BDPT00

"A well fitted pair of jeans." Have you been anywhere near a schoolyard these days? Well-fitted for what? A circus? BDPT00

KC, Would totally change the sound of J3:16, eh?

Well, and there's another no-no: inside jokes. Staff shouldn't be saying things that are humorous to them, but not to you. Humor is great, but everybody should understand it. BDPT00

Basement, That's two minutes per patrol. ScoutBox, Presentations between/among staffers is a really bad idea. Simple question: Who/where is the focus of the presentation? Basement, Is this what happened on your course ... the staff was really into itself? BDPT00

Some programs have very strong traditions (WB, NYLT, & OA). Our lodge is still working on it, and it's been several years. First attempt at totem was a combination, and it was a bust. Better idea was to get rid of the old stuff, and just find a totally new and different identity. I'd recommend it. BDPT00

Thanks, Callooh. This was much easier to understand than the other hypothetical whatever it was. BDPT00

David, Councils and courses have different traditions. I get the feeling that your course's staff has started something that would be frowned upon by many, and here's why: When patrol members present gifts to staff members (often the SPL, for example) that particular moment becomes all about the SPL. That happens to be totally contrary to where the focus belongs. The more it's done, the worse it is. The focus belongs on YOU ... NOT on a staff member. If there are presentations of gifts from one staff member to another (in front of you), then they're way off base. Whatever your course does is whatever your course does. It reflects the personality of your staff. The idea of the shovel to the ASM? There's no way I would do that. What's the point? My opinion isn't the same as everyone else's, and that's fine. I'm in agreement with Eamonn. Don't give away your flag. That belongs to you, and you can take it with you to next year's breakfast. If you give it to your TG, you'll never see it again, and it will quickly become yesterday's news. It will end up in a forgotten box somewhere, and eventually thrown out. Don't get all wrapped up in the gift exchange game. If there's a tradition going on, start your own: don't play the game. If you're sincere about giving something to your TG, and your motives are in the right place (as mentioned by other writers), then have an after-course patrol meeting. Invite your TG, and present something then. The best suggestion mentioned: get your entire patrol to prepare their tickets, and then make sure they all get done. BDPT00

New here, eh?

I saw a promo recently for another council's NYLT. It was aimed at 13-20 year olds. Should not 18 year old Venturers take Wood Badge? I don't see any point in having a 2nd year college woman taking the same course as a junior high school boy. Do other councils (national) do it the same? BDPT00

Response: We have 4 troops and 2 crews going to Jambo. Not including the 3rd ASM who should be between 18 and 25 *** That would be 18 and 21. Something I missed? BDPT00

Basementdweller!! We're in agreement ... what's with that?! I think that far too often, most people in the Scouting family assume that because a young man wears an Eagle on his shirt that he knows everything, and is ready to just step in as an adult. They need to be trained. I would submit that they are more often big kids, rather than young adults. Either way, they need to be trained as an adult. Their role has changed dramatically, and they need to know that. So do we. Just because an eleven year old got his book signed off for compass and knots doesn't mean that he can perform those skills when he crosses into the magic world of the eighteen year old. He needs outdoor leadership skills as well as some classroom stuff relating to Aims and Methods, and let's not forget youth protection. It's simple for some, but for others ... they have no clue. BDPT00

Fulfill the requirements? You mean pay dues?

