Tampa Turtle

I have signed off on work with parents after talking with the boy is he did it. I have scheduled multiple make up sessions. I have submitted the AOL award to my CM with the mention it may get pulled at the last minute--did that 1 out of 6 times. Turned out the boy just didn't care.

My experience was the same as Packie and I have worked at the Fed, State, and Local level. Some stuff very politically sensitive but if you were an "expert" you always provided your info carefully, objectively (as possible--no one is perfect), and carefully. The ones who were "hacks", one way or another, never lasted. I believe in open research, PEER REVIEWED, and openly debated. Not a perfect system--it is a human one after all--but it worked pretty well thus far. You only suppress research if you are afraid of results. And you never know. Back when I was a University Researcher more than once was I flabbergasted to find my results were the opposite of what I thought they were. We used to joke that if we found killing trees and driving cars would fix global warming than we would make the call and publish the findings. And probably never get tenure. But thats another story.

Yeah balance. I resisted that message to my peril. Not pretty. Now I do not say "yes" to every Scouting demand. Funny that most of the stuff was (eventually) picked up.

In my limited life experience these are often done by small shops near Military bases--they often do uniform alterations as well. I know we have a few near MacDill AFB in Tampa. I think it is just done by a special machine. In the old days folks just did a stencil. I suspect that you try Googling Name Tapes.

Yup I have had some of the same arguments even when my wife only has the Dog at home. I now try to put in a little more "care time" and "chore time" in before a big trip so that my "account withdrawal" is partially covered with Ms Turtle.

Our Pack rarely made use of Boy's Life though occasionally I heard some boys reference an article or comic. At the Troop level it appears effective for Merit Badge news--if it appears in Boys Life it is an "official" announcement. As a parent, while I am continually irked by the high expense of the gear featured in Boys Life, I see the value in it. Both my sons as cubs and scouts enjoyed getting their copies and would thumb through it and neither were big readers. It gave them some inspiration for camping adventures (why doesn't our Troop do that? sort of thing)and they took pride in getting their own magazines as well as being an "official" scout. Now that they are hitting 13-14 and are bigger readers it is loosing its allure.

I agree with Eamonn...there needs to be a greater context before expulsion. Zero tolerance policies can equal zero intelligence put and are easier to administer. But maybe I am a softie...

We have a standardized equipment list we modify. Include contact info for the parents and a GPS coordinate. Bottom is a tear off permission slip with a box to check off for payment used: cash, check, scout account. We try to have a Life and up scout organize the event with the SPL and PLC. Mostly collecting forms, checking off names, and keeping track of how attendance is shaping up for transport needs. We fill out the 14 seat church van first--newbies have to go in the van. Boys can ride with their Dads. Then we see who is left and distribute as boy/driver sees fit. Usually have a dad on standby. Most always works out. We build in a fuel fee per scout. We will reimburse drivers up to a point. Loading of Troop and Patrol gear is up to boys. Occasionally over-ruled by adults due to vehicle loading capacity, hitches that sort of thing. Seems to be working well.

$25K could buy some decently developed materials for distribution to Scouter volunteers over the internet--kinda like a Scout oriented "Book of Accommodations". If the $25 went to fund a trainer position it will not last long or accomplish much. I looked on the web links and did not find much of use. As the father of a scout on the Autism spectrum (and dealing with a half dozen others) I will take any and all helps, tips, and tricks from anywhere BUT have learned that most of the time their is more flash than substance.

Had an Troop alumni, nice young man, a Pro, drop by the meeting last night. He spoke to the boys and said "If you listen to these guys everyone of you should make Eagle easy." I understand that we want to encourage EACH boy but not ALL boys.

Really just including for comments. Openly gay scout, whose membership was revoked gets his Eagle Ap "retroactively" approved at District. Council appears leaning to approve National may revoke. I hope I summed it up right I included the article below: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-scoutsbre9070l6-20130108,0,1378522.story

We did the cooking prize most camp outs. Sometimes it is a treat or a something new for the patrol box. However the most prized recognition is the "Golden Spoon"--a spray painted plastic spoon jammed into a wood block. I suppose we could award a gold spoon to hang from their Patrol flags.

