OldGreyEagle

I don't think its that Ed doesnt understand the concept, he just disagrees with it. And nothing, no words will ever change his opinion and he has a right to his opinions as you have to yours. Nothing we say will convince you there the God of the bible exists and nothing you say will change Ed's mind. I guess you could say we are at a stand-off and to pursue either matter is well, silly

Right you are Calico, it takes a certain panache or elan or flair or elegance or savoir faire or je ne sais quoi to correctly wear a beret. Those who lack self confidence will never be able to wear the noble beret

At the very least, you need to let Council know about the theft. Who knows, another scoutmaster may have found a patrol flag that he was told was found by the Kleptomania patrol or some such thing. I take it no one from your Troop took the flag as a prank? It is disheartening when such an event transpires

::Toying with the thought whether or not to turn this into another "Am not, Are Too" argument along the lines of Ed and Merlyn:: well, now, We are all allowed to have our opinions, and I respect the right and privilege of another to hold an opinion contrary to my own even if its a blasted dumb stupid and otherwise imbelcilic opinion

The WFA requirment is for one person to be certified, correct, or is it for everyone?

So, if I asked 100 people if the US Constitution gave women the right to vote, what do you think the results would be?

Separation of Church and State is in the Constitution? Now, we are not taking the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments, right? Where in the original text of the constitution is it?

Forgive me, but I have to "... This is a stronger separation of church and state than the US Constitution," Has to be correct as the separation of church and state in not found in the US Constitution Just keeping it real

The Troop I hang out with has roasted a pig at summer camp the past few years, the camp has a chili contest on thursday night (cook staff evening off) and so the troops cook in camp. After failing mserably to win the chili contest, the kids decided to eschew the chili contest and we roasted a pig. Had most of the camp staff as guests. Did it a few years in a row until the novelty wore off. The best part was the "announcements on napkins" the next day where we announced "The literary guild of Camp Minsi will hold its weekly discussion this afternoon at siesta, this weeks topic, Lord of the Flies: Improbable, Plausible or Possible? , Come to site 6, walk towards the flag pole and turn left at the pigs head set on a pike

"They belong with the red berets... GONE!" well thats one man's opnion, I thought the red berets were the coolest thing going

The scary part to me is the attitude of if you can't live without a cell phone, we don't need you exhibited by many. I think thats up to the adult carrying the cell phone and whether or not its use is disrupting the program. I do not know of many units that would refuse adults based on cell phone use, you guys must have a significantly larger volunteer base than the area I serve And with all the Cell phone talk, we have barely scratched the surface of the original question, does the scoutmaster have the authority to tell adults to leave cell phones at home. He can say anything he likes, I will bring what I find necessary (This message has been edited by oldgreyeagle)

"... a mini-book with the rank requirements that is pockets size." well, maybe THAT's what the shoulder pocket on the new uni is for?

Anybody have a question for a disparager? A poser perhaps? A quintescent query? An inventive inquiry? An intelligient interrogatory?

The Scoutmaster is not the boss of the troop, nor of the adults for tht matter. If the scoutmaster were to tell me that I couldnt bring a cell phone, I would politely tell him that if I felt it necessary, I would have one with me. there has to be a backstory to this that I would like to hear.(This message has been edited by oldgreyeagle)

I don't know how many of us have annual evaluations, but I know, that those of us who do would not appreciate being told at our annual evaluation that our boss thinks we have been sucking out for the past six months and the boss has just been licking his chops for the evaluation to let us know just how sorry our lame butt attempt to do good has been. I think a decent respect for the youth is to let him know where he stands at least at the mid-point and then if he is not performing up to standards, whatever you have designated that to be, how to reach those standards and if not, then releive that scout of the POR before the 6 months or 4 monthd for Star is up. If any of the scouts in your troop appealed to the Disitrct Advancement Committee that they were in a position for 6 months and did not get credit for the position it would get overturned. Well, it should get overturned I know I would as a District Advancement person, You don't leave someone is postion and then not tell him if he is doing well only to tell him six months later sorry boy, you didnt cut the mustard. If the mstard isnt being cut, its told to the youth as soon as its noticed with help to adjust performance. if the youth doesnt adjust performance, then he is releived of the position just like real life.

During the Bush years, there were constant demostrations about various postions of the Bush Administration and when asked about such demonstration Bush invariably said, isnt great to live in a country that values the right of free speech. When the Tea Parties were held, someone had to be blamed for settign them up, because the mere unwashed masses could never organize such things. No one questioned the peace demonstrators, or at least I didnt hear/see it. When the democrats were the minority, I know I heard about the right of the minority to be heard and be respected. I know I see a whole lot of comments about this is how it works when you win, you lord it over the losers. Well, it has not been balanced. OK, maybe it wasnt balanced for the liberals during the past 8 years, but lets not pretend that what conservatives do now is any different than what the liberals did during the Bush years in regards to carping and jumping on the flimsiest excuse for ridicule. When does it stop? When do we not attack the side in office for being in power and work for the the general overall good? Funny, I felt like I was writing the set up for a joke while typing this paragraph, I wonder if its possible?

