FScouter

Yes. A better way is to demonstrate an interest in the troop and a commitment by becoming a registered member, taking some basic training, attending and participating in troop and committee activities. Then, if that parent wants to sit on boards of review, he can read some of the BSA writings about the purpose of the BOR and how to conduct one. Then, after becoming prepared, he can get his hands-on training by sitting on a board with a group of other experienced committee members. Warm bodies dont work as well as committed committee members. Boys arent properly served by warm bodies. Do it right and build the committee instead of taking the easy way out and excusing a poor practice just because other troops have a lousy practice.

You "can" wear an Ozzie Osborne patch depicting a headless bat if you "want". But BSA tells us that the BSA uniform is for BSA insignia. The heritage website patch is a private venture not associated with BSA, so no, not for the BSA uniform.

"There is no risk. Nobody at any level is ever goin' to hold up a boy on such a thing." So what if there is no risk? Sounds like you're advocating "do whatever you want" since there's no risk. We do what is right because it is the right thing to do, not because there is a risk of getting caught. Bottom line here - boards of review are done with committed, knowledgeable, registered committee members. If a troop doesn't have that, spend the effort necessary getting the right people in place instead of making excuses for grabbing any old warm body.

The key participant at the troop committee meeting is the Scoutmaster. The committee cannot properly do its job without first getting a report from the SM about the needs and doings and challenges of the troop. The SM needs to know that the committee members are handling the tasks they must do so the SM can focus on his job.

That's a rather belligerent and hateful response. It makes one not want to answer a simple question lest he be jumped on.

"National has little to say about uniform bottoms." BSA has said all that needs to be said about the uniform, including pants and bottoms. They define what the uniform is. Neither jeans, soccer shorts, kilts, nor pajama bottoms are part of the uniform. Folks will do what they do of course, but that doesn't make what they wear a uniform.

"Bottom line they ARE NOT scout leaders and should not qualify for this award, your argument doesn't hold water, sorry." Your personal opinion only. Too bad, BSA says you're wrong.

The Boy Scout uniform is defined by BSA. Individuals or units are not granted permission to decide what constitutes a uniform. Folks will do as they may, but do so outside the BSA program. Let's not spread the myth that units are permitted to wear what they want and call it a BSA uniform.

"I certainly have to say I had never realized that words that seemed plain and direct to me can be seen to mean so many things I had never thought of before" OGE you just don't get it! Words always mean something different when what they plainly and directly say is not what one wants to hear.

Use Coleman fuel/white gas. One gallon can will fill as many stoves as you need.

They're giving folks a chance to do the right thing. If they're not up to the task, they'll get a rigid rule instead.

The mission of the Boy Scout of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes ... Fulfilling the BSA mission starts with each adult leader believing in it and personally following it. A rigid rule ala da da da is PROHIBITED doesn't work nearly as well as each adult reflecting on the Mission and acting accordingly. We have to teach boys how to do the right thing, even when there is no rule. The question to answer is, does smoking, either in front of boys, or secretly, help or hinder fulfilling our mission.

As with most rules in life, there is only ambiguity if one doesn't like the rule.

"Yes he plopped $4K down to get his wife, kids, and himself the J.E. West knot. And he did it specifically for the knots." Send him over to our council. We love that kind of abuse.

The "problem" is not making an even playing field, nor handicaping "patrols". The problem is shuffling boys around like playing pieces into event "patrols". The problem is cause by misguided adults that don't understand what a real patrol is. Boys in a real patrol would not tolerate such false manipulations. Read up on the patrol method.

I think I'm gonna hurl...

I think most everyone here can see through straw man arguments and red herrings. No one said its bad to receive charity and unsolicited gifts. What serves no purpose in Scouting is for troop adults to abdicate the opportunities to teach boys the value of money and to be self-reliant and independent by instead seeking out free money. An unsolicited gift is one thing, but the Scouting program does not involve adults trolling for dollars. Its pretty clear what that teaches boys.

I think the meaning of A Scout earns his own way is clear to all. Theres no need to obfuscate the underlying concept. Boys are not so stupid as to know when they earn their own way and when troop adults got a free handout. Teaching charity and generosity to others is a wonderful thing. You don't teach that by putting yourself on the receiving end and accepting handouts. That teaches how to get on the dole. You teach charity by BEING generous and charitable by GIVING to others.

In our troop boys pay their own way. We adults help them earn it. We teach them to rely on themselves, and not on some larger unseen entity. Yeah, we might get our car washed even if it doesn't really need it, or by a 2nd hot dog, or buy some less than useful junk at the annual yard sale. We don't twist some corporate arm for a "generous" donation of free money so the boys don't have to work. The SE can do his thing with the FOS campaign, but that has zip to do with our boys earning money to pay their weekly dues and camp fees.

A Scout earns his own way. He doesn't expect a handout.

There are dozens of topics in these forums full of false information. Where shall we start the shutdown?

"My statements will make the "uniform police" cringe, but please save your arguments for another time. I know the arguments for full uniforming and agree with them, but we don't live in a perfect world, do we?" Feeling a little guilty? Self-conscious?

Oh? Then define "leadership", and explain how leadership does not involve vision, problem solving, etc.

She didn't say she was told propane was not allowed. She said "I'm fairly certain they won't allow a camp stove", but did not ask. She said day of camp involves patrol cooking in the campsite, so the answer seems an obvious "yes". The camp offered refrigerator space, a toaster, and a microwave oven. Great! Cooking in the campsite is always an option too. Great! The camp said she can't cook in their kitchen other than the toaster and microwave, and they can't cook special for those two boys. Sounds perfectly reasonable. They won't allow an RV in a campsite. That too sounds reasonable. Perhaps if there had been some follow up communication on the part of the troop back in May, or even early June, maybe something else could have been worked out. Perhaps the food people could have ordered some dairy/gluten free food, had they known. But late followup 48 hours before camp starts there's no time to do that. The best solution at this point is to simply bring the boys' normal everyday special food from home and cook it in the campsite. Bring an ice chest or use the camp refrigerator. Seems fairly simple. Just do it. What is the purpose of writing a rebuttal letter?? The camp lost her letter, therefore they should be obligated to accomodate her request to park an RV in the campsite? The troop had an obligation too, which was to get the woman a solution. The troop failed to do that.

"So where in the book does it state what positions are Life qualified and what is not so that I can check this out.. " Look in the Boy Scout Handbook on the page that lists the rank requirements. Bugler has been a valid position of responsibility for both Star and Life since the 11th edition of the Handbook came out in 1998. It still is. The POR requirements for Star and Life are exactly the same. A "made up" POR is not valid for any rank advancement. A Scoutmaster assigned leadership project benefiting the troop is valid for both Star and Life ranks. There is no POR requirement for 1st Class and earlier ranks. It's all in the Handbook...