packsaddle

I think a new SM is needed too. Hueymungus and TwoCubDad both have comments that reflect my views on this. The SM is not fit to be in a leadership position.

Hey, old jokes are all I have anymore. The boys roll their eyes too. I like that.

If I was CM I'd make sure he received some kind of recognition asap. The belt loop would be fine but to me it would be important to make the recognition, in whatever form it took, in front of all the other boys and parents and let him 'shine' for his accomplishment. I had a box full of trophies, little plaques, and certificate templates that I'd use if the 'official' award wasn't immediately available.

OK, I know it's an old joke but I have to ask....which exit? Welcome to the forums!

I think BSA would survive. It would, however, face stronger competition with that element of 'protection' removed, but whatever program(s) presented the greatest merit to the marketplace would survive, perhaps prosper. This is one of my principle elements of encouragement for Trail Life: they have taken the initiative and put is all on the line. Good for them.

Rick does seem to have a reasonable approach.

Why you would want to do seven merit badges as counselor for your son is mystifying. Don't you want him to have the fullest experience with OTHER qualified persons? I can see you doing the 'Family Life' mb with him but why anything else? Are there no other qualified counselors?

While it seems all is well for this instance, I understand the concern. I am also a counselor for the ES mb as well as other natural history merit badges. And I have frequently observed problems related to work being credited without being done. A parent is free to discuss anything they want with their child. They can ask any questions they want. And if it turns out ok, they are free to heap praise on their child. When I stumble upon a problem at camp, however, I address it directly and in a timely manner with the counselor. That is usually all that is needed.

We used to do this as a broader event in which other units participated as well, 'locked in' at a nearby 'Discovery Center' or similar museum-type place. The boys and chaperones got to explore the exhibits and then at the proper time, each group got a display area to bed down in sleeping bags for the night. Then next morning they were up before the place opened. In our case the center had a kitchen so we had breakfast there and then came home. I think the chaperones had as much fun as the boys.

Fred, if you don't see the irony I don't know how to make it clear for you. The 'idea' of his dislike/outrage/whatever is not illuminated by more and more and more photos. It is impossible to take such obvious baiting seriously. To this I will add that I agree with what Sentinel wrote. In fact, this thread probably shouldn't have been started at all. The solution to this non-issue is obvious and has been stated for those who can't see the obvious: local option. It is just fine for local families and units to make their own decision and then it is just fine for others to tsk, tsk about it. But it is a waste of time to open a thread like this and then think it is a serious discussion from which solutions will come to light or that minds will change. In that respect, the local option of personal opinion already rules. It just isn't apparent to some of us.

We've never asked permission either. Then again, we've never had a 'pride' parade other than pride in the school or the mascot or something. Gays just mix in as if they're regular members of society...Imagine that....outrageous! LOL It's almost as if it isn't unnatural. Wanna see something shocking? Watch the frat guys. You just never know how their creative minds will entertain us. Horizon, like I've written before, some of us are obsessed with sex. I guess AZMike thought it was appropriate to expose the scouts who follow these forums to those photos. Go figure...seems ironic to me.

This unit has always encouraged the boys to work both with their moms and the MB counselor on this one. And always on an individual basis for each boy. The moms, once they read the requirements, often get very enthusiastic about holding the boys' feet to the fire. Brings a smile to my face when their eyes read the words and light up.

I still have my original card and certificate. Proof enough for most.

Dyslexic fingers I guess...oops. On the other hand I have quite a few friends who occasionally refer to me as a mentsh.. For a long time I wasn't sure what to think about that. Another person I don't really know well once referred to me as goyhem. My friends' reaction indicated some abiguity about that application. I thought, "at least they didn't call me a golem". But then I read Gustav Meyrink's book and kind of liked that idea.

