FScouter

Suppose the average age is 17. What message would you give to boys as a SM minute?

There's always more to the story, but what is says is that the boy was unable to use his inhaler because he lost it, not because the camp took it away from him and locked it up.

Of course ALL of the methods are REQUIRED. The difference is in how each unit, through it chartered organization, decides to implement the methods. We all know that boys in different parts of the country or even in the same town, are "different" than they are down in Irving Texas. Yah, it takes the wisdom of the CO to know how best to serve their boys and provide the best kind of program to best meet the goals of the CO, eh? Of course that means that the CO, through its COR, committee, and Scoutmaster must wade through all of the superfluous fluff provided by BSA and take only the parts they have decided have value. That requires an evaluation of each of the methods. In this topic we've already determined that the uniform method is "optional" by reading the line in the Boy Scout Handbook that says a boy is not required to have a uniform in order to be a member. That's the same as saying the uniform method is optional, right? Each individual boy can determine what constitutes his uniform when he shows up for any Scouting event. If he's wearing pink pedal pushers, that's his uniform for the day. Simple. If the unit wants to get fancy, they can add a uniform section to their troop bylaws to make it all legal like. We always follow the laws right? And as Ed has so eloquently espoused, the Adult Association method means there must be a minimum number of adults "associated" with the unit by having their name listed on the charter paperwork. Theres nothing in the paperwork that says they have to associate with boys. See how simple this really is?

"Young folks, old folks, everybody come Joint the Boy Scout Sunday School and have a lot of fun." My dad learned that song when he was a Scout in the 30's. It's one of the all time best camp songs ever. Change one word, "darky" to something else and there's nothing racist left.

The News Hours with Jim Lehrer on PBS is good. He takes a story that gets 15 or 30 sec on the "popular" news and gives a 6-8 minute report that explores various angles. No ads either. NPR radio is another, presents a report 10 times as long as anybody else.

If one wants a uniform, one will have it. Those that don't like the uniform or don't like the uniform method will not have one, and if the dislike is intense enough, will expound a myriad of reasons to justify their position.

That would depend on whether it is an objective of the chartered org. Remember, we only do Scouting as a tool of the CO to meet their needs. The parts of Scouting we choose to do and the way we do them is determined by the CO or defacto designee.

I'm sure there were all-black troops and all-white troops back in the 60's, just as there are today. I'm wondering if any BSA historian here in the forum knows whether BSA, the national organization, had a policy stipulating racially segregated troops, or whether troop themselves oriented themselves to be either white or black. Anyone?

Do you mean to say that BSA, the national organization, decreed that BSA members were to be segregated by race? Or that a particular troop decreed that no white boys could join that troop? Or that there happened to be troops where the membership was only white boys or black boys because that is the troop those boys chose to join?

Neither the number of boys registered nor the percentage of those boys available has anything to do with whether they are participating in a Scouting program. Even signing up the whole school says nothing about what they're getting.

Ed, you sound like a broken record. How about telling us WHY this should not be part of the Scouting program and WHY it should not be part of advancement. Make a case for your position.

One of the ways we courteously treat others is by respecting their customs. If the custom of the fancy restaurant is shirt and tie, we show courtesy to everyone by wearing shirt and tie. The slob wearing a tank top, grubby ball hat with obscene logo, and torn sneakers isn't courteous even if he says please and thank you.

A walmart "uniform" does little to implement the Uniform Method. It might be less money, but serves little purpose, and distances the unit from BSA.

The Scout hat is part of the uniform and it is appropriate to wear it whenever the uniform is being worn, indoors or out. Churches may have a hats off custom, which should be respected. The Insignia Guide has a discussion about when to wear the uniform hat and when to take it off.

Merit badges aren't required either.

6 months or 12 months, it's a horse apiece. It's only 1 position, patrols could be on a different schedule. I'd question the wisdom though of holding an election today for position that won't be filled for 6 months. A lot can happen between now and then. There's no apparent benefit in doing that. It effective prevents the current SPL from being reelected to a 2nd term, but if that is the objective you could simply establish a "no 2nd terms" rule.

What does this have to do with HUD grant funds for a Scouting soccer clinic??

It's kinda like a balloon; push it here and it pops out there. The money we pay for Scouting be it a shirt or a pinewood derby car or a training event all goes into the Scouting pot. If the shirt is too expensive, maybe we could cut the price to $10 and raise the annual registration to $20. What's the diff?

What have you lost if your auction bid is not the winning bid?

rather than pass-a-class-and-done school-like approach. "Who here advocates that?" Nobody advocates that. But it sounds good to characterize the "other side" as holding a ridiculous point of view made up by the antagonist himself.

Interesting. My cards have the same id number going back to 2003. 2002, 2001, 2000 had no number. 1999 and earlier had a different number.

How could a rummage sale conflict with the ideals of Scouting?

Eagle90 brings up a good point. Sometimes we do that and I wonder why we do so. Ive always seen the obligatory opening recitation of the Oath and Law as a trite exercise with little value and the potential to humble and embarrass a very nervous boy right from the start. The thought I get from the old geezers that like to do it is that it is some kind of icebreaker. More often it results in the boy getting frozen in the floe and doesnt set a good tone for the discussion that follows. If done at all, I prefer to ask to the boy to stand and recite the Oath and Law just before being dismissed. By that time he will have gained a little more confidence in conversing with the board and will have a better chance of presenting a strong recitation.

"Eagles are better individuals". You get a lot of unexpected answers sometimes. Here's a great opportunity to expand on that topic. WHY is an Eagle better than a Life? Is it possible that a person never involved in Scouting could have the same character as an Eagle? Certainly an Eagle Scout or a college graduate has demonstrated a great achievement. Could a mere Life Scout or a HS grad have the same characteristics of an Eagle without having earned the rank? Are there other measures besides Eagle rank?

Id acknowledge the boys loss, and bring it into the discussion. Talk about the boys experiences with adversity and overcoming setbacks that he has experienced as a Scout, and how he can use what hes learned to help him this time. Ask how the boy can demonstrate some leadership with his siblings, and how he can provide support to them as they move forward. Part of earning the rank of Eagle is learning to be prepared for the tough parts of life. He can honor his parents, alive or passed, by living his life following the principals of the Oath and Law.