qwazse

Definitely drop SPL position until you have 3 (maybe more) patrols to coordinate. Use PL and ASPL. If you have a skewed age distribution (e.g. one boy over 16 and the rest below 15), consider letting the oldest boy(s) be Jr. Assistant Scoutmaster. A JASM has a lot more freedom to stick around with the old farts and map out the rest of his life, but then bunk with the lads, offer to teach a skill to the first years, coach the PL, etc ...

Hmmm Americans not interested in world affairs, who'd a thunk it? Aside from a very serious decades long crisis in geography education ... It's marketed to older scouts, of which there are fewer. You effectively go as a Venturing contingent, for which many SMs still have no love lost. We've just come off of a National Jamboree, which continues to only attract about 4% of eligible members. Wallets are drained. (Keep in mind that your most likely prospects from the BSA will have spent more to go to their own National event than it would cost them to go to the World Jamboree.) The brouhaha about not kicking gay boys to the curb has many of our pros just counting heads instead of finding volunteers to promote program. So yeah we are a little partied out, but hopefully will perk up by the time World Jambo rolls around.

So yours is outdated. Evidently someone took the time to come to conclude against conferring an undue sense of authority on a guard. I spent my guard duty while recertifying twirling a rescue tube on it's strap. A little tougher than a lanyard, but the only way I could think to protest.

Yep, trust your pros, because they always get it right ....

I'll have to ask our Eagle advisor before I make an informed vote. Maybe he knows he's a coach or not? I'm confused. Missed one too many roundtables I guess.

Yours probably doesn't have the section about how lifeguards shouldn't use whistles.

There is some chatter on "former JW" sites about how they are not allowed to join. Clearly, your boy's parents didn't get that memo. I think you need to talk to the parents about what they think the real boundaries are, then work with the boy. I think the requirements are worded so as to give you a little "wiggle room" with this. But I think it's important to avoid anything that seems like "trickery" to the parents. What's most important IMHO is that the boy understands what the PoA is, why it is important to most Americans, why his religion opposes the recitation of the pledge, and how he can still refrain from the pledge (and, maybe the salute) yet still be a productive citizen.

When I was thinking of recognition, I was thinking of things less formal ... things like: "I really liked how your Foxes handled formations Saturday, would you provide the color guard for tonight's opening?" "Bears, since you nailed the knot requirements for everyone in your patrol (including the Turtles you adopted) last weekend, how about picking what our next challenge will be?" "Crows, that was a side-splitting skit! Will you be our program patrol for the month?" Sure you could have little totems for success in this, that, or the other thing. And the boys can hang them on their patrol flag with pride. But, I think the best recognition is appropriate responsibilities. And yes, it might be "Apes, you turned in a messy cook kit, so tonight I need you to report to the QM and help him polish a few pans!" But, I'm pretty sure most of the time the SM will have nothing but good words for his boys!

Hurrah! Actually, those are about the right numbers for an enjoyable trip. More than that, and you have to start thinking about multiple contingents with different hike plans. That's really not as terrifying as it seems. It happened quite naturally even in your small group. There's always a good bit of planning with these things. So, yes, adults need to share the load. You also need to share your thought process with the boys and vice versa. Hopefully a couple of gung-ho boys will add this to their list of "do-it-again"s and partner with you in the next round of planning.

I'm not concerned about advancement as I am about accountability. Son #2 has been ASPL, SPL started evening classes on meeting night, and let us know in advance to let Son #2 prepare. He had soccer events on the first couple of nights (one event was optional IMO), I strongly suggested he call SM and his buddies to arrange coverage. (And keep calling until he was sure everything was arranged.) He didn't. Last meeting was SPL elections. Two other boys got the post until January. That's kind of what I expect from members at every level.

In this case, I would always give credit to the patrol that provides the largest contribution of members. E.g. They are not the Fox/Bear patrol on the campout.If there are 4 Foxes or 3 Bears they are the Foxes for the weekend. The Bears only get credit for participation if they represent as a distinct patrol. (If numbers are even they can decide among themselves or the SPL can call whose patrol they represent.) I'm not saying you have to build a whole system of awards or whatever to make this work. You just recognize the patrols by the flags the boys choose to fly under.

If it's always the same kid, maybe you have a problem. Maybe the boy actually does fit in with a different patrol. Or, maybe you have a real PL in the making. It's hard to tell this side of the internet. If it's a really young scout, maybe the SPL can keep one eye on him to figure out what the true situation is. I can't remember if I was in a patrol of one situation as a scout. I do remember a morning when the SPL taught me how to restart a fire from the previous night's embers. Just him and me ... none of my patrol were there (to the best of my memory). For the rest of my tenure in the troop I became the guy who was up before sunrise lighting the fire.

