skeptic

And, if I am remembering correctly, were not a large majority of the sold people done so by other African tribes? Yes, the trade was European at the end of the line, sold to colonists and so on, but they often came from tribal raids and capture specifically for the trade. Not to say it makes it any less distasteful.

Guess I loosened the hive of opinions. That is good; hope it will stay in the realm of a Scouting Spirit molded discussion.

One of the reasons we really need to engender real leadership in our charges if we are able. Just look at the disaster of those running for office in our seats of government. It is even getting difficult to choose the lesser of the poor choices, as there seem to be no healthy options, at least to me. Those that might move us in the right direction are apparently so jaded that they prefer to stay out of it and simply work on survival. It is truly alarming to me, and I fear for the immediate future of our country, and the world as well. The dearth of leadership on these levels is tragic. Obviously, the old saw that "history repeats itself" has not registered. Yet, somehow, I still have some hope, especially when I interview young Eagle candidates or visit with them at a dinner, or read about their non scout peers that seem focussed on bettering their world. Makes me want to push them to take charge now.

This piece seems to shed much light on the misconceptions of many on what it means to lead, and challenges the reader to truly evaluate how they may choose those best to lead with success, virtue, and honesty. It certainly reinforces for me that we currently have a dearth of choices in this election year, and is a bit frightening from that perspective. Since it appears by the comments that perhaps nobody actually read the article, hereHere are some quotes pulled from it which may encourage you to read more in depth. "The country won’t improve, Adams wrote, until the people begin to “consider themselves as the fountain of power.††It can be dangerous to decide that you need to be led. Schools that used to talk about “citizenship†now claim to train “the leaders of tomorrowâ€; (Rothman in New Yorker) In a book called “The End of Leadership,†from 2012, Barbara Kellerman, a founding director of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership, wrote that “we don’t have much better an idea of how to grow good leaders, or of how to stop or at least slow bad leaders, than we did a hundred or even a thousand years ago.†She points out that, historically, the “trajectory†of leadership has been “about the devolution of power,†from the king to the voters, say, or the boss to the shareholders. Khurana points out, deflatingly, that there is little evidence for the “C.E.O. effect.†The most powerful factor determining a company’s performance is the condition of the market in which it operates. “being a leader†isn’t an identity but, rather, a set of actions. It’s not someone you are. It’s something you do. Harvard Business School professor, Gautam Mukunda, grew interested in how different organizations fill leadership positions. He noticed that in some organizations the candidate pool is heavily filtered: in the military, for example, everyone who aspires to command must jump through the same set of hoops. In Congress, though, you can vault in as a businessperson, or a veteran, or the scion of a political family. Mukunda hypothesized that, in highly filtered organizations, leaders would end up being relatively interchangeable; in less filtered organizations, individual variation will be greater. By this logic, generals, but not members of Congress, will tend to be more or less equally competent. As the business books have it, “Managers require, leaders inspire.â€) The distinction persists today. In “Leadership BS,†a book published last year, Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, identifies five virtues that are almost universally praised by popular leadership writers—modesty, authenticity, truthfulness, trustworthiness, and selflessness—and argues that most real-world leaders ignore these virtues. (If anything, they tend to be narcissistic, back-stabbing, self-promoting shape-shifters.) To Pfeffer, the leadership industry is Orwellian. But the virtues that they thought of as leaderly—courage, decisiveness, sociability, compassion, trustworthiness, integrity, and so on—matter in ordinary life, too. In our rationalized world, there isn’t much space for earnest discussion about virtue; t .†Sometimes, it’s the people supposedly under one’s control who really call the shots. because our desire for a coherent vision of the world is bottomless, our hunger for leadership is insatiable, too. Leaders make the world more sensible, but never sensible enough. A sense of perspective may be among the most critical leadership qualities. For better or worse, however, it’s the one we ask our leaders to hide."

Below is one of several good thoughts on leadership from the linked article at the end from The New Yorker “being a leader†isn’t an identity but, rather, a set of actions. It’s not someone you are. It’s something you do. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/02/29/our-dangerous-leadership-obsession?mbid=gnep&intcid=gnep&google_editors_picks=true

Agree we should try to encourage real cooking on the trail if possible. Part of the problem is that in much of the country now, backpackers have restrictions on real fires often, though there are periods still if planned. Using a backpack stove beyond boiling and simmering is possible, but it generally takes extra parts to achieve good results. And, if you are doing camp to camp, time is a factor. Still, there are open fire options if the seasons cooperate, though the windows may be small. If restrictions are too severe over time, there is usually the backyard barbecue option, though even that can be restricted on occasion. Badge is better overall though, IMO.

