OldGreyEagle

Is that supposed to be one "girl"? In that case you dont want to form a Venture Patrol, but rather a Venturing Crew and yes there is a difference. Big difference. The Crew is an independent unit charted by the CO, the Venture Patrol is part of the Troop

Try this http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/trainingmodules/board%20of%20review%20training.aspx its BSA training on Boards of Review, my short take is it's not within the policies of the BSA to "fail" a scout because he can't tie a knot or orient a map but that doesnt mean it doesnt happen. If a scout is denied a rank, the appeal process has to be explained to him and a future BOR date assigned along with a written letter explaining what needs to be done

Yeah pack, I have to say that was me. It didnt seem like anyone was going to get the answer they wanted anytime soon. Since then I say it was me when I close a thread. You have no idea how badly I wanted to post "this is how you get the last word" and then close the thread, but I guess that would be wrong. I read through that old thread and pondered how long ago that was and how far my sttitudes have changed. I try to appreciate everyones unqiue approach but some just make my head want to explode. Some days I am better than others to control myself but in my saner persona I just think, its only words in the ether, then I think but what about people who want to see what scouting is about and see this. Lucky for me I have enough personalities I can interchange with, sticking with that last one for too long could be debilitating(This message has been edited by oldgreyeagle)

Buzz

The way it was explained to me was that many foundations and compnaies that the council solicits for funds for various reasons typically ask how much did your Board donate? Sometimes they will agree to match the Boards donation or give some other amount contingent on a set level of financial participation of the Board. The way it was explained to me, I was a liability because I couldnt donate at the monthly drop of the hat so I quit so some guy who could give could take my place. It wasnt my finest hour in scouting, but it was educational

Sometimes I can be obtuse so I will restate. I wanted to be a Board member, I wanted so much to be a part of the Council that made decisions because if insights I could offer because of my time at the Camps, in the Committees giving the training. What turned me off was my scouting expertise was not nearly as important as was my ability to contribute money and that rankles me. The people who can and do give financial support to the Council are important I agree, but that does not make those who have worked in the trenches and cannot afford to financially support the Council in the manner they expect to be valued less.

Nothin' sounds like Pirates like cooking without utensils and eating without flat ware. A mess(literally)of single ribs slathered with sauces, bananas, small steaks, pork steaks, round "loafs" of bread a pineapple with only a "machete" to cut it up, (Wielded by a stuff member) are you feeling me?

Plus in Paintball, the idea is to shoot at people, in soccer, you are supposed to shoot so that you do not fit people. Having coached soccer a few years back, it seemed like the tendency for the youth was to shoot the ball at the goalie rather then an unguarded part of the net. So painball would be counterproductive

Way back a few years ago I was on the Executive Board as Council Chairman of Venturing. I don't remember much about the meetings other long drawn out discussions about the treasurers report Not that finnaces are important, but how the report should be structured and presented, the totals were superfluous to the discussions. I started in January and was greeted with the FOS Executive Board presentation, I was ok with that.Then in February the council launched a Capital Campaign and of course it was expected that the Board participate 100% and buy a brick and by March I was afraid to show up. I made it to October before I resigned. I couldnt afford to be a Board member.. Every month some other cause had a good reason why the Board should support it and I couldn't stay. If you dont have deep pockets, they really didnt want you. It was this Board I should point out that thinks enough of training that it requires all contact leaders (Cubmasters, Den leaders, Scoutmasters, Asst Scoutmasters, Venturing Crew Advisors and Associate Crew Advisors and Unit Committee Chairs) to be fully trained for their positions or the unit is not rechartered. it may not be telling a unit where to meet or where to go for activities, but it did dictate what parameters must exist for the unit to exist. I would feel better knowing that at least half had been something in scouting

this is a general number for the BSA in Irving 972-580-2000 Have them tell you, beleive them, not us, no mater how nice we are

I think many of us would love to ditch our middle class, upper class or any class trappings we have and just wander off on our own and let everyoneelse worry about producing goods and services. I mean, what if everyone took the same attitude, who would pay to have interstates and a functioning (more orless) goverment? If we all became self centered free agents doing what we wanted and going where we wanted, is that not the heart and soul of Anarchy? Sounds romantic, but in 5 years, what is the result? Its interesting to idolize those who live outside society, but its more important to honor those who go to work everyday to make the country run

