Gone

Gotta say I'm with @@JoeBob. I think the death of BSA as we know it will take longer than two years, but I think we've seen the fatal blow. I think those who remember "the old days of scouting" will leave as soon as their scout is out or when the next "change" comes. They won't be back filled with some unseen ground swell of volunteers and the program will begin to severely erode.

Remember the history following "The Great War"? There was this feeling or euphoria and the youth from that generation was considered "useless". It took the depression and WWII to galvanize the generation. Let's hope we won't need a war or massive economic collapse to forge this new generation.

I BlEv d BSA hz included txt lingo n 2 d merit badge requirements. Translate here.

It was the FFC chairman under Reagan. But let's not find the political scapegoat. Leaving cable media out of the debate since they would not fall under the Fairness Doctrine, broadcast journalism could, if they wanted to, conform to the spirit of the Fairness Doctrine and perform actual journalism, presenting both sides of an issue. Let's face it, to play the ratings (read: money) game, even broadcast journalists have given up and sold out. That's no one's fault but their own.

Ask if Super Soakers are allowed.

As Stosh points out, the SM is the face of the troop. The CC is the chairman of the board. If someone comes to the SM with a CC issue, he kindly informs them of his role versus the CC. They either understand or they don't. They may think him weak, but those in the know realize the difference. This is why at the new parent mtg we ALWAYS define what goes to the CC and what goes to the SM. That way they realize the difference and respect the two roles. Our unit lead always says, "I serve at the pleasure of the unit committed and our charter organization." 'Nuff said.

Yet just about every kid under 13 can conjugate the entire Pokemon Pokedex...yet don't know who the Vice President is. Pokédex (n.) (Japanese: ãƒã‚±ãƒ¢ãƒ³å›³é‘‘) An illustrated Pokémon digital encyclopedia created by Professor Oak as an invaluable tool to Trainers in the Pokémon world.

@@Cambridgeskip, be thankful. Had you given the same test in the US you'd have gotten a much worse return. "Baden-Powellwas in the army?" "Isn't Mafeking Simba's father?" "Isn't scouting for boys against the law?" The US educational system leaves much to be desired.

Let's be careful here. All Aspergers kids are no more than same than any other kids are the same. Some will have issues while others will not. Let's not go down the path of generalization. I have a kid like this. I have taken oodles of special training and use it in our unit. I've been to the doctors, therapists and various other groups. There are general ways to deal with these kids to reach them, but in many instances these are the same tools we use to reach ANY kid that is having issues. These kids, if their parents seek it out, receive a great deal of training and therapy to deal with impulsive behaviour. In many cases they cannot simply turn it on and off. Some learn how to cope and control it while others don't. Much depends on where they call on the spectrum. I just want to guard against folks erroneously thinking that this condition is something that is willfully controlled. It can be but it takes a great deal of time to develop those skills...and some may never learn how.

Scenario #1: Scout keeps rank, camp out and service info in his handbook. Your advancement chair enters ranks and MBs in to ScoutNet. Scout loses handbook. Is he OA eligible? How many nights camping does he have? How does the scout rebuild his camping record? You Way: Scout sits down for a rather lengthy session to rebuild his entire book including rank, camping and service log. My Way: Scout requests a copy of his TroopMaster report which has all of his camping, service projects, MBs, rank dates, OA status, special awards, etc. Looks like it serves a purpose to me. You may not like it, but it is faster, easier and avoids less problems for the scout. If you have Excel files you have a secondary system...just like TroopMaster. You just admit to having "extra infrastructure"....it is just Excel and not TroopMaster. We also make the scout responsible for backing up and reporting his scout work. We have a back-up system in case ScoutNet goes down or the scout loses his handbook and does not have a back up. The information has to get in to ScoutNet anyway. Rather than "fat fingering" all that data directly in to ScoutNet we have it in our DB where we can punch a button, get a report and upload to ScoutNet. I've done it your way before. This method we find faster, more efficient and give an added layer of protection in case data gets lost.

In our unit we have a very detailed role description for each job, whether on the committee or as an ASM (e.g., ASM in charge of service projects, patrol advisor, etc.). In addition to these role descriptions we have calendars, job lists, process lists, timelines, contact lists, history files, etc. which our leaders can use to execute their job. They wait for the PLC to develop the schedule and then they use these tools to implement. We don't rely on council or the district to train our people. The unit hand book and these position documents are the basic training. We have incoming leaders shadow out-going leaders. They learn on the job, then take over. Took a while to put this in place but it works well for us.

@@Stosh, we are note 100% sure. The doc with us narrowed it down to salmonellosis, cyclosporiasis, or giardiasis. We were in the back country for two weeks, plus a few days prior for acclimation. It was possible given a one week incubation period of any of these. Since we had it on the trail by the time we got back to civilization we had tests done but nothing conclusive. It was clear someone did not follow boiling guidelines at altitude.

