RememberSchiff

Lake Orions Camp Agawam, a Boy Scout camp since 1918, is one of three Michigan Scout camps that will not operate in 2013. It will likely be sold. A letter posted over the signatures of Scout executives Jack Chandler and Richard Fisher states that, An extensive nine-month review was conducted for each camps program strengths that evaluated facility conditions, location to population centers, attendance and financial sustainability. As a result, a recommendation was presented to the MCC (Michigan Crossroads Council) Executive Committee and approved on September 10, 2012. http://oaklandtownship.patch.com/articles/boy-scouts-closing-camp-agawam Supposedly there is a notice regarding the closing on the Great Lakes Council website http://glcscouting.org/ or is it now another Michigan council? Anyway, I could not find it. What a mess.

Next up, good luck trying to book big corporate (Intel, IBM, UPS,...) events at the Summit. My $0.02

Homonym phobia? My tooth sense,

Toilet seat for the Air Force, $800 Claw hammer for the Navy, $436 Popcorn for the President, $20 Look on a scout's face, Priceless(This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

When I first saw the statue, I thought the sculptor (Donald De Lue) had two left-over Greek statues in his shop that he could not sell. Then this Scout memorial project comes along, hmmm create an out of proportion scout and add a cock n bull symbolism story to sell and attach the two Greeks. Calling Norman Rockwell. My $0.02

TT, Okay for that meatball you just pitched me, I will be a gentleman and not swing.

Now that men can be hurricanes, if I was one coming up the east coast, I think I too would be tempted to make a sharp left through Washington, D.C.

Scouts from Troops 80 and 75 in the Cranford, NJ area worked through the weekend filling and distributing sandbags and assisting senior citizens with pre-storm preparations. good article http://www.nj.com/cranford/index.ssf/2012/10/hurricane_sandy_cranford_boy_s.html Scout salute

Update: Amendment to WV Constitution missed Nov, 2012 ballot "Earlier this month, Dr. Calvin Kent, a professor at the Marshall College of Business and director of the BB&T Center for the Advancement of American Capitalism, said lawmakers themselves can extend the tax-exempt status of the sprawling complex (Summit regarding renting to concert promoters and other non-charitable groups) without putting the issue on any ballot." Steve McGowan, an attorney with Steptoe & Johnson and a past chairman, president and vice president of the Buckskin Council of the Scouts, said he appreciated professor Kents attempts to clear up some areas of state law regarding how tax exemptions are allowed by county assessors, but felt an amendment was still needed. Whether its by constitutional amendment or by some other means, were confident the Boy Scouts of America will be a success story for West Virginia, said Daniel Forinash, public information officer for the Department of Tax and Revenue By the (West Virginia) Houses inability to act on the Senate measure, the issue failed to get a place on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. The next election on the horizon is the May primary in 2014. Thats all right, McGowan said. We wont be in a position to lease this out to anybody until well after 2014. Theres no urgency insofar as our needing to have it available by 2014. Well be involved in vertical construction probably through 2016 or 2017. So, this is something thats a long-term look forward on the part of the public to make this decision. So, the urgency is not the consideration. The issue is the consideration. http://www.register-herald.com/todaysfrontpage/x1200650866/Scout-leader-says-amendment-vital(This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

The local scouting officials wrote to national headquarters seeking guidance on whether to encourage the parents of the abused boys to file a criminal complaint. Paul I. Ernst, the BSA executive then in charge of the organization's secret files, directed them not to. "Normally, we do not suggest that any legal action be instituted by parents," Ernst wrote. "If they desire to do this on their own they certainly should bring about any action they feel necessary. Certainly in this case, there is every indication that legal action is justified." From a story about former scoutmaster Thomas J. Menghi Jr http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/26/nc-boy-scouts-abuse/1659855/

TT, Very informative. I was unaware that the Veterans History Project does not accept "active duty" veteran interview submissions. I don't understand it, particularly with "stop loss" and multiple tours over multiple wars???? Oh, don't know if I mentioned this before, I saw a rather neat Eagle scout project at Strategic Air & Space Museum outside of Omaha. Next to a FB-111 was a well made wood and glass display containing gear and memorabilia from a former flight crew. This museum brought inside all the planes (including a SR-71) that were outside at the old SAC Museum at Offutt AFB. Huge. http://www.strategicairandspace.com/ Another $0.02,

For his Eagle Scout project, Kyle Miller hopes to interview 1000 WW2 vets and record their stories on this website. The website also invites veterans and recruits additional interviewers. Nice work. http://voicesfromthefront.org/ NBC story link http://dailynightly.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/22/14625387-boy-scouts-goal-interview-1000-world-war-ii-vets#comments Scout salute

You may find this hard to believe, the diocese current YP has taken parts of the BSA YP and made it more adult level (the online course includes recorded victim interviews, crime photos) and victim focused - trauma care and recovery, suicide prevention, helping the victim stay if not in the church with God, etc. By comparison, the BSA online course is a cartoon. The diocese may soon require photo ID's with fingerprinting, at volunteer expense, as well. Either we do better or something better will take our place. Another $0.02,

