OldGreyEagle

Contemplating why we live in a seemingly increasing violent world... The video games contribute to be sure and then I turned on the TV to relax, after seeing the state of New York passed its newest gun law I saw an ad for the Movie "Gangster Squad" bullets flew, that followed an ad for "Django Unchained" and more bullets flew, one scene shows the hero? shot another man, in the heart while the shooter laughs. 12 minutes of TV Show (I think Sheldon Cooper is a stitch) then more ads, "Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3-D" Leatherface is back! Did he ever leave? How many Chainsaw movies is that?. Then "Jack Reacher" beats and was beaten and then Bond's latest "Skyfall". And we wonder why we are so violent Does Life imitate Art or does Art Imitate Life? Marshall McLuhan is right, The Medium is the Message

Flashcube? OMG, is that a term I havent seen for a long time or what? Anyway, at the People Choice Award Show a few weeks back both Carly Rae and Train were nominated for awards in something or other. Neither won, but I took it encouraging that these are performers popular enough to be nominated. Eamonn is right about the 2001 Jamboree, the old man on the Saw absolutley killed with somewhere over the rainbow. "The Osmonds: Next Generation" was pretty much a flop, just what a bunch of teen age boys want, a boy band. Three of Hearts was OK until that comment on modes of transportation around camp

You guys have heard of the Venturing Program? Venturing is Coed, in case anyone didnt know When I was at Philmont last July, there were Coed Crews on Treks and I didnt walk in on any orgies. Did you know Philmont allows Co-ed Crews? As well as Northern Tier and Sea Base and I suspect The SUmmitt as well? Why do we act like Co-ed is so dangerous?

To Advance from First Class Scout to Star Rank the scout must earn 6 merit badges, then from Star to Life its 5 more merit badges. And to go from First Class to Star and Star to Life, there must be a Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review. The merit badge experience certainly is a topic to discuss at these times. Waiting until the Eagle Board of Review is a unit program failure If a scout earns Piobeering, he will be one of my lead instructor in Knots, Lashings and Troop Gateway Design COmmittee member. If a scout gives you a blue card on a badge you didnt know he was working on, is not that the time to ask him about it? To use that scout to present onn that topic? If the scout falters, is not that the time to do something? Why wait until the Eagle Board of Review? Seems like we don't like it when Troops have their Scouts only use the In Troop Merit Badge COunselors because doing such short circuits the Adult Association method of scouting while also saying we can't trust merit badge Counselors from outside the troop

See, I don't see it as wrong thinking. I see it was correct thinking If a scoutmaster sees that a scout or scouts are not getting proper merit badge counseling experiences. Then they are to let the District know that so and so is a lousy merit badge counselor. If the District does not do anything, then its on to Council. If no one pays attention then I guess its time to direct scouts elsewhere but unless you try to remove a lousy merit badge counselor, you do not get to complain about how lousy the merit badge counselors are What if a scout gets alot of merit badges from their parents. Havent we talked about how when our sons were scouts we as scoutmasters were so much tougher on them than other scouts? Is the immediate assumption merit badge counselor parents are always frauds? What I see is an emphasis to control the scout, and have the scout do as he is told based on the fear that other adults will not do their job correctly. Should not the focus be on removing the adults who are not to be trusted with the program rather than to figure out ways around the bad egg?

If a District approves a person or even a married couple for all 126 merit badges, isnt that a problem that should be addressed somewhere along the line?

And the fear is that if a scout finds a qualified signed-up and approved merit badge counselor and fulfills all the requirements and the first time the unit knows the scout is working on the merit badge is when the scout turns in the signed blue card, the system will break down into chaos? scouts, on their own, piggly-wiggly finding approved merit badge counselors meeting all the requirements and turning in the signed documentation all without unit approval/assistance....What a niggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhtttttttttmare... OK, sorry if it was over the top. But I don't get the resistance.

"...you guys were thinking on scouts who would let their parents be the counselor of all badges? " I would have to question the District that would approve one person to council 21 merit badges ranging from the Citizenships to Camping to Environental Sciences to Family Life to Personal Management and beyond. Such ecletic renaissance individuals exist, I just don't think there are that many to worry about. SHould really fuel discussions at the Star and Life Boards of Review, wouldnt it?

So, we are pretty keen on saying that the scout's advancement is up to the scout and its up to the scout to advance. Then we are also saying that although the scouts advancement is his own responsibility, the scoutmaster needs to have sharp control over what meritbadges the scout may work on. If a scout does not seem like a fit to the merit badge he wants to work on and the the scoutmaster can't talk/counsel the scout out of it. WHy not let him try? Maybe the Scoutmaster will be proven correct or the scout prevails WHy not allow the scout the possibility of failure? We talk about the benefits of failure, why does it not apply in this situation?

