InquisitiveScouter

He was a known quantity in the council. Worked other jobs on the staff and at camp... I never had much interaction with him, and knew of him to be a generally good fellow. First report was that as he got into the role, he realized he sincerely found it distasteful. It is a curious development. I may ask my other contacts what the issue was.

P.S. Even doing an annual increase, that would be about a 10% per year increase!

So, council announced our new DE two weeks ago in our council newsletter!! He quit today. Speaks volumes...

Reviving this old thread. Was just looking at our Troop budget for next year, as we purchase a 5-Year NESA Membership for our new Eagle Scouts. Price is now $100!! Effective 20 Jan 2022. Yes, I know I'm a little late, but we didn't have any Eagle Scouts this year due to a zero recruitment year 5 years ago. But that's another story... That's a 286% increase. Here's their gobbledygook: "NESA is the largest and most recognized group of Eagle Scout Alumni Achievers. We’ve kept membership fees artificially low for many years while offering a high number of college scholarships and other unique Eagle Scout opportunities. Just as you and your family must keep pace with rising costs, we must ensure a robust ability to deliver membership experiences that support and protect the mission, values, and time-honored traditions of Scouting."

There is an 8-hour ECSI WFA refresher course. It does not count for BSA WFA. BSA has issued a WFA curriculum: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-008.pdf And ESCI and BSA have an agreement that the BSA course is 16 hours.... https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/training/ecsi/ https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/training/wilderness-fa/ There are two options for completing the 16-hour requirement: all classroom, or blended 8-hour online and 8-hour classroom. I have taught both courses. I prefer the full 16-hour in-person course. In fact, I do not offer the blended course any more. I'll explain why if you'd like to know... If someone is teaching an 8-hour course only, and marking it as sufficient for BSA, then I believe they are wrong. Of course, who is watching or checking at the council level??

I have witnessed many poor ceremonies where principals read from the books. I recommend focusing on the movements and the flow of the ceremony, rather than worrying about lines. Take heart... most candidates don't really get the meaning of what they are hearing anyway. It takes exposure to the speeches in the ceremonies and ideas several times until the real meaning of the OA begins to sink in. (Like, studying for Brotherhood...)

We are not a UMC-chartered unit, but I know of several in our area. Two linked Troops (B & G) sought out separate new CO's. One went to Kiwanis, and the other to a local Fire House. However, they are staying at their UMC with a FUA, because the relationship is good and the congregation wishes to continue support. Another has council as CO, as they could not find a willing participant, so took up this charter as a temporary arrangement. They are currently at their UMC with a FUA, but are looking to pull up stakes and move completely, when they can find a new home. A mixed bag, it seems...

Entertaining? Elaborate, please? As a retired military member deeply involved in our unit, I find that parents and other volunteers greatly appreciate my direct style, and that I hold Scouts and adults accountable for their actions, and to live up to the promises they make. If you agree to serve, and then you don't (absent some extenuating circumstances), we simply thank the volunteers for their interest, and move along... Now, I do wish I could give out Article 15's, as there have been a few adults who certainly deserve them 😜 But, it is much easier to "trim the dead wood" in a Scout unit than it is in the military I actually find that the average person without military experience fares worse in those leadership roles... ref @Armymutt above...

I have had many parents ask that I sign something off for their Scout, that the Scout did not do. When I explain the requirement, most completely agree. Over many many years, I've only had a small few demand (LOL) that I sign something off. I politely refused, explaining I did not see how the Scout had completed the requirement. One even taunted that they'd just get someone else to sign it off. I tell them I am not responsible for what others do. I am only responsible for what I do. Here's a great phrase to unpack in a Scoutmaster's Minute: "When an honest man discovers he is mistaken, he will either cease to be mistaken or cease to be honest."

You have got to be kidding me!!! Surely it wasn't that egregious??

Removed...

LOL, wasn't implying they should be a volunteer. My premise (as I think BP's was, too) is that the whole construct of commercializing the operation is what "poisons the well." What is the primary reason for councils to exist?? You should really explore that question. I propose the radical idea of doing away with that structure entirely.

Application clearly has Requirement 7. Look at the end of the form... I think we both agree this is a muddled and poorly designed process, rife with opportunity for improvement. But, my best advice to Eagle Candidates is "Read and complete the requirements!" as this drives them to do the application to get references and Statement... BTW, did you know Scoutbook will generate a pdf for your Scout, complete with all dates already filled in? They have to tweak it to add references, but it is still a huge time and headache saver.

