InquisitiveScouter

Well worth the investment for your woods tools box. https://www.magidglove.com/ellwood-safetyr-4-carbon-steel-toe-guards-702-tg?gclid=Cj0KCQiAzfuNBhCGARIsAD1nu-9EYQhWJytibMWSJT6oIQ3be4SXTMINkJYYZNhEr8IyHkljK_tBRoAaAhhZEALw_wcB

BTW, Here's an awesome Forestry Service resource for axes...mainly for use by adults who want deep knowledge... https://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/php/library_card.php?p_num=1823 2812P

After proper training, practice to proficiency (I don't see this a lot..."one and done" is a really bad idea here), group discipline to maintain the standards, and the behavioral example of adults and older Scouts in proper tool usage. One good practice is to have Scouts look at the pictures in the Scout Handbook and describe what the sawyer is wearing for safety (correct) and the pictured saw technique (which is iffy...hard to tell if the sawyer has the end off the ground or resting on the ground...will potentially bind the saw...page 382 of my early 13th edition) And there are so many "county options" out there it is pitiful...Totin Chip card carrying "requirements", cutting TC corners, insistence on ax yards on all camping trips, "blood circle" (a detestable term), "Thank You" requirements when not really needed, etc, etc And here's a sweet piece of cringy footage https://www.facebook.com/Rovering4Life/videos/569755051050258/ And, as candidate for future Chief Scout of the USA, I'd lobby to put loppers in the woods tools section as the preferred tool for most firewood prep.

Will that fit over the remainder of his thumb??

Asking a question is not reading anything into it. If anything was read into the post, it was your supposing the job was delegated. And, it does matter. You and I generally see eye to eye on things, but we may diverge here... The requirement says, "...serve actively in your troop for xxx months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility..." Now, of course, the devil is in the details....what does "actively" mean?? That's a whole other discussion. But, from OP, if a Scout vanishes like flatulence in a zephyr (paraphrasing), this is absolutely a situation that needs to be addressed. We had the same here on the PL level. PL was elected, but never showed up. As SM, I had a discussion with SPL about the vanished PL, and how he wanted to handle it. Long story short, the SPL called him, set reasonable expectations the PL, which he then did not meet, and the SPL informed the acting Patrol Leader that his patrol could elect a new PL, if they wished. They did this promptly. I documented everything. The vanished PL needed the POR for Eagle Scout rank. I declined to give him credit for time served based on his performance. (His father agreed.) The SPL asked him how he wished to serve the Troop to fulfill the requirement. He asked for, and was given, another POR (unelected), a written set of expectations which he agreed to fulfill, and he fulfilled them. That was a win-win-win. Everyone in the Troop (and parents) learned that this matters, and that was the key lesson of leadership...we held him accountable. P.S. I did give credit to the APL for time served as PL (about two and a half months), because he stepped in and did the job. He was subsequently elected, and, after a month and a half, he ranked up to Star (needed four months total)

Stay! But, you are there to observe the bigger picture... 1. Who is running the program? Scouts or adults? If Scouts, awesome! If adults, then, on the side ask the SM corps what's the deal? Find a way to help the SM corps put meeting program planning and execution into the hands of the Patrol Leaders Council. At the BEST Scout meetings, the SM is the only adult who says anything, and that is for the SM's Minute at the very end. 2. Are the SM and ASM's keeping a "distant eye" on things, or do the inmates have free reign? SM/ASM should only step in for matters of health and safety. (For example, if the meeting is about setting up and lighting stoves, then an adult should watch fuel handling and check the connections prior to lighting.) We also ask SMs to assist when no one has the skill set needed for the program. 3. Are the Scouts having FUN!? If they are not, you will lose them over time... Remember: "A game with a purpose." If they are not having fun, have a discussion with the SM, but not during that meeting (maybe the next day?). That isn't the place for that discussion. 4. If your Troop does BORs during a meeting, you will certainly be needed for those. Consider having a BOR for a Scout who has not advanced in the past six months (If the climate in your Troop is such that this would be viewed as a bad thing, then something is wrong!! Figure it out and correct). Ask the Scout what their goals are, and if the Scout wants to advance, then you should ask about that. If they do not wish to advance, then ask only program-related questions: "What patrol are you in?" "Who is your patrol leader?" "Have you had any patrol meetings? Tell me about that...?" "What do you like about being in the Troop?" "What don't you like about being in the Troop?" "What was the last camping trip you went on? Tell me about that...?" etc, etc, etc 5. Recruit parents who are there a lot...they should be your committee members and the ASMs. It is your job to recruit adults; it is not the SM's job!!!! So, watch the current ASMs and ask yourself, "Who is the next SM?" If there is no clear answer to that question, you have work to do. Use your observations to develop a Succession Plan!!! (OMG, wouldn't that be wonderful?) Again, YES, by all means, stay at the meetings! Please! I loved having a CC who would herd the parent-cats so I could focus on finding the order in the Scout-generated chaos 🤪 Do you have, have you read, and do you follow your Troop Committee Guidebook? Here's the 2011 version: http://commissioner-bsa.org/kit/Troop Committee Guidebook 34505.pdf You have to pay for the new version (imagine that!) Item number 647783, for only $6.99 https://www.scoutshop.org/troop-committee-guidebook-647783.html No steak knives included...

