OldGreyEagle

And hey, if it would calm the angst demonstrated here, I would turn them all in and not wear one.

I agree with the stance Boy Socuts are to be viewed as asexual. Unless of course they are married, which can happen before a young man reaches 18. A boy bragging about his heterosexual exploits is not much different from the one marketing his homosexual adventures. Unless married they are both unscoutlike. Of course, if the gay scout is married in a state that allows same, my argument starts to fall apart a little, well ok, a lot but that doesnt seem to be the issue here. Living the Scout Law is still required, what do you do? What did he say ?

They may be big in Pennsylvania. You never saw the movie Witness? or the most forgetable "For Richer for Poorer"? Lancaster, PA (not all that far from where I live) is home to quite a few Amish. I would send you a link to the Genuine Amish Quilt Website in Bird-in-Hand PA but I can't find it right now. And let us remember that "Pennsylvania Dutch" originally was "Pennsylvania Deutch", as in German but the Deutch got reworked to Dutch faster than Saint Nicholas became Santa Claus. The "Kentucky Long Rifle" of Frontier legend was actually made in Pennsylvania by the German gunsmiths and used in "Kentucky", at the time Kentucky was anything west of the Appalachians. It is the Pennsyvania Long Rifle but I digress Sorry, I love history PS. The CO can do what they did

When I started in Scouting I was proud to put three knots on my uniform. That was the Eagle, Religious Award as a youth and then the Arrow of Light. I figured I was set. Then after a few years of Roundtable attendance and some work helping out on the District Level the Troop Committee put me in for the Training Knot, a peer from another troop wrote me up for the Adult Religious Award of my faith and so I got another knot. After several years of working on the Council Level with the Venturing Program, the youth of my Crew got me the Council Venturing Leadership award. A few years back I recevied the District Award of Merit and then in 2009 the Silver Beaver. I used to think anyone with more than 3 rows of knots was making like a third world general, now I think knots are more like a time in grade kind of thing, you hang around long enough, you get knots. I never sought out a knot, I received them because other's thought I should have them (well except for the youth earned knots of course). When I wear those knots, I am honoring those who thought enough of me to put me in for the awards. I try to repay them by putting in others for the awards they deserve

so you guys know I have never been accused of being a math whiz... I hate when that happens

Sorry, The CO is well within its rights to do as it has.

From the BSA Website on Board of Review Training "The Scout holds his new rank as of the date of the board of review. For ranks where a period of tenure is required, that period begins with the date of passing of the board of review for the previous rank" http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/TrainingModules/BoardofReviewTraining.aspx Sorta throws that wrench in on the concept of having the Board of Review today although the 4-6 month tenure isnt over for 1 week So, if the BOR is on 1/2/10, then 4 months is 3/31/10. When we start counting days, we need to remember Beavah's advice to do what's best for the youth(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

tough to rock hard with a flute? I saw Ian Anderson last summer, he still rocks hard and with a flute at that Just sayin'

Hey Beavah, I know you and I don't always think the same way, but I am with you here. If this topic can cause such angst amounst us here in cyberland, perhaps dumping all adult knots and awards would be the best approach

Venturing Silver

First time I used it on a campout it was dubbed the "De-Snorerizer" and I was prohibited from coming on events without it Seems I had a reputation for vibrating the ground

I have a Respironics Brand Remstar Plus M series Model 200M I use an inverter to plug the unit into The battery is a small Wal-Mart Battery for Jet Ski's, Ever Start I think it is. I am thinking I could use a bigger battery, the unit itself is rated as 12 volt and 3 amps

Spun off as I thought this could be useful I also use a CPAP machine mostly because I like to breathe and live. I can get 6 hours from a small marine type battery and then need to recharge it. At Summer Camp I can use the Dining Hall to recharge the battery during the day and then at night collect it and back to camp. Sorta of a hassle but beats having the nickname, Buzzsaw... What do others do?

