OldGreyEagle

Nanny? For a scout aged child? Fire her now and use the salary she would have recevied to pay for college

Well, I guess ignoring information is a form of interpretation... The issue I see is now this information is posted on the BSA website, it is available for all to see. I wonder how long before a "percentage attendance" Troop has an appeal based on this policy? I bring this up because as a member of the District Advancement Committee, I will at the first place the appeal ends up once it leaves the Troop and I can tell you the appeal will be upheld. Not because of my personal beleifs, but because it stated on the national website. I would rather not make adults look bad if I can help it, but I could not turn down an appeal based on attendance requirements either.

The Patrol Method is the only way to run a Troop All BSA literature says the boys are to elect their leaders, PL and SPL. Now, in practice, maybe a few things would happen that makes this impractical. A brand new troop of 20 or so youth may have a hard time electing someone as they dont know each other, so perhaps an Ad Hoc appointment is the best way to get started. I am sure there are other times people smarter than I can come up with. Generally speaking however, the boys should be doing the electing. Is there something else you can tell us about this practice?

Parts of this section from http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/resources/mbc/rank.html have been mentioned, but I think it is best presented in its entirety: ""Question: For the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks, how is "Be active in your troop and patrol" defined? Answer: A Scout is considered to be active in his unit if: He is registered in his unit (registration fees are current). He has not been dismissed from his unit for disciplinary reasons. He is engaged by his unit leadership on a regular basis (Scoutmaster conference, informs the Scout of upcoming unit activities, through personal contact, and so on). The unit leaders are responsible for maintaining contact with the Scout on a regular basis. The Scout is not required to attend any certain percentage of activities or outings. However, unit leaders must ensure that he is fulfilling the obligations of his assigned leadership position. If he is not, then they should remove the Scout from that position. " I cant wait to see how this gets interpreted by those who adhere to the percentage tradition (This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

So Pack, What you are saying, I think, and if wrong I am sure you will correct me, is that the BSA could make Chartering Organizations responsible for setting adult leader criteria. If a CO wanted all males, then it would be free to do so. If a CO did not care to limit adult membership based on sexual or Theistic orientation, then that would be up to the CO. The CO would be primarily liable for all actions taken by the adult leaders. Now, for the other side, what happens to the BSA if one or more of the largest CO's in the country finds this move to be morally repugnant and drops all afiliation with the BSA? What if losing 30-40 percent of membership is the price we pay for allowing the "local option" on membership criteria? Can we male those numbers up by the people not associating with us now? The BSA is held hostage by the beliefs of a few CO's, and I dont know what to do

When I was in Camp School for Shooting Sports our Lead Instructor was a retired police officier from Buffalo, New York. He did not use the "W" word, he said a weapon was a firearm used in the commission of a crime, or alleged crime and as such no Boy Scout Camp would ever have a "weapon". He further went on to say weapons were for defensive or offensive actions, again something not needed in a Boy Scout Camp. So, while I aim at targets with my rifle/firearm/gun, I protect my home with my weapon.

Ed, I beleive that was the point, if kids spend time with noses buried in electronics, the answer isnt to ban electronics. Wasnt there a thread on this topic by Beavah, something about banning things is the cowards way out or words like that?

Then again no visit of Philadelphia is complete without a visit to the Mutter Museum, but it's not for the faint of heart

First Local insults me by saying my rhymes are a myth Then he leaves for the Summer, hey what up with this? Although if he must go Then I guess it shall be so But I regret he left without giving him a good bye kiss

scoutldr how could you forget the time they threw snowballs at Santa and our now Governor freely admits to being amoung those who tossed snow at Sants, I always saw the city of brotherly love as an ironic twist, sorta like the Little John Charactor in Robin Hood...

AS OakTree mentions, how would troops in the north, like Wisconsin, Minnsota or in Maine where Moxieman is from do if they didnt travel after dark? I grew up in Chicago and in the winter when we left at 6pm it was already dark. Dont plan 12 hour driving stints, but dont stop camping either

I used to be a BEAR, and a good 'ol BEAR too. But now I've finished BARING, I don't know what to do. I'm growing old and feeble, and I can BARE no more, So I'm going to work my ticket if I can! Back to Gilwell, Happy Land, I'm going to work my ticket if I can!

