ZScout5

Our troop meets in the cafeteria of a middle school. The only thing that gets stored there are the troop flags/stands. In summer we meet at the picnic shelter of a local forest preserve. No place for Librarian to store materials.

Only the SPL and PLs are elected. All other positions are appointed. With the current size of your troop: 1 PL/SPL who is in charge. He assigns tasks to the other scouts to make sure everything gets done. No TG needed. Maybe a scribe. Annual program planning conference- all scouts participate Planning troop meetings and monthly campout program details- set aside one troop meeting a month (or part of a troop meeting) to plan the specifics for the following month. You could have everyone participate until you have enough scouts for 2 patrols, but I would recommend the PL assign 2 or 3 scouts each month to work with him to plan the troop meetings and campout for the following month.

That makes sense I guess. Though right now I wouldn't want to rely on the Librarian bringing it to the meetings or being the only one with a copy.

I think you've zeroed in on the real issue (scouts and parents hadn't been prepared and known what to expect at the boy scout level). Now you can work with the WDLs and the Scoutmaster to try to make sure families are better informed about the boy scout program to avoid culture shock. You have some good ideas on this. Might also want to plan several Web den-troop outings and give them a copy of the troop's calendar early in Web 2 year.

March, which in our district is late-many cross their W2 in Jan or Feb. However, for the neighboring district this is early. Most of those packs cross in April or May. My son was a little bored the last 6 months and could have crossed with AOL and 10 1/2 in Dec. But he wanted to stay with his friends in the den and complete the 1 or 2 badges he had left. What would those scouts struggle with? Since badges are done with the den, they don't have to wait on mom and dad to make time to do achievements. AOL is only 7 pins and a few other requirements. I cannot fathom not being able to complete it in 20 months. (June 2009 - Feb 2011) Maybe the issue is really that the scout or parents are losing interest, value other activities more, or don't see the point of finishing since they don't plan to cross to boy scouts. I don't believe changing your crossing date will solve anything.

You will no longer need to enter DL#s or insurance amounts. There will still be a paper option, just like there is for advancement. However, the expectation is that most will use the online system. There will still be times when a tour plan must be submitted. However, BSA councils will no longer be Approving tour plans. They will review them for needed leadership and training and will let the unit know of any deficiencies. It then becomes the unit leadership's responsibility/liability to make sure the deficiencies are corrected before the trip takes place. I do not believe that myscouting/scoutnet training records will be linked, at least not yet.

The official POR description "The troop librarian oversees the care and use of troop books, pamphlets, magazines, audiovisuals, and merit badge counselor lists." MB counselor lists??? I thought only the SM and Advancement Coordinator were to have these lists. The SM gives scouts contact info for 1 or 2 counselors when giving a signed blue card to start a badge. Anyone able to shed some light on this?

Sounds great, but $400 not including transport to/from! Rather expensive even for those living near.

That is a very interesting question - What happens to all the blue cards and paperwork the council collects? I have no idea, but the volume is mind boggling, especially with our council being rather large. One might think that the council is checking blue cards to be sure they were earned with registered counselors. However, the majority of them are nearly unreadable. Plus it is the unit's responsibility to make sure their scouts are going to registered counselors. I think I might try to find out where it all goes. Z

Why do you need a name strip at all? A nametag is not a required part of the uniform. I suggest the following: Troop meetings, COHs, indoor functions - official plastic nameplate, which goes on the right pocket flap unless you are an OA member with lodge flap on the pocket flap Campouts, backpack trips, canoeing, etc. - no nameplate, name strip, or pins required. If you absolutely feel you must - red on tan. I agree that the nameplates are not always practical and know many people would like BSA to offer a cloth option. So far they have not listened to volunteer opinions on this.

