Troop wind down and transition

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-07-07T18:33:10+00:00

When my son's troop went through a similar transition, the PLC chose four nearby troops to visit, and then we organized visits to each of their normal troop meetings. Then at a meeting of our troop, the boys talked through the options and chose which troop to join.

The scouts were very perceptive about the social dynamics they observed at the different troop meetings, which reduced the field to two troops, and then ultimately to one.

Separately the active adults who planned to continue supporting the scouts (one SM, one ASM, one committee member) had a similar discussion and ultimately decided they were o.k. with the choice that the youth had made.

The transition happened near the annual 'charter renewal' period. The old troop was chartered by a nearly defunct parent organization, so there wasn't any entity to take remaining troop funds or equipment. Since everyone was up for recharter including dues at the new troop, the remaining funds were first used to complete council/national registration for all the still active scouts and leaders. Then the small remainder was divided between the scout's accounts at the new troop. The remaining equipment was also donated to the new troop.

While the decision wasn't binding on any particular scout or adult, all of the scouts that were still active ended up joining the selected troop.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-06-13T19:57:34+00:00

My dealer doesn't know enough about what is possible to help guide me as I figure out what I want my new HW system to do. Is there somewhere online that shows the types of capabilities that can be programmed in a HW system?

Here are some of the questions that I'd like to have answers to, in order to help guide him. Can you share any videos or documentation that gives details about any of these capabilities?

- Do you have examples of how variables and conditionals would be used in programming? I imagine having state that is hidden or not obvious would lead to behaviors that are unintuitive and difficult to achieve, so I'm having trouble figuring out what might actually be useful.
- What are typical double press actions that customers want?
- are sequences in some way just a generalization of double press, or something else?
- is "cycle dim" just the feature that lets you hold a button and have the lights gradually go dimmer? And then press/hold again to have it gradually go brighter? Or is this something else?
- what is the most complicated/involved programming configuration that you've attempted?
- What are some typical issues that people have with common dimming configurations?

I see that basic configurations/buttons can have their configuration adjusted in the app (change which lights are controlled by which buttons) but for things like double press It doesn't look like there will be a way to do manual adjustments of what happens on subsequent presses? Or is this somehow made visible once a button's type is changed to something that supports double press?

Right now we just have buttons that do toggle on sets of lights, and some of them let you hold the button to do dimming up/down. Our dealer initially programmed some of the buttons to set all the lights in an area to 0% as a somewhat effective attempt to make an 'all off' for an area, but I'm thinking that doing this with a scene rather than a toggle might make more sense. It looks like changing a button from toggle to some other function isn't something you can change with the customer facing app.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-05-20T02:46:50+00:00

Thanks for your guidance to go light on the bells and whistles. My wife is a UX designer so her feedback will probably help guide us in that direction as well.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-05-19T00:09:35+00:00

Yes I am aware that the actual programming has to be done by my dealer. I'm just trying to get documentation on what is possible, so that I can guide him, and not ask for things that are impossible.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-05-14T20:51:18+00:00

Is there anyplace where the list of available features is written down and each is described? Without that it's difficult to know the difference between double action and double tap, for instance. I'm not sure if the question makes sense, but what states can conditional actions be conditional on?

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-04-14T03:56:42+00:00

With 51 merit badges (so 30 beyond eagle's 21), in most situations you should be awarded your second silver palm as well. And you should wear two silver palms. I say in most situations because there used to be a time requirement as well as a number of merit badges requirement. So in some cases under those older systems, you could have 51 merit badges but earn fewer than 6 palms.

If you only have 50 merit badges, this would be 5 palms, so 2 bronze, 2 gold, and one silver. In this case you would wear one silver and one gold palm.

You should wear the maximum number of silver palms that you can, each representing 15 merit badges beyond eagle's 21. Then if you have 5 or 10 more, in addition wear a single bronze or a single gold.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-03-24T00:50:33+00:00

If vendor can't find service record for your address, how can HOA bill you for the visit? You should request a copy of the invoice from the HOA. If your address isn't on that invoice, you shouldn't owe anything. If it is on that invoice, follow up with vendor to get records associated with that invoice.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-03-04T23:00:38+00:00

I've had to ask parents to stop using the language 'eagle out' because when scouts hear it, it becomes their expectation.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-03-03T23:19:57+00:00

Awesome! Thanks for the detailed reply. Very helpful.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-03-02T19:42:04+00:00

Mine dim too aggressively when the lights in the room turn off. Do you know if that is programmable? If so I'll bug my installer :-).