I understand that the BSA is a National organization that is run on a local level. We see this in so many different parts of the program. I remember a discussion awhile back on what constituted eligibility for the Siver Beaver. One side held that since the District Award of Merit was available for those in Disitrct work, the Silver Beaver was reserved for work at the Council Level. I am not saying this is right, just the sentiment of more than just a few Councils. Then there are those who hold that a Silver Beaver may be given to a unit scouter who has a long and illustrious history of serving youth. In the Council I serve, when Silver Beaver time comes around, I am always amazed at the breadth of awardees. There is generally someone who joined scouting in like 1952, has always been registered in someposition since then and has lead contingents to Philmont, Sea Base, Charles Sumner, National Jamboree, been on committees and Lodge Advisor to the OA and on and just gets the Silver Beaver in 2008. Then there is the guy who joines the Executive Committee 5 years ago, Chairs a Council event and makes a donation and he gets the Beaver. The disparity of length of time of service just seems to be brutal. I know that the program needs money and huge donations certainly help things, but for every deep pocketed contributor there are countless more scouters who live and deliver the program every day, week and year sometimes for decades who get lost in the shuffle. And to try to get on topic. The Silver Beaver is given to those who provide "distinguished service" to youth. Nothing about direct contact so just as it takes people to staff a camporee, it takes people to plan, get permits, arrange delivery of porta potties, EMS service, arrnage garbage pick-ups and while a person doesnt appear at an event, doesnt mean they may not have been the most reponsible for the event occurring.

Gold Winger, have you ever considdered that when people say "It's a chick thing" its not pointing out that there are differences between men and women (as the French say, Vive la differance), its the use of the slang term "chick" to describe humans of the female persuassion that is the crux of the matter. Now, having said that, I know quite a few females who have no problem referring to themselves and others as "the guys". And when a women says something akin to "isn't that just like a man", thereby labeling all men in the same breath, something a feminist would convulse at if all women were labeled in the same way. So, we are the same and we are different, would we want it anyother way?

Way back when I was a youth, after Brownsea Island but before the red berets were retired, I was tapped out for the OA. A year later a scout who wrestled in high school was tapped out and was tapped so vigorously he sufferd a separated shoulder and could not wrestle in the District meet. Should that have been a reason to do away with the tap out, no it should not. Should the tapper been restrained from being the tapper for the future? Most likely but we have what we have. Perhaps it's time to revive the tap out, with a firm tap monitored by the advisor, or better yet the ceremony team, the only adult given rule, anything untoward occurs the practice stops in that Chapter. Would that work?

Just got an Email from the DE, Trails End is going to make available Trail Mix with the Venturing Logo's on the packaging for Fund Raising. Anybody hear anything about this?

Hey, I did what I could, but they wouldn't let me in the polling place with my bible and shotgun

Have I menioned my admiration of ee cummings?

Barry, I don't understand your comment on football. This is the passage from the G2SS Varsity football teams and interscholastic or club football competition and activities are unauthorized activities. So unless your troop wanted to play in a league, I don't see an issue. The youth can still pay flag, two hand mug, or whatever version they want in pick-up games. Do you want your Patrols to play each other? Would Soccer work just as well? I am not understanding the opposition to the football prohibition

Does the lawyer have a little doe? Sure, two bucks (Yuck yuck yuck) gern, you forgot the biggest bird brains of them all An Arrogance of Internet Scouters

ee cummings is a poet hero of mine I must admit To him the rules of grammar and structure didnt matter one little bit To him slavish obedience to made up rules Was something reserved to obtuse old fools So he didnt care if he followed them

Ed, you said you never wrote a limerick And you are close but still off a bit Zahnada presented that Limericks go AABBA So it takes 5 lines and ends with a rhyming A Another line and a couple of B's are needed for you to acquit a Limerick

Ed, you said you never wrote a limerick And you are close but still off a bit Zahnada presented that Limericks go AABBA So it takes 5 lines and ends with a rhyming A Another line and a couple of B's are needed for you to acquit a Limerick

See, when the car I was driving hit and killed a deer outside of Corpus Christi, I immediately started calling the vehicle Natty Bumpo. so Gern we are kindred spirits...

So, as a spin off, it was asserted that the BSA has "endless rules". What rules of the BSA (and by rules I mean policies, procedures, et al) get in the way of you delivering a good program?

I am not sure what to do with adults who get their dander up when they accuse scouts of only going on "fun" events. I feel the same way when I hear about a Hospital Lab doing a "legal" blood collection. So, does that make other blood collections "illegal"? So, does that make the other events by default "not fun", attendance at the "fun" events may be up because, well, the scouts are having fun. Perhaps the attributes of the fun events could be studied and applied to the not fun events