sherminator505

Not only are they allowed, but they should be encouraged! It's also a great handicraft idea for Cubs.(This message has been edited by sherminator505)

I find that all too often, it often boils down to the relationship that the unit has with the chartering organization. At two different times I worked with two troops as Scoutmaster. A commonality was that I found each of the two troops in similar condition - about 8 boys and not much going on. What made the difference was the attitude of the chartering organization, and more specifically the IH, toward the troop. One CO was very positive and was interested in seeing the troop succeed, and it did. The troop soon had over 20 boys and a very good program. That troop still exists today. The other CO made no effort to get to know the troop or the leadership. They basically acted as a "sponsor," providing meeting space on Monday nights and not much else. I later learned that that troop folded soon after I moved, and looking back I wonder why I tried so hard to keep it alive. There might be other factors, but this one has to be near the top of the list.

I wonder if going to Mars is a worthwhile venture at this point given that we are retiring the shuttle and do not yet have a proven viable substitute. I have heard talk of private ventures taking up the slack, but I have yet to see it. Granted, there are some companies that are working on "space tourism," but as of today I have not seen any of these private ventures, say, visit ISS. Until this happens, I maintain the opinion that we shouldn't be talking about pie-in-the-sky ventures until we have addressed the technological gaps that currently exist!

This happened to me when I was an SPL way back when, only with a Varsity team. A number of the older boys, including me, were invited to join this thing with the understanding that the intent was to complement the troop's activities, not replace them. Unfortunately, that's not what happened. The older Scouts in the Varsity team soon disappeared entirely, as far as the troop was concerned. I saw it for what it was turning into, and being SPL of the troop, I had to withdraw from the team to concentrate on keeping the troop intact. So this sort of thing can happen even with the best of intentions. What's important is what you do to respond to the event. @ BadenP - Relax. Breathe. Smile. (This message has been edited by sherminator505)

You really can't punish "disrespect." You can punish harmful actions that come from disrespect. If you concentrate on the actions rather than attitudes per se, then you shouldn't run into problems. As for getting a Scout to be more respectful, perhaps you should remind him that the Scout Law is chock full of respect, and if he can't follow that then he really isn't a Scout and his time would be better spent elsewhere.

Purely for fairness' sake, I'd have them go through a second BOR. While in this instance they may have been very close, it may not always be this way, and the moment you start making exceptions, then everyone will consider himself an exception.

In one troop I worked with, we adults and the SPL and ASPL rotated between the various patrols. Basically, they fed us.

I have a question. You speak of a five-month wait for First Class. Does this mean that the Scoutmaster Conference and/or Board of Review was put off for five months, or that they were completed in October and that the badge was unawarded for five months? This could be important where the Star/Life/Eagle rank requirements are concerned. If the latter is true, then it shouldn't impact your son's eligibility for Star. Is he in a POR now? For how long? Now if the former is true, and your son was made to wait for the advancement to happen, then I would agree with the proposition that a change in venue is in order for you and your son.

Sure, why not! After all, it was once in the Boy Scout Handbook.

Thanks. This should demonstrate to National the feasibility of bringing back the oval Eagle pin, as there would clearly be a market for it.

No one from National is reading this. We are volunteers.

I was browsing stuff on ebay and I saw several sterling Centennial Eagle Scout pins for sale. I was unable to locate this on Scoutstuff. I was wondering if anyone has the skinny on this pin (is it official, what's it for, who can wear it, how is it worn etc.)?

Here is what Boy Scout meetings should look like: The SPL leads the troop in an opening. This typically involves flags, perhaps a reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance with something relating to the Scout Oath or law (a recitation of the Scout Oath, for example). Then there could be a very short period where the SPL discusses the theme for the meeting, usually a breakdown of what will happen during the meeting as it relates to the monthly theme or this month's outing. Normally these are aligned (the monthly theme and the outing, that is). This very short period launches directly into the skills instruction, which again directly ties to the monthly theme or to the upcoming outing. The troop typically breaks down into smaller groups by experience level. Newer Scouts will typically work on the basic skills that are present in the T-2-1 requirements, while more experiences Scouts will work on advanced material that may or may not be tied directly to an associated merit badge. An adult might be doing the advanced instruction, but it has been set up in advance by the patrol leaders' council. Next come the patrol meetings. These typically setup the interpatrol activity and give the patrol an opportunity to coordinate for the upcoming monthly activity. For example, if the upcoming activity is a campout (and I certainly hope it is!), then they'll discuss menus and such. Then comes the interpatrol activity. This is often colloquially referred to as "game time," although it should be a game with a purpose, and it should fit in with the overall theme of the meeting. The SPL should be overseeing this. Finally comes the closing. It is at this point in the meeting when the troop at large first hears from the Scoutmaster. First, announcements are shared with the troop, either from the SPL or the Scoutmaster (or perhaps both). Then comes the Scoutmaster's minute, where the Scoutmaster briefly shares some gem of wisdom. Then the troop closes the meeting in a short ceremony that captures the positive tone of the meeting and sends the troop home with a Scoutlike feeling. Sure, there will be variances here and there, but this is typically how it looks when everyone involved is doing things right.(This message has been edited by sherminator505)

I was browsing stuff on ebay and I saw several sterling Centennial Eagle Scout pins for sale. I was unable to locate this on Scoutstuff. I was wondering if anyone has the skinny on this pin (is it official, what's it for, who can wear it, how is it worn etc.)?

