qwazse

Well, in a small troop, we SM/ASMs don't get all bent out of shape if we have to meet the boy more than once for any rank.

Well, from http://www.scouting.org/Home/GuideToAdvancement/TheMeritBadgeProgram.aspx Once a registered counselor signs that all requirements have been met, the Scout should meet with his unit leader to discuss his experience. The unit leader then signs the Applicant’s Record portion and returns it to the young man, who should retain it in his personal permanent records. So, that 2nd signature is to prod the SM to have a little more conversation with the boy?

All of that back-and-forth are interesting steps in the project that a BoR might like to hear about. I would encourage the scout to give his full report to the SM when he asks for his signature. A lot of our boys do have their Eagle project workbook signed along with their application at the scoutmaster conference.

Although I'm not clear under which SM he actually finished the badge, let's assume he did so shortly after camp ... That was sloppy work by your previous SM. Your son should have had the MB in hand the CoH after he came from camp. But, the SM's 2nd signature, is in the applicant's portion of the card. (I.e., the one that should have been given back to the boy as soon as the SM signed it.) The purpose of that is so that the boy has proof from the SM that he turned in the unit copy of the blue card and that a merit badge is forthcoming - just in case the unit and the counselor lost their portions of the application. The only part the advancement chair should need to file the application is the unit copy, which has the SM's 1st signature, and the counselor's signature. Therefore, if the unit has the unit portion of the card, it is incumbent on the SM to sign the applicant portion. And GIVE THAT PORTION BACK TO THE APPLICANT!!!!!!!!! Normally, this happens when the boy gets the badge. But, given that some time has elapsed and an Eagle application will soon be filled out, the boy should ask for an exception.

'skip, my one denial of release was an adopted boy with a bio parent who had a restraining order. So, the more local and specific the website, the more risky sharing would be. It just meant we were a little more attentive about what got shared that year.

I understand the concern. Axes aren't part Weblos' age-appropriate activities. So, a den shouldn't bother setting up an axe yard. But does that mean that a troop can't set up the yard when Webelos are around? That a Webelos can't train under the guidance of the troop during a troop activity to use an axe? And even if the behavior is suspect. Should we encourage scouters to sweep it under the rug? Better to let folks see what happen. Somebody who cares to make a comment, and unit leaders think "Oh, add that to the things to improve upon next time." It's happened to me (with venturers who've given me permission to share pics), and I'm better and wiser for it.

Honestly, boys chopping and burning wood is the least of your concern. (Unless you're in an area with a burn ban!) Do you have releases from all the parents that it's okay to use pictures of their boys to promote the pack? I did have a pack parent who once denied such a release -- for good reason. So, no pictures that year. But, assuming parents have granted you permission. Pictures of boys chopping wood at an early age while visiting a troop are no problem.

This is how you become a happy ASM ... by letting the patrols work through their storming and norming stages. At this point in the life of the patrol (maybe a little later) I begin introducing how to make the perfect espresso.

The scout-shop had some official canvas shorts. Best wearing piece of gear I've ever had from them. If they're still issued, I'd encourage any boy-scouter to get them. With the variety of uniform socks that are available, I'm comfortable most seasons/events. These few weeks being the exception ... but I'm only venturing nowadays, so I've stopped worrying about it. My only problem: I'm now wishing they had standard issue grey canvas shorts! Of course, if you're shy about those gambs, there are the convertible canvas pants. I'm just not a fan of breakaway clothing.

@@John-in-KC Yes, I can almost remember the day we announced it to our scouts and the glint that appeared in some of their geeky little eyes! But, more seriously ... at the BoR, why don't you just ask the scout what he did in that position? I mean, if as patrol scribe he tracked $40,000 in funds for the patrols H/A budget, filed tour plans that only needed the SM's signature, pushed the guys' paperwork for multiple service projects, training expeditions, etc ... hasn't he fulfilled the spirit of the requirement?

FWIW, I really like the most recent GTA on scouting.org. It has the plain text in web pages and you can click back and forth reasonably well. Print-on-demand via a central facility includes binding, covers, etc ... sometimes as end-user-specified options. I have friends (writers, trainers and such) who swear by it. If the facility gets 100 orders, it prints that many in the same hour (minute?) ... with the mailing label on the book ... far cheaper than your own ink and paper. Probably worth waiting a day or two for delivery. I could see this as a great model for scouting. Basic html frame on the web with rudimentary sidebar navigation. At the bottom, a "Click to Order" button for anyone who needs hard-copy with formatted lay-outs, graphics, etc ...

Troop Webmaster? Even so, back in my day, there were several guys who knew how to get garden spiders to crank out the silk!