Hmmmm...not sure I agree @@fred johnson. Our unit uses one of those "big databases". It is the only way to keep track of all the things in play. The boys are responsible for reporting their status. The boys are responsible for keeping their book and MB cards up to date. The boys are responsible for checking their "report" to make sure their book matches what is on the report. If not, then the boy is responsible for arranging an SMC to discuss the discrepancies. If done correctly, the scout's book should match the database which is what gets reported in to ScoutNet. Not everything gets in to ScoutNet. Camping, service projects, training, OA, special awards, etc., all are not reported in to ScoutNet. There's limited room to record all the camping, service projects and other "notes" in a handbook. In our unit the scout keeps his book and a record of his book. That gets reported into out DB which goes to ScoutNet. This way the unit DB has back ups of the scouts ENTIRE career, not just what the handbook or ScoutNet records.

If you don't boil the water long enough, there's how it happens. We trained the crew on these guidelines...someone just cut corners. Same thing happens all the time in patrol KP.

We advise all out kids to take photos of the rank pages frequently. If the book gets lost they have that as backup...unless they lose their phone and don't sync to the cloud often. Our last SPL held a session on cloud-syncing. Got nearly every kid (and some adults) set up.

We have a unit handbook. It condenses all the BSA things we need the scouts and parents to know in to one book. We edit it to keep it short. We add troop operations in there too. We had a mom who was a professional editor review and further condense. We update annually or as needed. Really helps avoid Easter egg hunting the net for the same stuff.

I was responding to the SM role question. The unit committee docs I have seen from BSA are less clear and in less detail. I suspect that's why there's so much grey area.

@@CalicoPenn a mere "dipping" in boiling water will not "kill all those germs" washing hasn't. Some viruses and bacteria must be boiled a certain length of time to kill them, so mere dipping will not suffice. I've been on back country treks where giardia was present in the rinse water. It was boiled but not long enough. The whole crew was down two days with the runs and fever. If you insist on not sanitizing you run high risks. If boiling is your sanitizing step then soaking in water boiled for a length of time is the proper process....not dipping.

@@Stosh, @@Eagledad I suspect you both mean the same thing to a degree. Correct me if I am wrong, but sounds like Stosh agrees that parents need to step up and help, so yes, it does begin at home. I think what Stosh is advocating is that more parents don't step up because of the lack of training from district or council. Were better training and transition in place for units you'd see less issue with people stepping up. Of course that assumes there's no apathy among the parents with regard to parenting and being role models; a completely different issue, and one which I think is the real basis of the lack of volunteerism. I think you both have valid points. I think you are coming at the same problem from two different ends. Of course, I may be totally off base.

Depends on which of the many docs you read. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/18-981.pdf http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/ILST%20finals%202011%20-%20Item%20Number%20511-016.pdf http://scoutmastercg.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/troop_committee_guidebook.pdf https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxgyGhfwmpSpOG1YeXFveHlFWWs/edit?pli=1

If the pre-clean, wash and rinse are done properly, the sanitizing water should be the cleanest. If not, then the preceding steps are not being done correctly.

In my unit the SM manages the program. Responsible for training, advancement, outdoor program and applying BSA policy. Reports to committee. The CC manages the committee and the operations and finances. Reports to COR. Simplified but that's it.

I have recently seen two pack fold simply because of parent apathy. The CMs announced their departure (more than a year out), put together a transition plan, documented the role and calendar, completed all open issues, etc. During the last 6-9 months out they had several meetings encouraging parents to step up. Five months out they had a "come to Jesus" meeting where they told the parents if no one steps up the pack will fold. The had that same meeting three more times. Two months out they told parents they needed a replacement within two weeks or the pack would fold. No one stepped up. District and even council got involved, albeit late. They were invited when the CMs announced they were stepping down but I guess the DE had more important things to do. The packs folded. Now the DE has to build two new packs AND 4 other new ones to meet his membership target.

I'm not sure I'd go that far. It sounds like the CC, and perhaps other leaders, take attendance at ECOH's and Eagle projects seriously. There may be a troop culture or tradition that these leaders attend, or even officiate, at the ECOHs. You may not like that, your unit may do it differently, but this may be the case in that unit. If there is an expectation that these leaders be present, I can fully understand the CC and other leaders' reluctance to schedule things so close together, or to cannibalize any event. Sounds like there needs to be better coordination among the scouts to make sure conflicts don't exist in that troop. In our unit you schedule well in advance with the Scribe or it does not get on the calendar.

Most middle/high school kids I know get up at 6am (or earlier), are at school by 6:30-7am for band or sports or such, after that are at school for "tutorials" before school starts, then school from 8:30-4pm, then the after school tutorials or sports or band, then off to non-school teams or other activities until 8-9pm. THEN they are studying until 11pm. Not sure what your kids are doing, but nearly all the kids I know in my city and region have schedules like this starting in 6th grade.