TAHAWK

Agree that the wording has to be crystal clear.

SPLs could certainly do this. They have done a great job of planning our district's Klondikes and leading its events for over twenty-five years - after I subverted the adult committee who had been stinking up the place doing the planning with near zero unit or youth input. (To bore from within you have to be within.) But the SPLs would have to know (subjunctive) what the Patrol Method is. It has not been laid out in a coherent presentation anywhere in BSA literature since before almost all of them were born. It is the unusual Scout who plows through all the current writing to find the piece-parts after reading what Bill wrote to help him know what he is looking for.. In fact, there are clearly incorrect and contradictory statements in current BSA writing. The misstatement above in JTE about the purposes of the Patrol Method is only one example. For another example, BSA says the Patrol Method is part of the "Youth Led Troop." That would be backwards. BSA says the annual planning meeting is driven by the SM's goals and done by a consensus of the PLC,Troop Committee, all uniformed Scouters, the COR, and the Unit Commissioner. So the Scouts would be easily controlled on every issue. A problem is, as one very high-ranking National Scouter told me, in writing, some at National don't know much about Boy Scouting. That's why they have "misplaced" the Patrol Method. Not a conspiracy or change in policy - ignorance. The statement in the newest Handbook that a troop is composed of patrols is just one step on the road back to Boy Scouting.

Good point. Has to be measurable. So compare the below to current language ( http://www.scouting.org/filestore/mission/pdf/2017_JTE_Troop_Scorecard.pdf ) Patrol Method - Use the Patrol method as defined at pp. ____ of the Scoutmaster Specific Syllabus (which would require that it again be defined) to insure that Scouting primarily takes place in a patrol context. Bronze level: Have patrols, each with a Patrol Leader elected by the members of their respective patrols. If there is more than one patrol, have a Senior Patrol Leader elected by the Scouts of the troop. The PLC meets at least nine times per calendar year to plan and evaluate troop program. Each patrol meets independently at least nine times. Each patrol member has an identified patrol position including Assistant Patrol Leader, Scribe, and Quartermaster. Gold Level: Achieve Bronze Level plus PLC, under the chairmanship of the SPL and with counsel and support of Scoutmaster, democratically plans annual troop program and SPL presents that program to Troop Committee to ask for its support. Each patrol has two independent campouts, two independent hikes, and two independent service projects. The troop conducts Introduction to Patrol Leadership (the youth training we actually need since troop leadership is supposed to be of secondary importance) for every elected leader who has not taken that training. There is some evidence that each patrol member is functioning in his patrol position. Silver Level: Achieve Gold Level plus each Scout spends at least 75% of his time in unit-level Scouting, not considering Summer Camp, in a patrol activity. At least one Scout attends N.Y.L.T. At least one Scout attends Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills. Each patrol meets at least twenty times in each calendar year, has three independent campouts, three independent hikes, and three independent service projects. The SPL or a Scouter actually observes at least five of these patrol activities led by Assistant Patrol Leaders.

If the rabbit goes around the tree twice before going back down the hole, it holds much better. Find ways for the Scouts to actually use the knots, and they will actually learn them. (We removed all the "sliders" from all the tent ropes. Those who knew showed them a solution. In a short period, all the Scouts knew the taut-line very well. We also have a "Knot Club." A new knot, demonstrated whenever asked, gets [and keeps] a bead on a thing.)

Is it likely that they will become better people? If not, they already have a "life sentence." No complaint can do worse to them. If they keep on keeping on, it will be noticed and those who notice will be more impressed with their discoveries than your insights. Besides, the best revenge is living well. Enjoy your new pack.

It's almost Christmas again, and I am hoping Santa will bring Boy Scouting a metric for troops that actually encourages the Patrol Method. JTE encourages patrols, patrol leaders, SPL, youth leader training, and PLCs. It does not encourage the Patrol Method. All the listed scoring criteria typically exist in the adult run, troop-method troop. (And, to compound the failure, there is STILL no coherent explanation of the Patrol Method in official BSA adult training. That's seventeen years and counting.) Journey to Excellence COULD encourage the Patrol Method by giving points for: >patrol and troop leaders elected by the Scouts; >significant separate patrol program; >advancement instruction and passing requirements primarily in the patrol context; >every patrol member with a functioning job; >Scouts planning the program of the patrols and troop, not just being "involved" in some unspecified way; and >SPL running the troop-level program and the planning thereof. But JTE does not give points for the actual indicia of use of Scouting's "most important method." In fact, JTE continues to imagine that the Patrol Method is solely about developing youth leaders (which would be the Leadership Development Method): "Patrol method: Use the patrol method to develop youth leaders." If you don't know where you're going, it's hard not to get lost. Watering down Scouting's "most important method" is not a path to excellence in Boy Scouting.

But part of the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex. Our museum is the #1 thing to do on our block in Cleveland.

Simple, he has to write to the museum "in Irving Texas." No authority to revise that requirement outside of Irving, Texas. 0___0

0 1 (Digital Patrol)

"You'll never be Eagle" sounds like a tantrum. So who do we hold to the higher standard, a child or an "adult." I sit on appeal board. Worse happens - regularly. But it gets fixed -- as best we can. But we can't "unring the bell."

BP started it and Bill gave it it's American features, such as boys electing their leaders.

Scouting Heritage MB. Give a short biographical summary of any TWO of the following, and tell of their roles in how Scouting developed and grew in the United States prior to 1940. (1) Daniel Carter Beard (2) William D. Boyce (3) Waite Phillips (4) Ernest Thompson Seton (5) James E. West Scouting, Vol. 73, No. 4, September, 1985, at p. 26.

Excluding Bill, of course. 50,000 square feet, but no room for him.

The Summit is closer by far to the population center of the U.S.