So, we are pretty keen on saying that the scout's advancement is up to the scout and its up to the scout to advance. Then we are also saying that although the scouts advancement is his own responsibility, the scoutmaster needs to have sharp control over what meritbadges the scout may work on. If a scout does not seem like a fit to the merit badge he wants to work on and the the scoutmaster can't talk/counsel the scout out of it. WHy not let him try? Maybe the Scoutmaster will be proven correct or the scout prevails WHy not allow the scout the possibility of failure? We talk about the benefits of failure, why does it not apply in this situation?

Beavah, I would love to have a pragmatic discussion, but its tough when the person with whom you are discussing is prone to presenting "... A parody. Or perhaps a reductio ad absurdum..."

RR, you asked for National's protocol. This is from the Guide to Safe Scouting and is as close to a National Protocol as you will get "Unit Responsibilities Adult leaders of Scouting units are responsible for monitoring the behavior of youth members and interceding when necessary. Parents of youth members who misbehave should be informed and asked for assistance. The BSA does not permit the use of corporal punishment by unit leaders when disciplining youth members. The unit committee should review repetitive or serious incidents of misbehavior in consultation with the parents of the child to determine a course of corrective action including possible revocation of the youths membership in the unit. If problem behavior persists, units may revoke a Scouts membership in that unit. When a unit revokes a Scouts membership, it should promptly notify the council of the action. The unit should inform the Scout executive of any violations of the BSAs Youth Protection policies." I think this fits in the "serious incident of misbehavior" and it compels the Unit COmmittee to handle situation. What to do ? Thats really hard to call from where I sit. It's up to the Unit

Constantin Stanislavski famously remarked that "there are no small parts, only small actors" I thought in the United States we respected work and its takes many members to make up a team. Not everyone can lead the parade, there is sweeping up to do as well and no shame in it either

Does anyone recall the Sarah Palin/Paul Revere Wikipedia war? Wikipedia is not a scholarly reference source

I have a good scouting friend who proudly has both the St George medal (Roman Catholic) and the Shofar (Jewish). He was a member of the Council Catholic Scouting COmmittee when the Council Jewish Scouting Committe collasped. He and the rest of the Catholic Committee more or less took over and made sure the religious awards for Jewish youth were available for 3-4 years. Eventually the Council Jewish Scouting COmmittee reformed and everyone on the Catholic Committee received the Shafor for their efforts. He wears the knot and a single Boy Socut device to show he has two

It may be redundant, but if you are going to Philly, there is the Liberty Bell and Constitution Hall and all that. Then there is Valley Forge and while not "in" Phildelphia, if you are coming from Alabama to Philly this is not problem. For not the run of the mill ideas there is the Mutter Museum, although you should research its inventory versus your units sensibilities http://www.collegeofphysicians.org/mutter-museum/ And then there is nothing more Philly than the Mummers Parade on New Years Day, you can visit the Mummers Museum http://www.mummersmuseum.com/home.html Then go get a Philly Steak Sandwhich, one from Geno's http://www.genosteaks.com/ and then walk across the street and get one from Pat's http://www.patskingofsteaks.com/ Catch a Phiiles game and you should be pretty much Phillie-ized(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)(This message has been edited by oldgreyeagle)

Beavah, did you read 1984? It comes close I think... Then again, what do I know, all I could think of when I saw AWB was to "Pick Up The Pieces"...

"While the high-speed/low-drag folks are in charge of advancement at national not everyone agrees that is the best approach." My understanding is no one in charge of advancement at National has ever signed off on a First Class POR, they have not conducted a Life Scout Board of Review and have never signed off any T-First Class requirements. They are not responsible for Programs that do not allow socuts to use Scout Skills once they are learned National does not have a list of Merit badge counsleors who are know "soft" and while some units do not allow their youth to use them, they do not do what it takes to have those counselors removed form the rolls. National has its share of pimples, that is clear but many of the issues in advancement are rooted in the Units, not in National

CNES, we have had people post on here that did it for the specific reason of promoting their own products and for financial gain. If you are not in the category, I apologize, if you are a scouter, please by all means, contribute

Who are these guys and why do I feel slightly uneasy? http://billofrightsinstitute.org/programs-events/students-programs-events/eaglescout/

Amen dScouter15, CNES, do you get money from these guys?

CNES, are you associated with the organization putting on this class? Do you get money from these guys?

Its from the "ADVANCEMENT NEWSLETTER December 2012JANUARY 2013" I have a copy, but I can't find it on line Why would this be an issue, I thought this was the direction most units wanted to go or were doing

I think I was like 10 when I first had dinner over at a friends house. His mother served corn as one of the vegetables. It was way different that any corn I had ever tasted. I asked about it and she said it was Green Giant brand and then asked what my brand my mother used. I said, we don't, we use whats in the garden and she freezes it. Same with tomatoe sauce, pickels and green beans. I guess they were preppers before the term was coined

It was rhetorical, not directed at you