FScouter

"... I cant help thinking that there are several existing awards that have insignia that are worn on the uniform and do we as scouters really need yet another?" Precisely why our national org does not encourage redundant awards invented by local councils.

"But with being pregnant (due in August), I wouldn't be able to go camping with the boys until next spring at least." If you have a newborn baby, you seem to have already mady your committment.

This ethical thing is a hard one at times. In terms of Scouting, and the Scouting mission, we all know in our hearts what is an ethical choice and what is not. If our organization, BSA, believes that paintball or laser is not an inappropriate activity, then as Scouters, we CANNOT promote or in any way encourage that activity, or to sneakily suggest loopholes. To do so, at odds with the organization to which we belong and believe in, is an unethical choice. Our personal philosophies and beliefs may or may not be that of our organization. As Scouters however, in good conscience, we cannot promote any activity or action that is detrimental or contrary to the sanctions or our organization. To make choices otherwise is unethical, unethical to the aims of the organization to which we belong. Choose paintball or laser, but do so totally outside of BSA. It is an unethical choice for a Scout leader to choose actions that conflict with the beliefs and practices of the Scouting organization.

You should note that Swimming is a required MB for Eagle. No longer true. The Swimming merit badge is NOT, NOT, NOT a requirement to earn the Eagle rank, and has not been for several years. Refer to Boy Scout Requirements 2006 # 33215. Swimming is a good skill to have, as noted by Baden Powell, but the Eagle rank can be earned by completing other merit badges.

"Our boys wanted to do a paintbal trip but its not sanctioned by the BSA. Simple solution, not go as a boyscout trip, simply as an outside activity ..." Does that help prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes?

The boy's book is not "lost". He just doesn't remember where he left it. Maybe suggest to him that he is responsible for his book, and his advancement. And maybe he could spend a little time thinking about what he was doing when he last had his book, and maybe look for it? Surely finding it would be less work on his part than being re-tested. Of course it is a whole lot less work for him if a troop full of adults scramble to cover his fanny.

Many councils issue commemorative council shoulder patches. Not even the most ardent supporter of proper uniforming would object to anyone wearing an old CSP. This question doesnt seem to have much to do with anyones underwear. The purpose of that poke seems only to intentionally perpetrate bad feelings among Scouters. A Scout is courteous?

I don't know that I like the repeated use of the term "chain of command". Scouts lead, we don't "command". Much of the text used is copied verbatim from BSA publications. Interesting that the bottom of every page says copyright 2001 CLASSB.COM. I wonder if they got permission from BSA to copy BSA material?

3/4 of the TC tendered their resignations at the end of this scout year, citing lack of organization. Its easy to blame the Scoutmaster for all the ills of a troop. He is after all the front man and most important adult interacting with the boys. But it sure seems like a cowardly act for committee members to simply quit. Therein might be part of the problem - committee members not understanding or doing their own jobs. Did the SM conduct an annual planning conference with the boys? If not, then why did the committee let the program move forward without an annual plan? Is the committee outings and activities person handling the logistics of troop outings? Does the committee advancement person come to troop meetings occasionally to work with the troop scribe and patrol leaders about the advancement status of the boys? Is the committee treasurer working with the troop scribe? Is the committee equipment coordinator working with the troop quartermaster? A Scoutmaster cannot be the SM, plus do all the committee jobs too.

The Troop Committee Guidebook # 34505B has a chapter devoted to advancement, boards of review, and courts of honor. The Scoutmaster Handbook # 33009C has a chapter on advancement, the Scoutmaster conference, boards of review, courts of honor, plus another chapter on awards and recognitions. The latest revision of the Advancement Committee Polices and Procedures book is #33088D. The Boy Scout Handbook tells boys what Scout Spirit is all about. Adults too would do well to know and understand this as well. See pages 47, 108, 164, and 170. The supplemental training covering boards of review is excellent: http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/supplemental/18-625/index.html as is the training for Scoutmaster conferences: http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/supplemental/18-629/index.html Reinventions of the wheel are always full of flaws. Go with the tested and proven techniques found in the BSA publications. Every troop committee should have reference copies of these publications, and use them.

If we could just get an agreement from Council Council as a proper name implies an entity unto itself, them as opposed to us. A council is not them. Consider rather that a council is a gathering of districts, each of which is a gathering of troops. The difference in using the term Council versus the council of which I am a part is profound.

Sorry to hear you all had less than perfect experiences with Eureka. I have a 2-man Eureka tent that is 20 years old. My wife and I honeymooned in it. Twice in the last 6 months I had occasion to contact Eureka. First, I lost the nylon plastic tube that the connects the poles. Inquiring about the cost of a replacement, they sent me one FREE. Some weeks later the zipper deteriorated to the point where it would not zip properly. They sent a repair kit FREE.

The rights to BSA insignia are owned and controlled by BSA. The sale of cloth badges comes with the obligation of the purchaser to use the insignia for the intended purpose and within the regulations of BSA. If a person did not earn the Eagle rank, he has no right to buy, sell, trade, possess, or wear the badge. The Insignia Guide quotes passages from the Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America. Thats about a legal a document as any that could be presented in court. Badge swapping of certain items including badges of rank, let alone selling on the eBay is not permitted. The fact that BSA does not actively intervene in casual sales and trades does not mean the practice is encouraged, and does not mean those that participate in those practices are legal.

