qwazse

Use analog phones. Problem solved.

... so, maybe the PL's corner should be cut because one of his boys failed to continue to show mastery? As far as requirements, ( from https://www.scouting.org/programs/boy-scouts/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges/totin/ emphasis mine) So, clipping of corners is a way of adhering to the intent of the card. It symbolizes Totin' Rights being whittled away. It should be done quietly, with assurances that you (SPL/PL/SM) believe he is capable of behaving according to the what he claimed he understood to be how he should behave ... that this is a way of helping him prepare behave safely and responsibly. But, Totin' Rights removal alternatives to this form of nano-hazing (pico-hazing?) could also be: Take the whole card. Hang it in a public location for a day. Leave the card. Take the cutting implements. Return them after the scout retrieves his card and reads it publicly. Paint a scarlet "T" on scouts forehead, so that all will know to keep implements of tote from him. Saw a large stump, stick card on it, mount it sideways at 10 paces, hold axe-throwing contest. First scout to sharpen ax well enough to split card at that distance, gets another card.

No worries, next infarction, we'll have the scout stand in front of the troop and read one of the incident reviews (https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/incident-report/incident-reviews/) in operatic voice.

That train has already flown off the tracks in many troops. I have a relative whose SM refused to deliver on the promise of scouting. The boy and his brother are leaving their troop so they can spend more time comping with their dad in their favorite locations. A dad and mom who would have been willing and able to camp with the boys on their preferred out-island adventures in exchange for a volunteer who would help their daughter in her linked troop could have changed that situation.

True resourcefulness would have been cutting apart the sections of the ball, stamping them with your troop # and date, and handing them out as temporary insignia to all of the participants.

That was asked at our program training conference. Evidently one would need to be in a council that supports a Lone Scout program. Ours does not. We did not go on to ask if that was a strategy in other councils who do support Lone Scouts, but I don't that it was a considered to be a practical option for National.

@Eagle94-A1, what @T2Eagle said, or nothing. A troop who decides that BSA policy does their kids more harm than good will temporarily violate BSA policy. National can't enforce this any better than it can enforce patrol method and youth leadership.

But, I already submitted mine for today. So it will have to wait for me to remember it, or someon else to quote me.

So funny. As the kids left, we took on housing 1st year fellows from our church's college outreach (think missionaries in training and you get the idea), what with their ministry and social contacts the house is rarely empty and often quite full. Empty nest? Well, if nests have revolving doors, maybe? And then there's the occasional spur-of-the-moment Kazakh's invite to random events, like the symphony backstage or ballet dancer's birthday party. (Don't ask. I couldn't explain if I tried. I just take it as a chance to try and fit "moose and squirrel" into the conversation.) It's not just me. Other friends "adopt" refugee families, support to high school playoff games, band competitions, etc. The lucky ones, in my opinion, have grand babies. There is life outside of scouting (even my SM ... he was a church organist and delivered Meals on Wheels). Scouting prepares us for life ... not the other way around.

300' of extension cord.

Tarps are for rain, not starlight.

@NJCubScouter, do you invite new parents who aren't on the committee to sit in on the BoR (of someone other than their son)? It seems that that is a great way to get them involved.

First, I never let my kids passions determine where and when I would be volunteering. They were quite fortunate that I enjoyed many of the pass-times that they were involved in. I still found time to catch their games or touch base with their other youth leaders. But, if there was a geocache nearby, I'd make it back to the stands in time for a parent to give me the cliff-notes version. Regarding the troop. The current SM knows where I would push. He's seen me do it as a crew advisor. The boys know I think he spoils them, but they also see me step up when needed. The abbreviation is Asst., there's the occasional person in that position who must have missed the "t", I'm not one of those. But when we were merging, and a different scouter was top dog, I kept a tight lid on things until we could spend some time hiking together. To the committee, if ask, I would offer a detailed opinion, but make it clear that I have no skin in the game (i.e., my Sons are adults and never registered as ASMs when they could have, so I'm not gonna vote on their behalf). I'll support their kids. Period. I work for smiles.

Star Rank, Req 6 So, Luddites get a pass. Anyone reading this, not so much.

Lol. Son #1 and I once tried to rig a floating BB gun/archery course on a great lake. (Think summertime biathlon.) Never got past the planning/testing stages. A submerged orienteering course is an awesome challenge. Controls are numbered bouys suspended just below the surface. You can either use a map, or the heading to each control from a land mark can be used. Fishing contest. Floating campfire. You figure it out. (Okay with metal canoes. With others, you may want to pass.) Merry go round. Rope boats end to end with about 6' lead. See how fast you all can go in a circle without bumping! (You may want spare life jackets on the bows and sterns as fenders for this one.) Remember to study up on safety afloat. Have a qualified supervisor and a lookout. SM minute on the water, all boats nose to nose!

