OldGreyEagle

I never thought Yoda talked that funny, well not when compared to my Grandfather who would yell up the stairs for mu grandmother to "throw me down the stairs my hat" or talk about the Deli that was over on the corner "where the street car bends the corner around" I figured Yoda was just another immigrant struggling to learn the vagacies of the English Language

"after I get him his eagle" Daddy_O, You are a professional chain-puller, aren't you?

Ah But Annie, does that mean that unregistered parents may not come on outings? If so, how will they learn that its a blast and lots of fun and becomming a leader is a lot of fun

as sometimes happens, everyone has the same answer which is great. Note we are talking about Tenderfoot to First Class, once at First Class things change a bit, to get Star you must be in a position of Responsibility for 4 months and earn the prescribed merit badges. Now, the merit badges may have been earned as a T-1rst class scout but the 4 months position of responsibility has to be while a First Class scout. Then when Star, the scout has to earn another set of merit badges which could have been earned before he became Star but now he must have a position of responsibility for 6 months. Then when Life, earn more merit badges and be in a position of responsibilty for 6 months and leader an Eagle Project which was developed as a Life Scout. So, while T-1 ranks may be worked together and merit badhes may be applied to a rank regardless of when earned, some things can only be done while a specific rank

Daddy_O I seem to recall your sone is a two sport all star, how much do you spend per year in equipment, uniforms and related costs?

Saw this online and thought it may be a way to fund a portion of scouting and meet the new weight requirements as well. Now, if we can only teach the DE's not to go about the units and ask people are they sure they can't lose just another 10 pounds http://www.weightogive.org/site/c.nrLYJ6PEKoG/b.4828765/k.BE17/Weigh_To_Give_Home.htm

Sounds like two issues here, one is underage siblings regardless of sex on a scout campout and the other the rather misogynistic leanings of your adults. Number one, underage siblings have no place on a scouting campout, the campout is geared for the boys and their interests and skill sets, it would be better for the overall health of the troop if the family leaves scouting rather than hauling this underage sibling along. Number two, Allowing Females (ladies) to camp Show your leadership in the Guide to Safe Scouting, Chapter 1, Youth Protections and Adult Leadership the bolded section that reads: No secret organizations. The Boy Scouts of America does not recognize any secret organizations as part of its program. All aspects of the Scouting program are open to observation by parents and leaders. Note this is in bold denoting BSA policy and all aspects of the program are open to observation by even female parents Yes, she will have to understand she can attend but she can't mother. She has to respect the program the same as any other person on the outing. She gets to enjoy the same accomadations or lack thereof the same as anyone else

At Venturing Camp of course

political associations notwithstanding, can we agree that WIlliam Ayers fits the definition of a terrorist? I think he proclaimed himself one Anyway, any radio talk show host has one agenda, sell air time, its how the system operates. Why couldnt Air America stay on the air? Nobody was buying what they sold Not exactly sure what that means though

as long as the barrles are 33.3 yard from each other, I guess its ok

does a fire ban mean that there can be no singing, or skits, or story telling? The scoutmaster of my youth could talk about a bird he found that was so unusual he named it Rarie for 20 minutes and how it go so large he had to use a lever to dump it in the grand Canyon just so he could say that at times you have to go a long long way to tip a rarie. He could tell the story under a tarp in a rain storm or before a lit votive candle or a flashlight stuck in a bucket. A campfire program needs a camp fire as much as a cracker barrel needs crackers and a barrel.

this may just be picking nits, but actually the official scout record is what is listed at your COuncil office. The ScoutReach wing of the Council I serve doesnt give every scout a handbook, rather they give them the requirements taken from the handbook on 8 x 11 pages and the scoutmaster holds onto them in a file

William Ayers, thats the guy, an admitted bomber of Federal buildings. I knew I would recognize his name. It was in the news recently, seems some guy he knows was running for office and the questin was would association with an admitted terrorist hurt this guys chances. Lost track of things unfortunately

OK, we havent had a song for awhile and for Gunny Listen to your teacher. Repeat after me: I won't grow up, I don't want to go to school. Just to learn to be a parent, And recite a silly rule. If growing up means It would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up Not me! Not I, I won't grow up, I don't want to wear a tie. And a serious expression In the middle of July. And if it means I must prepare To shoulder burdens with a worried air, I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up Not me, Not I, Not me! So there! Never gonna be a man, I won't! Like to see somebody try And make me. Anyone who wants to try And make me turn into a man, Catch me if you can. I won't grow up. Not a penny will I pinch. I will never grow a mustache, Or a fraction of an inch. 'Cause growing up is awfuller Than all the awful things that ever were. I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up, No sir, Not I, Not me, So there! I may get old, but I don't HAVE to mature

See, now that's the genius of my plan, Pocono Medical Ceneter is the closest hospital and you have to go past the Casino to get there, we can pick the parents up on the way. This is getting better and better

