ZScout5

I'm guessing that the time delay is to use up stock of old handbooks and draft/produce new ones. Plus there are several changes going to be made and it makes sense to redo the publications all at once.

Last time I did an online tour plan, it said you have to have at least 2, and a ratio of 1 adult for every 10 youth. For Cubs, some district and council events will ask for a 1 to 5 ratio.

Yes, parts A & B for ALL participants - scouts, parents, siblings. Yes it can be a PITB. Note that there is a new form. (4 pages long) You do know that overnighters require a tour and activity plan? There must be at least one registered leader with youth protection, hazardous weather, and BALOO training for Cubs. There is a spot on both the paper and online versions to verify that you have collected both a permission form and a medical form from each participant. (this also applies to many day events) If you check this off but have not actually collected these forms, guess who becomes liable? Tour leader(s), committee chair, and chartered rep/org. In large packs, collecting forms for outings can be more work than one person can handle. It helps to: Collect all scout medical forms at the start of each school year. (They are used to filling out these types of forms for school) Have a permission form template that you can update and hand out prior to each outing. (school field trips require these as well) Collect a medical form from the parent(s) that attends day outings. Then when you have a family event you will only need to collect forms from the other parent and siblings. You could ask the den leaders or a parent from each den to collect the forms from their den. Bring extra blank permission and medical forms to the outing. If necessary, they can be filled out then. Our district holds a family camping night in September. They require us to turn in a copy of the medical forms for everyone. This takes the heat off us, gives us most of our families' forms at the beginning of the school year, and helps get families in the habit of having to turn in these forms. IMHO it is dishonest to hold a pack event but call it a family outing, and lame to do this to avoid some paperwork.

A tournament implies multiple teams and games to eliminate teams down to two. These two play a playoff game for an ultimate winning team. This is similar to baseball. You could also have multiple games without tournament elimination, just play for fun.

New BSA Guide to Awards Insignia. #614937

There are new washable wool jac shirts in both red and green. The ones on sale are probably the old style red ones that are not washable as they are all wool. The old one used to sell for at least $100. The new ones are around $70.

There was a Centennial Nylon Supplex uniform shirt and a Centennial Nylon Supplex Switchback pant. Both are now on closeout and discontinued. The nylon has been replaced by the new microfiber shirt and switchback pants. There is a fit difference between the nylon and microfiber versions. One other option exists. There is a Poplin shirt and Canvas convertible (switchback legs) pants.

I expect that the yellow/blue cs female leader uniform will continue to be mentioned for awhile as it is still widely available. Unlike the Nylon Centennial uniform, it has not been steeply discounted or moved to closeout. The uniform sheets show patch placement for the sleeve for both the ODL/microfiber and the Centennial uniforms, as well as show one woman in the yellow/blue version. I have heard that a new Awards/Insignia Guide is in the works National definitely needs a technical advisor for all photographs. Can't tell you how many errors I've spotted. of(This message has been edited by ZScout5)(This message has been edited by ZScout5)

Online Insignia Guide www.scouting.org/scoutsource/media/insigniaguide.aspx IG page for temporary insignia www.scouting.org/scoutsource/media/insigniaguide/03.aspx Scroll down to the temporary insignia heading 2010 uniform inspection sheets www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/home/media/forms.aspx Scroll partway down the page. I apologize for not making these links- haven't figured out how to do that yet. Z

Both the online IG and the 2010 printed version match. Only female leaders may wear temporary insignia above the right pocket. Another example of inattention to detail leading to the uniform inspection sheet not conforming to IG regulations. As the IG is the source document for the inspection sheet, I would follow the IG.

Unit leader award of merit was updated a while ago to include Cubmaster.

SF, you are correct according to the inspection sheet. I still do not understand the reasoning behind singling out the Cub leaders for different treatment.? In contradiction, the insignia guide only gives exception to female leaders. Female leaders wearing either the traditional yellow Cub Scout leader blouse, the optional tan leader blouse, or the Venturing blouse, may wear one temporary insignia centered above the Boy Scouts of America strip.(This message has been edited by ZScout5)

Cub Scout leaders may only wear temporary patches on the right pocket, just like everyone else-NOT above. The only exception I've heard of is for women, since it might accentuate a certain part of their anatomy. However, I have not seen any women do this, and I think parents might think that because the leader wore a patch above the pocket, that the scouts can too.

The default contact on the site is the local council (the DE). If the DE is the one calling, it means that the units in your area have not put their info on the site so that contacts are sent to unit leaders instead of the council.

