FScouter

Anecdotes posted on an internet bulletin board could hardly be considered real life situations. It is irresponsible to compile a collection of unsubstantiated allegations and call that research. You have already expressed your contempt for BSA, and frankly it sounds like youre on a witch hunt.

Here are some reasons why applications are turned in late: - Missing information on the application including social security numbers for both the boy and parent. - Incomplete or missing health history. - The parent didn't sign the application. - How much of a fee to collect? How to prorate? Does an application dated the middle of the month pay for that month? How about the last day of the month? Can we pay for next year too in addition to the rest of this year? Is the Boys Life cost prorated too? - The parent didn't have any money at the recruitment night, and the fee was not collected. - The office is only open during normal business hours 9 4:30 and closed during lunch. - The office said to hold the paperwork and turn it all in with the re-charter. - There is no den leader yet, and we have to recruit one.

I have fond memories of sitting around the campfire singing songs as a child. My mother used to sing a camp song she learned while a member of the Girl Reserves in the 30s. I remember the tune, but only a few words: Oh Mr. Moon, Moon, Mr. Silvery Moon Up in the sky so high ? And to the Girl Reserves we will always be true ? Oh wont you please shine down on me. Does anybody know the words? Is the Mudcat.org website still in operation?

At summer camp this year some of the boys earned the Rifle Shooting Merit badge. Some of them also earned the NRA Provisional Marksman and Marksman medals. The trading post says that the NRA shooting medals are authorized for wear on the Scout uniform. Has anyone heard about these medals and how to properly wear them? The Insignia Guide is silent about them.

The Scouter's Training Award can be earned as a Boy Scout leader, or as a district Roundtable / Varsity Huddle staff person. The requirements are different and the tenure for one cannot be used for the other. If MaineScouter drops her registration in the troop, she cannot use that tenure towards the tenure requirement for the district position. The tenure does not have to be continuous and if she registered with a troop at some time in the future the tenure would then continue.

It really doesnt matter a whole lot about where you are registered. Register wherever you want to spend the most of your time. You can be registered in more than one place at a time, but should be active in whatever capacity you register for. Unit Scouters can participate in a district capacity without being formally registered. For example you could be invited to be part of the district training team without necessarily being registered as a member of the district committee. There are various adult leader recognition awards that require registration in a particular position. For example if you were working towards the Boy Scout Leaders Training Award, you would need tenure as a registered leader in a troop. If you drop your registration in the troop, you would not be able to earn that award. You must be registered somewhere to be permitted to wear the Scout uniform.

You can be registered either with a particular unit, or you can register as a district scouter. You can register both ways too, but one position will be your primary registration. Just a note about the Issue & Politics forum; lots of folks don't visit here because of the nature of the topics presented and how passionate the participants can be. You might get more responses by posting in one of the other forums such as Program or Council Relations.

Think of the Chartered Organization Representative as the primary contact person or liason between the Troop or Pack adult leaders and the chartered organization. Your COR would be the ideal person to run your calendar dates by the church. It makes sense that BSA wants the COR to be a member of the chartered organization.

The scout unit does not select the Institutional Head (IH). The person that is the top dog or head honcho or whatever in your chartered organization is the person that Scouting refers to as the IH. If the church is the chartered organization, the IH may be the minister or the chairman of the administrative board, or whomever the church considers to be the head. For a community group, the IH might be the president, for a fraternal group, the supreme exhalted ruler. Think of it this way: the chartered organization wants to use Scouting as part of its program for youth. Scouting grants a charter to that organization. The written agreement (Annual Charter Agreement) between Scouting and the chartered organization must be signed by the head of the chartered organization.

What is Youth Protection Facilitator tranining?? Is that a training unique to your council?

Note that Youth Protection training is categorized as "supplemental" . Activities that require a tour permit require one adult that has completed the training. Its also required for some Cub Scout leader awards. Other than that, Im not aware of any requirement for YPT. To be sure, its still a good training for any adult leader to have.

There is more official training out there than you can shake a stick at. For example, there are about 35 different units of training available just for commissioners. The Leadership Training Committee Guide is a good reference. It discusses the trainings for the various adult leader positions and the requirements to be considered "trained" for each position. The Guide to Safe Scouting also refers to specific trainings such as Safe Swim Defense that are needed to engage in certain activities.

