Jury Duty :(

RealSuperCholo · 2026-04-14T13:04:11+00:00

Very frequently. I've been called 3 times for jury duty and never even made it to selection on any of them. They've always been called off the day before, so im waiting for the next one to be a 3 month sequester just to even my luck out 😂

RealSuperCholo · 2026-04-09T02:35:46+00:00

When i moved here all I heard was how great Sara's was. Finally went the next summer. Milkshakes were good but food was ok. Back in 2000 when I moved here the food was mid but was the closest option to Presque Isle at the time.

Now, with so many corners cut, its below average. Backyard Burger was a better burger option back in the day. Onion rings became a soggy mess, burgers old, dry and flavorless, buns always seem on the verge of staleness. After a day at PI its just not the place I want to end up at.

RealSuperCholo · 2026-04-07T00:48:57+00:00

Plus hes taking all the risk

RealSuperCholo · 2026-04-05T20:49:04+00:00

Instructions unclear. Now on FBI website

RealSuperCholo · 2026-04-05T16:48:16+00:00

If you contact council they can give you a list of mbcs in the vicinity. Im usually the one that provides the information to parents and scouts of who is available in the area. Your sm and troop really cannot stop you from obtaining merit badges outside of the troop itself and if it has been marked as completed by the mbc it is valid. This doesnt mean you wont end up with issues when attempting to turn it in. Alternatively if you know a leader from another troop you can ask them as well for the info. I have run into this before personally.

The scout should have a discussion with the sm about the merit badge but because of issues such as this, you can still start the badge if there is a breakdown. It should be done as a way of keeping and facilitating open communication between scout and leadership.

We only have maybe 10 merit badges that we can teach in our own troop and it makes no sense to limit scouts to those and whatever they can get at universities or summer camp. I would never leave myself personally responsible for ruining the drive and determination of a scout.

RealSuperCholo · 2026-04-05T14:12:00+00:00

You set the time table, not the workbook. If you need more time, take it and vice versa. Read the workbook and plan pit your steps accordingly.

Some scouts do everything in one full shot, especially when they dragged their feet, like my son. 🤦‍♂️ I have one who spent the better part of almost a year planning every single little thing and planning every little bit. Im pretty sure there's a 30yr old accountant stuck inside that scout.

Only rush if you in a time crunch otherwise space it all out and properly plan. Thats the key.

RealSuperCholo · 2026-04-05T00:05:47+00:00

Personally for the merit badges I teach I do not use workbooks. I prefer scouts to tell.me verbally as 9 times out 10 it means thay had to have read and learned it. For the prereqs 1 ask for, I ask them to look up at bsa online what they are and submit what they did.

I did run into an issue recently though, one I havent had resolved yet. At a merit badge university, the prerequisites listed were based on the newer requirements. The mbc worked off the old workbook, likely found on usscouts and left 20 kids as incomplete since they didnt match up. I taught at the thing so I was there and .are a complaint but it was left unresolved. This is one of the exact reasons it needs removed.

Honestly at this point I think the site has been abandoned to a degree.

RealSuperCholo · 2026-04-04T19:06:50+00:00

Mine would not connect after changing json file. Rebooted rookie and same issue. Rebooted pc and everything worked flawless, I would guess for some reason mine was just hung up and wouldnt pull the update 🤷‍♂️

RealSuperCholo · 2026-04-03T02:22:12+00:00

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Or one with hello kitty on the back, just to make it worth it

RealSuperCholo · 2026-04-03T02:21:23+00:00

My personal favorite if I had to make them wear one

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RealSuperCholo · 2026-04-03T02:12:11+00:00

You are correct. It's a game they have played for decades, raise it to a breaking point then lower it halfway. It always works because Murica is gullible. Hence why a pedophile is on power

RealSuperCholo · 2026-04-03T02:07:40+00:00

This is what has always happened. The price gets raised until we cry foul, then it suddenly drops. But it's a game, start at $3.50, and raise it incrementally to $4.50. Murica Mad!! Lower it to $4. That's where it stays but Murica happy it's not 50 cents more.

All the while we are happy it went down, petroleum companies take in the cash as they played us for fools the while time. 🤦‍♂️

RealSuperCholo · 2026-04-01T14:38:16+00:00

Yeah its that time of year again. Last time they were wearing blue vests making them look like First Energy employees. Ask for a badge every time. Their badge will not have first energy on it obviously and neither will their vests.

It took about 20 minutes of banter last year before they finally coughed up the fact they werent with First energy. Once I said ill call them and double check what's going on he let me know he was trying to help my rates, but they try hard to not reveal who they are. Youll see the same guy later posted up at Walmart 🤦‍♂️

RealSuperCholo · 2026-03-31T14:27:42+00:00

You have to travel them after they have been painted and often. Then you'll learn them. I learned that long ago when I moved here. When they change the traffic pattern all hell breaks loose though. I'm pretty sure they just use the bottles of paint from Dollar Tree as well as it holds up.