NU, you were saying...??? Interesting thread evolution here. The OP, then the IRS, then an attempt to change the topic to bottled water with the risk of irking the ire of persons critical of recycling, and now minimum deposit legislation and perhaps lack of regulatory oversight on bottled water, not to mention the history of Coca Cola and Dasani Water (a.k.a. Atlanta municipal tap water). I have a deep well. I just drink that. I do recycle everything that I able to but I also save a 1 liter plastic drink bottle once in a while as a reusable water bottle. They're nearly indestructible and can be found lying around everywhere for free.

Even if it was seven drives out of thousands it would still be improbable that those specific seven drives were the ones that failed. I still don't buy it. I have had drives crash before. I was in a low-security, non-politically-sensitive laboratory and we had mandated backups. I don't buy the whole lost email thing. I can't prove anything but the 'smell' is overpowering.

Skeptic's probably right about this. Considering they can't even maintain a basic membership list accurately from one year to the next, I can't imagine that a database of Eagle Scouts would be either complete or correct.

May he rest in peace.

Interesting. I hadn't noticed that. Thanks. I also agree with JoeBob's comments.

I agree with JoeBob on the 'lost' email records. When I was still with the Feds, I ALWAYS worked under a requirement to save and archive ALL email communications that came over my computer, including the spam and personal stuff. I did, for as long as the internet existed, and I never 'lost' anything. I had a copy on my hard drive, a copy on the server drive, and a backup on tape or on an external drive. Those IRS people are either lying, or else they're apocalyptically stupid. Frankly, I suspect they are quite well-informed about how to use email, the archival capabilities, and perhaps how to eliminate the records if needed. BTW, I checked and I happen to know that all these years later, that email archive of mine is still intact...I suspect they could dump the whole thing, however, and no one would care by now. Incidentally, I also think Rosemary was lying about the erased tape sections in the Nixon tapes.

LOL, the 80's???? I was practically dead by then, lol, at least as far as 'chicks' were concerned.

We've never had a problem. Guess our strategy (whatever it is) must be working.

Skeptic, local option and greater local responsibility for setting their own 'community standards'. I agree. AZMike, Heh, heh, this is a college town. I've had cub scouts marching in parades that had practically-naked, drunk college males making fools out of themselves. Most of the community just shrugs off this kind of nonsense. The cubs would laugh and go 'ewwwww!'. I suppose the boy scouts might dream of the day they can use similar methods to attract mates. One thing about working with youth ALL the time...you have a better appreciation for what they consider to be anachronism. Tag! You're IT!

Awwww, Skeptic....you're trying to make all this into something serious. I guess I could use Scouter99 as a model and respond: nya, nya, nya! Do you not see the irony in all this? When this thread was started, 6 out of the first 10 threads in I&P had been started by AZMike.Yes, I counted them. And he has been successful in drawing many forum members to these flames. To what end? What illuminating ideas have come to light as a result? Hello? Anyone there? Look, I understand that there exist members who harbor all sorts of nightmarish fears and concerns about 'you-know-what'. I get that. Anyone who doesn't by now should probably be practicing their alphabet. To me the irony is that YES, those parades are about all sorts of things including in-your-face displays designed to shock some of us and, judging from the obsessiveness I've observed here, it's working. But WHY then would those who are obsessed with it then continue the aim of those they are obsessed about and continue to display those 'shocking' images to others? I guess it could be for the same reason I think Scouter99 should be allowed to spew whatever passes for thought from his mind onto the rest of us. But I'm not repeating it for him. AZMike....IS. That is the irony to me. He seems to be promoting that which he objects to by copying it again and again for everyone in these forums (including the boys) to see and react to. Why? To change minds? Unlikely. To express outrage? I think everyone gets that already. To provide illuminating ideas and thoughtful discussion?....well....make me! (sorry, couldn't resist) So yes, I know the difference. I am lampooning it in the best way I can and please forgive me but I'm not very good at that. I'll keep practicing and maybe improve. So...Skeptic, what new and enlightening ideas have you gleaned from all this? I'd really like to know something that's new and perhaps even exciting. Help me out.

LOL, there's nothing about natural processes that require 'progress'. I'll pass that on to my old church, snicker, snicker.