The best answers to parent questions can be found in Scout publications: Scoutmaster Handbook, Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures, Troop Committee Guidebook, the Boy Scout Handbook, etc. Web site have lots of information about how various troop handle things, and lots of opinions and ideas. Be aware though that lots of stuff on the web does not necessarily reflect BSA methods.

The Insignia Guide has additional information about medals, the knots that represent them, and "devices" that attach to the medal or knot.

The Scoutmaster Handbook has a chapter that discusses the boy-led patrol and selecting boy leaders.

The pin-on medal for the Scouter Training award is only abut $7.50. Your district training chair can provide the applications for many of the adult awards. They are part of the Leadership Training Committee Guide book.

Part of a BOR is to find out what kind of experience the boy is having in the troop. Through that discussion the committee members sitting on the board get a feeling as to how well a job the Scoutmaster is doing. That could lead to a discussion with the SM about how he determines when rank requirements are met.

Would you like me to fill that out for you? The little things mean a lot.

If you found a jac identical to the BSA jac with the tag cut or removed, go for it and wear it with pride. If you found a jac or any other uniform part that is almost-the-same in style, detailing, fabric, and color, you can wear that too. The wearer decides whether he wears BSA uniform or wears something similar to BSA uniform.

The universal emblem patch can be sewed on lots of things. I have one on my brag rag and another on my backpack. It can be sewed onto any piece of clothing, but that doesnt make the garment official. Why not get the real McCoy? For 30 bucks on eBay you can get a genuine BSA wool jac-shirt, with the patch already sewed on.

Removing a volunteer has got to be one of the most unpleasant tasks. Its no wonder the DE and council people are playing hot potato with this. Who has the authority (or responsibility) to remove a volunteer? A good rule of thumb is that the person or group with the authority to appoint a volunteer has the authority to remove the volunteer. The nominating committee is the group that recruits the DC, and the council executive board approves the nomination, with the concurrence of the DE. Approval lies with the council executive board, thus they are responsible for removal. Following removal, the nominating committee would then recruit a replacement. This is not a district chairman responsibility, though he should be consulted. Is the DC doing such a bad job that he must be replaced immediately? If not you might let the nominating committee choose to not nominate him for another term. If he must be removed now, perhaps he can be moved into a position that better suits his strengths. That could help to save face. The publication Selecting District People #34512E includes a section that discusses how to remove a volunteer.

You'll do fine as long as your heart is into it. The strengths and weaknesses you listed match mine exactly and my troop is doing fine. Being a SM gives me a chance to strengthen personal characteristics I consider weak. As an adult I find that I grow along with the boys.

The responsibilities scoutldr listed are good, but I would question #3. The nominating committee is charged with recruiting a district commissioner, just as they recruit the district chair. Its not intended that the district chair recruit and supervise the commissioner. The district commissioner, district chair, and DE make up the Key 3. The district commissioner has separate functions and is more or less the equal of the district chair. The relationships are discussed in a booklet available at the Scout Shop The District #33070C.

Use objective criteria to select adults. This avoids having the selection team make the choices; instead the selection is made by the criteria. Those that dont satisfy the criteria can put on a waiting list. I would personally object to luck-of-the-draw having any part of the selection process. It should be made known that those adults that are first selected are only provisionally selected. They must attend and complete several required training hikes. The crew will hike or drag along the trail at the rate of the slowest individual. Our crew this year had one adult that was not physically prepared. He was in agony for ten days desperately trying not to slow down the crew. We missed some program activities because of arriving into camp late. Some criteria Id use, in no particular order: CPR / first aid certification (required for at least 1 crew member) Youth Protection training signed up first paid first previously attended (preference to newbies) trained registered leader number of miles successfully backpacked in the previous year

I've seen sashes with lots of different patches on the back side including rank patches and position of leadership patches. It can look sloppy. From the Insignia Guide: Members may wear only temporary patches (no badges of rank) on the back of the merit badge sash. A merit badge sash is never worn on the belt.