We have been doing SFF ever since it began. I was not aware it was not a National endeavor. I can tell you that the drop off locations are truly appreciative every year. Have fliers we will be handing out in neighborhoods very soon.

In 1960 I attended the Colorado Springs event, going on Santa Fe RR from San Bernardino. We slept in the train pullman beds, two per, toured in Arizona briefly, half day in Santa Fe, Garden of the Gods and general drive-view of the area around Colorado Springs. Had the event, then continued to Cheyenne to the big rodeo, to Utah and the Great Salt Lake, big copper (?) mine, Tabernacle, then on to San Francisco with overnight in a hotel and half free day along with taking over a restaurant in China Town, then finally home. Our trip to Sacramento was cancelled due to train track washouts in the Great Basin. Also, had three prior meetings, including pre jamboree training at George AFB. Cost, with uniforming and troop id stuff was $450. Here is a comparison using an online conversion link. $450 in 1960 dollars equals $3,603.30 in 2015So, you can decide. Seems to me, they are comparable, though do feel many councils have too much fringe stuff. Could there be a stripped down trip. Possibly, but part of the experience is the trip itself and seeing stuff you might never see again, at least with peers in your youth.

I guess I just wonder mostly WHY national cannot get similar coverage for something like SFF or their exceptional winning Eagle projects and such. As far as popcorn goes, if I could avoid it, I would; but we sort of have to give it a nod minimally if we want to be eligible for certain benefits, especially camperships. It is still hard to get much more than a buried paragraph most of the time, though on occasion the local paper features a COR. But our local council seems to not have the desire to find a PR person for getting Eagle dinners or Silver Beaver presentations in the media. Oh well, as noted, we can simply try to make people aware on the unit level as best we can in a positive manner. Thanks for the thoughts.

Okay, in the past few days on our local TV stations there have been two area wide pieces on Girl Scout Cookies, including phone numbers and web links. Also have been similar items in the LA Times, and a couple of more local papers. this morning it is on "Good Morning America". This is great. My question is why cannot BSA get similar coverage on occasion, whether it be Popcorn, or some other widely done thing, like "Scouting for Food"?

While it was to the point of pretty much a draw for and against, the reality was and is that going forward it was the right thing to do if we were to not get mired so deeply we would not get out. Financially it has made a difference for sure. We have had returning support from a number of businesses that had cut us off. I do not have the data, but I suspect that is the case nationally as well. As far as the membership goes, that is still to be seen, but we are getting fewer waves locally now, and there were far fewer encounters during popcorn. With the younger generations moving into the helm, it would have happened anyway, but possibly too late. We simply need to keep the politics at a minimum and try to focus on the boys and the basics of the program and let the religious and moral fights be fought elsewhere. As long as we adhere to Youth Protection and such, we should have little to fear, other than our own biases.

If it is obvious to anyone with a brain that a group's real purpose in wanting to begin a unit is for political or other specious reasons, then they should expect to NOT be accepted. I fail to understand the continuing need for a minority of people to push generally unaccepted or controversial ideas by politicizing successful groups, thus undermining the programs. It does little to enhance their standing, but it usually ends up harming the success of the commandeered organization. Perhaps the best answer would be to simply let the group try. Chances are that it will fail once they no longer can use it as a political puppet. It is the very idea that they are making the challenge that is their purpose. Once that David versus Goliath syndrome is not viable, it will likely collapse on its own in most cases. Give them the same general support all units are given and let them succeed or fail on their own.

Just got the similar info above from out council advancement chair. So we are good here, though hopefully it will still show up prior to his Eagle board.

Thank you for the exact info; not sure how I missed it. That should suffice I am sure.

While surely wearing the sash is recommended for scouts once they reach a certain number of badges, is necessary? Does the scout "need" to wear the brag banner? Should a sash be expected at a BOR, especially Eagle? Am asking both from a perspective of accepted opinions, and concrete rules. I do not see any absolute that it is necessary. The scout does not have to show off his merit badges should he choose not to, or for some reason is uncomfortable with it. As long as his records prove his having earned the needed badges his rank should be secure. At least that is the way I read it. This has come up due to a lost sash, the replacement of which will run in the area of one hundred dollars or more. The young man is on the verge of his BOR, but the sash has yet to be located. Should he need a new one to complete the board, or should the formal record be enough? While I would surely like him to have a sash, it seems foolish to spend the money to replace the cloth and patches. But, I do not want the issue to taint the board either. Thoughts.

