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Showing content with the highest reputation on 12/11/18 in all areas

  1. I can't do 'Susans', but I can do SUSA. Especially if we make Mr. Potato Head our national spokesman: Then he can be the savior of Irving's membership numbers, the Re-SUSA-tater. I can sink no lower...
    4 points
  2. I realized that I didn't answer your question in specific regarding folks from the Arab world. There are two words for Lord. They both imply master or all powerful, but differ in intimacy. One, famously recited in the Koran, "Lord of the Worlds." Another can also be translated as sire, or even landlord. That is more intimate, and more often used among Christians, specifically in reference to "my lord, Jesus". Now, a muslim may use the exact same words, but when he or she does, everyone knows they exclude the prophets (Jesus, included). And, thanks to modern media, everyone knows that those wor
    2 points
  3. As a Cub Scout Leader who is going through recharter, I can tell you we are losing scouts to sports and busy parents. I have had 0 parents tell me that girls, gays or god made a difference with their membership. What I have been told has been 2 major reasons for not joining or dropping.... - both parents work schedules are too much to support their child in scouts... if they could simply drop them off at meetings and outings... that could work. They don’t have time to help their son with PWD, etc.... already too busy. - Sports....they see sports, especially for boys, as the best w
    2 points
  4. For a proper pilgrimage to Scouting's roots, Brownsea island would be second on the list after Mafeking or as they call it now Mahikeng.
    2 points
  5. We had a quick Eagle award last night. After as we were getting ready to leave the Eagle made the comment "I am glad I got my Eagle before the name change". Interesting thought. Not so much for right now, because we are heading down the road and already have made a change decision. Question is how will these young men feel in 10 -15 years about the Boy Scouts of America (or whatever it may be called) and what effect will that have. Will they believe it is the same organization that they were in? Are the folks in Dallas selling the future for a hopefully quick win in the current tim
    2 points
  6. Welcome to the forums. First, I hope you are trained. 🙂. If not, training always helps understand things. There are three people who need to know about this: - First is the Committee Chair. He or she is the chief admin officer of the Pack, just as the Cubmaster is the operating officer responsible for program. - Second is the Chartered Organization Representative. He or she represents the interests of First Church of Anytown, the actual licensee of Scouting (the charter) for Pack 123. - Last is the Executive Officer of the Chartered Partner. Normally, most Scouting
    2 points
  7. Scouters - I would like your thoughts on why we gather as Scouts and Scouters at Camp, Camporees and Jamborees. Is it the camaraderie between the youth? Is it a way to get out of the house, away from work? Is it to rub shoulders with like-minded adults? A few years ago I was at a Scout Camp with another leader and he said, "...can you feel it? It's invigorating and contagious." I asked him what he was talking about. He went on to explain about the "energy of youth". So, for you - is it the energy of youth? Why do we do what we do and why do we want to congregate? What is it
    1 point
  8. Just got the email - we got a 12-day slot arriving on 7/18/2020. Who else got a spot?
    1 point
  9. Always curious when this topic comes up, how National is de-emphasizing adventure- Maybe it's just me, but with all of the new programs at each of the High Adventure bases, councils doing everything from cave exploring to climbing, whitewater, mountain biking, not to mention pistols, ATV's PWC's, ziplines, etc. What exactly has National taken out of the program? Other than sending patrols of boys off on their own for camping (while there are those that say it destroyed the patrol method, frankly, my troop in the 70's didn't allow that, and I haven't found any of my peers who have said their
    1 point
  10. Ha! My daughter said to me last night, "Yalla yalla!" for the first time. I can't get her to do much of anything I ask her to do but my little bit of slang Arabic apparently sticks with little effort. I guess it worked on my too as the only Arabic words I remember from my military days are Imshi, Yalla, Ma salama, and of course As-salamu alaykum and Wa-Alaikum-Salaam (though no one every seemed to say the "a" of alaykum or the Wa")
    1 point
  11. I've actually wondered if Daughter would have earned Eagle given the chance to do so. She never pursued any such awards. GS ended at brownies. And her and her friends didn't feel that medals were what they wanted out of venturing. She and the boys had very little patience for leadership classes. The thing she really wanted was to go to summer camp with us. Her senior project was a weekend class on outdoor preparedness for the GS in the area. I think if she were given a tan shirt, she would have maybe earned First Class, held a PoR because it suited the work that she saw needing to get done, hi
    1 point
  12. They grow like weeds in my part of the country. If you try looking at google maps satellite view for a less built up area, all you can see are the trees.
    1 point
  13. I think the "Family" aspect (however you may define that) is the largest unknown coming around the bend for the Boy Scouts (soon to be Scouts BSA). Not sure how all these new families that are flooding in will react when the kiddos can't be in the same troop, all the younger siblings aren't tagging along, and (if used) the linked troops do different activities. Also the way troops camp is vastly different from Cubs. Same for meetings, planning, advancement. These will be good times as it gets hashed out.
