Eagle92

One source for group gear could be your state's federal surplus warehouse. I don't know if each state creates their own rules, but in NC BSA units can apply to get government surplus with a low "service charge." I saw lg. ALICE packs as low as $50 with frame, and sleeping bags cheap.

One source for group gear could be your state's federal surplus warehouse. I don't know if each state creates their own rules, but in NC BSA units can apply to get government surplus with a low "service charge." I saw lg. ALICE packs as low as $50 with frame, and sleeping bags cheap.

'Box, T24 beat me to it. National only wants adults on BORs now. As I stated up until 1990 or therabouts, PLs and Leadership Corps members in my troop did sit on BORs in my troop for the T-2-1 ranks. Now I admit as a brand new PL, and a few BORs afterwards too, I did ask the scout specific questions that should not have been asked ( i.e. "how do you clean a Dutch Oven" is the one that comes to mind and I'm not saying why ), but it was a learning experience. It was one way for us PLs and LC members to help relax the scout, see how our peers are doing in the other patrols, and get ideas for improving the troop. It was a very good learning experience IMHO, and gave the scouts some ownership of the troop. It also showed the new members of the committee and parents on the BORs that the troop was working, and that the youth do know what they are doing.

I hope this is good news. you folks in the IT field tell me your thoughts. http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2010/12/14/boy-scouts-name-new-cio.html Boy Scouts names new CIO rving-based Boy Scouts of America on Tuesday named Ron Tozzie as Chief Information Officer. Tozzie is charged with developing a new technology vision for the organization. We are excited to have Ron join us as CIO and we look forward to his insight and direction in putting technology best practices in place to help shape the future of the BSA, said Wayne Brock, deputy chief scout executive and COO. Its an exciting time as we continue to innovate and bring more value for our Scouts, parents, volunteers and local councils across America, and Ron will play a key role in that mission. Tozzie had held leadership roles in start-ups, global tech firms, national services firms, and global business-services firms. Most recently, he worked at Dell, where he specialized in business and IT strategy development. He has worked in several industries, including retail and defense research. Read more: Boy Scouts names new CIO | Dallas Business Journal

Gern, So let me get this straight, it's ok for the Saudi king to tell the US that we need universal healthcare like his country, but instead of using his country's healthcare system, which is free to all, he comes here instead? I think that and other foreign officials comign here proves that we have the best healthcare. And using the examples above, universal healthcare decreases the level of healthcare for a variety of reason. 1) With mandated payments by the government that cannot sustain medical practices, there will be fewer physicians to practice, increasing wait times, forcing docs to take on more patient per day resultign in less time to do a proper diagnosis. We already have that problem, and docs are either retiring earlier than planned or not accepting new medicare/medicaid patients. And don't get me started on the medicare/medicaid patch that congress slaps on each year to allow docs to get some reinbursement. 2)With universal coverage, physicans will be mandated as to what they can and cannot do by the government. You do a procedure that the government does not authorize, even if the patient can pay out of pocket, then the physician gets fined. Don't remember what countries do that, but I the UK and several others. Canada no longer has that policy if memory serves b/c and one person sued the Canadian government to allow him to pay his physician to do a procedure the governement not only would not pay for, but would not allow the doc to perform. that case went to the Canadian Supreme Court, whcih stated in their decision that Canada's universal healthcare system has killed people because of long waits, and not allowing docs to perform surgeries requested by the patient. That's why lots of small private practices that don't take Canadacare are popping up. 3) with not enough folks goignto medical school, medical innovation will slow down. Why do you think folks come to the US for research.

BP, See my original post. Belay that because in rereading that post it doesn't sound sarcastic as I was meant to be. How about this {sarcasm on)I'm curious as to why this knot was created? {sarcasm off) I agree we got enough knots out there, why more? Stosh, ROTFLMAO All, And once again the second oldest program in Scouting, Sea Scouts, gets shafted. Then again, with national's push to get red out of the Boy Scout uniform uniform, i.e. no red loops, numbers, red jackets, etc one could ask why they included red in the knot to represent Boy Scouts?

I have some very serious concerns about the new health care law, as well as universal healthcare. I met someone whose job is to know healthcare laws and advise healthcare facilities on what to do. the individual has told me that because of the language and vagueness of the new law, it is virtually impossible to figure out what facilities should do because there is no direction to large parts of the law as it will be made up as they go along. Again this is a healthcare expert and he cannot make sense of the new law. I kid you not! As for universal coverage I my question is this: if it is so good, then why do folks that can afford US healthcare from countries that have universal healthcare come here? I mean the Saudi king was in NYC for surgery, yet his country has western trained physicians and universal healthcare. Why is France looking at the US model of mixed public and private insurance in their healthcare reform models? Why is there such long waits in the UK, Canada, and other countries with universal healthcare? OK more later as my blood pressure is getting high.