It is... 2. "...List on your Eagle Scout Rank Application..." Between 6 & 7... "In preparation for your board of review, prepare and attach to your Eagle Scout Rank Application a statement of your ambitions and life purpose ..." Although, I'd be the first to support articulating more clearly as a requirement.

To my Brother Scouters and Guides: Cecil Rhodes said at the end of his life (and I, in my turn, feel the truth of it), "So much to do and so little time to do it." No one can hope to see the consummation, as well as the start, of a big venture within the short span of one life-time. I have had an extraordinary experience in seeing the development of Scouting from its beginning up to its present stage. But there is a vast job before it. The Movement is only now getting into its stride. (When I speak of Scouting I include in it Guiding also.) The one part which I can claim as mine towards promoting the Movement is that I have been lucky enough to find you men and women to form a group of the right stamp who can be relied upon to carry it on to its goal. You will do well to keep your eyes open, in your turn, for worthy successors to who you can, with confidence, hand on the torch. Don't let it become a salaried organization: keep it a voluntary movement of patriotic service. The Movement has already, in the comparatively short period of its existence, established itself onto a wide and so strong a footing as to show most encouraging promise of what may be possible to it in the coming years. Its aim is to produce healthy, happy, helpful citizens, of both sexes, to eradicate the prevailing narrow self-interest; personal, political, sectarian and national, and to substitute for it a broader spirit of self-sacrifice and service in the cause of humanity; and thus to develop mutual goodwill and cooperation not only within our own country but abroad, between all countries. Experience shows that this consummation is no idle or fantastic dream, but is a practicable possibility - if we work for it; and it means, when attained, peace, prosperity and happiness for all. The "encouraging promise" lies in the fact that the hundreds of thousands of boys and girls who are learning our ideals today will be the fathers and mothers of millions in the near future, in whom they will in turn inculcate the same ideals - provided that these are really and unmistakably impressed upon them by the leaders of today. Therefore you, who are Scouters and Guiders, are not only doing a great work for your neighbor's children, but are also helping in practical fashion to bring to pass God's Kingdom of peace and goodwill upon earth. So, from my heart, I wish you God-speed in your effort. Baden-Powell

Not mistrust... For an old man, you do jump a lot... to conclusions, that is. I find that the individual counselors do a much better job of guiding Scouts as they fulfill the requirements. Your average 15-year old teaching a bunch of Scouts at summer camp??? Not so much... A whole heck of a lot of pencil-whipping going on. But hey, that's what parents are paying for, right? Wink, wink, nudge, nudge...

Free thinkers will be ridiculed, ostracized, and banned! Report to your council service center immediately for rejection processing. If you really wish to push your idea, submit it in writing with higher denominations of currency, and we'll provide further rejection.

Agreed, but I do see it as my job as a Unit Leader to ask the Scout some questions to determine if they actually completed the badge. Not a retest, but a confirmation of completing the requirements as written. This is the dirty underbelly of Scouting, IMHO... If you peel the onion back, I'd bet you find many, many badges are not completed according to the requirements... especially those acquired at Summer Camps. I have gotten to the point that I do not really peel the onion back, but just ask the questions to provoke thought in the Scout about his personal integrity.

