click23

From the 2009 revision of "Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures" http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf "These projects, of course,must conform to the wishes and regulations of those for whom the project is undertaken" The benefiting organization may put on any restriction or requirement they wish, but the unit/district/council may not

We have all heard a hundred times if you do this or that or you don't do something you BSA insurance would be at risk. Several have responded "show me in writing", which is my standard response to any scout related policy. While looking around scouting.org I found this, http://scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/HealthandSafety/Alerts/Insurance.aspx Unauthorized and Restricted Activities The Boy Scouts of America general liability policy provides coverage for a bodily injury or property damage claim that is made and arises out of an Official Scouting Activity. The Guide to Safe Scouting contains a listing of Unauthorized and Restricted Activities. Unauthorized activities are not considered Official Scouting Activities. Volunteers (registered and unregistered), Units, Chartered Organizations and Local Councils are jeopardizing insurance coverage for themselves and their organization by engaging in unauthorized activities. PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOURSELF AT RISK.

1. No 2. No 3. No 4. Not sure how this is different from #3. BALOO is health and safety course, the outdoor, IOLS and OSWLS courses are skill courses. You might want to have someone take Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders. If you look here, http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Resources/CubScoutOutdoorProgramGuidelines.aspx, you will find "A Webelos den leader who has completed position-specific training and Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders training should conduct these events(den campout). "Should" is the important word, above that when it mentions BALOO for pack overnighters is says must not should. The Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders course is basically the same as IOLS, with a few bits of Webelos activities thrown in. There is a new course coming out, "new outdoor course will be a one-size-fits-all for Webelos leaders, Boy Scout leaders, and Venturing leaders. Once a person completes the training, it is not necessary to repeat it when they move to another program" I am not sure when it is coming out. Where in Tennessee are you from?

What I am referring to is the summer camp program that will be held there, like what is held at local councils camps, not the high adventure program.

Has any heard any details for the national summer camp program that is going to be offered at The Summit

"Mike Rowe for Chief Scout!" I have thought that ever since Scouts Association made Bear Grylls their Chief Scout that the BSA could do the same with Mike Rowe. (I know the Chief Scout position in the BSA and the SA are completely different, but does Bear really do the job?)

I was very impressed with the Sea Scouts on Friday. I am not sure of the correct naval terminology, but I will explain this as best that I can. Standing in front of the Sea Scout exhibit were two rows of 4 scout standing perpendicular to the entrance way. Standing a few yards from them was a Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer. As I approached, an army Brigadier General walked up from the opposite direction. As the general approached the chief said something(I was behind him at this point and could not hear him) and the scouts went to attention, and on the scouts brought a bosun's call to his mouth. When the general stepped closer, the scouts rendered a a salute and a call was played on the bosun's call. After the general entered the scouts went to at ease and the chief came over and gave them critique. A few moments later a Coast Guard Captain (who was the commander of the coast guard units attached to the jamboree joint task force and a Eagle Scout) approached, the chief said "Coast Guard Captain Approaching" and they proceeded to do the same as above.

I would think not using advancement in a unit by decree of the CO would violate the first point of the charter agreement "The chartered organization agrees to ©onduct the Scouting program according to its own policies and guidelines as well as those of the Boy Scouts of America. Missouri_COR, I would provide the IH with all the info that I could, rifle and shotgun shooting merit badge pamphlets, the guide to safe scouting, the requirements to become at NRA-certified Shotgun Instructor, NRA-certified Rifle Instructor and and NRA-certified Range Safety Officer, a copy of the charter agreement signed by the IH(provided by your council office), and a copy of the Venturing Shooting Sports Outstanding Achievement Award requirements. I would do this so that they can see what the policies of the BSA are with regard to guns, and the shooting sports can be an integral part of a crew. Wouldn't it be worse if they were to do "something inappropriate", and it got out that the CO prevented this boy from learning the rules of safely using a firearm.

Is your CO a public school, private school or PTA/PTO?

