OldGreyEagle

I cant think of a troop being more helpful, friendly, courteous and kind than when it shares its knowledge and experience with those just starting out on the Scouting trail. It would be a fine learning experience for the new troop members and leaders. (especially the leaders) to have a camp out where expert advice and skill is close by. Sounds like a great idea (especially for the leaders)

There is a national Honor Patrol Program. I found this on meritbadge.com This may be what you are looking for http://meritbadge.com/bsa/awd/honorpatrol.htm

Dad, I am not going to argue the this issue with you. I am going to argue your style of debate, argument or how ever you wish to charactorize your responses Your postings are logical and well thought out, however I would like to know how your comments about buffonery, slapping foreheads, banging foreheads against a wall, pots calling a kettle black, etc strengthens your argument. Belittling your opponent's mental capacity does not add to your stand or take aways from the opponents argument. If you think the persons opinion is wrong, say so, but your aside sarcastic comments detract from the main issue. Of course I fully realize I can only say the above thoughts are IN MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION, and I fully realize this response will most likely be disected with a diatribe that will make everyone aware of your extensive vocabulary and my intellectual shortcommings and failings as a human being. But after you finish skewering my arguments and words and whatever else you find, pleae answer the following. How can you say you are friendly,courteous and kind when you read your postings ? How can you purport to follow the path of Baden-Powell or defend his life's work when you use such tactics?

Yes brad I concur, One palm for every three months the scout is active after becoming Eagle. Having 5 merit badges past the Eagle requierd 21 is ONE of the requirements for the palm. This is akin to Eagle. There is a lot more to Eagle than the correct combination of 21 merit badges. There is more to a palm than 5 merit badges

Kewl, see what you do is get a syringe, inject your favorite accerelant to about 1/3 of the bulb full. Encase the bulb in a cardboard box full of strips of paper or somehting like that. 'Flash" the bulb by means of wires and a battery. Bury the wires away from the audience and the fire will start magically to the spectators

If I remember correctly, arent you expecting a load of webelous to cross over soon, like this month? Put this scout in charge of "orienting" the new scouts. He will need support from the older guys, but make him a patrol guide or soemthing like that. he will be closer in age to the new scouts and will be able to relate to them better. Give him the job of breaking in the "new" guys, I think he will shine

Currently there is a nine book grouping of Boy Scout Skill Books on EBAY. Just search by "Boy Scout Skill" and if you dont "win" this one, just wait, sooner or later more will come up (This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

I would critique the first project the following way: Did the Eagle Candidate obtain permssion from the proper authoriy to do the clean-up, was a permit needed? Did the scout fill out those papers, were they availiable on the job site Did the scout procure the bags the trash went in, did he get them donated, did he hold a fundraiser to get the money to buy the supplies Did he organize the workers into "work parties" was there a communication plan between the parties, was there a disaster plan if someone was injured or got sick How were adults and vehicles to haul the trash recruited did the scout contact the adults, how much trash did he think he would get, how much did he get. Was there quality control? How did he measure if he did a good job? Are there before and after photos? What was done with the trash, with the recycleables, were they separated out, did any of the recycl stuff generate cash, where did that money go ? Did the scout have it planned out where the trash would go? Thats what I look for in an Eagle project. if you apply the same type of questions to the other two projects, they could be Eagle projects. The Scout needs to Conceive, Plan, Implement and Evaluate. He has to work with a group and be in total control, or as much as a minor cab be. It doesnt have to be huge, but it has to be his

In our troop the SM started carrying a rope with him for SM conferences. During the conference, he would ask the scout to tie a few knots. The kids are so good at knots, that at the last campout he took his compass out and had them shoot bearings. Brevity may be the soul of wit, but repetition brings the skills home

Brad you mean this one?

I think this is the thread you need http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=5256#id_5260

::Lightbulb over my head:: Ok, Le Voyageur, now it makes sense. You are of native American descent (DUH on me) . What nation do you belong to? What is the nature and system of your spiritual beliefs? I have so many quesitons I would like to ask and am not sure if this thread is the right one or not. What do you think about the OA, do you consider it an insult to your heritage or do you regard it as a compliment. If you dont wish to answer, I understand. There is just so much I would like to ask you, get your prespective on, etc. I guess as Joan Rivers used to say, can we talk?

