RememberSchiff

I read Feuer's measure, Assembly Concurrent Resolution 128 that Merlyn mentioned. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0101-0150/acr_128_bill_20120313_introduced.html I like it. My $0.02 Might as well cut and paste it BILL NUMBER: ACR 128 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members Feuer, Atkins, Dickinson, Monning, and Wieckowski MARCH 13, 2012 Relative to Boy Scouts of America. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 128, as introduced, Feuer. Boy Scouts of America. This measure would recognize, congratulate, and commend the Boy Scouts of America on its 102nd anniversary, and encourage the Boy Scouts of America to accept for membership and leadership positions qualified boys and men without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or religious belief. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, Since the founding of the Boy Scouts of America, millions of Boy Scouts have taken the experience of scouting and gone on to contribute great things to society; and WHEREAS, A Boy Scout can be followed, as he is a leader in his troop and community, regardless of the scout's race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or disability; and WHEREAS, The list of former Boy Scouts includes diverse role models and leaders; and WHEREAS, A Boy Scout lives honorably, not only because honor is important to him, but because of the significant example he sets for other scouts; and WHEREAS, Loyalty to his troop and brother scouts makes him "pitch-in" and carry his share of the load, recognizing the devotion to his family and the community in which he lives; and WHEREAS, A Boy Scout's courage means standing up for what he believes in without compromising his own beliefs; and WHEREAS, A Boy Scout looks forward to each day, seeking his share of the world's work to do; and WHEREAS, Honor, loyalty, and courage are hallmarks of scouts who admirably represent the community, council, and troop in their daily lives; and WHEREAS, A Boy Scout is helpful in service and will always "be prepared" to put forth his best; and WHEREAS, The character traits represented by Boy Scouts are symbols present in the Boy Scout badge, worn proudly on the uniform, by youth in this state and across the country; and WHEREAS, It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to serve others by helping to instill values in young people, and in other ways to prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential; and WHEREAS, The values that the Boy Scouts of America strives to instill are found in the Boy Scout Oath and Law; and WHEREAS, Boy Scouts are required to abide by the Scout Law and Scout Oath, which proudly uses such terms as "honor," "trustworthy," and "loyal"; and WHEREAS, Many Boy Scouts have been forced to hide their identity in contradiction to the Scout Mission, Law, and Oath, and Boy Scouts and scout leaders who were open about their sexual orientation have been expelled from scouting; and WHEREAS, The policy of the Boy Scouts of America to bar from membership or leadership positions otherwise qualified individuals solely on the basis of their sexual orientation or religious belief causes harm to the innumerable boys and men such as James Dale who, regardless of their hard work and merits, are denied the opportunity to participate in any way in the Boy Scouts of America; and WHEREAS, Many former Boy Scouts have left scouting and formed their own advocacy organization, Scouting for All, in an effort to bring the values of scouting to youth without discrimination; and WHEREAS, The discriminatory policy of the Boy Scouts of America is contrary to the policy of the State of California; and WHEREAS, Other similar organizations such as the Girl Scouts, Camp Fire USA, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America serve as role models for the Boy Scouts of America because they do not discriminate against youth and adults; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature does hereby recognize, congratulate, and commend the Boy Scouts of America on its 102nd anniversary; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the Boy Scouts of America to accept for membership and leadership positions all qualified boys and men, without discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or religious belief; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution. (This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

For us it has varied depending on scout interest in their destination troop program, anywhere from Jan to Feb Blue & Gold. The Jan group were eager to prepare for a spring vacation troop trek. If the troop program (spring and summer activities) is so uninteresting that scouts want to stay Webelos longer, then look at another troop. My $0.02,

My guess the Bear Titan Youth Recurve simple, fairly rugged, cheap starter bow $35-50 (usually green color limbs) wraparound arrow shelf so lefties can use the same bow too (usually shelf wears down) one bow with bow length, draw length and weight are in the right average range for age group look like Cub Scout bows to older scouts Jump up to the $80-100 range - takedown recurves - Polarisl, Mohegan, maybe PSE Junior - cooler looking - becomes an inventory issue. Need separate RH and LH bows, different limb lengths, different draw weights But as mentioned finding the deal is key. You should google "archery kits school program" as there was/is a group NASP or USArchery that gave a good deal on a kit of bows, arrows, targets... Qwazse - I like your ideas! My $0.02,

Back to the OP, imagine if Ms. Tyrell resided in West Virginia instead of nearby Ohio and was removed as den leader and booted from the BSA. Would there have been a public outcry by the citizens of WV to the Governor and State House to intervene, perhaps curb state support services for the Summit? Would any council board members resign there ( as I understand one did resign in Ohio)? Would economic forces have prevailed over any other considerations? Or something else? I wonder.