First, I agree with V that if you are not key three, expect modest change. (Or in my case, extreme push-back from the boys.). There is nothing wrong with a "patrol of one." You may not want the little guy camping by himself 100 yards away in mountain lion country, but for challenges, troop duties and such, he should tackle them on his own. If he loses, he can talk to the patrol mates who bailed on him. If he wins, he represents his patrol with pride. I met one boy on a campout, who was cooking an outstanding batch of asparagus because he didn't have any of his patrol mates around to fuss about the menu. (He did have a lot of adults show up at his table with plates in hand!) Obviously, if you are doing climbing or whitewater, merge patrols as safety demands.

I concur with Merlyn. Although one of my favorite songs is "Stretched on Your Grave" ... about holding on to your first love forever, Christ's teachings on marriage are pretty clear that the contract doesn't extend into eternity. "Lifelong" should be interpreted as the shortest time either partner spends this side of glory. Upon resurrection, those mortal contracts, although blessed by the Almighty at the time, are non-binding. This astounded his disciples, but I'd wager was pretty much a relief to their wives. Making sure there was a man in the house was their only form of social security, and spending the remainder of one's life without an earthly husband would be equivalent to a vow of poverty. Paul and other writers insisted it was fine for widows to seek to remarry within the church, but they should be held in high regard if they chose to remain single. Ancient Christianity was known for ensuring the community's widows were well cared for and empowered to serve any way they saw fit. A practice that was somewhat tarnished over the ages. Anyway Christians have always promoted marriage as something for us on here on earth who really have a hard time understanding any other way of being fruitful and multiplying. I've read about sects who interpreted things differently. But I don't think they will comprise much of TL's constituency.

Communication is such a drama killer. But, here's something to consider ... why are you being the middleman between your boy and his SM? There will be dozen's of decisions like this between now and project completion. The reason why we require projects like this is to teach boys how to manage multiple parties, including their parents. If something is unclear, do point it out to the boy and have him figure out what to do/who to call. Then the next day ask him if he did it. I know I hated that role of being the guy giving my kids those "little nudges" to talk to SM/Coach/Teacher/Principle on their own, but it's really impressive a couple of years later to see those kids nudging themselves and taking the world by storm.

Take the BS out of the BS of A. I would tell the scout ... Put all three dates on the form with "Best date to be determined after consultation with businesses involved." Get those signatures ASAP. You might get feedback as to which date would be better from your district's perspective. Talk to the owners of the businesses about the possible fundraising date. Let them know you have yet to get final approval. This will help you know if there are goings-on in your community that will determine the best date for you. Determine what works best for everybody involved. Choose that date. Call your council HQ with the confirmed date and they can update the form accordingly. (I am certain every council does this differently.) Don't let circular reasoning get in the way of a good deed!

Although crazy, indeed, because of your unstable adult assigments, Webelos dens often visit multiple troops. Son #1 and I visited and camped with 3. Also if troops can partner for activities and still maintain their identity. In fact, growing up, my troop (with a Presbyterian church), did a few activities with an LDS troop.

tgr, where are the 11-13 y.o. pre-high school youth who would participate in her election? Does she want to be in OA? Or, does she just want to do the great things that Arrowmen do? If she organizes her crew to spend a night under the stars and a day fasting while performing service in complete silence. All without the fussing over sashes, etc, designed for uniforms which many venturers never wear ... would that suffice?

Not everyone ... Lots of us bought the cow before taking the milk, and are still kicking. But, again, I'd rather have the permission to go scouting with the army I have. If that includes "broken leaders", I think I can work with that.

You mean like the personal offenses I endured because I wouldn't back down from befriending the grubby, potentially gay, or gender-confused kids in class? I finally applied Mamma's advice. "Stop cryin. Get big." And kept my friends. Maybe that offended the Klansmen among them. But it was clear that I was not about to be bothered. (Not flinching when punched helped a little too.) I don't direct scouts to share tents. If a guy or girl's bothered about ANYONE whom they tent with, we got plenty of open sky.

Maybe some misguided Hacker Scouts ...

If a church is having misgivings about hosting a BSA unit, maybe this is their program. But, I would be concerned if, for example, the best canoeing instructor in the community is non-Christian, and my youth want to develop a long term canoeing program. I would like to be able to incorporate that person in an official capacity in my unit. Sounds like the TL leaders are going to have to work around obstacles like that.

Part of the purpose of scouting is to teach citizenship. Part of the responsibilities of every American would be to leave pristine land to which they as individuals have no title or deed.

My Jordanian friends would take offense ...

Not a stretch at all. She should go for it, and be prepared to explain a little bit of scouting history along the way. I was pleaseed to visit another troop's court of honor and there saw one boy in a uniform from the 50's. I didn't ask if it was grandpa's or a find on E-bay. It looked sharp ant the boy wore it well.