OldGreyEagle

I really like the name tag idea

Most of the troops in our District if not the Council either have their own troop hat or dont wear one. Ours is navy blue with a troop logo, town name and numerals on the front. Course the worst part of doing troop hats is getting the design approved by the parents committee.

Actually if they change the socks, they should go back to the solid green knee socks with garters/tabs, those were cool!!!

::ROFL:: NJCub MHOTY OIC its WYSIWYG without your guys I would be SITD about a lot of things. AAMOF if it werent for poster on the WWW, I would be clueless over the P&P of G2SS and what the BSA VIPs are up to at HQ in Irving. I mean as a UC I deal with the SM,ASM, JASM, SPL, ASPL, PL, PLC, and APL as well as the CC and CM's. Did I tell you guys my son is on JLTC staff? Do you think we could add a FAQ section to the forum where we could give our opinions once on a topic and have newbies read it before we go over the same turf all the time. IAC, FWIW, MGB, and TTFN. I am off to summercamp on sunday, maybe I can learn to SCUBA and operate fish finding SONAR and learn the principles of RADAR (Dedicated Dad, come back, LTNS)(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

Rather that get in the middle of something I can barely follow, I thought I would start here. What is SCOTUS? Its been referred to a few times and I dont have a clue

I would hate to see your troop lose you, but its tough to work with a prescence hanging over your back.

Chippewa, regardless of the shirt design, something you shouldnt have to defend, the real issue is much deeper. Is this guy gonna let you be scoutmaster or not? You may have to put it that way to the troop committe and be prepared for any answer, the email he sent should be enough. I think that was over the top. Either he does it all or you do, this nonsense has to stop.

I "kinda like" the uniform the way it is insignia wise. The uniform helps tell the history of the program. Now, the technical improvements that have been discused, why I am all for that. Better fitting pants, gear you can use on the trail, all sorely needed. I am not sure the strips on the shoulder for rank would be a good idea. One strip Tenderfoot? one strip is also Private in the Army. Two strips second class? two strips is Corporal in the Army and of course 3 strips is a sergeant. If the star and heart are worn for Star and Life rank, what goes on for Eagle? And it would be a good idea if the Eagle didnt come close to the First Airbourne Logo. Given the push to not be "paramilitary" I dont think rank on shoulders is a good idea. Then again, I dont understand why people would think we are a paramilitary organization, just because we salute the flag in uniform, have troops that are composed of patrols, patrol members have ranks, we have reveille in the mornign and colors in the evening and taps at night and our founder was a military man... By the way, I wouldnt change any of the above

I heard a rumor that the Bronze Award is being redesigned into medals from the ribbon pins they are now, could any one confirm or deny that?

If the boys designed and approved it, and you passed it as well and the troop committee said it was ok to do, I am not sure what more needs to be done. I'd say you were right and the committee needs to let the boy lead troop be lead by the boys, Unless of course they think the design is gonna be a Vargas girl or soemthing, but then what confidence does that show in you?

I am not sure if we want to reveal our secrets to success to just any one mom, I mean, having an active outdoor program (One campout a month along with at least one other activity) following the patrol method and being a boy lead troop, Dedicated Dad(s) who enjoy each other's company. I mean if we let that secret out, it could change the face of scouting, but thats just my opinion, I could be wrong... One nearby troop is quietly dying, hasnt had a new scout in 3 years, the scoutmaster complains about it alot, we encouraged him to have a few scouts be den chiefs at the Cub Day camp, no one went, we encouraged him to have a few scouts turn up and help the Cub Fall and Winter events, no one came. We were there and we got cross overs, go figure huh?

Well Acco40, you will be happy to know that I do very little recruiting, our Scoutmaster served on the District training staff for Cub Scouts so I am sure the Webelos are correctly addressed. On the other hand, maybe I should recruit more? Rooster, look under the heading THE PATROL METHOD, thread "How do you use patrol method in a troop thats only as big as a small patrol?" And again Bob, I didnt mean to take your name in vain, I think thr troop runs well,but I agree, the leadership experience for the boys suffers when you get huge, its tougher and tougher not to overwelm them.(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