"This transfer was done with the understanding and stipulation that this land be kept for scouting purposes and would not be sold." Was this a handshake agreement, or was it written into the sales contract and does it appear as a restriction on the deed?

Having an assistant is highly recommended but not because the Guide to Safe Scouting says you must have one. The two rules in the G2SS are "no one-on-one contact", and two leaders on all trips and outings. There is no requirement that two adults be present for den meetings, or troop meetings.

From the Insignia Guide: "All badges and insignia of the Boy Scouts of America shall be used exclusively by members of the Boy Scouts of America, registered and in good standing ..." . "All badges and insignia shall remain the property of the Boy Scouts of America subject to recall for cause by the Corportion or its duly authorized representative." "It shall be the responsibility of all members of the Boy Scouts of America ... to cooperate with the Corporation in preventing the use of the official uniforms by those who are not members of the organization in good standing." Chuck Conners was a pitcher for the Dodgers.

Ahh, the old "for-insurance-purposes" ruse. I don't think anyone still falls for that time-worn excuse to blame a 3rd party for your decision. If the committee doesn't want adults on campouts, they ought to come right out and state up front the REAL objections.

Ask him on what page that rule may be found, otherwise it's only wishful thinking.

jkhny needs to get a life but he/she has just as much of a right to post here as anyone else! No one has any rights to post in this private forum. Free speech does not apply. Permission to post is granted by the forum owner with the understanding that all posts are subject to editing or deletion by the forum moderators. Additionally, in regards to (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Major adjustments to a training syllabus is sort-of a no-no, but this new training leaves too much to the imagination. I need more than 3 sentences about "E.D.G.E." to be able to teach it to new boy leaders. Blending the old Scoutmaster's Jr. Leader Training Kit with the new Troop Leadership Training seems like a good approach until revision "A" is released.

Most of those 8 questions don't meet the spirit or purposes of a board of review. Try these questions instead. They are all open-ended and help the board to get a conversation going with the boy. It's easier to evaluate a candidate through a conversation with him than through an objective examination. Who is your patrol leader? What do you think of the problems he is facing? How are you doing in your first aid skills? What are your goals for the next few months; how do they meet advancement requirements? What do you think would make the troop better? How do you fulfill your duty to country? To God? What does 'loyal' mean to you? What merit badges did you enjoy, and why? What merit badges did you get the most out of, and why? How did you fulfill your Swimming (or other merit badge) requirements? How did you feel about your leadership position? How did you feel about how you exercised that position? Did you feel that you accomplished anything in that position? What were your frustrations? Who do you think is doing a good job in the troop? Have you thought about achieving Eagle? Have you thought about a service project for Eagle? How do you honor the 12th point of the Scout Law? How do you think the troop is doing? What do you like most in troop outdoor activities? What new things did you do/learn on your latest campout/service project/troop meeting? What did you learn/feel in giving service to others? Why is being a Boy Scout important to you? What are your goals in Scouting? How will fulfilling requirement number _______ (for your next rank) help you? Do you enjoy the outings/troop meetings? Which of the requirements are most difficult for you? Do you find that school activities are taking more of your time? Which ones? All of these sample questions are found in the resources BSA makes available to board members to help them do their job.

Younger scouts with less capacity for introspection and abstract thought need to be asked questions tailored to their individual capacities. Those questions can be framed around their experience in learning the concrete skills found in the rank requirements. Developing suitable questions for boys is the challenge and responsibility of the adult board members, led by the board chairman. With the right individuals theres no reason it cannot be done. To take the easy route and re-test shortchanges the boys BOR experience.

Sometimes adults have a difficult time formulating appropriate questions and discussion points based on Scouting ideals and the aims of Scouting. The Troop Committee Guidebook, the Scoutmaster Handbook, the Advancement Policies and Procedures book and the new on-line Board of Review training module all have several sample questions that work well, meet the objectives of a BOR, and dont intimidate an 11-year-old boy. They are all good resources for conducting useful boards of review.

"... who does the actual foot-work?" ScoutNut is on target. The Outings chairman should be doing the leg work. The CM has enough other responsibilities. He should participate in the planning, and be in charge of the execution, but that logistical stuff is for the committee Outings person. It is the responsibility of the Committee Chairman to ensure that all the committee positions are filled and all functions are being handled. If the CC has not done that, it is not the CM's responsibility to step in and take over a committee function in addition to his own. The CC needs to get the position filled, or do it herself.

Lisabobs point of view is good. A little (lot) more focus on personal growth is in order. Verifying the completion of requirements (skills) is a part of a board of review, but there is bigger purpose. Boards should spend less time testing the candidate and more time talking with him about his experience in the troop and talking about the Scouting ideals and how they apply to his life. Thats really why boys should not be conducting boards of review; the aims and mission are not specifically taught to boys. They do not fully understand the aims of Scouting and the mission of Scouting. They are achieved as a byproduct of the adult leaders using the eight methods including the outdoor method. The board of review is a tool to make sure they are achieving the aims. A candidates peers cannot adequately determine whether the troop is making progress towards achieving the aims. Adult are far better qualified to do that, but of course those adults must have a good understanding of the ideals, aims, and mission themselves.