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gungho4scouts

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  1. The Rule is what Rank the Boy will be. The Guideline is age or grade. The Rule is; if you are 5 and in Kindergarten, you need to wait until you are either 7 years old OR in 1st grade. Which ever comes first. 6 years old and in 1st grade, you can join (as a Tiger.) If you are 8 years old and held back a year, in accordance with the guidelines, the rule is pretty clear. 8 years old OR in 2nd grade, you're rank can be Wolf. Both criteria don't have to be meet, just one. Conversely, he could be a Tiger, but the decision is, and as it should be, up to the Parents to make.
  2. For those of you who live by the hard and fast rules, consider this. The guidelines for when a Boy enters the Scouts is simple. A Boy may enter the Scouts at anytime. If they were the age/grade for Bear, they don't start as Tigers. The only required rank/badge they must earn is the Bobcat which they can earn while still being a Bear Cub. The age/grade is a guideline of what rank the Boy will be when they decide to join the Scouts.
  3. While my Son and I were out selling Christmas Wreaths and Popcorn a pair of boys on bikes yelled out at us as they rode by. Their comment? "Cool!!!" Needless to say, my Son's chest stuck out even after that. The uniform helps bring unity, an instant recognizable positive symbol of Scouting, and when worn with pride, it can have a cool factor.
  4. With all of the attacks against BSA, I wouldn't be surprise if this was a tactic (though small) used to help deface the entire organization. I've stumbled on a few websites, particularly "mothering.com", where several activist suggested joining the BSA just for the sake of creating havoc. I'm not subscribing to any conspiracy theory, but in today's world you can not discount the zealots. From the articles I've read, it could simply be about boasting rights, greed on the part of the professional's, etc. To error is human and justice will prevail. Baden-Powell made it pointedly clear; for dishonor, you are stripped of your badge which you can never earn again. Yes, I'm disappointed that something like this was allowed to happen. It just makes me more determined to be part of the process of making sure my Son gets the very best that the BSA has to offer. As long as we believe in, obey and uphold the Scout's Law, BSA will be around for another 100 years!
  5. Do all Council's have such a seat? Anybody ever held the position before?
  6. Eammonn NP and much thanks for your guidance. Barry You didn't give me advice on this exact issue. In a previous post, and in so many words, told me to pace myself. I'm happy at just being a CMA. SemperParatus Item two, is something that was suggested. Not sure if the parents will follow through. I keep asking parents to attend the Parent and Leader meetings, and all of them say they will but none of them show up... Update The UC will be getting involved as well. Mostly as an observer. He's a great guy and will get in there to help troubleshoot a problem when asked. Keep doing a Good Turn daily! GH4S
  7. Eammon, I'm not sure how to take this: "I can't help but wonder what is your part in all of this?" Are you assuming something sinister on my part? Hope it wasn't ill thoughts on yours, because if they were, it would only expose a Bully. Hmmmm, now what was that reason for assumed names again? For the record, this request for help was brought to the table by the parents of the Webelos. This is after having been asked by the Pack Leadership to take over for the Webelos, which I declined on the advice given to me by EagleDad. Why draw out the exact details when you answered the question. Believe it or not, your answer is the same approach the group decided on, which includes me. The CM, who has a Son in the Den, will be taking a more active approach to helping the Webelos. But because it could turn into a sticky situation, it would only seem prudent to ask for advice from those who live this this type of problem before. I'll close by saying, Thank You for your advise. Keep doing a "Good Turn for others." Gungho4Scouts
  8. Our mall has a Legoland complete with a Derby track to race the cars the kids make from the buckets of Legos on hand. No matter the age it's the most popular spot at the mall. So the notion of age being a limiting factor doesn't quite compute.
  9. There is a poor soul who is leading one of the Webelos dens. Everything in this persons life has taken a turn for the worst. The state of being burnt out isn't the issue, more on the lines of the difficulties in the personal life. It's being reported that the Den meetings are done on the fly and the achievements are being awarded like candy. We know something has to be done ASAP. But would like to keep the balance of helping a friend in need and do what is in the Boys best interest. Any word of advise of how to best approach a possible sticky situation?
  10. Check with your local council if they have anything on "Extreme Volunteer Recuiting" from the UofS. Basically it's a poster board with baseball size cards on one side with the positions name, and on the other is the description of the position and duration. The Scout Shop may have the same type of cards in stock for the "higher" level positions to use as an example. It seems like a great way of showing parents all the jobs it takes to run the pack, and allows them to explore different positions they might have an interest in without feeling pressured if approached. If your council doesn't have anything, I can email you the documents.
