Eagle92

Sail, Problem is that the HS diploma doesn't mean the same thing is did 15, and especially 30 years ago. When I got out of HS in the 90s if I wanted to, iI could have gotten several decent jobs without any more education except possibly on the job training. And 30 years ago when my brothers were in school, they had programs that gave you technical skills and training in HS, so that as soon as you graduated HS, you could get a good job. Now if you have a HS diploma, you are very limited in what you can do, you need at least an associate's degree today for jobs that would have required a HS diploma 30 years ago. And in some areas you do need a bachelors Depending upon what you Associate's is in, you could be getting a very well paying job, making more money than some folks who have MAs and MLSs, or both in my case. Yep I know folks just getting out of community college in nursing who make more than I do with both a MA and MLS. And I know folks who have the bachelors, masters, and in one brief case a PhD, who couldn't find work. The one with the PhD actually went back to school for a second master's in order to find a job!

When in doubt, call the DE. Just don't call them at 1AM

Gern, Partially correct. Yes for those under the specified age that could opt into privatizing some of the SS we pay under the Bush proposdal would take a short term loss, using economic models we would make long term gains better than current SS projections. That's one reason why I beleive the City of Galveston, federal employees, and our Congress Critters do not contribute to SS, but have their own programs instead.

Blanc, Common sense adjustments to SS is not reality. Heck folks have ignored FDR's own words about SS. A historian found a letter about SS in a letter at the FDR Presidential Library in NY, and FDR himself said that SS would not be viable after 1960 and would need to allow individuals to invest their contributions in order to make it viable after 1960. Ok the letter was written in the 1930s prior to the boomers, but even FDR saw there were problems with it.

Very timely topic as I have just completed a lit search for some nurses who are doing a paper on the topic. haven't read everything, just glanced at it, but here are my thoughts. 1) having folks covered until they are 26 on their parents' plans doesn not help this problem 2)In reference to billing overhead, you are correct in that private insurance companies are subsidizing those on medicare/medicaid as well as the uninsured. don't get me started on that one. 3) I don't fault AMA and med schools, I fault the beauracracy of all the hoops physicians have to go through to get paid, as well as the malpractice insurance and all the other paperwork garbage they have to put up with. I cannot find the article now, but a recent survey from one medical journal asked recent docs if they knew what they know now, would they go through med school again, and over half, I want to say 54% btu don't quote me on that, said no. Heck I met one doc who quit practicing and is a "consultant:" talking to docs and hospitals who have admitting and coding questions. And there are now companies hiring docs who provide those services. To be honest I would not recommend anyone to be a doctor b/c of the garbage they have to put up with. 4) Not touching. 5) YES TORT REFORM! heck there was a case in MS in which a doctor, who was the son of a doctor and was a Jr., was sued by one of his dad's patients as his dad died several years prior to the lawsuit. lawyer knew it was the wrong physician, and still proceded withthe lawsuit! 6) yes you have to pay primary care physicians more, it's kinda sad when a plumber owning his own business has more take home pay than a primary care physician with their own practice. With the new health care reform, be expecting longer waits, fewer doctors, and more use of PAs and NPs.

What's Social Security? I know I keep paying in, and I know it does help some folks, but I know it won't be around when I retire. And the government does NOT have to pay those who contribute to Social Security; there was a federal court case to that effect stating the US government does not have to pay social security to those who pay into it.

SB, Having worked for national a few years back, I can tell you that they will take a written letter seriously, esp. one written to a supervisor or higher. You may be surprised with the response. That said, I have found folks at the national scouts shop are more responsive to customer service than Charlotte, have better info than local council and other distributorships, and will ship wherever a customer is located. Heck I remember shipping to Prague, Czech Republic (got a cool CSP from them for helping them out), via UPS. Shipping was high, but what that unit did was order everything they needed for an entire year, so that it was essentially a one time shipping cost. Yes they even ordered rank advancement and submitted paperwork to get it too. PM me if you need contact info.

Well it's Bemidji Mills and here is some of their products http://www.bemidjiwoolenmills.com/details/bm07_60/bm07_59.jpg http://www.bemidjiwoolenmills.com/details/bm07_101 http://www.bemidjiwoolenmills.com/details/voyscout They are a lot pricier than the ones BSA sells.

