qwazse

In general, and it sounds like in this case, go with what the SM wants. (He's probably gonna be the one totin' that binder.) My opinion? If an adult wants to keep his med form in his pack for troop outings, it's on him to let you know where it is in case of emergencies. But, by way of improving your procedure ... it sounds like you all have to make sure you close the communication loop with whatever policy you want to decide on. So, if the SM's not in the room and you can't give him a call. Write down your motion(s), get feedback from him and the ASM's, then vote at the next meeting. If it sounds like you haven't got sufficient feedback or the person who would have to implement your policy doesn't like it, keep tabling the vote. Bottom line (and big time-saving hint): Don't vote on new policies without input from the boots on the ground!

Depends on who that someone is, if the new policy violated a more important policy (the CO's, your council's, or local, state, or federal law ... it happens), and how urgent it was that the thing be reconciled. Generally it's a good idea for the CC to get word to the committee as to why he/she needed to address the complaint in a way that was contrary to a recent vote. Otherwise slighted members will shoot off phone-calls, E-mails, and blog posts to anyone who'll listen.

IMHO, unethical and immoral have two different meanings. I mean free-to-the-public entertainment is not an inalienable right. Basically, if someone does you a service, you pay for it. We are in this brave-new-world that puts a chain of robots than between us and the people who entertain us. Then we've created this sense that "little Johnny has to see this." If that's really true, let's have the state control the media and ensure its distribution at zero cost (except for our tax dollars). I waited for years to see Star Wars, because my parents were firm believers that movie budgets should be limited. Maybe I'm a victim of neglect. At the same time, Rick's right. We're in a real fancy glass house. Throwing stones till something breaks is not a great maintenance plan. Bravo, to S915 for making his concerns known. Hopefully these adults will be a great team for years to come.

The "paper-point" crew committee challenge is on scouting.org in the form of a .pdf, but I haven't seen a related power-point. Generally, crew committees are a little bit different in the sense that the plethora of adult positions is discouraged. For example, getting the crew treasurer (a youth, a.k.a. VP of Finance) to be a meaningful position requires an adult treasurer who can mentor as well as keep books (as a backup to the youth). Not sure if anyone has put those subtle distinctions into a power point.

Here's a convenient possibility that his patrol could do together.

Got your point dS15. Don't make trouble. No point in nit-picking over ethics, unless you are willing to contribute your own activity that taps the scouts' creativity and imagination. (BTW, couscous no substitute for hummus. Tahini, maybe, but not couscous.)

Good thing about big government: Here's a quick story that may serve as a SM minute: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/measles/unprotected-story.htm It's important that folks understand that an immune-compromised scout needs everyone in his/her air space to be immunized. Like any other bogey, The goal isn't to scare boys and their families. It's to enable them to serve their country.

Also, stay friendly. There will be plenty of projects that you all will need to work on together. The boys might want to camp near each other on camporees, summer camp week might not work for one boy, but the other troop's week will. There are numerous ways to divide and conquer.

Maybe it's time to read those medical forms and personally talk to anyone with incomplete vaccine info.... Have a public health officer visit and work on the public health MB. .... Exponential growth curve analysis would be a great STEM project! ... Finally, I could see scouts in uniform being very effective in delivering informational flyers.

Pray for them. Because, no matter where they go, there they are.

P.S. - sorry for the "downtown" reference, that's where our council HQ happens to be. Technically, it's between "Dahntahn and the Hill, by the Civic Arena that they tore down" in Pittsburghese.

For your son's part, is he having fun? Specifically "just insane" meetings can mean boys going off and getting into fights. Or, it could mean boys going off to try to accomplish a task, and being boys there's a good bit of herding cats to keep everyone on task. In the first case, your son will not be having fun (unless he's a bully ... but even then probably not). In the second case your son will be laugh about all of the silliness that went on when they were trying to do the task. Same applies to outings, patrol gatherings, etc ...

It's time for a lesson in scouter-speak ...

