FScouter

Scouting does not use the words "agnostic" or "atheist" in the membership requirements or anywhere else in Scouting. Therefore any differences or interpretations of the meaning of those words is completely irrelevant as to whether an individual meets the membership requirements. If a member makes an informed and thoughtful decision that he has no belief in God, and understands that disqualifies him from membership, that decision is his alone. No one else has "kicked him out". I find such terms as "bar him from meetings", "kicking him out" and "strip him of membership" to be inflammatory. With respect to the dilemma CA-Scouter presented about the boy claiming to be "agnostic", a discussion with the boy about exactly what he means and how that relates to the the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and the membership requirements would be in order. A decision to give up one's membership should not be taken lightly.

Rank requirements are printed in the boys handbook. Irregardless of how outing is defined, and irregardless of whether 60% is a good number, adults are not authorized to add additional requirements.

Or should we delete this provision from the bylaws all together?? Is having that law in you bylaws working for you? Is the law teaching boys the value of earning their own way, or about being thrifty? Does it help them feel a sense of responsibility towards their patrol?

The definitions and differences of terms like agnostic and atheist have zip to do with whether a boy meets the membership requirements. He must have a belief in God to be a member and must demonstrate his duty to God in order to advance. We don't "kick a boy out" of Scouting. That would be painful and be a violation of the G2SS. If a boy makes an informed decision that he does not believe in God and will not demonstrate his duty to God, then we are obligated to tell him that means he is giving up his membership. We then drop him from the roster in accordance with his decision. It is important to understand that a member that does not abide by the terms of membership is making his own personal decision to give up membership. No one is "kicking him out".

Are there any ideas in the Cub Scout Leader Book?

It would be a big mistake to determine and publish a definition of active. Consider our mission to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. It would be far easier for adults if BSA would just spell it out for us. Boys dont learn how to make ethical and moral choices when adults dictate to them regulations from the BSA rule book. By reading to them out of the rule book, we lose the opportunity to teach. It would be far better for us to teach a boy how to decide for himself what active really means. Teach him how he has the tools in the Scout Oath and Law to find the answer. Teach him how to use his mind, to understand, and to make an ethical choice. This is an important lesson for a boy. This is how we fulfill the mission.

Ed, you have repeated that uniform-not-required litany dozens of times over the years. Why do you keep hammering us with that?

"If a Troop committee requires Scouts to wear uniforms they are adding to the requirements and that isn't allowed. To be a Scout, you do not need to own a uniform." Ed, you are wrong. "Adding to the requirements" refers to advancement requirements. Uniforming is one of the 8 methods of Scouting and if a chartered organization wants to require its troop to wear uniforms, that is perfectly within their right to "conduct Scouting in accordance with its own policies and guidelines as well as those of the BSA."

Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10 - Do you have any ideas about what "active" should be?

"The Wood Badge for the 21st Century falls short of its predecessor in my and many other participants and trainers opinions" That may well be true. The NEW Wood Badge is centered around leadership skills. If you want training about how to tie knots or how to rescue a drowning boy, there are a myriad of other trainings available to address those needs. If those trainings don't appear on the district training calendar, contact the district training chair or the council training chair and request that the trainings you need be offered.

This is really simple. Any Boy Scout working towards his next rank could figure it out. All ranks require completion of a variety of requirements. Typically rank requirements are learned and demonstrated in troop and patrol settings. Any campout (be active) has opportunities to learn and demonstrate skills required for rank requirements. Assuming the troop is using "skills instruction" as one of the 7 parts of a troop meeting (see the SM handbook or SPL handbook, BSA publications, for a discussion of troop meeting structure) the boy will learn, demonstrate, and be signed off at troop meetings (be active). Conceivably a boy could learn some of these rank requirements on his own at home. But to demonstrate and show his knowledge to get signed off, he will need to attend a few meetings, activities, or campouts (be active). The upper ranks all require the boy to serve in a position of responsibility. SERVE, as in "be active". A boy cannot SERVE without being active. So, here we have a perfect way to measure being active. Review the rank requirements that have been learned and demonstrated, and review how the boy has served in his position of responsibility.

