cajuncody

I don't think that the BSA is just using religion to support the exclusion of homosexuals. I think public opinion also is a big factor. To explain my opinion let me offer this: When I was in middle school we had a female gym teacher who was always "checking" on us girls in the locker room. Now keep in mind that all young people go through shy stages and changing clothes in public isn't very comfortable during those times. After many years of this teacher at the same school it was found out that she was a homosexual. Parents were angry, girls were upset. I for one would not be comfortable sending my son on a trip with a man who has said he likes other men because my son is just a "young" man growing up all too quickly. I for one totaly support the BSA taking my comfort zone into consideration. Kristi This post is my opinion only, if you don't agree with it that is your right just as it is my right to have my own opinion.

Eaglescout2004, Since noone else will I will offer you my support in your decision. We all work here to try and give our young men the tools to make their own decisions. If you are happy with the decision you made I support you 100%. The SM was in the wrong to be one on one with you in a back room and obviously this made you uncomfortable. He knew better. If (when my son ages a little) my son did the same I would not tell him he was wrong. What you did was to stand up for your self in a non confrontational way. And you reported the problem. A lot of our youth today would have just kept it to themselves. No adult leader (or youth leader for that matter) should put a scout in a situation that makes them feel uncomfortable. Kristi

1. A good head on their shoulders (this will make sure they pack what they need) 2. Character ( to make good decisions) 3. Personality (to keep it interesting) 4. Good Morals (to make sure the good decisions are the right decisions) 5. A good sense of humor (for when all else fails) 6. Optimisim (so the glass is always half full and weekends are always sunny -- only works when #5. is a back up) 7. A Plan B (for when #5. wears off) 8. A Home to come to (when ever, where ever, no questions asked) 9. Support (someone who knows they can do anything) 10. Independence (Parents who know when to let go) These would be the 10 essentials that I feel would lead to being prepared. And remember, Lemons can make so much more than Lemonade. Kristi

My council shop requires the form. I had no idea till I went to get the patch. I am not sure why there would be some who require the form and some who don't. Maybe just another way of making the norm hard to follow as one shop worker said we didn't need it but was quickly corrected by another. Anyone know when the form was created? Is is new or old and being fazed out? Kristi

I feel for you. We have had the same problems and I hate to say it but opinions change (even on this forum). For example, when I first described my situation here I was told the OLD CM had to go, then it changed to people thinking I had a personal vendetta against him. So I have quit complaining here about his actions. I would, however, like to make a suggestion based on my own experience. Find out when your roundtable is and go to it. You will find a fantastic support group there and maybe the answers to your problem. My Cub Roundtable Commish has been a fantastic help to us and has provided many answers and alternatives for us to consider. While we are still having problems with the now former CM they aren't nearly as bad and hopefully will be fully resolved over the course of the summer. Also, try offering the CM a new position where he can excel. Be sure to give it an impressive title and give hime some award for his past service. Maybe things have gone south now but they weren't always that way. A good transition may be in order to a lesser position in the pack. Kristi

Are all councils doing a special CSP for the 75th? If anyone is interested I can get ours at the scout shop for $5.50 each, only 500 are being sold. I will pick up any for folks who want to send for them. I would also be happy to scan mine in to send the image. Kristi Cantor PO BOX 1111 Kodak TN 37764

Just to stir the pot . . . You will all be happy to know that a student can join the band without knowing how to play an instrument. After all, that is what they teach. When I joined many years ago I couldn't even read music. They taught me to read and play music and also how to stand outside at attention in a downpour of rain. Ah, the good old days . . . Maybe that is the problem. The ACLU might just be afraid that if we get the boys interested that they would "learn" about God and would then be allowed to join. Just stirring the pot. Kristi Kristi

you can find the answers you need in the guide to safe scouting or online at: http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/resources/18-260/chart.html Kristi

I am sending you a PM. Kristi

I did this at our crossover this year and it was such a hit that no one took any photos of the actual burning neckerchief as all were too busy watching. I still have my script if you want I can email it to you. One thing though, I used Acetone and it worked very well. I also removed the Webelos patch. Kristi

