JesseMills

@Eagle94-A1 Thank you for the comprehensive reply. I believe the answer for my OA friends is that it's not the cards, at least not for quite awhile, and they should just come visit or whatnot if we want to spend time together.

Hi all, I read through a few threads here but still have questions about how an adult gets connected with OA (and some camping night questions). The context is that I have a few friends in the OA and they're all wanting me to join, but they're in different lodges so they don't know my true next steps. Also, they joined as youth so didn't have to navigate this as an adult. I've been told my pro musician skills/experience will come in very handy for them, and I think it'd be fun to get into OA since I missed out as a youth. I've purposefully avoided researching too much about OA, since I know that it is often better to let folks tell you than to do possibly incomplete research, but if there are things I should read do let me know! Question 1: For camping nights, I'm currently registered with the District as UC + MBC, and also just put in an app for 91U (scouter reserve) with the troop I'm assigned to as UC so I can camp with them per the Sept 1st rules (the troop committee is highly supportive of this since the 80 scout troop only has 1 ASM + the SM*). I've seen on here that training such as Wood Badge should count...but does it not count because I'm not registered yet with the unit and have already done my Wood Badge nights? Question 2: The troop I UC for has 0 involvement in the OA...so I'm unsure who to connect with outside of emailing the addresses on the Lodge's page with "help me get in touch with the right person" especially in regard to putting in the app or however else that process is handled. Would hitting up the Lodge's advisor be at least a solid first step? Question 3: When camping, must it specifically be unit-focused camping? The DC wants me to be camp commissioner next summer if I'm willing to take a week off work to volunteer & camp*, but since that's not "with a unit" it seems like it'd not count even if that's where the district/council folks may have more need. Would this apply to any camporees and other events I assist at? Also, if the above makes you think "yeah...maybe OA isn't for you," that's extremely valuable to hear as well. I'd like to contribute and love getting to flex my skills (and my in-OA friends tell me they'd love to invite me to their events as well), but totally get it if it's not in the cards. Thanks in advance...just trying to navigate & sort while also being as helpful to my units/district/council (and someday lodge) as possible! *The "single ASM + SM" is the SM's choice, rather than an inability to get other adults to register. The troop committee is huge and often has to send folks to camp as well, but the SM is adamant that only he and one other individual (the single ASM since 1996) wear uniforms and hold those positions. **In past years I've done non-BSA type volunteering, but I do always take a week for "give back" activity of some kind so it's nothing unusual in how I manage my PTO

All this trombone talk is making me eye the closet containing the trombone... I've never done a call on the trombone, but I have written bugle calls into my orchestra music and had horns & trombones provide added harmony

Oh I'm definitely a fan of "play on the intended instrument." I've seen school bands playing my pieces swap in a trombone for a euphonium and it definitely changes the character!

Ah yes, good catch...I was getting it mixed up with the position description for Bugler that says "The bugler plays the bugle (or similar instrument)"

So...yes I know this is the least popular MB and yet I signed up to counsel it anyhow! Maybe I can help move that needle...though I'm learning that many local units don't have buglers. To help remedy that, one ASM approached me at an event and said his scout is interested in it, but they play only guitar. I'm an experienced professional trumpet player, church choir director, and band director (music ed was my college focus). When I read "similar instrument" on the MB requirements, my take is that includes: trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn (all Bb or C instruments with the same general shape as a bugle). I'd probably consider trombone, mellophone, F horn, and euphonium in a pinch but I'd rather get a scout who plays those onto a bugle/trumpet if possible. I'm curious if anybody else has either done the badge with a non-bugle/trumpet or has a troop bugler who doesn't play bugle and how that works. I'm down to teach the instrument from scratch (especially if it helps the scout get a Star & Life qualifying leadership role), but want to be sure I'm exploring all the angles.

That stinks and I'm sorry you've had that experience! I'm also without kids (but married), easing into my local council and having two SMs express interest in a volunteer (both seem to be large units that have trouble fielding enough folks for YPT). Even with the need, there's def a bit of energy around "you don't have a kiddo here?" I mention teaching & doing behavioral therapy with autistic kids and most folks calm down but I 100% know that trust will come with time and showing up regularly to always be helpful, cheerful, and supremely patient. For an org needing volunteers pretty desperately from what I hear, and with some of us trying to carry on a family legacy (both generations above me made eagle and grandpa volunteered extensively even after my stepdad aged out), it's definitely a chore to earn that trust sometimes and feels like an interesting two-sided coin (need volunteers vs younger adults without kids regarded as sus).

And I'll keep it as long as I can!

Thanks for the thoughtful reply @InquisitiveScouter. I am indeed quite outdoorsy as an adult and would be happy to help facilitate camping, cycling, climbing, and other adventures (that my friends are beyond tired of being asked to go on anyhow). I'm now in the paperwork phase for MBC, but definitely plan to circle back with a "Hey, once y'all get to know me, please do let me know how I can be of more help" type of message. I'm a project manager for a living, so being the "organizer for others" is a role I'm well-acquainted with, though getting outdoors is certainly preferable to more Excel spreadsheets as that's my day job. I might have a bit of a goal to "sell" the least popular badge (Bugling) to at least one scout this year...maybe something to do with being a former bugler 😛

Howdy all, I’m just getting plugged in here so I have the resources of this forum to tap when need be! I scouted long long ago and then worked as a church choir director for awhile concurrently with teaching band & picking up music theatre gigs as a pit musician. Sadly, the stress of constantly looking for new work got to me and I “went corporate” to be a project manager. One year in, I found myself missing doing something more meaningful than doing corporate work, so I’m meeting with my local council next week to see how all the skills I developed can be brought to helping out the next generation! I’m definitely hoping to at least be an MBC (music & theatre among others) and am open to whatever the council says they’re in need of. Hello again, and happy to have a place to look up y’all’s collective wisdom and discussions!