    1 point
  14. BSA has been very explicit in saying that no advancement requirements are being changed to accommodate our new members. Further, this membership change for Cub Scouts and (what is currently) Boy Scouts was a long time in coming, with decades of controversy and litigation against BSA seeking admission of girls. The stated reasons for this change now are demand by families for a single organization for their boys and girls, and demand by girls to fully participate in these BSA programs. While we can't accurately predict what things will be like in fifteen years, my conclusion from the past an
    1 point
  15. I always stuck to God. I gathered it was the most transferrable between faiths. A way I've also seen this done is to pick prayers from different faiths from time. It seems like a nice way to share some different things with the scouts. You've just got to be careful to avoid @qwazse's "God Jesus" example. Another variant here is to ask around you pack and see if there are people from different faiths and enlist their help with a prayer from time to time. On the question of Lord. I was reminded that Lord is used in the Philmont Grace. That's about as close to a Scouting prayer as
    1 point
  16. our CO is a Lutheran church, our pack is not religious itself, and members religious beliefs vary, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Asian religions , and some I never heard of. Grace prayer I use is taken from Council scout camp that is used at summer camp and posted in council camps dining hall, being council scout camp, its not specific to any 1 religious preference, but the use of the word Lord, has me curious as if its appropriate for all religions for duty to God I generally give parents handouts and discuss talking to their children about their religious beliefs, in the hand ou
    1 point
  17. Who can create new Forums or subforums? Besides topics in "Faith and Chaplaincy", we are also seeing more topics suitable for the also-yet-to-be-created "Starting a new Scouts BSA girls' troop - practical how-to's" forum or subforum. I'd also be interested in a "Faith and Chaplaincy" forum. That aspect of BSA is currently absent from that other scouting organization in which I have spent a lot of years. I'm curious about best practises and other scouters' experiences. To what degree and how can you encourage the scouts to take their families' faiths seriously (or at least what can
    1 point
  18. Sentiment I heard from about 8 staff members this summer that are Life scouts- "i want to get my Eagle done before the change". Here's the thing about all of this for me: it isn't about bashing girls, it isn't about just the past traditions, it isn't about what I or any adult desires- the youth of this organization should be the ones deciding the membership policies, and the name of their organization should they so chose to change it.
    1 point
  19. Transferring this worthy question to the Faith and Chaplaincy Forum.... oh, wait....
    1 point
  20. My short answer would be yes - they are separate entities and probably should have separate bank accounts. Longer answer is that it depends on how you're structuring the troops. Are these linked troops? Will they often go on joint trips? Will they have the same troop meetings? Do they share equipment? Do they share common committee members? Do they share a treasurer? Lots of yes's here may suggest that it makes more sense to have a combined back account and have your treasurer track money as appropriate. You very well could quickly end up where your doing lots of transferring
    1 point
  21. Bank accounts are not a requirement for being a troop although most troops --- and packs --- end up having them, so there's probably not going to be any blanket guidance as to whether a set of linked troops would or would not have one bank account. Like many aspects of linked troops it is going to be up to the COR for how they want to handle it. If you are going to have one Troop Committee for the two linked troops it certainly could make sense, especially early on.
    1 point
  22. This should satisfy everyone and bring an end to the controversy: Khaki Scouts.
    1 point
  23. Ms. Potato Head is wearing her angry eyes.
    1 point
  24. A 2014 article on GSUSA camp closures; it mentions a reduced role for outdoor learning within the organization: Why Are Girl Scout Camps Being Closed?
    1 point
  25. Simple, Scouts BSA = Scouts But Scouts Asexually.
    1 point
  26. I am the original Scoutmaster. Thank you for the comments. It's a tough row to hoe for sure. Scoutmaster Teddy
    1 point
  27. As others have said, you cannot deny a Scoutmaster Conference. As others have implied, Scout Spirit is living the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life. This young man needs some hard questions: - How did doing what you've done demonstrate your TRUSTWORTHINESS? - How did doing what you've done demonstrate your OBEDIENCE? - How did doing what you've done demonstrate your being MENTALLY AWAKE? - How did doing what you've done demonstrate your being MORALLY STRAIGHT? I don't know how your Council does Eagle Boards, so, once you've finished the SM Conference, I'd call yo
    1 point
  28. If the scout spirit requirement is not signed off, then the scout did not complete all the requirements. All too often this is a "requirement" which is not required; it is checked off automatically. IMO this is wrong. Achievement of our mission is demonstrated by this requirement. Failure to require scouts to fulfill this requirement is a failure of our mission; and the scouts' fulfillment of rank requirements.
