Gone

Thanks. My reply to council would be, we will use what works for us thank you. We will use what makes sense for our unit. Just looking at SB's website leaves me scratching my head. The layout is very 1998. Not promising. Took a while to find their pricing info.

The TM web platform overcomes many data sharing issues. You can assign numerous access roles for your adult leaders. Makes checking and confirming things like attendance, sign offs, etc., much easier and does not require the client software. Replicates with the master DB via a merge performed by the DBA...essentially a few clicks and you are done. SOAR is pretty simple but very robust. When used in concert with TM it GREATLY alleviates a great many communication and information sharing processes we used to do manually. The PLs can send out emails and announcements to their patrols, target communications and events the same way. Troop roster, patrol roster, scout advancement status is all online. We update weekly so that scouts can take charge and manage their own scout careers. Combined with other media we are able to direct scouts and parents to the website to get all the information they need. Our standard answer to most questions is, "Have you checked the website?" Simple is good...and works.

To answer your questions: 1) Any Scoutmaster or MBC worth their salt would take the print out of his partials as proof for a new blue card. If not, find someone who will. 2) Your district or council should have a list of counsellors. 3) See #2 to get a counselor 4) Do NOT start over. He may have to review completed requirements with he new MBC but do not start over. 5) Most troops I know of give the scouts the blue card. It is called Boy Scouts for a reason, the onus should be on the boy...always. .

Proxy servers are honest, DRM Nazis that are dishonest. Side Note: If I bought Back in Black in 1982 did I buy worldwide rights to it in all media, thus I don't have to repurchase it online?

Who has asked you to use it? Council? How does a unit using it help council? I'm curious as I have not heard anything from my council on this and they are very tech friendly. Thanks!

@@Stosh, yes it has morphed. Now a days mom will encourage the boy to climb higher and mom will still ask him not to. Or is that dad and dad? I get confused. Maybe it's just mom or dad because only one is in the picture.

That's what proxy servers are for.

Like it or not, we "judge" people all the time...especially other scouters. We judge them if they are good at this or that. We judge if they lead well or not. We judge them seven ways to Friday. The only thing being said here is -- and let's be clear about this -- being obese has nothing to do with how good a leader you are. But being obese does not set a good example for the scouts. With the obesity rate at a five year high, having adults in the Scouting program who are obese does not send a good message to the boys. You can be a good leader and be obese. But you could be a GREAT leader if you were also a good example to the scouts in showing that diet choices and exercise are something you are willing to do, not merely talk about.

You miss the point. Let me be clearer. The analogy was about demonstration of leadership and application of the Oath and Law. Just as you would not want a sub-par person teaching rifle and shotgun, so too would you not want a GROSSLY overweight leader lecturing scouts about keeping one's self physically strong or discussing how important it is to adhere to the food pyramid or stop eating sugary snacks, etc. Sorry, besides being hypocritical, it shows they expect the scouts to "do as they say, not as they do". Leadership is supposed to be by example. We tell that to the scouts that all the time. How can you be a good example when you can't see your toes? Like I said, I *get* the struggle as we get older. I get that certain conditions cause us to gain weight. But IF adults really want to lead by example they could.

@@StillLoomans, technically they are not adding to the requirements to obtain the Lifesaving MB in that they are not saying you have to earn the Swimming MB as part of the curriculum for Lifesaving. Rather, they are saying at their camp you must take and earn Swimming before you can take the Lifesaving MB. There's a discrete difference. It would be as Philmont required you to have hiking or backpacking before going on a trek. The camp is making this a pre-requisite to the activity and not part of the badge. Still, in the end only the camp and/or council advancement committee can really answer your question as to why this was done. I also think that only national can answer the question as to whether it is additive to the actual Lifesaving requirements or not. People here will offer good opinions, but only national can answer your ultimate question.

Answers in blue.

Yup that was late July. We had a few folks who did not follow directions (lay off booze caffeine prior to the trip, get full stress test done, etc.) and they got taken off the trail too. We take the high adventure seriously, so we ask adults to get fully checked out. 80 miles in back country is not a place to find out someone is not up to snuff. Our training ahead of time culled out some guys from the more intense trek and re-routed them to the lesser trek.

Anyone notice the squirt gun?

I think we discussed this in the weather thread. I'd be VERY concerned as a parent in that troop that the adults did not have a weather radio on and were taken by surprise by this storm. You could see this thing coming for HOURS and the SPC had that supercell tornado-warned when it developed back in Texas. Somebody flunked basic weather training on this one. Very concerning. Also, BSA does themselves no favors pointing this out on their own news service as they did.

Don't think it matters what we say. The camp has this as a pre-requisite most likely for safety reasons. I have seen camps say no one without rifle/shotgun MB can go to the range. I think your inclination is correct: Call the camp and talk to the director. In the end they are the ones who will make the decision. IMHO, I think it is silly NOT to have Swimming MB be a pre-requisite for Lifesaving MB.

Would you want a sub-par rifle instructor demonstrating poor firearms protocol teaching your scout? Would you want a climbing instructor who had no clue on how to climb or tie knots belaying your scout? I get that physical fitness can be influenced by many things (age, health conditions, etc.). No one is saying these folks need to be fit and trim either. But let's face it, we all know adults in the program who are VERY over-weight. Even if you have a health condition that has you putting on weight (I have such a condition), you CAN still maintain a reasonable height/weight/BMI ratio and set an example for the boys. It may mean giving up Sonic or Micky-D's but you CAN do it. Setting an example should be in everything we do, not just what comes easy. I agree and have had similar experiences. Was your council leader there in 2013? The week we were there two adults passed away. One from a heart attack, the other had a heart issue and, during his decent he tripped and hit is head on a rock. Both died at the scene. Was a tough week for Scouting.

Spend the time/money with your little one. They grow up too fast.

That's bada$$.

There's somethiby national could do with the money spent on STEM.

@@JoeBob, was at summer camp back in 2011. A troop from my council was in the camp site behind us. Unruly troop, lazy adults, smoking in their tents...you get the picture. Of the 6 adults there (all in uniform) not one was below 230 lbs, and not one over 5' 9" tall. One night I was sitting in my tent -- their campsite and adult tents backed up to ours...5 feet away -- and I could hear the adults talking. Their topic? Going to Philmont the following year!!! How in God's name were they going to make it to ANYTHING at Philmont. The year we were at Philmont last there were two adults who died...both from heart attacks.

Our SM does the same thing. He does not do his kid's SMCs, has two other ASMs do it. Does not sign off on requirements (that's done by Instructors). Heck, I think he's HARDER on his kid than any other. No one can accuse him of favoring his son; mostly because nearly all decisions are made by PLs and SPL...that takes the adults our of any favoritism. All elections are done by the troop. Appointments are done by the SPL. If the SM's son gets anything it is on his own merits. Same with any of the other adult leaders' kids.

BSA and Iranian police have something in common. Who'd have thunk it?

It is built in to their program for visiting US units. But that's a big selling point for our crew.

So what's the point in having them? I wonder how prevalent this pattern is? I recently ran into our former SMs and our current SM for beers. No one can remember a UC visiting us more than 2-3 times during their tenure. The last three SMs (going back 14 years) cannot recall EVER having a UC visit us.