Stosh

http://www.camptomahawk.org/snowbase/program Been to this a number of times, it's really good. Stosh

I think they do things differently in Canada, they aren't as uptight as Americans. I do know that much of the early scouts pretty much function independently of the SM's except for testing and rank advancement. Now a patrol can't even gather without an adult present. That's kinda not what it's all about. Stosh

I don't know what your agenda is, but if you were to carefully read about the IRS rulings and the similar comments Calico, Fred and I are talking about you will find them quite similar. So singling me out to rant about my treasurer handing ont cupcakes illegally is of very little if any consequence to me. I'll try not to copy/paste exaggerated quotes from the IRS website from now on. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." - Wm. Shakespeare, Hamlet, 1602. Maybe Shakespeare was a pious blowhard too, or at least Gertrude was.... Stosh Oh, and BTW, when did I say anything about how the IRS does or doesn't work. I only pointed out the IRS policies, and didn't comment on whether or not they ever enforced them. I did, however, comment about teaching our youth the moral way of dealing with such policies whether they are enforced or not. I'm thinking your thought processes would allow driving 5 miles over the legal speed limit thinking it was okay as long as you didn't get caught. Generally the police don't enforce 5 over, but that doesn't make it any less illegal. I have had a number of parents, and scouters badger me because when I drive, I drive the speed limit. I'm always the last to arrive at camp. Doing things right doesn't make one a pious blowhard, it just makes them legal.

Theoretically I don't see a reason why an individual wouldn't be able to participate in two or more if they have the time. Then again, does the group want the individual? That's not going to get addressed on this forum. Even though I have 5 daughters I don't see GUSA or AHG getting all that excited about my application. Stosh

"An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, and is used to identify a business entity. Generally, businesses need an EIN. You may apply for an EIN in various ways, and now you may apply online. This is a free service offered by the Internal Revenue Service and you can get your EIN immediately. You must check with your state to make sure you need a state number or charter." "Filing for Tax Exempt Status? It’s best to be sure your organization is formed legally before you apply for an EIN. Nearly all organizations are subject to automatic revocation of their tax-exempt status if they fail to file a required return or notice for three consecutive years. When you apply for an EIN, we presume you’re legally formed and the clock starts running on this three-year period." Like - Click this link to Add this page to your bookmarks Share - Click this link to Share this page through email or social media Print - Click this link to Print this page "Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is an identification number used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the administration of tax laws. It is issued either by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or by the IRS. A Social Security number (SSN) is issued by the SSA whereas all other TINs are issued by the IRS. Taxpayer Identification Numbers Social Security Number "SSN" Employer Identification Number "EIN" Individual Taxpayer Identification Number "ITIN" Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions "ATIN" Preparer Taxpayer Identification Number "PTIN" Note: The temporary IRS Numbers previously assigned are no longer valid." Not to be too pious or overly arrogant, I just copied the information right off the www.irs.gov site for everyone to use as reference to their own situation. EIN is the legal entity tax identification number, kinda like a Social Security Number for businesses. This is what one is applying for when they apply for an EIN. Well, unless specified they are tax exempt it is just for a regular business that would pay income and sales taxes per the law. On the other hand they can legally form as a not for-profit business. However, I would best that most BSA units have NOT formed as any legal entity and secondly of all NOT formed as a tax-exempt business (not for-profit). So if this be the case, a BSA unit that has applied and gotten an EIN number of their own most likely have done so fraudulently. If parents form a BSA unit because they couldn't find a CO, they had better incorporate a not for-profit organization with the state and pay the appropriate fees and annual fees to maintain that in order to keep their not for-profit status valid. If one does not file the appropriate required return for a not for-profit organization for three years their tax exempt status will be revoked automatically. Yes, churches file an annual form with the IRS to maintain their tax-exempt status. They also file an annual report with the state to maintain their legal entity status as well. And now one knows why I use my CO's EIN when setting up my new Troop's bank account. Not only is it the correct way to do it, it is the easiest! Stosh BTW, I wonder what corporate tax bracket a Cub Pack falls into with $10,000 worth of federal and state taxable income from popcorn sales, less any sales tax due the state? I guess I'll wonder forever on that one because I don't want to be anywhere around if someone comes asking....

