Axeman

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1969 Pontiac GTO "Judge" w/Ram Air IV and a six-pack.

mbrown, I am guessing your eldest son is looking forward to certain MOS activities? We drew 6th session at HRB. (sigh) Middle son and youngest son are on staff again, and have been at HRB since last week. Youngest son (19) posted the following status on his Facebook yesterday (they go to Scott's for wifi): "I bunk with (insects) and (spiders), the showers only go scalding hot or cold as ice, and I have worked and trained nonstop for 5 days. And most importantly, I'm home! Man I've missed it... Shout out to all of the campers and staff of H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation!" Regards, Axeman CR/UC

If it is interpreted as the first definition, then the district nominations are only open to the current district committee. This could lead to the district being run by the same clique year after year. Yes, it certainly could lead to that. Excerpt from a post dated 2/7/2008: "District committees composed entirely of members-at-large may become myopic, self-perpetuating good-old-boy organisms that are not attuned to the needs/wants/desires of the units the committee is charged with supporting. The annual election process becomes farcical when the only attending, voting members are the same members-at-large that voted for themselves the year before. An election is the privilege of making a choice. If there is no choice, then the annual election is merely the endorsement of the status quo by the people who created the status quo." Regards, Axeman CR/UC

Sirs: I called National today. Annual Charter Agreement #524-182 is the current boilerplate document printed by the Boy Scouts of America. The annual charter agreement is an agreement between the local council and the chartering organization. Once the local council and the chartering organization are in agreement, the local council recommends a charter be issued to the organization. The Boy Scouts of America then issues the charter. The local council may use the boilerplate document, or the local Council Executive Committee may draft their own annual charter agreement as long as the agreement does not violate the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of the Boy Scout of America. Regards, Axeman CR/UC

Thank you for pointing this out, sir. I must reconsider my position, and, in doing so, feel that I will be much closer to understanding. How about this- The annual charter agreement, such as form 524-182, is an agreement between the local council and the chartering organization. Once the local council and the chartering organization are in agreement, the local council recommends a charter be issued to the organization. The Boy Scouts of America issues the charter. The local council may use a standardized annual charter agreement, such as form 524-182, or the local council may use their own annual charter agreement as long as the agreement does not violate the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of the Boy Scout of America. National does not preclude local councils from drafting their own document, however such documents are subject to approval by National. Am I in the ballpark? Regards, Axeman CR/UC

Click23: Sir, let me say first that I agree with you. I believe the agreement to be between the local Council and the chartering organization. I wrote the same thing yesterday then deleted it. The annual charter agreement also states "The Boy Scouts of America is an educational resource program. It charters community or religious organizations or groups to use Scouting as part of their service to their own members, as well as the community at large." If the pronoun it refers to the Boy Scouts of America, one might think that the charter comes from the Boy Scouts of America. Clear as mud. Who writes/reviews these documents (rhetorical question)? I have nine annual charter agreements before me: 28-182L 28-182M 28-182N 28-182P 28-182Q 28-182R 28-182S 524-182 and our current annual charter, which is similar to document from the Erie Shores Council. Although all nine charters are similar, no two are identical. I have come to think that the annual charter agreement between our local Council and our organization is whatever the local Council says it is, as long as the agreement does not violate the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of the Boy Scouts of America. Regards, Axeman CR/UC

Is a District an entity unto itself? IMHO, this is something of a tricky question. If we define an entity as something that has a distinct, separate existence (not necessarily a material existence), then a District may be viewed as an entity. A District is not entitative, however. A District does not exist apart from attendant circumstances. Districts are administrative subdivisions of the local council and do not have a separate corporate status. Regards, Axeman CR/UC

In my previous post I should have written "our present charter agreement includes, word-for-word, the changes noted by click23." AFAIK, the Annual Charter Agreement No. 524-182 (2009 printing) is the most recent agreement between the council and the chartered organization to operate a pack, troop, or crew. I can not say with certainty that this is the agreement currently available from the National Distribution Center. I can say that I easily found five different versions of the annual charter agreement on the internet: No.28-182L, No.28-182Q, No.28-182R, No.28-182S, and No.524-182. All five are similar in format, and all five contain similar information under "The chartered organization agrees to" and "The council agrees to" headings. In all five there are six bullet points in the left column, seven bullet points in the right column. Our annual charter agreement has eight bullet points in the left column and nine bullet points in the right column. The revised and additional bullet points read as noted by click23. I compared the charter agreement from the Erie Shores Council to our charter agreement. The two documents are very similar. The two documents are not identical. There are differences in grammar, punctuation, and layout. Our charter agreement appears to be locally produced. I read through the Charter and Bylaws & Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America this morning (yawn) and did not find anything that prohibits local councils from generating their own versions of the annual charter agreement. It is possible that I missed something. It is the considered opinion of SWMBO that I should not pursue this line of inquiry with our council professional staff. I think that this is sage advice (I ask too many questions), yet I am still curious about this. Regards, Axeman CR/UC

I pulled our charter agreement from 2007. Our 2007 charter agreement (No. 28-182Q) is a different document. The 2008-to-present charter agreements include, word-for-word, the changes noted by click23. The newer documents also feature Council-specific image and text. Curiouser and curiouser. I will ask our DE about it. Regards, Axeman CR/UC

I have 2009's Annual Charter Agreement in my desk and it reads the same. IIRC, the charter agreement changed from the previous format to the current format in 2008. Regards, Axeman CR/UC

My ticket-completion counseling session was on Jan. 5, 2010. I received my WB recognition items on March 2, 2010. The date on the certificate is Feb. 1, 2010. Regards, Axeman CR/UC

I am not in John's district. My district adjoins John's district. In our council, wearing district insignia is common. I do not think it is a matter of instruction. I think it is a convention in our council, like wearing Mic-O-Say and OA lanyards. Personally, I do not wear district insignia. Regards, Axeman CR/UC

I realized that my previous post was itself an excerpt. Oops. Charter and Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America Article IX, Policies and Definitions Section 1 Declaration of Religious Principle Policies Clause 1. The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise the member declares, "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law." The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members. No matter what the religious faith of the members may be, this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before them. The Boy Scouts of America, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and the organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life. Activities Clause 2. The activities of the members of the Boy Scouts of America shall be carried on under conditions which show respect to the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion, as required by the twelfth point of the Scout Law, reading, "Reverent. A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others." Freedom Clause 3. In no case where a unit is connected with a church or other distinctively religious organization shall members of other denominations or faith be required, because of their membership in the unit, to take part in or observe a religious ceremony distinctly unique to that organization or church. Leaders Clause 4. Only persons willing to subscribe to these declarations of principles shall be entitled to certificates of leadership in carrying out the Scouting program. Clause 5. Other major policies are set forth in article IX of the Rules and Regulations. DEFINITIONS SECTION 2. In addition to those contained in these Bylaws, there are other definitions, some pertaining to the Bylaw material, set forth in article IX of the Rules and Regulations. Regards, Axeman CR/UC

An excerpt from the Declaration of Religious Principle appears on adult applications. Why an excerpt instead of the full text of the DRP? Charter and Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America Article IX, Policies and Definitions Section 1 Declaration of Religious Principle Clause 1. The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise the member declares, "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law." The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members. No matter what the religious faith of the members may be, this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before them. The Boy Scouts of America, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and the organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life. Regards, Axeman CR/UC