ScoutNut

They do NOT want to replace the CC with the COR. They want to make the COR a member of the committee. I understand perfectly that they can make whatever changes they want to their COR's membership now, and not have it reflected on the charter until re-charter time. The point is what this particular Troop's leaders and CO want to do. They seem to want to have something in hand, right now, that states that the COR is also a registered member of the committee. This seems to be what they require in order to make them (or at least their CC) comfortable with the COR voting at Troop Committee meetings. If they are comfortable with simply letting the COR be/act as a committee member, and vote at their Committee meetings, without actually having that reflected on their charter until the charter is renewed, fine. If they are comfortable with letting the COR vote at Troop Committee meetings without adding any other position to his membership, even better. However, I am pointing out that if they are NOT comfortable with the above two options, they can officially register their COR as a Troop Committee Member, and have it reflected on their charter NOW, with out waiting until re-charter. Yes, I understand it is not officially necessary. However, it can be done, and it might be something they want to do. Their choice. I hope that clears up what I have been trying to say.

They do NOT want to replace the CC with the COR. From what Sheilab posted they want the COR DUAL REGISTERED as a Committee MEMBER (not CC) in order to give him what THEY consider voting rights on their Troop committee. Yes, they CAN wait until re-charter time, and then simply add the COR as a Committee member. However - they seem to want him registered NOW in order to allow the COR to vote, NOW, at their Troop Committee meetings. I am sure that if they do not want to have the COR fill out an additional application (don't really see why the opposition to this but whatever), the COR, CC, or even the IH, could contact their Council Registrar and have MC added to the COR's membership. What they choose to do, and how they choose to go about it, is up to the Troop, and their CO.

Yep, IH is not registered, COR is. Yep, COR and CC are two very distinctly different positions, as is that of a Committee Member. A Committee Member can pretty much do what ever is needed for a Committee Member to do. The Opening Posters Troop is only a few weeks old. I really doubt they want to wait until re-charter to add a position to that of COR. Filling in a new application, no references or fee required, with a note attached for council stating that they are adding a registered position for their COR, would do the trick immediately. The point here is NOT how BSA recommends a unit committee to be run. It is how this particular Troop, and its Charter Organization, want their unit committee ran.

Try these - http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/Marketing.aspx http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/Membership/Youth_Recruitment.aspx

In other words, there is no "correct" BSA policy, or way for this. I would have the Institutional Head of the Charter Organization (IH), the Charter Organization Representative (COR), and the Committee Chair (CC), sit down together, talk about the issue, and come to an agreement on what works best - together. My opinion, for the very little it is worth, is that if approved by the IH, it would take very little, only filling in a second adult application, with the Position Code of MC (Committee Member), for the COR to become a registered Committee Member, and make everyone happy that the COR's "voting rights" were "official". The COR would not even have to pay another $15 National registration fee, as he is already registered. So, why not do it?(This message has been edited by Scoutnut)

A COR is only one of two people who can register in more than one position in a BSA unit. A COR can multiple register as either the Committee Chair or a Committee Member. You will not find any BSA policies on unit voting rights for a COR. Your COR works DIRECTLY FOR YOUR Charter Organization (which owns your unit), and can override any/all votes of the Committee. If the Head of the Charter Organization wants their COR dual registered as a Committee Member I see no problem with it. The Committee Chair however does not get to make policy for the COR. I suggest your COR discuss this with your Charter Organization. By the way, your COR is a voting member of both the district and council committees, so why not the unit committee as well.

We just invite all prospective new families to our late August Pack Picnic. We usually combine it with our Rocket Shoot, but sometimes we will do a Raingutter instead. We have decided that there is enough drama, and complecated stuff, to go around with the Pinewood Derby. We keep Raingutters fun and simple. We don't bother with the kits. We get foam trays donated by our local deli/meat market, cut out paper sails, and use straws for masts. The foam and the sails are easily decorated. Then we just race, and have good old unorganized fun. I know of other Packs that have used empty juice boxes, and even vegetables, for boats. Everyone gets to know each other, and all of the kids (scouts, prospective scouts, siblings, friends, etc) have fun.

It looks interesting. I still prefer ScoutManage because we can add our own, Pack specific, awards.

While much of the contact info is on the youth application, a den leader often does not see it. I have my own den spreadsheet that I have the parents fill out when they register, or first bring their Scout to a den meeting. I ask for Scout and parents names (first and last), address(es), and parents phones and emails. If you have a variety of schools represented include school name. If you are acting as youth recruitment chair for your Pack (along with being den leader) then you should ask your Cubmaster (CM), or Committee Chair (CC), for copies of the youth registration forms. This will help you see how your Pack is doing at each school, and where you might want to push your registration efforts a bit harder. You might also want to contact your District Executive (DE) and get a printout of the Total Available Youth (TAY) at each school. The Family Talent Survey is fine as is. It is used primarily to help spot adults who can be recruited. Adult recruitment should be done in conjunction with the CC, and Charter Organization Representative (COR). They are the ones who approve all Pack adult leaders.(This message has been edited by Scoutnut)

Just curious - What did the mom do when her son came home from staffing Scout camp in June, and told her what went on?

This is most common with youth of divorced parents. Often the Scout will register in a Troop by both mom and dad. Sometimes these are even in different councils. The best way to handle this is to be very aboveboard with both Troops. Have both Scoutmasters talk to each other, and the Scout, about the best way to handle advancement. I would think that any fundraising done would be specific to that particular individual Troop. It works much better if one Troop is the primary Troop where all ranks are awarded. The second Troop can send periodic updates to the primary Troop. This would have no affect on merit badges. All merit badges must still be handled by MB Counselors who are approved by their district/council. If your Scout's second Troop is in your council, all advancement should be easily available thru Scoutnet. There is nothing stopping any Scout, BSA unit, or BSA adult volunteer, from attending any activity, or meeting, in any district, or council.

