Col. Flagg

Sounds like the Crew Advisors needed some training in how to train their Crew members and leadership. I have found that when this happens its the adults who checked out first; the kids just followed their lead.

Maybe the inventor of the Internet, Al Gore?

As far as CSPs and OA flaps, it is my understanding that you can wear any such patch even though you didn't attend. Personally I don't wear patches for events I didn't attend, but that's me. I want to avoid that conversation, "Hey how did you like xxx?" and my reply "Oh, I didn't go, I just like the patch." But that's just my position. I think it would be fine for you to wear them. Don't recall any rules against it, with the exception of wearing things you didn't earn (knots, LNT, WB scarf, etc.).

We continue to trust an organization that repeatedly shoots itself in the foot to NOT do it again? Really? I'd bet on the fact they will. The question is how much damage will they do to themselves?

No worries, Barry. I didn't see anything requiring an apology. You're probably just being nice. I have no clue where this problem lies. Actually, that's not true. I do have a suspicion where it lies but it is not a popular one and will likely make me sound like the old Dana Carvey character on SNL, "Grumpy Old Man". I think the problem lies with society. It lies with the video games kids play (and parents allow). It lies with the TV shows networks air and what passes for entertainment. It lies with instant gratification. It lies with the "trophies for everyone" mentality. It lies with the social media approach to news, information and narcissistic display of one-upsmanship we see every day. It lies with the lack of manners and respect for one's self and others. It lies with the slow eroding of family values and teaching of morals. That's not code for anything, it just simply means that most boys won't act like that when they have a solid, working father figure in their life that respects women. It means that when families eat together, instead of in front of the TV or at a fast food restaurant every night, their son can be taught respect for his mother, sister and female relatives. He can learn to honor them instead of objectifying them. Darn it....see, I got on my soap box again. Sorry.

Guide to Advancement. I believe there is an entire section that addresses the Eagle process and order of doing things. I recall an "escape clause" as it were, which essentially says that if a Scout goes "rogue" and begins a project and didn't follow process, that he should still get the benefit of the doubt and cannot throw out his project "just because". MBs do NOT have to be done before a project can begin. The Eagle project can be done at any time during Life as long as it is completed (along with SMC) before his 18th birthday. EDIT: Don't see anywhere where Requirement #5 says this has to be done last. While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project must benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting.)A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your unit leader and unit committee, and the council or district before you start.You must use the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook,No. 512-927, in meeting this requirement. —Eagle Scout requirement 5

I am saddened by what Jambo has become (edited by RS to remove reference to deleted post. No drama, just a mistaken posting. ). The patch trading was less commoditized than it is today. Girls weren't around (other than staff) and we were too shy to approach them. In any event, we certainly would have acted better than a pack of dogs in heat as is described above. My guys and gals avoid Jambo for one simple reason: Cost. It costs them $2300 or more to go as part of our council contingent. For that money they can go on three high adventure trips and live like royalty! When you figure in cost, weather, crowds, thefts, etc., I could not pay my youth to go to Jambo. We have been to Kandersteg instead. Cost the same, MUCH better environment. We have had great luck at council camps for summer camp and high adventure. Only a few reports over the years of girls being poorly treated. Both camp and unit staff nipped that in the bud and the Scout(s) in question either repented or were sent home. Never had an issue at Kandersteg. To be honest, my girls would give any guy a "big does of Texas" if they treated them like that. They figure if you are going to break the Oath and Law, they will too. As the father of a daughter I do not blame them.

If you have your EBOR tonight (7/31) and are eligible for three palms, you have to work 9 months to get them. If you have your EBOR tomorrow (8/1) and are eligible for three palms, you get them at your ECOH without waiting. All subsequent palms you must meet the new requirements for.

Well, by sending out that press release BSA just opened that door. Now, all it takes is for the Twitterverse to go crazy about something and BSA will be vilified for either making or not making a statement on the subject. They should of just kept quiet. Now all it take is for a group to complain and BSA will be compelled to respond.

Maybe I missed it, but did BSA give a reason (real or contrived) about why the change is being made?

As a female Venturer, which would you prefer? A new Venturing-only program or integration with the OA?