Thanks, Mom22. It's good to know you have a boy who's driving you nuts trying to earn stuff! So you have a belligerent SM and a committee full of BS-ers. Does that change how I think you should deal with this? Not by much. I'm not saying I agree with the SM. I just understand about how an ageist attitude sets in. Although lifesaving MB is not BSA guard, it is a little more serious than sustainability MB. This scenario happens more often than any of us would want, and the options are few: Call the SM on the carpet. You did this. I'm sorry your boy wasn't a little older, because it would have been fun to see him respectfully make his case. You having to advocate for him reflects a sad state of affairs. Run. Others have suggested finding a different troop. That's sometimes easier said than done. Listen to your boy. If he's not really having fun. Consider it. Otherwise remember the smiles on his face and accept the fact that there's gonna be a little nonsense. Fun.The best way for your boy to get the silk purse out of the sows ear, is to try and get the rest of his patrol into practicing lifesaving skills. (Gravy would be him demonstrating a rescue on the SM!) Given the way this went down, the patch is gonna be small consolation. Like 2C said, expect some otherwise useful folks to bail in a huff over this ... unless you find a way for everyone to dispense a little grace.

I never took that as a flat-out "don't". But as a "buyer beware." Sometimes your back is up against a wall, and options are few. In my crew, I sometimes don't get that essential female adult without a youngn' in the mix. I find making this compromise is hardest on the siblings of the tag-a-long. Even while camping 300' away, they can find a way to be bothered by it. I make it clear that the parent must be responsible for the tag-a-long at all times. The kids, even if they were willing to baby-sit, did not sign up to do so.

NJ, being a position, yes, it's up to the unit. Use it just like you use Musician.

Boy Scout: Hey Mister, you know you got your flag hung up wrong? Archie Bunker: Now listen, Boy Scout - you're talkin' to a veteran of World War II. This is the way we used to hang the flag on the fire. Boy Scout: You were doin' it wrong. The stars are supposed to go in the other corner. You want me to hang it the right way for ya? Archie Bunker: Uhhh, yeah yeah, all right. You could do that. But uh, listen - no tip, that ain't a good deed. Boy Scout: [picks up the flag off the hanger and notices the swastika painted on the door underneath] Hey Mister, you know you got a swastika on your door? Archie Bunker: Awwwww, sheeeesshhhh... gimme the flag, kid, now GET LOST, HAH?

I should have wrote "bias in favor of" ... but BSA is perfectly fine with virgins running their program. However, this is an example of of where there is no bias "constitutionally" (lower case "c" as in the organization's constitution has no problem with it), but we have had scouters wonder about volunteers who were never married or in any social relationship, which would be "institutional" discrimination. In a similar way, the GSUSA (to whom I was referring) has nothing on the books against male leaders, but some male volunters have felt alienated when they felt they could best serve as direct contact leaders. That's what I meant by "institutional" discrimination. BSA constitutionally does not serve 6-12 year old females, and has made it clear that there is no path for 14-18 year old females to join order of the arrow. Also, in its no fraternization policy, it discriminates against leaders who take a shining to 18 to 20 year old venturers or any venturer who would reciprocate the overture from a 21-or-over leader. None of this seems to be an issue in the CA codes of judicial conduct. Also, it seems like as long as we allow godly gays the justices would back off. Or, Merlyn, did I skim too quickly, and is the court also up in arms about the antipathy towards athiests?

Although I'd agree with Ken, my wager is these two are too proud to get trained, and AndysMom is stuck in the middle with them. I'm an ASM, and if this stunt was pulled in my troop I'd be livid. Committees have faulted boys for not showing up with their books, being out of uniform, etc ... and allowed the boy to come back next week with that one thing corrected. It wrankled, but not the end of the world. This sounds like their definition of "leadership" conflicts with the SM's. Heck it sounds like you all are divided on the definition of what makes a "star scout" (the concept, not the patch). Next committee meeting, you all need to get on the same page. Meanwhile, the boy ... the SM should take his side, give him a call, and ask "Since we've been given a hoop, what is the most fun way to jump through it?" - Get a two (or more) tarp ropes and walking sticks. Lead a patrol race to assemble a shelter. - Get a hose or shovel snow on it to determine which patrol's shelter holds the best. - Call the national guard armory, maybe they have a 24 man tent that could be set up. - Blindfold the rest of the patrol, direct them into setting up (and taking down) the tent. This might involve calling an emergency PLC to adjust the meeting agenda, but if the adults are throwing lemons, gang up and make them some lemonade to throw back in their faces!