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So, first of all - I LOVE Laurel and Hardy, and reading your post @SSScout made me go back and watch a bunch of their old films again - thanks for the idea! Secondly, I have just been made a Unit Commissioner! Specifically, my District Commissioner wants me to help with training Cub Scout leaders in the area both at roundtable and at their committee meetings. My health is almost totally recovered, and I have gained back all the weight I lost, so I am ready to get back into things with a position that will let me stay involved without needing to over-strain myself with weekly den meetings

Scouters, for your reading and compliance. Here’s the online version. Here’s the link to the downloadable version.

This issue is less about the scout and his leaders and more about our country and the strong political divide. Then, add in the online news in-your-face approach. I like the comment earlier about not making a battle of this. IMHO, things like this should be treated just like many other situations in scouting. It's an opportunity to interact with the scout. An opportunity to create a reflection and a lesson. A good scout leader should be able to turn this into a friendly, positive, constructive conversation.

Please forgive me, as this is not about Scouting, per se, but I am moved to share it with my friends . Acoustics is very important in delivering a message. https://www.facebook.com/john.deboer.spirit.of.thunder/posts/10214529852461085

A really good thought provoking post Navybone, thanks. As a mentor, I strive to get the scouts to look at the basic principles of the scouting values. In one sentence, what do the Scout Oath, Scout Law, "do a good turn daily", and so forth have in common. What is the cornerstone principle for the actions of the scouting values? My style of mentoring is guide the scout to answer his questions, because the process of self conclusions is the profound motivation to change a habit. It's one thing to be obedient because the adults says so, it's different when the scout determines it is th

My doctors say I have made a complete recovery, and I have just been made a Unit Commissioner! Excited to start a new chapter in my Scouting career!

@John-in-KC, are you suggesting that it is that way, or you think it should be that way? @an_old_DC seems to be reporting (correct me if I'm wrong, AOD) that he was able to file advancement for MBs for some of his crew who never earned 1st class. Thinking from scoutshop's perspective, they don't have to check if a troop is ordering badges for a scouts who haven't earned first class. If among those thousands of advancement reports, there's an order for MB's from a crew, why would they build in the business logic? Especially since that logic is not spelled out in the GTA? In other

A scout has the first amendment right to protest without being punished by the government. BSA has a right to tell a scout that certain conduct is expected while in uniform and if a scout violates those rule, membership can be revoked. Doing this in uniform in wrong. Not illegal, but wrong. As was mentioned above, feel free to protest as your beliefs dictate, but not in uniform. I hope BSA lets the scout and parents know that this is not appropriate in uniform. This is an issue perfectly appropriate for discussion in the Citizenship in the Community merit badge.

A few thoughts- as a 5th grader, he would be learning about his roles and responsibilities as a citizen as part of Building a Better World. I would hope that Den Leaders include the role to stand up for their rights as part of the conversion. I did with my AOL Webelos. Maybe the boy's Den Leader followed this up with the boy explaining what the Pledge of Allegiance means to him - it is part of the Scouting Adventure. what an opportunity to discussion and understanding what the pledge is about (not just rote memorization). This is an opportunity for the boy to explain his actions

Well ... over the holiday break I spent the better part of two weeks in the hospital's intensive care wing after a severe illness and other incidents left me unconscious for five days. I survived the ordeal, and I feel much better now thanks to the miracles of modern medicine, but it did leave me in a seriously weakened condition, and for a few months I will be dealing with a rather delicate constitution as I work towards restoring my health to what it was before the sickness. After much prayer and consideration, it was decided that I should let go of my duties as Webelos Den Leader for a

Reading the article, and some others, possibly the dad encouraged him to do the protest. Certainly the young man and his family have every right to protest in whatever way they care to and wherever they might feel the urge. They have that right as a US citizen. The First amendment is in fact the first for a reason. I many not agree with his protest, but he does have the right to protest. The problem is that the Cub is in fact representing not only his pack, but his Charted organization, his district, his council, and the BSA in general. If he wants to protest the pledge of allegi

Best of luck, Robert! One thing you might consider is having the prospective Scouts that you know of, write down a list of 4 or 5 of their friends. You can then invite them directly to an open house. Seeing friends who are interested is a big draw for that age group. Setting up a campsite has been effective for a lot of troops. One that I participated in, we set up on a Saturday at a local park, invited as many as possible and did some dutch oven cooking, eggs in a paper bag, etc. Also made sure to have pictures and displays of the most adventurous things the troop had done- or plans to d

Take a break. Scouting will be here with plenty to do, AFTER you fully recover. ~ Rx from RS

Honorable discharge?