OldGreyEagle

Heck, anybody here ever eat from red Fiestaware?

What, You never heard Maynard G Krebs reaction to being called square? You may ask your youth what "Straight Edge" means, its pretty much the same thing

Because Venturing is such a wide ranging program, it is unlikely that a Crew/Ship will have adult advisors/committee members that are experts or have even a passing knowledge of the topics. I can explain backpacking, but as far as Mountain biking goes, not so much, I need a "consultant" to explain that one. I can explain Land Navigation fine, but need someone to explain Scuba, Equestrian and Cave Exploring etc. The Consultants is kinda like a merit badge counselor, an extra-unit resource. (well like merit badges are supposed to be, or were, or well you know)

Where in PA? I am in Lehigh County

How is your Council doing VLSC, Or Kodiak, or Kodiak X?

Learning 4 Life was set up to be non-discriminatory, and it must be set up pretty well as they administer many grants and programs that the BSA can not. But now that is not good enough

I would have more respect for LL if they had an organization in hand to take over the L4L programs so the youth are not effected. I would also have more respect for LL if they exhorted all Gay, Lesbian and Bisexuals to forsake getting any aid from Catholic Charities or Jewish Charities or Muslim Charities or any other Faith based discriminatory organization. I think I have a record for saying that I oppose the gay ban on scouting and that the choice of leaders should be in the sole determination of the CO (and the CO is solely liable for leaders behavior)but I guess we all have our lines, incongrous to others that they are, and this is mine

"What is truth? Is truth unchanging law? We both have truths; are mine the same as yours?"

The youth, and by that I mean all the youth, Straight, Gay, Bi, Atheist et al lose the programs administered by L4L. Does LL have an organization in mind to replace L4L?

So, an organization that administers to all isnt good enough? It has to have a totally open employment policy as well before it can give services away? Has Catholic Charities not given help to anyone because that person was gay or atheist or anything?

I am not trying to be obtuse, but I have to say something. Learning for Life is an organization that administers its program to anybody. LFL does not have the same membership requirements as does BSA, but thats not enough? I realize this is from 2002, but this is the 2002 report from Catholic Charities and it shows revenues from "Goverment" of 22,198 (in thousands). How is this possible that this organization would get money from any governmental units as the Catholic Church certainly practices religious and sex discrimination even though it may administer to all who need regardless of who/what they are http://www.catholiccharitiesla.org/annual2002/ccla_annual2002.pdf Page 9

I may be in an unusual place, but after the meeting, the service patrol of the evening always has clean-up and then there are adults talking to other adults about upcomming events and catching up from the week. The meeting goes 7-8:30pm, but getting out of the building by 9 is considered a luxury. I think its a natural to do a reflection after the meeting

I thought Learning for Life met all the tests as a non-discriminatory organization, so now it doesn't?

It seems like a lot of work (having Ventureres at NYLT) to make them fit in when a VLSC (Venturing Leadership Skills Course) can be put on by a couple of adults and youth who are willing to read a book and plan ahead, sorta like NYLT and then voila, you have a Venturing Program designed for Venturers. Anything else is sticking the square peg in the round hole, it can be done, but the results are never quite what they should/could be

I humbly apologize for an slight towards plumbers I knew I should have said Lawyer

For an Organization that purports itself to be "Youth Lead" who else would you get to design the 100th Anniversary Logo except a youth? We had a professional designer, quite popular at the time, come up with the current uniform, how well is that style working out? The contest was open to any scout, if you had a better design, it was up to you to get it submitted. The kid took on a challenge and was judged the winner, he should be congratulated, not taken to task for what his design isn't. It's much harder to construct than criticize I think the uniform should be redesigned as well. Open it up to the youth to dessign what they want to wear. Have the top 5 designs published in Boys Life and placed on the BSA website and have the youth vote for what they like. Lets see, how many youth do we have in the program? About 1,000,000 and 4,000 entries? Thats .04 percent of the membership, I guess the others figured they would get ripped new ones if they tried. Well done all Boy Lead, what a concept!