When I was a scout, lo those many years ago, after Brownsea Island but before the demise of the Red Berets, the troop I was in had a tradiiton of ending each campfire with the singing of Scout Vespers (not Scout Wetpers as SMT indicated) with Taps sung next without a break. Each line of Taps would be sung and then a senior boy leader of the troop would speak the Scout Oath one phrase at a time. At the end of the spoken phrase the Troop would sing the next line of Taps and so on. I always thought it was a powerful way to end a campfire. It was considered quite an honor to be selected as the solo speaker, because it meant you had the confidence of the scoutmaster not to mess it up. It went like this: (SUNG) Softly falls the light of day As our campfire fades away Silently each scout should ask Have I done my daily task Have I kept my honor bright Can I guiltless sleep tonight Have I done or have I dared Everything to be prepared (PAUSE) (sung by Troop) Day is done (spoken by one scout ) ON MY HONOR (sung by Troop)Gone the sun (spoken by one scout ) I WILL DO MY BEST (sung by Troop)From the Lake (spoken by one scout ) TO DO MY DUTY TO GOD AND MY COUNTRY (sung by Troop)From the hills (spoken by one scout ) AND TO OBEY THE SCOUT LAW (sung by Troop)From the sky (spoken by one scout ) TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES (sung by Troop)All is well (spoken by one scout ) TO KEEP MYSELF PHYSICALY, STRONG, MENTALLY AWAKE (sung by Troop)Safely rest (spoken by one scout) AND MORALLY STRAIGHT (All sing) God is nigh. Everyone leaves to go to their tent and not a word is spoken (This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

so how does the LDS not allow Women on campouts? If I am wrong LDS scouters, please let me know. I am just stating what I think I know, I could be wrong, wouldnt be the first nor do I think it will be the last. Its a CO decision

It may be that I am coming off the high of our Jambo100 celebration held at Kutztown, PA. 6,600 Scouts and Socuters were there and no one was arrested. Not common for gatherings of 6,600 or so To bring off a scouting week end of 6,600 or so takes quite a few people and it helps when those people know or at least know of each other. The week end was wonderful, the program fantastic and the weather even better. The "Jambo" event is a biennnial (every 2 years) thing and this is my (gulp) 6th one. I remember back to the first one I attended lo those many years ago and seeing all the old guys in the Old Boys Network running around, shaking each others hands and geting things done. As I was making my rounds at this Jambo, staffing the Venturing Information booth, proctoring the all night Movie Marathon (All Indiana Jones Movies) I said hi to a lot of scouting friends and shook a lot of hands. One thing struck me, I couldn't find any of the guys in the Good Old Boys Network, only people I had met through scouting who are dedicated to providing the best program possible to the youth. I guess it depends on what you view a Good Old Boys Network to be. Is it a group of people with an Espirit de'corp that gets hard things done or is a group of people who manipulate the system with a wink and a nod and Eagle Projects that shouldnt get accepted are accepted and other projects that should pass with flying colors get held up because they are "lost" or a technical question needs to be answered. Then it depends on whose perspective you are looking from. A group of people who have worked together before can be a high performance team since the forming, storming and norming is already done and they can move on to performing. Then again, I can see a danger in not allowing in new people and new people who have different views than you. You have to be open to new ideas and concepts and the new people have to be cognizant of the established Policies and Procedures. In all, I guess its a lot like life, if you have a positive attitude, then positive things happen, if you are negative then bad things happen. Who figured on that? (This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

I am trying to help an Eagle Scout Canidate come up with a list of "Scouting by the numbers" for his Eagle Ceremony. So far we have 2 for the stars on the Scout badge 3 for the parts of the Scout Oath 6 ranks of Boy Scouts 12 parts of the Scout Law These are ones he came up with. He asked me if there were any others I could come up with to make it 1-12, can I get a witness from the congregation for the missing numbers?