"Perhaps worst of all: how honest is it to profess to be an organization whose goal is positive reinforcement of boys, "unless you happen to be 14 years old, struggling with growing up, exacerbated by the self-awareness that you might be gay", in which case "you are an immoral monster unworthy of my help". " TJ, You said you have viewed the rancor in this forum from time to time. I can only imagine that means you dont read all the threads posted here. If you did read all the threads, I think you would find ALL the scouters on this forum much more compassionate than you think. And I mean adults scouters who are actively participating in the Scouting Program. They would never tell a confused 14 year old who confessed he might have homosexual tendencies that he was an "immoral monster unworthy of my help". Indeed, many active scouter postings have detailed what they would do in such an incident. Work with the parents, the boys clergy, school counselor, or somebody to help the boy out. I can not think of a single poster that I know on this forum that would summarily dismiss the boy without some attempt at helping him. And this includes all of the posters with whom I am at odds with on many issues. The other posters and I may dissagree vehemently on many items, but I know they would do all they could to help your 14 year old confused boy, and I would help them. You may say, fine, but what if the boy's clergy is gay? And in a few churches, that could be true, and the clergy could be openly gay as well. Well, I would think straight or gay, a clergy member would know that 14 is WAY to early for sexual experimenting of any type and would communicate that to the boy. I would tell that same thing to a boy who confided in me he was having sex with his girlfriend as well. And that goes for 15, 16, and 17 years old scouts as well. Actually, I wouldnt tell him that, I would try to get his parents, clergy, school councilor to tell him that. As mentioned on a previous post sexuality is not handled in Boy Scouts, it is a matter for the boy and his parents and whomever his parents wish. But it wont be connected to scouts. In Boy Scouts, there is Duty to God, meaning while scouts dont dictate a certain religion to believe in, you just need to follow one. And we have have a policy (whether written, or oral, secret or not) that you cant be homosexual. You can be a member of a religion that doesnt condemn homosexuality and still be a Boy Scout. The requirement of Duty to God does not say you cant be a member of a religion that condemns homosexuality, only that you have to be a member of a religion and follow it. I may be redundant, but I want to be sure I am clearly stating my position. Boy Scouts has never said in any of its press releases that homosexuals are dirty filthy monsters, (at least not that I know of). Boy Scouts does not say that Atheists are bad people. They do say that if you are one or the other, you cant join us. But, then, again, we are a private organization. As a private organiation we get to make our own rules over who gets to join. Whether you agree or not with the rules is up to you. You can call us vile and discriminating. But actually, the word discriminating gets a bad rap. All discriminating means is "make a distinction". A person may be praised for having "discriminating" taste in art or fashion or cuisine. That doesnt make that person bad, just discriminating, making a distinction. I dont take being called discriminating as always an insult. I dont always agree with every stand BSA takes, but I always agree they have the right to every stand they take. And TJ, before you reply to this post, I invite you to read a post on the Program section of this fourm. Check out the thread labled "Scouting has given my son / family......" then come back tell me what a vile disgusting person I am for supporting such a morally bankrupt organization. (This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

While surfing the net, I came across this reference to Merlyn LeRoy. Did you know this is a nom-deplume? A fake name? And we or at least I didnt know it? Calling him Mr Leroy and Merl and all, I think thats a great joke on me. Unless its really the guy running the web site. If the guy is fictional, perhaps all his views are fiction as well? And I love Rocky and Bullwinkle, I can do lines from the show all day. I missed this one http://www.visi.com/~westley/merlyn.html

To all the past regular posters, senior members, all of you guys whom I have swapped Scouting Programs Ideas and Camp Tips with. I heartily apologize for starting that durn poll. I had no idea links would be posted to other sites. I will never do anything like this again!

I want to talk about one of your points. If a scout has a blue card signed by a registered merit badge counselor for your council, while you may "question" it, you cannot refuse him the badge. In BSA'a eyes he has completed the requirements. You may say, what if an adult leader from my units didnt sign the blue card? That may work, but if the scout takes it to council, you will lose. I know from experience. Perhaps I should say our troop lost when we had this issue. Scout got the pioneering merit badge. I was impressed because I think its one of the hardest badges to get. I asked him about splicing and if he liked it, he didnt know what I was talking about. I asked him about making a rope, he said he watched the counselor. He has a badge, but he has no skills. This is where the Council has to be sure the merit badge counslers all adhere to the requirements. If its signed, its a badge.

I found this site since the last we talked about sunday school. Many of the verses are virtually duplicates, but theres almost a hundred verses, some of which are not proper Boy Scout material. But if its verses you want here they are: http://www.locksley.com/vintage/yfof.htm

I get to 2-3 roundtables a year. The ones I attend are when safe swim/safety afloat is offered or youth protections or something like that. And the meeting place is less than 10 miles from my house. The one thing I would stress would be to welcome new members with more than an eyebrow raise. I get the distinct impression when I am at our roundtables that this is the old boys club (add women in there too) and anyone new is always seen as an interloper. Hard as it may seem, I dont like having to fight for acceptance or even just to have someone acknowledge my presence. Now, would that change if I showed up for 4 meetings in a row? I dont know, but the staff certainly dont go out of there way to make me WANT to show up.

