GernBlansten

In our unit, all ASMs and the SM wear uniforms. Our CC and about half of the committee wear uniforms to troop meetings. None wear it to committee meetings. We'd never get the beer stains and cigar smoke out of them. ;-)

That is the primary reason I remain an ASM and refuse to become the SM.

In 2004, the city presented a non-discrimination policy to the Cradle of Liberty Council, our local Boy Scout organization, and asked that it be adopted to resolve the city's concerns over the occupation of our city-owned building at 22nd and Winter. It was adopted, and we considered the matter resolved. Something wrong here. What non-discrimination policy could the council adopt and comply with? Did they (COL) comply or renege on the 2004 policy?

All but #1.

MTM, From your description of your boys, it sounds like with the amount of scouting they do and yet they still barely make it under the wire to Eagle, they are over committed. Plenty of opportunity to advance, they just can't fit it into their busy schedules until they reach the hard-stop. In my unit I see eager, enthusiastic boys pushing themselves to advance until they are about 14. It trails off after that and after 16, it is all but gone. The few that make it to Eagle after 16 make it because of some threat of retribution from the parents.

Flipping through the jukebox I was sure she would land on "American Woman" by The Guess Who. I thought Bill was great in it though. "What? No onion rings?"

Any scout who truly wants to become an Eagle, should have no problem getting it by 16. It also takes dedicated parents and a supportive unit. But most important, it takes initiative and priority by the scout. That being said, I still think there's plenty to offer scouts who really don't care to be Eagles, much to the chagrin of their parents. Nothing wrong with that. I feel the majority of older scouts fall into this category. Pushing these scouts to become Eagles just waters down the significance of the award.

Yeah, every one of our "death bed" Eagle scouts weren't dedicated to the program. They were when they were 14, but lost it along the way. I'm coming to the conclusion that if you ain't Eagle by 16, you've lost the spark.

"So as we set out this year to defeat the divisive forces that would take our java away, I want to say those words again for everyone within the sound of my voice to hear and to heed, and especially for you, Oak Tree." Hoisting the Coffee Press over my head, "From my cold, dead hands!"

Yes, most of our older scouts are stalled at Life. They get there by 14 or so, then stall out. Many are 16 and 17 and holding. Only prodding, cajoling, threats by their parents will get them to Eagle. They just don't show the initiative to do it themselves. IMHO, I don't think they should get it. But if they ask for my help, I'll give it. My son is 14 and Life. Working on his project, but its taking a very long time. He's gung ho, but I can see his dedication to scouting starting to wain. Still has several badges to finish too. I ain't pushin him. If he wants Eagle, he needs to earn it himself. Funny thing is, several scouters have rolled their eyes at a 14 year old pushing for Eagle. Think he's too young. I ignore them. I envision him still working on the writeup and a couple of badges when he's 17, if he's still a scout.

I opt for a good water filter and wait til home for the brew. Heresy, pure hersey. I'm allowed just one of my many vices on scout trips. Nothing, I say NOTHING, is better than a fresh cup of strong Colombian french pressed coffee fresh from my MSR filter carefully drawn from a babbling Rocky Mountain spring. Now for the real question, for Philmont, how much? I know what you're thinking. "Did he bring three pounds or only two?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a french press, the most powerful coffee maker in the world, and would brew your cup clean off, you've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?

Coffee should either be dripped or pressed. Never perked or tea bagged. I have a french press (or freedom press for you patriots) that makes the best cup of Joe imaginable. Light enough for backpacking, in fact, it will join us at Philmont in two weeks. As for the coffee, no flavors. Coffee is diminished with unnatural flavors. It should be pure, raw coffee from the bean from which God intended it. Colombian is my favorite, but your tastes may vary. Might have to try some of that Costa Rican stuff. For camping, my grocer supplies me with little vacuum packed ground Colombian coffee in 1.75 oz packets. Makes enough coffee for 3 or 4 decaffinated adults. The press only requires hot water which other scouts can share for their cocoa or tang.

