Comments for True North

Comment on My disbelief… by Scoutmaster Shawn

Scoutmaster Shawn — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:15:58 +0000

I think that sometimes, too…but the kicker of it is, if the Scouts don’t know that it’s wrong, they aren’t going to know what’s right. And I have found that more Scouts and Leaders that are misinformed are also clueless to the rest of the Scouting World. I really wish sometimes that some of them would just read some of the stuff that’s out there (meritbadge.org, scouting.org) and find out what the program is all about.

But, alas…these are the same units that complain of low numbers, but don’t realize that it’s due to a lack of recruiting and retention on their parts…another part of that whole clueless thing…LOL

Comment on My disbelief… by How Scouting is supposed to work « Scouter Adam's Blog

How Scouting is supposed to work « Scouter Adam's Blog — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 21:40:45 +0000

[...] post from Shawn Cleary, a Scoutmaster in Milwaukee, WI is about correcting a wrong and keeping a Scout [...]

Comment on My disbelief… by Darrin

Darrin — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:57:35 +0000

Wow! Some people just don’t get it. I feel sorry for the Scouts in that Troop.

Comment on And now we are Elks… by Darrin

Darrin — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 19:23:25 +0000

Sounds like a sweet deal. Good luck!

Comment on And now we are Elks… by rmadere

rmadere — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:57:08 +0000

As an Elk (Past Exalted Ruler), a Scouter and an Eagle Scout, I congratulate on finding a good chartered organization. If the Lodge give you trouble, let me know. I was the Louisiana Elks and Scouting coordinator so I know how to solve most issues.

Comment on And now we are Elks… by scouteradam

scouteradam — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:31:03 +0000

Your Troop is going to flourish even more so. The COR/CO totally gets it. I highly suspect that George will want to sign-up as a Merit Badge Counselor and even help out on BORs.

Comment on I used to be a Moose by Darrin

Darrin — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:06:38 +0000

Nothing quite like a bad COR. We had one at the church we are chartered in and after numerous disagreements with him the Pastor stepped in and took over. Great guy that loves kids and Scouting. Good luck!

Comment on Quality, not Quantity by Bob Johansen (@SweetBobbyJ)

Bob Johansen (@SweetBobbyJ) — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:32:52 +0000

Nice article. Out with the bad, in with the good.
I can relate to all of these circumstances. It is always a struggle to provide a good program, train the upcoming leaders, and deal with the drama that sometimes comes up (normally from the parents). Keep up the good work.

Comment on >We all have our muse by Scouter John

Scouter John — Wed, 30 May 2012 04:50:07 +0000

I’d bring it up in the Pack Committee meeting, that the money owed should be written off as a donation to charity, so that the family could eat, and pay the rent. If that doesn’t embarass the hell out of them to pay, then it gives the others an excuse to drop it. Don’t try to teach Pigs to fly….

Comment on Another first for the troop… by larrygeiger

larrygeiger — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:19:13 +0000

It’s a little bit odd telling folks the results before call-out. Not wrong, just not common, in my experience.

SMs and ASMs must be very careful about how they work with their own sons. You don’t want to be too pushy or helpful, but you don’t want to ignore them either. The best thing is to support and follow the rules. When we follow policy and rules we take ourselves out of the situation.

If it’s the rule that SPLs and OA candidates are elected by the Scouts, then they are elected by the Scouts. We don’t second guesss, gripe, moan or complain about it. There is a reason why it is the way that it is and because we are Scouters we get on board.

If it’s a rule or policy that we stick our noses into something then it’s time to get involved. Registered SMs and ASMs perform SM Conferences. Not Committee Members or senior Scouts or the Mayor. It’s SMs and ASMs. We have to look at the bigger, overall picture and trust that following the program will produce the desired results.