A female Venturer from our district wore a "body cam" the whole time she was there. If guys pulled that stuff she simply said "This thing's rolling and I have your face and your unit number. Expect a visit from the Camp Director." She's a budding police officer and refused to put up with that stuff. According to her she turned in about 6 guys. She said she could have turned in 5 times that but it would have been a full time job. Exactly why we are dissing the Intl Jambo and going to Alaska for high adventure instead. The girls want adventure, not harassment.

I have a Scout who is 16 and ready for his EBOR. I explained that if he waited a few weeks (this was late June, early July) he'd get his 4 Palms at our summer COH in a few weeks. He didn't want too and so he had his EBOR. We posted this news on the change to palms to all parents and scouts via email, posted on the troop website, special email to all Life Scouts (and parents) and posted on our social media pages. All covered, right? Over the weekend the parents of Mr. Give It To Me Now sent an email, all hot and bothered that their son would now how to EARN his 4 Palms over the next year, rather than get all four at once. We directed them to the myriad of correspondences on the issue and their son's own email on how he "didn't care about the palms and just wanted Eagle ASAP". Shows me a few things. Palms meant nothing to the young man. Parents don't read...until too late...and then will complain about anything. (The kid is fine with his decision. Still says he doesn't care about "meaningless" palms)

It is entirely BSA's right to invite who they want. However, they risk their "non-partisan" stance if they waiver on when they invite a sitting President to speak merely based on the color of the party to which he belongs. I am not sure I call it censorship. They have the right to invite who they wish. However, they clearly can no longer claim to be non-partisan if they only invite people that might say what the BSA leadership wants to hear. They also risk alienating half their membership who may disagree with BSA's stance on things. Any wonder why FOS donations are down drastically?

I think the uniform and insignia guide says this is all permissible. You can even wear a Jambo patch in the temporary spot, though I personally would feel odd wearing my 1977 Morerain State Park patch 40 years after the fact. I think that's stretching the term "temporary" just a bit much to show off I was at Jambo. CSPs or OA flaps past or present are all valid.

Wasn't OA originally a local honor society that went national? I'm not sure I'd want OA to be the Venturing honor society. Why? Because, frankly, OA is not what it says it is. It's where the popular boys in troops go when they get elected. Most perform the "sash and dash", so it is not like it was. I'd rather Venturing come up with something unique that actually *IS* for the truly unique campers and adventurers, rather than simply throw more kids into a watered down "honors" program.

Think institutional food for 40,000. Units would be better off bringing their own.

There were posts in another thread about in future limiting or approving what the President (or others) might say if given the opportunity again. I would call that an abridgment of free speech. ROFL. Did you actually use the "contrary to the values of the organization" line. What about the membership changes MANY didn't want? What about those values that got totally and utterly trodden over. You seem to scream when YOUR values are impinged but not very supportive of others when THEIR values are similarly mistreated. BSA *DID* allow their platform to be politically charged. Did you not read or hear about the band member that made repeated pro-gay and anti-Trump remarks?? Or did you just elect to ignore it because it matches your ideology? You cannot be non-partisan when you are too busy trying to appease one side and not another. You can't take the moral high ground supporting only one set of values and opinions. BSA (and you) are doing that without similarly calling out BOTH offenders. Otherwise your credibility on the matter is shot.

Change the issue from taking off hats indoors to stopping and standing still for the raising/lowering of the US flag. Should you do it out of respect? How far away do you need to be to not stand still.

ROFL. My mom had a simpler approach. If your hat was on there was no plate at the table for you on which to put your food. She just assumed you were leaving.

...or Wood Badge.

Free speech is free in all instances except those limitations prescribed by the Constitution or case law. So we ALL have the right to say what we want, where we want and how we want to (within the law). The issues here are 1) Should an organization like BSA (or any of its members) who has Citizenship as one of its core aims be talking about limiting anyone's right to free speech, and 2) What is appropriate language/topics/issues when speaking in front of such an organization and its members. If BSA really wanted to make a statement they'd put on their big boy pants, get a meeting with Trump and let him know privately what their concerns are. That's a valid position. Their next meeting should be to have that SAME meeting with the band that spewed their own political venom during their Jambo session. You guys seem to be pretty silent on THAT display of partisan politics. Double-standard? I'm not against BSA taking a stand. Heck, I wish they would have had this backbone long ago. But if they are truly going to be non-partisan they need to address both incidents and do so head on. Not in something as snively and weak like a press release.

I think we DID about 8 months ago.

ROFL...I would say 50% maybe.

It has been historically done as a sign of respect.