lesliec

Unc... I appreciated your post....This is what I intend on doing......The SM just "automatically" put him into the position because of his age......My problem, our problem, is we're not trained and I didn't know how to handle it through BSA rules.....I just want him to understand how accountable he can be held for his actions as an adult leader...... Some of the posts almost were condensending...But, it was one of those situations if the SM and, I was basically thrown into a leadership role also, wouldn't have stepped-up then the troop, with a 60 yr history, would've folded..... I know, and FULLY ADMIT, we (I) need to be trained. But, training down in this area is few and far between. We have a hard time even maintaining a round table. My wife started Cub Scouts here and was able to hold it together. We now have 1 Weblos group, and Tigers up....... Our Council rep resigned and the Assistant Director is aware we need training. As I said, I have two other troop leaders that help us also over the phone and/or we visit with them. I enjoy being with the boys. I've also just had spinal fusion so I'm limited as to what I can do for a short time.... Again Unc, I appreciate your advice... John In KC I realize I need the items you listed below but as I explained above training is sparse down here at this time....I've taken the Fast Start Training online and will look for the other items and/or call the Scout Store to see if they have them in stock. Youth protection training. - Boy Scout Fast Start Training. - New Leader Essentials Common Core - New Leader Essentials Scoutmaster Specific. - New Leader Essentials Outdoor Skills (If that's not the tech name, please update me!). - Merit Badge Counselor orientation. I'll also as them about the Youth Protection Program. To show you how disorganized this is, I've been trying to make the SM understand the boys should be getting trained to lead the meeting instead of us leading the meeting. When I bought my Troop Leader's book, I found I wasn't mistaken. They were shocked to find this information. I tried explaining THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS FOR LEADERSHIP for the advancement! Not just Pledge, Oath, Promise, Prayer....We had no calendar of events or anything... Now, we're slowly but surely moving towards that direction. As I stated in an earlier post, everyone starts out leading Boy Scouts not knowing what they're doing. It's just in most cases, they have someone to mentor them and teach them. We started out with a troop who's leader, of 15 yrs, was RIF'd from his job and had to relocate. His son "an Eagle Scout" took over the troop and then quit coming and then abandoned the troop....Soooo then the existing troop leader took over as of 1/1 and somehow, and I'm not complaining, I was put in as ASM.... So, as everyone can see, we have alot to overcome and learn!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for everyone's input and I'm open to any other suggestions!!!!!!! God Bless Leslie

The problem is really multifacited.... #1. The SM or myself have been trained as of yet. We took over the troop to keep it from dying. There is SM training mid-month in May we will be attending. So, since January, we've been learning quickly and asking scout masters in the area for guidance. #2. This young man, who is a good kid at heart sometimes gets unruly......He needs to understand that the rough-housing that wasn't as bad before he turned 18 could now be a felony if he injured one of the younger scouts....(injury to a child) #3. The other night there was a drill on fire building. They were supposed to be working with the Tenderfoot scouts and build the fire with flint & steel. They were doing the speed drill on who could burn the string in two fastest. This fire should've been no bigger than 8" in diameter!!!! We had set them up the caliche parking lot about 20' from the end where they had plenty of fire protection around. There was a strong breeze blowing so I wanted to make sure they were well inside the parking lot. This young man ended up with coleman fuel and was going to pour it on the fire....One of the parents saw this and stopped him. He then went to a small brush pile and retrieved a dry palm leaf and drug it over to the fire and started putting it into the fire. The same adult leader ordered him to stop. At that time, there were two of the younger scouts headed to the brush pile to also get palm leaves. Finally the adult stopped all this. There were four of us doing board of review and we didn't know anything about it until I was on my way home from the meeting. The SM was there last night and we were going to have an adult leader meeting. This young man didn't show up for last nights meeting. However, we told the younger scouts ANYTHING violating safety would not be tolerated. We sited the incident from the week before and pointed safety violations in regards to the fire. We also pointed out that the older scouts WERE THE EXAMPLE of what a scout should be and that the pressure was on them to train the younger scouts. I look forward to the training and to sometime be at the level as it looks most of you guys on this website are. All of us started at the bottom somewhere and we learned from our mistakes. I was reading some of the other postings and most especially the on from "You seem to not have any written rules" on the right hand side. I can see both sides of the argument being a beginning leader. Only thing I have in my favor is that I've raised two other boys and much of it is like parenting. I've learned through just reading, our boys and their "leadership role" at this time is a joke. I'm working to try to get our SPL to assume his real leadership role within the troop..... I thank you guys for your suggestions. Like I said I know what we have to do to straighten this young man our and/or forbid him from being at our meetings but I wanted some BSA rules/regulations I could cite to show him. This fire situation could've turned bad real fast. Maybe I'm over reacting to this situation but I don't think I am in any form or fashion.... Thanks..... LC

He is 18 years old. He turned 18 in August. I was talking to the SM's wife about the situation and her reply was, "oh well, we just have to put up with him until he leaves for college". My reply was, I will NOT tolerate anything jeopardizing safety and or insubordination to an older adult from anyone. We have a new SPL and he's just learning his roles/repsonsibilities just like the rest of us. But, there's not anything that I can pull from the Internet to have in black/white for tonight? LC

I have a question that I can't find the answer to in writing except. I have young man who just earned his eagle. He's been with the troop since he was a scout. He knows all the boys very well but we're having a meeting tonight to clip his wings a little bit. He obviously doesn't understand the ramifications of him being classified as an adult now instead of "just another scout". Unfortunately, I'm new to this and haven't been trained as of yet. I was wanting to know if someone could email me something I could use to have in writing to make a point with this young man. I've already had an officer (and it's NOT REAL BAD!!!) photocopy the penal code. I just want him to understand that even in "play", he could be in loads of trouble.....It's one of those things you just want to nip in the bud. I was looking for some policies/procedures and came across this website... Thanks......