WAKWIB

IM_Kathy: Your son probably has this info. but everything he needs to do for Brotherhood is spelled out here~ http://www.jumpstart.oa-bsa.org/ His current obligation to the troop as the SPL is a priority, and it does connect to his OA obligation as well.

Our Troops involvement in the Order of the Arrow has been very positive. The Order is for the training of Scouts, and may not to necessarily fit nicely into a units "schedule". One election a year, and 2 or 3 Lodge related weekends per year are not going to disrupt the units flow of operations. An election takes less than 1/2 hour. In our Troop the results of the election have never caused an argument. Hurt feelings? None that I'm aware of (and I say boo-hoo, too bad for that, anyway). The Order of the Arrow is a valuable part of the Scout program, and absolutely NO adult leader should put a barrier between it and the Scouts he/she serves.

dScouter15, The topics you cite as examples do come up frequently, but often each time they occur they have their own distinctive flavor. Different circumstances, personalities, etc.... It would be hard to find consensus for these topics. Often all the circumstances of a situation don't come up in the original post and emerge after some of our "veterans" ask the right kind of questions. I think these type of discussions are way too fluid to format into a FAQ. Definitive policy topics have their answers in scouting's official sources.

Our council's scout shop sells both canoe and boot beads. Someone once told me they get these from a company called Ozark Campfire in Belton, MO. I googled them and they don't have a site but you can find contact information for them.

scoutmomma1, CNYScouter sums it up pretty well. These scouts in question are not meeting the requirements and it would be a severe dis-service to them to sign them off. There may be numerous issues at play that are keeping the scouts from spending the night. The Scoutmaster needs to have a conference with these scouts and their parents pronto in which he spells out the requirements and see what can be done to get the boys on track. Camping is an integral part of the program and all scouts need to participate in that part as fully as possible.

I concur with you, OGE.

The length of time for the process to take should be of no consequence if it insures that the process works correctly. I'd rather see a lot of time involved to get all the facts straight than to get a knee-jerk ruling for or against a Scout. "The wheels of justice grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine." ~source unknown?

We currently have some 19-20 yr. old ASM's who grew up in the Troop during my tenure as a leader. We've always had a good rapport. Now this last summer they shared our leaders cabin at camp change in. And for maybe the first time ever they saw me without a shirt on. They referred to me as "Sasquatch" and "Chia-Pet". Is this hazing? Should I call my mommy? Maybe invest a small fortune in laser hair removal???

In our council/district we use the National document called "Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook." On page 7 it states: "Plan your work by describing the present condition, the method, materials to be used, project helpers, a time schedule for carrying out the project, the estimated cost of the project, and how the needed funds will be obtained." It is the Plan that gets approved, and funding is a part of that plan as stated above. Our district advancement committee is very much to the letter on this and definitely wants to see a plan for funding in the project description before approval.

I've been wondering where this lizard thing running around my house came from. I guess the boy could use it for Reptile Study MB!

I would agree with you, Beavah. I mean Scouting is sort of supposed to be more-or-less "work at your own pace." There is a sense of competition at times, but not on the same level as sports. A kid can go like mad and get Eagle by 13-14 or take his sweet time and maybe get Eagle by 18 or maybe not and really no one should freak-out if he ends the trail at Life. I do think we run into leaders (scouts parents in leadership in particular) who try to pressurize things. But really a kid can be rather "successful" in Scouting without nearly the time it takes to be "successful" in sports, music, theatre etc...

My computer just started projectile vomiting green stuff. The exorcism might be working.

My first year at camp was the first time I took and earned merit badges. I came home with Swimming, Conservation of Natural Resources, Basketry, and Metalwork. My mom kept the basket and metal ashtray for many years. My most memorable was Rowing during my 4th year at camp. The boating classes were held on the Osage River which could move at a pretty good clip at times. The rowing skills of neither me or my buddy could overcome the current and we went sideways down the river for quite a way before being rescued by a staff-man with a motorboat.

Do we have a priest on these forums that can give this thread the last rites?

Since I am a very part-time, part-time leader (like only a handful of meetings and campouts a year due to work), I don't know everything they do. But I do know that both my sons totally enjoyed the Den Chief postion. My oldest son in particular. He did it off and on for about 3 years. He took a special delight in seeing kids that he worked with in a Den cross-over to the Troop.

It's ok to post links as long as they are relevant and don't lead to something out-of-bounds. The forum you mention, cricket, was referenced in this thread many pages ago, and I went to it then and read mdsummer's request for help. I am confident the story is legit. I am also confident that she will not post here again due to the silly and sometimes rude behavior of some of our Scouters.

I'd bet Mrs. Beavah types it for him.

I am a beautiful human being who spreads sunshine and rainbows wherever I go.

Crazy Crow has a large inventory, good prices and excellent customer service. It seems to be the preferred choice among my peers. I haven't heard Grey Owl mentioned for years.

Well, we are waiting to hear the results. If there is something pertinent to discuss while waiting for the results, fire away. Apparently the issue was Scout Spirit and the definition of active in that Scout's troop. Very nebulous stuff open for plenty of interpretation, which is why this young man's appeal has been yanked around so long. You've been teasing us with little bits Eagle 732. Don't be offended if we are distracted. This has been a very, very, very long intermission between the first and second act. IMHO based on the info served in this thread it seems that it is a case of a Scout doing every thing by the book, but for some reason fell short of the Scoutmaster's vision of what Scout Spirit should look like. I think the Scout got taken for a ride.

I've known a few. Of course, their sexual and theological orientations weren't apparent (except maybe to close friends) until later in life. But like they say..."once an Eagle, always an Eagle."

ljnrsu 2/8/10 writes: "the letters of denial from Troop, District and Council state that Justin did not meet Scout Spirit Requirement. Troop and District letters mention not meeting Troop requirement of attendance at Troop meetings and outings. What is interesting is that Justin earned Life June 2006 and Eagle POR of ASPL which was signed off Jan 2007 but they used his then current POR of Instructor in their letters." The big problem I see is that the Troop chooses to add requirements to the Eagle Rank. Because (based on really old posts on this thread) the Scoutmaster might be a big-wheel in the district and council those entities decided to support him. Don't know what the slow down of National might be, other than being conflicted about the information provided by the Council who probably has the lamest case in the world for turning down the rank advancement. If the Scout in question had a real criminal activity/behavior problem I don't think any appeal would have been filed at all, and if it did it would have got shot down, pronto. Granted, we're mostly speculating. But that thing about "troop requirements for attendance for troop meetings and outings" seems like a big red flag.

Maybe it's the weight of this thread that keeps bringing the site down every few days

BklynEagle I am a former Catholic, and have numerous issues with certain doctrines and dogmas. However, your post do not sound like "bigotry" to me. You are just intelligently attempting to explain some things. Just because Catholics are firmly set on certain views does not make them a bigot. Jesus and the apostles were firmly set on many doctrines too. And I would suppose that there are people who for lack of anything better to say, would call them bigoted.

Well said, Beavah. Even in the Beavah dialect.....