That's a good thing. Not all MC's need to be decision makers. Some just want to be contributors to the troop in a special way (e.g. giving free access to their club/business for fundraisers, service projects, and MB instruction). Six MCs + four SM/ASMs makes for a very reasonable working group of adults. You might want to ask if some of those 20 haven't met training requirements (https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/idg/Position_Trained_Courses.pdf) , you might suggest that they take on the role unit scouter reserve. I would definitely want those "core 6-8" to be trained in their position. At least one of them should have read the advancement guide cover to cover, and be subscribing to advancement news. Another should have read the Guide to Safe Scouting and subscribe to the safety updates. The treasurer should stay up-do-date about non-profit financial stuff and BSA's fundraising policies. It's nice when a couple of them are pillars of the community because, they often can suggest really meaningful opportunities for the boys. Our BoRs work best when they can be offered at the boys' convenience. That means we have at least two MC's (preferably the CC being one of them) available to run them during or just after meetings. In addition, they invite one parent or a guest from another troop or crew (not related to the scout) to join them. This is usually feasible at most meetings because several adults other than the SM/ASM like to stick around and actually seem to enjoy watching the boys in action. As far as making sure boards proceed fairly, that's a function of getting leaders to roundtables regularly. And your RT commissioner making sure that there is time for discussion about questions MC's may have.

Corollary: Stupid happens fast. Get smart, slow it down.

As long as we're talking about variations ... Like NJ, our SPLs use "Great Master", but say "May the" instead of "Oh" and drop "true". I think this comes from paralleling the liturgical benediction which among most protestant churches around here opens with "May the Lord ..." So, yes, like NJ's troop we are trying to keep it clear that we are calling on the Divine, not some former or current SM who, like us, awaits resurrection. "of all scouts"? No idea why we dropped "true." But it makes sense to me. By virtue of point one of the Scout Law, if one is not true, then one is not a scout. And the Master is lord of lapsed scouts as well as upright ones. I think that's also the sense of leaving a break where two scouts don't hold hands and make room for one more. It hearkens back to the Appalachian hymn "Will the circle be unbroken, bye and bye?" Now, we have folks missing. We're looking forward to the day when all are present and accounted for.

What Fred said (thus my upvote). Furthermore, the NOA's are not advancement ... so there is no reason to expect consistency. However, MBC's are district positions; therefore, I would consider a boy hiking (or whatever) for the sake of earning an MB to be doing so under the auspices of the district - for the purposes of the NOA, but probably not for liability purposes. I say probably because I don't know if BSA's insurance has ever approved the claim of a boy injured or property damaged in the process of earning an MB. Bottom line: if the scout's all about hiking/camping/canoeing and it is in some way related to the BSA program, give him the credit. I would even go so far as to say that if there were some kind of family outing, but he touched based with his SM to go over the plan and to help him prepare - but not for a badge - if those nights/miles are the only thing keeping him from the NOA, count them. But first ask the scout to read the requirements and decide for himself what should and shouldn't be counted. If the boys are doing this as a patrol, ask them what they think is fair. This is a youth led movement, I'm told.

So interesting that rain checks his schedule to see when he's camping!

I thought that was the quote! Then I realized "1 per day" was the instruction. You mean I have to wait until tomorrow (or the next day, if someone beats me to it) to post something inspiring?

@DuctTape is right. A well-trained crew/patrol can do this for pennies on the dollar. The trade-off, however, is spending time getting trained. Thorough enjoyment of this kind of terrain without a guide does mean monthly shake-downs and conditioning trips and weekly research and practice drills. Some scouts will need daily physical fitness. Others will need to learn how to hold their own with land navigation, tarpology, first-aid. And when it comes to costs, even when well contained, some scouts will need financial help from the others. But, shelling out extra $ is a lot easier to do if you know your bringing aboard a buddy who has earned your trust. The average scout and his/her patrol are not there, yet. That's why these district/council contingents exist ... so the above-average scouts can join up with leaders who are good on-the-fly team builders and the group can hire a trusted guide. Cheap? No. Convenient? Yes.

@Hawkwin, do you know if the boys were in the same patrol? It looks like it from the patches that we can see.

You say bug, I say feature.

So let me get this straight. You crossed over as a patrol of five, then nobody quit until they got their bird? We've had entire dens of boys earn Eagle, but they did so in different patrols and different troops.