Makes no difference. It's the attitude of the advisors and what they expect from their venturers. I expect my crew to help their youngn's (GS. or BS. or other). If they're not, I don't have time for them. The undesired behavior can appear in venture patrols. (Going off to H/As, never camping with the troop, etc ...) But, at least if they get all elitist on you, you won't have wasted much in terms of paperwork, specific training, etc ... I've reiterated this again and again ... unless there's a compelling need in a community for youth beyond the boys in your troop to be engaged in this level of scouting and leaders (youth and adult) with the vision to bring it to pass ... don't bother forming the crew.

If we were to do anything close to this, I see it happening on an ad hoc basis. SM: "Hey PL, I have this project that will stretch over the next four camp-outs. QM is furious that your patrol mess kit is coming back the most vile and repugnant. I know it's because you all get so involved with cranking out those Crepes Suzette, that you loose track of the time needed to break camp. But can one of your boys take point on gear clean-up so that the SPL and I don't have to hear the QM spit nails?" PL: "Well sir, Johnny Firstclass was just asking me about open troop positions, but we filled them all at our last PLC. Can he be like a patrol QM? I know you don't like doling out patrol PoRs, but maybe you can make it his project to whip us into shape so that we can be the pride of the troop in polished plates as well as pleased palates!" SM: "Very well, send him to me for a conference and I'll line up a project plan."

SMs say the darndest things ... Naw. zuzyson is not in real danger ... unless the incomplete dissemination of his last-minute memo somehow resulted in an open candy bar at the bottom of his sleeping bag in the middle of bear country! His rank advancement is not in jeopardy either. It's just a lesson learned along the way that he can bring up in his board of review. He could even write it in his workbook evaluation: Last-minute E-mails weren't checked for completeness of recipient list, leaving some participants to feel left out of redundant communications. Call it poor leadership or poor management ... he still showed leadership. He should fill out all of the paperwork now while it's fresh in his memory. Oh, and congratulations to zuzyson for a job well done ... and make sure he checks all of his gear for smell-ables before his next back-country hike.

You forgot the cost of the servers and maintenance, which increases greatly per download. Then there is the offloaded cost ... Pray tell, who is going to pay for each scouter's paper and ink? Or, their electronic device? I'd rather a scouter buy more tarps and rope. At roundtable there is a constant demand for printed material. And the folks who demand it are pretty good scouters who "don't do E-mail." Our precious forum that looks things up online ... That represents a minority of scouters. It's convenient for us 'cause we have IT for business or entertaining ourselves. Not everyone is in that bubble.

FWIW "Tech education" and "Computer project" sound like two different things. I know beneficiaries of all kinds are asking for help with both. Scouts can do great things with these projects, but ... I am concerned that our cycles of teaching boys that management=leadership can make a mess of projects like these. When your buddies have to paint a wall, and you get them all started (procuring gear, prepping, painting) it's pretty obvious when you can chip in a little muscle and come-along-side and lead the project. A boy learns quickly that "good management" will only get him so far. And, when he's done, it's pretty obvious for the beneficiary to know the job's done. With tech projects, the scope can be ambiguous. Who picks up which task next is not always obvious. Closing communication loops can happen via multiple media and nobody's settled on which one everyone should attend to. So, the memo gets missed. It's not clear where the scout really needs to lead. I'd never ban a scout from taking on such a project, but I'd certainly let him know how it might not be as easy as he thinks.

I'm not gonna tell you how to run your troop and what to count and not count. Just gonna reiterate ... Ad far as I'm concerned, boys can read. Ask them what they want to do for their PoR.

If it's not a boy in your unit, I think a call to the district advancement chair might be useful. That in itself should get back to the SM that someone is going off reservation. Clearly, what you don't want is this to fester until the BoR. Physical presence is still important, as is accountability.

That's a really important discussion to have at the 1st class SMC and BoR.

Ain't socialism great?Why would your estimated 90% of scouters who don't buy these books want to underwrite the cost for the 10% who do? If I'm running a cub or venturing program, why would I want to pay for a troop leader's handbook? People throw around GTA and G2SS quotes because those publications have information that impacts virtually every program, and essential material is consolidated there. The insignia guide? Not so much because most folks function nicely without it. I do think, however, BSA would do just as well with a print-on-demand service.

I find that, even for required badges, gear tends to get mothballed, so always proceed with caution when collecting it. Some things I recall seeing: Orienteerinng: compass and map sets, plus wide game kits. Cooking: mess kits with recipe books and kitchen instructions (if you use, for example, the CO's kitchen). Lifesaving: floats and ropes kits. Fishing: tackle box with local game charts. Shooting sports: cardboard cut-outs of 10x scale gun sights. Camping and hiking: public trail maps.

Once upon a time, there was this http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Bookbinding

We don't. For a while, it was because we had a one-patrol troop. When we were larger, it's because we haven't seen the need for them. The boys seemed to help each other well enough to keep having fun! I think Son #2's college roommate was in a troop who used them to good effect. No details, though.

Oh, I probably blew it out of proportion.Although, I do think the stuff that gets us to step out and lead is the same stuff that worries us when we see it in our kids. Regardless, asking a boy why he does anything is usually an exercise in futility.