OldGreyEagle

This may be a stretch, but I couldnt help noticing part of the meeting was about dress code and uniforms. I guess while the board wants to restrict access to its property to groups that "discriminate", it has no problem restricting access to its property to people who dont dress correctly. The Board wants to control the type of people (those in uniform over those without) it has in its buildings. I guess it is THEIR building, built with TAXPAYER money and if they want a dress code, I support their right.

This thread certainly demonstrates the diversity of the AO throughout the country. Obviously some areas interpret rules differently. In my area, you show up for the sprin and fall work in and you are considered quite invovled. Monthly meetings are held, but transportation is an issue for the youth. Its the same night and place as our districts roundtable, so usually only sons of scoutmaster types show up or are officers.

Eisely my dear old man.... (well not so old, but dear anyway) You may have hit on something Now follow this: The United Way gives funds to several (and I might add worthwhile) charities founded and administered over by the Catholic Church. Now, as I recall only MALES may become a priest, bishop, cardinal and Pope shutting out females altogether from true leadership positions. I believe that is discrimination! AND, if a priest is found to be gay, he is no longer allowed to function as a priest. At least not in my neck of the woods. Is this Discrimination Strike two?. And not to just pick on Catholics, but a few years back didnt an American based religion tell women that they would be better off if they "submitted" to their husbands? I am sure you guys know who I mean, the name escapes right now, isnt that blatant sexism? Does the Unitied Way give them any money? And why is there a Young Man's Christian Association anyway? I mean each of the first three words are as discriminatory as any I can think of. For equal rights sake I also throw in the YWCA, but I am sure you figured that. So, why do we have the bulls eye painted on us?

The only way an adult, or for that matter a scout can get the 6 days of consecutive camping is to attend either sumer camp or a high adventure experience such as Philmont, Sea base, Boundry Waters, or similar excursion.

I can only presume so, but you left out Male

I can only presume so, but you left out Male

One of the Asst Scoutmasters in our Council is living with his girlfriend. He and she seem to be very nice, but a scout recently asked me why they dont get married, and whether or not its OK for them to live together and still be in scouts, Responses?

Are you kidding? Isnt Ol' Jim working at the San Diego Zoo and periodically appears on the Tonight Show bringing in animals for JAy Leno to tease and exploit? Now, if PETS wants to change things, get that segment off the TOnight Show, Fat chance as its a hit each time. I wonder if PETA people weep uncontrolably when they drive at night for the massive fatalities they inflict on the insect population (after all life is life) ANd do they cut off an appendage for hitting an animal with a car?

Co-Ed issues notwithstanding, Our troop had a few guys on a trek at Philmont. While none had a story like this,I did find their description of nutrition interesting. Oatmeal and slim jims for breakfast, crackers and jelly or cheese or peanut butter for lunch? and a decent evening meal. Sounds skimpy and does anyone know if the rations provided meet the federal requirments? Or are the guys just whining?

How many of you guys will be at the National Jamboree next week? Maybe we could meet at Fish hook lake and torture a few fellow creatures together?

Ok, you guys are in trouble now, I've been doing some thinking. fishing is wrong, what does PETA think we should do with pelicans? Eagles? And other fish eating animals. It didn't take many Marlin Perkin's Wild Kingdoms to prove to me that nature is a pretty nasty place where as they say are "... A million ways to die". The way of nature is animals eat animals, does PETA freak out when a raccoon does in a crawdad for lunch or an African lion takes out a gazelle for dinner buffet? I guess I just dont get it

Boys and girls consorting in the wild in their underwear? Sounds like heaven to the liberal press, but not to me. If this was as you explained, then strict measures need to be in place. At our summer camp we have an 18 and below shower and above 18 shower facility. We at the least can have male and female sides of the trail for modesty sake

I would like to see Troops remain all-male, the Venture Program offers plenty of Co-ed activity. As far as the female ranger goes, seems like she may have helped dispel the aura of the feminine mystique and the boys found out she was as human as they are. Girls running around in underwear? In camp? Could they have been swimwear? Most girls that age barely admit to wearing underwear let alone letting anyone see it, then again I may be wrong. Our troop just had a Philmont contingent get back, I cant wait to talk to them about it

This is from a website called nofishing.net, I couldn't connect with Fishinghurts.com. Its at the end of the article "...Please write to the president of the Boy Scouts of America, urging him to replace the outdated "Fishing" and "Fish and Wildlife Management" merit badges with a "Waterway Cleanup" badge. Scouts could perform a marvelous service to the community and to the environment by clearing fishing debris from rivers, ponds, lakes, and other waterways. Scouts can also learn to appreciate nature, rather than destroy it and its inhabitants, through birdwatching, hiking, and many other humane outdoor activities that merit badges. Please send your letter to:...." And then it lists the address. I wonder if anybody in this group took a minute to look at the program. We have bird study, hiking, and numerous other outdoor merit badges which no doubt you all know. I know in our community bank restoration and waterway clean-up is so popular a topic for Eagle Projects, my son picked dry land project just because he was tired of working with his feet wet. I am not sure any more what the answer is, I used to think if we ignored the lunatic fringe, they would burn themselves out, but instead we seem to be assaulted from if not all sides, more than I thought possible. What is the answer? Will national ever start extolling the positive exploits of Scouts? Boy Life always has a cartoon on Scouts In Action, what if they started to make a monthy commercial on that? Or am I just paranoid, that could happen

