RememberSchiff

Reason for Summer Camp... let's stay on topic.

Thank you for NOT mentioning advancement - merit badges, Path to Eagle, ... as a reason.

Nearly 8,000 Scouts got on the air for the 60th Jamboree on the Air (JOTA http://www.arrl.org/jamboree-on-the-air-jota) over the third weekend in October, National JOTA Coordinator Jim Wilson, K5ND, said. This week, Wilson released the 2017 JOTA report https://www.k2bsa.net/jota-usa-reports/, which declared, "Radio Scouting and Jamboree on the Air are alive and doing well." Facilitating the October JOTA activity were more than 900 radio amateurs at 525 stations. "Propagation wasn't our friend, but, even so, [radio amateurs in] almost 90 countries and all 50 states engaged in conversations with Scouts during the weekend," Wilson said. "In addition to HF, VHF, and UHF, many Amateur Radio digital modes were in use, as well as online Jamboree on the Internet channels." The tally for JOTA 2017 was 7,872 Scouts on the air, which, Wilson pointed out, was down from the 10,761 who took part in JOTA 2016, but more in line with 2015's participation. Reports were filed by 226 JOTA locations. "The Boy Scouts of America National Radio Scouting Committee will be exploring several improvement projects for 2018," Wilson said. These would include establishing a JOTA Frequency Task Force to explore updated frequency listing and operating recommendations, looking into new ways to alert participants in real time about other JOTA stations that are on the air. The Radio Scouting Committee's work in 2017 resulted in the introduction of new Radio Merit Badge requirements https://www.k2bsa.net/radio-merit-badge-2/, which included a new option for Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) -- or "foxhunting." The panel also developed documents to help Scout leaders incorporate radio and JOTA in their unit activities. Wilson pointed out that the K2BSA operation at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree https://www.k2bsa.net/2017-jamboree-report/ in July introduced Amateur Radio to nearly 2,500 Scouts, with 305 earning the Radio Merit Badge. Source: http://www.eham.net/articles/40460

Chippewa Valley Council (WI) is sponsoring an airshow with the Blue Angels at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Eau Claire, WI on June 16,17, 2018. (Note Oshkosh ( EAA AirVenture Oshkosh) is on July 23-29, 2018) “It’s a great community event,” Tim Molepske, CEO of the Chippewa Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America, said. “We put on a great show for the community, and all the proceeds go to the Boy Scouts and other nonprofits.” http://chippewavalleyairshow.com/ http://www.leadertelegram.com/News/Front-Page/2017/11/30/Blue-Angels-pilots-fly-into-city-to-prepare-for-June-16-17-air-show-appearance.html

Welcome to scouter.com @WPGZ406

I think the solution will be use camp staff instead of parents, just like competitor camps. With family needs, work needs, and health problems it is getting harder to supply troop adults for camp and those that can come can only stay for 1 or 2 days.

That is an interesting thought @CalicoPenn. I wonder if he would prefer Scouting in Israel ? Israeli (Hebrew) scouts (Tzofim?) have been coed for years. They are international, they have units in US. Not unusual, the BSA has units abroad. As I understand, part of the Hebrew scout program prepares their boys and girls to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces.

Ah, get a large group of adults doing "nothing" and they want to do something. ..and then they "think" this something must involve their scouts. A previous unit became an Adult Outing Club in this manner. They decided the outing program and not PLC. Had over 20 ASM's! My advice to SPL is make sure you keep your adults busy and out of the way.

With the new software is there still a 1 hour time limit on members for editing your posts? If you need moderator assistance let us know.

Still kicking the tires but definitely an improvement. I particularly like the new up,down, haha, confused, sad voting system and the ability to change your vote. Visually pleasant on pc and particularly cell where I was previously resizing windows and fonts. Moderator control has still not been centralized onto one screen. Under Browse Tab: I don't know if there is a need for Leaderboard and Calendar. I posted a Calendar event. Under Feed Tab: Search HUUUUGE improvement and it looks like long past content (to 2004?) has been restore and nicely formatted. Nicely Done! All for now. Thanks for the software update. RS If someone is Banned or pegged as a Spammer why aren't they immediately logged out?

Glad no one has mentioned JTE yet.

Welcome to scouter.com. With the new software, we are a little like a den meeting at the moment.

I "split" the "Quality Control" responses to a new topic. Sorry for the confusion and clumsiness on my part. And I split off Tampa Turtle's parents and AT hike conundrum. Actually I split if off as a separate topic. I had to do it one response at a time. Much more difficult than spinning off topics in previous software. Or maybe I am just doing it the hard way? Breaking up is hard to do!

Why do BSA units have to recharter to National each year, but National does not have to recharter with the federal government? Did Congress miss a revenue opportunity? Would Congress take more interest in "paid" charters?

I agree. and have seen it. Our solution has been our SM selects who comes, another tool he uses is a Family outing is not Scout outing - no advancement, lets just go have fun. No parents chasing after PL's or ASM's to sign-off. Another $0.02

Moved (called Split with this software) to new topic.

At least one person did along with the suggestion about allowing parents to act as MBC (just like Cub Scouts) for this merit badge after all their house.

Why not just limit adult participation? Our SM decides which adults go on hikes, campouts, not CC or Troop Committee.

Argh. That requirement needs some rethinking. Time to be disobedient and change requirements. When I counseled this mb, I asked scouts what needed fixing at their house and then told them what needed fixing at my house. Plenty of tasks as we get a house ready for winter. So a list was made like the following and we went from there. replace furnace filter replace batteries on fire/smoke alarms weatherstrip door/windows replace door bell replace door locks replace light fixture install under sink water filter <-- scout learned about town water quality install dishwasher <--- yes I had a scout remove old dishwasher and install replacement. Scout was happy, Mom was thrilled. install kitchen under cabinet lights replace warped cabinet shelves fix door closing problems attach TV stand, dressers, etc to walls or floor to prevent fall-over <-- very popular. install child-safe house features My $0.02, P.S. If it ain't broken don't fix it.

So the first US scoutmaster was Mrs. Myra Greeno Bass?

I like that we can now change our votes. Still kicking the tires.

IMHO disappointed. I think he expected the world to a be a better place because of Scouting.

Ah you want local option. This software is a surprise to me as well. Another blog that I frequent made a similar upgrade to improve mobile viewing. Give it a try. I like that members can now change their votes and there are more vote choices - up, down, haha, confused, sad.

Welcome to scouter.com

When I read Judge Pregerson quote, I began to recall some 60's campfire discussions about Vietnam and the draft we would be facing in a few years. The minimum voting age was not yet 18. There are many, more current examples of protest in America. IMO some discussion of peaceful and respectful protest should be part of Citizenship in Nation. Scouts have seen that writing to their representative often results in a canned response. Two of our scouts had the same written response to two different concerns. Our scouts have discussed NFL players taking a knee during National Anthem and whether it is respectful, focused, and the proper venue. Those who play high school football know they will be removed from the team. Some interesting discussions. We also had a discussion of President Trump's visit to Summit. If you attended a that speech and disagreed, do you boo (as scouts at previous Jambo), quietly remain out of respect for the President, quietly leave, or something else. My $0.02,