I just found out that there will be new position patches for recepaints of this award Scoutmaster http://tinyurl.com/2auumku Coach http://tinyurl.com/246jyvh Advisor http://tinyurl.com/2eo22me Cubmaster http://tinyurl.com/27oo5hy(This message has been edited by click23)

The new "Den and Pack Meeting Resource Guide" has been released. It should be in your scout shop this week. A lot of the info from it can be found here, http://scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/CubScouts/Leaders/DenLeaderResources/DenandPackMeetingResourceGuide.aspx

#49 Unit Leader Award of Merit More info on this award here, http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-003_WB.pdf

Unit Leader Award of Merit is a new adult award that replaces the Scoutmaster Award of Merit, the Varsity Team Coach Award of Merit, and the Venturing Crew Advisor's Award of Merit, as well as adding an award for cubmasters. Here are the requirements: Be a currently registered Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Coach, or Advisor who has served in that position at least 18 continuous months. Meet the training requirements for the registered position. Distribute a printed or electronic annual unit program plan and calendar to each family in the unit. Have a leader succession plan in place. Effectively use the advancement method so that at least 60 percent of the units youth have advanced at least once during the last 12 months. Cultivate a positive relationship with the chartered organization. Project a positive image of Scouting in the community. Nomination Procedure The unit committee chair completes the Unit Leader Award of Merit Nomination Form on behalf of the unit committee. For Boy Scout troops, Varsity Scout teams, and Venturer crews, the nomination must include endorsement by the senior patrol leader, team captain, or crew president, respectively. The unit or district commissioner certifies that the form is complete. The unit submits the nomination form to the council for approval by the Scout executive and council commissioner or president. More info can be found here http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-003_WB.pdf

From the latest training update, http://scouting.org/training/trainingupdates.aspx Beginning in summer 2010, male and female Venturing youth members may attend National Youth Leadership Training courses. National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience, or NAYLE, will also be open to Venturing youth members in 2010. Venturers who have been unable to take NYLT may take a NAYLE bridge course, which is an electronic download on this training page. This four-hour session can be offered by a trainer with NYLT experience, or it could be a self-study course with a mentor. Each region has NAYLE scholarships that are administered by the regional program coordinators, who now work out of the BSA national office. Introduction to Outdoor Skills for Boy Scout leaders is being revised. The new outdoor course will be a one-size-fits-all for Webelos leaders, Boy Scout leaders, and Venturing leaders. Once a person completes the training, it is not necessary to repeat it when they move to another program. The National Executive Board recently approved a resolution to change the joining requirements for Venturers. A youth must now be at least 13 years of age and have completed the eighth grade to join Venturing. The maximum age for participation remains 21. Troop Leadership Training and Crew Leadership Training are both being revised to mirror each other and be more comprehensive in preparing a youth for NYLT. The CLT will replace the Varsity Leader Skills Course. And now the big one; Venturers ages 18 to 20 may take NYLT if desired and may also take Wood Badge, which might be a better fit for older youths. Going back into the archives a couple of months, here is one more Introduction to Outdoor Skills for Boy Scout leaders is being revised. The new outdoor course will be a one-size-fits-all for Webelos leaders, Boy Scout leaders, and Venturing leaders. Once a person completes the training, it is not necessary to repeat it when they move to another program.

Yes, the charter agreement is between the council and the CO, once it is signed a charter can be issued from national. Now, as far as the local council using their own charter agreement, I am not sure. If you look at the agreement, the first thing the CO agrees to do is "Conduct the Scouting program according to its own policies and guidelines as well as those of the Boy Scouts of America." Notice that it does not agree to conduct its Scouting program according to the local councils policies and guidelines. I would bet that one council started this modified agreement to make sure they could get in the door to do family FOS presentations and to help attendance at their local summer camp, and then had to add a few bits to the "THE COUNCIL AGREES TO:" side to make things a bit more "fair".

