GernBlansten

Our former SM, now an ASM is a lawyer. He is also the MBC for all the citz badges. I've sat in on a few MB sessions. He does an excellent job asking the scouts how they feel America interacts with the world and within itself. He doesn't interject his political positions, he just creates an astmosphere that fosters frank discussions. For instance, in one session covering the Bill of Rights. He opens the discussion with "George Bush should be thrown in jail for the crimes he committed as president. Do you think I should be able to say that? Why?" He'll follow up saying "I am Catholic and everyone who isn't Catholic shouldn't be allowed vote. Do you think I'm correct here?" I'm not sure some parents appreciate the diversity of some of the opinions spoken. I do however. It makes the scouts think.

for about $30, you could buy a pay as you go cell phone with GPS locating capability. When in trouble, just call 911, they will send in the mounties to within 100ft of your position. Of course that requires you have cell phone coverage where you are lost, but with the ever encroaching civilization in the woods, that will happen sooner than later.

That's ok Ed, I have one right in front of me. I am to please. The section you refer to states at the bottom "Applicant will turn in this portion to his unit leader for record posting". Now I can see how you might interpret that as Council recording, I however perceive it as Unit recording (since there is no unit record without it). Seems your council interprets it differently from my council too. Too bad there isn't a consistent procedure all councils follow. I'm a consistency freak. Its a cross I bear.

E-Sci changed eh? Well that's news to my son who took it at summer camp this year. His only requirement he had to complete was the eco-bottle (4). Funny how the summer camp ran with the old requirements isn't it. Now the $20 question...Does he need to redo the merit badge with the new requirements, complete the old merit badge requirement (4) or just get his badge as it stands?

Ed, just curious about your blue cards. Our's have three sections, one for the Counselor's Record, one for the Applicants Record and one for the Units Record. Which one are you sending to Council with the advancement form? I've always thought blue cards were standardized across the nation.

Could it be that this scout was just wearing a uniform with the Star patch on it and never received the rank? You know, a hand-me-down shirt? Or got it mixed up with another scout during a campout?

Merlyn: I think they get free berths for this community program: http://www.berkeleyyc.org/BYCservice.html Don't confuse the BYC with the city of Berkley Marina. If I'm correct, the BYC leases or has bought a section of berths from the city. This program doesn't involve free berthing anyways. Its a community outreach program. The boat owners involved donate their time but still pay for their own slips.

Am I missing something? Are blue cards ever turned into District/Council? The scout gets his portion, the AC gets his copy. The AC transfers the info to an advancement form which is submitted to council for the badge. No blue card remnant is attached to the advancement form. Correct?

Too soon. Something ain't right. But who am I to complain? My son rocketed through his first year. Scout within weeks of crossover. After summer camp, he got his Tenderfoot and Second Class at the same COH at the end of summer. By early spring the second year, he got his First class. He was elected to OA that spring and did his ordeal at the next summer camp. He got his Star the fall of his second year. He worked on merit badges over the winter, did his service and POR and just advanced to Life. He just turned 13 too. I didn't push him. REALLY. His mother pushed him on his badges, but I just sat back and watched him work the advancement. Now, we have attended nearly every troop camp out/event/fundraiser/whatever. That helps. It also helps that he took a full load of merit badges at the three summer camps he attended. He has been patrol leader, quartermaster, bugler and is now ASPL. I'd say the scouting bug has bitten him. I guess he is just trying to out do my brother (his uncle) who got his Eagle at 13.5. Believe it or not, he did it all on his own. OA, Brotherhood, Bugle Corps (back in the 60s when it was a scouting group) My parents never pushed him. Obviously, because they never pushed me past Tenderfoot. My highest rank.

I have sailed out of the Berzerkly Marina from the Berkley Yacht Club. I will tell you, the yacht club does not get free berthing. In fact, I think the yacht club is a separate private entity from the public Berkely Marina. As for the CAL Sailing Club, I believe it is a non-profit and promotes youth sailing programs, probably gets discounted berthing. But they do NOT discriminate on membership.

Our district maintains a list of MBC. However, it is nearly impossible to have them generate that valid list for us. I've turned in several advancement forms to district to get merit badges. No form to district required the MBC name on it. Just the SM, CC and AC signatures. So no cross checking of MBCs to merit badges earned at the district level. Its up to our troop. I've also turned in 6 eagle applications in the past year, district just verified each merit badge was in the system, not if the MBC was valid (remember, they don't require it when they issue the badge). Personally, from what I've seen of the data management capabilities of our district, it would be beyond their capability to provoide such a service. So our troop is more the (IS) case.

Good to see that wildfires at least respect borders!

We are at Quetico Park using the Cirrus Entry point at Beaverhouse station. From the map it looks like the westernmost entry point to the park.

We are heading up to Quentico Park this weekend but heard there are lots of wildfires. Anybody heard how it is effecting the Canoe Base operations?