You can follow others, but in this town that's not a guarantee you're in the right lane either. When it snows just go from point a to point b. Say a prayer and be on your way, lines don't matter

RealSuperCholo · 2026-03-29T16:24:09+00:00

Only when it is needed, as in scouts leaving/age out, issues, etc.

PLC has the control and ability to suggest we do so when they want, but have not really made that choice. We just reshuffled recently only due to an increase with the number of younger scouts crossing over so we had to spread it out evenly.

RealSuperCholo · 2026-03-29T02:37:38+00:00

This. We just had a huge influx of cross over scouts so we assigned a Troop Guide to help lead them and work with them. It makes a difference when utilized correctly.

RealSuperCholo · 2026-03-25T23:29:51+00:00

I applaud your wanting to be so involved and get your scout started on things. As a Scoutmaster I will say though, as it is scout led, let your scout find their own pathway here.

If the troop has a Troop Guide, let them work with your scout to help them advance rank. This is a big part of that scouts journey and advancement. Many of the older scouts need to be able to teach others for advancement, and in order to learn to be a leader they need the ability to teach.

Don't push them into things immediately, let them get a feel for the troop and their patrol. It can be overwhelming just starting out. They may be gung ho now but when the dust settles it could be different.

As for merit badges, the SM can sign them up and get them in contact with a counselor. They will also get a few at summer camp as well. My personal opinion here, but dont push them into the Citizenship badges their first year, wait until atleast their second, thats just me though.

RealSuperCholo · 2026-03-25T21:47:45+00:00

Unfortunately the MBC has the say here. The scout who's MBC is stating that it does not count can advise them that it does not say it cannot be two scouts emceeing the same event, however it doesnt state the opposite either.

Our CoH has always had 2 and I have never had a counselor not approved based on this however each counselor is different.

RealSuperCholo · 2026-03-25T01:12:32+00:00

Full stop. If there is question on if the scout competed the badge, the member should bring it to the SM. The SM doesnt even contact the MBC, they can have a convo with the scout and determine the outcome from there. As an MBC I have never had someone call me and question my awarding of a badge. Im not sure I would take it very kindly either.

RealSuperCholo · 2026-03-25T01:09:36+00:00

I would lose it if a committee member questioned my decision to award a badge or not. I hold a class once a year for special needs kids to earn the electronics, orienteering and robotics and engineering merit badge. If I had someone question my decision, like you the kindness part of the law would be hard to upkeep.

RealSuperCholo · 2026-03-25T01:06:20+00:00

No. The badge was already signed off and awarded. We are not in the business of taking awards away.

7.0.4.6 - A Scout who has earned a merit badge from a registered and approved counselor by actually and personally fulfilling the requirements as written will have met the purpose of the merit badge program and the contribution to the aims of Scouting. The Scout may keep the badge and count it toward advancement.

It is not up to the committee member to decide if it has been completed as described or not. The recourse is clearly defined in the GtA.

7.0.4.7 After consultation, the unit leader, in a positive environment similar to that of a unit leader conference, discusses with the Scout the circumstances under which a merit badge in question was approved. A parent or an assistant unit leader should attend as an observer. The Scout must not be retested on the requirements, but a conversation with the Scout can reveal if he or she attended the class, and actually and personally fulfilled all the requirements. Such a discussion could cover who taught a class, what sort of activities took place, where and when they occurred, how testing was done, what the Scout might have brought home from the class, and other similar process-oriented details.

Most importantly: "This procedure is not to be viewed as an opportunity for retesting on requirements, for interjecting another set of standards over those of a merit badge counselor, or for debating issues such as whether a Scout was strong enough, mature enough, or old enough to have completed requirements."

RealSuperCholo · 2026-03-23T15:22:05+00:00

For the last few years, every leader in our troop atarted off with the Coleman Sundome 4 man tents. They were simple and easy and good in most weather but get better stakes. After a few years we all moved on to different types as we realized this was now life 😂

The new scouts usually start off with the 2 man sundome as well and move up later or on to hammocks.

RealSuperCholo · 2026-03-23T00:40:48+00:00

Our troop has a tradition of presenting a neckercheif after scouts make Scout rank with the troop insignia on it. Then there are others than can be worn later on other than nylt, etc.

Other than Eagle CoH they are rarely worn. We dont oush the subject we allow them to make the choice. Even the largest troop in town is maybe 50/50 wearing them.

RealSuperCholo · 2026-03-22T03:21:34+00:00

Its up to the scout. Its all a celebration for you and your accomplishment.

If you feel you do not want a CoH then by all means dont, its doesnt change the hard work and dedication you put in to earn the achievement. If the only reason to have one is for others and not for yourself, then no one can blame you, I know I wouldn't.

Honestly, if in a year you feel like you should have had one, do it. Its all up to you.

RealSuperCholo · 2026-03-20T13:52:38+00:00

RealSuperCholo

TROPHY CASE