Ready, Set, Ike

[VenturingL]

My son got the last signature on his Eagle project plan last night. It's been a long road - seemingly senseless delays in rank advancement (see my earlier posts), his schedule and advisor's not matching, last minute (& I mean that literally) design change request from benefitting organization, raising $750 additional dollars within a week to meet new design demands, his own occasional procrastination, the massive learning curve involved in designing, drawing, planning, etc., etc., etc. He has everything ready to start early this Saturday, but will probably be delayed again due to Ike dumping rain in the Dallas area. His advisor's first question last night was, "What's your contigency plan?" If the rain and/or heavy winds hold off until noon, he should get a decent start, if not, then we're hoping we dry out by the following weekend.

[smtroop168]

It's all part of the process. We have the scouts write a contingency plan into their plan.

[jr56]

Good luck. It's enough of a challange to complete an Eagle project, without having to deal with a hurricane in the process.

[aflmom]

Glad he finally got all of the signatures. It seems like an eagle project rarely goes smooth, but hopefully he won't be delayed too much because of Ike. I think one of the things people fail to take into account is that you're working with volunteers for the project. They're not as vested as paid employees would be, and it makes it much more difficult to coordinate.

[smtroop168]

It seems like an eagle project rarely goes smooth,

Haven't had a project delayed by hurricane but I get a little suspect when I see the "Changes" section in ESLPW with "everything went as planned"

[aflmom]

It seems like an eagle project rarely goes smooth,

Haven't had a project delayed by hurricane but I get a little suspect when I see the "Changes" section in ESLPW with "everything went as planned"

LOL. Good point!

[VenturingL]

It drizzled all morning, but no thunder or lightning, so work proceeded. Didn't have the turn out he expected, + was constantly concerned weather would pick up. They hit Texas clay about 2" down (had 18 post holes to dig). I think the Romans used Texas clay to build the Colliseum. Anyway, one of the adults donated the rental of a power auger. When rain finally did start pouring, he ended about a half a day off schedule, and hopes to be back at it tomorrow. He will have to continue it next weekend. All in all, we have nothing to complain about - I finally had time to catch up on the news reports from the coast. He was told at the first meeting with his advisor the same thing expressed in this chain - no Eagle Project goes EXACTLY per plan. Just like anything else in the real world, right?

[Bill Pitcher]

Hey VenturingL, what is your son's project and what is he close to 18? Have him write everything that went on at the end of or during each work day. It makes the final write-up go more smothly, even though the project might not.

[VenturingL]

He designed a 48' bridge (4' wide across) for his school district's Environmental Center - the bottom of the support beams is only about a foot above the ground at their highest point, but it spans an area that becomes a mud pit when it rains. The district required the entire bridge to be made of cedar (no pressure-treated wood toxins in the environmental center!) He led work crew again yesterday - discovered some of the posts were out of position, but concrete had already been poured - not off too much & wood can bend, so there is a slight curve at post #3 ( out of 9). He has already started making his list of changes. He hopes to complete the bridge next weekend.

He turns 18 on Oct.10; his advisors have told him they have every expectatin that he will make it - he just has to stay focused. He has his leadership requirement met - served as Troop Guide & is President of his Venturing Crew. Has some work to finish up on 1 merit badge - he will have by end of this month. It's tight, but do-able.

School district delayed the project twice, after they had indicated the sign-off was ready to be done (but not actually done yet) - they insisted on a triple width of 2 x 8's for the support beams - one on the outside of the 4 x 4 posts & 2 stacked to make a 4 x 8 on the inside of the posts to support the planks.(I know - you engineers are saying, "What....?" He does have cross bracing under the center of bridge also.), which increased his cost by about $750. He raised it within a week, and then they told him he had to go before the school board, who didn't meet until Sept. 8 (He had everything planned for Aug.23 as a start date). Less than a week before the meeting he was told that he didn't have to wait on the board meeting because the cost of the supplies was under $5000.

And then Ike showed up.

[Bill Pitcher]

VenturingL: Sounds like he'll make it to me. As you said: "he needs to stay focused." If he keeps great notes of each work day, his write-up should just flow. Good luck!
Two years ago, a Scout came to me with plans to build a 12' X 18' shed from scratch (no kit) for the town highway dept., to store hand tools and mowers. He came to me Oct. 30th. and turned 18 the day after Thanksgiving. On his first work day we had a surprised 6" snowstorm. He had to work, the crew showed up, and they started. They built the floor (had to be put on skids), framed it up, and put up some of the roof rafters (he had a big crew). Had to wait for the snow plow to come to get home!! The next day, after church and a sunny day, they put on the roof and doors. The next weekend the windows went in and the trim. HE MADE IT HAPPEN and got his paperwork into the Scout Office the day before Thanksgiving! So, have faith !