"My question, as SM, what do I do with a Scout when I know he is behind in his dues and is coming to me for a SM review tied to advancement? Should I make money an issue during the SM conference?" If the mom or dad are paying an annual fee, there's nothing to talk about to the boy. He's been relieved of the responsibility. On the other hand, if the troop teaches boys that Scouts pay their own way, and if you collect dues on a weekly basis in a small amount such as $1 per meeting, then you can talk to him about how he is meeting his responsibilities to the troop. Teaching the troop scribe to collect dues regularly and to keep records and to work with the committee treasurer is a lot more work that sending an annual bill to the parents. But we're not in this business to make things "easy". It we were, we would have the adults make the annual plan, run the troop meetings, plan the menus, cook the meals, eat off paper plates, etc., etc., etc. Part of Scouting is to teach boys character and life skills. Learning how to pay financial obligations, budgeting income, and being thrifty can all be taught through a program of weekly dues, payable by the boy.

Our unit bought inexpensive hooded sweatshirts from the Walmart. The boys sew their activity patches on the sweatshirts. Works well. As Emb021 mentioned, the red wool shirt-jac and the red nylon jackets are not sold to be used as patch-jackets. Details about the specific patches authorized and their placement can be found in the Insignia Guide.

Scouting is filled with nuts and bolts trainings, but there is only one advanced leadership skills training - Wood Badge for the 21st Century. Nuts and bolts training can be done elsewhere. Nuts & Bolts trainings: 8 Leader Specific trainings for every adult leader position that works with youth. BALOO Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills Crew Officers' Seminar Powder Horn Boy Scout Advancement training Camping Survival Backpacking Cooking Aquatics Rock Climbing/Rappelling Topping Out Pow Wow University of Scouting Troop Committee Challenge COPE Seabadge High Adventure Basic Backpacking High Adventure Advanced Backpacking High Adventure Winter Awareness High Adventure Desert Awareness Trail Boss Merit Badge Counselor Orientation Health and Safety Training Leave No Trace Camping Safe Swim Defense Safety Afloat

The Scouts in our troop are not required to wear pants either. Nor the shirt. Strangely enough, they do wear the shirt, and "the pants" too. I wonder why they wear it if it isn't required? The purpose of the uniform method is not to ensure boys wear a uniform. The uniform method is not practiced by requiring, mandating, codifying, or forcing boys to wear the it. So what is the purpose of the uniform method?

There are Highlights booklets available for District Chairmen, District Commissioners, Unit Commissioners, the Activities and Civic Service Committee, Advancement Committee, Camp Promotion and Outdoor Committee, Finance Committee, Membership Committee, and Training Committee. Then there are the full-blown guidebooks from which the Highlights booklets are lifted.

Score one for BSA publications!

The neckerchief standard may be found in the Insignia Guide under the "Neckerchief" section. Custom sizes are not authorized. Custom designs should be approved by the local council. Of course we are "on my honor" to abide by the standards.

Is is so bad to quote BSA publications? The "Scouting program" is defined by this organization and is printed in the publications. Without those publications to guide us, we're just a collection of loose cannons doing our own loosely connected visions of a youth program.

"One who has the best interest of the Scouts at heart" sounds all warm and fuzzy but what does that mean? The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes. Using the methods to acheive the aims and fulfill the mission is what Scouting is all about. How does that not "have the best interests of the Scouts at heart"??

... and if you're not acheiving the aims, you're not fulfilling the mission. And therein defines a "Scouter". If you're not fulfilling the mission, you're not doing Scouting.

A member of the district committee is considered trained and may wear the "Trained" patch after completing the District Committee Training Workshop #34160C. Get the "Highlights" booklet for your position. If you want to know more, New Leader Essentials would be helpful, but it is primarily targeted to unit leaders working with youth, and unit committee members.

He talked to the right person, his patrol leader. Part of a PL's responsibility is to help the patrol members with advancement. Next would be for the boy to talk to the senior patrol leader and tell him he would like some opportunities to work on advancement requirements on the next campout, and would he be able to help the PL to set up a training session.

Wear camping clothes while doing camping activities. It doesn't matter what the color is.

Ed, it sounded like you were advising that the troop should not get involved in a troop member's Eagle project and I wanted you to expand on that opinion. If that's not your position, then peace, but then why make that kind of statement in the first place?