Eagle732, You said you don't buy into the JTE thing. Don't buy into doing it, or don't buy into the whining about it? BDPT00

If it was just out of curiosity, I hope you didn't turn it in. Wouldn't want that greedy DE of yours to gain some sort of credit for having a gold unit in his district. And just think ... it will have an effect on your council, area, region and national, too. Now you've done it! BDPT00

OK, I guess I'll have to be a little more blunt. Everyone but Calico has ignored it. It's not the troop committee's job to select a Scoutmaster. You can find the process spelled out at this site: http://www.fiverivers.org/membership/pdfs/selecting_quality_leaders.pdf BDPT00

Correct me if I'm wrong (as if I need to tell anyone that!)... It's not the committee's job to find a new Scoutmaster. It's the charter partner's job to appoint one. BDPT00

*** Good answer, Jay. BDPT00

To be clear ... I'm not talking about a stranger's hat. I'm talking about my own hat, my children's hats, and my Scouts' hats. They all know what's proper, because they've been taught. I wish other adults would do the same with their charges. How's that? BDPT00

Beavah, I totally disagree that clothing has nothing to do with courtesy. Some kid (or less than intelligent adult) wears his pants at half mast, so that he can hardly walk, and always has to have a free hand to hold them up ... is he being courteous to anybody who has to look at him? I didn't intend for this to become a discussion telling us under what conditions people wear hats indoors. I'm talking about manners. Let's assume you're eating at a nice restaurant (one where half of the crowd looks like they just came from church ... and by that I mean dressed up ... and let's assume we all know what that means), and you happen to be wearing a baseball cap. Would you actually do that? If so, what happens when I walk by with my mother, and I stop to introduce her to you? Do you sit there with you hat on and your mouth full when you say hello? If not, then maybe you know what manners are. Where and when did you learn them? Today's kids don't learn them anywhere because it appears that people just don't care anymore. And no, I'm not going to ask if you're Jewish or under arms. BDPT00

Thanks, Kudu! A post I enjoyed, especially the quote at the end. BP also spoke of knights and knighthood. I'd like to see some manners. How to greet and address a lady. How to treat your elders. Respecting authority. Questioning authority is fine, but also respect it when appropriate, which is most of the time. Table manners, and when and where to wear and not wear a hat. When to wear a belt and tuck in a shirt, and when it's a good idea to turn a cap backwards or not. Kudu mentioned shortcomings of public schools. Manners is certainly one of those things (also within families). When teenage boys sit down in a restaurant with their mother or grandmother, they should know the that the hat comes off. Who's ever going to tell them?! Done ranting for now, BDPT00

Just curious ... where does one wear that pin that is cherished more than anything else on the uniform? BDPT00

Stop shouting. He doesn't care about beads. At least I think that's what he said. Not sure. What day is it? BDPT00

Interesting that not caring about beads, yet already taking the time to find them on ebay are darn near in the same sentence. Sounds like we're talking out both sides of our neckerchief. BDPT00

In what role, and when will you serve, Jay? There can be some value to the game, but it's too easily a negative experience. I think it's time for a new game and different approach. BDPT00

I was in a foul mood when I wrote that, and I just reread it. Some previous post set me off. Sorry. I have no beef with those who work for a living, especially those who do the jobs most would never dream of. My complaint has to do with 10 guys doing the job of 2. I used to work for the government, too. A guy isn't good at his job, so he gets promoted to get him out of the way. I've seen it. I see daily the disaster created by our education system. We keep adding more and more administrative positions. We have twice as many admin and support people as we do teachers, and we struggle to get fewer than 30 in a classroom. Can we fix it? No. Government unions get in the way, and then they tell their people how to vote. In the name of making things better, we continually make them worse ... how? ... by adding more people, and more layers of advisors and supervisors and specialists. If it doesn't work, add some more, then ask for higher taxes. Every person added equals another vote. Skeptical? No, I love this country, and generally keep my mouth shut and pay my taxes. I'm foolish enough to trust the people we elect, because I believe they honestly want to serve. I have relatives who work for the tax payer, and all I hear about is how much more vacation, personal time and holidays they have that I don't get, how simple their job is, how long 'til retirement, and how much they hate their job. I also know they don't vote the same way I do. That's enough. Here, I had no intention of getting into this, and I crossed a line. Sorry, Eamonn. What I wrote looks really bad as I look back at it, and I understand your disdain. Nevertheless, my point was that the bigger the government gets, the closer we get to socialism. BDPT00