perdidochas

Calooh, My observation is that most "extreme" helicopter parents with advancement issues are homeschooling parents. My pack had den chief brothers who were in that boat. They started in one troop, then they became "Lone Scouts" and Eagled in another troop. Their mother was the MBC for most of their merit badges.

Ghermanno, Personally, I wish they would put all of the basic Boy Scout leadership training online. I took IOLS about two years ago, and it was the biggest waste of time for me. I know the basics. I learned nothing new. I'm a committee member, so all of my training was online, but I decided to take the IOLS as a first step to possibly becoming an ASM in the future. I have been putting off the Boy Scout Leader training, because I really don't want to waste a day on it. I am planning to take a Wilderness First Aid class, because I'm sure I will learn something in it.

The Scout sign is what we always used. I would hold the Scout sign up until it was silent.

Sports is the big one. Not having fun/weak program and family issues are probably tied for second.

We are having the same problems as Brewmeister. We're trying to decide what to do in terms of patrol kitchens. Currently we use a hodgepodge of rolling tool boxes (about 60 qt cooler sized) and plastic storage containers (theoretically for food/paper towels, i.e. temporary stuff). We've just gotten the boys big stoves like the Camp Chef. We have work surfaces (camp kitchens), and plastic tables. We are debating patrol boxes, or just using what we have. The problem with what we have is that it's hard to put the pots/pans back into the tool boxes consistently, and the boys end up spreading the pots/pans around all available containers, especially the storage containers. Then the next campout nobody can find anything without looking through all of the boxes.

JM, The problem with the pocket rockets is recurring costs. Roughly speaking, fuel canisters for it cost $4-$5 apiece. I don't have experience with how long they last, but I can't imagine that you could do a campout with less than one per person. That's appropriate for backpacking, but for camporee and car camping, it's exorbitant. I've been with my troop for 2 1/2 yrs. We have about 6 20 lb propane canisters. and generally camp with three "patrols" (two Scout patrols, and the adults). We use the propane for cooking and for lanterns. We've just had to refill them once in my tenure, and that was recently.

Just repeating what has been told to me. I have a Romney-Ryan bumper sticker. I think the fears of vandalism for having it is unfounded, but I have heard it said.

I know a lot of Republicans who don't want to put bumper stickers on their car, because they are afraid of vandalism.

Shiver me timbers, matey. D'ya know why pirates don't play cards.... They stand on the deck.-

From the little I know, I agree with quazse--bouldering is probably more dangerous than full out climbing/rapelling (although I agree that free climbing if you mean climbing without ropes is much more dangerous). What also bothers me is that it sounds like there weren't any certified climbing instructors. As a member of troop leadership, I would be angry about the situation as gunny described it. Parents deserve to know the specifics and potential hazards.

When I was WDL, we had parents who addressed these issues on us. I managed to appease them by getting the pack committee to agree to buy Boy Scout Handbooks for the Web 2s that are crossing over. (that and the AOL plaques for those who got AOL). The parents then thought they were getting their money's worth out of the extra dues.

Sleeping in cabins isn't camping, but it's still a good way to get into and use the Outdoors.

Under the letter of the law (not the intent), the 10 separate patrol/troop activities could be 7 ten minute afternoon sessions, and 3 overnight (single night) campouts. If they go to Summer camp, one of those is knocked out, so that's only 2 more campouts. I can see how it could be done theoretically, but I think it would make for a boring program. It takes our boys about a year to get ten activities for First Class, and anywhere from a year to two years to get First Class. We do camp or do some other activity at least once a month.

Sbemis, So basically, you create clear labels that you put on the cards from the Scout Shop? Have you tried the templates that National has created for Awards cards (that are to be used with the full sheet awards cards sold by National)? I used those before I realized TM had the capability.

We are going to it because of the accounts management piece--we're getting a new treasurer. Troopmaster has worked well for advancement. I will miss the ability to print out awards cards, but I'll get over it.

TroopWebHost is a new product from a different company than Troopmaster. It is an internet based system, in which the data is stored on a server for $99 a year. It has many of Troopmaster's functions, as well as some financial functions, and the ability for parents, SMs, ASMs, Committee Members and Scouts to view their records. I haven't used it yet, but our troop is going to move to it from Troopmaster. It won't do the Awards/MB/Blue cards, but other than that it seems pretty thorough. http://www.troopwebhost.com/

Just got an email back from them. TroopWebHost does not have the capability to print Awards and Merit Badge cards, but they are looking into it. On that note, does anybody have an easy way to print Awards/Merit Badge cards outside of Troopmaster?

I'm talking about troop web host, not the web version of Troopmaster. I know I can print out advancement reports, etc., but I'm wondering about the ability to produce the Awards Cards (i.e. rank advancement cards) and Merit Badge Cards (not blue cards). Troopmaster does those. I can't find any indication that Troop Webhost does.

Our troop is about to go to Troop Web Host from Troopmaster. Anybody else do that? I just want to try to anticipate anything that might be troublesome in that conversion. I know I'm going to lose the ability to print out Awards Cards and Merit Badge cards. Any other loss of functionality?

The problem is time. It's hard to be involved in a Pack and a Troop at the same time. I did it for almost a year as WDL and Troop Advancement chair. I thought it stretched me too thin.

Well, IMHO, the SMs and ASMs didn't drop the ball (unless they didn't have three non SM/ASM Committee members for the BOR), the Scout did. In our troop, the Scout is required to talk to the AC (or soon, the Troop Scribe) about recording advancement. If he doesn't do it, the Advancement is never recorded, the Council is never notified, and the Scout doesn't receive recognition for it. I will admit as AC, I often prompt Scouts about advancement recording, but it's the Scout's responsibility.

While theoretically polygamy, not meaning polygyny, exists, practically speaking it does not. If you examine human cultures historically and anthropologically, only a handful of cultures have had polyandry. Many cultures have polygyny and/or monogamy. If you look at cultures with polyandry, for the most part, it is low status males (often brothers) sharing a wife. It just doesn't seem to be a natural concept for polyandry to exist. Why? Probably due to paternity problems. Few men want to raise (that is put resources into) the offspring of other men (and this is true of the animal world as well). In the case of brothers sharing a wife, that problem is lessened, as any offspring of their common wife would be genetically related to both brothers.

Seattle, I agree wholeheartedly with your post. Wish that I could explain the idea half as well as you did.

From my understanding, its no big deal. She can't be a registered leader, but other than that, she's more than welcome to go to meetings, etc.

Pack, As you've said, this is on the mild side for internet discussion forums. I've been at a few that were less contentious, but all in all, this one is pretty peaceful (as long as you stay away from the 3 Gs, then who knows) and respectful. For the small amount of active moderation, this place is a paragon of peacefulness. (most sites need a lot of moderation to be kept this civil). I wouldn't change a thing about the way this site is run (except possibly an update in software for security purposes).