I tried posting the link to ths article, but it keeps failing. This is the complete text Scout festival blends old, new Jambo100, held at Kutztown University, celebrates a century of Scouting with activities including Marshmallow-shooting crossbows and tomahawk hurling The marshmallows were flying over the weekend in Kutztown, as hundreds of eager Cub Scouts lined up to take their turns firing off plastic, confection-launching toy crossbows at the Jambo100 Boy Scout festival and campout. The marshmallow firing range was one of the most popular attractions for younger attendees at the event, which drew 6,600 Scouts and adult Scout leaders from throughout the Lehigh Valley and eastern Pennsylvania. But the plastic crossbows didn't hold much interest for Cub Scout Draven Serafini, 9, of Lycoming County. A few feet away, he and his friends from Pack 116 had found something they thought was way more interesting: a few 2-foot lengths of rope from a knot-tying booth. Draven already had a marshmallow gun at home, he explained Saturday. And besides, he was having more fun ''trying to tie it around my hand.'' Knot-tying and other generations-old Scout activities mingled with more trendy attractions such as rock-climbing walls and giant inflatable slides at the Jambo100, which took over Kutztown University's campus Friday through Sunday to celebrate the Boy Scouts of America's 100th anniversary. ''This will probably be the single largest event that most of these kids attend in their lives,'' said Craig Poland, Scout executive and chief executive officer of the Minsi Trails Council, which includes the Lehigh Valley. Minsi Trails teamed up with the Bucks County and Susquehanna councils for the bi-annual jamboree, hosting Scouts ages 6 through 21. Most Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts are used to seeing only a few dozen people at their Troop and Pack meetings. ''When you see 6,600, it lets you know you're part of a much larger organization,'' Poland said. A display of historic Scouting memorabilia at the heart of the event underscored that point, showing off badges, patches and handbooks used by Scouts over a century. The Boy Scouts of America was chartered in February 1910 and based on the British Scouting program, which launched in 1908. Though the Minsi Trails Council's numbers have held steady or grown for most of the past 25 years, Poland said, Boy Scouts' national numbers have been declining. It's forced the organization to adapt. ''It's just understanding that kids are changing and their interests are different,'' he said. Gone are the days when all Scouts learned to use semaphore flags and Morse code. Instead, Poland said, Scouts are learning to use SCUBA and global positioning systems -- and the occasional marshmallow crossbow. But at its heart, Scouting is still focused on character-building, Poland said. ''It's what we're about.'' A century ago, teenage girls wouldn't have been allowed anywhere near a Boy Scout camp. But on Saturday, Kristi Munson, 19, of lower Bucks County was in the middle of Jambo100 and scaling a tall wooden pole, using spikes strapped to her shoes. She got at least as high as any of the boys. ''I'm climbin' me a telephone pole!'' she declared from roughly 20 feet in the air. ''Whew -- this is a workout and a half.'' Munson is part of a crew in the Venture program, which is co-ed and aimed at teens. The Boy Scout organization could do more to make girls feel welcome in its co-ed programs, she said, but she's grateful for the chance to do things like camp and climb telephone poles. ''I think in the long run [those activities] build character so much,'' she said. Many of the Scouts and Scout leaders stayed on campus in tents Friday and Saturday nights and filled the weekend by whacking together wooden birdhouse kits, firing paintballs at targets or navigating snub-nosed kayaks around Kutztown University's indoor pool. Some of the more traditional activities were also popular, judging by the long line of young Scouts waiting to hurl tomahawks at wooden targets. ''It's fun,'' said a grinning 10-year-old Walter Price, a Webelos Scout in Stroudsburg's Pack 84, after thwacking tomahawks into the wood. In Scouting, ''basically everything that you do is fun,'' he added. Asked how long he thinks Scouting might stick around, Walter answered: ''I'm thinking, about 500 years over 6,500 scouts and scouters in one place. It was great, the camping sites were fantastic, the facilities top rate and the program spectacular. Anybody else attend?(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

During May, the month of Mary, such things are just crude Then again it would be crude in any month Just my opinion of course(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

The Unit's Commitee's function is to support the program, Personnel issues are with the Chartering Organization I know BSA Literature has lengthy (for them) tomes on how to select leadership and the unit committee is prominantly featured but do not mistake "recommendations" for hiring and firing authority

