SMT224

The Scouts in our Troop are disgusted by this stupid behavior. And then the lying to top it off. Do they really think anyone will buy such BS? This story is all over the news, just as we start our fund raiser! It's time for them to man-up and admit they did wrong and will face the consequences. Does anyone know what Troop they are from? I'd really like to write them a letter.

On a winter camping trip, setting up camp at 4F, in the dark, whilst it's snowing and a bit windy, is anyone really thinking about sex? Seriously? They may be thinking about God, but not whether they like boys or girls. The most important things really do matter when life is on a knife edge. Survival at quite low temperatures shows us down the most important things. I really do try to make every camping trip - regardless of the time of year - so intense and so focused on Scoutcraft and campcraft that no one has anytime to even think of such things.

Do you have a sponsor? Get that taken care of now, as well as all the paperwork needed to bring the Troop into existence. Work with the sponsor to find a space you can meet in and the best time to have your meetings. Once the foundation is in place, get the word out. Let the Scouts you know, as well as your contacts in the Cub Packs, know that they now have an option to attend a Troop in their own town. Some may be delighted, other may want to stay where they are. Most of your Scouts may end up coming from the Cub Packs. Once you have a group of Scouts, set up Patrols and a Patrol Leader Council. Work with them to decide what they want to do. Maybe start out with a hike in March, then in April or May progress to a monthly camping trip. Go to summer camp. Have fun! The advancement will come. A rank a year is just fine -- don't worry about pushing them any faster. Let us know what happens.

This is really silly -- they just lower it in a cage! I thought they really tossed it! But I think this one is worse... http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/us/vermont-college-euthanizes-one-ox-spares-another.html http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/Commentary-The-oxen-goeth-179370001.html?ref=001

A sad day for Scouting... http://www.kellyclarkattorney.com/files/

Here's what I'd tell him: "Big deal, so what, who cares? I don't want to know, and neither does anyone else. Why in the world do you even need to make such an announcement? We have better things to do in Scouting than bring up issues like sex or politics! Get off your high horse, you're really not that important! Shut up and go build a fire without any matches! Go out and identify all the trees around camp. Lash a tripod to hold up the wash station. Identify that bird up there. Teach those younger Scouts how to tie the rescue knot with one hand. You're the Patrol cook, so get dinner going. Seriously."

Still, the Bacon Explosion is tempting... and what better way to actually manifest a shortage?

I've seen similar things happen with our local sports teams. Scout can barely pay our annual $30 registration fee, and cannot go to summer camp unless the Troop provides a campership. But football, baseball, or soccer fees and uniform costs that are easily 2 or 3 times summer camp costs are taken care of without a problem. Not that I have a problem with sports -- I believe in a well rounded teenage boy. But I know that these same parents wouldn't even think of not paying the required sports fees in full and on time.

Had a similar situation as Basementdweller at round table several years ago with regard to summer camp. They had a large white board at the front of the room with all the individual units listed. One by one we had to come forward and write where we were going for summer camp. Those that were going to our council camp were given a prize, applauded, and given nods of approval by District officials. Those, such as myself, that put down an out of council camp were treated to a stoney silence and looks of disbelief by District officials. It was very uncomfortable. I was embarrassed and felt like a heretic. This was yet another event that made me feel like going it alone. Plus our FOS contribution was quite minimal, and we don't sell popcorn. Why should the District have anything to do with us?

Here's a tasty & healthy recipe that you might want to make sooner than later... http://www.bbqaddicts.com/blog/recipes/bacon-explosion/

Bacon really is one of my favorite spices, especially with beef stew! I think I'll survive the alleged shortage, as I don't need large quantities, but it is a critical ingredient.

After writing the rather bleak message above, I thought I'd check the District website and print out the calendar for our upcoming 2013 planning session. No calendar. Last time the web site was updated was April. Oh well. Alone again, naturally.

During my first 10 years of being an SM, I drank the Kool-Aid and was very active in our District. Never missed a round table, participated and staffed many District events, and went University of Scouting year after year. I think my burn out and current low involvement can be traced to three name and border changes to our District over 12 years. Our large District was cut into thirds just after I got involved. Then these were bisected again into 7 smaller Districts a few years later, then after four years we merged into one even bigger District. At no time was I contacted to see what I thought of a proposed change, it just was announced at round table, effective immediately. There was never a reason or rational given -- it just happened. This let me know how I low on the totem pole I really was. Each change significantly impacted District events, and made it hard to plan with our Troop calender, so we attended fewer and fewer events as time went on and yet another change occurred. The final blow was changing the round table night to that of our Troop meeting. We struggled to send a Committee Member, but coverage has been inconsistent. Most events and District information are only relayed at round table, so we began to miss out on more and more District happenings. We are so far out of the loop now, that we don't even try to coordinate our calendar. So in answer to your query, we go it alone save for mandatory training and Eagle advancement.

In our Troop, less than a third of the Scouts have a parent either on the committee or as a Scoutmaster. I do not see that the other two thirds suffer or are less successful in Scouting because their parents are not an official BSA registered leader in the Troop. Having an active participatory parent is helpful, but not always a guarantee of success. I've seen many Scouts of "drop-n-go" parents make it to Eagle just fine. Bottom line: If a parent is not a leader, for what ever reason, the Scout can still participate and excel in Scouting! It happens! The gay leader issue focuses on what the parent can or cannot do -- forgetting about the Scout! The assumption by all seems to be that if the gay parent cannot be a leader, then their son cannot be in Scouting. This is not true. Again, if they don't become a leader, so what? Most parents are not leaders! Is it that their feelings are hurt because their son wants to be in a club they can't join? Or that it doesn't reflect their values in absolutely every shape and form? Goodness! Get over it! Stop being so sensitive!

Alas, the point of my post was neither to have a tantrum nor to accuse an offended Cub Mom of something she didn't do. It was to point out that it's not about her, but about her son. And should she be offended by being told that folks like her can't be a leader? Yes! And of course it'd understandable that she would feel like taking her marbles and going home. But how does that help her son? To pull him away from his friends, so he can sit at home or in front of the TV while they have all the fun? Sorry, but there are all kinds of things in this world that offend, but sometimes we just need to get over it and think about who Scouting is really for - not the offended Cub Mom, but her son.