RememberSchiff

His crew was an unproductive social group. Attendance and success in executing planned activities was lower the Boy Scouts. MOOT seemed to be catered affairs. Not for me, I felt like a chaperone at a high school dance. that said I am sure there are more involved crews out there.

I think it should be more situation observations of Scout Law by SM/ASM as in your example than a test like tie a knot.. We would have to be creative with situations. So come SM conference, a SM ask scout to recite Scout Law with the SM interrupting at each law, Yes Trustworthy I remember you honored your promise to... Oh helpful, I heard that you have shoveled snow away from hydrants,...But thrifty, I'm having trouble. You lived beyond your budget at summer camp trading post.... Another $0.02

IMO, there is a disconnect between the Scout Oath and Law and rank Advancement requirements. Rather than Explain Scout Spirit , maybe some observed tests of trustworthy, loyalty, ... of scouts during activities. For example, I have used animals as an indicator of kindness. In my experience, you can tell a lot about a person in how they treat animals. Most scouts will pet a tail-wagging dog, fewer kind scouts will notice his water dish is empty and needs to be filled. My $0.02

I should be able to drop my wallet at a scout camp, have it found by a trustworthy scout, and returned intact. Knock, Knock, Knock. Huh? Hello Mr. Schiff. Ready to go to Old Scouter Home In Trees?

I think he was heading in that direction with that monkey business yacht story.

How many women appear in National BSA org chart and at what level?

My apologies too. I was slow to respond. Hopefully all reset now. - RS

In '69, I had a choice between attending the National Jamboree or Philmont. I chose Philmont which was one of my smarter choices as a teen.

Ever notice how "timeless values" change over time? What if after President Trump's speech at Jambo, female interest in joining the BSA dramatically dropped. Er, nevermind.

I have not attended a Jamboree, but we make it crystal we expect our scouts will follow the Scout Oath and Law and the consequences if they do not. Parents are informed. Bullying or theft is ticket home in our unit. I can't remember the last time we had any thieves among our unit. Bullies, yes. Home they went and they chose to leave scouting.

I wonder if any culprits were caught and how they were reprimanded. If one of my scouts stole, he would be heading home.

http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/07/williamsport_boy_scout_extends.html WILLIAMSPORT-It is a record that will never be broken. And if his health permits, an 88-year-old Boy Scout in Lycoming County plans to extend it. Anthony L. DiSalvo is the only Scout known to have attended every national jamboree including the one that ended Friday at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia. ... "I enjoy it," he said, when he was asked why he'd still want to attend the jamboree at his age. "I just wanted to break the record again," DiSalvo said with a smile. ... National jamborees certainly have changed, DiSalvo said. When he started going, Scouts brought their own tents and cooking gear. The tents did not have floors so "we had sleeping bags on top of newspapers," he said. Cooking was over wood fires. Now tents, cooking equipment and tables are provided, and cell phones and other electronic equipment are prevalent, DiSalvo said. "I didn't think I was at the right place," he quipped. Photo and more, including meeting Presidents, in above source link. Scout Salute

What if the two Eagle Scouts standing behind Trump censored their boss? Just step forward, flank him, and redirect the speech into more appropriate and relevant topics. Like they might do with a drunk uncle giving a speech at a family gathering. Granted they would have to be BRAVE, as they would likely no longer be Cabinet Secretaries.

@@MrJim welcome to scouter.com. That's a lot of hay, er straw

@@hemispheres welcome to scouter.com

Locally, I imagine we all have experienced behavior issues of the "other troop" at camporee and scout camp. Other than some talk not much changes - boys will be boys, just having a little fun,... Sad that we find our scouts falling back on street smarts or perhaps friendly caution is a better term at activities with other units. Wouldn't it be great at closing ceremony to award such units? Troop xxx come forward and receive the Granny Knot. You will not return (some period of time)... My $0.02,

I thought Nixon originated the phrase Grab them....and their hearts and minds will follow but it was another President.

Yes, good point. At the town level, this is where helicopter parents earn their pay. Local officials are becoming more of a problem, rather than talk about how government works, they often use their invitation to rant about politics. Anyway parents either step in or leave and now the speaker realizes he/she is just ranting to perplexed kids.

Well if I am teaching character-building, I would expect if my scouts felt it was inappropriate they would tell their SPL who would then inform me or better the SPL would say Mr. Schiff this is inappropriate, we should leave. I would allow them to quietly leave. No disruption, if no one bars our exit. Freedom of speech goes both ways - speaking and listening. We have the freedom to respectfully listen or not listen (leave). Either way, we would debrief later.

So if a government official (whatever party, topic, venue) acts inappropriately in front of your scouts, just stand by and watch?

My grandmother had this warning. Only reason to wear a hat at MY table is you are getting ready to leave, Now are you leaving or do you want dinner? It was automatic for my Grandfather and Dad, years of training I suppose.

The list of "inappropriate" government officials appears to be growing. Should the BSA just mail in "The Report to the Nation" in 2018? With apologizing for the free-speech of the President, you encourage follow-up sanction demands: What will you do to prevent it in the future? Ban the President from future Jamborees, require video only with 7 second delay, fire him as honorary President of BSA, ban government speakers, ban trips to D.C., allow units/scouts options in attending any speeches at Jambo ...? My $0.02,

I wonder if some dads will join and pull their boys out of BSA into this program? Cost about the same, uniform provided, no fundraisers, no women... "...a parent can sign up for an account and do the badge requirements with their children. Once they have marked off the requirements in the system and are eligible to purchase a badge, a parent could buy multiple badges — one for them and one for their child."

Me neither. Let's see if I understand In 2017, the Boy Scouts of America apologized for the bad behavior of the President of the United States who attended the Jamboree. In 2010, the Boy Scouts of America did NOT apologize for the bad behavior of their scouts and scouters towards the President of the United States who did not attend Jamboree. Bonus: a link to 2010 Jambo comments http://scouter.com/index.php/topic/8230-obama-not-speaking-in-person-at-jambo/

My gawd, rather than teach skills and values, I am suppose to shield scouts away from scout-only patrol activities, ladders, power tools, now the President of the United States.