ScoutNut

I remember the dino, and the Pegasus, and thought both were cool. I also remember no self-service at all, and gas being $0.50 per gallon. At least I'm not old enough to remember the Cubs winning the World Series! Don't know if that is a good thing or not.

>>"The citations from the Cub Scout Committee Guidebook are interesting. There is nothing that detailed in the editions of the Troop Committee Guidebook that I have seen."

Thomas, you said this man has been using his position as UC to be a recruiter for his Troop for TWO YEARS, but that you have never in all that time talked to his District Commissioner (or even your Troop's UC) about the problem. Why? This man has not been Cubmaster for TWO YEARS. Have you been working with the current CM, and Webelos den leaders, to repair (or create) a connection between your Troop and this Pack? You complained that your Troop's recruiting troubles are this man's fault because he played dirty tricks, has Den Chiefs in the Pack, and is always at the Pack meetings wit

In most states the rules are 5 before the cutoff date. So while your son might be one of the oldest in his grade, and be well past 10.5 at crossover, someone born in September, or October (or later for states with Nov/Dec dates) would be some of the youngest, and might be just over 10.

Actually, with many states having kindergarten entrance dates September 30 and later, it is quite typical to have a boy turn 10 years old in fifth grade, and cross into Boy Scouts with his AOL before he is 10 1/2.

Unit Commissioners, training staff, course directors, and camp/program directors are not part of the District Committee. I have never been to a District Committee meeting in my life and I have held all of the above positions. The only one I had to register for was Unit Commissioner.

The only time I ever filled in a new adult application was when switching Scouting programs (Pack to Troop to Crew), and when applying to become a Unit Commissioner. I would also need a new application for Merit Badge Counselor. I never turned in a new application when switching positions within a unit. I also never turned in an application to be on the District/Council Training staff.

If they came to you, and you did not go out and actively recruit these Scouts from the other Packs then I fail to see the problem. They wanted to move to your Pack. Did you tell them no when you found out they were transferring from other Packs? Of course not. It is not YOUR decision where families register their sons. It is theirs. If you are concerned, I suggest you simply ask the families why they decided to transfer. If they say it was because they felt you had the better program, say "thank you", and leave it at that. If there is some kind of problem in the other Packs, th

Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Cub Scouts do not need parents to attend den meetings. In fact the BSA program is set up so that the den meetings at the Wolf/Bear/Webelos levels are for the boys, and their leaders, to interact with each other, and to learn to work together. Parents should only attend den meetings if they have a specific purpose in being there (leading an activity, helping their disabled Scout, Webelos Activity Badge Counselor, etc). Pack meetings are an entirely different thing. They are for all of the Scouts from every den, and their families (siblings too). BSA expect

DE = District Executive = Scouting professional in charge of the district (area) you are in. Look on your local council's web site. They will usually have a list of staff names and contact info.

Our local Catholic grade school did these at various restaurants in the area. The restaurants would let the kids stand outside and had out coupons as long as they did not bother the customers. The kids, would work clean up inside, with parents supervising. The kids/parents would wear school shirts, and the business would advertise the fundraiser on their signs. It was a win for the restaurant in extra business and adding to their rep as being a community supporter. It was a win for our school as it gave them some added funds. A few problems I see with a Scout unit doing this - You sh

I would have a talk with your District Commissioner. Actually I would have had that talk 2 years ago.

>>"Can a second grader join as a tiger if there aren't enough wolves to have a den?"

You never quit recruiting. Contact your DE and see if he/she will do a "Boy Talk" for the first grade. Send home more flyers inviting parents and boys to a Tiger "Event". Have something simple like paper airplane races, or kite building/flying. Involve the parents. Have a school parent stand at the doors at the end of school the of/before your event and put a sticker reminder w/contact info on every 1st grade boy that comes out. A two kid den will most definitely NOT "suck"! Please don't broadcast that attitude to the families, and ruin their experience. Yes, they will be a smal

>>"My purpose was to give a demonstration to Scouts who weren't present">"By splitting more kindling and making fuzz sticks and leaving those materials arranged so they could likely be lit I was able to offer some help and instruction to Scouts on how they could get a fire started."

No one has said they were "ignorant" of, or did not know how to make, a fuzz stick. Just that they did not see the point of making one, and/or had never needed to make one. Also, using an axe on a chunk of split firewood is not how to make a fuzz stick. An axe is for splitting large pieces of wood, not for whittling. Splitting their firewood and foraging for usable tinder is what those Scouts needed to do. If that was to much trouble it was no wonder they went hungry.

As others have noted, I have also never needed to make a fuzz stick. I have always managed to get a fire started, and keep it going, even with wet wood, without one.

The date of the successfully completed Board of Review for a rank is the date the tenure for his next rank begins. When the Court of Honor is held has nothing to do with it. A Scout should never have to wait 4 months (the minimum tenure needed to earn Star), or more, to receive a rank badge he has earned.

You don't rinse in boiling water. You use warm water you can put your hands into. I would not put my hands into a bucket with sanitizer. Wash in hot, not boiling, soapy water. Rinse in warm clear water. Put dishes in mesh bag. Dunk in cold/warm water with sanitizer. Hang to dry. Dishes should be ready to go for the next meal.(This message has been edited by Scoutnut)

Hopefully your CC will find a replacement Advancement Chair soon so the boys awards don't get overlooked.

Having no leader for the Tiger den, and simply throwing all of the new Tigers Teams in cold, on their own, with no support, or knowledge of what is going on, is a sure way to loose those families from Scouting. Hopefully your CM, and your CC, have a plan in place to help their Tiger dens.

How can it be "double dipping" to wear both the Eagle Scout Award knot, and the medal the knot represents? You earned the rank of Eagle, correct? Per the BSA Insignia Guide - "Embroidered knots are representative of pin-on medals or around-the-neck awards and are designed for the convenience of the wearer." You would not wear medals on a camping trip, or during a Troop game of basketball. The BSA Insignia Guide also states this about the Eagle Scout Award medal - "Adults wear only on formal Eagle occasions." I would consider an Eagle COH ceremony a "formal Eagle

The 2009 Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures book states the same thing as the National web site that Adam S posted a link to. Alternate requirements for T-2-1 are for disabilities that are permanent, not temporary.

I agree with you Basement, when paying that much to attend camp with your son, you should get to enjoy camp with your son. Having 3 boys dumped on you, without your prior knowledge, from a Pack who did not bother to register the required leaders, is just plain wrong. Your council was in the wrong to accept their registrations in the first place, and then compounded it by dropping their problem in your lap. This is one of the reasons why many council Cub camps require a Scout to sign up with a parent. Personally, I am all for it.

The GSUSA organization, and it's programs, including their camping progression, are very different from those of the BSA. One of the main differences is that the BSA Cub Scout program is family-oriented, while the GSUSA programs (even the younger ones) are not. One of the purposes of Cub Scouting is "Family Understanding". The BSA Cub Scout Resident Camp Guidelines state - "The objective is to provide Cub Scouts, parents, and other volunteer leadership with a meaningful, enjoyable experience and to strengthen parent-son relationships." "The length of camp can be from two t