I have often thought that this forum was very much like Forrest Gump's feather and drifts where it will when it and there should be no surprises to where topics end up. But this one did I started off mentioning the Council I serve has a Council wide advancement goal on an unrelated matter and then that statment spawns this thread and I have received multiple (more than 2) PM's about it. I didnt think it was such a big deal but apparently it is. Here is a link to the document that details the Council's Goals http://minsitrails.net/Documents/StrategicPlan/index.htm Maybe if you see it context you will understand, otherwise you can condemn the process fully but in response to at least one PM,no, I didnt make up the Council Advancement Goal to make a point in the unrelated thread.

If you have to use italics to make a point, perhaps there is a better way of explaining yourself, just sayin' The Goal of one rank a year came from the First Class First Year program. BSA research points out that a boy progressing through the ranks tends to stay in scouting and the goal of the Council is to have Scouts stay in at least 5 years which another study shows the time required to have the ehtics of the Oath and Law best engendered in the youth. The idea of the One Rank One Year is so if the advancement goal is not reached, it gives the unit a platform to decide why not. If its a numbers game, of fewer older boys in the troop, then it points to a need to beef up recruiting. If it's a lack of interesting program or the majority of the boys are cross committed, that becomes apparent as well. It also gives the District and Council feedback on the state of Programs offered at their level. This also gives District and COuncil Leadership to look over the health of the units program. If you think hey thats the commissioners job you are correct. But how many times have we heard the commissioner system is broke and needs to be fixed, this is our fix Let me assure you that the idea of paying scouts to earn ranks has not been broached. We have a new dam at summer camp to pay for. Patrol size is not dictated and no one promotes a T-first class week end. The standards of the requirments are upheld, or at least we on the Advancement Committee keep stressing that if the reason boys do not advance is because they are not there, you dont rush them through requirments when they are. They either know their material or they dont and then they dont advance and the reason is poor attendance. There is nothinging wrong with not advancing a rank a year per scout, but its the self examination that is supposed to be helpful. As far as the comment that Advancement is the unit's reponsbility why then is advancement tied to both District and Council Centennial status?

Isn't the Internet fun? Whatever did we do before it? Based on the BSA's own website found at: http://www.scouting.org/About/FactSheets/operating_orgs.aspx A quick analysis shows LDS to have 33% of all BSA units while having 15% of total membership. Second place is held by the Methodists with 10% of the BSA Units and 14% of the membership. In third place are the Catholics with 8% of the units and 11% of the membership Of course the question is, do we trust these numbers? Note: I sometimes speak in terms of hyperbole, especially in allusions(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

This is just like one big Roundtable and it has the Pro's and Cons of any Roundtable. We come from all over the country, we have a myriad of experiences and some common ones as well. If you think the LDS has been bashed a little, well, they are not the only ones. As far as I remember the Catholic Church has had/has its time in the barrel frequently as well. Would it be nice if everyone got along, yes it would, but heck, reality bites. If there was a physical roundtable and there was a unit that was clouded in rumors and legends and statements that they ran the District, they controlled everything but rarely were ever seen there may be some animosity towards them. Then, if a representative of that unit showed up at the roundtable, and asked why there was animosity, that person may get an earful. I could see that person never wanting to return because "those people are just so rude" and if that person never came back there would be those from the Roundtable that would say, "See, told you they were secretive, I gave him a piece of my mind and they havent been back so I was right" So, all that happened was both sides just feel justified in their opinions. WoodBadge teaches us that the phases of a team are Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing. The good news is, we are at the Storming Phase, the bad news is we are at the Storming Phase. If we all hang in there, there will be movement to the last two phases PS There will be of course those who will endeavor to obscure communication and try to demean but with observation you will determine who those elements are and its up to you to ignore them. Or duel with them, its up to you but don't expect much attitude change. Sorta like real life (This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

well, I wont worry about it until he speaks "ex cathedra" on the topic