Spiney Norman

We allow First Class scouts to test and sign off on rank requirements for First Class and below. However, I do admonish these boys that pencil whipping will not be tolerated. The adult leaders do retest the boy's on some of the more difficult requirements just to keep them honest. A scout is Trustworthy, but as Ronald Reagan once said: "trust, but verify."

This year our troop had a definite eye opener. Our feeder pack's WII leader/CM informed us that he was taking his boy's Troop shopping, mainly to the troop that he was affiliated with in a neighboring town as a youth. The troop committee thought nothing of this and even encouraged him. However, after hearing of their second and third visits to this troop our committee and SM became a little nervous. We thought that we had always had good relations with the pack. We always staged a WII campout for them, even rescheduling one weekend after a poor showing the first time around. Ths adults insured that the PLC had an especially well planned and FUN meeting whenever these webelos visited. Even then we weren't sure of if and how many would cross over to our troop. What I think happened here is that due to very poor retention of the prior year's webelos a disconnect between the Pack and Troop occurred. Both the leaders and the boys of the pack and troop no longer had any meaningfull interaction. The parents of the pack were especially concerned because they perceived the adult leaders of the troop to be a bunch of old fogeys. Our troop retains quite a few adult leaders for years even decaades after their sons age out of scouts and go off to college. SO the full court press began. Not for the boys but for the hearts and minds of their parents. We took the time to visit the pack and let me tell you visiting a pack meeting after a couple years of Boy Scouting can give you a headache but quick. We admonished each other at committee meetings to always mingle mingle mingle whenever we had visitors from the pack at any of our events. We needed to get out of our comfort zone, of course we knew that we were marvelous folks, we just never tried hard to convince anyone else we were. Our SM complained once that he felt like college football coach recruiting the best and brightest for his team and he was right. It did pay off though. We have a much closer relationsip with the parents of the pack and tonight the SM and a few other troop leaders, including myself, will be attending the pack's blue and gold and receiving all 9 of their graduating webelos into our troop.

Thanks for the meeting reminder Eagle1973. We'll definitely want to get the non-shooting part of it out of the way before we hit the range. As far as cost goes if 15 scouts attend and we rent the range for 2 hours, so far we've spent $20. Add in rhe ammo, let's say 4 rounds of 5 shots each per scout for a total count of 300, another $20. Let's say $10 for targets ( I have absolutely no idea) and we've spent $50 total. Divided by the number of scouts and it comes to $3.33 per scout. That's still a pretty darn cheap outing in my book.

Wow! I need to get spellcheck!

I received an e-mail from our local shooting range this afternoon. I had to call them because I just couldn't believe what they sent me... The range will cost us $10 an hour. They will supply an NRA certified instructor, charge us only $20 per 500 rounds of ammunition and lend us the rifles as well. The only caveat being that we bring along 2 or 3 dults to suoervise the boys. (I don't think that should be too hard as my wife, who doesn't normally attend scout functions has already volunteered.) It is really great to here that some folks out there are welcoming of scouts and will go out of their way to be helpfull. Again, thanks for all the input. I think this outing is definitely a keeper and may become a regular event. Perhaps then we will have to add the blanket thingie in to spice things up. Ken

Ed, What, no mustard, tomato, cucumber, sport peppers and celery salt? Thankfully you did not ask for ketchup. Adding that to a dog is actually illegal arounf these parts.

Thanks LH, That was exactly what I was looking for. BTW, I didn't know that part of the BSA website existed. WOW! A searchable G2SS database. COOOL! Thanks, Ken

Sorry, to here about your excitement. The thought of camping out on a warm beach, while it is a balmy 17' F here in Chicago, makes me wish I could be back there. What town did you camp in? My family spent two weeks this summer, your winter ( if that's what you want to call it), with friends from the Sapphire coast traveling between Bermegui and Sydney. You folks have really beautiful beaches!