While a few adults are making excuses not to act, it was a refreshing to read of scouts jumping into action. Yes this was dangerous, but they used their heads. and likely saved lives - what scouts do. Boy Scouts help at collapsed house ... saw the building collapse on a man in a white shirt...the group started using two-by-fours and cinder blocks to pry up sections of the collapsed building and help those inside to escape. ...positioned cinder blocks so that another man could move his head. It was hard. There was a lot of frustration. It was really heavy too, said Libordi. Ive never seen a building collapse like that before. It was crazy. Mitch Cornish said the men trapped under the rubble were having a difficult time breathing. They (3 victims) were in pretty bad shape, said Cornish, assistant superintendent of Public Works in Hornell. We couldnt move them. I think their injuries were pretty bad. Property owner Harold Hill (no not the Music Man) was demolishing a section of the single-story, multi-family apartment complex with a backhoe and was on the west side of the building when it collapsed toward the east side. I saw it starting to come down, but I didnt notice the people inside until I turned around and got there. I heard Noah say there were guys inside, and I started getting my adrenaline going up, said Argentieri, 12. The scouts estimated they were at the scene 10-20 minutes before emergency personnel arrived at the scene. (No they did not just call 911 and sit safely off-scene and wait for adults to come!) http://www.eveningtribune.com/features/x272274779/Local-Boy-Scouts-help-at-collapsed-house-in-Mt-Morris My $0.02, Good job Scouts!(This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

Rainbow, yes that makes more sense. Thanks for the correction.

I wonder what the BSA response would be if supporters of gay scouting wore pink (or other uniform color) neckers or some other symbol at the World Jambo?(This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

Perhaps old news but good news From KVAL news ALBANY, Ore. - When Troop 99 needed a new bugler to wake Scouts with "Reveille" and end the day with "Taps," Eriq Thompson volunteered. "We needed a new bugler," he told KVAL News. "I said I can do that. I know the trumpet and know music really easily." His fellow Scout, Corey Clemetsen, caught the bugling bug, too. "I'd listen to Eric or I'd listen to who the bugler was and then I'd start printing out sheets and learning the music," he said. Now the two First Class Scouts - Thompson, 15, is also the troop's senior patrol leader; Clemetsen, 14, is the assistant senior patrol leader and trooper scribe - will represent Oregon at Arlington National Cemetary in May for a celebration of the 150th anniversary of "Taps." "It's a great honor. My grandparents know people that are buried there," Clemetsen said, "and not very many people get to play there. We're going to be, as we know of, the youngest people." "And we're not military, so that's even bigger," Thompson said, "because usually only the top high quality military people get to play there. "We're just regular Boy Scouts going there bugling, so that's going to be pretty cool." Some great photos of both scouts with bugles, trumpets, and sash with Bugling MB http://www.kval.com/news/local/Were-just-regular-Boy-Scouts-going-there-bugling-144443325.html?tab=gallery&c=y&img=9

A uniformed scout attends a town meeting to fulfill a requirement for Citizenship in Community. The discussion turns to whether the town should spend money on a new jail or education. The council favors the jail. The scout comes forward and asks to speak. "If it takes a 12-year-old kid to come up here and tell you we don't need a new jail and we need better education, then that's pretty sad. Here I am, an A, B student in my school, and I have to come up to," he said, pausing to count aloud, "nine people just to say we don't need this new jail. Bye." And then the Scout Executive got involved http://www.nvdaily.com/news/2012/04/public-hearing-entreaty-gets-boy-scout-in-hot-water.php I am very puzzled by the SE's statement "It's never the BSA's policy for a scout to show up in uniform and take a stance at a meeting, Williams said. He said it's a direct violation to use the uniform to try to wield influence, he said." I have had quite a few uniformed scouts appear before many town boards to present their Eagle projects. Their presentations were more respectful than this young 12 year old scout but the passion and persuasion were similar. Some of those board members can be hard to win over. Good learning experience for young Jacob, something he would not get at summer camp. My $0.02

Wrong turn. Observe what tools boys are safely using around the home, farm, school, FIRST robotics and some of the cool things they are doing. When we tell a scout the BSA will not permit him to use the tools that he can demonstrate safe and proficient mastery, we become less than we were and likely LOSE that scout! At 14, my son has safely already used all those tools banned (except wood chipper). He even worked up a 20' ladder to help old RS install gutters and paint. Shocking? All stuff I did back at 15, except with less safe gear. Oops, he has already used a lathe which I did not until later. Yeah had to think SAFETY - am I safe, is the tool safe, what happens if I slip, are the blades sharp,... My Cubs use my drill press to polish PWD axles and my band and scroll saw to safely cut car outlines and I was right there with them. Cool stuff. I saw that a pocketknife was listed as okay but there is no mention of an ax. Maybe the Committee is still deliberating that one. BP must be spinning. Our job as adult leaders is to teach kids how to safely use tools not shelter them from tools. My $0.02