I may be thinking the wrong way, so if I am, I apologize up front. When the field uniform is discussed, it is generally commented that the quality is poor and the price too high. Now, we want to increase the number of parts of uniform for sale and increase the the quality. What do you think reducing the number of units sold will do for the cost of any one piece of the "quality" uniform? It may be time to just have a necker that can be worn over anything as the activity uniform and let people make their own decision on what to buy

If I was at Philmont on a trek and the other adult leader is Bob, the guy who took wilderness first aid course in the spring, and works as a plumber, and one of the kids develops a problem and another crew comes by that happend to have an EMT who rides ambulances for a living, guess who I am going to think should be calling the shots? Even if Bob is a good friend

why Ed, the recourse would be obvious, sue the Troop for awarding the Eagle without instilling the necessary skills into the scout

I had a Troop Guide who helped write the tickets, and then was assigned a Ticket Counselor who "signed off" on my items. We never formally met, I passed him the documentation that ticket items were done at Rounstables, District meetings, that sort of thing. I am not sure I spent 30 minutes tlaking to him in the 14 months or so it took to complete the ticket

Rather than working on a neckerchief, something the boys may or may not take too, how about a Pack hat? It could be worn almost everywhere (except in some churches)in almost any weather and the youth would not outgrow them near as quick as shirts and pants

http://www.thescoutingpages.org.uk/speeches.html Read the Message to the public Ladies and Gentlemen. I have been asked to explain to you what the Boy Scout movement is. It is a tall order to compress into three minutes the ideals that are being followed by over a million and a half of boys. The movement primarily is a brotherhood of service of boys and men. Its school of character of citizenship, of personal efficiency for the good of the community. This sounds high-falootin. For what is as we know it, a band of bare-kneed rascals, with cowboy hats and staves in their hands. But remember, you cannot give them character through ordinary classroom methods. You have to use other means. The boys are eager to join in a jolly game of fellowship, with its Healthy camp life and handy pioneer training. Their moral character is developed by our method of self government under a code of chivalry in the Scout law. Their spiritual character is developed by their being brought face to face with the wonders and beauties of nature. The boy is naturally active, rather than passive in temperament, and we give him opportunities of performance rather than of profession. Scouts make themselves efficient not merely for their own good but in order to be helpful to the community. In other words, they train to be good citizens. Character is far more essential to a successful career of a man. Character in its individual members is essential for the character of the nation. And character in the nation is similarly essential to its welfare. As a school of character therefore, the Scout movement is non-military, non-sectarian, non-political and non-class. On these lines the movement has come in the space of twelve years to be adopted by every civilized country. The brotherhood spirit has thus grown up automatically. It is forming a personal tie not only between the states of the British Commonwealth, but also between the different foreign counties, it may just supply that soul which is needed to make the form of the League of Nations a living force, such as will render war impossible in the future. The movement is growing every day in size and in effect. All we want are more men in this great brotherhood of service to do this joyous work for God, their country, and the boys. The work, for all who try it can testify, is well worthwhile. The three aims of scouting are mentioned, Charactor, Citizenship and Personal Fitness as is reverence. He mentions self-government which is what we call "Boy Lead". B-P states that scouting "... is non-military, non-sectarian, non-political and non-class." It would take a military man to understand that a brotherhood of scouts cutting across national borders could make war impossible. A man could not kill a fellow scout, even if from another country. I think this short speech shows B-P's sense of humor and hs reasons for scouting, I think its very powerful

And be sure the Leader of the Campfire has a sceptre, take either a newel post or a bastrade, which ever you can afford and decorate it up. Works great. maybe do the thing with the 55 gallon drum hung up on four ropes and see how long the patrols "knight" can remain on his steed

The problem with lawyers is that sometimes they are a neccesary evil, like politicians, a butt of jokes until you need one and then they arent so bad after all. The question is, when did the BSA know about the abuse and what did they do about it. Not saying the attorney involved isnt vermin, but evev if he is, it doesnt change the guilt or innocence of the accused

I guess that would depend if the style of Capture the Flag your troop plays involves the use of simulated weapons pointed at animate objects