I have often viewed the patrols as "troops" and the PL's "SM's" and the troop is the "district". Those are concepts that adults understand and when I say the "SM" from one "troop" doesn't interfere with other "troops", they know what I'm talking about. Then the question what's the PLC? Well that's the "roundtable". I tell the adults to play in the adult world and leave the boys to their own. The SPL is like the "DE" and the QM, Scribe etc. are "district" level support for the "troops". Just a little different wording but exactly what TAHAWK describes. The one major sticking point is the PLC ("roundtable"). The SM's at roundtable do not decide what every troop has to do. Attendance at a Camporee is optional and every troop can decide where they wish to spend their time at summer camp. This dynamic really empowers the boys to be truly independent with their activities and it's up to the adults to make sure they really don't plan the program or lead it. It is quite rare to hear SM's talking about some of their patrols doing one activity and other patrols doing something else, which is a surefire way of keeping interest in the older boys. SM #1: "I see your young boys here at the climbing tower, but no older boys." SM #2: "That's because the other ASM's went with them because they wanted to do a service project instead today." Once the patrol method is in place, these dynamics being mentioned here naturally flow into boy-led. There are too many variables for the adults to control everything. AND THAT IS A GOOD THING! Stosh

When I was a scout they did have the independent patrol overnights for the boys with FC and above. But the patrols were not mixed and so they could do that. I never made it beyond 2nd class but I still did a lot of "patrol" camping without adults. It was a simple process back then. Just ask your parents and they would say yes, and all of us would pack up and head out on our own. Stosh Forgot to mention that in the fall these "outings" often included small game hunting. The more I think about it the more I realize that what we did would never fly today. Kinda too bad. Stosh

Looking at 100 years of uniforming, I like a couple of things over the years that have come and somewhat gone. The original BSA uniform was a shirt and tunic coat. That allowed the coat to be taken off when warm and put on when cold. Collar brass and hat brass identified the uniform and rank. Shirt basically didn't have rank because it was on the hat and tunic. Leg wrappings kept the pants protected in heavy brush and kept the ticks out. They could be replaced cheaper than pants. Square necker was functional. Full-wide brimmed hat was functional. Wool was eventually replaced with heavy cotton which didn't always look as sharp as the wool, but was heavy-duty enough to take the rigors of outdoors. Eventually fabrics became more and more "livable" but outdoors impractical. Now people want both looking nice and durable. Well, the only uniform over the years that fit that bill hasn't been around for over 100 years. I wore my reproduction uniform last fall camporee. Temperature ranged from upper 60's to just below freezing. I was comfortable throughout the weekend. I did cheat a bit in the morning in that I wrapped myself in a wool blanket until I got the fire going and the coffee pot on. And one after-thought. Wool is naturally flame retardant. whereas some of these new uniforms with synthetic blends are actually quite dangerous around the campfires. I still wear my wood jac-shirt around the fires because of this. I have a burn hole that went all the way through my jac-shirt because a boy tossed a log on the fire to make the sparks fly. I hate to think what that would have done to my arm had I been wearing a nylon coat. Yes, it's quite warm in the summer, but I put my jac-shirt on more for protection than warmth or to look nice. Just remember, the original military uniform of the BSA was not intended to be an indoor uniform, things change over the years and now the uniform tells the tale of the program today. The uniform is not meant for outdoors. That ought to tell everyone something. Stosh

Stosh

As an antitheist, it might do better to quote a theist if one wishes to discuss religion. If I wish to get a medical opinion on something that ails me, the last person I'm going to discuss it with is my high school math teacher. I also question the morality of others, especially those that do good deeds because they will derive benefit from it some were down the road. The reason random acts of kindness are so astonishing in our society is because they are so rare. Try walking down the street in a large city and say a pleasant "Hi" to everyone you meet. I did this and when I first asked why no one said "Hi" back, someone told me it was because they are suspicious of people who are too friendly. Saying "Hi" is too friendly? So much for doing good for others because it promotes humanity an the progression of the species. I guess I just like something that has a bit of a track record than the limited experience of my own reasoning and logic. Stosh

People can justify away their wrong doings all the time. However if one is going to lead by example remember, one is not leading the IRS, they are leading developing young men. The last thing I want to teach my boys is how to cut corners and get by when someone isn't looking. As a matter of fact that is the definition of character. That which you do when no one is watching. I guess there are varying degrees of how seriously the Law and Oath are taken. None of us are at one end or the other, but there's a pretty wide continuum to pick from. Stosh

