Everything posted by scoutldr
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Motivation or Threat?
Have all the adults and youth leaders been "Trained" in their positions? Do they attend Roundtable? Are those "teaching" the MB registered and trained MBC?
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Mental Health: Prepared to Care
@5thGenTexan...thanks for your comments. I know it took a lot to admit your struggles, as I have been there, too. I was the bullied "fat nerd" as a kid, and Scouting has been my rock throughout life. My circle of friends is still extremely small as I approach my 70s, but my real friends are all Brother Scouts. Some I have known since I started the Scouting journey in the mid 60s. I thank God for them and, with my wife of 48 years, are the main reason I am still here. I know if I need anything...even just someone to listen to a rant, all I have to do is call and they will be there...even if only on FB across the miles. Peace and blessings.
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Uniforms "Required"
98% of taxpayers no longer itemize. That may change if the tax policies of the last administration are allowed to expire. I don't even keep receipts any more...
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A first, heartbreaking statement, for me
My morals come from God. Not from popular opinion.
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A first, heartbreaking statement, for me
It's already imploded, but they refuse to see. The BSA is a sad shadow of its former self in its quest to satisfy the lowest common denominator rather than set goals that everyone can strive to achieve.
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GSUSA Costs
Should be no charge with all the cookies sold.
- Pack hiking club off to a good start!
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Bobcat Cub Scouts BSA pins.
Mine from 64 had the post and clutch back. The simple pin back is probably earlier than that.
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1960s Cub Scout Timeline Help
Ah, yes..."urban Scouting"...until Bill Hillcourt was allowed to rewrite the Scout Handbook. In retrospect, changes that seem mild compared to today.
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GSUSA: AI on Google search campaigns reduces membership aquisition costs
"In the year 2525..." - Zager and Evans
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Shoulder Loops
Our Council charters a Venturing Crew and each camp staff member is dual registered in the Crew. The Crew number is the Council number. They wear the Venturing Uniform with silver loops. Also helps pad the membership numbers.
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2023-2024 fees? Any rumors?
Sounds like a job for the SPL and the PLC to take some initiative and organize. I always get nabbed for popcorn by a Cub in front of our local Tractor Supply.
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Move to minimedals
I always liked the European tradition of the true war veterans wearing their awards on civilian suit coats....during the recent English festivities, I looked up some of the medals I saw on Charles, Anne, and the various other royals. Most were of the type of "I was alive during this time" such as "Queen's Jubilee" and "Queen's Birthday", etc. They are also "honorary ranks" bestowed upon them because of position in the hierarchy. The days of the King actually commanding troops on the battlefield are long gone.
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Girl Scout Gold Award Square Knot
That's probably a good enough reason for BSA to remain silent on the issue. One could argue that what one wears falls under the First Amendment, but not when it is part of an official BSA uniform.
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2023-2024 fees? Any rumors?
So, when a unit recharters on Jan 1, those individuals with expired memberships will be dropped? What about those who lapse a few months after recharter? Will the unit be issued a new roster? That's brilliant. Judging by the high percentage of expired license plated around here because people are too stupid/lazy/clueless to spend 15 minutes online to renew...I have no expectation that this will work.
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1960s Cub Scout Timeline Help
As I stated above, all ranks wore the same yellow necker, and dens were not separated by rank and ranks were not separated by grade level. You would have also had a Bobcat pin, which was pretty much automatic, and not considered a "rank". I never got Wolf, since I started at age 9, so my uniform just had a Bear and Lion patch. Got our AOL patch upon crossover to a troop at age 11 and there was no Webelos "rank" or patch. Webelos was generally a 1 year program, not 2. I don't even recall wearing a plaid Webs necker, but my sons did. No "colors" or activity pins back then, either.
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1960s Cub Scout Timeline Help
I was a Cub in the same era...64-66. We were all in the same Den and uniforms were the same until we got to Webelos, then a new den with a male leader. There was only one Cub uniform for all...same cap, same slide, same necker...it wasn't until recently that BSA decided that forcing everyone to purchase new uniform parts every year would be a good ideaI. We worked on our ranks at home...with our parents. The Den Mother just recorded the progress. In the den meetings, at the Den Mother's home right after school, we mainly worked on crafts and the occasional field trip. In the Webelos den, we started our transition to Scouts, but still no camping. The den number was replaced with a large blue "W" on a yellow diamond patch. There was typically only one Web den. Your first campout was reserved for real Boy Scouts and it was an adventure looked forward to with great anticipation...or trepidation. I love the mid-century modern furnishings...MSM is highly collectible now! I can almost smell the stale cigarette odor! Good times. PS: I have seen unit numbers anywhere from 1 to 4 digits. Depended on how your Council assigned them. In a small town, Pack 1 and Troop 1 would not have been unusual. I was in Pack 360. I think the official "national" unit designation was 4 digits, as I have seen my own Troop 99 listed as "3099" on official charter and paperwork.
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Scout wont advance
Advancement should be a by-product of the program, not the purpose of it. SM Conference can be done any time...and as often as necessary. Get in his head, figure out what he wants out of the program. How is his home life? Scouting might be all he has. Don't take it away. If he's pulling his weight, not disruptive, and is having fun, then advancement is not important.
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Eagle Advisor?
I've sat on many EBOR as the District Rep and don't recall ever seeing any place on either the project write up or the Eagle App for an "Eagle Coach/Advisor" approval. Have things changed? What is the written requirement?
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Unregistered Leaders
How can one be "trained" but not registered? Do they have a MyScouting account? Did they print off a completion certificate? How do we know they "successfully" completed it? I doubt BSA would stand behind someone without proper proof of training. Like auditing a college course without paying tuition....no credit given.
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Girl Scout Gold Award Square Knot
For the sake of argument, does GSUSA have a special insignia or allow the wearing of the Eagle Scout award on the official GS uniform? I don't view it as an oversight. They are two separate organizations with their own insignia.
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Rookie Camp Meals
My advice...save yourself a lot of work and money. Kraft Mac and cheese, poptarts and peanut butter/jelly on white bread with no crust, and juice boxes. Don't expect them to eat a balanced meal of "adult" food. That's not what happens at home. (Observations of my grandkids)
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CC or CM’s Personal assistant?
I agree with the others. As long as you keep showing up, they have no incentive to find a replacement....which is the COR's responsibility, not yours.
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Scouter Awards
The use of Mentor Pins is a personal decision by the Eagle candidate. One pin is included in the presentation kit, for him/her to do what they want, so it needs to be a special and personal choice. Indeed, the entire ECOH ceremony is at the discretion of the Eagle and their family.
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Scouter Awards
My District had many awards available besides the District Award of Merit, such as "Cubmaster of the Year", "Scoutmaster of the Year", etc. The problem was getting meaningful nominations. Unless you went to Roundtable monthly, or the annual District Dinner, no one was aware of them. I always bought my own service stars, as no one knew my extensive history in Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, and Scouter. And in my observation, no one wore them anyway, so it was kind of a waste to purchase them with unit funds.