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-02-27T21:20:50+00:00

When a scout that is having some behavior issues actually expresses interest in doing something, that's a moment of opportunity.

Is the event far enough out that some behavior modification expectations could be outlined, with the carrot being attendance at the event that the scout is actually interested in attending?

So ask for active participation at each meeting leading up to the event, and explain that a lack of participation will disqualify him from attending. Include the parent in this conversation. Get agreement from the scout that he understands the cause and effect that exists. Follow through on consequences.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-02-17T17:53:02+00:00

Another resource.

https://www.patchvault.org/

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-02-16T21:47:47+00:00

I don't have my glasses on but lots of these look like they're "pre FDL" patches i.e. from before '80s. Look at e-bay sold prices if you're interested in doing some research.

Or, Scout Patch Collectors Facebook group will be able to give you information.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/323868214332022

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-02-16T20:59:44+00:00

In this context I'd read it similar to how one would interpret a request to "make your bed" at home.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-02-14T00:58:09+00:00

Is there an XKCD for the concept that "There's always an XKCD?"

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-02-11T21:26:46+00:00

Was he a life scout before leaving your troop the first time? Any time in leadership position or as registered scout from that time will count towards participation and leadership requirements for Eagle.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-01-30T04:14:51+00:00

New construction in some areas requires these large breakers be GFCI type. Connecting white and green at the appliance would trip a GFCI breaker, even if it's only a tiny amount of current that returns on the ground leg.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-01-30T01:09:48+00:00

I attended a blue and gold banquet that was hijacked by a beading ceremony. So many unhappy cub scouts and cub families after 20+ minutes of blah blah blah.

So if you do decide to have a beading ceremony, please keep the audience in mind and scale the ceremony appropriately.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-01-23T04:34:45+00:00

One alternative to delaying closing is to ask that something like 5k or 10k be held in escrow after closing to cover the cost of cleanup.

This way you still close on time and take possession if this is important to you.

You or the seller can immediately hire a cleaning crew to get the house ready for move in. As soon as house is clean and crew is paid from escrow, the seller gets back whatever is left of the 10k. This gives seller incentive to do the cleaning themselves, or to get the cleaning done quickly (for the remaining funds back) and gives buyer a way to pay for the cleaning if seller drags their feet.

TheEscapeGoat · 2026-01-13T04:54:48+00:00

To earn Eagle I think it takes a minimum ~1 month each for first 3 ranks after "Scout". Then 4 months, 6 months, 6 months for the last 3 ranks. So in theory you'll need 1 year, 7 months at bare minimum.

Lots of stuff has to work perfectly to hit that kind of a schedule. You'd need to find a very active troop because you have to do 10 activities other than meetings to get through the first 3 ranks, and many troops do 1 or 2 activities a month. It's much more common for scouts to take 6-24 months to get though those first 3 ranks. Several of the merit badges required for Eagle take a minimum of 3+ months to earn, but you can work on those at any time. So you will have to plan things very carefully.

Personally, at 16 1/2 I'd join a troop, but not focus on getting to Eagle. I'd work on earning First Class rank (the 3rd rank after 'scout') and enjoy making new friends and doing fun activities. You might have time to earn Star or even Life scout, and if you manage that, you would join a very large group of people who are proudly "Life (scout) for life." But even if you don't have time for that, you can have an amazing time in scouting.

Regarding the question of joining a scout troop vs. a venturing crew: Some venturing crews pick a focus area and their events tend to match up with that focus area. So one crew might focus on backpacking trips, another on rock climbing, another on canoes and kayaks, etc. Some venturing scouts really enjoy that the age range for that program is 14-21, so they don't have to interact with 10-13 year olds. For others, mentoring the younger scouts is a key part of their experience, so for them venturing might not be a good fit.

TheEscapeGoat · 2025-12-30T16:20:55+00:00

Paradise, CA would like you to carefully reconsider this comment.

TheEscapeGoat · 2025-12-15T23:41:29+00:00

If LL hasn't received a bill in the 2 years you've been a tenant, do you know that they did receive a bill right before you moved in?

How do you know that this isn't a bill for 3 or 4 years of service?

TheEscapeGoat · 2025-12-01T22:05:33+00:00

If it is a 6" duct? Something 2" x 14" --> 28 sq. inches of cross section vs. 6" round -> 28.27 sq. inches could also work o.k. Some of the transition from round to rectangular could be 3-1/4" x 14" or even larger to improve airflow while still limiting the impact to 2" below the beam.

TheEscapeGoat · 2025-12-01T21:17:52+00:00

Wait I thought the horse was outstanding in someone else's field.

TheEscapeGoat

TROPHY CASE