ASM59

Our Troop had a major changing of the guard this past December/January. Our Scoutmaster and about two-thirds of the committee left (including Committee Chair and Treasurer). There were no real problems; the SM just felt it was time to move on and the committee that has worked with him just followed. Our new Committee Chair who has only 6 months experience in Scouting, seems to be having what can only be called a power-grabbing problem. He makes decisions about outings, fundraisers, the purchase of a new trailer and more without input from the rest of the committee or the Scoutmasters. When questioned, he simply states that his is the most powerful possition on the committee and no one has veto rights over him. An example of his interfering with outings; About half of our boys decided to join in on a Cycling Merit Badge opportunity that will end in a scheduled 50 mile ride for the group in August. Our Committee Chair decided that he wanted to schedule a Canoe outing for the Troop without consulting any of the Scoutmasters and he sheduled it on the date of the 50 mile ride. His exact words were, "I know it is on the same date as the big Cycling ride, but the boys will just have to make a decision which to do. My son is not involved in the ride so it doesn't matter. We need activities for the other boys as well." Now the boys who are in the Cycling MB, are torn between the two outings. He will not reschedule, again stating that his possition is the most powerful, and he doesn't have to. His premise seems to be that there are not enough outings for the boys and that the boys, like his son, are being left out because they elected not to be in the Cycling MB with the others (it was open to all). We have at least one outing per month in our unit with some months having two scheduled outings. My question for you all. I have not been able to find exact wording regarding the Committee Chair's responsibilities to a Troop, or the "power" to be had in that possition. Do any of you have a resource showing this information? My position is that there should be no power to be had at all in Scouting. We are servants, making ourselves available to the Scouts so they can have a functioning Unit. ASM59

Our Troop had a major changing of the guard this past December/January. Our Scoutmaster and about two-thirds of the committee left (including Committee Chair and Treasurer). There were no real problems; the SM just felt it was time to move on and the committee that has worked with him just followed. Up till that time, our Scoutmaster ran the whole show; from planning the meetings to deciding where we would go on trips. His wife was Treasurer on the Committee and all money issues were handled between the two of them and our Committee Chair who always 'green-lighted' the SM's wishes. Those of us who are left have a problem. We have never been part of a properly functioning Troop. Most of us have very little experience in Scouting. I am the one that everyone looks to for answers as I have been an ASM for over 3 years now. They don't understand that all I did was work with the boys to help with advancements and went on outings that were all planned by the SM. I have no real program experience. Currently, we have 21 active boys with a new SM and 3 ASM's. All leaders have been through all of the training, but something about putting it into action is lacking. All of the training video's seem to be to "perfect", like "Leave it to Beaver" or "Father Knows Best". They seem somewhat unrealistic especially in light of the fact that the Troop never ran as a 'boy-lead' unit. We are really having a hard time transitioning into a real "boy lead" Troop. Are there additional resources available to us to help make this transition? I can't see making this happen over-night, but to date it seems that we haven't made any advances toward the goal. We need help. Do you all know of any?

Some of the most memorable campouts have had bad weather associated with them. We've endured many a campout with rain (from a non-stop drizzle to absolute downpours with tornado warnings) and had our share of colder than expected winter campouts. These are the campouts that the boys remember and continue to talk about... One such campout was in a state park in early May. The assigned campsite was in a low lying area surrounded on all sides by higher ground. Just after arrival, it began to rain. All of our gear was wet, the tents were wet inside and it continued to rain all night. This whole area became a swimming pool by morning. Most if not all of the boys clothing was soaked, with nothing dry to change into (they didn't follow our suggestion to pack their clean clothing in ziplocks). At about Noon, as the rain continued, the temperature began to plummet, boys were turning blue, and a decision had to be made to break camp early. We packed all of our soaked gear over the complaints of the nearly hypothermic boys. Among the older boys this is a favorite story to tell the younger Scouts; especially when making the point of packing clean clothes in ziplock bags. ASM59

Touch, FOG! I was waiting for someone to mention this. Mothers usually take care of most of the discipline in the home and also help their children with homework and providing meals (motherly type things). These tendencies can carry over to an outing such as a campout for some mothers. Our Troop has several Mothers who do will not register as ASM or go on campouts because they know that they will do exactly as you pointed out. These wise women know that they would disrupt a campout by being overly worried about relatively minor things. They would tend to jump in and do things for the boys that they need to learn to do for themselves. This having been said, we have another woman (currently on the committee) that can be great on a campout. She can look the other way, bite her tongue, and let a campout go on as normal. She will participate and have fun interacting with the boys, always letting the ASMs deal with any discipline (especially as might relate to her son). I've seen male ASM's that can be just as bad (or worse) as you describe the women from your unit, so this is not a rule without exception. The conclusion; I dont think you can just lump all women in a general category, but I think that most need a break from their kids and the discipline that goes with the territory. ASM59

Good thoughts BW & FOG. I do intend to take a path along a river (about 12 miles) for one of the rides. Lots of character and history that we can discuss and not just flat, lots of ups and downs on hills that can be challenging. Another of the rides will take us through a conservation area on roads. Again, there are places to stop off where we can discuss some history, conservation, and wildlife. I like your thoughts about how interesting it can be taking roads and about making the experience meaningful and interesting. You are speaking my language and that is exactly what I want to do. ASM59

