Leaderboard

Five words that prove this thesis wrong: Merit Badge Universities Helicopter Parents MBs were much harder to get in the past. Scouts had to find and call counselors. No answering machines. You had to be diligent. Didn't have worksheets and Google to look up answers. I cannot recall a MB I completed in a week, let alone a day. My parents stayed out of my Scouting except for my dad. He was a TC Chair so he was in meetings are the time, but he stayed WAY out of my way. My mom would not have known where to start with helping me, but she would not have stuck her nose in my busi

Sexism of ANY kind is an issue. Many men here experienced this firsthand trying to volunteer as leaders in GSUSA, only to be treated as if we were convicted pedophiles because of our sex. We've also seen our fellow males treating female leaders as second class leaders and stepping in to call the men out on their actions, so no need to pontificate here. I disagree though about the "He-man Woman Haters" (that's for you @Stosh and @TAHAWK) being the ones who will have problems in this new coed environment. Those guys are entrenched in BSA and won't budge. The know so much and are usually the

You are correct - my comment was too harsh. Scouting Magazine continues to offer quite a number of valuable articles. My Pravda comment was a reaction to the happy-face presented in the magazine about the decision to admit girls. (i.e. "we don't know what it will look like, but rest assured it will be awesome".) It all seemed part of the coordinated manipulations from BSA National to ram through this change via a disingenuous process that I found disrespectful and even insulting to seasoned Scouters. My perspective has obviously soured and I now view BSA National leadership as untrustworthy st

None taken, Col. Unfortunately, that is often the case. I don't have a large staff of Unit Commissioners, and even then, a few do the real lion's share of work. I don't believe National will bet on commissioners of any kind helping--it'll be up to unit leaders.

It will be interesting to see if the already thin commissioner corps downsizes once girls are in. How many DC's don't subscribe to the new policy and will decline the honor? How many adults that agree with it will have the time to devote to being a DC if they're trying to build a girl unit?

I am REALLY outraged that while adding girls to my Troop will be an increase of genders by 100%, the 2018-2019 contract for ASM's only has a 50% pay bump.

Yet, if one were to look beyond the political myopism of the situation one would see the real problems. Sure heavy-set women can't backpack well and so can't heavy-set men. I haven't place a high premium on Eagle for many years regardless of who "earns" them. Divorced mothers are looking for good role models for their boys and helicopter mom's are only interested in getting their sons to win the bling. And yes, there are other, more important factors, than these to be upset about other than sexism. Yes, ingrained social norms have been around since day one and other societies are worse th

I’d argue the value of the Eagle rank has been right or wrong perceived as having gotten easier over time. I always hear how much harder it was in the past. Adding girls to the process won’t chnage that mindset just as churning out decent and strong eagles in 2017 doesn’t change the perception of a 1966 Eagle thinking we had it easier. It’s that perception that needs changing but I don’t see any movement to do that.

I agree with what most said, however I think marketing it to the girls that they can become Eagle Scouts is something they rightfully should promote. The gold award doesn't have that universal recognition that comes along with being an eagle. They will inherently be forced to see what the whole program entails as they climb through the ranks. Hopefully they don't bend the rules to get these first female eagles pumped out, but placing the mindset into young girls' heads that they can finally become an eagle scout will be more effective for recruiting than just telling them that boy scouts is le

You are just trying to be helpful, the Great Summit Bechtel Reserve Resort and Amusement Park is not gonna pay for itself....

Some I like, others not so much. But to point @The Latin Scot is making, if we allow everyone their own little "change" to things then you really don't have a "uniform" uniform, do we? I could get behind allowing units 1-2 places they can ad lib with their own dongles. BSA already allows hats, neckers and patches to be customized. How many more special things do we need? I love the sentiment behind such things, but I do agree we need guidelines and limits.

We got a slot! Crew 721-? Phillip Martin ASM Troop4 Ketchikan, Alaska

I was wondering if we could make a change to the default notification settings. I've noticed that when I follow certain threads I end up getting email notifications when my profile is set to not have any notifications. So my "automatic" setting is set to none, but I am not allowed to change the notification setting for "Someone comments on something I follow". This is pretty annoying since I really don't want or need email based notifications. Can we please allow users to change that notification setting rather than making it default to email?

Only a 50% pay bump? I'd been getting a 100% pay bump every year (and a 200% bump at my 5th anniversary).

OK, thanks...and I guess the little "trophy" emoticon means "thanks". I guess

Yeah new interface had me thrown too. I think it works when you click the + sign for each post you want to quote. In the lower right a "multi quote" box pops up (at least for me) and then you click that.

...and as soon as they have trouble recruiting leaders, it becomes a Commissioner problem because somebody is going to have to visit the unit on a "Parents Night" and facilitate a "somebody has got to help out here, folks," conversation. And then constantly monitor them to ensure they really are delivering the Program and not cutting corners.

