ZScout5

Our regular COH are weekday evenings in the middle school commons where we normally hold our meetings. Summer COH is at a local forest preserve picnic shelter. Eagle COH are often at the Eagle's church, with little or no fee. However, some do not belong to a church. If the school is used weekdays, no fee. If it is used on Sat or Sun (when most want to have the COH), they charge $300 because the janitor has to be there. No CO location as we are a "friends of" group, loosely associated with the school.

Without the hall rental cost, upgrades, and food other than cake/lemonade, the Eagle COH comes to around $500. Hall rental can be $0-300, troop pays $50 towards this (not included in the base $500) Ceremony and gift items: Invitations, printing, stamps, programs, printing, congratulatory letter book with sleeves, medal plaque, engraving, merit badge array (frame and mat with eagle certificate mounted along with one of every merit badge earned), Eagle neckerchief and slide, engraving for troop Eagle plaque, Eagle ribbon for troop flag, American flag flown, eagle scout history scroll, corsage and boutinier for parents. Reception: 5 balloon displays for tables, eagle paper goods(plates, napkins), half sheet decorated sheet cake, coffee, other drinks, other desserts or cookies Family pays for: Extra flowers, mentor pins, other food and decorations, guest book, thank you cards, most of hall rental, upgraded cake, extra invitations, extra or larger programs Council benefactor provides Eagle kit. Crazy, isn't it!?

I am trying to get an idea of what other troops pay for when it comes to Eagle courts. It seems to vary greatly. Agreeing to help our troop, I discovered that families were paying around $100, while the troop was spending $500+! Plus the troop does all of the coordination. To me this is outrageous. Committee discussion led to agreement that the family should be paying more. However, after going through it all, the troop cost has only gone down to about $350. What does your unit pay for?

Our pack has used the kits at CubItems for years. Plaque, engraved plate, and arrow for you to customize for under $50. Den leader or Cubmaster will do the traditional painting, though a few times they've used hanging beads. I know there is also a VERY nice woodburned plaque out there, but it was just too expensive for us. Z

It is too bad that National continues to have issues with their different departments working together to time things right. It was announced that the requirements for this badge would be out in time for scouts to be able to earn at summer camp. Well, the requirements were just posted this week. Many troops leave this weekend for camp. Although our scout shop was able to get the mb emblem in last week, the mb pamphlet is unavailable and on backorder. If this had been timed right, supply would have been able to get the pamphlet into scouts hands by now. How can you announce a badge without already having the requirements set, and the pamphlet almost ready to go to print? At launch start date, councils should already have the requirements so they can recruit counselors and shops should have their supply of pamphlets and badges in stock ready to go. Z

Mentioned this in another thread. Here's where to find more info: www.scouting.org/messengersofpeace.aspx Z

New Cyber Chip Program for Cub and Boy Scouts (no kidding) Cubs: blue shaded patch and certificate card Different requirements for Grades 1-3 and Grades 4-5 Boys: green shaded patch and certificate card Different requirements for Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12 www.scouting.org/cyberchip Haven't delved deeply into the requirements or resources yet. What do you think about this? Z

The Troop Membership Chair on the committee is already responsible for pack relations, but often some of this falls to one of the ASMs. I believe the Pack Membership Chair also has simular responsibility in reverse. No new positions needed, just making sure someone is doing it.

It would be nice to have a heads up. Looking over the National strategic report is vague on this point. The only hint is that all ranks, programs will be change to incorporate New health and fitness aspects as well as further promote environmental stewardship. Also, as seen from many of the merit badges scheduled to come out, technology is embraced and best practices for using technology in the program are being developed. Finally, it is a major goal for BSA to be considered the top youth org for leadership development. Put these altogether and who knows what we'll get.

CS Leader How to Book or Google space derby track plans.

Would be nice if the National Advancement team used a medium that is accessible by most people. One you don't need to open an account and give authority to collect your info. Not Twitter or Facebook. How about an Advancement FAQ or update page on scouting.org like the training times.

Info on how to edit posts would help too. I was able to do it once a few months ago, but now I don't remember/ can't figure out how.

The only packs I know where the parents stay at one level and don't move up with their scout, are the LDS units. Being the x den leader or cm is a church calling and the person will be the x den leader for several years. These units also move their scouts to the next rank individually on their birthday, not all together at the end of the school year. Their are scouts coming in/exiting a den all the time. However, since the dl continuously runs the same program year after year, 2 scouts may move up at two different times of year, but at their next bd when they move up, they will have received the same total program. Having a leader who is experienced and is comfortable with the program is the advantage of not moving leaders up with their scout. I think that not moving would be difficult in a traditional unit. In the example of a troop ASM being the Webelos den leader, does the dl have a scout in the pack or do the two units share a Chartered Org?