For those that wonder why we need advancement reports, I found this on a council website. (I do not make policy, as an employee I am required to follow it) Whenever you purchase certain advancements, it is the policy of the Boy Scouts of America that the awards be placed on an Advancement Form. We often get questions as to why do we require this. There are a number of valid reasons. 1. The Advancement Form requires the signatures of members of the committee, board of review (for Boy Scouts), and the unit leader. This ensures that the Scout has actually earned the award that they are requesting. This also prevents a parent from just coming in to pick up the award without being approved by the unit. 2. The record of this Scout's achievement is recorded into his personal file with his membership ID. This will allow his records to be transferred to Boy Scouts when he graduates or to another pack or troop if he moves. 3. We can make sure the Scout is registered in Scouting. This may seem obvious but, on average, 5% of all active Scouts are not registered in Scouting. Their application may not have made it to the office before they earned their first award, their name my be misspelled in our system, or they may have been accidentally dropped from the roster at recharter time. All these factors can cause a gap in that Scout's tenure. We check every youth advancement to make sure our Scouts are registered properly. Advancement Reports help us accomplish that. 4. Eagle Scouts: When the Scout reached the rank of Eagle, they have to include a record of all their advancements and the dates they were earned. If there are some missing or not accurately recorded, it can delay the Eagle Scout process and hold up that Scout' s recognition. Also, if the Advancement Reports are properly recorded, the Scout can retrieve all his advancements to use as a part of the program for his Eagle Ceremony. Historically, packs and troops have been allowed to "stockpile" advancements in order to present the awards to the Scouts and then send in an Advancement Report later to catch up the records. This practice was wrought with problems as reports were not sent in, the dates on the reports did not coincide with the actual awarding of the badge, or not all the necessary awards that require a report were recorded. A change was made by the Boy Scouts of America. All rank advancements (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, Arrow of Light, Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle, and Eagle Palms, along with the Varsity and Venturing awards), merit badges, and Webelos Activity Pins must be recorded on an Advancement Report under that Scout's names that earned the award. You will not be allowed to purchase these items without a properly completed advancement report. Other recognitions do not have to be included but it is recommended to put everything on the form by Scout. This gives you a backup record of what the Scout has earned.

Are the councils that do not require turn in of blue cards the same councils that require a scout to turn in a photocopy of his blue cards with his Eagle app or to bring all his blue cards to the Eagle BOR?

Internet advancement still requires one copy be turned in. Replacements-we check the scout's record. Same thing with trained patches-we check the leaders training. Instant recognition-yes. Congratulations right away. Rank or badge at next troop or pack meeting if possible. Announcement/attaboy at Blue/gold or COH. Yes, the staff gets to know some of the unit leaders. This does not change policy and I do not see a problem with asking adults to follow policy and fulfill their leader responsibilities. We ask our scouts to do this, yes? One major issue is that often the reports would not get turned in later. Units would want to purchase AOL for scouts not having Webelos recorded, ranks but no Bobcat, etc. The store staff really didn't have time to check everyone's record. We require the paperwork, it is clearly posted in the store that this is a national policy, and lists of those items needing to be on a form are available. We have held paperwork and mbs until the blue cards are turned in. Internet advancement has really helped- units can see what needs to be recorded and can catch things like no Bobcat when entering a rank-many fewer errors overall. Part of the problem is training being too general. Even the in class committee training did not discuss recharter, advancement procedures, or tour plans.

Game Design is coming in 2013. It was already announced in national communication to councils. I did find programming and animation listed on another council's page as planned. I agree that these could be combined in one badge-just not sure what you would call it. I am not surprised by this, not after video game beltloop/pin came out for cubs. BSA is also getting into STEM initiatives-thus more tech badges like robotics. The scouts love them I know, but I thought we were trying to get them off the electronics and into the outdoors!? Thank goodness outdoor badges like kayaking and s/r are coming too. I would also like to see Carpentry come back, along with updates to the trade-based badges. There are STEM based Explorer programs-BSA could promote increasing the number of this type of Post.

I have been surprised to hear some posters state that their councils do not require advancement reports to purchase ranks and merit badges. A quick search did not find any councils that did not state that they require the adv report. These items are restricted and page 16 of the Guide to Advancement 2011 states -" All badges of rank, merit badges, Eagle Palms, and Venturing awards are restricted items. Unit leadership may not purchase these insignia for presentation without having filed an advancement report with the local council." Are the councils/stores that are not requiring the adv reports unaware of the national policy or just not following/enforcing the policy? My council has required the adv reports for ranks, awards, and mbs as well as blue cards for mbs since before I started purchasing awards 5 years ago. I think that you would have a lot of incorrect scoutnet scout records, especially missing items, without having to turn in an adv report. Doesn't this cause headaches when a Life scout checks his scoutnet report in preparation for completing the Eagle application?

