RememberSchiff

He will continue to have less time for scouting which he seems to be enjoying less. There will be weekend swim tournaments, SAT/ACT prep and testing, college planning and visits, schoolwork,... Older son and I had a long talk about his goals and his plan to achieve those goals. At 10th grade, it was clear to both of us, that his time as a scout was coming to an end. His self-imposed burden of scouting with Dad, going to Philmont like Dad, becoming an Eagle scout like Dad, not disappointing Dad ...was lifted and he was a happier kid. We still had to work on priority and balance among school, sports, robotics,... but he achieved HIS goals. He will graduate college next spring with an engineering degree. Younger son and I had a similar talk. His goals are different and so far he remains interested in scouting but he too prioritizes and balances. Family first.

@@SmithsRow welcome to scouter.com. Great first post.

You will eventually get called on that. As YP states "All aspects of the Scouting program are open to observation by parents..." http://www.scouting.org/youthprotection.aspx

@@cwallenpoole welcome to scouter.com

From a distance, it had the body shape and red eyes of a Great Horned Owl. But it has much taller than an owl, it also had two arms. Its features beyond that, I didn't stick around to find out. Happy Halloween...

I read an article about the Mongollon Monster which has been reported for years in Colorado and Arizona. There was an interesting quote from a scout leader Don Davis. Don Davis, who believed he encountered the Mogollon Monster on a Boy Scouts camping trip around 1944 near Payson, Arizona, studied sightings and tales of terrifying creatures of all varieties. Known as a cryptozoologist, a person who evaluates scientific evidence for mythical creatures such as Bigfoot, the chupacabra and the Loch Ness Monster, Davis recounted his tale. “The creature was huge. Its eyes were deep set and hard to see, but they seemed expressionless. His face seemed pretty much devoid of hair, but there seemed to be hair along the sides of his face. His chest, shoulders, and arms were massive, especially the upper arms; easily upwards of 6 inches in diameter, perhaps much, much more. I could see he was pretty hairy, but didn’t observe really how thick the body hair was. The face/head was very square; square sides and squared up chin, like a box.†What mythical monsters and ghosts are in your woods? Growing up in South Jersey, we scouts were always on the lookout for a monster called the Jersey Devil. But it was not mythical, I saw it. Happy Halloween

http://nbc4i.com/2017/10/24/local-bishop-and-boy-scout-leader-dies-while-repelling/ Jim Watabe was a Bishop at the Dublin Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and a Boy Scout leader with the troop at his church. Richard Welch, a church leader and friend, said Bishop Watabe was doing what he loved, molding young minds through the gospel and team building with teenage boys by teaching them to repel on cliffs in the Hocking Hills. Watabe, 49, was the father of four children, ages 22, 20, 15 and six. Welch said he was a bishop at Dublin’s Coffman Road church with a congregation of over three hundred people. He called Watabe a wonderful person and remarkable individual who always had a smile on his face. “He exemplified the characteristics you would want in a bishop,†Welch said. â€He was somebody that was dedicated to helping and blessing the lives of other people, even those who were not members of his congregation.†Another scout troop leader at the Hocking Hills rappelling site said Watabe was preparing the climbing gear near the top of the cliff and when he turned around Watabe fell and no one saw what caused it. Welsh said Watabe was a certified in the sport and emphasized safety. More at above source link. We lost two scouters this weekend, one in California and one in Ohio, Scout salute and farewell.

@@SM_Eric welcome to scouter.com We learn from each other here.

@@patbutler00 welcome to scouter.com

http://www.marinij.com/general-news/20171023/fairfax-road-collapse-kills-boy-scout-camp-staffer "A Boy Scout camp staffer who was performing roadwork outside Fairfax died Monday after the road collapsed and his tractor tumbled approximately 250 feet down an embankment."

Similarly, Massachusetts had a citizen petition called Proposition 2 1/2 over unfunded state mandates. The idea was simple, limit property tax increases to no more than 2.5%. With limits on local tax revenue, the state would have to provide more funding itself. In practice, it is more complicated and of course the state setup yet another staffed agency of Local Mandates to obfuscate and dictate. And on it goes. Unfortunately, "Learning for LIfe" is a common name for a variety of non-BSA education programs at the state and local level so it is hard to know what is being funded.

