RememberSchiff

My perspective from the past T-FC is where basic scoutcraft skills are taught and signed-off by scouts. A FC scout should be "self-reliant, resouceful - able to take care of" himself. These skills were practiced at troop meetings and further tested in patrol competitions withing troop, Klondike, camporees,... What if, T-FC had a patrol competition point requirement - a scout would have to participate in patrol scoutcraft competitions in the past year and have earned x points? Eagle required scoutcraft MB's is where more advanced scoutscraft skill are taught and signed off by knowledgeable adults. These skills are practiced teaching younger scouts. What if a scout had to keep a log of the skills and scouts he taught and this log is a Star-Eagle requirement. I like skeptic's reminder of the merit badge groups of old. Fewer (8) but more comprehensive required merit badges. First Aid with added wilderness first aid skills. One Citizenship MB focused on your rights and responsibilities not civics, no Communications leave that for schools, Select one from Fitness Group: Swimming, Personal Fitness, Athletics, Cycling,... Eagle projects were once a scout's own labor using skills developed in scouting. Managing others on a project was not the point, afterall the scout had already lead his patrol on hikes and campouts often without adults. Personally I would prefer Eagle candidates plan and lead a solo trek as I have seen too many Eagle projects by adults. College admission paperwork is easier! So for Eagle, give the scout an Adventure Trek option or the Project Management Option. My $0.02 ,

Rather stunned that this still occurs. Try this singing punishment or tying to a tree or .... on a scout with learning disabilities and then shake your head wondering why the boy left scouts crying and his Mom hit you with a 2x4.

Looking ahead when mud season is over, I asked scouts to wear their sneaks (they usually do but I like to think that are doing as I ask ) and bring their boots to meeting. Every scout was currently wearing sneaks at least a size and half larger than his not-so-old boots. In 6 months, three scouts went from a size 9.5 to 11.5. In same period, another scout went from a size 10 to 13, another 9 to 12. I mean old Schiff needed his arches to fall to reach size 12, these scouts haven't reach age 14 yet!

6. Unit merit badge counselor lists shouldn’t be available to Scouts online Section: 7.0.2.3 What’s new: Units can (and maybe even should) establish a list of registered merit badge counselors. But Scouts should get those names and contact info from a Scoutmaster, not from a list made available online. Hah what a joke! Other than summer camp, nearly 99% of our scouts coming for their blue card already know and have decided their MBC; the SM cannot change that, just verify that MBC is still registered. A scout can use any registered MBC from anywhere. Back in the old days, my SM dutifully brought the semi-annual council MBC directory to each meeting. It was similar to a small phone book. Scouts who already had a MBC in mind just looked up the phone number. Other scouts would usually get the names and numbers for two or more MBC for a desired merit badge. My point, try to have a hard copy MBC list* freely available at SM signoff. *In many councils, such lists don't exist online or otherwise and THAT IS WHY TROOPS HAVE THEIR OWN MBC's.

Maybe these have already been mentioned. Click on Recent Posts and yesterday's post (albeit the most recent) are listed as "Today". So I login say 8am EST, select recent post and see a Recent Post of Today at 11pm which actually occurred yesterday. There's a Beatles song about this penomenom I think. Is there a time limit (hours?) for editting my previous posts? Thanks

Never understood the colors and sounds argument from LNT, but to each their own. I wear blaze (safety) orange and blue year round due to hunters. No white! I like higher visibility tents for safety reasons as well, particulalry in bad weather. I don't bring a boom box but I have clanged a bell along in bear territory. Not like back in the day when scouts practiced "stalking" for a SC requirement and wore a green uniform during hunting season.

Do-over, reboot, accountability? Maybe some (most?) of our MBC's should appear before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter who is currently sentencing Atlanta school teachers.