UNLESS these documents show that the BSA knew about the leader in question AND did nothing to keep that leader out of Scouting, then these files, as voluminous they may be, are COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT to the case at hand, and the BSA has NO OBLIGATION to release them. Under those circumstances, these files would have absolutely no bearing on this kid's quest for justice.

How about this crazy idea: since a Scout could potentially connect to the outside world via the internet from practically anywhere, why not replace the Lone Scout program with "virtual" Packs and Troops (say one per council or service area)?

NO. It is not a requirement. It is a method of Scouting, it is highly recommended, and it is the only place where Cub Scout patches can be properly worn, but it is not a requirement.(This message has been edited by sherminator505)

The Lone Venturers. Hmm... sounds like a good name for a band...

I wouldn't be concerned, either. My personal experience with Scout leaders who have been accused of doing inappropriate things has told me that people who would abuse kids don't call themselves out as being different; in fact, they try to appear as normal as possible. By personal experience, I was a Scout during a time when one of our area Scouters was abusing boys. This man held himself out as being as normal as anyone. While I wasn't abused by this schmuck, a number of my good friends were. I recall reading on another thread how "safe Scouting" ramped up in the late 1980's, and I see some correlation between that and what happened in my hometown. On the other hand, I have known a number of Scouters that I thought might be gay. I didn't act on it because I couldn't prove it and because there was no apparent negative effect on the program. These Scouters exhibited no abberent behavior, and they never mentioned their sexuality or sexuality in general because they apparently recognized that it was simply out of place in Scouting. Yes, I have my antenna up to pick up on any bad behavior that might be happening in my corner of Scouting. But I base my judgments on facts and appearances and not on ingrained fears.(This message has been edited by sherminator505)

Since when is science needed to justify justice? There wasn't any science behind freeing the slaves. Or granting women the right to vote. Or ending segregation in this country. So I fail to understand your need for supporting science in this instance.(This message has been edited by sherminator505)

"Might be one of the reasons I never made Eagle, in addition to my bad attitude and blatant disregard for authority." Really? I always reckoned those two traits as part of what pushed me over the finish line. But seriously, I learned how to tie a woggle out of the 1927 Handbook (the one with the blue cover). Is the woggle depicted there four- or five-bight?(This message has been edited by sherminator505)

Caution in regards to what?! These kinds of arguments seem to suggest that somehow homosexuals are morally equivalent to pedophiles, or that homosexuals are somehow less able to control their sexual impulses than heterosexuals, or that somehow openly or "avowed" homosexuals are more likely to be pedophiles. I reject these suggestions out of hand. Now I have seen some of your statistics that I'm sure you'll trot out again (BTW, please do!), and I'm sure that they provide you with comfort to cling to your narrow world view. However, keep in mind that I could just as easily point out the percentages of minorities in our prisons are higher than those in the general population, but that IS NOT an acceptable measure of minorities' propensity to commit crime in this country anymore BECAUSE SOCIAL CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE! I would submit that our nation has become better due to the social changes that have taken place in the past, and there is no real basis for opposing the social changes that are happening now.(This message has been edited by sherminator505)

Am I the only one to notice that since the demise of the "action shirt" there is a lack of a sharp looking Class-B type shirt for Boy Scouts and leaders available from National?

Ed, you let him bait you, and the result has been several pages of back-and-forth gainsaying that has done little to fortify either of your positions. Using the term "spitting contest" may have been a bit rough, but I can't think of a better way to describe the latter portions of this exchange.

It seems that a lot of misplaced energy is being expended here. We know what Merlyn thinks, and obviously his nose is out of joint. We also know what Ed thinks, and obviously he has a lot of time on his hands to continue this spitting contest into the tenth page. To answer yann's questions as directly as I can (in no particular order): It would be impossible for an athiest to recognize his duty to a diety that he does not believe in. To my knowledge the BSA has never told a child that he must believe in God. Those of us who believe in God do so out of faith. Having faith has absolutely no impact on a person's ability to think for himself. And now a question for yann (not that I'm expecting a response): When you say "it is proven that athiests are more intelligent than theists," what statistics or evidence are you using to come to that conclusion?(This message has been edited by sherminator505)