I have a future son-in-law that works high up in the Pentagon and is one of the top advisers for international politics. He keeps informing me that the US political scene is no different than the world stage except it's a lot smaller. I asked him which of the countries did the best at it and he said North Korea. Keep your people uninformed, saber rattle a lot, maybe do some posturing, and a little irate rhetoric, so the people think you are doing great things and basically sit back and do nothing. You're not there to actually accomplish much, just keep the people who keep you in office happy regardless of their plight in life. People don't mind being dirt poor if that's all they know about the world. I just like my dad's advice the best. All politicians are crooks. If you want your preferences done in the government make sure you have the biggest crook who can accomplish the most. He also would say, one can't always tell who the biggest crook is because when their mouths move they are all lying. Stosh

Knowing people who work in prisons, this ruling has nothing to do with religion as we know it. Stosh

Sorry, you'll need to get a number and take your turn just like everyone else. Stosh

Depends on how one is set up as a business entity. For profit, non-profit, LLC, partnership, etc. The only one that can take income without income taxes is a non-profit. As far as sales taxes are concerned, that is an issue each state has set up, and you will need to check your local laws. If not, you are personally liable for fraud, posing as a non-profit organization under a fraudulently acquired EIN..... Just do it correctly and one doesn't need to worry about any of this. Stosh

Sure, why not. Make sure the dog and cat get their votes in, too. I'm sure they complain constantly especially around supper time. Stosh

Welcome to the forum! Not much camaraderie here, we're more like siblings. Don't just lurk, get involved. Stosh

What? You're just figuring this out? How's about Representative Preston Brooks using his walking stick to beat Senator Charles Sumner almost to death on the floor of Congress in retaliation for an anti-Slavery speech on May 22, 1856. This eventually lead to the American Civil War. And what makes one think that things have gotten any better over the course of the last 150+ years? Just remember that after all the attack ads on the TV and radio, in the news, and hundreds of robo calls, not counting the splattered all over social media, that when all the dust settles it will be only the worst of the worst scumbags this country can muster up, winning out. We have documented evidence from everyone connected to the campaigns to prove it. And we have a news media that would make Jos. Goebbels proud. And you think the system is broken? We have a Constitution that keeps that from happening. Take that away and then the problem is solved, no system means it can't be broken. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, train up young men of moral character and dedication to the principles of the Constitution so that just maybe some future generation will do a better job of running this country than we are doing. Stosh

I was told that back in the day of the British Empire extending pretty much all round the world, when your military enlistment was up, you were done. Unfortunately that meant wherever you were, you were done. If you wish to go home in England, you had better start working to earn money to buy yourself a ticket(s) home. For some, it may mean a year or two of short range tickets that got one a bit closer each time to England. I have not been able to confirm the story with further research, but this is what we were told. Stosh

I just started a Boy Scout troop with 6 boys. Contrary to your experience, we're having a blast! We can't always choose the cards we are dealt, but how one plays them can make all the difference in the world. It's kinda reminiscent of life in general. When we were young, we lived in some of the best dumps the city had to offer. The rooms were furnished with some of the best furniture we could find along the curbs. Hand-me-down kitchen utensils and maybe, your pride and joy, a cast iron fry pan. Fond memories! Would I ever go back? I started out in a troop of 40+ boys, changed to an existing troop of 5 that grew to 28, now I'm back to 6 in a brand new troop. Like I said, we can't always choose the cards we are dealt... As for me, I see great potential for your 6 boys. The first thing I would do is brush up on your "one room schoolhouse" approach to the pack and work from there. The boys don't have to win every award, they don't have to bling up their shirts with every patch ever produced, the only thing they have to do is have fun. The Pack is not the program, it's the people. Stosh

Some of the best Eagle projects I have seen didn't cost a thing. Often, with the impending 18th birthday looming over these boys' heads, an extensive fundraiser could jeopardize finishing on time, too. The one Eagle project that made the local newspaper, the regional newspaper and the state-wide newspaper, didn't involve a single penny. So it is possible to do a good job without having to make it a massive undertaking. The surprising thing about this boy's project, the District Eagle Committee called me up to question whether it was a worthwhile and appropriate project to begin with. A simple idea coupled with good leadership is all it takes. Stosh

I vote so I can whine and complain all I want. Stosh

There are some factors that one could use to mitigate the hazard of such a wade. If everyone is in life-jackets and rescue poles with hooks are taken along. One of the problems with ocean currents is always the possibility of unpredictable currents that can sweep a light person off their feet. With a jacket on, they have a chance. One can still enjoy the adventure and be safe at the same time. Stosh

The same holds true for alcohol, and second-hand alcohol is a lot quicker and more severe than tobacco. The deaths by second-hand smoke pale in comparison to alcohol related domestic violence, vehicular homicide and the list is endless. I'll take an addicted smoker over an addicted alcoholic any day. Stosh

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies." - Groucho Marx