Brewmeister Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 Searing the forums for "electronic blue cards" doesn't pull up anything interesting. Filling out these cards in triplicate...seems so 1970. I finally got smart and printed an address label I can put over the "counselor" part for ones I sign. It would just seem in the age of the mobile interweb that there would be a better way... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred johnson Posted July 22, 2013 Share Posted July 22, 2013 I think there is value in the paper triplicate blue card. Slows things down. Gets kids off the computer. Give then a pen and a blue card. It's up to them to fill it out, keep it, get it completed and hand it to his scoutmaster. Scouting is about face-to-face relationships and learning to deal with people. I think the BC does that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Ding Dong Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 I think there is value in the paper triplicate blue card. Slows things down. Gets kids off the computer. Give then a pen and a blue card. It's up to them to fill it out, keep it, get it completed and hand it to his scoutmaster. Scouting is about face-to-face relationships and learning to deal with people. I think the BC does that.I tend to agree with you Fred. Also it may seem like everyone has a smartphone, but we aren't there yet. My oldest has my old iPhone but no data service and a pay as you go t mobile sim only when I feel he needs it and that is not very often. The boys in Texas are not up to another IT project either. Lets fix the ones they have been working on for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twocubdad Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 Beavah and I had a long debate on this topic about a year ago. I'm good with the blue cards. There are a lot of old-school lesson about responsibility and organization built into it. Beav was much more laisse faire up to and including, "Hey, Mr. Brewmeister, I finished Camping." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scouter99 Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 It would just seem in the age of the mobile interweb that there would be a better way... Don't confuse motion with progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdidochas Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 Searing the forums for "electronic blue cards" doesn't pull up anything interesting. Filling out these cards in triplicate...seems so 1970. I finally got smart and printed an address label I can put over the "counselor" part for ones I sign. It would just seem in the age of the mobile interweb that there would be a better way... I know troopmaster prints them out. Honestly, I can't imagine much simpler than them. I have the boys fill out almost everything on them besides the requirements the signatures and the dates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packsaddle Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 It is actually one form with three parts and all three parts are not identical. Anyway, the need for multiple redundancy ought to be obvious. I don't have a problem with the cards either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaliela Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 The joy of the paper blue card; and every other card we give a boy, is that when council looses all record that it exist the boy can always bring in HIS copy! This happens every year--Someone is turning in paperwork for their Eagle and council says something ridiculous like, "Oh you never earned the tenderfoot rank, therefore you are not eligible for Eagle." OR "Oh, since joining Scouts 4 years ago you only earned 19 Merit Badges, so you're not eligible for Eagle." The Boy has his copy; the troop has it's copy (our troop actually makes a copy BEFORE turning it in to council); the MB Councilor has their copy; but council somehow doesn't have a copy . . . That's where all those cards come in OH SO HANDY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle92 Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 As I stated elsewhere, my troop didn't use the blue cards. Instead we had the MBCs sign the actual BSHB when it was finished. And a copy of the signed requirements from the BSHB was what we used to fix those nasty council records problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankpalazzi Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 The redundancy of the blue card system guarantees it to be idiot/council proof. I'm in favor of keeping it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Ding Dong Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 My council does not use the blue cards, they have a white one withe the signatures on the front and requirements on the back, so no redundancy built in. Not sure why they went with their own form. Are their many othe councils that don't use them ? Why ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbemis1 Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 My understanding is that this council now accepts ONLY blue cards as proof. They do not even trust their own records. Of course, historically, that is a GOOD thing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basementdweller Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 My council does not use the blue cards, they have a white one withe the signatures on the front and requirements on the back, so no redundancy built in. Not sure why they went with their own form. Are their many othe councils that don't use them ? Why ?copy or scan it.....your boy might need it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Ding Dong Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 My council does not use the blue cards, they have a white one withe the signatures on the front and requirements on the back, so no redundancy built in. Not sure why they went with their own form. Are their many othe councils that don't use them ? Why ?My understanding is it does not leave the troop, just reported then given back to the scout. But yes, photos of everything including handbook. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pack18Alex Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 The REASON that Council can even lose things is the primitive paper process. We turn all paper to council in electronically via PDF and keep a copy on our system. I see zero reason to be storing carbonless paper for BSA. An online system would be even better. They can have an offsite backup. We could archive a PDF of everyone in the Unit annually. Paper to sit on someone's desk at Council for months on end it stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now