backed up contact file, double click on it in whatever directory you saved it. A new Personal Folders file will appear in your Outlook folder list.

Quoting Bob (brackets added): "What is storming, and what is its purpose. Backpack you took the course, [rather than interfer why not participate in a more positve way and] share what you learned about storming as a Wood Badge staff member?" How does his phrase in brackets affect the group dynamics? What kind of response could we expect from Backpacker? Is this part of storming?

I'm afraid we're going to have to concede this one to Ed. He's right. It doesn't say "LEGAL GUARDIAN". Only when it says "LEGAL GUARDIAN" do the rules apply. Therefore we can all do whatever we want with a clear conscience.

Ed, you hit that nail head on. Barry, a difficult post, yes. Thoughtful and well-written. I've got a few comments myself regarding patrol size, but have not posted specifically because I'm not in the mood this week to get shot down in public. Open discussion is good and we need that. Our purposes with the forum aren't furthered if people shy away from commenting or asking questions.