Please tell me the resume builder did not get credit for a term as SPL??

Anyone having issues purchasing a new membership?? "Error Whoops!It appears important information is missing from your Eagle Scout profile.Please contact your Eagle Scout council updating the following information." All data is correct...and it does not tell me which data is triggering the error message....

+1

That should never happen. Totally violates the spirit of what we are trying to do.

Lol...if only it was as common as we'd like it to be.

Lol...it's not an in-your‐face kind of thing. Tactfully done, and usually one on one. Serious, grave, chivalrous even. But never loud and public...that"d be weird bravado and very off‐putting, no?

No. Nothing wrong with letting everyone know you will defend, tooth and claw, those who cannot defend themselves.

If I could see into everyone's heart, I'd probably never have to say such a thing. But you have no idea what motives people have until you spend a good deal of time with them.

I tell every adult at the beginning of our camping trips, "If you intentionally hurt a child under our care, I will hurt you, and I don't care if I go to jail." And they know I mean it, and there are others who back me up

I got an email reply from them on a separate issue about two months ago...basically staff cuts and no one monitoring the communication channels, so your situation sounds about right. Same here on the Eagle Directory postcards. For the amount they have spent to send me forty postcards, they could probably have just printed and sent the book for free. Better yet, make it digital...but no, gotta have that revenue stream 😜

Sounds like football, cards, camaraderie, camping, and cooking were accomplished! So...what do they want to accomplish...and what do you want them to accomplish? Guarantee they will not be the same! Remember, "This will be the hardest part for you to accept." And put yourself in their shoes...probably every minute of their lives is scheduled with some activity. They need unstructured time to develop. There are a hundred studies that show this... Do not be a slave to the "activity." If they are camping and cooking, then those "activities" will lead to advancement. Be available for them. Set up your chair and another (for a Scout) near the fire and tell them anyone who wants to work on a requirement will have your undivided attention. If a Scout takes you up on it, work on ONE requirement, them kick them to the curb for a few minutes and give the opportunity to another Scout. I find this quite effective. If no one takes you up on it, the start with one and do a Scoutmaster Conference (and sign it off if not previously done). Talk for a few minutes about what they like about the Troop, what they would like to see in the Troop, and what they wish the Troop would stop doing (start, stop, continue...sound familiar?) Ask them what their goals are for Scouting. If they do not wish to pursue advancement, you have to be fine with that! Help them set one goal. SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-limited). Write it down, and make a commitment to follow up with them on it. A parting thought... do not try to make your Scouts follow in your footsteps, do the things you have done, and become you...they won't, and they aren't. Help them find their own way.

The corruption begins... 😜

Every time there was an aviation (or other major) accident in the Air Force, there were two investigations...a Safety Investigation Board (SIB) and an Accident Investigation Board (AIB). The SIB is first, and looks at every detail to determine causal factors and get the word out to operators and maintainers as fast as possible to prevent the mishap from occurring again. SIB reports are not releasable to the public. (Some of them are quite grisly...photos, autopsies, cockpit recordings, etc...) Then an AIB convenes, and covers the same ground. They only get a piece of the report from the SIB. The AIB looks at legal issues, claims, etc. The AIB report is released to the public. https://www.acc.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/199117/air-force-safety-and-accident-board-investigations/ As far as I know, BSA only does an AIB-type look at mishaps, but does not release information. Safety information is slow to come out to the "troops in the field", and is minimal, often just re-iterating existing policies... Have a look... https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/

If BSA ever releases that kind of info, the devil's abode will become a lake of ice

$50...there is only one registration type. That $50 is the annual registration type... Which reminds me...that fee should be pro-rated by the month...so, if there are only six months left in the registration year, then it would be $45/2 = $22.50 plus the $5 insurance fee (not pro-rated) = $27.50 for a six month registration.