Hmmm, I cannot edit my previous post. Here's the correct link http://www.acacamps.org/sites/default/files/images/keystone/PA_Background_Checks_Act_of_2014.pdf For BSA volunteers, the following groups will separately process their own background checks: FBI Pennsylvania State Police Pennsylvania Dept of Human Services BSA Council/National possibly CO, e.g., Catholic Diocese will do a separate background check For scout volunteers, who keeps the records is an interesting question. PA Councils apparently believe the responsibility is on the unit/CO and volunteer. The state of PA may view that since Council "register" the volunteer, Council would be responsible for the background check record keeping.

Laurel Highland Council http://lhc-bsa.org/About%20Us/Risk%20Management From FAQ cited above, non-registered volunteerism appears to be discouraged so that all required background checks are documented. According to http://www.acacamps.org/sites/default/files/images/keystone/PA_Background_Checks_Act_of_2014.pdf Out-of-state volunteer adult leaders spending less than 30 days, say to visit Gettysburg, appear to have an exemption if they provide background check information from their home state? Who they provide this information to is another unanswered question.

Money talks. If the Blue Ridge Council or the VA National Guard could get funding from DOD Innovative Readiness Program, etc,, but even then, it would be too late for this summer camp.

Now that you mention it I recall using that at Philmont in the 60's. I will revisit thanks.

Council is responsible for maintaining their camps and insuring safety not only for campers but for neighbors and the environment. Maybe a trip to the Johnstown Flood Memorial? http://www.nps.gov/jofl/index.htm An update, they seem to be making progress towards opening for summer camp. http://www.southwesttimes.com/2015/04/repairs-at-boy-scout-campground-coming-along/

Apparently I cannot go back and Edit old posts! Anyway this is an update of Camp Hinds shooting program. Gentech is donating suppressors and ammo for Camp Hinds. Great article with photos http://soldiersystems.net/2015/04/15/gemtech-donating-suppressors-ammo-bsa-camp-hinds/ Some excerpts In a partnership with Gemtech, a manufacturer of firearm suppressors and ammunition, the 10 counties in central and southern Maine served by Pine Tree Council at Camp Hinds will have the opportunity to use state of the art equipment while learning gun safety. The Scouts use the National Rifle Association (NRA) teaching program First Steps for pistol, rifle and shotgun merit badges, as well as National Shooting Sports Foundation’s teachings. “Training new Scouts the safe, responsible enjoyment of shooting sports is greatly enhanced by reducing the decibels of gunshots,†said Joe Debergalis, Chairman of the NRA’s Education and Training Committee. “This is a superb initiative that will enable Scouts to improve their skills while teaching them respect for their environment.†Gemtech donated eight .22 caliber suppressors and 25,000 rounds of sub-sonic ammunition. Josh Waldron the CEO of Silencer Co. offered to join the initiative donating two Salvo suppressors for shotguns at Camp Hinds. This initiative will be a first in the Boys Scouts of America, and follows the recent completion of a new range complex at Camp Hinds. The ranges exceed NRA safety recommendations and use ballistic sand built into berms to stop the bullets, a high standard in range safety. Wicked Cool

Agreed. Around here at the unit level, this is viewed as "none of our business". I think our Council is on the same wavelength.