>>"In the morning will talk to the scout executive.">"She knows that if an allegation of sexual abuse has been reported to the SE that she may not get any info,"

>>"Summer Camp is apparently over and going back to the CD at this point wouldnt do much other than chalk it up to experience"

This has nothing to do with BSA programing - it should be under Issues and Politics.

So, their older Scouts have attended high adventure programs, and their SM is an Eagle, and still no one had a clue how to build/start a campfire? Sad, but not the fault of the Scoutreach program. Stress, at Summer Camp? Really? I wish I had that kind of stress right about now! Someone (a knowledgeable Unit Commissioner perhaps), should talk to this SM and suggest that the Troop might think about looking at Summer Camps for next year that have all dining hall meals instead of Patrol cooking. They should also make sure the program(s) are appropriate for their Scouts. Hopefully all of the Scouts had a good time at camp.

83Eagle - While it is a shame the Pack did not get the Pack award, at least the boys who stayed got their individual awards, and that, to me, is more important. As to having to many parents present at Cub camping, that is really not possible. Cub Scouts are not Boy Scouts and they camp differently. Even with the District not requiring a parent to attend with their Cub, there is nothing wrong with them doing so. Cub Scouting is all about family. Personally, I would be happy that the dad who left the first afternoon came along. A homesick Scout is one thing, a hysterical boy quite another. If your Pack attends this camp again next year, I suggest that you stress that only parents who can stay the full time period attend. Let them know how disruptive it is to the group, and the boy. You can also fully advertise what a fun program it was (including the one for the last day), and what a great time was had by all.

Pack activities should not be focused on advancement or optional awards. They should be focused on having fun. I suggest bringing info on all of the optional BSA programs/awards to your next Pack Leaders meeting, educating the den leaders on them, and having them pass on the info to their den families. Encourage them to look into integrating some of them into their den program. Remind your den leaders that often Pack summer activities will just naturally fit in with many different outdoor requirements. All completed awards, advancement or optional, should be reported to the Pack Advancement Chair monthly for recording and purchasing.

He will be making new friends this year in Kindergarten who will be staying with him as he progresses. I would recommend that he wait and join with his current grade buddies in June.

There is no BSA restriction on number of night that Tigers can camp. They simply have to have their Adult Partner present.

Most councils that are well run keep an eye on camp property expenses as part of their annual budget, and are always reevaluating their usage, and needs vs their available funds. For instance - My council, and our neighboring council, both wanted to upgrade their Cub Camping facilities, however neither council could afford to do it. So we pooled our resources, and entered into a joint property ownership. Together, the two councils are building a brand new,snazzy, Cub World. Many councils that I know of have at least 2 camps. One for Cub Scout, and multi-purpose camping, and one for Boy Scout and older camping. If a council has more than two camps, often if they get in a financial corner, the extra camps are the first thing to be disposed of. Since council camps (at least all that I know of) are open to any member of the BSA, not just those registered in their council, I can not see any reason at all why a council would even consider paying other councils to take their Scouts at the other council's camps.

From the BSA Spring 2011 Training Update - http://scouting.org/training/trainingupdates.aspx Training Recertification Keeping Scouts safe and keeping Scouting leaders up to date with current information and methods means some of the BSA's training courses need to be retaken every couple of years. We all know about Youth Protection training and National Camping School, but there are some othersincluding some that have recently been added to the list. Below is a list of these courses and how often they should be retaken to be valid: Youth Protectionevery two years National Camping Schoolgood for five camping seasons Safe Swim Defenseevery two years Paddle Craft Safetyevery three years Aquatics Supervision/Swimming and Water Rescueevery three years BSA Lifeguardevery three years Visitation trainingevery two years Lead Climbing Instructorevery five years Climbing Instructorevery two years COPE/Climbing Inspectorevery two years Safety Afloatevery two years Chain Saw Safetyevery two years Trainers EDGEevery three years Hazardous Weatherevery two years Physical Wellnessevery two years Climb On Safelyevery two years Trek Safelyevery two years As other courses are introduced, or as our committees determine that courses have an expiration date, we will post them hereso keep watching! By the way, the Volunteer Training Committee encourages you to take the most current training courses for your Scouting position even if there is no expiration, or even if you are considered trained as a result of taking an older course. It is always better for our Scouts when their leaders stay up to date!

You borrowed Troop gear to help with a Cub Scout campout. Why didn't any of the other Cub leaders, or parents help out with the set up/take down of the tents? They used the gear, they should have helped too.

50% is for the Den award. The individual award only calls for a Scout to attend all 3 summer Pack activities. It looks like your Pack will get it's streamer, and your son will get his Bear Summertime pin. Hopefully it will encourage your Pack to be a bit more involved next summer. On the other hand, try not to make a habit of arranging events specifically so that your son can earn an award. It might put off your Pack families.

Yep, being the leaders kid is not always an easy road. They show up earlier, stay later, and get stuck with extra duties. We expect them to be a better example of a Scout. We expect them to happily let us help other kids instead of them. They get impressed into service whenever we need help. However - they also have more opportunities to do more, experience more things, meet new people, and grow in different ways. How do I balance things? I don't take their help for granted. I show my appreciation in many ways. I let them say no at times. I make sure to spend fun non-Scouting time with them too.

Well, if your council folks don't know what they would, and would not approve, on a Tour Plan for a Webelos den campout (sad), then you have to assume they will go by the National requirements of no outdoor training required. That is, at least, until they decide to turn down your Tour Plan. However, on the bright side, then you will have your definitive answer (until they get someone new to approve Tour Plans!).