Gunny2862

I do have one, er three, of these doohickies and the limitations I'm reading in the reviews are fairly serious limitations. In the majority of good applications I use you can zoom in to read content, change from one page to the next without zooming back out, turning the page and then zooming back in to read the content. In this edition you cannot, nor can you take advantage of the iPhones landscape view to see the text in a more cohesive form. I know BSA is going to make their money but in this format it is overpriced. Unless you can make notes in the digital book, have those notes backed up when you sync, and track advancement in this format it IS overpriced. If it's only usable as a reference I might go $5 for it but think the $9.99 is a bit high. I'll probably just buy another handbook.

Um, I'd be willing to bet that RHIP (Rank Hath It's Privileges).

In our Troop voting is generally just a Formalization of Consensus. It tracks that a decision was in fact made rather than that we discussed the issue and generally felt the same about it. And thus that for example that an (especially for sizable purchases) expenditure of Troop funds is actually authorized. For us a quorum is a minimum of 50% of the registered Adults. I don't vote, I do express my opinion. ASM's vote on anything that isn't procedural- they are parents too, those procedural votes belong in the Committee.

One possibility, consider what you would really like the plan to be over the next two years. Let others know your plan. It gives them time to adjust, gives you a known stop date. Once this planning is done, you will probably be amazed how much better you feel, even if nothing changes in the now - because if they choose not to pick up the slack it IS NOT your problem. As John-in-KC often posits "Feedback is a gift", I agree but sometimes feedback is proactive vice reactive and called future guidance - that's where you need to be now.

When I first started we had a small unevenly aged troop, prerequisites would have been tantamount to simply appointing Scouts to POR's. Currently we still have no prerequisites, but the boys are selecting well. The only safeguard we are running is that the Scoutmaster retains approval over nominations. (Because in Troop history a prank was pulled and a First year "Scout" was elected SPL - before my time) If we went to prerequisites, I would like to see the four(this number might change according to circumstances or growth) oldest/highest ranked Scouts eligible for SPL, only First Class or above eligible for anything else in the Leadership roles.

I don't wear it all of the time. Since I like it crisp, brushed, and pressed I don't view it as a camping item - but I can see why some would want to. But to announce to New Parents and "Hopefully" Incoming Webelos parents who the Scoutmaster is so they can have identified me, there isn't anything better to wear to a new parent meeting that lets them know who you are before the individual introductions and that "marks" the SM so they can find him if they forgot who was who in the mass of info we throw at them. And yes on the odd occasion when I wear it in the wild - the raincoat rides in the brims sweat band. If you fold it flat and place it properly it can actually improve the fit.

I'd say because great minds think alike but that's probably elevating my part too much and most like lowering John's.

I am happy to say that given a working compass and a map that encloses the location where I am dropped that I could eventually find my way out of just about anywhere with any discernible landmarks. I have lots of weaknesses but Land Nav. isn't one of them. Ask me what kind of tree that is though and I'll probably scratch my head and say, "Wooden?"

I'm sorry Sherm but to me that argument doesn't hold - Participation in BSA Overnight Camping IS the prerequisite for the OA eligibility, isn't it? And John, that's what I'm saying. One it depends on the youth - and their personal growth, and the kind of service; and secondly in most cases I'm sorry but for me if it's already being double dipped, or triple or even quaternary, then yes, isn't it more about working the system than the youth attempting to DO Community Service? I don't know - you'd have to show me the kid and the situation. And for my son, there are so many hours out there that he does regularly that it is strange to me that people are worried about getting their hours and the idea that it would be necessary to double dip this.

I'm sorry Sherm but to me that argument doesn't hold - Participation in BSA Overnight Camping IS the prerequisite for the OA eligibility, isn't it?

Thus far, I have never been lost. I found the map had me located in the wrong place once or twice, (Homer Simpson "Stupid map, Doh!") but never lost. Seriously, if you are entering a Wilderness area w/o a map and compass, you either need to have been there many times before and feel intimately familiar with the area or have your head examined. GPS's are nice but isn't it amazing how the neato gadgets know when you REALLY need them and choose that opportunity to fail? Take a compass.

I'd count those...

And as the one whose comments MAY have fired this off, I agree in principle that some hours might be eligible to be double counted. But I just don't feel that a kid who (for example) is in Key Club should get (Key Club)credit for helping in the Library during his (in some schools, get School credit here) Study Hall while satisfying volunteer hours for graduation (graduation credit here) and be able to use it for Scouting also. And if doing a project AT a school if they choose to accept his Eagle project hours or any part of them for their requirement, that's fine. I'm not trying to add to requirements unnecessarily, but neither do I feel that just because someone else's organization accepts the hours that Scouting HAS to.