http://patch.com/rhode-island/eastgreenwich/famous-tall-ship-arrives-its-new-home-east-greenwich Famous Tall Ship Arrives at its New Home in East Greenwich Tall Ship Starbound has a storied history, has twice sailed around the globe and was once owned by Burl Ives. By Mark Schieldrop (Patch Staff) March 30, 2015 Starbound, a famous Tall Ship known for twice circumnavigating the globe, has recently completed a 225-mile journey from Maine to its new home here in Rhode Island waters. Starbound, originally built in 1950, is undergoing inspection right now at Wickford Shipyard along with preparation for Coast Guard passenger vessel certification. “As soon as weather permits, she will be sanded down to bare wood and refinished; taking on new sails and spars prior to arrival at her home port,†said David Sylvestre of S.A.L.T.Y Foundation, a nonprofit that focus on youth education and adventure that currently holds a long-term charter of the 72-foot ketch. That home port is Nortons in East Greenwich, where Starbound will serve as the primary vessel for Sea Scouts Ship 1909, part of the Boy Scouts of America. Other local youth groups have shown an interest in the vessel, including the Girls Scouts, Boys and Girls Club, Ronald McDonald House and Gold Star Kids, an organization that offers experiences for teens who have lost a parent in military conflict. Starbound also joins the Sea Scouts local fleet of four other sailing and powerboats, including Golden Goose, a 40-foot Stadel schooner built in 1975 and donated by a Rhode Island family in February. S.A.L.T.Y. now manages the largest youth-oriented fleet in New England and perhaps on the East Coast, save a similar fleet operated by the Boy Scouts of America in Florida. ( ?? So S.A.L.T.Y. is the CO for the Sea Scout Ship??) Before Starbound is fully ready for her future adventures, some work is necessary. Recent inspections to the vessel show that the original wooden mast and bowsprit have suffered age-related damage. It’s “an unexpected discovery that will call for a substantial fundraising effort,†Sylvestre said. A campaign is now in the planning stages and the target will be $80,000 to replace the masts, which will be designed to maintain historical accuracy and the vessel’s beauty. Details on the fundraising effort will be released in “the coming weeks.†Eventually, Starbound will be a common sight in area waters, including Narragansett Bay, Block Island and as far as Martha’s Vineyard and Cutthunk. Though it might not set sail for a global adventure around the world in the near future, the vessel still has plenty of adventures in store. It’s befitting for a ship once owned by famed singer Burl Ives. She was built in 1950 and based on Joshua Slocum’s 36-foot Spray, which was made famous for completing the world’s first solo circumnavigation in 1898. In the 1990s, Starbound’s prior owners funded a $650,000 renovation to the hull, deck and marine systems. According to a release, S.A.L.T.Y.’s mission is to provide Seamanship and Leadership Training for Youths, through hands-on sailing experiences in some of America’s most historical and beautiful sailing locations. A sailor and retired RI business CEO, Capt. David Pickering, envisioned the S.A.L.T.Y. program while serving as committee chairman of Sea Scouts Ship 1909. Founded in 2014, S.A.L.T.Y. is led by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of RI business people, sailing and scouting enthusiasts. Contact S.A.L.T.Y. at P.O. box 1557, East Greenwich, RI 02818. added: S.A.L.T.Y. has booked June 27 to July 3 for the first annual Sea Scouts Ship 1909 cruise aboard Starbound. Her little sister, the schooner Golden Goose, may participate as well. Possible destinations include Block Island, Cuttyhunk, and a stop at Martha's Vinyard. Stay tuned for further details. https://www.facebook.com/events/873647516027356/

Tick infestation is a consideration in our planning. Wide trails and roads where hikers are less likely to contact brush, rocky upclimb trails where deer are less likely, and mature forest areas with little undergrowth are preferred. Still we do tick checks and for any tick bites (removed ticks), we urge parents to contact doctor. A 10% disease case fatality, puts Powassan virus in some unpleasant company http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_human_disease_case_fatality_rates

http://www.roanoke.com/news/dam-repairs-at-blue-ridge-scout-reservation-could-put-summer/article_ea1ff901-6ecd-5b4a-9420-5db18505f465.html “The Boy Scouts were very badly behind on their inspections,†Tom Roberts, a dam safety engineer with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation said. “They haven’t been maintaining their dam and it badly needs this work.†Dams have to be inspected yearly and regulations put in place in 2008 better take into account people and properties located downstream and how they would be affected if dams were to fail. The Powhatan dam is classified as a high-hazard dam because if it were to fail, it’s likely at least one life would be lost. About $250,000 and at least four to six weeks of work stand between the camp and having a lake that is usable for summer aquatics like swimming, canoeing and kayaking, Dan Johnson, a Scout executive with the Blue Ridge Council said. We risk not being able to fill the lake,†Johnson said. “That’s what has put us in a hurry-up situation. Obviously, the lake is important for our camp to start by the first week of June.†This announcement comes shortly after the April 1 due date for a portion of nonrefundable deposits to attend camp this summer. About 8,000 campers visit the several camps at the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation each summer, with about half of those attending Camp Powhatan. Scout troops usually spend about a week at the summer camp. The council is counting on donations to cover supplies and labor.... I see a loooong OA weekend. More information at link above.

