NIscouter

I took the advice on this thread and called the CM. He indicated that another troop was "running" the cross over. He indicated we could let the other troop do all of the cerimony if we wanted, but in my mind that would not reflct well on our troop. I am in the process of obtaining the things we present to the webelos, which is very similar to the items Anarchist noted, for this event. The event is 2 hours after our return from an overnight Polar Bear campout (it's expected to drop near 10 F) and Klondike Derby, so I have to be ready before tomorrow. Thanks to all who responded!

I have been selected (with my son) to represent our troop at a Blue Gold banquant and cross-over ceremony where a few of the WEBELOS have selected our troop to move into after CS. As I start to think about it, I am wondering what role I am expected to play in this ceremony, if any, as the pack is "associated" by number and sponsorship with another troop. Any help/ideas? The B/G is 2/19.

Cubrgr8 - my comment on the training was meant to convey the idea that you need to learn to crawl before you run. I am doing this myself - getting the MC training and outdoor training, getting ready to take the Wood Badge course this spring, and then see what training I need to fill the needs of the troop and my large knowledge and experience gaps. I think you need to look for allies in your committee - it is no fun to be a lone wolf. Proud Eagle was dead on with the live, eat and breathe scouting - this will give you the depth of knoweldge to overcome the naysayers. I hope PE will post one more time - his posts are at 666 - not a number to sit on too long!

Our troop had a pull up type rope swing (don't know the proper name for it) set up at scout camp a few years ago (before I was active). A boy was pulled up and dropped to the ground (I guess a few of the boys thought this was a "fun" thing to do to him), and he broke his upper thigh bone. It was deduced that one of the factors in this was the lack of adults at the campsite. We now make sure a duty roster for daily campsite supervision is set for the adults (and no more rope swings).

You note your son likes this troop. I would try to isolate him from this to prevent your feelings from clouding his opinion. This situation appears to have a large amount of inertia and peoples' time invested into it, and it will take a similar amount of effort and diplomacy to reverse it (as noted by Trevroum). You might want to look first to the new adults to help you on this as they will be the most open to change. I would start with small stuff (like patrol meetings during the troop meetings)to get the boys into the swing of the patrol method and work into boy planned meetings last of all. The adults need to be trained on this as much as the boys - what about JLT as a vehicle to move this forward? You also mentioned that you are taking SM training? The SM may see this (and you) as a "threat" to his leadership. Why not start with the MC training?

We just have had one of our problem boys, recently on the edge of being asked to leave the troop by the committee, elected as a patrol leader. This boy has taken up the mantle of responsibility for a PL to be a good example of all aspects of scouting - including wearing the uniform with pride unlike in the past. He is now starting to understand that the patrol should be the basic frame of reference to interpete and understand Boy Scouts. I feel the positives derived from wearing the uniform far outweighs the negatives and gives all involved the sense of uniqueness not availible elsewhere. A side (bottom?)comment - The "campfire leveling effect" noted by FB is dead on and thankfully lives in my troop. We are all equal sitting around the campfire!

If you have the time and a good sunny window, you can grow about any veggie or flower for planting in the summer. I like to start about any long season veggie, but flowers such as marigolds are great. Of course, make sure that you use high grade potting soil to avoid "damping off". Jiffy pots are great for seed starting and are thier own "pots". Good luck!

Thaks for the comments - they support what I have been saying and give me some new issues to raise.

I spun this off the Adult uniforming question as our adults are having a running conversation in our Troop Committee meetings on the impact of wearing the full uniform (or any at all) on retaining/getting boys. Some of the MCs feel it is too much like the military, and others feel that a significant precentage of boys are turned off by wearing a uniform and leave scouting or don't join because of it. I myself don't agree with this, but I feel there is some merit. What do you out there think? Am I just setting myself up here?

In our troop, we feel that all adults leaders (SM, ASM, or CM) should wear the same level of uniform we expect the boys to wear. We see this as part of being "leaders" - we cannot ask the boys to wear the uniform if we don't. In my troop, most adults don't want to wear more than the shirt, so that is all we ask of the boy except for during COH or other public events.

Our trrop has a patrol that wanted to be called the "Sharp Objects". At first we were against it, but decided if they could come up with an appropriate patrol yell and flag, we would go with it. They decided to change to the "Quadrilaterals", and thier yell was "Boxes, Squares, no one cares". You can guess on the flag.

It is "warm" today - 32 degrees but we expect cold and snow in time for the district Klondike Derby on the 18th. A good time to get the Polar Bear patch.

I am a MC in an established troop in Northern Indiana. I was a scout in the early 70's and now involved again with my oldest son. I have been a part of the forum for a week or so but have not posted - a lurker, I guess. I have been impressed with the debate and discussion that goes on here and hope to add to it, now that the # of posts near my name will not be 1.