Do I believe in GOD? Well, I'm a scouter ain't I? In your mind, does someone who thinks evolution is the best answer to our history an athiest? I was raised a Lutheran, but became a deist (like the majority of our founding fathers) after my epiphany that ALL organized religion and dogma is a fabrication of the human psyche. Because I reject creationism, doesn't mean I reject a higher being. Your rejection of evolution is your right but in my mind, your loss. I'm all for home schooling and private religious education if that is what you can support. But don't make that the norm for the vast majority of Americans who rely on public education.(This message has been edited by GernBlansten)

Never cancel an outing unless you don't have adult coverage, or in the case of a High Adventure, you can't meet the minimum number. Even if only one scout attends, hold the campout. Once you start canceling events, it becomes the easy out when things don't go smooth. Last summer, our planned mountain climb had a similar scenario, lots of scouts sign up (they were real stoked about it at the planning meeting) but in the two weeks before, all but my son canceled. So the SM, myself, our CC and my son climbed the 14er. Of course we took our troop flag and had our picture taken on the top. Posted it on the bulletin board back at the church. Great trip.

So retired people and those who are childless should be relieved from paying for public education? What a narrow view on the benefits to society education is. Did you ever consider that the reason those people were able to retire is because of the public education they received as youth? Without it, they would probably be toiling to the grave like so many do in third world countries. I have heard recently that some public schools out west make grade school children watch Al Gore's mockumentary about the environment. Complete waste of taxper money having valuable school time taken up with that nonsense. But, Al gore is a topic for another day. Yeah, I feel the same way when the bible thumpers want my child to say their prayers in school and be taught creationism as an equally competing theory to our origins.

John, The three previous posts to mine advocate eliminating public education and replacing it with private, self funded education. To even advocate such a stance is pining a return to a state where you have a peasant class and an power class. It would be a return to the middle ages. I for one love America and all the opportunities she has to offer, especially the fact that every child has an chance.

Abolish mandatory public education. Wow, you folk really want feudalism and a class society. Let's bring the good ol' USA back to a third world nation. Why do you hate America so?

Hmmm. When I joined, I didn't see the check box for sexual orientation. If you are referring to the "morally straight" clause in the oath, is that to explicitly exclude "morally gay" folk? Or is it a general term that would be impossible to enforce unless specific immoral acts and behaviors are listed and called out. I think its that latter. On the topic of morality, whose morality? For a Catholic, its immoral to divorce. Should BSA recognize that as a qualifier to "morally straight"? For a Muslim, eating pork is immoral. Leviticus is quite the guide book to morality. Should we use that? Here's one of my favorite pieces found on the internets.... 1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? 2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? 3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense. 4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? 5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it? 6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination? 7. Lev.21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here? 8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die? 9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? 10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

Our district is made up of about 50% LDS units. At camporees and other district events, I've noticed that the LDS units are all really small (under 10 scouts). Just curious, but are there any LDS units with over 20 active scouts?

So SWScouter, I was married by a retired Lutheran minister in an outdoor ceremony in a public park. In the eyes of my Catholic friends and fellow scouters, am I living in sin? Are my children bastards?

Ben Delatour is not close to anything really. About an hour from Ft. Collins or Laramie WY. No military bases nearby, except the Cheyenne, WY, Air Force base. that's about an hour or two from the camp. If you are chartered by a church, try an associated church in the Fort Collins area. Of course, you could camp at Rocky Mountain National Park but that ain't gonna be free.

How likely do you think it will be that BSA will revoke this LDS ward's charter?

Never seen that at a camporee or troop event. If his wife would like to join them, she should sleep in a tent like everyone else. If her back is a problem, there are umpteen options for comfortable air mattresses available. Even backpacking styles. Better than any popup foam pad on plywood. Another option is to quit car camping and start backpacking.

We should think about this in terms of other government entitlements. Can the Federal Government, by legislation, eliminate the Social Security entitlement to a person who they feel discriminates (even though that entitlement is also "in perpetuity" in exchange for prior compensation)? Yes, they can, and they do. In the 70s and early 80s, my father was disabled and on SS. As a minor, I got SS benefits also. When I turned 18, I continued to get SS benefits if I was a student. It wasn't much, but it paid for food and books. Ronald Reagen changed the rules of eligibility. In my second year in college, I no longer received the SS benefit. (This message has been edited by GernBlansten)

Lotsa luck with that Lisa. I've been troop webmaster for 4 years and have actively tried to recruit scouts to take it over. ZERO interest. We even offered it as a POR, no takers. And people wonder why websites go fallow.