I never saw the OA Brotherhood stipend promised me either. Actually the Senate Appropriations Committee (Mrs Turtle) told me that if I cut back as leader I could easily save about $500 a year which might be better put toward the occasional date night.

I got a $75,000 one year contract with a $50,000 bonus per unit I act as unit lead for. That's $175,000/year plus benefits. Not bad in the end.

to the original post.... way too funny. I had the EXACT same thoughts about both mags this month when I looked through them the other night....

This issue has been hashed out here long before you joined the forum. I think even the liberal members (and moderators) on this forum would agree the discussion has pretty much moved past sexist dialog. I believe rose colored glasses are the cause of the responses lately. Barry

YPT tip #4: Don't touch the scouts, even the sexy ones.

It takes a minimum of 19 months to earn Eagle. 1 month for Tenderfoot's Physical Fitness (PF)requirement 4 Weeks ( 28 days) for Second Class and it's PF requirement 4 weeks for First Class and it's PF requirement 4 months for Star 6 for Life 6 for Eagle So technically 18 Months and 26 or 27 Days, not including Leap Year.

And this is why all you all need to call your district commish in 2019 and sign up to be UC's for your district's new BSA4G troops. Cross-reference the thread on quality control. It's in your hands or not at all. The tough nut to crack will be the girl who has been working amicably as a first class scout (concept not the patch) all along -- leading and serving all the while, albeit unofficially, in a BSA troop. And it will probably be some erstwhile hardliner, who upon meeting such a scout, will be her staunchest advocate. That's why I would prefer the membership requirement for

I've never had this problem of getting out of a hammock. At my age, I haven't figured out how to get in to begin with.

I resemble that remark, especially when using my extra wide hammock (72" wide). That is why I always hang my hammock with the other adult tents between me and the Scout tents.

Stosh, you are insensitive.."Shaken Bobcat Syndrome" is a thing. I guess we should be glad BP said "Do a Good Turn everyday" rather then "Give it a Good Poke now and then".

Okay, it was 50+ years ago when they pinned the Bobcat pin on me. I don't remember it, so it must not have traumatized me. I do know I was tipped upside down only because I remember everyone else getting tipped. On the other hand, it might have been so traumatic that my emotional preservation tactics blocked it from my memory. I might be able to get into a hypnosis therapy session to find out for sure. Otherwise I can't sue my parents or any of the offensive Scouters who are all probably dead and gone by now. Is there a statute of limitation on this or do I have a legitimate case

I understand BSA National is not very good at communicating. But they are pretty good at acting in their own best interests, and you would think that something that could lead to a substantial increase in membership would be widely publicized in order to make people aware that the program is available. Or at least I would think.

BINGO!

What BSA needs to do is have a special program for helicopter parents that allows their children the fast-track to Eagle. I highly doubt it will deteriorate the bragging rights prestige of the Eagle anymore than it already has. After all, they have done it to AOL, why not Eagle. Correct me if I'm wrong... Sign up for "Boy" Scouts, do a "leadership project", jump through a few hoops, and VOILA Eagle rank in 6 months! After all, no one really wants to spend a few months in the mail room before becoming CEO of an organization. The world has changed, people, it's time we adapt to this new cul

I am just waiting for the first girl who obviously cannot make Eagle in the timeframe she has, being given a lighter trail to Eagle so as not to disadvantage her because of BSA's lack of speed in implementation. You know that will happen. Some hover-parent is going to blame BSA that their 16 year old daughter cannot possibly make Eagle in two years and how "unfair" that is. Just wait.

They may be scout pants, or maybe khaki convertible pants are just common in Oregon. The troop website doesn't give much indication that they're anything other than a standard Catholic Parish chartered troop. I do like this way they explain advancement to new scouts: "Advancement is an important part of scouting, but it isn’t everything. Though there are no advancement requirements to our members, we do expect Scouts to participate in the program being offered. Enjoy the experience, learn some skills, and advancement will come naturally." It's the last line I like best, I'm go

Just get a jac-shirt and put anything you want on it.

I think BP makes a good point. If the school supplies metal knives AND has a "zero tolerance" rule about knives, they are already exercising "judgement" on when to apply the rule and when not. They clearly allow knives on campus because they supply them. I suspect the statute is nor written in so much detail as to to say "Knives are only permitted if the school supplies them", because that, as you say @NJCubScouter would not be "zero tolerance; so at the onset the is no real "zero tolerance" in the law. And give the administrators and teacher exercise judgement every day when they don's s

If it’s like gaming boards it’s guys who get to know the board owner and share their views. They try to be fair but usually end up showing favoritism in some way or form. Some are good and some not. It’s like anything else I suspect. On those boards people just ignore them.

Wow. Well, it sounds fishy to me. I mean, no one ever says "You owe this" without showing what is owed and why? If they cannot break it down then that's a red flag in my book. I would not be cutting a check to any group that could not tell me how my money is being used OR what I am getting for that cost.

They look nice. This is small stuff.