LongHaul

I hear on the news this morning that the federal government has won its court case to force Google to turn over data on search history. The courts did not give the government the scope it had wanted but decided that the government can demand Google turn over search histories for specific categories so they, the government, can see who searched these topics. According to the report I heard, terrorism and related topics were not the main concern pornography topped the list areas of interest to our federal government. Ah the days of terms like sufficient prior cause, when fishing expeditions actually involved fish. LongHaul

At a recent District Committee meeting we had a heated discussion on this very point. Our district has a DE and a DD, their primary duty is to raise enough money to pay their salaries. Be it through FOS or Good Scout Dinners or Community Breakfasts or what have you they must find a way to solicit enough money to cover their salary. They utilize the efforts of many volunteers to this end. Council staff is hired specifically to work on fund raising. Scouting has become a place where you can get a job begging for your salary without disgrace, in fact you get to feel like your doing good because your involved in The Boy Scouts of America. Id really like to see a time study done, this is a business after all, and find out just how much time is devoted to fund raising and membership (a justification for fund raising) as opposed to providing support services to the volunteers and strengthening programs for youth. LongHaul

Back when I first transitioned from scout to scouter I was involved with the JLTC program. With only 48 youth spots we had to limit troops to one boy each and then we still had to turn troops away ! This was at the District Level ! Today in the Chicago Area Council as a whole we have a hard time meeting the 24 scout minimum. The Scoutmaster approval/recommendation is to serve those areas where intrest is still high. It's there to insure that those attending are going to serve and are not just looking for another feather in thier cap. It's there to insure that the Scoutmaster has an opportunity to have up coming leaders trained. If your local NYLT has to turn away applicants then the SM check is necessary otherwise it's not. It is, in answer to one of your questions, a National policy. LongHaul(This message has been edited by LongHaul)

First as a MB Counselor I ask that the portion of the Blue Card which we are discussing be filled out by the scout listing each requirement by number in the proper column. If the boy receives a partial then I sign each appropriate line and date each appropriate line. If the boy completes the entire badge I sign COMPLETED and put the date under that with my initials in that spot. I sign my full name in the two other spots required. The questions I have here are; 1. Did the Scoutmaster make it clear that the Blue Card needed to be signed in this manner when he issued it? 2. Whos responsibility is it to see that the Blue Card is properly filled out before it is presented to the MB Counselor? Should the SM require that all necessary info is put on the card by the Scout before he, the SM, will sign the front of it? 3. Should the SM take into consideration the difference between a group session and a buddy session? Difference being when a MBC has 70 cards to deal with he/she may sign a card that should have been a partial but in a buddy session with just two scouts I would accept a signed blue card as evidence of completion. LongHaul (This message has been edited by LongHaul)

I just served as SPL for our local Okpik course. In stead of TRAINED patches we gave out a strip that says "Je suis prets" which is French for "I am ready". It is not regulation but it does say more than TRAINED in my opinion. LongHaul

BelieveinScouts, Webelos is a program which was designed to transition boys from Cub Scout, (family oriented, parents sign off, work at home) to Boy Scout, (specific people sign off, work and plan as a patrol, specialist taught) programs. My advice, along with taking Webelos Leader Specific and Outdoor Leaders Skills for Webelos Leaders training is to find a Boy Scout troop to work with. The Assistant Scoutmaster for the New Scout Patrol and the Troop Guide for the New Scout patrol or an Assistant Senior Patrol leader should be asked to assist you in having a talk with not only your perspective Webelos Scouts but their parents. The idea is to transition both boy and parents to the new program. The troop members will be able to explain what the goal is and how the parents and the troop can help the boys to achieve the transition. Along with the Family Resource sheet you should use the troop members as activity pin counselors. This is also the time to get a Den Chief if you dont already have one. Webelos to Scout Transition begins in the Bear den around April when the boys and parents meet the members of a Boy Scout troop and get acquainted with the difference between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Waiting till September of their Webelos II year to begin transition is the reason some boys dont make the change in attitude, give them the full 20 months to slowly come around to the Boy Scout concept, start now. LongHaul

Please let me clarify! I'm not talking about the adult leader with a child in the unit I'm asking about parents who are attending as parents and therefore can not help but effect the patrol dynamic. If this adult simply observes and supports their child then they fall into the adult supervisor catagory. If the parent inter acts with the entire youth body but favors their child it's one thing but when the parent is along only to interact with their child should we see this as a problem? LongHaul(This message has been edited by LongHaul)