This is in response to a comment Bob White made, and first, I AM NOT MAD AT BOB. Bob makes excellent point about the logistics past 60 scouts, But how do you unrecruit? At this point we have 90 scouts in our troop. We have grown to this size since I and my son have been with the troop. It had about 20 when we started 5 years ago. With a combination of being boy lead and a very active program, and a few other unique factors (our adult leadership features a Pediatrician, a Dentist, A Physicians Assistant specializing in Critical Care, A liutenant in the Fire Dept, a Housing Supervisor RN, a member of a Search and Rescue team who often brings his search dog with him on outings (both did time in Sept. at Ground Zero) and a whole bunch of other talented and motivated people.) Anyway, a year ago we had 23 Weblous bridge, this year we had 26 bridge. The question is, how do we slow things down? Weblous visit us and see our program and the parents see our adult skils roster and want to join us. How do we say no? Every year we get 3-5 transfers from other troops because those boys want to be in a more active troop. We have toyed with the idea of splitting the troop, but admittedly the adults all like each other too much to split up and the fight for custody of our committee chair would define the word ugly. BTW, We have spun off a Venture Crew of 20 as well, currently 10 members and three adults are in Virginia doing a week at a Habitat for Humanity site. Then on July 28th the crew leaves for an Adventure in Maine that will include Whitewater rafting the Kennebec and Dead rivers. Does BSA have parameters for refusing membership to a troop? Its most painful to even ask it as it goes against all scouting principles. I wonder about the quality of experience we are offering, but they come anyway. We always tell new parents how big we are so they are not surprised and the response is usually along the lines of yes, you are big, but no other troop we have seen does all you do. If the other troops in our area rivaled us in program, I know our numbers will drop, but until/unless the other troop improve, what do we do? Again, I am not Mad at Bob White for his comments on troop size, he raises very valid points. (This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

We camp at the best Boy Scout Camp ever, Camp Minsi by Pocono Suummit PA. The Camp Director has been on staff in various capacities for 8 years and the boys see him as a part of the troop that we see once a year. For more information try CampMinsiRocka@hotmail.com

Sunday, July 14th we leave for summercamp. As it stands right now we have 62 scouts going and 14-18 adults depending on the day, with 12 of the same adults all week. Its beginning to scare me, does anyone with large troop experience have any tips and/or pointers? Oh,BTW, our Council Executive will be with us all week as well, will let you guys know how well he does

AMEN to what Eisley said

Mom, I dont know if this will make you feel better or not, but dont worry, it never ends. On sunday I saw my 17 year old Eagle Scout off on a week long trip his Venture Crew is doing for Habititat For Humanity. They will be working around coastal Virginia in Craddocksville ( I think, close to Oley?. Just as nervous as ever (thats me, he couldnt wait to go). If you think packing them off is hard when you think they will miss you, wait until they want to leave you in the dust. Then again, think about what the goal of raising children is, to produce self-suficient adults who can take a vital role in society. Unfortunately if we do our job they wont need us, but hopefully they will still want to be around us. Here's hoping both the boys have a great time and come back better men that when they left.

Our Council has a similar progam, actually has three levels, Scoutmaster Merit Badge,Advanced Scoutmaster Merit badge and Super Scouter merit badge The patch depicts more of a muscular Dudley Dooright in a scoutmaster uniform that anything else. Since it is a council program, our scouters wear them on the right breast pocket

Bubba buddy, dont take it too hard. Your last post there sounds like you have a lot of frustration over this issue. To ease those feelings, I have some rhetorical questions for you; Do you think there are words and arguments that could ever be made that would allow Rooster and Ed, and Bob White amoung others to accept a compromise that would allow some gays in scouts? Or for that matter words and arguments that would make TJ and littlebillie et al to agree to keep the ban on homosexuals? Will Merlyn Leroy ever see an argument that will stop his unrelenting campaign to push all mention of God, gods, etc away from anything in the least bit public supported? Actually, at this point, if any of these people ever responded to a posting against their stated view point by saying "... Gee, I never thought of it that way, you are right, Gays should/should not be in Boy Scouts I was wrong..." I think I would lose all respect for them. Its not a failing on your part or words, it just is what it is, a difference of opinion on which there is no compromise. History may prove BSA wrong, or it may prove BSA right, but it will take about a 100 years to find out, maybe then we can get a Scouter Forum Alumni Reunion Party in heaven together to talk about how it all worked out. In the words of John Kay from Steppenwolf, "... And until then, live the best that you can..." Its a wish I have for all my Scouter forum buddies and "mates" (thats for you ozemu)

Isnt it great when adults actually act like adults and do the right thing? Good going for all of you

Actually I took Scoutmaster Fundamentals and Venturing Basic

Use FScouter's post as a script, I dont have any better advice

Chippewa is right, to prevent a thread hijacking, if you have a comment on the topic of not awarding earned merit badges as punishement please go to http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewthread.asp?threadID=12381 Otherwise known as "Mr Fox Please Reconsider" Sorry Chippewa, my bad

I moved this from the How Long Does it Take thread because Chippewa is right, I dont want to hijack his thread.

Dancinfox, I take great umbrage and issue with you for denying the two phone "jokesters" the merit badges they "earned" at camp and adding to their requirements for rank advancement. Not you nor any other leader can tamper with BSA requirements. You can make them write the essay, you can make them call their parents because they need a ride home as they are no longer welcome at camp. You could have the whole situation reviwed at the troop committee level to see if a suspension or outright dismissal is warranted, but you cannot take away what is earned or add to requirements no matter how justified you feel.