In fact we had out CoH last night, and a large % of the new Scouts who were ready to advance to Tenderfoot didn't get their BOR two weeks ago due to adults, Not the boys. Adults.. I don't know when national stopped allowing Scouts to sit on BORs, but doing so would stop some of this, at least in the T-2-1 stages. I know up until approx 1989, my troop had youth sitting on T-2-1 BORs. Never had a problem with people having their BORs.

So once again Sea Scouts are left out? HMMM maybe I ought to add a First Class Anchor to that knot if I ever qualify

At one of the camps I worked at, staffers were considered lazy for bringing a bike to camp. I would love to hear what they would say about the golf cart. Then again at my current council's main camp golf carts are dereigeur for the CD, PD and a few other senior staff.I admit they can be handy for some things, i.e. transporting ceremony gear, lost camper, etc.

In reference to school busses, I must relate this story from this morning. Driving to work I got behind a bus and had to stop and wait about 2 minutes as the bus stopped at a house, yes you read that right at the house, while the student got out, walked to the bus, and got on. Less than a minute later and 6 houses away from the stop ( would be seven houses away but for the street) the bus stops again at a student's house, and waits about 3 minutes for them get out the house, walk to the bus, and climb aboard. No the students couldn't wait at the intersection like my sister did back in the day that was 2 houses away from 1 student and 4 houses away from the other student. As to Boy Scout overprotectiveness, what about all these scout camps that have wonderful lakes, whether manmade or natural, that have been used for decades for swimming activities, now having swimming pools? The camp I grew up at had a manmade lake, as evidenced from old photos and the broken buldozer that is now a rusting hulk in the lake and can be seen when the water is low, that until recently had a great swimming area. It's where I truly learned to swim, got swimming MB at, and earned BSA Lifeguard at. However the councikl built a new swimming pool and showerhouse for whatever reason.

Cent, Well if your SE is behind ya, then go for it. BUT be advised that what one SE does allow, another one can take away. One of the bad things about having professionals move ever 3-5 years. I had the expereince of one gung ho SE who wanted to implement the council's original plan of turning our scout reservation into 3 camps; Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Wilderness. He renovated the main camp and added the cub world elements to it. He started work on the new boy scout camp by having plans drawn up, donors linedup, chapel built, and campsites cleared to put in latrine, flagpoles, etc. The he gets promoted. next SE scraps that plan, and just renovates the camp. Lots of unhappy folks. On another note, now that you got yourself a color guard, now you need a bugler!

Yep Mrs. E92 followed the little girl. I think the reasons why the cops were not called on her are A) She knew the child and the parents, and B) my Cub and his two younger brothers were in the van as well.

Ditto what others have said. Unless it is overnite camping, which is not allowed on the den level except with Webelos dens, nothign prevents it. heck i had 2 tiger dens visit the bank and newspaper office.

good advice all around. Maybe have all of you apporach the SM at the same time, and politely ask if you can form a new patrol since two people are an inadequate size for a patrol. You can point out some literature about the national honor patrol award, aka BP Patrol Star and recommending an 8 man patrol or growingand that by giving you these 2 scouts you will be meeting this goal. On a different note, how long has your SM been in that position and has he been trained? Somehting doesn't soudn right.

Beav, The riding bike example is about some parents as I've been told it's not safe without an adult around. BUT I know that when one mom saw a child walking to school, she immediately turned around and offered the child a ride. When the child refused to get in and ride to school, the mom doublebacked and was following the child, just to be safe. Another mom seeing what was going on, approached the first mom and talked to her, then called the cops as she said something to the effect that it was child endangerment. Cops did come, did pick up the girl, and apparently brought her home as SHMBO was the first mom in the story, and did see the police pick up the girl. And when she came home,she saw the police car in the driveway a few doors down where the child lives.

In referecne to indoor playgrounds, at least it comprises a place to do physical activity. I have noticed a certain resteraunt chain doing away with playgrounds, both indoor and outdoor, in favor of video game stations instead. here's my list 1) Walking to school. 2) Riding a bicycle to school. 3) Hiking in the rain (this happened to me one time with the troop when we turned a trip into a family trip. Took a while to allow families again.) 4) Allowing kids to fail.

'Nut, 3-5 years for moves is the norm. Stay over 5 years, and other pros look at ya funny. Gotta have a very good reason for staying longer, i.e. my wife who supportsus has her medical practice here, my wife is in the school system administration here andsupports us, or this is my sunset post and I will be retiring when I step down. Ea, got to be able to interact with kids for recruiting, i.e. school nites and roundups, as well as for program activities you are responsible for. Grant you the contact is limited, but you still need to interact some.

