FScouter

Is the grandfather the parent? Is the brother the parent? Is another kid's father the parent? Boys may not sleep with any adult except their own parent.

There is nothing wrong with having a checking account. Most units have them. Just remember that all the money and all the equipment belongs to the chartered org. I think many chartered orgs are happy to let Pack people keep the books and maintain a checking account. If your school president wants more control, you really don't have much to say about it. Keep your books clean and send him a copy of the treasurer's report every month. Maybe he just wants a little more visibility. You may be a bit confused, maybe not. Heres a simple view. Keep in mind that Scouting is a program that your school uses to further its aims. Its one of their programs for youth. The Pack is not its own entity. The Pack belongs to the school. The Pack leaders are approved by the school. The Scouting program belongs to BSA. The annual charter agreement is between BSA and the school. BSA provides a program, assistance, insurance, etc. and the school provides a meeting place, leaders, etc. The Pack is what results when BSA and the school work together. It is the implementation of the agreement.

Something got lost in the tranlation. The chartered organization owns the Pack. They would have control of "Pack Funds", unless they delegated that responsibility to Pack people.

Cub Scout Day Camp is your baliwick too. The OA Adviser is also part of your committee. A camporee is considered a "competitive skill event", which is an activity rather than a campout. You'll want the Camping Committee Guide too.

What is the difference between the Vision Statement and the Mission Statement? The VS seems to include the MS, but re-worded, plus some additional bullet points. How is a vision different from a mission? Eamonn mentions the Vision, Mission, Values, and Goals as things the staff must understand. What are Values and Goals?

What is the Vision Statement?

Don't get too excited. That's only because this topic was started in the homosexual forum instead of the camping forum.

"Or they will have to sell some of their assets." Asset sales are a desperation move. As in a "real" business, assets must generate income. If you sell your asset to pay this month's electric bill, what are you going to sell next month? The challenge is to generate a continuous revenue stream from that asset. Once an asset is sold, that is an admission of failure, and any future hope of generating income from that asset is lost forever.

Our troop plans a calendar for the entire year. The boys (PLC) pick the events and decide what month to schedule them. For example, snow camp in January, Camporee in April, beach in July, summer camp in August, etc. The adult leaders then review school and personal calendars and set the specific date within the month the boys selected. The calendar is reviewed by the PLC, approved by the committee, and published. Once published, the events are cast in stone. They happen, rain or shine. We've found it is impossible to rewrite the calendar everytime a conflict arises. The Scoutmaster Handbook has a good discussion about how to conduct the annual planning conference. It works well for us.

Eamonn, the world needs more green meanies of the type you describe. Keep up the good work.

I had to explain to the boys that hand sanitizer is not the same as soap and water. The cook would be preparing dinner and I'd check in to see how it was going. Noticing that his hands are filthy, "Son, are your hands clean?" "Sure!" "I mean did you wash your hands TODAY?" "I used sanitizer, lots of it." "So you have sanitized dirt? A Scout is clean, not just sterile. Are your hands clean?" "I'll go wash." "Cool."

Have to agree with BW - two deep leadership isn't related to sleeping arrangements. I've never heard of the 1:1 rule. What is that?

Ed - Would it be better if the two packs had their recruitment events on separate nights, or both on the same night? If they do it on the same night, does one group get the better location or tables or whatever and the other one is told to set up in a dark corner? What could be done to put the two packs on an equal footing on recruitment night? How is one pack given a better opportunity than the other?

The "politics" will only get worse if you plunge ahead with your new "pack" before you have the organizational structure set up. Do you have a pack number?

Welcome to the group. You can get some good ideas and help here. But you will need to spill the whole story. "...fighting and horrible name calling and nashing of teeth... " isn't the normal result of forming a new pack. Why would the church turn in the paperwork if they still need to vote on it? It isn't possible to start a pack by rounding up 4 boys and announcing a pack meeting. Your pack would be formed through your church and the DE, not through a "man" and a den leader.

It would be a "good" laugh if one of the boys climbed down the pit toilet looking for the skyhook. Har har har-dy har har.

A boy cannot meet the leadership project requirements if he fails to "make arrangements" to make the project happen. There is nothing incorrect in my post.

14 cents is correct as to how much can be deducted for charitable driving. The point is the cost of driving a car is a lot more than the cost of gasoline. The full cost to drive a load of kids 250 miles round trip to summer camp is closer to $100 rather than the price of a tank of gas. IRS recognizes 37 1/2 cents as the cost to operate a car and that can be deducted for business purposes, though not for Scouting as a volunteer.

The rules are contained in the Guide to Safe Scouting, which Twocubdad transcribed. Cub Scouts are not required to share a tent with a parent. They can share with another Webelos, or share with a Boy Scout, or share with a parent, or sleep alone. The only rule is they may not share with another adult other than their parent or guardian. These camping rules are not rocket science. Don't get bogged down in minutiae and legal definitions. Read the G2SS, follow its direction, and interpret using your common sense.

The Eagle candidate is required to make whatever arrangements he can devise to obtain materials, equipment, or anything else that is needed for the project. Money may or may not be involved, but if money is needed, part of the plan must include getting the money. That's part of taking leadership for the project.

The opening from "Thus Spake Zarathruska (Strauss) aka the theme from Star Wars sets a ceremonial tone and will rivet the attention of the crowd. The higher the volume, the better. It runs about 2 minutes and is a great opening for a court of honor. Eds Copeland suggestion is excellent too.

What does "do Scout ashes" mean?

Refer the SPL to page 13 of the Handbook and challenge him to see what he can do to encourage the rest of the troop to join in with him and the Troop Guide.

No one ever achieved greatness without "failing" a few times. Failure is not the end of the line. That the goal was not achieved means the obstacles have not yet been overcome. The boy can't swim 25 yards? He struggled and made it 15 yards. Great! That's a great accomplishment since he first jumped into the deep end and sank like a stone. Now let's practice some more and try again. 20 yards! Great! And again and again and 25 yards is completed and the goal attained and the requirement signed off. A hearty pat on the back and "Good job man!" and he grins from ear to ear.

IRS allows 37 1/2 cents per mile as the cost of operating a car. Our committee reimburses 10 cents per mile for any trip or campout. We claim the balance of 27 1/2 cents per mile as a tax deduction. Some drivers don't bother writing a ticket to claim the 10 cents reimbursement.