Leaderboard

My uniforms from 1973 (when I bought new ones for the Jamboree) until 1978 (when I got one that fit for the ECOH) also said "Scout BSA." It's the one thing about the "improved" scouting program that I actually think they got right. I always recall a remark I overheard my Scoutmaster make. My dad was talking to him, and he mentioned something about "that little boy," referring to one of the new scouts. My scoutmaster corrected him, saying, "they're not boys--they're scouts." IMHO, the whole point of what we're doing is turning out adults. They might start out as boys, but if we'

Agreed, and council should back off. I’m fine with DE’s reaching out to COs (Id prefer they also include unit leaders) to discuss the option. I think it’s fine to even explain it further if the CO is debating. Once a CO says not interested council should say thanks for what you do for scouting and back off. If the CO wants to have AHG instead that is fine. I think the BSA has done enough disruption now and should really let COs (and units) decide how they want to proceed.

The pastor of our CO called me (current CM) after receiving a call from someone at District or Council (he's not sure which) pressing him for a decision on BSA4G within the next week. There was irritation all around. Me because of the unilateral approach to the CO without including unit leadership. Which, OK, I guess they can do, but it's bad relationship management. Who do they think the IH and CO staff are more familiar with? Local volunteers or a detached voice over the phone? Him because he's fed up with the social engineering aspect of effected changes. Evidently he gave the pro

Grow tired of misinformation such as the above. Quit stating opinion as fact

*psst* Someone might point out that our country was also once founded on the idea that only white males mattered too but then we evolved. Might want to make sure the reason you are relying on a 100 year old gender-based exclusion is sound and is still valid. With women now being active in all military units, my theory is that if BP were alive today and starting Scouts in 2018, he would do it much more like it will be in 2019 than what it was like in 1910.

The trouble is that the world has changed, beyond recognition, since those texts were written. Two world wars, the rise and fall of Communism, man has been to the moon, universal suffrage, the admission of women to professions like law and medicine that wouldn't have been dreamed off 100 years ago, the internet. All these things have been massive changes to the world. Someone from 1912 would probably struggle to recognise the planet if you brought them in a time machine to today. The same will probably be true if you were to find yourself in 2021. Next month I will go to my cous

You are not suffering from memory loss, at least not when it comes to the older Cub uniforms. Back in the days before the strip was changed to read 'Boy Scouts of America', it did indeed say 'Cub Scouts BSA.' Those of us who are old enough (I first joined in 1961, back when you had to 8 to be a Cub) remember that uniform; along with Lion being the top rank (no Webelos back then), rather than an introductory Kindergarten program. We also remember the brief period in the 70's when the Boy Scout uniform was changed to say 'Scout BSA', rather that the previous and current 'Boy Scouts of Ame

Ugh, this is all getting absurd. They wouldn't dare force co-ed Troops here though. Nor would they insist that CO's which charter all-boy units also charter girl units as well. That would instantly alienate the entire LDS Church, which forms a HUGE part of the BSA population. My hope is that the Church can exercise enough clout to protect smaller conservative bodies who still want to run only the traditional all-male BSA model, but don't have a voice large enough to be heard. If other units want to bring in girls, FINE, but that is where the Church's line is going to be drawn, and I can't imag

https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2018/05/04/do-you-wear-your-neckerchief-over-or-under-the-collar/ This board has helped my change my thinking on the necker (was previously opposed to it due to the added cost and the fact that scouts always seemed to lose their slides). I also never would have imagined that there are so many variations in how it could be worn. Hawkwin Necker convert

https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/aquatics/forms/ Paddlecraft section. They both reside in the same document mentioned in the post just above, supplied again here. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/Outdoor Program/Aquatics/pdf/430-501.pdf Seems that the "river" portion requires a level of water motion/activity that doesn't exist locally. "River modules need flowing water with Class I to Class II features, including standing waves, a downstream V, a large eddy, and a hazard to be portaged." So I'm sure there's someplace in another council or region.

We're the Boy Scouts of America - we don't have a royal charter so what's the point of bringing it up? As for the 1913 Scoutmaster handbook - my response is it doesn't matter what it says - the Scoutmaster Handbook has changed a number of times since 1913 - and it will change a number of times in the future. A Scoutmaster Handbook from 1913 is irrelevant to 2018. Like a physics or chemistry textbook from the 1960's, its now mostly just a window to the past - with many outdated concepts. You can probably even find a more contemporary Scoutmaster(s) Handbook that uses the word Boy a lot

At the risk of revealing myself as a not entirely serious person, and to add some levity to the debate: boys have a distinct advantage when it comes to writing their names in the snow... Sorry. It just popped into my warped mind.

Perhaps you might simply choose to delete it, rather than pass it on. It has little to do with our subject, other than indicating the individual's skewed perspectives.

Heh, funny thing is, I find the graphic depiction of the scout (dumb and obese) to be more disturbing and offensive than the content.

Yes, but.... as volunteers we have influence over this, and we can say -- let's have an all girls troop -- and encourage that path rather than single gender patrols in a mixed troop path. Sell it -- girls will flourish with other girls. Plus, BSA wants girls Troops, not single gender mixed troop troops, so let's help them get there. The best defense is a good offense?? Or the best offense is a good defense?? Eh, you know what I mean. The parents are going to go to wherever the girls are welcomed. So let's make some all girl Troops that have good foundations to build on. Districts sho

I am amused that you consider Kim Possible to be an "old" Disney show.