Saw an interesting statistic recently: Current average age of scout earning Eagle - 17.6 years Average age of scout earning Eagle 1940' s - 14.9 years - and I believe this was before scouts were entering troops at 10 1/2. Meeting the timeline takes less than 2 1/2 years. Why is it again that so many scouters think scouts should have to be 16+ before earning Eagle and that 13-15 yr old Eagles are heresy? Z

There is not a unit section of the official blue cards. Three parts: The counselor's record The applicant's record (scout keeps) The application for merit badge That last part is turned in to the council office with the advancement report, either manual or internet version. You must turn in a report with the blue cards or you will not be allowed to purchase the merit badges. Units are not supposed to use worksheets or photocopied requirements instead of the blue cards. The only exceptions made are for Jamboree printouts, merit badge university sheets, and summer camp printouts. When a scout moves to another unit, he can ask for a copy of his Scoutnet report and a copy of his troop records. (Printout from Troopmaster or other program if the unit uses one)

Thanks for all the suggestions. We would be using these tents for summer camp, monthly campouts, and possibly short backpacking. For high adventure such as canoeing or Philmont, we have some smaller, lightweight tents. The tents need to be easy to set up and be ok in many types of weather. We are in Midwest - lots of wind and rain, hot and humid in summer, and can get pretty cold late in spring/early fall. Anyone have experience with tents from Cabela's? Currently on my list are Kelty Gunnison 4, Alps Taurus 4 ( 3 versions), and Marmot Limelight 4 or Limestone 4. Z Fiberglass vs Aluminum vs DAC poles? Nylon vs polyester?

#1 is invalid for two reasons: There is no established expectation that the QM clean out the storage area every x months. If the scout was not counseled during his position that he was not meeting expectations, continued to not meet expectations, and subsequently removed-then the leadership tenure counts. #2 is invalid as adding to requirements. It is not a Life requirement, nor the job of the QM to plan meetings and campouts. 5 months is unreasonably long. Is this a younger scout? I hope the scout received a written explanation for the board's decision, including what they want him to do before coming before the board again, and reference to which written requirements he did not meet. However, I'm not sure what you can do? Does your council run BOR training? Perhaps suggest that the BOR trainer or district advancement person run a BOR class either at roundtable, training pow wow, or at least for this new committee. Or have a talk with the COR. Hoping other Commissioners will have suggestions for resolving.

There will be only one cub leader knot, but it will be like the youth religious knot...devices will be worn on the knot for earning the award at different levels. Be sure to check that you have the most recent progress records from scouting.org. The requirements have been updated. If you have leaders that meet the knot requirements, encourage them to fill out the form. However, knots are a council level acknowledgement. Units should be regularly acknowledging and thanking their leaders. Give them certificates of appreciation, service stars, bring them up and thank them at blue/gold and courts of honor. At the end of the day, though, we are all supposed to be in it for the scouts. They do not care if you have any knots on your uniform, they care about the experience we are providing for them.

Our council has heavily promoted this tool. Staff has worn t shirts with the address on it, includes it on recruiting yard signs, and has reminded units to update their pin and contact info regularly. The troop has already had one new scout join by using this tool to find and contact us. However, now I think council needs to get the word out on this to the community and not just to scouters.

One thing I don't like about the Timberline is that it doesn't have a full rain fly. However I see now that there is an optional vestibule, so this tent may go back on our list of possibilities. Does the fly go all the way down in the back?

It's time for our troop to start looking to replace some tents. I've read through the tent recommendations in another thread, but would like to know which tents others have found work well for the scouts. We currently have A frame tents that are easy for the scouts to put up. This seems great, especially since our previous troop purchased some that were very difficult to put together. However, there aren't many options. We would be willing to give some on ease of setup if the other features are good. One more thought - Would having a frames for the first year scouts and different tents for the others be good or bad?

It won't matter as much soon...all the den leader knots are being consolidated into one knot.

Our council has the districts hand out a knot with certificate at roundtable. At the council store, trained patches and knots are behind the counter and the required training or award must be in scoutnet in order to purchase the patch or knot. Units may announce that a leader has earned an award, but it is not their place to purchase and hand out the awards. District must sign off and approve the award, have it entered into scoutnet, and usually purchase and hand out the award.(This message has been edited by ZScout5)