I'm curious are these features that we had with the previous software not available? - survey poll - inserting youtube video

Update: April 3, 2015 Three arrested!! http://www.kait8.com/story/28713008/guns-valued-at-14k-stolen-from-mcdowell-co-boy-scout-camp The McDowell County Sheriff's Office said three men are facing charges after 21 firearms were stolen from a Boy Scout camp in December. Detective Andy Manis said Richard Eugene McKinney, 22, Joel Alan Smith, 42, and Sonny Isaiah Smith, 19, have been charged with felony breaking and entering and larceny after an incident that took place during the weekend of Dec. 15. Manis said the three are accused of breaking into the Boy Scout reservation on Vein Mountain Road in Nebo and stealing the guns, valued at a total of $14,400. Firearms stolen during the break-in include 13 Marlin .22-caliber single-shot, bolt-action competition rifles, four Weatherby 12-gauge shotguns, a Remington 12-gauge shotgun and three Remington 20-gauge shotguns. Twelve of the stolen guns have been recovered. According to deputies, additional arrests related to the case are pending. Scout salute to McDowell County Sheriff's Office

Oh I see you are already aware, sorry I missed that. Thanks for migrating. "The forum migration is missing the last ten days of content. We're sorry for that, and will work to import that content at some point. In the meantime, please just start new threads."

Might as well have a work portfolio. BTW this personalized plate is available

There might be a smart ad campaign for the BSA here around us building the next generation of better leaders. Take photos of scouts asking questions to candidates. No face shot of the candidate, maybe a subtle clues - pant suit must be Hillary, large and in charge must be Christie...

A more detailed write-up here http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf..._den_moth.html The above write-up concludes from the family's perspective "There's not a lot of space (in camper) to do homework," Zachary said, adding that while he doesn't miss the things that were lost to Sandy, he is tired of "things getting ruined from mold, because the walls are kinda wet." Kathleen, who with her husband Andrew Seemar, Sr. runs a commercial bait fish business, says that she's been shoveling snow off their camper's roof all winter, and is keenly looking forward to the day when she doesn't have to haul propane tanks around to stay warm. "After two and half years," she said, "I'm kinda done." And all this family is asking for is a building permit? Below From http://www.app.com/story/news/politi...very/24962755/ (Photo: Mark R. Sullivan/Staff Photograp)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/0...n_6902060.html The question going into the 2016 Republican presidential primary is whether the prospective contender is strong enough to withstand the persistent criticism over his handling of the state's recovery (following Hurricane Sandy). Protesters recently followed the governor to Iowa, and on Tuesday, a Boy Scout confronted Christie at a town hall meeting in Freehold, New Jersey. The 12-year-old, Zachary Seemar, has been living in a trailer for the past two and a half years with his parents and older brother. According to news accounts, the boy asked Christie why the permit process to allow his family to rebuild its destroyed home was taking so long. After Seemar read from his prepared text, Christie praised him: "That's a lot of pressure. You did very well." Christie went on to explain that each town has its own regulations and process to return residents to their homes. He had Seemar write down his address and promised to have a staffer follow up with him. The governor hasn't always been so kind to those challenging the pace of the recovery. Some 15,000 residents, like Seemar and his family, remain displaced. At a recent event in Iowa, Christie made fun of a protester who is still displaced by the storm and had flown to the event. "My people follow me everywhere ... It's fabulous," the governor joked to the audience. "I'm magnetic. They can't stay away from me." More likely that Christie and his ego are so big that he is hard to avoid. Well done scout Zach, keep asking your questions.