Any male Venturer who has achieved the First Class rank as a Boy Scout in a troop or Varsity Scout in a team may continue advancement toward the Star, Life and Eagle ranks up to his 18th birthday So yes they can EARN merit badges provided; 1. They are Male. 2. They have already earned the First Class rank. Wait! Your question was DO they work on merit badges. Depends on the Crew and the Crew President, but only those meeting requirement 1 & 2 can get official credit toward Eagle. LongHaul

What happens when instead of line vetoing pitch forking kids they person with the pen line vetos the tuition and we have a law allowing pitch forking kids which could never has gotten out of committee on it's own. Checks and Balance, a lot of thought went into the wording based on a lot of powerful people abusing thier power. The framers were still dealing with centuries of handed down experience with absolute rulers. They formed a plan to make sure "the people" were heard and could affect the laws governing them. Today we only remember what has happpened since that plan was put into action. Those who don't learn from history are bound to repeat it. LongHaul

I would not get to excited over this issue until the NEW and IMPROVED GTSS hit the streets. Supposedly it's been all reworded so we will have a whole new set of "What exactly does this say?" to while away the hours. Due out this summer, actually April but I'm not holding my breath. LongHaul

Ive spun this from another thread because Id like some opinions on Mothers and Fathers on campouts. Im not talking about adult leaders who have a child in the unit Im referring to adults attending outings as a Mother or Father for a specific scout. In a unit Im very familiar with the situation has been a Mom and Me, Dad and Lad unit with those not having a parent present being on the outer fringe. These adults are addressed as Mom or Dad and run clean up and interference for their child. Even when they take training for a given position their child is always treated differently than the rest of the unit. In the thread this was spun from the central figure was a 17 year old Eagle Scout that had not attended an outing without a parent till he was 16. Comments on Mothers and Fathers instead of Adult Leaders. LongHaul (This message has been edited by LongHaul)(This message has been edited by LongHaul)

Does anyone really think Bush is going to cut pork, well maybe Democratic pork. As for clearing the USSC Bush has stacked it in his favor. I remember when he first got elected he said he wanted to revisit Roe V Wade and now with the S.D. law looks like he may get his chance. Line item reduces checks and balance, Congress passes what they think is a workable bill then one man "eliminates thinks out of context" and passes it as law, that's scarry. Just my opinion. LongHaul

One term and out gets us people who don't know the job first hand and think about the cost. One term and retire at full pay with cost of living adjustments & medical for life. We need a lot of changes in the way Congress is run, it was never supposed to be a profession it was a service to your country. Hey I know let's give congress the same pay scale and benefit, retirement package we give the military. Line item veto is just another way for the group in power to circumvent the checks and balances of the Constitution. Could it be that Kerry thinks the Republicans will lose next time around? LongHaul (This message has been edited by LongHaul)

Im against wearing camo during scout activities only because it tends to be used to replace the actual uniform. I dont find the scout uniform objectionable. But I dont understand why we feel those who do want to wear camo are trying to imitate the military? If the military wears something then if I wear it Im trying to be military? I regularly wear a cartridge belt with two 1 quart canteens and 2 first aid kits when we hike. All of it U.S. Army issue. Im not trying to look cool just being practical, the cartridge belt serves the purpose I need filled. I used a military issue paratroopers pack at Philmont third time around. I needed a pack and this one was available, I knew darn well it would stand up to the load and punishment I was going to give it. Just because its used by the military doesnt necessarily mean those using it are trying to emulate the military. One thing about camo that has always confused me is its use by hunters. Ive hunted in Wisconsin to help put food on the table for my relatives who live and operate a farm. When we deer hunt we are in the brightest orange we can get our hands on. The idea is that deer are colored blind and cant tell the difference between flame orange and green. BUT when we bow hunt we are in camo, to the extent we hang netting over our faces! Deer we kill with a bow have better color distinction? Never understood that one. LongHaul

On my first trip to Philmont we woke up to frost and were swimming in the river by mid day. Altitude plays games with temperature. What does O degree bag really mean? I wrote a manufacturer and found that there is no standardization for measuring efficiency of sleeping bags. The term "X" degree usually means that the bag will keep you comfortable enough to sleep 6 hours at the "X" temperature. This differs from person to person depending on body metabolism. Know the equipment you intend to use. "There is no such thing as bad weather only inaccurate equipment choices." LongHaul

KC9DDI, Just to clarify there is no stipulation that the merit badge sash can only be worn with the long sleeved shirt. The Insignia Guide 33066E showes the proper positioning of the sash and the scout in the drawing is wearing a short sleeved shirt. LongHaul