Usually with a fiasco of this size, a management shake-up soon follows as a first step towards corporate recovery. The Catholic Church reassigned Cardinals who looked the other way and were facing imminent legal action. Cardinal Bernard Law went from Boston to the Vatican, out of reach for the Boston DA and Mass AG. Penn State fired not only Paterno and (eventually) assistant coach Mike McQueary, but university president Spanier as well. Our CO is feeling the negative, some of the church elders feel sponsoring their own church youth group would be better. Better as is serving more youth and having less controversy. Two of these elders are Eagle Scouts. So locally, we SM and ASM's may get pink slips too My $0.02,

Iceland as a honeymoon destination, not just for Vikings anymore. I hope to travel there some day, maybe part of a North Pole (snow cap) good-bye tour My $0.02

As for the Gold-Silver inconsistency, I attribute it to ignorance of Professionals who often make me wonder if they were scouts or troop scouters. Look for some committee at National to change the Eagle medal from silver to gold (colored), because going for the gold is "easier to understand". Oh, Arrow points will now start first at silver and then subsequently be gold, oh-oh, better start at bronze, then silver, then gold just like the Olympics. Another example of inconsistency for no good reason is the proper size, shape, use, and wear of the neckerchief. Anyway, I share your disappointment and disapproval. The good news, the Quality Unit Award doesn't matter, help your PLC decide the troop goals and reach them. Oh a "silver" (not gold) lining to last weekend's forum virus, reminded old Schiff to get a flu virus shot. My $0.02,

Pretty cool, nine scouts and four adults from Troop 195 (Westford, MA) attended Iceland's National Jamboree at Lake lfljtsvatn which is approx. 28 miles from the capital city of Iceland, Reykjavk http://www.skatar.is/jamboree2012/default.asp?ItemGroupID=327&NewsID=3802 http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_21719305/westford-scouts-travel-iceland-once-life-experience As I understand, the program cost was 350 euros ($455 dollars) which included "All food during the jamboree from afternoon refreshment on Sunday until dinner on Saturday: Food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Programme, special jamboree items and lots of fun." Round-trip tickets out of Boston about $700. In total, half the sticker price we are seeing for Summit?

As part of SOAR 2012 this weekend, Boston Minuteman Council Scouts and scouters constructed a 320 ft pinewood derby track to set the Guinness World Record. (320 ft is about 20 times longer than the longest unpock-marked section of Storrow Drive ) "The track was constructed as a replica of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge." http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/10/07/boston-boy-scouts-break-pinewood-derby-world-record/

Next up, GTSS bans the old flaming bag of poop Halloween prank.

This hassle is why we do Family events outside of scouting. Parental responsibility what a concept.

Pentagon Papers

"PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Boy Scouts of America plan to begin doing what critics argue they should have done decades ago -- bring suspected abusers named in the organization's so-called perversion files to the attention of police departments and sheriff's offices across the country. ...Scouts spokesman Deron Smith to say the organization will go back into the files and report any offenders who may have fallen through the cracks. Smith said Mike Johnson, the group's youth protection director and a former police detective, will lead the review..." http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_21672182/boy-scouts-tell-police-about-pedophiles-perversion-files IMO, National should just turnover ALL files to the police as at this point, Professor Warren, Mike Johnson, indeed anyone hired by the BSA, has little credibility with the victims and the public. My $0.02,

NJ, I believe General Powell stated his doctrine some 20 years in the context of conventional 20th century nation military conflicts. Today we have terrorism which may or may not be state sponsored. I thought it interesting that he did not directly mention treaty and alliance obligations and our self designated role as world policeman. By international support, maybe General Powell meant if not support at least no interference. When President Reagan ordered a bomber attack on Libya, it would have been helpful if France allowed our F-111'a to fly-over enroute from England to Libya. Ditto when Turkey denies us permission to use our bases there to attack Mideast targets. But probably more important is supply chain logistics, we don't have much of a merchant marine and foreign air carriers usually bring back our dead. Support of the American people or constitution seems missing in Washington regarding military force. My $0.01,

For the large scale, as a starting point for consideration, check out the (Colin) Powell Doctrine which states a questions/conditions checklist before military force is used. Is a vital national security interest threatened? Do we have a clear attainable objective? Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed? Have all other non-violent policy means been fully exhausted? Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless entanglement? Have the consequences of our action been fully considered? Is the action supported by the American people? Do we have genuine broad international support? And I will add #1 Do we have accurate intel of the whole situation? - players, supporters, resources, threat, allies, verified by ground surveillance/penetration (e.g. the belief that WMD were in Iraq and then never found). #1a Do those proposing solutions have a conflict of interests? My $0.02

We may be seeing a "We support our scouts" (not BSA policies) attitude developing similar to "We support our troops" (not foreign policies). Northern Star Council, even with a muted inclusive policy, appears to be doing very well with corporate donations at all levels. Ironic role reversal that Corporate America may be becoming the ethical role model for Scouting. I stuck an "Intel inside" sticker on my handbook. My $0.02