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I noticed in working with my volunteers on the Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Specific Training that the First Class-First Year tracking sheet is out of date. It is missing several updated requirements that have been added in the last few years. It also doesn't have the new requirements for the 2010 edition of the Scout handbook. It would be great to have this updated as I have many troops that use this form.
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We are in the process of offering Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training. I've noticed there is some information in it that is inaccurate or needing updating because of updates to the program in the last few years and the updates coming in the future. It would be great to have an updated version of Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training. I looked at ScoutStuff.org and noticed it is no longer for sale, so I'm assuming their is a revision underway, but it would be great to know on any major document or resource when major revisions of them are underway and include a time-line of roll-out of that document or resource.
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When running the District Advancement Report it would be nice to have the opption to sort by district by unit number.
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Innovation Engine vote count used to let you hover your mouse over the 'Vote Up/Vote Down' box and it would show you the number voting up and the number voting down. This would let you know if the +10 were actually 10 people were voting something up or if 100 were voting up and 90 were voting down leaving a total of +10. I liked that ability. It let me know if it was a popular idea or if people weren't that interested enough to vote.
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Enough with all the commemorative council strips. I attended a Scouting conference over the weekend and noticed that at least half of the people in the room were wearing some sort of commemorative council strip (myself included). Some of the strips were for significant events like anniversaries. Others were for comparitively trivial events. It seems like some councils are using their council strip as a temporary patch. Enough already... granted, this is more of an observation than an innovation.
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It would be great if we at the council could look up a users id from their person profile or some where
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OK, I admit, I am overweight... when I earned my Eagle I was 5'10" and 155 pounds. Add an inch to that today but also add 'too much' weight. Like many of our leaders and youth members I can't claim to be as physically fit as I should be. I was a Cub Scout in the 50's and times have changed. Fast food, video and computer games, bussing at our doors for the kids going to school instead of walking and the list goes on. Scouting needs to address this issue in a big way. We need kids out hiking and involved in more physically active aspects of our programs. Districts and Councils can help with this by making hikes and physically challenging events a regular part of the program. When I see 'weight restrictions' on certain National programs I have to think where I would fall on those guidelines. My district just had an event that included a 12 mile hike and the participants were encouraged to 'build up to it' and to use it towards hiking merit badge. Cubs were allowed to participate with either a 3 or 5 mile hike and Webelos were allowed to go the whole distance. We issued a hiking staff medallion instead of a patch and it was very well received. Additionally, we hiked between two points of local Scouting Historical interest from one town to the next and a lot of folks got to see Scouts outdoors in their towns. I am expecting that this sort of an event will become a regular part of our district program planning now. I also am looking for ways to encourage our leaders and youth to make exercise and healthy diet a regular part of their routine. 'On my HONOR I will keep myself Physically Fit'....... As professionals and as a movement we need to do more than give lip service to that promise... I would welcome ideas to bring to my district as well as success stories from other districts/councils.
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Would suggest that every big city in the U.S.A. should have a Boy Scouts Ave. A bill toward this goal should be introduced into each city council.
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Submitted by Life Scout of Troop 170, Sumner, WA
I've been seeking "the answers" in scouting as a leader. I've always wanted a large manual explaining every nook and cranny of scouting. That's why I'm suggesting the publication of this manual - or several smaller divisions through a series such as For Dummies or The Complete Idiot's Guide. I'm writing to you because I feel that you, as the head council, would know the professionals - the veterans of scouting with an abundance of experience to write such a manual. By collecting all of the information into a single location or series, I'm sure it would clear up much of the nation's uncertainties of running a troop/team/crew/post.
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Wouldn't it be great (and easy) if the number for the BSA Help Desk would be 1-800-BSA-HELP?
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With the current emphasis in education and business on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields, the BSA should research pilot partnerships with tech-based corporations and or educational institutions in select markets. A STEM day or weekend at a corporation or university for youth to explore opportunities could be open to the public (and would draw a significant audience) and promoted through the local council as an opportunity for a youth member to earn certain merit badges. Aligning Scouts and non-Scouts with similar interests could provide an opportunity for membership growth in traditional Scouting or Exploring.
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It would be nice is if national started a professionals magazine that came out once a month or quarterly in it would be helpful tips for that time of year like Round up season . The publication could include a section where other professionals could tell you about what strategy worked for them what did not. I believe that many professionals would find this helpful and an enjoyable read.