You will be waiting a long time as they are not suppose to eb int he wharehouse until Dec. 15th. And with the way things are going, PLUS national doing inventory from 26 Dec to 31 Dec. it will probably be next year before you get the jacket. As for the red jackets, There was a rumor when the CUs came out that the red jackets would be going away and replaced by green ones. I see there are still availble, but again after 15 Dec. Bemiji(sp) Mills has a red jac shirt that is VERY similar to the official BSA one, it just has pockets added to it. Need to find one of those on Ebay. But I love my red jacket. Took me 27 years to get one, and by jingo I'm keeping it

BD, usually the bishops are the IH and COR,so they are also registered leaders. But I agree I don't think the LDS method of is really the patrol method. Sometimes youth need to learn the consequences of not taking an election seriously, and voting for the wrong person.

Gotta, please don't tell me the tests cost that much?!?!?!?! In-laws are paying for karate practice, and oldest is putting in $20 he has saved towards the belt test. It's been challenging to come up with the money.

Short, Or should I call you Torch? had the same thing happen to my chapter chief when he was doign a ceremony, except it was my hair roach and not a bonnet.

nite time orienteering course

Yes the higher the belt, the longer the test, the more it costs.

Sorry never had to deal with the problem as I've been hooked on Scouting since I became a Wolf in 3rd grade way back in the day. Now I did have to decide whether I was going to OA Fall Fellowship, OA Ordeal, etc or go camping with the pack my son and I are in Next year's conflict OA fellowship and CS Family Campout may be very intersting as the Vigil Honor ceremonies are done then, and I may need to be there. Luckily there are 2 council family campouts.

Trust me, word will get out, especially if your Cubs have an excellent time and tell their friends who are not in their pack. If you have a great program, folks will come.

5Year, Thanks a bunch! Now if we can get SCOUTNET to recognize TC as a rank....

Rock, I'd go one better, since water pistols, etc are simulated firearms, you can interpret their use as being banned by the G2SS. BUT i have a recent recruting poster that shows... Cub Scouts at Day Camp with waterpistols, super soakers, etc. I had that poster up @ CSDC in case an inspector gave us a hard time with the water activities.

Base, One thing I do after all activities is come up with ways to improve them. I'd be completely honest, but try to downplay the negativity as it's easier to get them to listen and implement. Is it 100% effective, no it isn't. Can they sometimes bite you in the butt, yes the organizer can. BUT you are trying to make a difference and improve the program. Offer ideas to improve as well, and again put a positive spin on it. As for creating your own event, GOOD FOR YOU!

Talk to the local Order of the Arrow, aka OA chapter, and see if they can help. I know my chapter does the ceremonies on a regular basis.

WOW I got two responses from National on this within 12 hours! First response was that TC was included, but when I stated that the JtE glossary and SCOUTNET do not list TC as rank, they are looking into it! To quote my favorite Lord of the Rings character( and that's b/c sis-in-law made the costume for me ), "There's always hope...a fool's hope."

5 year, Could you give me a link to that please? Because I looked at the pack, district and council requirements and cannot find where TC is included. The closest I could find is Have an increase in total rank advancements (Bobcat to Arrow of Light, on the district and council forms. Becasue TC still doesn't show up as advancement on SCOUTNET, I think someone may have overlooked it. BUT according to the StE glossary found here: http://scouting.org/filestore/mission/JTE_Glossary.pdf Cub Scout advancements (sic) Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and Arrow of Light ranks. So according to the document above, TC doesn't count. Hopefully national will correct this, as well as SCOUTNET.

rk, BALOO is a NATIONAL training program, not a local council one, so if you take it in one council, you will not have to take it in another (IF SCOUTNET has it recorded and transmits the records; always keep a paper copy). It's code C42, and at the present time you only need to take it 1 time. Haven't heard of any council making you renew it every 2 years, and national has specifically posted that you only take it one time. Now can national change that, absolutely as they changed YPT from 1 time only to every two years now. But for the moment BALOO is good forever.

neil, thanks for posting where I can send my questions to, like why Tiger Cub doesn't count as a rank, event though they have to earn Bobcat before Tiger now.

Base, If you haven't already, please read my response inone of the other threads to you on your situation, which to quote an old commercial " Just do it." I understand being on the 'out crowd," especially as a DE But if you focus on the important things, providing the best possible program to the youth, no matter what others say, you re doing your job, and the kids will appreciate that.