Emb021, Who exactly is this "we" to whom you referr? The basis for my statement was the information recieved by our delegation to a NOAC. Where are the rules made and/or changed? National Order of the Arrow Conferences. Another thing that comes back from NOACs is the reminder that there are only two levels of membership in the OA, Ordeal and Brotherhood. I assume you meant to say you were a Brotherhood member who has recieved Vigil Honors. Many of us were upset when our registration cards stopped saying Vigil Member and started saying Brotherhood Member so I can understand your reference. LongHaul

MB sashes and OA sashes are just that SASHES not belt dangles. Wear it properly or leave it home. The debate over whether OA sahes are only to be worn at OA functions has never been resolved in stone. When I got mine in the 60's it was clearly only for OA functions. In the 90's a group came back from NOAC and declared it was OK for general wear to promote active participation in OA. I guess it's become a local option. According to the Insignia guide it's NOT worn hung from the belt at any time. LongHaul

John-in-KC hit this one dead on. The Troop Committee does not hire or fire anyone, they dont run the troop ideally the SPL runs the troop. The function of a Troop Committee is to support the Scoutmaster in delivering the Scouting Program. Far too many Troop Committees think they have the power to direct, to plan troop calendars or have advice and consent powers over program, not so. The Troop Committee is not Congress they are the Cabinet, they advise and support. Troop policies are set by the TC with the consent of the COR as long as those policies do not conflict with National policies and guidelines. Policies should not dictate program. The Scoutmaster serves at the will of the CO. The Co can remove any member adult or youth at its discretion. If the Troop Committee feels the SM is not delivering the Program in the manners prescribed by current National training standards they have a duty to bring this to the attention of the COR. Its the CORs duty to resolve this issue by removing the SM, if the COR has been given that authority by the CO, or to reconcile the differences between the Committee and the SM. Failing that the COR should bring the matter before the COs directing body through the IH. If a District Advancement Chair has to invoke the right to remove a youths advancement process from a Troop, a large number of adults have already failed all the youth members of that troop. The new SM should be given time to implement his approach, advancement should not be the bench mark. As SM, I must provide the opportunity to advance, if the youth dont avail themselves of that opportunity its not necessarily grounds to seek my removal. Berating youth leaders in public and seeking to alter the published rank requirements however can be. Finally I must say that this is another case of where we are hearing only one side of this story. Supposedly we have heard of several instances occurring in this troop but what we have not heard about is the history of this troop. Has this been an adult run troop and now the boys are being asked to take responsibility and do more work causing dissention? Are the TC members parents of Life Scouts waiting to become death bed Eagles? Are the members of the TC trained? Does the TC understand boy led and how to establish it? Will appointing a new SM provide a better program or just return to the status quo? LongHaul

If you tend to slip off your pad at night try getting a silk cover and put the pad inside your bag with you. I found a silk cover at REI and had it trimed down to the size of my pad. (the Thermo-Rest Prolite 4 is also my choice) Putting the pad inside kept me from ending up on the ground as my tired muscles flexed and relaxed all night. The silk cover alowed me to roll over without sticking to the pad. Storing the pad open also imporves self inflation rate and properties. LongHaul(This message has been edited by LongHaul)