HEY! What's weird about Narwhals? Just because they're marine mammals?

No. They were near the Sacramento.

We had a "Duck Tape Patrol" (a local brand of duct tape), complete with a rubber ducky taped to the very top of the flag staff, but duct tape is so useful I didn't recall it as "weird." "WAHKK WAHKK !"

Oh yes, an SPL accused a patrol of being such bad cooks that they could "burn water." Burnt Water Patrol

We have been teaching "around here" for many years that the Troop Guide is appointed by the SM. I confess that I never "looked it up" and can find no official pronouncement now except the TOE providing that the Troop Guide reports not to the SPL but to an Assistant Scoutmaster. Boy Scout Handbook, 13th Ed. at p. 24. True, that TOE is a wreck, with the New Scout Patrol Leader reporting to the Troop Guide and all the other PLs reporting to an ASPL. This situation leaves me with my customary position: if it's not clear, do what seems best. If B.S.A. is serious about Troop Guides being appointed by the SM, they need to say so clearly. 7-9 boys is a patrol and should be run as one I think. A patrol is where a Scout is to primarily experience Scouting. Troops exist for administrative convenience of patrols and do not seem critical to Boy Scouting, even if critical to the Corporation. A secret ballot for SPL is necessary because it is not unclear what the rule is. It is clear and unequivocal: "All members of a troop vote by secret ballot to choose their senior patrol leader [incorrect capitalization in the original]. Rank and age requirements to be a senior patrol leader [sic] are determined by each troop, as is the schedule of elections. " \http://www.scouting.org/filestore/boyscouts/pdf/Troop_Leadership_Positions.pdf The dynamic of the secret ballot, regarded by our founders as essential to truly free elections, is a different mechanism that choosing by public acclamation. If well-oiled machines were the goal, as the "Troop Method" adults argue, adults should run the troops and patrols. "Working better" is the classic rationale of adults for refusing to deliver Boy Scouting. As for PLs: "The members of each patrol elect one of their own to serve as patrol leader. The troop determines the requirements for patrol leaders, such as rank and age. To give more youths the opportunity to lead, most troops elect patrol leaders twice a year. Some may have elections more often." I read those words in light of American history and culture as also calling for a secret ballot. Being involved in "politics" is not to be avoided as our job, in pertinent part, is turning out good citizens, inclusive of political leaders and other participants in the "hassle" and "mess" of the political process. None of this precludes what is often called "the speech: by the SM. Example: "... And remember that whomever you elect will represent you to the rest of the PLs/the adults of the Committee, so you might want to vote for someone who will be respected and listened to, as opposed to someone who tells the best jokes. If your elected representative is not respected by the PLC/Committee, your wishes about Troop program may be pretty much ignored. Pick wisely." If you are respected you can influence the project. Have a light "hand." The goal is electing a leader, not electing whomever the adults think is best. And if he does not work out, the scouts had an educational experience and can hold another election. It is only fair to them to point out that every adult who decides not to follow B.S.A. program and offer Bob Scouting or Joe Scouting does so because he sincerely thinks he knows better than B.S.A., including, to the largest extent, Bill Hillcourt, in whom I, personally, have great confidence.

Oh yes! Like the Flamming Panthers, HAWL, or Eagox patrols. (A prize to the interpreter?)

BSA requires election of certain leaders because the Scouts are supposed to be learning about democracy - including its pitfalls - so they can be better American citizens. It's not about advancement. Advancement, as most here understand, is just a tool, not an objective. (Some at BSA don't get it.) It's not about the "well oiled machine." If an elected leader does not function, the PLC can call another election. The PLC has the SM's counsel and advice. ("If that's true, why not have another election?") The appointed troop leaders, such as Den Chief or Scribe, are appointed by the SPL with the advice of the SM, or so we promise. If the SM cannot lead the SPL to improve, or cannot persuade the SPL to correct, a "bad fit," that would be unusual. ("If Joe is doing the work, why doesn't he have the title?") Learning about citizenship includes learning about bureaucracy, where appointed positions can be a problem and how to deal with those problems. We learn from experience, and in the real world much of that experience is "bad." And there are those positions entirely within the SM's gift: Troop Guide, JASM, and special leadership projects. Or we can try and see if Bill Scouting or Don Scouting is superior to Boy Scouting, which we are honor-bound to try our imperfect best to deliver and which is described in the Handbook.

Patrol had hard time agreeing on a name. They would declare a name, then change it. After this happened several times, the new name would be announced + "at the moment." After a year of this, they settled on the ATM Patrol [at the moment] for the next four years. Flaming Ice Cubes. Meat Ball (patrol flag = brown kick ball on a staff) Patrol Leader known as "Pasta Leader" Bar Code

We have 20 display cases. When we get a major donation, we do a display on the donor and like to leave it up so the family and friends can see it. Like the guy who just gave $100,000 to Council to rehab a 54-occupant troop cabin to be permanently named the "William Hillcourt -- Scoutmaster to the World -- Cabin." I think Bill would understand the display cases devoted to John Guerra and the other deceased Scouters. He was one of them - a "Red Jacket" Scouter.

Going to Nathan L. Dauby Scout Museum today for quarterly rotation of exhibits. We should start getting the Bill exhibit ready for its next appearance. "Scoutmaster to the World"

Do we need to tell our story (l'histoire) to ourselves or to others? Bill has once recognized, but has been forgotten by an organization never much interested in its actual history. (Recall nthe centenary of Scouting in 2010 - two years late for the U.S.) Boy Scouts of America, Scouting (September, 1985) at p. 26. His Silver Buffalo citation hailed him as "The Voice of Scouting." This recipient of the Bronze Wolf is known as the "Scoutmaster to the World." The Journal of Scouting History (1993) Who has surpassed him in influencing the Boy Scouting movement since?