ConnCM

Prayers & best wishes for a full & speedy recovery.

Beavah said ....."If yeh really have one of da former, and other people really recognize it, then a wise CC or COR will talk to 'em about how much they need help in the adult Quartermaster position (keepin' the trailer in repair!) or some other such task that uses the fellow for his talents but keeps him out of the kids' way. Ultimately at the point when you tell a parent he/she is not welcome on events you're makin' a decision to lose the kid. It's a rare parent who will accept that, eh? If there are shorter steps, they're worth pursuing. end clip Outstanding! We will soon have need of this sort of technician & this guy would be a decent fit. It takes smooth sales skills to help this fella find his way to where he needs to be without detection. This particular guy would bail if he detected the manipulation. It's worth the effort if the boy stays. We'll see if the timing & tact works out. ....and a good old eagle too. NE-II-143

Beahvah sounds like he's been down this path & shares good counsel. It isn't wise to jump to conclusions. To read this thread many would throw this guy under the bus without all the details. That aside, the Troops elders are well aware of the belligerence & foul mouthedness issue. The SM & I spoke on the phone today about these happenings. Too many folks have borne witness for this matter to be denied. The "rough handling" was not a physical assault. It was just extreme rudeness on the edge of abuse (I know...these are fine lines). Again there were multiple witnesses. Some moms got very hot but the boys just considered it rude. My son was the latest recipient & he dismissed it as rude. My wife got hot & addressed it on the spot as she should have. She's also been a registered leader for years. I wasn't there. Other than this flask thing, no one in the Troop is debating WHAT is going on. Even that has been admitted to several folks by the offender though there are fewer actual witnesses. The thing is this: This man isn't going to lead. PERIOD. At this point the goal is to let him save some face for his son's sake. So the boy stays in Scouting.

I agree Eagle92. This is a very serioius matter. It could be a sign of something much bigger than what is apparent. In all my years of Scouting I've never been faced with such a troubling or serious situation. Don't worry. I have sufficient clout with Council this man will never attain the leadership position he desires. I appreciate all of your concerns & advice.

Right now I'm still "just a dad" who used to be the District Training Chair. I'm still on the District & Pack Committees (the pack my son just moved up from last year where I was CM). Tragically I wasn't at last night's adult meeting. Other than the belligerence, the SM just became aware of the situation last night so the COR & other leaders probably aren't yet aware of the situation yet. The shoving incident occurred this past weekend. My son was the target. My wife was a witness. This individual is on the charter but hasn't completed any training other than online YP & SM (according to him). For the record, I detest online training for anything other than YP renewal. I like to look new Scouters in the eye, shake their hand & engage them in conversation. Computers lack this ability. The brandy flask was apparently witnessed by two Eagles on a recent outing. Coincidentally, I remember a "medicine" comment during a camping trip last fall but dismissed it as cough medicine. Now I wonder. I'm thinking the COR would be the first in line for this situation but I'm not yet responsible to take action on "he said, she said". Suffice to say this matter will be dealt with.

He'd like to be Scoutmaster yet he's rough handled a few boys (just shoving & very rude). The swearing might be in the policy somewhere but I can't find it. He's known to take brandy from a flask too. Some of the boys have seen this nipping of "medicine". There is no debating the official position. There's no debating it must be addressed. It's just what to do about it? To address this issue won't be pretty. How have others dealt with this?

Perhaps the easiest way to shorten the sash is a fold held with small safety pins.

My wife stopped at the CYC Store & grabbed a 36 incher. Thanks for all the feedback. ...and a good old Eagle too! NE-II-143

Wow...It's been a while. Funny subject. My son moved up to Boy Scouts last year. He's earned a few merit badges now so I decided to order him a sash this afternoon. BSA offers the new Centennial sash in 30 & 36" lengths. Sash length is a subject I've never heard mentioned before & I've had all the training offered to leaders around here to date. Odd this subject has never come up all these years. Maybe the next roundtable. I'm thinking the taller boys should get the longer sash but this might suggest that dad is implying he should fill it up. The sash is only for formal events so tripping should be a non-issue. Thoughts? NE-II-143

We have a boy in our District who has great difficulty handling conventional athletic equipment particularly the long bow. Can anyone recommend a youth friendly supplier of archery equipment &/or other special needs athletic apparatus? Private emails are appreciated. ctpumpkin@optonline.net Thanks, Steve Jepsen Pack 177 Stratford, CT

Thanks for all of the feedback. I love the Scout Spirit Award even if I disagree with making it the "largest trophy". We have a couple boys that are really pouring themselves into the workshops & deserve special recognition for it. A derby is still a race & I wouldn't want to down play the significance of that for the boy that wins the race. Our last "Official Hands on Car Workshop" was today. Like the others it was a great time with plenty of learning & building. We even had 2 siblings get in on the affair. Because not every car is complete & to avoid any let downs, I'm having the last couple stragglers finish up here in our own home workshop next weekend. As expected the eBay buyer did not attend. So to avoid a race day conflict I'll be making that call.

Our Pinewood Derby rules require the Boys use the standard BSA Grand Prix kits to build their own car. The Boys are permitted to make various improvements to enhance performance. This year I successfully lobbied for 2 hands-on "Build Workshops" as well as 1 of our Packs more traditional "Skills Workshops" (no car - just practicing on scrap lumber). Single parents, the "all thumbs crowd" & the "tool challenged" really appreciated this effort. As their Cubmaster I enjoyed the chance to work more closely with some of the Boys too. My wife is a Den Leader. Last night one of her Boys announced that his father bought him a finished car on eBay. A few of the other boys told him he can't race a car he didn't build. I usually stay out of Den Meetings so I didn't learn of this issue until after the Boys went home. I've already reached out by email to the entire Pack offering added time slots in our final "Build Workshop" as well as other help if the date doesn't work for them. So far no response from the family involved. I cannot sit idly by knowing this car would violate the rules & the Boy won't be allowed to race it. I already know that I'll end up calling them to offer assistance. But I'm wondering if other Leaders have found themselves in this same position & what they have done about it. Thanks in Advance, Steve

Mr. Jepsen to the boys & (horrors) the younger parents. This is a matter of our Boys learning & showing respect. Nothing more.

After 7 hours over 4 nights all of the ribbons have been removed. Some I was not able to detangle & they were cut. This was no great loss since once down deep into the maze it appears the older ribbons had been reinforced with new string which did hold the ribbons but made the resulting knots impossibly difficult to untangle. Our Council store didn't have replacement cord nor did the local fabric store. tonight is Roundtable & I'm hoping to find a source of the correct cord. If not I'll contact Hodges who manufactured the pennants & streamers for many of the years. Council did have this item in stock: https://scoutnet.scouting.org/BSASupply/ItemDetail.aspx?ctlg=05NDC&ctgy=PRODUCTS&c2=FLAGS_RIBBONS&C3=FACCESSORIES&C4=&LV=3&item=1981 This item should serve to tether the newly organized mass with the dignity it deserves.

Thanks Everyone. I was composing as some additional posts were made. Too busy working to slouch off today I guess. It would be great to display these in a brick & mortar building if we had one. Our Pack meets in the cafeteria of a local middle school so we don't have this option.