Yes, I am YPT'ed And yes, I think this will be a lot of fun! Actually, half the fun is watching the faces of the other adults in our unit when I tell them that I need someone to ride 50 miles with us. As of now, I have volunteers to ride on the shorter treks, and they are considering setting up meeting places along our routes on the other treks to trade off riders (they don't think they can make a 25 or 50 mile ride). Thanks for the info. . . ASM 59

I am preparing to start instruction for the Cycling M.B. I have a couple of questions and I'd like to get some feedback. The "Boy Scout Requirements 2004" handbook states in requirement 8 & 9 under Cycling: 8. Avoiding main highways, take two rides of 10 miles each, two rides of 15 miles each, and two rides of 25 miles each. You must make a report of the rides taken. List dates, routes traveled, and interesting things seen. 9. After fulfilling requirement 8, lay out on a road map a 50 mile trip. Stay away from main highways. Using your map, make this ride in eight hours. I have looked at several sites on the WWW and some seem to indicate that the Cycling MB is intended as an on-road only experience. For some (most) of my rides, I plan to use biking trails. These trails are well marked and either paved or chip graveled. They actually show up in my atlas of Illinois, so we can map our route(s). I was wondering if any of the rides in requirement 8 could be done on the same day, maybe with a couple hour break? There is nothing to indicate that it cannot be done this way, so I am thinking about doing this with a couple of the shorter distances. Requirement 8 only says to avoid main highways. So I feel confident that we can use the bike trails for these rides. Requirement 9 states this too as well as that the route must be laid out on a road map. Would this indicate that the 50 mile ride must be on roads? Or since I have a road map that maps the trails, can we use the trails for part or all of the ride? Any thoughts? ASM59

NJ: I suppose if you assume that homosexuality is immoral, then the "policy" makes sense -- at least within a unit that shares that opinion. this nation is divided over the issue of homosexuality. I don't think the BSA should impose a national solution on its members when there is no consensus either way, either inside or outside the organization. Based on the text at the link NJ posted; http://www.scouting.org/media/press/020206/index.html The BSA reaffirmed its view that an avowed homosexual cannot serve as a role model for the traditional moral values espoused in the Scout Oath and Law and that these values cannot be subject to local option choices. It is clear that the BSA (national) does consider homosexuality immoral behavior. As such, it must take the stand it has. NJ, you are correct that our nation is divided over the issue. In fact, a good many of our nations religious institutions are divided. I understand that these other organizations are compromising their long held positions because (at least in part) it is politically correct to do so. However, to compromise a position (when you believe that compromise is wrong), is weakness and there is no honor in that compromise. Most (if not all) of these religious institutions have long held that homosexuality is wrong (immoral), as does the BSA; therefore the term traditional moral values. Most religious organizations (denominations) are sticking to what they believe to be the truth, as is the BSA. People (organizations) of integrity will stand by their convictions in the face of political correctness. This is a difficult issue; one that will not be solved quickly or easily. We should be able to discuss our disagreements openly and honestly without anger. My point earlier, was not necessarily to tell you to leave the BSA, but to point out the double standard that exists in society today; those of us with certain convictions are not free to form a new organization without being continually told we need to change our convictions. You see, NJ, while you are quick to point out that freedom is for everyone (including you); there are increasing incidents in our society that make some of us feel that our freedoms are being slowly eroded away.

BW - No one HAS to belong to scouting. If you share scoutings values then you GET to be a member. NJ - That assumes that the people currently making the rules are correct as to what "Scouting's values" are, and in this one case, I don't think that's true. With all due respect, and as has already been posted, the BSA is a private organization. I agree with the position taken on these issues by the BSA, therefore I feel comfortable in the organization as a leader. You (NJ & pdunbar) are free to leave and form a new private scouting organization whose membership guidelines include the admittance of gay leaders and scouts (good luck recruiting boys). If you and others are successful in changing the position of the BSA on matters such as this, I would be forced to consider resigning my membership (principle, honor, integrity). If I did so and formed a new scouting organization based on the old BSA guidelines, the new organization would only come under renewed attack from the like of you. See a double standard here?

Here are a couple of ways that we keep the meaning(s) fresh in the minds of our Scouts: 1) During Scoutmaster Conferences I (and other of our Scoutmasters) will ask a question like, "What part of the Scout Law have you found hard to live lately?" or "What part of the Scout Law is most important to you?" This opens us up to discuss parts of the Scout law as we respond to his answer. We are not asking him to give us the Scout Law or to define anything, but it makes him think and gives us the opportunity to comment and perhaps even tell him what part of the Law is most important to us. 2) We take Webelos on an outing every November. Our theme for the weekend outing is The Scout Law, Oath, and Motto. We use time before meals and after meals to discuss the various parts and meanings. Using our Boy Scouts as much as possible during the discussion helps to keep all of the meanings fresh in their minds. Hope this helps, Doug, ASM59

I have a question for you all. We are conducting a Court of Honor for one of our boys who has earned his Eagle rank. For several of the ASM's of our troop (including myself) this is the first Eagle Court of Honor that we've attended. We were wondering: Is it customary to get a gift for the new Eagle Scout? If so, what sort of gift would be appropriate? Thanks, Doug - ASM T.59