Not quite... GTA 7.0.4.7 Limited Recourse for Unearned Merit Badges From time to time, it may be discovered that merit badges could not actually have been earned. For example, a Scout who returns from summer camp or a merit badge fair with evidence for an extraordinary number of badges could raise concerns. If, after consulting with those involved in the merit badge program—such as an event coordinator, the camp director, or a merit badge counselor—it becomes plainly evident that a youth could not have actually and personally fulfilled requirements as written, then the limited recourse outlined below is available. It may result in a decision that some or all of the requirements for a badge could not have been fulfilled, and thus, that the badge was not actually earned. After such a consultation, the unit leader, in a positive environment similar to that of a unit leader conference, discusses with the Scout the circumstances under which a merit badge in question was approved. A parent or an assistant unit leader should attend as an observer. The Scout shall not be retested on the requirements, but a conversation with the Scout can reveal if he or she attended the class, and actually and personally fulfilled all the requirements. Such a discussion could cover who taught a class, what sort of activities took place, where and when they occurred, how testing was done, what the Scout might have brought home from the class, and other similar process-oriented details. In most cases, with a fair and friendly approach, a Scout who did not complete the requirements will admit it. Short of this, however, if it remains clear under the circumstances that some or all of the requirements could not have been met, then the merit badge is not reported or awarded, and does not count toward advancement. The unit leader then offers the name of at least one other merit badge counselor through whom any incomplete requirements may be finished. Note that in this case a merit badge is not “taken away” because, although signed off, it was never actually earned. Just as we avoid penalizing Scouts for the mistakes of adults, it should be a rare occurrence that a unit leader finds the need to question whether merit badges have been earned. This procedure for recourse is limited and reserved only for clear and evident cases of noncompletion or nonparticipation. For example, the recourse could be allowed when it would not have been possible to complete a specific requirement at the location of the class, event, or camp; if time available was not sufficient—perhaps due to class size or other factors—for the counselor to observe that each Scout personally and actually completed all the requirements; if time available was insufficient for a “calendar” requirement such as for Personal Fitness or Personal Management; or if multiple merit badges in question were scheduled at the same time. This procedure is not to be viewed as an opportunity for retesting on requirements, for interjecting another set of standards over those of a merit badge counselor, or for debating issues such as whether a Scout was strong enough, mature enough, or old enough to have completed requirements. Unit leaders who find it necessary to make use of this recourse must act quickly—if possible, within 30 days of discovery. It is inappropriate to delay a Scout’s advancement with anything less than a prompt decision. If Scouts or their parents or guardians believe a unit leader has incorrectly determined that a merit badge was not earned, or more than 30 days have passed without a reasonable explanation for the lack of a decision, they should address their concerns with the unit committee. They should first, however, develop a thorough understanding of the merit badge requirements and that each one must be passed exactly as it is set forth. Upon encountering any merit badge program where BSA standards are not upheld, unit leaders are strongly encouraged to report the incident to the council advancement committee, preferably using the form found in the appendix (see “Reporting Merit Badge Counseling Concerns,” 11.1.0.0).

No... Consider a Scout with Hiking MB, using this MB for rank advancement, and a BoR member asks the Scout where he completed the 20-mile hike, and what he thought about it. Scout says he never did that requirement. Now we have an issue. (It should not have gotten to that point, but the BoR could uncover things like this.) Hopefully, the BoR would ask the ask the Scout what he thinks he should do in that situation, and, hopefully, the Scout would have the integrity to want to complete the requirements as stated. If this is the agreement, the BoR could suspend until another time. I have seen this go both ways... Scout agrees to come back to the BoR after he finishes the requirement. And, in another case, Scout (and aprent) say, No, the counselor and unit leader signed it off, so we're gonna go with that. Again, this is a good opportunity to discuss integrity, but, as others have pointed out, we will never penalize the Scout for the mistakes made by two adults (counselor, and leader who signed off the badge at the end of the process.) I'm not sure I understand this. The SM Conference (SMC) is not required to be completed after all the other requirements are done, although this is the scheme used by most. (An SMC could actually be the first requirement a Scout gets signed off for that rank advancement!)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11364365/amp/Ashton-Kutcher-earns-merit-badge-costuming-Boy-Scouts-America-outfit-Halloween-party.html His kids are the right ages for the stuff he is carrying. I don't think it's a costume.

You are correct. Even a COR should not remove a Scout without cause. If they do, the parent should get the DE involved for resolution. If leaders bump leaders, council isn't going to weigh in. If you take adverse action against a Scout, they should get involved.

Unfortunately, once someone forms a negative opinion or perception of you, you aren't really gonna be able to change that in a short time. And, it largely depends on whether that person is open-minded. "Is there anything that can be done about this?" Sure... leave it alone for now. And ask yourself, "Why would they think I am a gossip? or Who is giving them this misinformation?" If you are a gossip, stop. If you know who is gossiping about you, avoid them and read this: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/feeling-it/201612/8-things-do-if-youre-the-target-hurtful-gossip Worry about your character rather than your reputation. (Someone said that, but I'm not gonna google it just now...)

Yes, this is true in any endeavor. I said that of my 25+ years in the military: The best thing about it is some of the people you meet and work with. The worst thing about it is some of the people you meet and work with. Scouting is very much the same.

Well done! You know that Cub Scouts are not allowed to do winter camping***. But, see if a local camp has heated cabins. Take them (and parents, of course)to the camp and have a winter experience. Maybe they will see some Scouts camping out and aspire to that. Then explain that they have much to learn about taking care of themselves and learning to work together before you can take them camping in warmer weather. *** of course, BSA does not define winter camping. Is that camping from winter solstice until vernal equinox? Doesn't really fit with Cubs in South Florida ;p. Is it camping out when the temp reaches 32F? We have had great fall Cub camping trips when there has been a little frost on the pumpkin... There is room for good judgement here. If your winters are harsh, but you have a heated space where your Lions can sleep and retreat to when they are cold, I think they'll really enjoy it. Hopefully, the space is big enough to set up tents inside! This would be great training.