Eagle94-A1

i forgot who it was, it wasn't KEEN, butu someone made a 'hybrid" boot that could be used for on both water and land. Saw them when I did some training, but were outof my price range. Trying to find it again, I found this http://www.rescuesourcestore.com/store/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=BO9800&sid=i4tmhu7ffhj77m6xjd784r7f77h3cnk0

Nah, just ask your friendly neighborhood librarian.

Faith, the syllabi are out for the live classes. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/515-215.pdf http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-503_WB.pdf http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-504_WB.pdf

This made my day

Sorry for the delay, Yep I recruited youth for packs and troops. I also worked on establishing new packs, a troop, and tried to get Exploring (I'm dating myself) restarted. But not only did I recruit youth, I also recruited adults. OK mostly for packs, but I did send a person or two to a troop. But My primary focus was trying to get adults on the district committee. I also worked on getting sponsors and donations for various activities the district had: day camp, camporees, district banquet, etc. I also coordinated with one brand new pack and troop and a donor to help get them off the ground. I also was able to get them cmaperships for summer camp., I also served on the training staff to help get new leader up and running. In fact, district training chair at the time is my son's SM. When no one wanted to do the awards banquet and recognize the leaders and youth I had to do all the work. I had to spend one summer working summer camp. I had to help with rechartering. Heck I volunteered to type into the data into the brand new SCOUTNET2000 system so that everything would be in on time. I even visited with the IHs like DEs are suppose to do. As for serving the individual units, we didn't have a commissioner corps. the district commissioner was also the acting chair since we went through 3 chairs in the 18 months I was a DE. And he inherited the situation that he couldn't worked on. Since I wore a 'wreath of service" I was an acting UC and helped units with problems. I had calls all hours of the day and nite. And the best wedding gift the volunteers gave me was a pledge not to call me after 10PM or before 6AM. They didn't want to wake up Grumpy I also acted as the mail man, bringing paperwork and advancement to and from the untis and the shop since I went every friday. There is a lot of behind th scenes work that the DEs do.

talk about weathermen and accurate forecasts reminds me how much I I miss Nash Roberts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nash_Roberts

We have one ASM with a weather app on his phone. I have a weather radio. that's what we use on trips. From way back when, I start checking weahter.com at the latest 2 days before a trip, Then the day before and day of.

Been dealing with this issue for some time since CSDC does a lot of advancement. I have no problems, and use those who have done it to help the others. Also some Cubs want to do the projects again because A) it's fun and B) they know whatthey are doing and ant to do a better job.

That's the goal, although, why didn't i think of using GBB's syllabus for new troop! I told the TG his job was to work his way out of a job. We now have an issue though; we no longer have a TG. The TG and the NSP are having so much fun together, the NSP elected him PL. Now I gotta get another copy of the 3d. Edition SMHB!

Bad Wolf, Like I said, in an ideal world. The DE question I can answer from first hand expereince. Some of the things i would do, depending upon the time of year are the following. 1) Recruiting. Not only youth but adults. For youth recruitment, I had to coordinate with the local school systems and arrange both the daytime visit and the Round Ups. Then I had to conduct both. Grant you I focused mostly on elementary schools and Cub Scouts, but I also did middle schools and other More later

Bad Wolf, In an ideal world, the district helps units out a lot. They provide a commissioner corps that helps units out that are having issues and need help. Districts provide training opportunities for the leaders so they can provide a better program. Yes some training can be done online, esp. CS specific, but a lot does need to be done in a classroom. Districts provide activities for the units to participate in. Whether it's a Cub Scout Day Camp, or a district camporee, districts do provide the youth, as well as adults, opportunities for fun. Districts provide Round Tables where the latest information can be presented to leaders about events, changes in program, etc. Districts assist in recruitment. Districts have DEs. OK sometimes the DE is an idiot. But a good DE is worth their weight in platinum. There is a lolt that in an ideal world that districts do.

One of the things I've learned over the years is that being a SM is not, in the traditional sense of the words, a "science", but an "art." Things that are done in one area, may not work in another. As a SM, you got to know your Scouts and adapt to them. Best example is the New Scout Patrol. I told you about my 2 negative expereinces with it back in the day with my troop growing up. Specifically when I was the PL for them (today it would be called TG since I was appointed by the SPL; this was before NSPs and TG were in the literature), and when I brand new troop of 8 Scouts wanted to work with us until they could get their feet on the ground ( they ended up merging with us and splitting the "troop" amongst my troop's existing patrols). It didn't work. Today however, my son's troop uses the NSP. It's effective. Is it perfect, No. Do we have issues at times, Yes. But overall it has worked for the troop. One of the things I encourage is to read EVERYTHING (emphasis) on the Patrol System/Method. Talk to other leaders, especially the old fogeys, about things that have worked and not worked AS WELL AS THE REASONS WHY (emphasis again). Get as much info as possible form all sources. THEN discount any that are adult oriented, except for Green Bar Bill's 6 month training regime in the 3rd ed. SMHB ( he starts off adult oriented, and progresses to fully Scout run by month 6). Work with your Scouts and use what is needed to get them running the troop.

