AntelopeDud

The Montrail Torre is an excellent shoe. It doesn't fit every foot, but if it feels good int he store, it should work for you. The break-in period is almost nothing.

I have just been given the biggest honor in my Scouting career. I've been selected to be the Scoutmaster of one of our Council's National Jamboree Contingent Troops. Woo Hoo! For those of you who have been a contingent leader before, how did you determine who your senior leaders (SPL, ASPL, QM Scribe) were?

My Troop had a 15-year-old Scout tragically die this year. That and the impending Funeral was one of the toughest things I've ever had to do. The Scout was not in uniform, but he was presented in his casket holding onto his Scout handbook. The Troop was in full Class A, the youth did an opening flag ceremony and worked as ushers. We all sat together and several uniformed leaders were the pall bearers. This is an extremely brave thing for the young Scouts in a unit to attend, let alone participate in. We found that for many of them, this was the first funeral they've ever been to. We never really asked for volunteer to help, they all came to us saying "Please tell me what can I do". Brave young men, watch over them if they ever have to go through something like this. -AD

Our council has a program called "Climbing Tower Instructor" which is put on in conjuction with Climb On Safely. Together, it's a two-day course. The Climb-On Safely part is just, as mentioned here, a management course. The Tower Instructor course took alot of the technical aspects of the "Topping Out" book and put them into application. We had the class at the tower of our local Scout Camp, and received good hands on training. We were then encouraged to staff the tower with the accredited folks during a local Scout event. It was great experience. After so many hours, I felt very confident in what I'm doing. There were 4 adult leaders from our Troop that took the course, and we constantly feed off of one another to make sure we are doing everything right and constantly refer back to "Topping Out" for clarification on certain situations. We take part in as many council related climbing activities as we can to stay fresh. As a unit, we actaully get our climbing equipment out maybe 3 - 4 times per year. -AD

I'm not sure I've ever heard of a "No Competence Board". Is this for an SPL not doing his job, or a member of the committee / Scoutmaster? -AD(This message has been edited by AntelopeDud)

I feel self-conscious at times when I walk into a public place in my uniform, but I'm really not sure why. I have never had someone say anything negative to me, or, for that matter, even snicker. What I have had (just about every time I put it on and am seen with the kids) are people walking up to me thanking me for what I am doing and the time that I am spending with youth. They don't even know me from Adam, yet they want to thank me. If they've been in Scouting before, I generally get a good 5 minute of "the good ol' days" from when they were Scouts. Adults that wear the uniform are seen as people who really care about tomorrow and our youth. If there are any snickering or questionable thoughts that people have when they see me, they are coming from ignorant people, and I really don't care what they think. Kids do tend to snicker, and quite frankly some of them are to young to know better, so they wouldn't fall in the ignorant category. However, most kids make fun of other kids for any reason they can - it's just part of being a kid. Most kids that have a friend who is a Boy Scout generally knows what goes on and is supportive. I've seen alot of them snicker, but I've seen far more of them show up at Eagle Projects or at an Eagle Court of Honor to be there when their friend is being recognized for a great achievement. And by the way, I was not a Boy Scout either as a youth.(This message has been edited by AntelopeDud)

No, you are right. The B.S.A. has been trying to profit on gear over the past several years. Curiously enough, they went to the "switchback" scout pants which can be used as shorts or pants, and they are cheaper than the traditional pants and shorts.

I was recently told by my DE that a MBC was a "district" position and required separate application and registration from the unit. I thought that was curious, but I didn't pursue.

Unit Commissioner? What's that ...... I don't know if ours is overworked, but he's definitely MIA. -AD

Please visit our little home in cyberspace ..... http://www.troop168.net -AD(This message has been edited by AntelopeDud)

Hmmm, looks like I'll be waiting a long time.

SSScout Whoa! THAT'S cool! I may have to implement R&D (Rip off and duplicate). What a Great idea! -AD

Hale Scout Reservation Kiamichi Mountains, Southeast Oklahoma. Beautiful lake front and view of the Kiamichi Mtns. Great Staff. Indoor Air-conditioned Dining hall with indoor climbing wall. Private enclosed individual Restrooms and showers throughout the camp. High speed internet. Swimming Pool. Great place for an adult to go and enjoy Summer Camp. I was very impressed, so were our boys. Our troop has a history of going to a different Summer Camp property every year, but this is our fourth year. -AD

Who needs "Reverse" Woodbadge order. Save the best for last, I always say ... -AD ..... and a good ol' Antelope too.

Eamonn, I think that the way you handled these issues is just right. The most important thing here is that you have a very real bond and relationship with the youth that you serve. I think that every one of us can relate how you really can love these kids - because we all do. By talking to the kid who got drunk, letting him know you care and telling him what you were going to do about it shows to them that there is someone that really does care about them. So many kids have problems in their lives that just get blown up out of proportion in their own little worlds, that it can cause them to do harm to themselves. It is so easy for them to think that they have nowhere to turn. Getting to know your Scouts and making sure they know that you care about them might put a little voice in the back of their minds that maybe they will hear next time they are faced with this or other decisions. A month ago, a boy in our Troop committed suicide. The young man was cutting himself (using a razor-blade to draw blood on his wrist and leave a scar)and was involved in company at his school that promoted thoughts of suicide and self-mutilation. I knew about the cutting , but also knew that he was in counseling for it. I sort of tried in my own way to make him feel like he was important by encouraging him to take a leadership role in things, but never really sat down with him and asked him about him and got to know him. I had no idea that he was suicidal, but I did know that he was having struggles in his life. I kept putting off opportunities to talk to him and see how he is doing because there was always tomorrow. "How can I talk privately with this young man without violating youth protection practices" is what I kept asking myself. I thought that that opportunity to talk to him privately, but in plain sight of everyone else would present itself at the next meeting, or campout, or whatever. Again, there's always tomorrow. Right? As it turns out (if found out after he was gone), he got involved in a crowd at school and fell in love with a girl that was doing these awful things to her body. He followed suit because he thought that's what he needed to do to win her affection. He tried to convince her to stop because he didn't like doing those things, but she refused and they broke up. In his 15-year-old mind, the end of the world came through. In a desperate cry for attention (or so I am choosing to believe) he hung himself on stormy Thursday after school as he felt he had nowhere else to turn. Why am I saying this? This young man had been crying out to his "Friends" at school that were into this type of culture, but none of them had the frame of mind to say something. He was reaching out. If, simply by asking about his schoolwork, or finding more out about his brother, I could have created a bond with him where he might have felt comfortable reaching out and asking for help. I'm not a psychiatrist or anything like that, but I can put my arm around a youth and make them feel that they are loved and needed. Would that have saved this boy? I don't know. But given 10 of these identical situations, I'll bet it would have saved at least one of them. This is the hardest thing that I've ever had to come to terms with. I don't blame myself, but do constantly think "what if ..." as do many Scouters and other adults in his life wonder. Eamonn, and any others who genuinely care for the kids they serve .... there is nothing more important that a good, trusting relationship with today's youth. You can't know too much. Often times, we spend more quality time with these kids than their parents do. I think sometimes that we let youth protection, BSA policies and other things keep us from feeling comfortable reaching out to our youth. It reminds me of a poem that I think we can all relate to ..... "A hundred years from now, it won't matter how much money I had in a bank account, how big of a house I lived in or what kind of car I drove. What will matter is that I have made a difference in the life of a child" That's what we are here for. -AD