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CodyMiller351

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Everything posted by CodyMiller351

  1. I need some help from y'all. As of right now, my Troop has 3 active scouts. We have had a rough past 2 years with our charter organization getting rid of us (due to problems with the pack). We ended up creating our own non-profit organization so we wouldn't have to find a different charter org. We have also had a change at Scoutmaster recently. I had assumed the responsibilities of Scoutmaster but since I am not 21 another one of our older leaders (also my Grandpaw) is the "official" Scoutmaster on paper. Along with the Scoutmaster leaving, we had 5 boys and 2 other adults go with him (they created a new troop due to disagreements with one of our leaders). Anyways, my main point is we need more boys. Our council set up recruiting events at schools and a local church but they were canceled due to bad weather (hurricanes). Since then, they have yet to set up any replacement events so we have had to do this on our own (which is fine but help would be nice). We have placed "Join Boy Scouts" signs at many places around town with my contact information. We also gave 2 of our scouts some info cards to hard out at school but I am not sure they have done that yet. Another reason we are having troubles is because the Cubmaster for our Cub Scout Pack does not have a great relationship with us. He is friends with one of the leaders who left and started a new troop. We have talked with the Cubmaster and he says he will stick with us and send his boys our way (we will see if that actually happens). Anyways, I am curious to see what y'all think. What have y'all done for recruiting? I am willing to try anything at this point. I have been fighting my butt off to keep this Troop up and running but to little success. I don't want to see this Troop fold but I am afriad with another year like we have been having we might have to give up. Any suggestions are appreciated!
  2. I never said every new Eagle Scout should be prepared to take over as Scoutmaster at age 18, as there is much to learn over time, that is why you have to be at least 21 to be Scoutmaster. I do think every Eagle Scout should be prepared to become a good adult leader based on experience in leadership and knowledge of how Scouting works. You do not have to be SPL or even PL to learn and become a good leader.
  3. You definitely need to have a talk with the parents. We are not a day-care service. They need to be they on time, if not early.
  4. I would not say I "already know everything". I would say that the adult leader training I have already done was completely pointless for me. I agree "more training never hurt anyone", but training on the same thing over and over which I already know and understand is useless when there are other things to train on. For the "I was an Eagle, so I know how the program runs", shouldn't that be the case. Shouldn't you learn how to become a adult leader when you are obtaining your Eagle Scout. Isn't that the point, to develop a boy into a young man and a great leader. I'm not saying you learn everything you need to (youth protection) but these leadership classes the BSA offer are things I already have learned and utilized throughout my Scouting career. Like I said in my last sentence of my original post, I said I am perfectly fine with learning more and expanding my knowledge but I am not fine with wasting my time and money going to training sessions that are of little to no use to me.
  5. I think it's time to put a end to this "family-friendly" stuff. It has it's place but they should not be allowed to go on the camping trips if they are causing problems. If they want to become official leaders and learn what they need to, then fine. This is sounding less like Boy Scouts and more like a couple parents taking advantage of y'all and just tagging alone, doing things their way. The best thing to do would be to sit everyone down and explain the problems. Try to get the parents to become actual leaders. Those who agree, great; those who don't, bye! They can find a different troop who will put up with their crap. If you do decide to find a different troop, I wish you the best of luck.
  6. I am a 19 year old Assistant Scoutmaster and some of the leaders in my Troop are trying to convince me to sign up for Wood Badge. Personally, I don't think it's necessary. I believe that since I went through the entire Cub and Boy Scout program that I should be the leader I need to be. I earned my Eagle Scout award when I was 17. After that I became a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. Once I turned 18 I became an Assistant Scoutmaster and I have been for a little over a year. A couple weeks ago I went to a day-long program my district was holding. They had a a couple classes adult leaders could sign up for. The main reason I went was for the Scoutmaster training. It must be stated that I also did not think I needed to attend this training but a few leaders believe it would be a good idea. During that training, I learned nothing that I didn't learn throughout my Scouting career. I was very disappointed but it was what I expected. It only proves my point that this "adult leader training" the BSA offers is for people who have no prior experience in Scouting and need to learn the basics. I love expanding my knowledge and becoming a better leader but I do not enjoy wasting my time and money.
  7. In my Troop, all of the scouts and leaders help if they are available. It should also be considered that we are a small troop so we usually need all the help we can get. That being said you usually don't need 50 scouts to help with an Eagle Scout Project and if you do I am interested in what the project is. That doesn't mean you can't incorporate all of the scouts in some way. Some scouts can help with planning, while some can help with fundraising, and then some can help with the actual project. This may work in some cases better than others. Ultimately, the Scout does get to decide who helps where but they should be encouraged to get more than just their "friends" to help.
  8. The only experience I have with Eagle Projects are my own and the couple other I have helped with but I think this should count as an Eagle Scout Project. I think there is a good amount of thought put into this idea. For my project, I replaced a flag pole at a church that I have no real connections to. I just needed to find something to do for a project. It sounds like your son has a great idea, the only problem (which you have already experienced) is do others consider this an acceptable project. I think it needs to be considered that some of these leaders who don't think this is a good project may just be older and set in their ways. They may think that something needs to be "built" or something of that sort. They may not understand the full meaning behind this project and what your son hopes to accomplish. Your son does not need to build anything, such as a "cabinet" for the LEGOs. I believe if your son carries out the project as you described, enough time and "effort" will be achieved to pass off as an Eagle Scout Project. The main goal for your son's Eagle Scout Project is for him to show leadership throughout the entire project. I expect your son would show the most "leadership" during the sorting the LEGOs and getting others to help. Hope this helps.
  9. I agree completely. That is just what I’ve heard from multiple other leaders throughout my Scouting career. I believe Scouting is a privilege and can be taken away from you if needed. I think that with a harder punishment and even kicking the SPL out of the troop, this kid might learn a valuable lesson about actions and consequences.
  10. I believe the SPL needs a heavier punishment, even if it leads to him being kicked out of the Troop. Some will disagree, saying that these kids (mostly the SPL) are the ones who need Scouting the most (to help "develop" them into decent people). While I agree with that statement, I also think this SPL crossed the line. I'd hope he would continue in Scouts but I would not allow him back in the Troop. The other kids might need more than probation. As Boy Scouts, they should have put a stop to that. I understand they are kids and the SPL is probably older and "cooler" so the other kids look up to him and "follow his lead". Still, they are Boy Scouts and need to be held to a higher standard. This needs to be a bigger learning lesson for them than just apologizing and being more closely watched.
  11. I’m in a similar boat to you. For our meetings, I’m the first one there and the last one out (6pm to 8:30/8:45pm every Thursday). I do most of the planning as well. I try to do a camping trip once a month. (Keep in mind we only have 3 scouts right now). We have a committee meeting once a month and an charter organization meeting usually once a month. All this and still not counting the many other things that pop up. It’s a commitment but I enjoy every minute of it.
  12. I think it depends on the activities your troop does. If y'all do more longer hikes/backpacking trips then you probably need to be more "physically fit". You can make it work with any level of fitness but you might not be able to hike as far or do as much as your group intended to. I agree that your value your mental strength because I have noticed throughout scouting that it starts with how you are mentally. Do you believe you can hike another mile? While there is a level of strength required for that, you also have to have the right mindset.
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