All of the above! Definitely say something, I'd be bouncing off the top of the SE's desk at some point if the discussion headed in the wrong direction. Scout Law anyone?, sheesh. When I CHOOSE to make a contribution that's fine, when they take it from me, that's no longer a contribution and either illegal OR unethical OR both.

http://www.toodoc.com/Leadership-Service-Projects-ebook.html and look for the appropriate link Don't just look at the first couple of entries, they're PDF's.(This message has been edited by Gunny2862)

I don't have a lot of sympathy for the "I can't find service hours" or "If my School requires service hours can't I double dip by counting them for Scouting also" ideas. The hours are out there, my son in the course of his daily life does service hours every month without realizing he's done them. I occasionally do, in addition to Scouting(do those count for Community Service hours?), 20 or so hours of Community Service in a month. Outside of the Eagle Project, Scouting only requires, what 18-20 hours over the course of the entire program? As little as 2.66 service hours a year if they joined at 10 and a half. Even if they did the minimum time to Eagle it'd be less than an hour a month. Even in addition to high School requirements it doesn't seem overly onerous to me. Now if they had to plan and run their own projects and document them like little Eagle projects, and get them through approval processes that some adults think they should throw roadblocks in the way of to test or build their character, I MIGHT(probably would) be singing a different tune.

Medically viable is one thing but for Hospital boards the line between ethical action and fiscal bottom lines regarding viability runs very close together. I don't know that I mind having the options to A) Control my end of life decision and B) Actually be able to implement an active choice. But I really do NOT want someone else choosing for me especially not someone outside my family with a purely financial stake in the question.

The Swiss tabs on the sleeves ARE too low and too long. Want the old style Switchbacks back OR leg zips on new ones. Like the tech fabrics but the feel is clammier than similar fabrics from major manufacturers. Any other problems I have with the uniform would be best addressed by some push backs and a run...

Brent, I might tend to read it that way but don't know that a Troop meeting would qualify unless it was under the larger umbrella of supporting a Councils T4T effort supporting the Marine Corps Reserves T4T campaign. Thanks for the effort!

Trying to answer my own question, if anyone has a better source please post, thanks. From: http://clipart.usscouts.org/ScoutDoc/Scouts-L/_Raw_Undigested_Material_2/EAGLEMED_txt.txt the relevant portion: Thanks to Secretary of the Army Togo West, Jr. and SGM Daniel Coberly, there are some studies circulating around the Pentagon as of 1995 and early 1996, which would establish a ribbon for holders of the Eagle Scout Badge, the Girl Scouting Gold Award, and other similar national-level awards. Until that is approved within the Army (and it's the only service I am aware of that has even considered this), Scouts and Scouters may NOT wear the Eagle Scout Badge on their uniforms with TWO notable exceptions: The first one covers the actual presentation of the award (and this goes for any other BSA or other program's awards as well) to members of the military. The award may be presented/pinned/attached to the military unifom during appropriate ceremonies and be worn during the duration of the ceremony and any reception or followup ceremonies. This covers members of the military, for instance, who receive service awards or personal achievement awards from national organizations. Afterwards, the award may no longer be worn in connection with the military uniform. The second exception covers members of the military whom are detailed or attached to civilian organizations during a national or regional event (regional is defined to include state or part of a state, which for BSA and GSUSA folks, would encompass a Council or Service Area). They are permitted to wear ONE such civilian identification, recognition or service-type award as long as wearing such award or identification does not interfere with wearing military uniforms, accessories (like a protective mask or a weapon), or which would tend to cast a negative light upon the military service or the program they are being detailed to work or provide services for. This covers, for instance, military personnel working as part of a national meeting of the Reserve Officers Association or the Assocation of the United States Army, for instance, as well as those that work at the National Scout Jamboree or a Girl Scout Wider Adventure. Thanks in advance if anyone can provide amplification...

Okay, 1) I'm not saying any one person is confused - just that with the scant information and many points of view that the topic itself is somewhat confusing. 2)(SMsteve my non-answer to your question is here.) My suggestion that it may be becoming mandatory is based on references made by the local Camps Aquatic Supervisor from the most recent session - it is not certain either way, but the way National has been rolling out courses and graduating them into mandatory courses, it would seem likely. 3) Completion of the Aquatics Supervision Courses does not(as far as I am aware) create a position of Aquatics Supervisor - just like completion of Weather Hazards doesn't create a title of Weather Hazard Supervisor. These may be offered at NCS but are not NCS courses for creating an Aquatics position. 4) What I have seen is the two courses we are discussing looked like they took about an hour to an hour and a half per day for the 5 day camp week ( I don't know actual course time since I didn't attend) 5) I still hold that in Troops that do not have the ideal levels of support from the families, that training is on it's way to becoming an overly large burden if we actually want to create Troops that get outdoors and provide the challenging activities we advertise. 6) bottom line: NO definite information that I am aware of that the courses will become mandatory - but an awful lot of rumor.

Question, Brent, Is there a reference allowing a Marine to wear an Eagle Scout medal on a USMC uniform? If so, do you have it? After a full career I have not once seen this done, just wondering if it was in fact allowed...

Because this still appears a little confusing the course being discussed is intended to give the responsible party at the unit level a basic familiarity with rescue skills. It does not turn those attendees into lifeguards nor pool operators, nor swimming instructors. I think it's a great idea but again with the mandatory training they need to be careful how they phase it in or Some Troops may find they can't swim or do other water activities except at camp. When training becomes mandatory, Council's/Districts need to ensure it is available on a regular basis. And every other year may be regular butay not fill the bill.

They were teaching it at summer camp, lifeguards and lifeguard counselors exempt.

I like mine, the kids like it when I wear it, and "new" parents immediately identify me as the Scoutmaster from the rest of the uniformed adults. Plus, (from another threads current conversation) in a Scouting context it really feeds my ego. Hee, Hee, Hee. All I really need is that the kids like it, and the uniforming guide doesn't prohibit it.