@@DGS welcome to scouter.com

@@drvivc welcome to scouter.com

I think funding extra education programs (for lack of a better term) at the state level is an annual controversy in Florida. I was surprised at the amount nearly $2M. http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article154126309.ece/binary/Final-Veto-List-2017-As-published.pdf

Update 10/23/17 The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recently completed a report regarding a fatal sailboat accident that killed three East Texas Boy Scouts,... but say there are specific laws about what information TPWD can release regarding accidents involving juveniles, and to whom that information can be released. TPWD says to ensure their compliance with these laws, they have requested an opinion from the Office of the Texas Attorney General. http://www.newschannel6now.com/story/36655468/tpwd-issues-statement-on-accident-that-killed-3-boy-scouts

Florida Governor Rick Scott, an Eagle Scout, vetoed a $2.5 million education appropriation. pulling the plug on their character education program. The Learning for Life program has been taught in some school districts for 20 years. When he vetoed the money, Scott said since the instruction is required by state law then “districts should use current resources to provide the instruction.†The budget shortfall in Suwannee River Area Council is $155,000 http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2017/10/22/boy-scouts-caught-unprepared-gov-scotts-veto/780014001/

Back in the day (here he goes), new scouts (and their families) who did not adapt to the program within a couple of months were dropped at recharter. We also had a smaller adult footprint in the program, just a SM, ASM, and 3 to 5 on Troop Committee but that footprint could be felt on an adult's backside if he/she interfered with the program. Troop adult leaders had the backing of CO and Neighborhood Commissioner. No "confrontation avoidance" back then, no wonder the term "helicopter parent" did not exist. My $0.02

I embellished the title. Nearly every day, I wish my sons and my scouts had the Scout program, scouts, and leadership that I had as a youth. Can we reclaim program elements that have been lost? Or will a shelter scout program take hold, maybe scouts will become iscouts where "i" is for inside, internet, and insured? My $0.02,

IMO, not sufficient. I think a better guideline might be to perform flag ceremonies for non-political events which would occur whether a politician attends or not, e.g., Memorial Day service. My $0.02

@@ValleyBoy welcome to scouter.com

@@scout010 welcome to scouter.com. I wear a Wilderness instructor belt all the time.

Maybe, but not called Girls Life as that magazine already exists.

League of Legends? Scout code? I guess character building is about building your "game" character online? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76cG7bcmmqM

To be sung at recharter Que Sera, Sera Whatever will be, will be The future's not ours to see. Que Sera, Sera

...or using Scouting to push video gaming? http://www.elpasoinc.com/news/local_news/boy-scouts-try-video-games/article_67bda04a-b1c8-11e7-9ad1-8b0194ee0537.html El Paso,TX Venture Crew partnering with video game retailer Gamestop. “We’ve got (the national organization’s) attention now,†said Jack Peterson, who sits on the Boy Scouts of America committee for the venture group. “Every time we ask a group of scouts ‘who plays video games?’ everyone raises their hands.†Peterson said the point of the venture group is to reach young men and women who are not acquainted with the Boy Scouts or who live far away from one of their branches. “Scouting is attractive to kids in urban areas, and it’s tough to get to a meeting when you live in a rural area,†he said. “We’re also wanting to attract kids from diverse backgrounds that play video games.†The Boy Scouts started the program on Oct. 5 after leaving flyers at local Gamestop retailers inviting interested players to join the group. A handful were present during the venture group’s first meeting at Guillen Middle School in South El Paso. “This gives them an opportunity to continue in scouting but in a non-traditional manner they can identify with,†said Horacio Porras, scoutmaster of the Boy Scouts Yucca Council in El Paso. “This is going to allow them the opportunity to be a part of the gaming and scouting community but on a much broader level.†The scouts were provided with a Sony Playstation 4, and it didn’t take long for them to start playing a type of game known as a “platformer.†The game is called Rayman Legends, and when playing with a partner, it requires cooperation and timing between two players. It’s not obvious, but the game helps the scouts learn how to communicate through virtual communities, an increasingly common way to interact in the workplace. “This is a safe environment where they can be among friends and learn part of those characteristics as far as the scout code,†said John Townsend, the crew advisor. Townsend said he makes sure the scouts play games that they can learn important skills from. The online community can be a rowdy one, and that is where Townsend plans to step in. He knows playing video games against others online can expose the scouts to taunting and inappropriate language. (Okay no argument, civil or uncivil, there - RS) “They stir the pot in an effort to rattle you,†he said. “That’s not what this is about. This is about providing a safe environment where they can enjoy the company of others.†Zane Chamlee, 16, a student at Valle Verde Early College was watching his colleagues play the game. He said he is looking forward to participating in the program. His favorite game is League of Legends. “It’s literally the largest game in the world,†he said. (I thought that was soccer? - RS) Cherish Calero, the district manager for Gamestop in El Paso, said the company partnered with the Boy Scouts to help provide resources to the scouts who don’t have the video game consoles or accessories needed to participate in the program. It’s not the first time Gamestop has partnered with charitable organizations to provide video game accessories. They’ve also worked with Ronald McDonald House Charities and Make-a-Wish Foundation. “It’s important that kids learn the life skills that gaming can offer them,†she said. Unbelievable. What next, Congress aiding the sale and distribution of opioids?