OT, Outdoors should not be the focus of Boy Scouts, but it should be one of them. It is just as important as advancement, the ideals, patrols, personal growth, adult association, leadership development and the uniform, the are all the methods of Boy Scouts. On the Venturing side, high adventure is the closest method to the outdoors. But, I believe that it can be interpreted broad enough to include any of the Venturing crew specialties, Outdoor, Sports, Arts/Hobbies, Youth Ministry, and Sea Scouting. With that being said, I am not sure how a Math and Science Bronze Award fits in. We have Bronze Awards for each of the specialties that I listed, are we also going to get a Math and Science crew specialty?

BadenP, the Annual Charter Agreement is clear that it is an agreement between the CO and the local council. "THE ANNUAL CHARTER AGREEMENT BETWEEN: ________ and the ___________ Council, BSA"

A few weeks ago I had a meeting with our DE and a prospective new chartering organization. I did a google search to find a copy of the annual charter agreement to have as reference material and I came across this, http://arlingtonscouts.com/pdf_docs/annual_charter_agreement.pdf It is a annual charter agreement from the Erie Shores Council that has been modified. Under "THE CHARTERED ORGANIZATION AGREES TO:" changed from "Encourage the unit to participate in outdoor experiences, which are vital elements of Scouting." to "Encourage the unit to participate in council outdoor experiences, which are vital elements of the Scouting program." added "To cooperate with the council in its fund-raising effort through the Friends of Scouting Campaign for units." added "Require each adult leader to participate in a council sponsored youth protection training seminar." under "THE COUNCIL AGREES TO:" added "To assist the chartered organization with a religious affiliation in the promotion of the religious emblems program." added "To join with the chartered organization in promoting and encouraging the practice of the daily good turn as a part of basic citizenship training." added "To work with the chartered organization in extending the Scouting opportunity to the greatest possible number of youth and families." I am not sure if this is there current form or not, the insurance section does not match the BSAs current revision.

me!

BulldogBlitz asked "is there a legitimate way to say, "sorry, you just aren't ready for the next step"?" Before I reply, let me say that I am an Eagle Scout and what I am about to say is saddens me a bit. The Eagle Scout rank is just a set of requirements, no more no less. Basically the only way for a boy not to pass his EBOR, if it comes to light that he has not actually completed the requirements that are signed off in his book. Example, EBOR asks "Where is your most memorable camping experience as scout?", and the boy replies "we never went camping". As for a scoutmasters conference, the requirements simply state "Take part in a Scoutmaster conference", no where does it say pass, just take part in. So no, there is no legitimate reason, assuming he has completed the requirements as stated.(This message has been edited by click23)

Is this what you are looking for? http://www.takemefishing.org/community/scouting/home

If you want to fight this, I would request a meeting with the committee chair and the COR. I would bring the Patrol Leaders Handbook, Senior Patrol Leaders Handbook and Scoutmasters Handbook, and a copy of the annual charter agreement. Show them how a troop is ran and explain what the scoutmaster wants to do. Show the COR that the CO has agreed to "Conduct the Scouting program according to its own policies and guidelines as well as those of the Boy Scouts of America". Let them know that the patrol is the core of a troop, and to do it any other way is not Scouting. It would be like saying we will not worry about tenderfoot, second class or first class, we just want to work on merit badges, life star and eagle. Has the Scoutmaster been trained or read the Scoutmasters Handbook? And does your unit have a UC?

The ScoutParent unit position is a non fee position. Have them fill out another youth application for their son. At the bottom where the parents fill out there info, is a new bubble that states "I agree to be an active ScoutParent." When turning in the application note on it that the boy is currently paid in the unit and that you are just adding a ScoutParent. There is also a position called ScoutParent Unit Coordinator, more info can be found here http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/ScoutParent_Unit_Coordinator. For this position, the person would need to fill out an adult application and pay the fee.

That is because there is no such method in scouting. Try looking up the patrol method, it is the only way to run a troop.

I know of a pack and troop that are chartered at the same CO that has a combined committee. That is the CC is the CC for the pack and the troop and all of the MC are MCs for both the troop and the pack. It seems to work pretty well for them.