If the scout is registered in your troop, then he is active in the eyes of the BSA Now, I say that because that is what I beleive, have been told that by others who beleive the same thing. You will no doubt have other posters who will disagree with me, and I accept that. The question I do have is why does your Troop have By-laws it doesnt enforce? You have recharted twice in the past 2 years, why was the absent scout recharted if he did not meet your Troops By-laws? If he is good enough for you to pay money to have him on the roster, why is he not good enough to go to camp? What is the reason for having By-laws you dont enforce?

I mean it's one thing to label someone a crackpot, and then another one a nut, but to accuse someone of being Michael Moore, ::shudder:: well then, can we argue points of view and not what we think of each other before I just call you all "Mr. Poopy pants"?(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

you know those plastic bag you get from Wal-Mart and other sundry and assorted stores? Take a bunch of them, one for each stake you would normally have. Once you get to the Campsite, fill the bag with sand and tie it to the stake loop, bury the bag under the surface of the sand and things will hold. Now, be sure when you are striking the tents to count the number of bags the youth have as you dont want the bags left in the campsite. Since its Assateague Island you may also want to have strategies to put up will the ponies. Keep all your food in coolers and be sure the pic-nic table benches in the group sites straddle the cooler tops else the ponies will play soccer with your cooler until they open. Bring lots of repellent and watch for the Sikma elk. BTW, I thought the Island itself was in Maryland, but I could be wrong. Be sure to spend one night in Ocean City

What if the SPL called the boy, or another member of the Troop that knows the boy?

Sorry Beaver, but I regard Mr Ross Perot as one of the most bogus moments in US political history. Here was a guy who wanted to apply business tactics to the Goverment, a concept which is doomed because its very foundation id illegal

Scoutmasters need a mentor? Dont they have one in the Unit Commissioner? Then again, I find it somewhat ironic that the generation that coined the phrase "Don't trust anyone over 30" see "Wild in the Streets" now doesnt trust anyone under 30

When one talks about the trait of being loyal I cant help but think of the unkind fate of Jor-El He couldnt get the Science Council to comprehend They needed transportation off their planet or its culture would end So he stayed home with his people and sent us his son Kal El

I think I may have mentioned this before, but I was an Asst scoutmaster for a Jamboree Troop from the Council I serve in 2001. The closing show was rained out and the Jamboree had to scramble to put together a show truly thrown together at the last minute. A very veteran scouter from out west got on stage and played his saw like I hadn't seen since the days of Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour. His rendition of "Somewhere over the Rainbow" brought tears to my eyes and still brings tears whenever I think of it. Scouts in my troop couldnt beleive what they were hearing, music from a saw, the place was dead quiet save for the sound wafting up from the saw, truly memorable(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

The end of this thread I dread I would hate to think free rhyming by Scouters in dead Because dont you see Then it would be That rhyming scouters are as relevant as KFed

In the Council I serve, there was much consternation that the Council didnt do anything for Venturing. The Crew I serve was so flumoxed they (the youth) put together an activity that invited all the Crews to attend. Sort of a "we are going to be on this week end and would love for you to come as well" We did well. Then another crew sponsored a "Cardboard Boat Regatta" and we were off. Crews sponsor the event and invite other crews, no Council involvement, which is often just as well

Thanks Beaver, I was thinking the same thing. As Venturing ages go from 14-21, I would hope a Crew (even with girls (cooties and all) would be able to hold their own against boys mostly 11-14) Then again, about the OA thing, seeing as OA is the Camping Honor Society and 4 of the 5 sections that consitute the Venturing Program (Sea Scouts, Arts and Hobbies, Sports, Youth Ministries) don't Camp, why pick on the OA? Lets develop our own organization rather than glom onto somebody elses

As one of the stated Aims of the Boy Scout program is to develop citizenship, why wouldnt you get the "real" flag out?

What if he is only there for the fun of camp? To swim, sail, fish and wander about? Dont we generally excoriate those who use Summer Camp as a merit badge mill or advancement alley? The youth maybe there just to have fun, would that work?