I don't like to make predictions, but I have difficulty seeing how there are going to be very many all-girl packs. While National is making it an option, it seems to me that they are really pushing the other option, mixed packs with all-girl dens. The whole "early adopter" thing seems to have been built around all-girl dens in existing packs, not creating new packs that would be girl-only. My guess is that that is going to carry over into the "regular adopter" process, and that of the packs that end up having female Cub Scouts, the large majority are going to be pre-existing packs that have

Well there's your reservoir! All those bagged and tagged biting specimens that everyone tossed aside but forgot to kill!

There is a nuance to the discussion that is unfortunately been entirely missed and would have been very worthwhile. I wish we would have had time to discuss it but that is not the way the organization made the decision. At this point as the decision has been made (and rather poorly rolled out) all we can do is decide what we as individual and units are going to do.

Statistics are a tricky thing. It might appear that the incidence of insect borne disease is increasing, but it may simply be that more people are seeking medical help. There are many possible explanations for the changing numbers. It could be that more people have insurance. It could also be that fewer people know how to self-treat minor medical problems, and consequently see the doctors more often. I understand why Puerto Rico has been seeing an upswing (hurricane), but I'm not quite sure why my home state of Illinois is in the top 20%.

Ha! This pic pulled me up short! I used to work in that town! Horsell Common (where the martians landed) was just down the road, and is mostly houses now. Woking in Surrey. The martian was quite friendly once you got to know him. He did tend to hit the beers a bit early for my taste, but then he struggled with depression and holding a job down after Mrs. Martian left and took the kids back to the red planet. He hung around just down the road from my favourite sandwich shop.

That is correct, but to be clear the mission statement has not always been part of scouting canon, it is a product of the 60's or likely 70's. There has not always been the feel good mission statement Looking at the old school Scoutmaster Handbook (mine is 1938 printing) the emphasis is clearly on Boys. What do Boys need. How can the Scoutmaster make an impact in a Boys life. What do Boys do and how do they interact and function in their gangs No youth, only boys

Hi Laxpir21, and welcome ! That is a problem that has plagued the Order pretty much everywhere. Back when I was elected in '74 the older scouts with cars would often pick up their younger troopmates for meetings, tapouts and the like. No longer allowed. I guess its safer but it puts more of a burden on the adults for sure. We have somewhat solved it by holding the chapter meeting at the same time as roundtable. since the scoutmasters are theoretically going there anyway.

Troop 50 Tomfoolery at Pound Ridge NY, 1969 There is no age that seems to exhibit the epitome of thorough and unmitigated tomfoolery than that of the junior high school aged boy. His age, around eleven or twelve is precisely the age where he is allowed and even encouraged to sign up in the local scout troop. If it weren't for the older scouts who kept the silly tomfoolery of the younger ones to a manageable level through the use of the evil eye, cutting remarks, condescension, pranks and beatings, Boy Scouting would simply be just another vehicle for well meaning dads to put a proverbi

Yes.

The strip above the right pocket on a Cub Scout uniform shirt says "Boy Scouts of America." https://www.scoutshop.org/cub-scout-short-sleeve-shirt.html

Not to mention the expected increase in cooties.

New Patrol patch design is a go!

So, this week they'll be in a Troop with their fellow boys, and next week they'll be in a Troop with their fellow boys, and next month, and next year. What are they protesting against exactly? That there's another Troop in town that is full of girls? And democracy isn't everyone getting what they want. That's anarchy.

Again just a few changes Three hour soup = cold chicken over a tiny sterno can. Gills = Chip , the scout who rolled over in his sleep so much you often found him 30 feet from the tent in the morning Joey= Billy, who never used a sleeping bag just an old wool army blanket and I was there too! BTW green wood will burn if you have enough bug spray, but in a shelter you need to be able to hold your breath for quite a long time.

I appreciate the feedback Turtle. The Moderator team is having a conversation about this at the moment, and once we build a little consensus regarding it, we'll make a thread to get feedback.

How does the concept to "not encourage OA" manifest itself? Does that mean: Your Troop does not hold elections or request election teams? Your Troop holds elections and attends Ordeal, but once they are over, the troop discourages discussion of OA in the troop? Is it an active campaign against OA? (i.e. The OA is a bad organization?) Does the Troop participate in events at Camporee or Jamboree that are hosted by OA? If you do not hold elections, what happens when a Scout wishes to join? I am not being snarky, I just don't truly know how a troop can take a passive stance toward OA in a b

My struggles with adult leaders in the last few years are that they are guided by ignorance more than the facts and this is just one example. OA is an honor organization that at it's heart is about serving and service. How scary can such an honor be? Arrowmen when I was a scout were super scouts. The best of the best, and they were the epitome of servant leaders. Who knows where Snow Owl imagined the misinformation about, but the scouts suffer the most because not only does Snow Owl not approve of OA, they are restricted from even considering the organization. I am not surprised that

We have elections. Out of three eligible in 2016, no one made it. This year we had one eligible and he made it by one vote. Some resistance we have faced include: - Cost (yearly dues plus Ordeal/Brotherhood fees, etc) - Time needed for work weekends, Conclaves, Chapter meetings, etc. - Don't like the uniform already. Why add another item? - Adults ("I'm here for the Scouts, not for me." Duh, accept the nomination, complete the Ordeal, and help Scouts become active in the OA big dummy.) - A *lot* of my Scouts are ones that would not fit in with the other Troops (Catholic, LDS, a small q

The bottom line is that some SM's do not understand what OA is, what it does, or how it can benefit their troop. Others see it as a detriment to their troop, thinking it pulls boys away from their troop just as they are starting to turn into leaders. As a Lodge we have been working hard to make sure we have a presence at non-OA events and are visible and willing to talk to SM's and scouts about OA. We worked the recent Eclipse event at our council, we show up at round tables and camporees (beyond just doing tap outs). We do crossovers and help packs coordinate with troops. We do camp promo