    1 point
  29. It is a big country, so their will be wide opinions. Heck I'm second guessing myself all the time. When we agreed to suspend our dealer, it wrecked my crew. I knew the chances of him joining scouts again were slim. I see him around town and let him know I miss him around the troop. Same for his buddies who he dragged down with him. They found other activities to occupy their time where their parents could watch them like hawks. On the other hand, our younger boys and their parents know where we stand and that we are there for them. But, the bottom line, BSA doesn't want us to c
    1 point
  30. I would think that willful disregard of the Scout Oath and Law would be more than enough to deny advancement...to any rank. Avowed atheists disregard the Oath and the 12th point of the Law and we don't even allow them to be members. Same should be true of those scouts who commit felonies.
    1 point
  31. Momleader..I don't see anyone that doesn't want to help the scout with his drug issue. The issue the OP is asking about is should a scout engaging in criminal behavior get a pass to Eagle rank. His feeling is no and so if he doesn't personally feel he can sign his application or have a SMC, there is a Disputed EBOR procedure for that process to occur. Maybe there should be a process where the scout can be given an extension until he gets himself straightened out and then hold the EBOR???
    1 point
  32. @fred8033 lays out the right questions. Unfortunately, it will be too late before you get an answer to the first two questions. A user/distributor cannot tell you in good faith that he will keep his product away from the troop and other kids. The forces that are giving him his drugs are doing everything in their power to make sure the rest of your troop, your school, and every kid in your community gets a sample of this product well before their adult brain kicks in. Users, especially young ones, can't help but share. The industry is counting on it. As to other kids avoiding the troo
    1 point
  33. I'm just about as liberal as they come on issues of marijuana, being a proponent of legalization. Full-disclosure, as part of my job I work with companies who legally make and/or distribute cannabis products or promote cannabis events. That said, I'm actually kind of torn on this one. I support legalization but with emphasis on the "legal" part of it, not just for the companies that make/sell it but for those who consume it legally. Even in places where it's legal, it's an adult product, so no scout-age kids should be getting their hands on it. Questions like Fred's come to mind... w
    1 point
  34. These days this violation is relatively minor. Plus, youth are affected by societal changes. States are legalizing. Current culture openly shows contempt. Youth are bound to be caught up in these changes. I find it hard to blame him any more than a 1950s youth that experimented with smoking when he comes from a home where a mom and dad smoke. Generally, I think your focus is wrong. If he is a member of your troop, he deserves the right to have an advancement path forward. That's part of being a member and one of the core scouting tools. We as leaders do not lay in the weeds wait
    1 point
  35. @Scoutmaster Teddy, maybe it will help if I share some stories. I was in a very similar situation. Do a search on "Eagle and weed." It was not fun. The question of whether the scout learned was the only thing I was looking for. The answer was no, just as you've seen. Another story: at one point I had both sons of the council president in my troop and both of them just didn't get it. I told the oldest if he didn't change his attitude I wouldn't sign his application. That created a fuss. The good news is he did change his attitude and the scout's dad thanked me. Standing up for what you bel
    1 point
  36. @Scoutmaster Teddy you are not in a predicament, you are in a pandemic. There are forces at play that benefit from inculcating cannabis dependence at an early age. They are operating on a national level. And, local entities (i.e., schools, police, etc ...) are turning a blind eye to the pleas of moralists. I've read about it here, then seen it play out first-hand almost as if it the malefactors read the posts of the scouters who reported on their problem year or two earlier. So, inasmuch as misery loves company, you are in good company. I'm so sorry. This is not a matter of an SM con
    1 point
  37. We had a scout arrested on a Friday right before an outing for trespassing into a closed factory. Obviously he missed that outing, what with being in jail and all. Scout was a Life Scout, this was his first offense, the legal system worked the issue. He had been and continued to be an active scout. The Scout did seem to gain lessons from the arrest. During the Eagle SM conference the issue was discussed, what he had learned from the arrest, what he would have changed and what he needed to take forward from the incident. IMHO - Key is you as the SM may need to have the conversatio
    1 point
  38. The answer depends on how the linked troops work. Is the intention to share committee and most of the leader? Share resource? Share activities and schedules? How deeply linked ? My gut says "linked" troops use one web site to coordinate. Still your choice how deeply to link. "Independent" troops use separate web sites. But, it's your troops and your vision.
    1 point
  39. Yeah, just for the debate, I'd say separate sites. Linked troops are separate troops and should be encouraged to create their own identity. If you're going to have websites for the units then you should have youth webmasters. While you could have a webmaster from each unit managing the same site, I think that model would take away autonomy from the new webmaster. Consider this question. If your CO was spinning up a new boys unit in parallel with the existing unit, would you want them sharing the same website? Linked troops are only linked at the adult level and that's where it sh
    1 point
  40. This isn't the first time he was busted though. He's been in legal trouble before and we had a situation with him a few years ago when he verbally abused an ASM. He left he troop for a year but never seemed to learn the lesson.
    0 points
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