The back of the sash can be used for camp patches and past ranks if they like too. IF a scout has long-aleeve shirt, he can wear up to six on the right sleeve above the cuff. In the day, when most kids had long-sleeve shirts, we almost all wore them there to start.

I would have one for sure that would go in a second. He is in his third or fourth year of dance, though it is currently tap and similar style, but he and the other scouts have talked once or twice about how impressed they are with the Irish dancers most have seen in some manner. Suspect most would like it at least a bit, and many would find it very impressive. Good job.

Sorry to hear of Dick's passing. I am so glad that he was recognized recently with the DEA. Another piece of scouting history is lost.

Our new minister has asked us to do a flag ceremony in the sanctuary as part of our Scout Sunday participation. We are in a Methodist church, but cannot find anything specific relating to such activity. Have found a couple of things about the Christian flag, as well as the Navy tradition on ship and the pennant. We have a Christian flag and American Flag in the sanctuary regularly, but they are rarely moved. I found one discussion about a procession with the cross and flags; the cross goes first, followed by the Christian flag, then the U.S. flag. The church flag is posted in the primary position it appears. Just want to get the details clarified for my scouts, so they can prepare and do a good ceremony. Thanks for any help, especially actual printed material to get beyond simple opinion.

This is offered as an aid, but likely will generate much more, especially people looking for nits. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/2016BoyScoutrequirementsFAQs.pdf2016BoyScoutrequirementsFAQs.pdf

Like many things, it was in the bylaws, which they agreed to. But since few really paid attention, they are adding it into the actual signed agreement. It is called, covering something.

Wonder if that is really even possible??

Yep, all of us old people remember the Ordeal arrow or stick you wore around your neck. Violations of rules brought notches, and 3 would send you home. Elections were never automatic, and some very deserving probably never got elected; thus the current system which bypasses the real honor in it for the most part, especially if it is not presented right at the time of the election. Yes, there were some instances of "black-balling" on occasion, but they were mostly dealt with when they happened, though not always I am afraid. Ceremonies were seldom read, and the tap out was impressive in most cases, something younger scouts could witness and hope to be part of, even while it was sometimes a bit scary or rough. but actually memorized, and regalia was a point of pride for many. After the ceremony at my Ordeal, part of the welcome was teaching us the toe-heel and canoe steps for basic dancing. I still can do a rudimentary version, though get tired really fast now. As noted, the removal of most of the unknown ceremonial aspects has really hurt the specialness of it too. Again, I understand need for parents understanding the basics, but kids still love secretive stuff, and being able to prove themselves, even if it is not obvious or seen as acceptable by some. And I still feel much of it could be reestablished without any harm, probably to the overall benefit.

So, let us make up ridiculous possible scenarios so we can ridicule situations with which you have issue and have no real understanding. In the two instances I noted, only one even needed the unusual credit. And one never made it past Star anyway. The other is now involved as a parent and an outstanding example of what most of us would like an Eagle to be. I should note that the other troop leaders and parents are always consulted in these rare challenges. To me, it is far better to work with a scout with unusual familial problems than to simply write them off because it is easier or not within the limits of our static judgemental parameters. And, that is really part of what is wrong in society today. There is nothing wrong with flexibility, as long as it is not the rule, rather than a rare exception. This is my final comment on this. As I said, I can live with my decisions.

While I am sorry that some think my being subjective in making what I deem occasional fair, reasonable decisions about my own troop's activities, I realized on review that I was being a bit adverse by suggesting some were unable to make decisions. I apologize. In almost forty years as SM I probably have one or two boys who needed that decision about summer camps. And they were very active but had issues within their families that made things much harder for them most weekends. Again, I made that decision in fairness, not in favoritism. But, because I made it in a couple of special situations, it was extended to all; again a matter of fairness from my perspective. The first scout worked in his family business on weekends and it took a lot to get him freed up, even for summer camp. Yet he surely deserved some flexibility. One other, years later, had younger siblings and a single mom that counted on his help most weekends while she worked. One of those scouts is still in contact with me and has visited once; and he is now in his forties. Part of being a leader, in my view, is being reasonable and flexible when the need arises, but only in rare instances and for good reason. Life is never black and white. Neither is Scouting. If, by occasionally "finding" a fair and rational solution to a difficult problem I am a poor leader, then I can live with it.