I am sure that you will all be excited to know that they are coming out with a Messengers of Peace ring emblem to go around the World crest.

While we haven't scheduled anything over Christmas or Spring break, we've considered it for a 3 day weekend that includes a holiday like president's day. Last month the troop camped May 11-13, Mother's Day weekend. I thought it was fine, great even, I had the house to myself and my boys and husband arrived home with chocolates. This weekend is our anniversary, and they are going camping. Again, house to myself, they've already given me flowers, and husband and I will probably go out for dinner Sunday. One of the council resident camps starts on Father's Day. No shortage of dad/scout campers (Webelos), and I know several troops leaving for summer camp that day as well. A lot depends on your families. You may want to ask the scouts what they normally do for the holiday they would miss. For holidays like Mother's Day, ask what they are going to do when they get back.

I agree with 2cubdad. Our council has issued a number of special patches that are shaped like a council shoulder patch. Ones for different levels if FOS, Eagle Dinner, Scout Camp, events, etc. These are commemorative patches that are not for uniform wear. They may go on a cub's patch vest, in a scrapbook, in collector pages, or a memorabilia box.

Attendance at pack activities usually goes way down in summer, figure only 25-50% will attend. I would suggest having the Graduation in May before school lets out. Than have a family sport day, fishing Derby, campout, or other activities during the summer. Whether or not you get RSVP for these is not as much of a headache. Save Big Events for the rest of the year. We have automated emails go out from scouttrack about events and deadlines, announce at pack meetings and have sign up sheets, and hand out quarterly calendars. There are still families who will call to sign up last minute. As Cubmaster you really shouldn't have to deal with the RSVP part. That's supposed to be handled by someone on the committee, usually the activities/outings coordinator. I know volunteers often end up doing more than their registered position entails, but don't beat yourself up over things you can't control (other people's priorities and response) and just plan a great program for your son and the other scouts who show up.

Page 20 of the most recent printing 2011 (bright yellow cover) is BLANK.

We have been told that there is a glitch in the system regarding CPR, and there is suppose to be a note on the first page that makes note of this. CPR requirements are the same, so if you choose "other" as the activity type- the CPR warning is invalid. However, it is valid for the main options. Not sure about ypt warning on nonregistered adults. Will find out when we do our first online one using the New system next week.

On a very rare occasion a scout might be given a few extra weeks to finish up a rank, though moving to the next rank is not dependent on earning the previous rank. Any electives worked on over the summer should be for the next rank. Rank year June 1 - May 31. When a scout earns a rank, all the electives he has completed since June 1 can then be applied to tiger tracks/arrowpoints. The scout can continue to work on electives to apply to tracks/points until the end of the school year. Presentation of the rank or the pack's banquet does not signify that a scout is to start working on the requirements for the next rank- not until June (or day after last day of school, which in some areas may be in the end of May).

Ok, so Webmaster and Leave No Trace Trainer has been added to Crews/Ships as well. Still do not think the patch will look right on Venture or Ship uniform shirts, as the colors seem to be meant for the tan uniform shirt.

Venturing does not have a LNT POR. It is only for youth in troops and teams.

You can order custom patches from the scout store. Minimum of 12 for $6 each. Or purchase the blank patrol patch and draw on them with fabric paint or ask a local embroidery store for a quote. You can also call national supply (scoutstuff.org)

4theboys- do you mean that you give the parents adult applications aren't the Tiger scouts get neckerchief/slide, or are you handing out those items before you have a completed youth application for the New tigers in hand? Seattle- you have your roundup rather early, especially for kindergartners. Although you can turn in the applications for the Ks in April and May, the prorated fee should be figured on a June 1 join date when these boys are considered 1st graders and the registrar can enter them into the system. Until then they are guests of the pack at pack meetings and activities. They cannot earn Bobcat, Tiger beads, or any official awards until after June 1 when they will be registered. (I know LDS units put boys into/between dens based on birthdate, not grade) I like the idea of a rank changeover ceremony in May or June, and their ranks haven't been held back to present now.

Eagle, Check your myscouting profile to make sure your council#, unit#, and member ID have been entered. This might clear up the tour plan.