I wasn't aware that there was a weight limit to woodbadge. Are we to be checked in as carry on or go under the plane? ;-) Kristi

Leave it to Beaver! Well said. I agree 150% so there is nothing more for me to add. Kristi

I think this is a moot point. Ok, lets do something about overweight scouters. Now after we run them off, lets do something about overweight scouts. Now, after we run them off, lets do something about too thin scouters (after all thin doesn't mean healthy) and too thin scouts. Gee, room is getting kinda empty. Bald isn't really healthy, too easy to sunburn, out they go. Do you see where this is going? No one can really set the perfect example of the Scout Oath and Law. I mean really come on, there was only one truly perfect person on this planet and he died for it. I would love to see someone show me a scouter who fits all of the criteria all of the time. You want more people to volunteer but maybe not the fat ones??!! No, I think we need to take people as they come to us offering to help. It reminds me of a fantastic quote: First they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out - because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out -because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out -because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me! -Pastor Niemoller Just substitute fat for Jews, Thin for Communists, and keep going. I don't even like the line of thought. Why you may ask? My mother was 5'2 and 67 lbs when she passed away, she couldn't gain weight for a medical reason (he stomach had been removed due to medical problems). She couldn't gain weight, some can't lose weight. Who are we to judge? Kristi

Sorry to be dense but what does my homeowner's insurance have to do with it? We don't meeet at my home and we don't have any acitvities at my home. We meet at the CO. Does this mean that I am also relying on the CO's insurance? Kristi

Sad part is, even the SE's don't get to race it. (sigh) Anyway, my son loved the idea but he builds cars just to build cars. He still has high hopes that his will win and be on display at the museum but he also understood from the begining just how big this could have become (could, not did). He wanted to build one for it and if it didn't win he was still going to take it for show and tell and put it on his shelf with his other cars. The real winners will be the museum with more cars to race. If it had been announced early enough the boys could have done the theme at the pack and district race and had as much fun and produced a car for the race. Another missed opportunity for alot of boys who would have loved it and could have done a good job. Maybe it is just as well, we may have ended up with alot of parental competition. Krisi

I disagree with people saying the yellow shirt should be tucked in. I am 5'2 and 115 lbs and I can't keep it tucked in. It is hemmed way to short and I have the regular size not a petite. If it won't tuck on me then I really don't see how anyone could expect it to tuck on a fuller figured woman. It just doesn't seem like it is meant to be so I very seldom wear it. I also own a tan shirt and it tucks just fine so I usually wear it and yes It is always tucked in. Why can't we have a longer hem line if supply wants us to tuck. Kristi

Wow, finally a response. Yes there is (this year only) a National Pinewood Derby. It is in celebration of the 75th year of Cub Scouting. National sent out info to the Scout Exec. in January so that each council could devise a way to select each council's entry. Each council is only allowed to send one car that is "Emblematic" of that council. The Scout Exec. will then take the car to the annual meeting in Dallas TX between May 26-28 and the cars will be raced by volunteers in a closed session (so no my son can't watch). The cars will also be judged on design. The winning car for speed and for design will be place in the National Scout Museum on display. The other cars will also be donated to the museum for use on their pinewood derby track. This is a once in a lifetime shot for these boys and I am really frustrated that so few people know about it and a lot of people don't even care about it. If you can, talk to your council folks and be sure that at least one car goes for each council. No one in my council knew about this till I started digging around and got some other folks excited. I am very happy that my son's car is going but I am more happy that other boys had the chance to try. On a side note, the national scout museum has a need of donated pinewood derby cars. The ones they use are repaired by a volunteer but are getting pretty shabby. My son is doing a service project of getting packs to donate past derby cars for him to take to Dallas after the National race. The lady at the museum said they would let him keep his own car if it didn't win instead of letting it get used on the track so we are going to be sure that he can offer a nice trade value for them. If anyone wants to donate cars they can send them to the museum or to my pack. The museum staff said that the derby track is one of the most popular displays and even older boy scouts line up to run a car. Kristi Cantor Send derby cars to Pack 582 PO BOX 1111 Kodak TN 37764(This message has been edited by cajuncody)