Thanks for all of the great replies. If we can swing this from a cost standpoint, ie. not too expensive per boy, this could prove to be a very popular event. Ken

Anybody have any advice on doing an outing at a rifle range? Is it even allowable? And no, I have not checked the official literature. I figured coming here and asking the oracle would be easier and more fun. Thanks, Ken

I like the idea of presenting the scout with the adult eagle knot at the COH. What a wonderfully subtle way of telling the young man he will always be an eagle and that the troop wants to keep him involved.

A link for you Eamonn, Down under back on top! http://sport.guardian.co.uk/cricket/story/0,10069,1592259,00.html?gusrc=rss

Sorry Eamonn, I was down under this summer and was able to root for the aussies during the first two tests. I thought they had you guys on the ropes. Alas, I came back and was unable to find the last three tests televised anywhere. While there I picked-up my first bat, a Gray Nichol's, and a couple of Kookaburra balls. The two boys of the family we stayed with also taught me some skills. I had a blast playing the game and when I gat back home I immediately set to makeing a set of stumps. Now, if I could only convince the scouts what an absolute blast this game is.

Our troop sent to boys to the new JLT course this past summer at Three Fires Council's Camp Thunderbird. I was the lucky guy that got to pick them up after a week at camp, from their appearance it looked more like two weeks. On the drive home I tried to pry some conversation out of the boys. You know things like what did you think about the course etc. etc. Their responses were, "it was boring" and "They taught us a lot of acronyms". Needless to say I was a bit worried. Our esteemed SM sent the boys a questionaire asking some very specific questions about their experience and asked them to return it to him before the August PLC meeting. The SM seemed very pleased with the responses he received. Both boys felt they had learned something and that it would be usefull to them. That being said, these are young men and one weeklong seminar is not a panacea. They still need to be shown how to put the things they've learned into action. Whether this be by the hand of an adult leader or , preferably, by an older experienced scout, it will take some time. Boys can learn just as much from failure as success. They just need the opportunity and some feedback.

We have had good sucess taking our tents to the local shoemaker. It doesn't hurt that this particular shop also does boat covers and such. They have the equipment to sew such heavy duty material and they may even have an outlet to procur the replacement parts you need. The difficult part is finding a shoemaker these days.

I thought the constitution was created and amended, with the exception of prohibition, to extend rights, not limit them, to the citizens of this country. Yet, the current political majority in this country seeks only to limit our freedoms and rights. The passage of any amendment which would limit my rights to freedom of speech, association or to worship my god is a travesty. BTW this one issue many of the posters views here would agree with those of the ACLU. I think maybe I'll send'em Five bucks.

It seems the inmates have taken over the asylum, well most of the inmates anyway Good luck and Godspeed to you all! Ken

In our troop we don't 'prohibit' any merit badge. Thankfully, the camp we attend has a good outdoor oriented MB program. As a leader I don't think I could let a scout waste a week of his time sitting around working on essays and bookwork. It seems like a waste of a good opportunity to enjoy the best part of scouting.

Thanks OGE! In the auto parts business we have a little riddle: Why is arguing with a parts man like wrestling a pig in the mud? After a while you realise... the pig likes it! I guess you're all done wrestling now. Thanks!

Welcome to the campfire!

Long Live the Revolution! Communism lives again.

I agree, however, what comprises a class 'B'? Wouldn't that be predicated by the activity? Perhaps "National" could institute some guidlines on class 'B's. A survey of what units are using now would be a good place to start. Most troops are proud of there troop t-shirts.

Bob, I teach my children that all rules are important. It's just that some are more important than others.

Violating YP rules because a leader feels they are inconvenient is a serious issue. Violating uniform guidlines just doesn't seem to be as aggregious an infraction in comparison. Rules are rules, but the world is not and never will be colored black and white.

Bob, You may not agree with this, and honestly it's okay to have your own opinion, but I believe if I live and act according to the scout oath and law I shouldn't have to memorize the rule book chapter and verse. We are trying to teach by example. We are Human. BTW: You could be a communist and still be a good scout.