"The heart of scouting is at the troop, pack, ship, crew level. National can change it's philosphical direction, or the uniform, whathaveyou, and true scouting still clicks along at the unit level." Well actually, I would like to edit the above statment. First, I understand what Dessertrat is saying, but still, I have to say that the heart of scouting is not at the troop, ship, crew or pack level. It is at the patrol or den level. Its doing things at the gang/patrol/den level that scouting spirit thrives. Learning, teaching, exploring nature, life just being with the bestest buddies you will ever have is the heart of scouting. Being responsible, not because a bunch of old farty men demand it, but because your patrol is counting on you is a huge lesson in life. The rest is just dressing PS, I am not all that sure that the Patrol Method has gone out of style(This message has been edited by oldgreyeagle)

So, what level of service would it take for you to increase your FOS or perhaps even start to contribute to FOS? What level of service do you expect from the Council and what could they do to make you want to give them more money? For this purpose, think of the District and Council as one entity

I am not sure why any District would want a bright energetic talented and charismatic DE, if they have all those traits they will be gone to bigger and better things so fast all you have is memories. In 12 years our Distrct has had 10 DE's and the latest one is closing in on 9 months and the pool is whether she will last 9 months more. We all see bigger and better things for her ahead.

I am not sure why any District would want a bright energetic talented and charismatic DE, if they have all those traits they will be gone to bigger and better things so fast all you have is memories. In 12 years our Distrct has had 10 DE's and the latest one is closing in on 9 months and the pool is whether she will last 9 months more. We all see bigger and better things for her ahead.

But what on non-camp activiites on Camp Grounds? Capital costs were mentioned. Do you use the COuncil Camp for unit camp outs, for OA events? For other uses, should the Campers at SUmmer Camp subsidise these activities or do all help keep up the Camp?

from the UNIT MONEY-EARNING APPLICATION document #34427 GUIDES TO UNIT MONEY-EARNING PROJECTS number 6 states: 6. If a commercial product is to be sold, will the fund-raising activity comply with BSA policy on wearing the uniform? The official uniform is intended to be worn primarily for use in connection with Scouting activities. However, council executive boards may approve use of the uniform for any fund-raising activity. Typically, council popcorn sales or Scout show ticket sales are approved uniform fund-raisers. OK, so there wasn't a commerical product sold, so does that this make the item null and void except for when commercial items are sold?. The answer references that the Council Executive Board may approve the use of the uniform for any fund-raising activity so its "possible" to get permission. A question on the Unit Money Earning Application reads: Will your members be in uniform while carrying out this project? (See items 36 on other side.) So, it seems like a question if you like to follow the rules or not. If you fill out a Money Earning Application, you have to declare upfront if you want to wear the uniform or not. If you say you will wear the uniform and get told no, you can't you have to look to the seventh point of the scout law and decide what to wear You can ignore the unit money earning application and wear the uniform and then beg forgiveness if you get caught. What lessons do we wish to teach our youth?

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't they charge hospitals for blood?" Well, only because you asked... The Red Cross Blood system is a voluntary system and as such the Red Cross cannot charge for the blood product it provides to hospitals. However, it can charge for the processing and storage of the blood product.

Of the comments Lisabob made, I think the one about this being a Camping Club with the Troop/Boy Scout thing as a thin fascade might be the most telling. Are the adults there to deliver the program or to get out on the week ends? What is more important, that the boys learn something about thmselves and nature or that the trip gets logged in an impressive manner? If its about being an impressive camping club, there isnt much anyone person can do about it, except for us here to recognize such things occur and then try to not let it happen in the units we serve

The Troop of my youth always had great Campfires, at least that's the way I remember them. But no matter what else we did, sang or screamed, we always closed the same way. First the troop would sing the following: Troop : 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 and have I dared, Everything to be Prepared? Then an older boy would sing with the Troop Humming Vespers the following. He would stop and allow another boy to recite lines of the scout oath, it would look like this: Speaker 1 Day is done Speaker 2 On my honor I will do my best Speaker 1 Gone the sun Speaker 2 To do my duty to God and my country Speaker 1 From the lake, Speaker 2 and to obey the Scout Law; Speaker 1 From the hills, Speaker 2 To help other people at all times; Speaker 1 From the sky. Speaker 2 To keep myself physically strong, Speaker 1 All is well, safely rest. Speaker 2 mentally awake, and morally straight. Speaker 1 God is nigh. May the Great Scoutmaster of all the scouts be with us until we meet again I still get chills thinking about it