blade1158

Extortion.

No. If pinewood derby was just about racing little wooden cars, just have the Scouts drop them off and have a couple of people run them until the winner is found. If pinewood derby is about more than just racing little wooden cars, like teaching sportsmanship, dealing with winning and losing in a proper way, having fun regardless of the outcome, the excitement of seeing what you made race down the track, then the Scouts must be there. What we do, meetings, activities, outings, are a means to an end, not the end themselves.

"I'm going to do what I want and nobody can tell me different." The kind of answer I would expect of a 10 year old. Character is what you do when nobody is watching.

No, you can't wear it as you wish. The uniform and insignia are owned by the Boy Scouts of America and they have the right to regulate how and when they are worn.

This topic is a joke, right? If you have to ask the question of tucked or untucked you are looking for an excuse to do it the way you want to do it, to hell with the uniform guide. Untucked is sloppy and lazy. And if you are too fat, tough, don't bastardize the uniform.

The two gentlemen in question create a false dichotomy, Order of the Arrow OR Wood Badge. It's not either or, it's both and. Each is different, obviously, and created for different purposes. Participate in both, enjoy both. Now, is Wood Badge worth it. Depends on where you are standing. A newer Scouter will probably get more from the course than a more seasoned one, but one will only take from the experience what one wants. I just took the course in the spring. While I didn't get much from the course material, I did enjoy the time with my patrol and the staff was truly outstanding, there for all the right reasons, they were inspiring. So for me, when my ticket is completed, I think it will be worth it.

Opinions, opinions. Bottom line, if you have earned or received a knottable award, you may choose to wear it or you may choose to not wear it for whatever reason. My pet peeve is Scouters who wear more than two Cub Scout leader award knots. BUT, if they've earned them, they may wear them, my opinion means absolutely nothing. If you want to wear them, fine. If you don't want to wear them, fine. Your actions will speak louder than what is, or isn't, on your uniform.

BP, you are a bigot and (CENSORED OGE) It is foolish to argue with a fool. (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Happy birthday BSA, screw you Scouts and Scouters.

A little dose of cynicism. IF the new uniform is required for the jamboree next year, that's a whole lot of product that will be sold by next summer. With the proposed price increase, mucho money to be made. Prices set low to lure people in? Hmmm. I'm not impressed with the fit, the shirt tail is too short. Most I've talked to HATE the smokes pocket on the sleeve.

I, like Eagle92, am both a Roman Catholic and a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow. I read part of the article and must say that the author is a serious whack job. I've been in the order for 30 years and have never seen or done anything that conflicted with my faith or the teachings of the Church. Let's see, brotherhood, cheerfulness and service, all ideas that undermine the tenets of Christianity. I have the pleasure of working with a Scouter who has received not only the Bronze Pelican and the St. George awards, but has worked for many years on the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, is the current chairman of the vocations committee and has received the Silver St. George award for his work on the national level. He is also a Vigil Honor member and a strong supporter of the Order of the Arrow. My bishop, a recipient of the Silver St. George, Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope and Silver Buffalo, has no problem with the OA. I think I trust his judgment over the author's.

This thread reminds me of a gentleman I saw at the last jamboree. I saw him after mass on Sunday morning. He was older, at least mid 70's, and wore a pristine pre-1980 uniform. He had chosen to wear only three knots, Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope and Silver Buffalo.

I'm an NESA member but not a lifetime member so I don't qualify to wear the new knot. I really don't mind the new Eagle knot variety, though. Doesn't some of the money from NESA dues go to fund some of the scholarships they award every year? As a recipient of one of the NESA scholarships in the mid 1980's, I appreciated and still appreciate the money Eagle Scouts have paid in dues. That money helped me go to college. If a life member wants to wear the new knot, great, and thanks on behalf of all NESA scholarship recipients.

Q; Is a Scout who earns Eagle at 14 MORE of an Eagle Scout than one who earns Eagle at 18? A: No. Q: Is an Eagle Scout who earns 100+ merit badges MORE of an Eagle Scout than one who earns 21? A: No Q: Is an Eagle Scout who earns multiple Palms MORE of an Eagle Scout than one who earns none? A: No After you turn 18 no one cares how many merit badges or Palms you earned, just that you earned Eagle Scout. No one cares.

This knot exists to entice Eagle Scouts to become life members of the NESA. It was created to encourage a certain behavior. If one looks at all the awards that are represented by square knots, most exist to encourage a desired behavior. Certainly the James E. West is meant to encourage larger donations. The William D. Boyce new unit organizer award encourages starting new units. The Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award, the ScoutingVale la Pena Service Award and the Asian American Spirit of Scouting Service Award encourage service to certain communities. Even the other service awards, District Award of Merit, Venturing Leadership Award, Silver Beaver, etc, are designed to encourage service. If you want a certain behavior to increase, reward it.