As a conservative with libertarian leanings, no government should support any civic group. They should either be self supported, or die on the vine. Let government worry about real issues like making sure the sewers drain properly.

At our camp, no age limit (scouts) on 22 rifles. But cubbies can't shoot them, they must shoot BBs. 13 for shotguns, but that is due to size. We only shoot 12 gauge and although some 11 and 12 year olds are big enough to handle that size gun, you really can't have a boy who can barely hold the gun to his shoulder. No age either on archery. Cubbies can flick sticks too. Scopes on rifles? Why not just move the targets closer if they want to improve the qualifying numbers? Sheeze.

Oh this one is too easy. Of course there can't be ducks in BSA. Ducks don't wear pants (proof: http://disney.go.com/vault/archives/characterstandard/donald/donald.html) Pure and simple morality issue. Some make say its a choice, some may say they are genetically programmed to go bottomless. But either way, its immoral. And to boot, they could never be in "full field uniform". If ducks want to join BSA, then by goodness, they can start their own youth organization. Good luck on that one.

I just followed an advertising link from the NAMBLA website. Oh, just kidding!!!!

Calico, A smart teacher would simply reply that the question could not be answered since the relative density of the brick was not given. The brick while in the boat displaces the same amount of water as it weighs (mass). Once the brick is placed in the water and sinks to the bottom, the displacement of the water is the volume of the brick. But mass is still transfered to the bottom surface. I.E, an anchor digs deeper in to the mud than a sponge. That mass was displacing water whilst in the boat, but now is transfered to the bottom surface. The difference between the mass of the volume of water displaced and the mass of the brick is the delta in the surface level of the lake. The only way to calculate that difference is to know its relative density of the brick vs. water.

Always inappropriate. YP violation if the mooning was intended to fullfill a sexual arousal by either party. Otherwise an inappropriate sophmoric act. Intent is a sticky subject though. Requires mind reading.

GernBlansten, you shouldn't be conducting those checks anyway. That should be the patrol leader's job. Oh, I fully agree. But consider this in a our litigious society. Attorney: "so Mr. Blansten, at the camp out on June 1st, when did you first realize the plaintiffs son was not in his tent?" Mr. Blansten: "when I asked the patrol leader if everyone was accounted for." Attorney: "how old is this patrol leader?" Mr. Blansten: "13 years old" Attorney: "so you as a 43 year old trained adult trusted a 13 year old adolescent with the safety of my client's son?" Mr. Blansten: "Its the BSA way sir." Attorney: "Didn't you think it would be wise to follow up on a child's job to verify the safety and well being of every scout under your supervision?" Mr. Blansten: "well, I was told on an Internet forum that it was the patrol leaders responsibility" Attorney: "Members of the jury, Mr. Blansten is clearly deferring his responsibility as the guardian of the plaintiffs children to a 13 year old child. Do you think that is reasonable behaviour for a trained scout leader?"

I must admit I've opened a tent flap or two. But only when I didn't get the answer from the scouts I expected when doing a tent check before bedtime. You know, "do you have your tent buddy in there?" When I hear nothing, the tent flap is opened. I certainly want to respect the privacy of our youth, but when camping with other peoples children, I double check everyone is in their happy place before I bunk down.

The troop my son crossed over to three years go was in transition from an adult led to scout led. The previous scoutmaster was well loved by all but didn't deliver a true BSA program (in my opinion). He pretty much did everything. When he retired, some 5 years ago, he left a bunch of untrained adults who didn't know how to deliver the program. When we crossed over, the acting SM was hardly active and the program lagged even more. One energetic adult convinced us new adults to get as much training as we could. As the old guard adults leave (sons age out), we back fill. Last year, a wood badger agreed to become our SM. Our program is coming together, but it certainly isn't quick or easy. We continue to encourage new adults to get training and follow the program. We are now at about 75% new guard and 25% old guard on the committee. The old guard doesn't resist much anymore, not that they ever did, they just went with the flow. Biggest challenge is to the older scouts who didn't get the full program as a young scout. We aren't there yet, but are heading in the right direction.

Good news SR50Beaver. I just checked my NT medical warning sheets and they only indicate that those with chronic illnesses (heart disease, stroke, etc.) undergo a thorough evaluation by a physician. They do not restrict attendence for medical reasons. Looks like they leave it up to the participant and his doctor. They do have a specific paragraph on insulin dependent diabetics, pretty much just common sense precautions to take.

SR50Beav, I'm a little put back that you state BSA will not allow you to go to high adventure with your diabetes. Is this true? I would assume that if you were a well managed diabetic, there would be little they could say. Now if its a personal decision, I fully understand. We will be heading to the NT next Friday. My 13 year old diabetic son will be joining us. He is a pumper (same pump as you in fact) but we are opting to go to Lantis and do injections throughout the week. Would rather not rely on electronic tech in the wilderness. I'll report back here when we return in August. Looking forward to the trip.