Ok, Please don't take this the wrong way as I am trying to get my pack back to following the program and see the methods of scouting as a clear path to achieving the aims of scouting. But, to play Devils advocate . . . Methods are simply that, methods. You could have a disease and the doctor tell you that there are 9 methods of curing it and method 3 is the one for you. Just because there is more than one method doesn't (in all cases) mean that you have to follow all of them, unless of course it is a "method to madness" Having said that I can see where some folks would think that just because there are X number of methods that it is not written in stone that you follow all of them. Me, personally, I am trying to use all the methods I can to rebuild a pack so my above answer is hypothetical. Kristi

My son's car was chosen to go to the National Pinewood Derby for our council. I am going to take him to Dallas for those dates. I was wondering if the boys will be allowed to watch the race or if it is closed. Anyone know? I am going anyway as I have family there and plan to take him to the Scout Museum since all the cars will end up there. Kristi

Simple answer would be the medical form from the BSA. Have them have a physical and if their doctor oks it then you probably won't have a problem. Kristi

There were 2 Tx courses listed on my schedule. One is in Nov and the other you missed by a couple of months. That being said, my schedule is for the Southern Region. I can give you the fax number for the souther region ( 770-499-8146). You could fax them a request for the information for the dates and course you need and see what response you get. Or, you could check with your DE. All my info came from my DE not the camp director. Most camps have the DE as the Admin so he should be most helpful. I will also shoot off an email to Donna Carr who was in charge of my course to see what she has to add to the above. I will forward you her reply when I get it. Sorry I can't be of more help. I hope you have as much fun at your NCS as I had at mine. Kristi

I just returned from the one in GA. I was looking at my schedule and the only one upcoming I see for TX is the one in Nov in conroe Tx. This may be due to the fact that I work with Cubs and you may work with Boy Scouts. Could you give me some more info? Kristi

Scrabble is now 75 years old too I think. Kristi Edited part: Was invented in the 30's but not trademarked untill the 40's (This message has been edited by cajuncody)

Are you sure about that? I just took Baloo and I was told that it didn't need renewal. My assistant took Wlot and was told the same thing. In fact, she was told that her previous Baloo training was still good and that was taken over 8 years ago. Kristi

I found this link on the web. It says that the Radios started in the 1943 Cub Scout book. Here is the link and part of the article: http://www.bizarrelabs.com/crystal.htm Set four: Cub Scout set This is a set which appeared in the 1943 Wolf Cub Book, part 1, pp. 75-77. The text is verbatim. It may be public domain by now, but assume for now that the Boy Scouts of America hold the copyright. There is also a nice gif image of the set from the manual. If you have trouble getting this, let me know and I will see what I can do. How to make a simple CRYSTAL RECEIVER A-Dry a cardboard mailing tube in the oven, then paint with a coat of shellac. The tube should be about 6 or 7 inches long and 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Buy one pound of 26-gage (B. & S.) single cotton covered wire. Start and finish winding one half inch from ends of tube. Then shellac all over again. When dry, fasten down to a baseboard at each end, with a screw and washer to prevent it from touching at any point. B-Cut a strip of cardboard as a test place for selector. When length has been determined, cut a brass strip the same size. Screw this down at a slight angle and mark on coil just where it touches. Fold a piece of sandpaper and with the folded edge remove the shellac and covering from wire on coil. This will leave an arc the bras strip will touch. In fastening on brass selector, use two fibre washers. C-One end of wire from coil should go to "ground" clamp. Wire from selector should go to "antenna" clamp. Other end of coil wire should go to crystal detector. Run a wire from "ground" clamp back to one phone binding post. From other binding post, run wire to crystal. Between the phone posts, connect an .001 or .002 microfarad receiving-type fixed condenser, which costs very little. This type of receiver works best when within 25 miles of a broadcast transmitter. Antenna and ground connections should always be tight. - end of article Here is another link http://www.scitoys.com/scitoys/scitoys/radio/radio.html