I agree that Timothey McVeigh was a terrorist, as was the Unabomber, and perhaps a few others. Including of course the guy who bombed the Pentagon and commented later one of his regrets was that he didn't do more damage, or words to the effect of that. Can't remember right now who he is or who is in his ring of friends. I should have some distinctive moniker, I will have to work on it

Hey now, Camp Minsi in beautiful Pocono Summitt, PA is not more than 5 miles from the Mt Airy Casino and Resort, also located in Pocono Summitt PA. Perhaps we have missed our mark, a combination package could be arranged, a week at the casino for mom and/or dad and a week of camp for the youth all very close together. Be right back, sounds like a call to the COuncil PR guy is in order

Daddy_O, the BSA has as a goal that every scout become a First Class scout, anything past that is up to the scout. Have him join a troop, let him find out if he likes it, if he does, great if not you tried what else can a father do?

The part that has me really confused is that Kudu attributes Lisabob's attitude to him as being due to Wood Badge logic. I thought it was more due to her admittedly Liberal leanings and we all know that Liberals have a deep need to control what other people are doing or saying and I thought this was just another example of this fact. Then again, Lisabob has also admitted deep connections to the academic world and again, academia is replete with ivory tower thinking and rose colored glass gazing and hardly ever rooted in reality and mostly academics want to imbue students in group think, so perhaps that is what Lisabob was trying to do. Then again, Lisabob has admitted at least once that she is a she so as a mother and a woman she should have relative minor input in boy scouting. Her views are null and void I just think blaming Wood Badge for Lisabob's thoughts are a mighty elegant jump of logic that I am not sure I concur with especially as there are many other pathways to explain her pathology

Perhaps it is an error in communication, or perhaps an expectation on my part, but when I started off lo so many years ago, I thought District and Council people were selected from those who had done a good job in a unit and were being "promoted" up through demonstration of skill and ability. I didnt know you could be on a Council Committee just by asking. Some one eventually told me the District was so hard up for bodies all you had to do was prove you could breathe and you would be taken. Just as quality leader selection is imperative for units, so much so for District and Council positions and I am not sure I see it being done. Nor am I sure much a selection is possible with a volunteer pool that seemingly shrinks faster than the polar ice cap (SIC!) The transition pitfall I had was when I started with District and COuncil activities, was I thought the people on the committee understood the program, turns out most had never been a scout, or had been assocaued with a scout unit. If you know how its supposd to be done, don;t be afraid to say so up front and quick, I didnt and regret it(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

First of all, First Class First Year does not mean we rush anybody through anything. The scout is taught and demonstrates the skill and then uses those skills, if you disagree, thats another thread but I had to say it. If the scout is at a loss on how to do the Eagle Leadership Project on his own, perhaps he isnt ready to do the project yet, no disrespect, but maybe some experience is required

I didn't know Campfires had gone away, it does take tradition and involvement plus a songmaster or two that can lead the songs. Typically we get started with the repeat after me, or rather shout after me "Froggie", we do that 2-3 times or more to get people pumped and loud plus if you have ever yelled your head off you know how physically taxing it is and it mellows the boys right out. Then we have a few song ranging from all 204 verses of the Quartermaster Store, the Non PC Boy Scout Sunday School Song, Johnny Verback and of course Green Grow the Rushes Ho. Of late the cheer, Good Capt Kirk has made a resurgence based on the film comming out and then when things taper off I have been known to do a few recitations such as Casey at the Bat Ernest Thayer The Bugville Nine Clarence P. McDonald Cremation of Sam Mcgee Robert Service Ballad of William Sycamore Stephen Vincent Benet Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald The Voyageur Peter Drumond Stopping by a Woods on a Snowy Evening Robert Frost Normally one is what I do at a Campfire, although on Tuesday night of Summer Camp I have been know to all of the consecutively ( by request) to really mellow (sometimes read as bore) the boys down. I have had tried to do Polonius Advice to Laertes, Henry V soliquoy before the battle of Agincourt (Band of Brothers Speech) or the Charge of the Light Brigade but I havent had much luck in keeping locked in my memory We will have 20 youth singing, shouting and listening

www.usscouts.org/bbugle/bb0707.doc The COuncil I serve has a Mandatory Training provision as doumented in the above link. You have to have committed Training Committees and avid responsible record keepers, but please, don't say it can't or won't or isn't happening cause it is in at least one council

I think before you worry a lot about firing the scoutmaster, you figure out who the replacement will be. I had thought it would be you, but since you deem to be disinclined to take the position, it would be good to have the replacment identified and ready to go before you start anything.

I am positive there are plenty of things that celebrate being a member of the "in crowd" and those in the know. I guess its the elites job to be sure the stupid, ignorant, sub-human slime know their position in the order of life and things like this are just simple reminders of everyone's status. Party on