Yes the BSA system is broken. I see a goodly of boys/parents gaming the system and it is all I can do to throw my body in the way. Golly we had a boy going for Life who hadn't camped in a year, didn't even know who was in his patrol, or the Oath and Law. Our fault for not recording our attendance more carefully. You know you try to be a bit flexible for the boys who are really, really trying and the skirters take full advantage. I have this discussion with my sons all the time. They lag behind some of their peers because I want them to do things right. But the system says they could just go to a Merit Badge Academy and pretty much knock off a couple in one Saturday. They do not see this fair; they also know that some of the higher ranked boys are posers. I think that their sense that cheaters can get away with it undermines the program in the long term. You would think that National, whom seems to have a lot invested in the Eagle Brand, would see this coming.

Agree. Our Troop is really blessed to have a number of "civilians" who work hard at a committee job or a particular event or just buying the awards for the COH. Really helps a lot...many hands and all that.

As an ASM I always support the SM and try with the other guys take some of the load off. Some time I will be a "bad cop" to let the SM be the good guy. It is a real tough job and if he doesn't like riding with the boys he should be encouraged to sit one out. I was feeling burn't out, sat home a few campouts and decided to focus my activities a bit and now I enjoy the ones I go on a bit. Our last SM was a great guy but burn't out fast after a year--he must have been doing scout stuff 3-4 nights a week...

Yeah...so it bothers some people. Let's bring back hazing while we are at...it is character building and all that.

To get back to the original proposition. At first glance I like it and it appears fair. It seems rational so I suspect Wayne LaPierre will never go for it... I wonder if a similar approach to insurance may happen with texting drivers...

I have seen this lately. I have had to, as ASM, push back a bit more and tell the parent that the boy needs to be the one to see me. Also crabby parents that complain that their son is missing an advancement requirement we worked on not 1, not 2, but 3 campouts last year. Turns out his son (while getting his Life): (1) Hadn't camped for a full year. (2) Couldn't name anyone in his Patrol. Including his PL. (3) Couldn't remember the Scout Law.

I cannot take the NRA leadership very seriously. I am open to a reasonable discussion on limiting some types of weapons and allowing others. I am rather surprised by how quick folks are to embrace a "mentally ill" registry (and any consequent legal problems with that) and be so opposed to ANY discussion of limiting some weapons. I am sure if Obamacare had offered a medical registry of any kind he would have been beaten about the head with it. It is a complicated discussion with gun control, security, social, spritual, and mental health facets, But if the NRA cannot realistically engage in the discussion than they will be imposed upon then a participant.

Man that is an old joke. My minister told that one but it was Methodists and Baptists.

Basementdweller, Well the NRA just spoke up (I watched the whole thing live) and their answer is: (a) Bad media (well a point there) (b) An armed guard at every school! So now new gun restrictions at all! So I suppose in order to prevent the NRA volunteer armed guards they will need to heavily armed to fight the baddies who can get whatever they want unrestricted. So what...machineguns? If I was a crazy I would take down the guard and then get everyone. I was very disappointed the NRA will not engage in any gun restriction discussion...seems like a double down on crazy.

Eagle732, Why Zombie drill is fun for E-Prep I had to participate in a large -scale FEMA Anthrax drill. In that drill my neighborhood and kids school ended up in a low-survival area. That was no fun.

I agree it is all a bit ridiculous. I grew up in a almost-all jewish neighborhood. In elementary school we had Hanukkah songs, dreidels, gelt the whole deal. Because only 2 of us out of 17 kids were not Jewish. It was no big deal--it seemed fun, kinda of exotic. I stayed Catholic and the other boy Baptist. I think we got to decorate a "Christmas corner". At my local government we still get Good Friday off but they label it "Good Friday/Spring Day" which seemed a reasonable compromise.

I 2nd Faith and Chaplaincy.

Great job!