In our troop (80 scouts) its liable a BOR will break out any time 3 or more committee members get together. We have 3 COH a year. The PLC suggested 4 as the three tend to drag out, but out advacement chair threw a fit because of the amount of time it takes to do three, he didnt want to try four. What we will do is award the boy with the rank patch at the end of the next scout meeting after the BOR is done. This way it can go on the uniform. Then at the COH he will get the rank card. Sometimes a scout will get two ranks at a single COH, especially if he finishes one rank up just a few weeks after the last COH (which always seems to happen) but he will have had the rank patch as soon as it could get to him. As far as two BOR on the same date go, if the scouts finishes the requirements, he should be allowed his BOR, all other things being equal. When this happens in our troop we would have a BOR for the first rank, ask a few probing quesitons about the program and how it could be improved, what the boy would like to see and then have him come back after the other BOR are done. With time to think, he is usually more insightful(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

I have tried the char cloth and rubbing two sticks and the bow method with resounding failure. I wish you guys well in all your pyrotechnic endeavors. Now, have you ever seen a campfire lit by a flashbulb? Speaking of which, do they even sell flashbulbs anymore? where can I find one? Anyone?(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

In the "olden days" when good Ol' BP and I were at Gilwell together we couldnt go to the local Wal-Mart or other such establishment and BUY waterproof matches, we had to water proof them ourselves. One way is to melt parrafin in a double boiler ( ask Mom or Grandmom if you dont know what this is, parrafin or a double boiler)then dip the match head in the hot wax. The sulfur tip will get a nice coating of wax that will make it waterproof. When lighting the match be sure to knock a bit of the wax off so the match head will strike the striker panel or if kitchen matches, before you strike it on whatever. An alternative would be to "paint" the matches with clear nail polish. You have to coat the match head with the polish and then hold onto it while it dries, if you put it down wet, it will stick to what ever it touches. Added fun will be asking the scouts to go Wal-Mart and buy the clear nail polish Again, this coating, even though it will be much thinner than the parrafin, will make the match harder to light. After you see a bevy of scouts dipping matches in hot wax or waving wet nail polish coated matches in the air, the walk to Wal-Mart to buy waterproof matches(OK, OK, I own stock in it)may seem like a really good idea. However, This is something else the PLC might want to try. Take a very small block of wood, maybe a half inch thick and an inch long and a half inch wide, or something of similar dimensions. Take a saw and score a 1/16" grove in the one inch length of the wood. Then, go to Wal-Mart (hey I have to think of my retirement, right?) and buy a pack of Ronson flints for a cigarette lighter. Drill a series of holes in the scored section of the wood block the same size as the flints, or a little smaller. Wedge the flints in the holes, be sure to get the flint at least below the score line, all the way would be best. Then, take a dulled piece of a hack saw blade (I guess you could use a new hack saw blade, but that wouldnt be thrifty) fit it in score line and pull down. You will get a shower of sparks what would have turned Tom Hanks in Castaway green with envy. This device will last for years. I have one that is going on 4 years old. Still works every time. For added effect have the shower of sparks hit some nice 000 or 0000 fluffed up steel wool and the kids will be amazed when they see fire from real flint and steel. Then shower with sparks some nice dry dryer lint and see how they react. If its during a campout, see who can make an actual fire using a magnifying glass. Or the lens of a mag light. (Hanks missed that one). Perhaps you could award a "Conch" to the patrol who starts a fire using one of their patrol members eye glasses. I guess what I am saying is dont play with matches, let them find alternative ways to make fire. I have a few other methods, but if I told you all of them, then you would be as smart as I. (this typed when OldGreyEagle was in an exceptionally silly mood)(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

The topic of Gays and Scouting seems to be omnipresent on this forum. Given the amount of current discussion, it might be interesting to see where we all stand on this issue. I ask everyone to be on their Scouts Honor and vote only once: If Avowed Gays were let in Boy Scouts I would:

Once again, I get to reference my favorite website in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD, Meritbadge.com. It had links to three sites which dealt with BOR. Two of them were the same posting. Both sites certainly say that the BOR may prevent the scout from advancing. When I tried the USSSP, a search for BOR came up with the same posts as Meritbadge.com. A BOR that refuses to advance a rank must be sure to provide to the scout and SM why their decision was made and should not be a surprise to the SM. But if they cant refuse, I echo, why do them?

Actually according to meritbadge.com. (one of my favorite sites in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD), it states to earn a palm you must: 1. Be active in your troop and patrol for at least three months after becoming an Eagle Scout or after award of last Palm. 2. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. 3. Make a satisfactory effort to develop and demonstrate leadership ability. 4. Earn five additional merit badges beyond those required for Eagle or last Palm. Merit badges earned any time since becoming a Boy Scout may be used to meet this requirement. 5. Take part in a Scoutmaster conference. 6. Complete your board of review. I dont think awarding palms at an Eagle Court of Honor would be appropriate, unless the scout made Eagle and the Court of Honor did not occur until more than three months after his Board Of Review. Then I would award all Palms he has qulified for. Earning a palm is more than getting 5 merit badges, it is also being of service to the troop.(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

Try this OA website, they have some information on native americans and scouting http://www.oa-bsa.org/