Bob White

The musician badge can be worn by any scout in a band or bugle corps. Nowharere does it tsay that it has to be a scout band or corps. Think of it like an interpreter strip but for musicians. The Jamboree Scout Band is not boy-run, but it is a fine all scout band none the less. BW

jr56 is incorrect. COR (actually CR)is not a district position it is a unit position that is also a voting member of the district. The CR selects and approves the CC and is the head of the COs Scouting program. If you are the CR of record then you are the CR. Go to the CC and say "this is what we are going to do....Here is who you are going to tell, here is who I will tell." Get this situation behind you and get back to delivering the program to the boys. BW (This message has been edited by Bob White)

One Hour, It sounds like you have an excellent patrol system going. What is your New Scout retention rate during the first 12 months? BW(This message has been edited by Bob White)

If you are waiting for an untrained boy to run up and grasp the reins of leadership you will have a long wait. You first have to make scouts comfortable with the idea of them being able to makje decisions by teaching them to do small tasks, giving them positive reinforcement and rewards as they gradually take on more complicated tasks. You have to lead them through leadership. You cannot just turn the program over to them and expect them to know what to do or how to do it. Thats what the program is about, using the Methods of Scouting to lead them.

If you keep the length and the explanation age appropriate for the audience, then sure. Why not?

I think there are adults who understand how to use positive reinforcements and adults who do not. I have seen far more leaders 'encourage' scouts inappropriately than I have parents. BW

Yes, at a family camp (or any scouting activity) a parent or legal guardian can tent with their family.

1. Boys 13 and under learn 80 to 90 percent of their behavior habits and leadership skills by watching the actions of others. They learn less than 20 percent by direct lecture type teaching. 2. 80 percent of the leadership skills boys after the age 14 (puberty) use were learned before the age 14. WOW Barry I must say I'm impressed. I had no idea your unit had the reseach resources to establish such definitive statistics. For the benefit of others looking to do the same would you share the entire list of all known leadership skills and behaviors and the 80 to 90% of those that the scouts learned from watching and the less than 20% that were learned best by lecture.

I had no idea it was that difficult.

If you try to make scouting fit the mold of anything other than scouting it will not work, because Scouting is unique. When done correctly it is a youth program designed to teach ethical decision making using a set of prescribed methods. When done incorrectly it is anybody's guess what is result will be, or how it will be percieved by others.

Picture the Headline... Boy Scout makes elderly woman sing I'm a Little Tea Pot for return of lost purse! If you find something that belongs to another person the Trustworthy, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Cheerful, Reverent thing to do is to return it to them, not to make them perform for you. The mission is to teach scouts how to make ethical decisions based on the Law and Oath, not how to embarrass others.

If you are referring to Order of the Arrow regalia, that would be determined by the OA executive committee. I know they constantly review the ceremomies, their appropriateness, and their authenticity. For many years the OA has cooperated with representatives of some American Indian tribes in order to have a positive representation of their culture. Until a restriction of that sort is actually announced by the OA I would not worry about it. There are always all kinds of rumors floating around that never happen.

Let me ask Bald Eagle, what is different about your son's troop program this year compared to last year, and last year compared to the year before?

John in KC I have heard council trainers as recently as a few months ago say that you had to be in uniform when traveling for your insurance to be enforced. That's hogwash also. The BSA program is what the BSA says it is not what anyone else thinks it is. BW(This message has been edited by Bob White)

I meant a workshop that might last a few hours where kids coulod learn some stage skills done in a fun way at a kids level. It could be done at a park say during the 4th of July. I would rather not go into details because it is not my project, I don't mind planting the seed but the candidate should do the nurturing. Ask him what parts of theater might excite a child's imagination?

Proving what? That the author (a volunteer) has been a victim of the same misinformation that many posters have? You knew it was a wide spread error without seeing his newsletter didn't you?(This message has been edited by Bob White)

What if he organized a a "theater day" for young children?

My guess would be, if scouts are asking to work on merit badges,is that they are not having very interesting or very fun meetings and they are looking for a solution. Its good that they want a solutio but they are looking to the wrong program element to solve their problem.

"OGE, I like your analogy of adding meat to a vegan shop and understand the implications. I guess it depends on who's running the store." Why do I suddenly feel like quoting Prof. Henry Higgins? So Prairie Scouter, who do you understand to be the people who "run the store" of scouting. Not who do you think it should be, or what your opinion is, but who do you know for sure makes these decisions in the BSA?

No you don't. That authority rests with the Charter Organization Representative or the Committee Chair. However as the Cubmaster the unit program is a main responsiblilty for you. Your input should carry some weight with them. I would meet with those two people lay out your concerns and your solution. But let them know that removing the leader is their authority and their responsibility to do if they decide in that direction. BW

Yes Temporay activity patches may be displayed on the back portion of the merit badge sash. This excludes rank emblems. Answers about uniforming and the location of BSA awards can be found in the BSA Insignia Guide available at your local scout service center. BW (This message has been edited by Bob White)

Its not that they will "turn" our children. It's that they lack the ability to fulfill job responsibilities. I wouldn't hire a lifeguard who didn't believe in swimming. "Passionate followers will of course spend their money to use the most modern methods they can afford to follow Gods word." " Who cares how passionate they are or what methods they use? That has nothing to do with the BSA. Remember they don't even need to belong to a specific church or religion. They have to accept the existence of God and be able to meet the requirements to do duty to God and be reverent. For someone who is not an atheist you certainly don't seem reverent in your comments.

Blade: I would have hoped that would be your attitude but you sent some very confusing signals such as ". I have chosen to learn about what Evangelicals believe so that I can respect them " Then you say "I don't need to study each and every religion in the world to respect them." I would hope for the later but you also said the former. BW

Hi Blazer, Wow! Tough outing my friend. First ditch the feeling that you let the boys down somehow, or that they all let you down. Unless they all ripped off the machine, which I doubt, only the unkown boy or boys who did the deed let anyone down. In fact they let everyone down. How you could have best handled it at that momont is tough to say, tempers ar high, accusations are flying. The best thing to do was apologize and leave. What to do now is to focus on what's next. My suggestions are. Make sure the the buddy system is maintained at all times in the future for everything, scouts must always have a buddy and they must tell the PL where the are going if they are going to be out of a clear line of sight. PLs must tell the SPL if they are going anywhere. Call the local police or sheriff's dept. We would take the new scouts each year for a "tour" of the jail and discuss shoplifting and other common juvenile crimes. Then we wlked them down the long hall stood the in a cell, slammed the door and walked away for a few minutes. It always made a HUGE impression. Next the SPL as the troop representative personally and sincerely apologizes to the CO for what happened. Finally I would call the camp, find out the value of the damage that was done, ask for a really lousy job for the boys to do, drive back out do the job, pay the restitution, and have each scout personally shake hands with the owners and apologize for anything his behavior did to harm the camp. No talking going up, or while the job is being done, they need time to think about what they did as a group and each person's responsubility to represent the unit, the CO, and the program. (any scout on that first campout who doesn't go back with you has to get up there with his parents and offer his apology.) Once the apologies are done, and you are back in the car, put the incident behind you for good. That would be my suggestion BW (This message has been edited by Bob White)

Nope that is one tent. Can a barrier to block the view between adults and youth as they change be created in the main cabin area? If so a separate room for the females is adequate. By the way only one of the male adults will require youth protection training