TAHAWK

Beav, your observation has great value in an environment where some think elected youth leaders constitute the "method" and overlook "smaller independent functional groups." We keep reading "troop," "troop," "troop." The Patrol Method provides that planning is by Scouts in patrols and their leader in that planning and in carrying out the planned activities is the PL they elect. "The elected Patrol Leader leads his patrol in planning the patrol’s separate activities and then leads those activities with the help of the rest of the patrol." "[The patrol members] interact in a small group outside the larger troop context, working together as a team and sharing the responsibility of making their patrol a success." "Scouting happens in the context of a patrol.†"The patrol is] the place where boys learn skills together, take on leadership responsibilities, perhaps for the first time . . . ." (To anticipate, these words in 2016 do not come from God, but simply from those at B.S.A. trying to get things back to the way Bill envisioned them.)

Gee, MrBob, it seems you were right. I posted the materials in case anyone had interest in BSA's answers to the Op's question.

They appear on eBay. You must decide whether to ignore military campaign hats incorrectly ID'd as BSA. It helps to know how many inches around your head is becasue they size tag is often missing and the sellers list inches. Or they may give no info as to size. (You can ask them to measure.) Often, Scout model hats will be incorrectly ID'd as "Scoutmaster" hats, which came with a leather band.. Some come with a wood or Masonite hat press. Example from today Vintage "Official" Boy Scout Brown Felt Wool Hat Size Small 6 /78 $59.99 or Best Offer Free shipping [adult model w/ leather band]

I think we are all more concerned with the actual behavior than what label is put on it. The only label issue I have is calling adults the "leaders" of the troop, and only then because it misleads as to the adult role. So if the behavior is correct . . . The best leader of youth I ever saw was Don Farmer, the ranger/camp director/program director of Camp Clendening. He was called "Boss" by his loving staff - because he wasn't. No dining hall. No heated showers. No shelters at campsites. Waterfront a mile up and down a rocky trail at the lake. Viewed with suspicion by the SEs who could not understand why people preferred his camp to the "facilities" of the closer, built-up camp. And year after year the Scouts came to experience the program Don's staff presented. That staff was his greatest creation - men from boys. People came from four continents to the surprise party celebrating twenty-five years of his leadership.

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/membership/pdf/522-036_web.pdf Handbook for Chaplains and Chaplain Aides in Boy Scout Troops and Venturing Crews

"What is important for us [as adults in Scouting] is: NOT the food on the campout, but that the boys cooked it. NOT a sharp-looking flag ceremony, but that the boys put it together and led it. NOT that Johnny learns first aid, but that Billy teaches him. NOT that we cover everything on the meeting agenda, but that the Senior Patrol Leader is in charge. That is how they learn—even from disorganization and failure. The role of the adults is not the destination, but the journey. That is, our responsibility as adults is to promote the 'process' of Scouting. Adults understand that their role is to create a safe place where boys can learn and grow and explore and play and take on responsibilities—and fail, and get up and try again. If you were involved with Cub Scouting, this is a very different role that can take some time getting used to."

Say what?

Then there's the old WB people. They didn't learn about the eleven Leadership Skills in the second version starting in 1972 and still need to take the last quarter 20th Century Course to be cool -- or perhaps the third version. The WB world ended in 1972, don;t you know? Ask the departed. I follow the uniform rules as best I can understand them, irrational as some rules seem to me. That way I don't feel silly reciting the Scout Law.. Not sure why my following the rules upsets some as I don't get after them for not following the rules. I even ignore the Scouters with all the various pins on their collar points (but stay away in electrical storms) or the ones with nine rows of knots (custom shirts with lowered pockets). Different strokes for different folks, I say. De gustibus non disputandum est. Some like Scotch.

As the goal is to have all Scouters take WB, it doesn't seem like a very exclusive "club." But YMMV.

In helping with rechartering last time, it was clear that a number of COs regard their role as being solely a supplier of a meeting place. We were told that a couple of CORs of record simply refused to sign the recharter papers (perhaps having actually read them).

