ps56k

I was trying to do a Search, and keep getting bounced with a 500 error - Couldn't see any other good place or forum area to post a note for the webmaster, so here it is -

I'm not sure how you classify a couple hundred boy scouts with their jamboree IDs - http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1044.xml

just received this from our Jamboree SM - --- Traveling Issues, 1) All scouts will need a state ID or passport for identification to board the plane. 2) Scouts and parents signed the "code of ethics" when completing the Jamboree application. Any serious misconduct may result in expulsion, at the participant's expense, from the Jamboree. We want each participant to be responsible for his own behavior, and only when necessary will the procedure be invoked to send the participant home from the jamboree.

That's why the Crew was established. Yes, they have gone skiing, week cruise on a sailboat, BWCA, rafting, etc... and how again does this help the Troop with gaining an experienced SPL at meetings ? The Troop now has a Philmont trip this summer, and it will be interesting to see how the 8 scouts handle the trek... Star & Life Scouts having to re-learn their Tenderfoot scouting skills. For us, the SPL is just the senior "position of rotation" vs "position of responsibility".

bummer - typed & submitted a nice long reply - but it never got posted ??? --- dropping from roster - Our Troop had "scout dollars" from various fundraisers, and the account was used for renewal. However, some scouts had a negative balance! The treasurer moved to another state, and took forever to get the books entered. The CC thought all of this was ok, until a new CC came in, tossed the old treasurer and stopped the insanity. The roster was cleaned up. 16 - yeah - school, girls, cars, work, etc - It's tough to add Scouting to the mix. For the 14+ yr old scouts, a CREW was formed to entice them to stay with Scouting... About 20 Scouts were stripped from the Troop for the Crew, and now only 3 come to their meetings/outings anyway. Yup, the 3 families that wanted to go off and do other things beyond "helping" the Troop formed the Crew. So - the Troop is now just the 3rd and 4th year Webelos grouping of kids that don't quite fit. They may be a little ADHD, a little outta shape and rollie pollie, a little over-protected, a little too geeky, etc. It is great to have a Troop that accepts and builds these kids/Scouts, but it gets old being the Charity Troop that accepts whatever to "retain" the Scout. As far as 15-16 yr olds wanting to lead... maybe - but not if it involves going to a PLC meeting, and creating a meeting/camping plan, and then trying to actually accomplish something vs just poking the fire, fighting with sticks, or whatever. Being a boy-leader involves work, and these kids don't want any part of it - As far as our son, we'll see what happens after the summer, and if he will get his 2 remaining Eagle req MB's + Eagle Project. At some point, after being with the JLTC/NYLT and Jamboree crowd, you want to find other Scouting "peers" and not just be a Scouting baby sitter every year.

Just wanted to leave a note for other readers about the latest non-change in our Troop. It's been a tough battle for the past couple of years. I've tried to raise the bar, encourage Scouting activities, and build upon the boys leadership. But it's all in vain, because we have no Scouts in the Troop over the age of 14, yet have 20+ Life Scouts on the Troop Roster with ages from 14 up to 18. Once they hit High School, they are gone. So - we have Cub Scouts, then Boys Scouts for a maybe 4 years, and THEN GONE. WHY - Because once you have achieved First Class, why come to a meeting... what do you NEED at a meeting other than a POR. Merit Badges are handed out at MB clinics, and occansionally at Troop Meetings. And, once you get your Life rank and POR for 6 months at about age 14, you have the next FOUR YEARS to try and make Eagle without ever coming to another meeting, campout, or Troop activity. So, no one over 14 wants to become SPL... Why should they - hey, it involves more work, and another meeting (PLC) every month. Our latest "election" installed a 7th grader as SPL with 6th graders as ASPLs. We are not a TROOP, we are merely the 3rd and 4th year WEBELOS... and have to redo everything every 4 years as the boys/scouts move thru the assembly line and then out into the GHOST PATROL to reappear years later wanting an Eagle BOR. What about our son/Scout - yeah, he is Life, 14, and will be hitting High School in the fall (he has a late birthday), but he also was ASPL, SPL, now QM, and was elected into the OA, (1 of 6 voted, he was the only one to go to Ordeal) and he is on staff for JLTC/NYLT (1st in the troop to go at all) and also going to Jamboree... Does Scouting conflict ? Sure, with his Track (runs hurdles & sprints) and also his Swim Team (went to State Championships). But he makes every meeting, and most campouts, and still has great grades at school.

BTW - you can see how it looks and if the link will work by using "preview" -

here's the links - http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/forums/ hmm - this one is ok and a trip to a Scout cabin for winter - http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/TripViewFrameSetGuest.asp?TripID=2432 and here's the trip link via HTML HREF hmm - maybe won't do it across lines ?

I was posting a msg and had a link, but it didn't show as a "link" but merely as text. I looked around for any "help" msgs or other tips on "formatting" or including "links" but didn't find anything -

here's a recent winter cabin trip we took - Hoover scout camp near Chicago - http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/TripViewFrameSetGuest.asp?TripID=2432 (This message has been edited by ps56k)

I thought I read somewhere online (can't find it now) that after the Council pays their fair share of the deposits, that the Scouts then receive 2 Jamboree Patches, and then later on receive a neckerchief at the Jamboree. I know the round Jamboree patches are coming, but can't find anything else mentioning anything about a "neckerchief" that would be handed out at the Jamboree ?? And if so, is it the $18.00 one in the catalog, or ???

