Trevorum

Rooster, I think you're being tongue-in-cheek (but I'm not sure) when you write, "ah yes, diversity is a fine thing". Do you honestly think the world would be a better place if we were all the same?

Ed, Buddhists do not believe in God. Buddha was a teacher not a deity. To this extent, Buddhists are atheistic (godless).

Kristi, the more I think about this the more incredulous I become that someone would be so stupid to use museum pieces as table decorations. Absolutely incredible. Whoever was responsible for allowing the award winning cars to be used as table decorations like they were pineapples from the grocery store needs to be brought up in front of the boss. This was an absolutely amazing display of poor judgement. I am so sorry for your son and for the other 24 national winners who had their trophy-quality works of art and engineering treated with so little respect by the event organizers.

Kristi, that is AWFUL about the loss of the car, but no one can ever take away from him the fact that he WON at National! He is the BEST in the whole country! I am really impressed!

NJ, I don't want to divert this discussion onto uniforms again (!) and so I'll direct you to the website for more info. Briefly though, the patch is the same size, shape, and appearance as regulation knots and is designed to be worn above the left pocket with other knots. Two of the SAs in our troop wear it there. I wear mine on the right pocket as an optional/temporary patch.

Oh, I'm such a rebel. Wondering about me and my motivations is just a diversion away from the very real issue that Acco raised. And worrying about "unauthorized" patches is a whole lot easier than worrying about the message that BSA membership policies is giving to our boys.

Acco's excellent post should be read by all SM's. Not everybody will empathize or even understand his scenario but at least they should THINK about this issue. It is far more common than most of us want to admit. As Acco points out, boys become scouts before they are sexual beings. Most of those boys (90%+) will develop into heterosexuals, but a minority have been programed by their biology (genetic heredity + intrauterine homonal environment) to be different. These latter are not evil, are not mentally disturbed, are not misguided, and are not rebellious against socal norms any more that those red-haired kids, or the ons who, more secretly, are AB- blood types. I truly worry about how we, as their mentors and authority figures, treat these boys. Teen suicide is a VERY REAL problem and these boys are recieving tremendously mixed messages about their human worth - one message from inside themselves and another from society. This is the reason why I, quietly but openly, wear the Inclusive Scouting Emblem as an optional patch on my uniform pocket. I want such boys in our troop to know that they can talk to me and I will not get them kicked out of the great organization we both love so. Many adults and youth have casually asked me, "What is that knot?" and I tell them it means I think EVERY boy should have the opportunity to be a Boy Scout. This goes over the heads of some boys, but it sinks in where it is important. Several other adults in our troop now also wear this emblem. The emblem is issued by the New England Coalition for Inclusive Scouting. For more information, please see http://www.inclusivescouting.net/isa/

kittle, If I am misunderstanding your post, I apologize and please correct me, but it sounds as if the new scouts in your troop - including your son - are being exected to pass advancements together (or at least at the same pace). Sort of like the Webelos model. If this is the case, it is not the model for advancement within a troop. Each boy should advance at his OWN pace. Some will be go-getters and will proactively seek out advancement opportunities (like your son). Others will tend to hang back a bit, whether because of missing out on advancement opportunities like campouts and hikes or because they may be a bit more shy about just asking that older scout (or a SM) to sign their book. I'd have your son make sure he understands the advancement policies in your troop. As other posters have pointed out, in many troops, the youth leaders instruct and are authorized to sign of on the T'foot and 2nd Class requirements. This avoids a bottleneck at the adult's pencil and is also sometimes less intimidating for the new guy. The bottom line is that no fellow should feel like his advancement is being delayed because of the other guys.

News Flash! Viking and Indianhead Councils will mege on July 1 into the newly created Northern Star Council.

Reading through the above, so far we have Eamonn...........subcamp 4, Troop 412 SR540Beaver..subcamp 17, Troop 1715 Bob White........? Acco40............subcamp 12 Trevorum.........staff, Religious Relationships tent HopsScout.......staff, Action Center D Rappelling tower Orennoah.........housing staff at Mahone Cheffy...............staff, Heth/catering Others, please feel free add your contact info if you wish

hmm... I distinctly remember being told by my DE ... checking in my files ... {shuffle, shuffle} ... ahhh - I see now it is that local tour permits are not needed for council sponsored events.

kittle, of course! That is why they pay us the big bucks! But, I sense that there may be a story behind your question?

aw, Semper, don't leave us hanging! You're just a little taut today. Uncoil some. Maybe you just need some more fiber in your diet. (flamingeye, please don't mind us. We are both just strung out from the week)

My understanding is that events within one's own community do not need tour permits. Is that correct?

Yes, the forum may help him net some new business, as long as he doesn't lash out. But I assume he's a square guy and won't bight.

Yes, getting a line on new customers can be a knotty problem - their attention becomes easily frayed if you don't whip them into shape.

flaming (wait, can I call you that on a Scout site???) Your DVD looks interesting. Why don't you ask Scouter Terry how to advertise it on this site.

How about Uniform COPS (what'cha gonna do when they come for you?)

Champ, Philmont and other high adventure treks are restricted to Boy Scouts 14 years and up and Scouters. With a son in Cubs, you have a couple years before this type of adventure gets onto your radar screen, but its never to early to start hiking! Day hikes with Cub Scouts are a great way to start. "Boy Scout leaders" = "parent volunteers" ! (One becomes a Scouter by volunteering) Most (though not all) adult Scouters with troops are parents with sons in the unit. If your son joins an active troop with a strong program of adventure for the older boys, and if you become an active registered leader in the troop, there is an excellent chance you will both have the opportunity to trek at Philmont. That said, many Boy Scouts (and adult Scouters) never get an opportunity to hike at Philmont - but there are lots and lots of other high adventure treks for troops in all parts of the country. With a Wolf son, you have some GREAT years ahead!

Excellent thought! I am looking forward to meeting many of you fellows next month! I'll be on staff in the Religious Relationships tent. We should set up a place/time to all get together and shake hands. Who else is going to be there? This'll be great!

Thinking outside the box again, eh, Semper? This would give new meaning to tubing! Maybe we could channel the spirit of BP. Well, the issue's not black and white... but I think it is remote.

Hunt, you draw an excellent distinction. I agree.

(This is side-bar comment. It is tangentially related to the main thread and not at all to SSD or water resues. But I just couldn't let it go by. Sorry!) Hunt said, "... there are times when a law is unjust, and it is morally defensible to disobey it. But this is not really applicable to the rules of Scouting, because if you really think one of its rules is so morally wrong as to justify disobedience, the appropriate action would be to quit. " Hunt, I respectfully disagree. Few of you will be surprised to learn that I view BSA's exclusionary membership policies are morally wrong. I think they justify disobedience. However, I also think that it would be a mistake to quit; the appropriate action is to work for change. Scouting has some flaws, but it is by far the best character-development program we have for young people. (now back to your regularly scheduled thread...)

Without more information, I'd be hesitant to criticize the SM. His interpretation of "obtain SM approval" may be more rigorous than most, but as long as his expectations are made known in advance, I can't see a problem. However, if the troop sees a problem, then it is an issue for the committee to discuss. They have the authority to direct him to change this troop policy.

Fred, Thank you for the information. I had never heard of this policy but it's always great to learn something new about Scouting!