1) WELCOME TO DA FORUMS! 2) I need to second Stosh. I didn't do BWCA, I did LaDomaine, Quebec, Canada. From the pics I've seen of BWCA, LaDomaine was just as wild back in the daywhen I did it. We were told prior to the trip that USGI jungle boots would be needed as we would be doing portages. I AM SO GLAD I BOUGHT MY ALTAMA JUNGLE BOOTS! (emphasis, ok maybe a little shouting with joy ) They provided enough support, and wouldn't come off. I've done 3 week-long fifty-milers and multiple weekend and day trips wearing jungle boots. I've had no problems. In fact this past weekend doing canoe training with the troop, we had one Scout with tennis shoes on that came off in the mud. I had no fears. 3) WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT BUY THE CHEAP ROTHCO IMITATION JUNGLE BOOTS!!!!!!!!!! (DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER!) I was footing the bill myself for the trip, and was pinching pennies. I SCREWED UP AND GOT THE ROTHCO IMITATION JUNGLE BOOTS! Within a week of buying them, I was doing a canoe training for the trip, and the sole of one of the boots ripped partially off the boot due to mud. Thankfully the place let me exchange them for the ALTAMA JUNGLE BOOTS. 4) I do not remember how long the first pair or second pair of ALTAMA JUNGLE BOOTS lasted. Old age is getting to me . At one point I had both pairs at the same time. But my current, only pair I've had for about 7 or 8 years now. If I didn't have 3 Scouts to support, I'd get a second pair today 5) I have the condura cloth and not the cotton duck cloth boots. There is apparently two types of the boot: a Military Spec (condura) and Commercial Spec ( cotton). I'd stick with mil spec. http://www.amazon.com/Altama-Footwear-6853-Leather-Cordura/dp/B00471622S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432297550&sr=8-1&keywords=altama+jungle+boots http://www.amazon.com/Altama-4155-Black-Jungle-U-S/dp/B005343NTI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1432297550&sr=8-2&keywords=altama+jungle+boots

Don't remind me. I use to work for National Supply once upon a time, and I scratched my head a lot with someof the stuff they were marketing. Anyone remember the Arrow of Light belt buckle for a leather belt?

Right now, I'm willing to bet 75%+ of the folks at national became DEs in the Improved Scouting Program period. Maybe, just maybe, with the new generation of national leaders who became DEs in the 9th edition BSHB period, things will change. "There's always hope...a fool's hope." Gandalf the White.

As to the aside about the current BSHB not being interesting, I second that. When I got my BSHB, Green Bar Bill's writing got me hook, line, and sinker. I've tried to read the current one and it's blah. My son, got it, read a few pages, and now only looks at it when he has to. Going back to retention, and spinning advancement into the mix as well, When all the hoopla of NSPs and Operation First Class came out in August 1989, Read somewhere how this was based on those Scouts getting First Class within a year tend to saty longer and it's best to keep all the new scouts together workign on First Class. My initial thoughts were, "How many of the Scouts dropping are in "Hiking and Camping troops" that are doing outdoor activities every month?" That is what kept me active. As for the concept of NSPs, I am wondering if the concept came about from LDS units and their separation of 11 year old Boy Scouts from the rest of the troop? Again you never heard of a New Scout Patrol in any of the literature until 1989, and when my troop was being a guinea pig for it in 1987, we dropped it after a year as it did not work as well as what we had been doing, i.e. mixed age patrols.

One word: fear. Before the Dale decision in 1999, I had a CO tell me that when the charter expires, they will no longer charter the pack. Reason being they were afraid teh Dale decision would go aganist the BSA and their religious beliefs. No matter what I said, i.e. you (the CO) have the ultimate decision in who the leaders are within the pack, their concearn was that whil they could chose and trust their own leaders, they couldn't trust the leaders of other units when the units were involved in distirct and council level events. They were afraid that leaders in other untis would try to harm their Scouts.

What about Nitro-9? Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Yes I am. I liked the video at the time, but now I have a feeling I am going to get some ribbing. And I'm not in a red beret, which I don't have, or my gray British Air Scout beret either. But I do attract attention with the "piratical costume" I'm in.

An aside, that was the Centennial Parade in DC back in 2010. And I get another 3 seconds of fame

As someone mentioned the concept of a New Scout Patrol where all the new scouts are in one patrol, is concept that came out in 1989. When Scouts joined a patrol, they joined with folks they knew or met in Scouts. None of the guys in my patrol were in my neighborhood or school. One patrol welcomed me and I was with them until my troop attempted a NSP which didn't work for us. This was in 1987. When the NSP cxoncept cam out in '89, we were rather surprised. Yes we split up Webelos dens. We had them buddy up with one of the scouts for a meeting and a camp out. they were part of that patrol for the night and campout. And when the time came, they would go with their new buddy into the patrol.

I've seen the pogey cords on NYLT folks in my council too. Different colors though on one guy: orange and blue. It was suppose to designate NYLT course and their patrol. I know when I did BA22, we had a pin with yarn attached to it in lieu of patrol medallions. When I staffed JLT, we ribbon and pins. Except for the youth staff. We wore a blueon white poka dotted ribbon around our Smokeys. Old fogeys on staff didn't need no stinking ribbons

I was placed in the middle of s situation like this as a DE way back when. To this day I do not know the entire story as it happened before I got the position. I just had to deal with it, and unfortunately get the blame by some for the matter. One story I heard is that one long term volunteer didn't like the SE and confronted him about some policies regarding the local camp, and got his membership revoked by national. Another story was an accident happened at camp, and when the long term scouter went to find out what's going on in regards to accident insurance and claim, for whatever reason it would not be paid ( One version was the council didn't pay accident insurance for the event, another twas the leader was violating G2SS and insurance would not pay, AGAIN I DO NOT KNOW (emphasis), and the scouter confronted him and got his membership revoked. Like I said, I was kept out of the loop. Heck I didn't find out the Scouter had a restraining order allowing him to continue as a leader until the court case was resolved until he showed up at RT. When I made the call to the SE, that is when he told me about him being a member temporarily. Anyway becasue the BSA is a private organization, it can accept and reject members and leaders was how the court decided.

Not so long ago, one of the recruiting posters for Cub Scouts was... ... A "Personal Water Soaking Device" fight. And I know NRA officials who have no problems with water guns.

Good luck!