This goal was stated in the 2006-2010 and again in the current 2011-2015 National Strategic Plan, but it has not been reached yet despite selling camps and merging councils. Where does the money go and is spending money the only approach to reverse membership decline? If so, I don't think it is working. Getting real numbers (budget, fundraising, donations, salaries, membership) is rare. This article "Des Moines Boy Scouts battle debt after years of borrowing" is an exception, still I am baffled by some of the numbers, decisions made and who did not know what. http://dmjuice.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120423/NEWS/304230019/1001/NEWS Wonder how much Philmont and Summit treks will cost through this council?

Another good choice. Perhaps if Saint Christopher had been a soldier or "slew a dragon" like Saint George, BP may have chosen differently.

"...St. George is typical of what a Scout should be. He epitomized the qualities of selflessness and both moral and physical courage which Baden-Powell saw as being among the aims of Scouting. Lord Robert Baden-Powell had made Saint George the patron Saint of the Scouting Movement. Baden-Powell had a favorite rhyme about our patron Saint: My warmest good wishes I am sending to you And hoping that the winter is through You will start out afresh to follow the lead Of our Patron Saint George and his spirited steed; Not only to tackle what ever my befall, But also successfully to win through it all And then may you have an enjoyable spell Of hiking, and jolly good camping as well. " more at link: http://oblatesosbbelmont.org/2012/04/23/8693/

What kind of man do you want your son to be? Spend time with your son and teach him the character values that F-troop is not. My $0.02

Has anyone started it? How is it being received? Too difficult? Yes! "It was a lot of fun, Boy Scout Patrick McKeon said. MIG welding is a type of welding with a welding gun and wire, and you move the wire in close proximity to the gun, and it starts an electrical arc that heats the wire, which allows you to weld. Here's a photo and newspaper article of nine scouts (including one female Venture Crew member) who recently earned Welding merit badge. http://www.telegram.com/article/20120414/TOWNNEWS/120419747&TEMPLATE=TOWNPORTAL

IMO, the survey questions are not sufficient in scope or consideration to answer the study question/purpose. There are really no questions about family, though there is one question about how close you are with family, neighbors, co-workers and the last question "If you had a son would you want them to be a member of the Boy Scouts" is as weak as its grammar (professors?). There are many goal questions but none family specific. No question about continuing education or involvement in your child's education. No questions about military service... No questions about current involvement with Scouting (very odd) also if you were not a scout do you wish you had been. No questions about driving record, criminal record, drug use or other risky behavior other than alcohol. And on it goes... Seemed weak to me. My $0.02

Interesting story of husband and wife leaders of a special needs troop. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20357368/boy-scout-troop-leaders-inspire-special-ed-kids

I have been replacing high usage bulbs with LED bulbs. For indoors, over the past 2 years I have compared Home Depot EcoSmart and Phillips and FIRST (robotics team fundraiser) e-watt LED bulbs. All were dimmable, same price $20, and are still working. The FIRST e-watt bulbs were brighter and suitable for both work or hallway areas. I prefer the winter white spectrum color myself. For outdoors, the HD EcoSmart LED floods (~$40) have logged long hours in all weather without replacement; the previous GE halogen floods would have been replaced at least twice in the same period. I did this experiment last summer with a dual floodlight fixture on the west side of our house. I replaced bulbs - one GE 90 watt halogen and one EcoSmart LED (i think a 15watt but 90W equiv) - dusk to dawn operation. The halogen ran much hotter with a warm sunlight color while the LED was a cool moonlight. The latter definitely cast more light. On the house in the morning, the species of moths on the halogen side were different than those on the LED side! And these same results repeated through the summer. Pretty cool. By fall, the halogen burned out and I replace it with a LED. Both LEDs are still working. If this forum was the "same" as others I would not be here. I've shared what little I know, opined some, and learned much from the many posters here. My $0.02

The folks running the original site did an OUTSTANDING job. However national has since taken it over. Not likely that National, aka those to be keelhauled, will return the helm to those Able. Well there is the Way Back Machine web.archive.org http://web.archive.org/web/20110318033244/http://seascout.org/