And a funny thing happened on the way to my posting... And I should also point out that all the female members of the crew are girl scouts and through them I have learned a great deal more about Girl Scouts and that knowledge has engendered a deeper respect. They have some requirements for their ranks that BSA should look at. All those in scouting, whether followers of Lord Baden-Powell or Juliet Gordon Lowe (who turned downed a marriage proposal from Lord Baden-Powell) should be commended for their work with todays youth

Amen Sister (I hope!) At a recent Council Function a "Universal" worship service was held. I was quite impressed with it, with readings from the old testament, the new testament and the Koran I thought a major effort was made to be inclusive. At the end of the serive the chaplain then asked that all the men and boys present be blessed... I was atending the function as a Venture Advisor and the young ladies of the Crew really snapped to when "men and boys" was said. They wanted to know why they couldnt be blessed as well. Yes, I know they were teasing, and werent really upset, but it may be time to recognize the enormous contribution made by female scouters and Venturers

I saw that column and almost wore my fingers to the nub trying to find an electroninc posting. Then again, as saturday, June 16th was my son's Eagle project I didnt get back to it on sunday as there was the clean-up. Hr Henthoff does a very good job of putting forth the real issues and laying out the rational. After all, why couldnt I campaign to be the co-ordinator of next years West Hollywood Gay Parade?

KL, you do have a point. In fact replacing the flags from Veterans Graves of several cemetaries is my son's Eagle project. Later this month he will retire these flags in a solemn ceremony. The American Legion we worked with were very appreciative of our efforts and we plan to help them next year, maybe not as an Eagle Project, but just as a service project

In our troop we have a point person that no one is allowed to pass and a sweeper that no one is allowed to get behind, with adults at both places. The goal is to keep the two in visual contact, but this cant be done all the time due to trail conditions. The trap of shorter breaks for the slower guys is tough to avoid, and has to be done consciously. Overall, if your troop is a troop, then it hikes, bikes, and camps together and stays together and no one is left behind

Although I must quickly add, being proud of the uniform is on of the best expressions of scout spirit, I meant to say there are other ways as well

I am not sure requiring them to march is the answer. There will always be the scout whose family is away, so they cant be in the parade and then you will have a lot of shy scouts whose families are suddenly always away on parade day. Scout spirit can be shown in many ways, attittude, behavior, personal committments. Upon being told some one is a scout, a teacher or other person shouldnt be surprised, but should "have suspected as much". Now, this comes from a guy who grew up in the Chicago suburbs during the late 60's and beleive me in the summer of 68 and through all of 1969, wearing any thing Boy Scouts was not the safest thing to do. We still had our meetings, we still went camping, but just not in uniforms, and I may add we had plenty of spirit. Mandating a march in uniform may not be the best approach, but expecting to see the boys live the oath and law is. Scout Spirit is more than a willingness to wear the uniform.

I agree JM, and while I hope never to make an Anti-Semantical remark. You are correct, the Boy Scouts dont discriminate, rather we set standards by which our leaders and members must live. As a private organization we are have the right to decide membership requirements. When we recite the scout oath, we say will be physically strong, (not necessary pumping iron, but physically active)mentally awake ( to me this means no drugs)and morally straight ( and we define this). Many politicians talk about charactor and values in vague nebulous terms. BSA actually explains what they mean by these terms and for that we are vilified. We say what we do and do what we say And actually I would prefer not to have govermental help. We are strong enough to stand by oursleves and find our own way.

Our Troop sponsored a Camporee in the fall of 1999. We used the Y2K angle. We set the scenario as all the computers were gone, GPS didnt work so they had to use orienteering skills. To transport the sick they had to make a stretcher and carry them over the obstacle course we set up. They had to use all their scout skills because computers were gone. It was called Y2K, but you could set it anywhere.

Our troop recently had a first year scout campout, the other scouts went to a different place and had a back packing trip while the new scouts worked on advancement. During the day I made a lot of "bets" that I would be able to start the evenings campfire using only flint and steel. None of the kids or fathers thought I could pull it off. My "flint and steel" kit is comprised of a very small block of wood which I scored down the center with a hacksaw blade. Then I drilled 5 holes just wide enough to hold 5 cigarette lighter flints in the scored section. When you draw a bit of hacksaw blade down the score line, you will get a shower of sparks like you have never seen before. FOr added effect I took some 000 steel wool and fluffed it up a bit and threw the sparks on it. It ignited and I put the flaming steel wool in my fire. It was truly a fire started with flint and steel. Does anyone else have a trick fire starter? Either remote ot "matchless'?

I am usually not at a loss of words for anything, but you might just have done it, A 12 year old eagle? with 4 months as First class, 6 as Star and another 6 at Life? Get his name, because he must be the next genius