willhi1979

I'd encourage the kids to stay in Webelos for another year. If they've been in Cub Scouting for a while, they are likely friends with the other kids. If they crossover with those other kids, it might help their transition to a Troop. I would talk to them too and ask them what they want. Do they want to stay with the other kids or go be in the Troop? A troop wouldn't reject them, but it might not be what's best for the boys. I joined a Webelos Den at 11 years old when I was in 5th grade. I earned the Webelos Badge and Arrow of Light using the normal requirements in that year. It took longer to earn Eagle, but I don't regret the extra time spent there.

In my District, the DE also handles volunteer recruitment for the most part. If an office needs to be filled, he takes our suggestions and tries to find volunteers. He also sets the proper expectations for the candidate for District Office and makes sure that they understand what they are getting into.

One thing of note is that you have to be trained in your primary position, and your ticket is written for that position. For example, my primary, paid registration was Assistant Scoutmaster when I took Wood Badge, but I was also on the District Committee as the Boy Scout Training Chair. My committee job didn't matter, and my training requirement to attend was the ASM job and my ticket was written on that. Now, I am primary on the District Committee so if I had done wood badge now, my training requirement would be to be a trained District Committee Member and my ticket would be for that role. Hope this makes sense. It's a small distinction, but it's made for us with more than one hat. Will

A tone of secrecy exists in the OA primarily in it's Ceremonies and Induction Process. The OA uses ceremonies to assist in teaching the values of the organization, brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service. They also help the candidate understand why they were chosen, relate their experience to OA's values, and how their new obligation relates to them. They also get their sash and receive the signs and salutations of membership and the handshake. The mystery of the OA is done to protect these traditions so the new candidates do not know what will occur and so these will be new impacting experiences for them. For this reason, I believe that Scouts should not tell other Scouts what is going to occur on the Ordeal, Brotherhood, or Vigil. This isn't because something bad is going to happen, but because they do not need to know what is going to occur until it happens. It can be nerve wracking, but it makes more of an impact on their life. The same is true for leaders. However if I had a parent, religious leader, or anyone else approach me with a concern about the organization, I would sit down with them and explain things. I had a parent in the Troop I work with have questions about it, and I've offered to talk to her, but she doesn't want to listen. So if you have doubts about the organization and how it can help your Unit, read the national factsheet, look at the National web site, and if necessary, approach your lodge leadership who would be glad to talk to you about the OA. It's a great honor and leadership/service development experience for youth and adults alike.

No problem. The intent of the conference is training, competition, and fellowship. The college campuses are very good for that environment. You can check out http://event.oa-bsa.org/ to learn more about it. The National site, www.oa-bsa.org will have more information on the conference when it gets here. I'm excited and ready to go, it's always a fun time. Will

I'm on Staff working in the Ceremony Evaluations Office. OldGreyEagle, college campuses are some of the only places that could support what we do. Housing for 6000 people, rooms for multiple training courses and offices, competitions, and an auditorium for those people for the shows. A National Jamboree type environment wouldn't work well for it. I'm also sorry your experience was a bad one. There are haughty, arrogant people everywhere in Scouting unfortunately. Please try not to generalize your experience toward all of us. Some of us are not like that. Will

And another: I used to be a Bear, and a good old Bear too. And now I've finished Bearing, And I don't know what to do. I'm growing old and feeble, And I can Bear no more. So I'm going to work my Ticket while I can. Back to Gilwell, Happy Land, I'm going to work my ticket while I can -A bear who gets beaded tomorrow night!

The OA flap isn't the only patch allowed on that flap. The National Pack Summertime award is also a flap for the right pocket so some patches can be worn there. I'd personally think it in bad taste to make a temporary patch for the right pocket flap since some of the leaders who were there might be OA members. I know the OA doesn't like having other patches on that flap for obvious reasons. Will

In my District when you receive the award, you are presented with the medal. I got the medal when I earned my Boy Scout Leader Training Award, but I had to buy the knot and device for my uniform. They handout medals and certificates at Roundtables to people who have earned the awards.

In our council, you have to take TDC to be a Course Director, but it's not required of trainers. You also have to take it every three years for Wood Badge Staff.

Those ceremonies were taken without permission off a site that I used to run in college 3-4 years ago, my site is down now. I still have a folder with the copies in it that I scanned and put in PDF format. I have the word docs and PDFs on my computer I was going to try to assemble the rest of the revisions, I know where to get copies, but the projet has fallen by the wayside. I heard that something was going on with this on the National Level, but I haven't seen any information on it in a couple years. The ceremony with the unknown date was thought to be prior to 1935 by Jay Dunbar, a member of the Ceremonial Advisory Committee in the 1960's. I'd personally place it somewhere between 1925 and 1935, I will take a look at it and post any notes I had, or what I can tell from the photocopy. That ceremony along with a couple others were photocopied by Jay from some archives at the National Office and sent to me for the site. I also have/had an article describing the changes in the Ordeal Ceremony over several years. It was in the National Bulletin many years ago and written by Jay Dunbar. I'll see if I have it in electronic format, and if I do, I'll post it in the Safeguarded Forum. If anyone has any questions, please drop me an e-mail. YITB, William Highsmith willhi1979@yahoo.com

We do building the fire as a patrol/troop activity. We tie it to knife, saw, and axe and fire building skills sometimes. Doing it this way can help if you have multiple boys who need to work on it.

I think the new scouts should still participate in the election if they want to. It's possible that they go to school with the other boys or were in the same pack. It's also good PR for them to see the election. Let the boys decide on their own if they should abstain or not, don't decide for them. Stress to them the importance of the election and what it means. It should inspire them to be like the boys who get elected so they can be recognized.

In the District I am in, the project approval process is also handled inside the District. By accomplishing the project, a scout should have demonstrated leadership, and I think that the Board can use that as a measuring tape for the Scout's leadership skills. I have heard of big projects being rejected because they were not approved prior to start. Also, on the question about Eagle being taken back. The Eagle rank can be taken away by the National BSA Executive Board. There is a specific procedure for this, and it is reserved for the most extreme cases.

I've done both Philbreak and the OA Trail Crew. I did Trail Crew in 1997 and Philbreak in 2004. You can e-mail me any questions you have. My e-mail address is willhi1979@yahoo.com. If you want a general overview, just post here, and I'll give that so everyone can see it.

National did issue one in the early 90's. It was disapproved and taken out of circulation. You can still find the original and also fakes, but they are not approved for wear by the National Insignia Committee.