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As millions of our countrymen lose their jobs to unfair labor practices overseas, it seems less than appropriate that our uniforms are made in China. If cost is an issue, maybe we could provide an American made product alongside the foreign product, and give everyone the option to "buy America". It could even be used a a marketing tool.
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How about the BSA or the World Scout Association partnering with Rotary International on its Polio Plus project to eradicate polio in the world? Rotary has made great progress and is working to meet a challenge grant from the Gates Foundation. It would be national and international in scope and form a working relationship with Rotary.
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I just heard from a volunteer that said she has pages of drivers and training in the tour permit program but they are not organized in any way. It would be helpful if they were alphabetically sorted instead of being sorted by order in which they were entered.
Also, is there any way to delete a tour permit that was started and is no longer needed?
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If you look on the old uniform, there was a patch that said Boy Scouts of America. It has since been replaced with glued on letters. These letters begin to fall off after awhile. I think we should return to having the Boy Scouts of America placed on a embroidered patch that will last. It looks horrible when you put on a shirt that says Boy cout of America.
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How about an update that includes a policy on Airsoft guns?
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The H&S Support Committee would like to see mental health issues addressed within the program. They are requesting feedback on the proposal. Their desire is to weave it into the advancement process. SME's are available to support this effort.
While scouting incorporates a good many aspects of physical health maintenance and injury/crisis management in its advancement process, aspects of mental health are not. Yet there are a number of aspects of mental health and illness that could be articulated and incorporated in the scouting education and advancement program.
A colleague talked about this matter with his nephew, who was an active scout. When asked about a scouting program to assess competencies in mental health, that scout suggested it would be a “great idea” to include this in the content of a merit badge. Indeed, he thought that Boy Scouts should be asked to have the following mental health competencies:
1. Have the ability to recognize signs of good and poor mental health in oneself and others
2. Know strategies for helping others with mental health problems
3. Be able to provide first aid for acute stress (“psychological first aid”)
4. Be familiar with different types of mental disorder
5. Recognize drug and alcohol abuse and their complications
This scout agreed that knowledge of drug and alcohol abuse and prevention are important, but he thought that material presently is covered fairly well. He suggested that material about mental health could be learned through a combination of reading and meetings with a mental health professional. He thinks that competency could be demonstrated through the combination of a written test and discussion or demonstration (i.e. role playing).
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Currently the Winter Sports Safety section in the Guide to Safe Scouting states that "suitable clothing for the activity and environment should be worn at all times, and equipment should include gloves and helmets when appropriate.
The following change is being considered: Appropriate personal protective equipment is required for all activities. This includes the recommended use of helmets for all participants engaged in winter sports such as sledding and other sliding devices. The use of helmets is required for the following activities: downhill skiing, snowboarding and operation of snowmobiles (full face helmets).
Your feedback and comments to this change are desired.
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I can't believe that in this day and age we dont have all the training manuals in PDF format available online for the professionals, They have to be in electronic format somewhere since they are printed. We should be making it easier for professionals to have access to all the latest up to date information thats out there.
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Create a National Supply Group category where things related to Supply can be addressed. I.E. New product ideas and/or improving existing products, Scout Shop/scoutstuff.org ideas, etc..
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I think it is worth exploring uniforms and gear could be reused on a regional basis.
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On the online Youth Protection Training course there is a slide that needs to be changed. It is in one of the sections where you have to identify which scenario would be right...if a youth could visit with a Scoutmaster in his tent. Anyways, there is a picture of a Scoutmaster with a propane or white gas lantern in his tent, which goes against the Guide to Safe Scouting. "Only flashlights and electric lanterns are permitted in tents. No flames in tents is a rule that must be enforced. Never use liquid-fuel stoves, heaters, lanterns, lighted candles, matches, and other flame sources in or near tents." I just thought it was strange to see that in the training, but it really should be changed so it is consistent with the Guide to Safe Scouting.
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Start a walking initiative or tag a program along with the AHA National Start! Walking Day on April 8th. Or Walk4life has walking programs. Lets get the youth off the couch or sitting at computers playing video games. Walking is free, and for a nominal cost of a pedometer, charts etc the BSA can help in the fight to conquer obesity. See the AMA web site Start or Walk4life. For ideas.
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When printing print confirmations for recharter or other times, it is set up to print a blank page between each print job. This is a lot of wasted paper. Please take out the blank page!!!!! I know how to get around it, but it takes a LOT of time when trying to get rechartering done!
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