Sign facing Scouter's section of seating at planning meeting for Dorchester International Brotherhood Camporee: "If you absolutely, positively have to contribute to the planning discussion, have a cookie instead."

Three of the last five Course Directors here have been of the female persuasion. Are they admissible to the Old Joes Club?

Reserve "leader" for youth. We should be "Scouters" or "adults."

"Regional Insignia This insignia is reserved for regional officers, regional committee members, local professional Scouters, and national staff with a regional responsibility and is worn on the right sleeve in position 2. Adult regional world and national jamboree contingent staff and leaders may wear the insignia only during their assigment [sic] at the jamboree. The same rule applies to specifically designed regional insignia for a national event."

Longest journey. First step. Got it.

Hard to have a conversation about son being available without talking about son being available. I suppose someone else could have told them first.

Interesting observation, Stosh. You, at least, are probably old enough to recall that until 2000 B.S.A. had an official syllabus for a one-day, district-level training course for "Junior Leaders" call J.L.O.W. (A few councils have refused to give it up.) It contained a session titled "Welcome to Scouting's Toughest Job." The message was that the PL had the toughest job in Boy Scouting. With good PLs, the SPL had it easy and without them his job was impossible -- becasue it was the Patrol Method. The same message was in the Patrol Leader's Handbook from 1980-1990 written by some guy named "Bill" and was a theme in the week-long JLTC. https://books.google.com/books?id=2mYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA62&lpg=PA62&dq=%22Welcome+to+Scouting%27s+Toughest+Job.%22&source=bl&ots=ybXZqiOPGB&sig=8Z6x5ucISVLl8aN2vA-_K9hZtM4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwigkJCd8onOAhXJ5SYKHRQ5DOgQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q=%22Welcome%20to%20Scouting's%20Toughest%20Job.%22&f=false

The ASPL serves in the absence of the SPL. That's why a troop has an SPL. Contingencies. Otherwise, as you know, you would have no authority to appoint an SPL. The "troop" could decide to have another election, whatever that means.

Now that you mention it . . .

"Not all boys are able to join a traditional Cub Scout pack or Boy Scout troop. They may reside in remote areas of the country, live overseas, or be in a place where it just isn’t safe for them to attend traditional unit meetings. Lone Scouting may be the answer for these youth." Learning More About Lone Scouting: call or write the BSA National Council at: Boy Scouts of America 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane P.O. Box 152079 Irving, TX 75015-2079 972-580-2000"

I too like the notion of a uniformly dressed "team." I advocate for it regularly. But use of that method would be facilitated if we went back to a uniform, instead of a brand of clothing. Remember, all dressed alike regardless of social status? To quote Scoutstuff.org: Boy Scoutâ„¢ Uniform (Youth) Availability:Out of stock From:$44.41 To:$195.89 There are ways to address inability to buy even the cheap version, but lack of funds seems most trivial - an "excuse" - to those who have either missed out on poverty or feel superior for having overcome it. You do know we have Scout units that feed diner to the Scouts and Cubs in their "group" because the kids have more fun when not significantly hungry? Things look different "over there."

When I was a young Neighborhood Commissioner, the first thing I was told in training is that I was to be the SM's helper, not an enforcer for the Council or a judge in any sense. After all, the SM worked for the Troop Committee, not the Council, much less me.

Just so you know: The "unit leader" of the Scout's troop is the only relevant leader. The rules about the legality of personal "Scout [or Cub] accounts are murky - or at least BSA's explanations are murky.. . . .

Has the SM completed basic training for his position? Does the unit have a functioning Unit Commissioner? Does the Troop Committee, for whom the SM works, have trained leadership? Recognition should take place ASAP after something worthy of recognition is earned, then more formally recognized at a C o H. Can't have too many attaboys when they are honestly due.

Accepting what you say as true, It sounds like a mess to get away fro, I do want to address one issue. Council has no authority to tell a troop when it holds elections. It is expressly provided that, "Rank and age requirements to be a senior patrol leader are determined by each troop, as is the schedule of elections." Not saying it didn't happen, but I have never heard of a Council attempting to tell a unit when to hold an election.