Oldscout448

and it seems that one of the guys on the team has been nominated and approved for the Vigil honor. So we get to do a rare Vigil tapout as well ! This is going to be a really fun Friday evening! I just need to find the regalia. Its been 15 months since the last ordeal

So just when I thought everything would be closed for the entire summer, I am told that a local troop is doing a sort of mini summercamp on some private land and asked if they could by any chance have a callout for the 4-5 scouts who were elected way back in the pre Covid days. The team was quite eager to do something anything this summer, ao right now the older members of the team are reworking the ceremony to keep everyone at the required distance. It will be different and perhaps not as impressive as we are used to but it's something.

" a change that is needed" you say. Because someone in their ignorance might misinterpret it? Seems like an opportunity for them to become educated. Because a scouter might delude himself and turn into a "little tin god"? In my experience those who have that bent to their character end up as wannabe dictators no matter what title you give them. Scoutmaster or Scoutadviser. Btw I may well advise an 18 years old and let him make his own choices. A 10 year old? Not so much. Or become its [ drumroll ] politically -correct? Ah here we may well have it. A term straight from the old USSR and Maoist China. Where truth is often "incorrect " and therefore inadmissible and even unspeakable. I hear this type of censorship promoted from political figures, indoctrinated students and the occasional mob in the streets.

I just want to be able to down vote some of the ads!

Anyone remember the ' shrieking girl " at Yale? Or the madness at Evergreen Collage? Or the riots at Berkley? We older folks just shook our heads and said " Just wait until they graduate and move into the real world, they're in for a real shock. Then they'll grow up." Well they graduated and turns out that WE are the ones who are shocked. They haven't grown up, and the really terrifying thing is I don't think they are going to until its way to late. Some of the political leaders are obviously using the mob to further their own ends. But a mob is a dangerous thing. Ask Maximilian Robespierre.

Honest question Have you read BLMs manifesto? Looked at their stated goals? Can you honestly say they are compatible with scouting? As for me "bending the knee" and begging forgiveness for my "white guilt", not gonna happen. I believe we once fought a war so that we could stop kneeling to King George III. My ancestors fought the redcoats in that war, and died in the war to free the slaves 85 years later.

Ultra light backpacking? I'd rather you just bury it with dad flute music and muffled drums.

This whole year has felt like Calvinball !

let it go my friend

Or a discount designed to encourage new sign ups.

When a son shows you that he is changing from a boy into a man ... Well, there are very few things in life that touch a father more deeply. A scout salute to your son! OldScout ( Eagle class of '76)

A man's entitled to his own opinion.

I think it could work as a troop program provided so we don't continually try to force it into a one-size-fits-all system. In the sixties a fair number of troops had what we called a senior Scout program. I'm not sure if it was official or not but it basically worked like this two or three times a year there would be a special camp out just for the older Scouts, it could be a survival camp out, (you could only bring what you could fit in your pockets) a 50-miler, a canoeing trip anything to keep the older Scouts challenged and excited about the program. Then it was decided that we had to be more "inclusive" and if the newest Scouts couldn't handle it we weren't allowed to do it. Within a year we lost most of our best hikers and campers.

There are a few people I would love to sue into oblivion for the abuse of a number of youth in years past. But with one exception they are long dead. I can see no justice in stealing from today's youth for crimes or negligence committed years before they were even born.

Because very few stay after their first year. If membership means little or nothing why should they?

Almost every scout I've asked said " For the adventure, the fun, and the friendship." When they found out they had been sold a bill of goods they quietly left. I've said this before but I think it bears repeating as a clear indication of how far and how fast BSA has changed. In the circle of my extended family we have 7 Eagle Scouts between the ages of 19 and 38. None of them has any intention of enrolling their sons in the current program.

It's been painful these last few years, watching BSA conforming more and more to the whims of National, injustices of our legal system and pressure from the never satisfied SJWs. I know I'm old school but the scouts from my original troop wouldn't recognise the troops of today as being scouts at all. Cubs maybe but not scouts. I hate to think it but...Perhaps it actually kinder to end it quickly rather that suffer a death by a thousand cuts.

NOT AGAIN! Isn't once in a lifetime enough?

Most of the chapter officers like chief, secretary, ceremonies chair, around here are the 16-19 crowd. The lodge officers are 18-20 years old. I don't see very many 17 year old scouts with the experience or maturity to run a 4,000 member lodge. Even with the best of help. I fear we will see the Order run by adults even more than it is now. Which means the scouts will leave it even faster. On a smaller scale note, the five best ceremonalists on the four chapters in my area are all over 18. They are the ones who do most of the teaching, encouraging, and occasional rebuking. If we lose them "gonna be in a whole world o trouble "

So today the first ad I see on this forum is informing me that if I suffered sexual abuse as a Scout, I can contact law firm X, and get all kinds of money. Frankly I find this ad quite offensive. Any abuse or maltreatment I may have suffered in decades past, I lay the blame at the feet of the perpetrator not the school, church, or organization to which he wrongly belonged. Is there some way such ads can be blocked on this forum?

Our chapter ordeal has been re-rescheduled for June 19-21. I have no way of knowing of this will be possible in our little state of Maryland, but ya gotta aim at something. Now there are a few new problems this year of course. First, We have no real idea how many candidates will attend. It's normally 65. But how many will decide to wait until next year? Half? Can't use our usual location so a number of decisions are going to have to be made of the fly. But if the high adventure camps are open some of our best and most experienced scouts will be staffing there. A new ring and trail needs to be made, and we are still under a lockdown edict. Only allowed out for food, booze, meds,and exercise. Fun times! Doing my best to serve cheerfully, Oldscout

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At our last chapter meeting I was told that the lodge is taking this recommendation from National as an order. They want us to switch all The regalia to Iroquois or susquehannock with 3 weeks to the callout and only a hundred dollar budget. The ceremonies team lost half of its members within an hour. It's actually a relief that the camporee and ordeal have been canceled due to the Chinese flu. I don't think it would have been possible with just 4 ceremonialists, one who is brand new, and only 1 stage crew. Not sure what will happen in the fall. I'm thinking of telling them "If you think you can get the team to spend 40-60 hours each to make new outfits, after all the work they put in making their current ones, and buy all the raw materials needed for under $750, go right ahead. I'll watch"

Well yknot, you may have just gotten your wish. Our lodge LEC just came down with an order that pretty much eliminates regalia. The edict was delivered last night, we had 10 scouts on the chapter ceremonies team. We now have three.

Yeah I know. The society has changed, much as I long for the old days, I don't think they are coming back anytime soon. I wasn't trying to introduce a new program, just pointing out the reasons the young men gave for leaving.