DWS, Give me time, give me time. Gotta photocopy the pamphlet first. DG Good luck and thanks for the links.

Have you and your PL told your SM you want them in your patrol? Nothign in writing to my knowledge prevents that from happening. but a few things. 1) Are there any otehr members and if so what do they think? 2) What does your PL think? 3) What does yoru SPL think? 4) What do the 2 new scouts think? Soudns like an adult run troop. If that's the case, get everyone mentioned aproval, and have your PL and SPL talk to the SM. Now I am playing Devil's Advocate. 1) Why do you want the new guys in your patrol? please tell me it's not to make them serfs as has been mentioned in other threads. 2) You do realize that it will be more work for you, the PL, and the rest of your patrol as you will need to teach them the basic scout skills, work with them to master those skills, and get them up to par withe the rest of the patrol? 3) If your patrol is highly competitive, you do realize that you may be at a disadvantage at camporee competitions? 4) It may limit some of the independence of your patrol becasue you will need to look out for the new guys, esp in an adult run troop? Ok I played Devil's Advocate, and I will now my $.02 worth if you are willing to work with them, teach them the basic scout skills, and mentor them so that they too get a sense of giving back to the younger scouts: GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and yes I am shouting by jingo!) Good luck!

Ok back; here are some questions: 1) Do you know what a DE does exactly? 2) What experience do you have in scouting as a youth and as an adult? 3) What is the role of the district committee that you will be working with. 4)Do you realize that you will NOT be working with youth directly, but with adults that support the program? 5) What experience do you have fundraising? 6) What experience do you have recruiting? 7) What expereince do you have organizing and leading program activities? 8)Have you had a chance to review information about the council and area, i.e. reviewed council information on the website, looked at information on you area (chamber of commerce, city/county/state governement, etc)? 8a) If the candidate has some professional contacts, has he used them to find info about the council and leadership? May want to ask in private away from the pros. 9) Have you worked with any DEs, i.e. served on the district committee, shadowed a day in the liffe of a DE, etc? And I am sure others will think of more. I hope some of the questions are self evident. I'd ask #4 to make sure that the candidate doesn't think he will be working with youth, I've seen a few who thought that. I'd ask #8 because I didn't do that. When I visited for the interview, I was in an urban area that was not going to be my district and I thought my district would be like it. WRONG! I was in culture shock for about 6 months. It took some time getting use to the area. EDITED: I grew up in a metro area where the greater metro area was divided into 5 districts. I went to a rural area where my district covered an entire county, and one coworkers covered 5 counties! Only thre urbanized areas: the coast, the former state capitol, and the university town. rest is highly agrarian. I'd ask 8a in private and would go further in that I would recommend that the candidate have his scouting contacts do some asking around. I only asked what they heard about the council, and didn't ask them to ask around. They used the standard resources, i.e. PROSPEAKS, regional quarterly newsletter, etc. and the council looked very good. However if I would have asked them to ask around, I would have learned about some of the "leadership issues" and high turnover rate. Kinda bad when a SE you interviewed with in another council and see at a conference tells you he is sorry to find out you are in ABC's and XYZ's council and that "you need to watch your back with XYZ." The best thing from that time was that I met my wife (This message has been edited by eagle92)

Here are my thoughts based upon being a former DE. Background: 1) Some experience in scouting, preferably as an adult leader. 2) Older adult who is single or has no children at home and a VERY understanding wife. 3) Prior military seem to work best form my experience, esp. those who had recruiter duty More to come.(This message has been edited by eagle92)

Well i am resurrecting this thread. i am cleaning out my closet and started looking at some of my old stuff in one of my boxes. In one of those boxes I found a BSA 's version of teh M.M.Cole 5 Minute Methods Self-Instructions Bugle cwith a renewed copyright of 1956. I will be polishing my bugle shortly

I'm curious as to why this knot was created? here's the link. http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/ItemDetail.aspx?cat=01RTL&ctgy=PRODUCTS&c2=UNIFORMS&c3=INSIGNIA&c4=&lv=3&item=050AK&nimg=611866_AlumniKnot_Badge&us7=Y Would have been nice to include some Exploring/Venturing green in the red, blue, and gold colors. At least you can argue the blue represents Sea Scouts.

Pack et al, Something that hit me a minute ago in reference to patrol camping and why would you force adults on a patrol event. Legal reasons. Some jurisdictions do have stringent laws, i.e. Cary, NC ban on sheath knives, and having a group of teenagers out on their own without supervision could be considered neglect. Now a lawyer, but something to consider. After all the old OA Tapouts were considered 'child abuse" in some jurisdictions, hence the OA no longer does Tapouts.