I think shipping would kill your profit. It can really dig into profit for units that live within driving distance if you have to have it shipped. I take it that you don't want to do popcorn? Our pack was able to pay for almost everything with just popcorn commission. In this area, packs do popcorn and troops do wreaths plus either a pancake breakfast or spaghetti dinner. However, those are hard to pull off with a smaller unit or one with low parent involvement. Have you checked out some of the other fundraiser suggestions in Scouting Magazine? Our local athletic teams and music group sell coupon books or discount cards with local businesses. Example of one is AdrenalineFundraising.com

Brewmeister- your old troop was not weak, and it appears that National may agree with your observations on today's eagle projects. In a recent Advancement News (links posted by bnelon in another thread) it states that projects that require little to no fundraising are to be preferred. In addition, while planning hours should be counted, fundraising time should not be counted in project hours. Finally, that the planning and developing part of the project is just as important as the service and leadership part.

It is not unusual for fundraising to fall short. There is a place on the project report to explain how a shortfall in funds was made up. If a fundraiser falls short, a scout may: 1. Push back work days to do additional fundraising. 2. Use his own money. 3. Ask if any of the following would be willing to help make up the shortfall- parents, relatives, troop, troop members and parents, chartered organization, and the beneficiary of the project. No fundraising Application needed for # 2 & 3. All funds are donations to the beneficiary. IMO, there are too many people who think that an Eagle Project has to be a large, complex, expensive construction project. I have seen few that aren't construction projects, even though that is not the only type of project suggested.

Has this project already been approved by someone on the district committee, usually the Advancement Chair or special Eagle project person? If so, the fundraising element should have been discussed when the scout met with them to get approval. If not, the troop advancement chair should be able to give the scout the contact information for that person. IMHO, doing the project first is putting the cart before the horse. The Eagle Project Fundraising Application, and the Procedures and Limitations on Eagle Project Fundraising which follows will help clarify solicitation of donations. Asking for monetary donations for the project for x organization is ok, but only to secure materials. It must be made clear to donors that it is for x org. X org would be the one issuing tax deductible receipts. Any leftover funds or items purchased but unused and/or unreturnable (such as hammers and shovels), are to be given to the benefiting organization. Sounds like this unit needs to get someone trained as an Eagle Coach, or if coaches are at the District level in their council, to ask one to come talk to the SM, Adv Coord, and CC, to get them up to speed on the new processes. I know several districts here have held overview and Q & A sessions, some at roundtable.

Found T 2 1 Rank videos on scouting.org. I haven't been able to watch them yet as my computer is being repaired, but wondered how they match up to the different views on what needs to be done for T 2 1 Rank requirements? www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/Applications/RankVideo.aspx

Ok. I knew that the Unit National Camping award was discontinued. Didn't know the new award had a unit one as well. I knew that the SM should be at the program planning conference in an advisory role, but the training award says "participate in" the conference. To me, the participants are the scouts. Probably just a poor word choice on National's part. My point is my surprise that the requirement to have unit level youth leader training has been removed.

The Scoutmaster one calls for earning the National Outdoor Award. How does the Scoutmaster or unit earn this, I thought it was an individual scout award? It no longer requires youth leader training to be held, but does require participating in annual troop planning, which the youth are supposed to do. I guess the SM is just supposed to make sure the youth do this and be present? Z

JTE has training requirements for leaders. Be sure you are looking at the 2012 JTE worksheet, as some of the requirements changed from the 2011 version, including the training.

Thanks, but why are these things announced on Facebook and twitter? It is frustrating as information doesn't make it down to unit volunteers for months.

Did anyone from your unit talk to the camp program director? I think I would have done that first thing the second day if not sooner. Leaders should definitely question a bc signed off the first day and alert the pd or cd. They are responsible for the quality of the camp program. No testing of merit badges allowed. Most are justly earned. Should we start testing all, to find the few who were signed off without requirements being met? A scout is trustworthy. How can the AC go over requirements for a mb if they are not a counselor for that badge?

Scouts in a troop's Venture patrol wear the boy Scout uniform. Venturers in a Venture Crew choose their uniform, which could be a polo shirt and khakis if they want. However, there is an official uniform they may choose to use either as their main uniform, or only as class A. The Uniform used to be the same cut/style/fabric as the boy Scout uniform, but in different colors. Within the last year a new uniform has been introduced. Grey stretch switchbacks and a dk green performance fabric with back vent. I have heard mixed reviews. The pants snag easily and the shirt closes with snaps. (how hard is it to repair a broken or bent snap?!)