First I need to ask, If you had prior suspicions concerning the attack on 911 and they were ignored would I told you so be of ANY solace now? When its too late, Its too late! The more I read about DWP and the Bush Administrations ties to the UAE the more freighted I get. Just some stuff Ive come across trying to increase my knowledge of this issue. http://www.senatedemocrats.net/node/475 http://www.senatedemocrats.net/node/471 In South Florida, U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, and Mark Foley, R-West Palm Beach, held separate news conferences urging greater study of the deal. Foley said he's worried because the United Arab Emirates has been named as a transfer point for nuclear components shipped to Iran, North Korea and Libya. It also was one of only three countries that recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate government, and it is discussing plans for free trade with Iran. "If tensions rise even more with Iran, who would Dubai side with?" Foley said at the Port of Miami. The U.S. Navy has been using the port of Dubai as a veritable base for years. The Dubai port is the only one in the entire Persian Gulf with the capability of handling aircraft carriers. DPW has just acquired British company Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O), which has just renewed a contract with the United States Surface Deployment and Distribution Command to load military equipment at the Texas ports of Beaumont and Corpus Christi through 2010, where almost two-thirds of the supplies for the U.S. military begin their passage to war. Halliburton This company truly has a guardian angel: former Halliburton CEO and now Vice President Dick Cheney who looks out for its interests from the White House. The result? $8 billion in contracts rebuilding Iraq in 2004. CEO: David J. Lesar Military contracts 2004: $8 billion Campaign contributions in 2004: $217,199 (Oil & gas related) The biggest windfall in the invasion of Iraq has most certainly gone to the oil services and logistics company Halliburton . The company, which was formerly run by Vice President Dick Cheney, had revenue of over $8 billion in contracts in Iraq in 2003 alone. And while Halliburton s dealings in Iraq have been dogged everywhere by scandal including now a criminal investigation into overcharging by Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown and Root for gas shipped into Iraq Vice President Cheney manages to be doing quite well from the deal. He owns $433,000 unexercised Halliburton stock options worth more than $10 million dollars. Halliburton has a large base of operations in Dubai . http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk0MDYmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY4ODYwNzEmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXky The 45 day period mandated by law for review of foreign contracts such as this was ignored. President Bush, almost in the same breath said that he didnt know anything about the deal but would veto any attempts by Congress to stop it. I remember a Republican President who once said something to the effect; If it walks like a duck and looks like a duck and sounds like a duck ITS A DUCK Hey! maybe this is a job for Cheney.(Cheap shot, I apologize) LongHaul P.S. I anyone has links to anything favoring the DWP deal that go beyond "Just support Bush" or that rely on the Arab bashing defense please post them.

Again, I say One size does not fit all and Test it out before you go. I wear Kmart work boots in the 8 height. They support my ankles have arch support and most important fit MY feet. My co Leader bought a pair of hiking boots at REI and loved them so much at Philmont that he wears a pair almost every place he goes now. As for liner socks OK guys Im ready for the laughs and ribbing I use a pair of knee high womens nylon stockings ($.99) first, then a pair of Kmart mens nylon dress socks (3@$3.99) followed by a pair of Kmart mens polyester dress socks(3@$3.99). The nylon allows my foot to move slightly and eliminates blisters, for me. The nylon dress socks wick perspiration and the polyester socks cushion to a degree. You can also look for a polyester work sock that claims to have cushion heels, I believe Dickey has a pair of these but I find them too thick. I also advise STAY away from cotton! LongHaul

Ive done four Philmont treks, two in my prime two when I wasnt. At 20 I carried close to 100 pounds because my Dad suffered what was later diagnosed as a mild heart attack our second day. I had been a competitive swimmer for six years and could have run up and down the trails in moccasins pack and all. At 52 I wouldnt have made it out of base camp with 45 pounds without ankle support. Anyone that has done the crest leading away from base camp from the Tooth may take issue with the well packed trails concept. The bottom line is that One size does not fit all. What works for me may not work for you, that is why you need to train. Carry full weight and find terrain similar to your planned trek. Train with the same style foot wear you plan to use at Philmont. Last time out I had to get a new pair of boots before we left and wore them to work everyday to break them in but they were the same make and model I trained in. As to the guides wearing sandals just remember they are not carrying food or troop gear, they are gone after two or three days, they are in their prime! I carried my Dads gear because I could, who will take up your load of food and troop gear if you have foot problems? Carrying that pack the first day and carrying it on the eighth day are quite different. Can you be certain you wont need additional support as you get further into the trek or higher up in altitude. Test what ever footwear system you choose completely and repeatedly before you have to rely on it. Is there anyone NOT ready to Hike? Hike ON! LongHaul

Rooster7 thinks this is all Bush bashing, I wonder what he would be saying about this had Kerry won the election and was proposing allowing the UAE to operate ports of entry. We know that 2 of the 911 terrorists were from Dubia and that most of the funds connected with the 911 strike were funneled thru Dubia can anyone tell me they have heard of any follow up on that? Anyone brought to answer? Frankj tells us that Dubia Ports World operates 22 ports around the world and will increase that to 49 with this deal. If I was a paranoid person I might see this as an opportunity to move materials around the globe without interference. Allowing the people in control to prepare for an agenda. Of course we are not worried about anything like that..we have the Patriot Act to protect us. Watch the people inside and allow the people outside ( a government that politically recognizes the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden) to control what gets inside. But this is just Bush bashing so in the words of Emily Latilla Never mind. LongHaul

I think this has been cleared up but I'd just like everyone to remember that Webelos are still Cub Scouts. They are in a state of transition between Adult run and Boy run, between Den Leader inspired and Boy inspired activities, but they are still part of the Cub Scout Program. It's called the Webelos Den Leader Award not the Assistant CubMaster in charge of the Webelos Patrol Award. LongHaul