And you can easily spend more than 50 hours during the week Scouting... plus full commitment on weekends. But really, just give the time you have, and all will be well. I know some who eat, breathe, and sleep Scouting. It is all they do, kind of an obsession...

Of course, that depends you how much time you spend doing it 😜 Just to register here is $45 national membership fee plus $5 insurance. So, $50. (This includes the BSA's background check...you don't have to pay for that.) Then add uniforms, gear, fuel, food costs, training, time, heartache, etc., and the price tag can be about $1000 per year easily... Now, your unit committee should be willing to help defray some of those costs. Here, I pay for my own uniforms and food. Required training is reimbursed by the unit. Time and heartache are compensated for through the joy of watching boys grow into good men.

Matt, welcome! As @SSScoutastutely points out, the best definition of "boy-led" is them making the decisions. This will be the hardest part for you to accept. Let them make the decisions about what to do. Now, they cannot make informed decisions, unless they are informed. That's where you come in...become the "expert" Scouter, and inform them of the program opportunities out there. Recommend you focus first on going camping. A camping trip per month, if you can. In the lead up to the camping trip, have them divided into patrols for program planning, gear assembly, menu planning, shopping, cooking, etc. If you don't do it by patrols, then you are not Scouting. You are gaggling. Your primary responsibility as their mentor is to oversee the health and safety of your Scouts. This is your ONLY veto power as an adult leader. Let them decide what they want to do, and only intervene if it is for health and safety. You will never get this 100% correct, and that's OK. There's a lot more devil in the details, but that is the gist. And one more thing!! Watch out for some guy named @qwazse on the forum here... He lives in your area, and may wind up corrupting you 😜

So, I've been thinking a little more about all this, and asking myself why the National Commissioner (NC) does not seem to fill the role? So, I read an article about the NC https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2021/07/13/scott-sorrels-bsas-national-commissioner-discusses-the-organizations-next-steps/?utm_source=scoutingwire&utm_campaign=swvolunteer7212021&utm_medium=email&utm_content= With particular note on the last section of the article: -------------------------------------------------------- The path ahead The leadership is in place for the BSA to step up post-pandemic and post-bankruptcy to fulfill the needs of American families. Teamwork will be needed for the next step. “Our volunteers have to reach out and embrace and partner with their professionals,” Sorrels says. “We’ve got to build a collaborative team like we never have before. We’re going to have fewer professionals, and that means that we as volunteers will step up even more to help move us forward.” In the end, parents, unit leaders, council executives, national staff — we all have the same goal: to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes. “It has to support the local councils because that’s where Scouting is delivered,” Sorrels says. “We’ve got to deliver the resources they need to be successful.” ------------------------------------------------------------ Ummm....No. Can you see the disconnect between this message, and what many have been trying to get across here in the forum? Can you parse out the buzzwords, talking points, and sound bites? Here's the message re-written: ==================================== The path ahead The leadership is in place for the BSA to step up post-pandemic and post-bankruptcy to fulfill the needs of American families. Teamwork will be needed for the next step. Scouting has what our youth and our country need. Scouting families and volunteers across the nation know this. They are our heart and soul of our local units. Families and volunteers are making the program work in units through all the challenges we face. They are the team who make the dream of Scouting happen: an adventurous game with the purpose to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes. “Our volunteers have to reach out and embrace and partner with their professionals,” Sorrels says. “We’ve got to build a collaborative team like we never have before. We’re going to have fewer professionals, and that means that we as volunteers will step up even more to help move us forward.” In the end, parents, unit leaders, council executives, national staff — we all have the same goal: to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes. “It has All our efforts have to support the local councils units because that’s where Scouting is delivered to our young people,” Sorrels says. “We’ve got to deliver the resources they units need to be successful.” ========================================== I'd love for you all to take a stab at crafting the message, please