BTW - You do have the Dutch Oven with legs/feet ? Folks sometimes buy the "home" version that is just a big pot, flat on the bottom - which of course will not work for outdoor camping, as there is no place to put coals "under" the oven...

And a swimming test in March proves your capable of swimming in August ? More and more - Scouting today seems to be the last resort for those kids that for whatever reason don't quite fit into the other worlds. We seem to have our fair share of ADHD, rotund, timid, gifted, and generally weird kids.... and the exceptions, that really enjoy Scouting, participate in all the special activities like Jamboree, NYLT, Philmont, etc - bending over to try to balance their lives with Scouting, and continue to run into roadblocks..... And we wonder why Scouting for those over 14 is not attractive... Well - let's see - make me choose between a State Swimming Championship meet or taking a BSA swim test - DUH - How many strikes does it take to loose this Life Scout going to Jamboree and on Staff at NYLT -

floating around - I guess they did that when they completed the Swimming MB and the Lifesaving MB, and passed their Red Cross Lifeguard class...

I'm constantly amazed at the stupidity of the BSA. Concerning the subject of the "swim test", our council scheduled it at a local pool during a MB Univeristy weekend, since the pool was available for MB's. Well, the JLTC/NYLT meeting was ALSO on the exact same day, so any Scout staffing the NYLT and going to Jamboree not only had to give up going to the MBU, but could not really appear at the swim test either... Another swim test date was scheduled (for a fee) at a local pool. Anyway, our Scout can't make the 2nd scheduled date - WHY? - Because he is swimming in the STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS!! Now these swim tests are being held in March, confirming that a Scout will be a capable "swimmer" in August. This is very different than at summer camp, were you jump off the bus, go take a test because the pool/lake is right there. Here is the reply from our council concerning the situation - -- " If you cannot make either of the swim test dates set up by the Jamboree committee you will need to make arrangements with your scoutmaster for a special swim test time. Even though he is on the championship swim team he needs to take the test with one of his troop leaders present. Just as at summer camp each boy and adult must re-take the test even if they had done one the week before at another event".

FYI - HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Summary Information Effective April 14, 2003, Using, creating or sharing protected health information must comply with the new federal Privacy Rule under HIPAA. The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides a number of privacy standards for use, access and disclosure of health information.

As I was sitting here filling out the med forms for Jamboree, Class 2 Med for camp, JLTC/NYLT, etc - and after attempting to resolve a billing issue at one of my wife's screening exams - "sorry sir, we can't discuss that as you are not on her HIPAA authorization form" - so.... how does the HIPAA effect all the Scouting forms running around the Troop, District, Council, Summer Camps, Jamboree, JLTC, and wherever else these med forms are required.

Just a quick note on the map and compass... Does bringing a GPS and having some of the trail waypoints marked help ? I've noticed a couple of sites that have GPS waypoints listed. BTW - if this is all new to you, try this http://www.geocaching.com

Dan - went back thru the materials... --- ok - found it - sort of - But it didn't indicate that the avail space was reduced this year - down from 144 participants to only 84 participants. And the cost went up. Without last year's form, there is no baseline to know the number changed, and was reduced, or why. 2004 - (snip'd from 2004 form) CONFERENCE FEE Conference fee is $135 on or before May 1, 2004; $150 for each participant, after May 1. Reservations are limited to 144 participants, and June 1 is the final day for reservations. Council camperships are available for up to 50% of the fee by submitting a campership application with your reservation. No refunds after June 5, 2003. 2005 - (snip'd from 2005 cover) You are encouraged to return your reservations as soon as possible, since space is limited to only 84 participants. (snip'd from 2005 form) WHAT IS THE COST? The Conference fee of $165 is due with the Reservation form on or before May 1, 2005. After May 1st the cost is $185.00. Council camperships are available for up to 50% of the fee by submitting a campership application with your reservation. ------- Torveaux - As for letting SM's know what's in the program, why keep it a "secret". I like this council's webpage describing what the Scouts will encounter. http://www.sfcbsa.org/Training/NYLT.html When I asked for an agenda from our council, it was like I was asking for the holy grail... and basically told to go away. In the corp training arena, most companies want to see exactly what their participants will be doing, and what the outcomes will be for each segment. There are good info nuggets on pages 1-4 of the Staff Guide that could easily be shared or posted for anyone interested. After all, if they were not interested, why would they be asking. (This message has been edited by ps56k)

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Didn't notice a count mentioned in our Council's literature - http://www.threefirescouncil.org/Forms/NYLT2005.pdf I think that for our council, one of the sub-areas they used previously does not have any AC power, and therefore was a problem for the LCD projector for presentations.

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The SM that I was talking to was trying to include the 13/14 scouts before they hit high school and dropped off the face of the earth. Interestingly he felt that Boy Scouts had become a program mostly for the Webelos and 13/14 scouts until they hit high school, and then, you pretty much lost the crowd...

Our council has set an age limit for our JLTC / NYLT training during this 2005 summer. The age limit is 13 by January 1, 2005. It has been suggested that this is unfair to the other 13yr old scouts that are in the same grade level (7th or 8th grade). I'll also post this over on the http://www.jltbsa.org website. Any comments about moving the age cutoff from the summer to 1/1/05.

good points on letting them figure out the logical sequence... I was trying to short circuit the process.