Definitely agree on stature of Quartermaster and advancement quality, but can we keelhaul those managing the seascout.org , newseascout.org, and BeAScout websites. To the tune of Drunken Sailor What do you do to become a Sea Scout What do you do to become a Sea Scout Sail on down to our new website Sail on down to our new website There you moor to join Sailed true to newseascout.org To find a rope to join Sailed true to newseascout.org To find a rope to join Early in the morning A wind blew me off-course To the whirlpool BeAScout A wind blew me off-course To the whirlpool BeAScout No Sea Scouts could join. An old salt barked Go find a ship An old salt barked Go find a ship On the old chart seacout.org Sailed down to seascout.org To find my ship Sailed down to seascout.org To find my ship Clicked on Local Sea Scout Units Ended right back at BeAScout Ended right back at BeAScout BeAScout has no line to Sea Scout And I wish you luck BeAScout has no line to Sea Scout And I wish you luck Where had the Ship Locator gone Where had the Ship Locator gone Lost in the fog of a landlubber's mind Lost in the fog of a landlubber's mind In time for Sea Scout Anniversary. You need a better crew handling the sea scout websites. For now, just have a homepage membership link to a simple static webpage detailing where the units are and point of contacts. Simple, can be done in an hour. Why is it with all these websites, you still need to find a scout to join a unit? Just like back in the day, except scouts were easier to find. There were more of them and they wore uniforms with neckers! My $0.01 for poor lyrics and scoutmanship(This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

E-3 maybe, E-2 at least. I think much depends on the specialty needs of the service, the length of the service contract, and the enlistee. Hard to find this policy in writing on official military websites. I have wondered why it is not printed on the Eagle congratulatory letter that he may receive from a branch of the service or the Joint Chiefs. Small print on bottom of letter stating "Approved to enlist at E-3. See your recruiter for details." My $0.02

Seems like bubba camping to me but I have not seen the program nor witnessed scout response. I would expect scouts to pick ATV over hiking . No nearby camps are doing this, but I found the following: Del-Mar-Va Council, Henson Scout Reservation (Delaware) , nice muddy photo, no additional cost http://www.doubleknot.com/openrosters/ViewOrgPageLink.asp?LinkKey=17806&orgkey=1516 Erie Shores Council, Camp Frontier (Ohio), +$60 http://www.psrweb.org/ATV.html Equipment list to bring: long pants, long sleeve shirts, boots that cover your ankles, some mention gloves (riding, mechanics, etc.)??? My $0.02

http://www.atvrideronline.com/newsfront/1203_atvp_boy_scouts_of_america_ads_atv_program/index.html "...BSA updated their camp standards to allow for ATV use at approved camps only. It adopted the ASI RiderCourse curriculum as the official training course for leader/instructors and Scouts. And it applied state-by-state requirements for age of operator and other applicable laws. Over 200 Boy Scouts participated in the pilot program. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. provided the ATVs -- including 150 vehicles for the 2012 camping season -- through its Rider Training Loan Program. Individual councils pay for helmets and safety gear. BSA Councils with ATV programs up and running are in 11 states: Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Councils in another 5 states -- Arkansas, California, Oregon, Maryland, and West Virginia -- are in the process of creating a program. At the approved summer camps, ASI-trained adult volunteers lead the ATV program. Scouts who choose to participate pay an extra $30 in their camp fee to include the week-long ATV activity. They attend the rider course for a few hours each day, completing the curriculum and ending the week with a trail ride or combination riding/camping experience. The councils that were most successful had trails, but they also took them out on a campout, said Wellen. They had them put their tents and gear on their ATVs, and they got to ride to a part of the property that nobody else got to camp in...."

When you're a youth, it's called the buddy system. When you get older, it's called 2-deep leadership. Remember safety for everyone first. Take the "youth protection training" as this is part of getting older - share our joy Welcome to our side, you'll need a coffee mug. My $0.02

Some other thoughts 1. World Jambo at Summit - we will see many coed scout units. Have girls earned Eagle Scout or the equivalent in any of those foreign scout units? I would like to know. Our own girls (Venture Scouts), some thoroughly capable but denied Eagles, will also be in attendance. Time for a change. 2. My older son is busy with Catholic Confirmation classes, they are of course coed, and except for lack of uniforms and other formalisms, the class seems to be another scout troop. They have their own group activities, service projects, assignments, so many that my son has had little time for scout activities this year. Much different than back in the day when we just studied the Baltimore Catechism . The SM said my son needs to "get crackin on Eagle... the clock is ticking... the IH and MOM overruled with a much different opinion. My point, the CO may force the issue, i.e., we (CO) just have resources and time for ONE youth program. If Scouting will not be flexible then we (CO) will create our own youth group. For those who ask but what does your son want? - door #3 Driver Ed . 3. Increasing roles available to women in US military and their eagerness to serve in those roles. If there in 5 years why not here in (Boy) Scouts now? My $0.02,(This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)