  11. I disagree. o What better place to "test" thoughts and ideas with those who you hope will be looking at it in a puritan way, (as a Scouter!) o There are times when the best way to understand another persons point of view is to put the shoe on the other foot. o I personally thinks it's great that this site allows discussions regarding homosexuals continue on for 215 messages. Not because I support the homosexuals agenda, rather it affords me a glimpse of the argument for and against it. o Why create conflict at "home" when you can work out the issue here first. Having a thousand personal mentors is re-assuring when venturing in new territory or trying to understand why the things are the way they are. Finally, it's not a very good idea to post any personal information on the Internet unless you're a politician running for office. One of your duties to God is the protection of your children. Last thing you need is some crackpot showing up on your door step over a "mis-understanding." I personally don't have bodyguards or federal agents to protect me. So, why take the chance. If you feel compelled to share your true identify just remember for the sake of self-preservation, trust should be earned not freely given.
  12. I see in the Scouting catalog for 2005, a new New Cub Scout Leader Book. Has anyone looked through this book yet? Just wondering what changes were made.
  13. I trying to understand what argument you can possibly make of why it's ok for my Son to be discriminated against if my Son enters either place as a Scout. Last that I recall, no one here is calling for the same places to be closed to anyone else for their membership requirements. If only Atheist and Gays paid the taxes for the public schools and parks, then I would concede to your argument. but as it stays your argument is rather weak. Our inalienable rights, affects both sides of this issue.
  14. Looking at this from a tactical view, the goal of the ACLU and poster like Merlyn_LeRoy is the attempt to pigeon hole the BSA as a non-religious, public organization. "The Boy Scouts of America is a private membership group. As with any private organization, Boy Scouts retains the constitutional right to establish and maintain standards for membership. Anyone who supports the values of Scouting and meets these standards is welcome to join the organization." www.bsalegal.org/faqs-113.htm If the BSA was anything other then what it is, a private organization, based in reverence for God Almighty, and living up to the saying "Fun with a purpose." I wouldn't even have considered my Son amongst the ranks. Why is it so hard for someone to understand it's ok for people to associate with others who share similar ideas, interests, and goals? It's like forcing the Jewish Anti-Defamation League to admit anti-Semites as members. It doesn't make any sense. "As the Supreme Court has recognized, "there can be no clearer example of an intrusion into the internal structure or affairs of an association than a regulation that forces the group to accept members it does not desire." "Freedom of association . . . plainly presupposes a freedom not to associate." This is especially important in the context of associations that seek to foster moral virtue in young people. In short, the Founders viewed a virtuous citizenry as an essential pre-condition of republican self-government, and they encouraged the development of private associations that, like the Boy Scouts, were devoted to the development of moral character." www.claremont.org/projects/jurisprudence/000629eastman.html All I can say is; Don't Tread on Me!
  15. Not sure if this is the right forum for this. I'm taking a thought from another thread regarding the use of anonymous slash multiple names used to post on this site. Is it unetheical for anyone to post under multiple assumed names? Some believe that by doing so is considered untrustworthy. Would you say the same for our Founding Fathers? Justice Stevens of the United States Supreme Court discussed the tradition of anonymous publishing in a case in which the Court struck down an Onio election board regulation that prohibited anonymous campaign literature. The full text of the opinion is available at http://www.law.cornell.edu "Anonymous pamphlets, leaflets, brochures and even books have played an important role in the progress of mankind. Great works of literature have frequently been produced by authors writing under assumed names. Despite readers' curiosity and the public's interest in identifying the creator of a work of art, an author generally is free to decide whether or not to disclose there true identity. The decision in favor of anonymity may be motivated by fear of economic or official retaliation, by concern about social ostracism, or merely by a desire to preserve as much of one's privacy as possible. Whatever the motivation may be, at least in the field of literary endeavor, the interest in having anonymous works enter the marketplace of ideas unquestionably outweighs any public interest in requiring disclosure as a condition of entry. Accordingly, an author's decision to remain anonymous, like other decisions concerning omissions or additions to the content of a publication, is an aspect of the freedom of speech protected by the First Amendment." The freedom to publish anonymously extends beyond the literary realm. In Talley, the Court held that the First Amendment protects the distribution of unsigned handbills urging readers to boycott certain Los Angeles merchants who were allegedly engaging in discriminatory employment practices. Writing for the Court, Justice Black noted that persecuted groups and sects from time to time throughout history have been able to criticize oppressive practices and laws either anonymously or not at all. Justice Black recalled England's abusive press licensing laws and seditious libel prosecutions, and he reminded us that even the arguments favoring the ratification of the Constitution advanced in the Federalist Papers were published under fictitious names. On occasion, quite apart from any threat of persecution, an advocate may believe their ideas will be more persuasive if their readers are unaware of the identity. Anonymity thereby provides a way for a writer who may be personally unpopular to ensure that readers will not prejudge their message simply because they do not like its proponent. Thus, even in the field of political rhetoric, where the identity of the speaker is an important componentof many attempts to persuade, City of Ladue v. Gilleo, the most effective advocates have sometimes opted for anonymity. The specific holding in Talley related to advocacy of an economic boycott, but the Court's reasoning embraced a respected tradition of anonymity in the advocacy of political causes. This tradition is perhaps best exemplified by the secret ballot, the hard-won right to vote one's conscience without fear of retaliation. Ever heard of Silence Dogood, Publius? Is it truly against the principals of Scouting?
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