Leaderboard

At our school we have this poster which helps distinguish rude vs mean vs bullying.

Here's my take on why. Back in the 60s most organizations were very top down. The Japanese took advantage of it using an American's idea, and started making better quality cars and electronics. They were hungry and more amenable to trying something new, like a more bottom up problem solving culture. The US auto industry eventually caught up. The BSA, however, hasn't. They haven't been hungry because there were always people around to make donations. Case in point: the failed idea that one can get eagle without camping. They had to bring Hillcourt out of retirement to fix that mess. There are n

Actually the International Youth Exchange Patch took the World Crest's place from circa 1990 to 2012 (I got mine 1995 retroactively since the patch wasn't out in 1989). Currently it is the International Spirit Award. http://www.boyscouttrail.com/content/award/international_spirit-2378.asp

Cubs, no problem with family camping. Sea Scouts, Venturing, and Scouts BSA, I sure hope not.

Now, why didn't anybody post a flyer about this at Jambo? Oh, that's right, no bulletin boards. Thanks! I will seriously consider this. As a first step, here's an official page https://www.scouting.org/international/recognitions/ and the links to the application with accurate URLs to the newsletters.

Which goes to a look at the troop chaplain and chaplains aide roles. Too often, the plain old Phimont grace is used even though no one knows what raiment is. We would be in lot of trouble without raiment. In the bible belt of the south, I've only heard a free-form, or "in your own way, by your own beliefs" we now have a minute for a blessing.

It does feel like it's now a juggernaut and no one knows where it will land. One of BSA's issues to me is that it always seems years behind the times and never out in front of a challenge. A time or two could be understandable, but it happens again and again. Latest fee increase debacle is only the most recent case in point. I've been worried about scouting for years and from my low level have tried to talk to people where I've had access but it falls on deaf ears. The organization seems to be led by dirigible pilots determined to land the thing their way. Regardless, when it does go to ground

I think the worry is justified. One of the differences between now and a decade or two ago is that we better understand both the severity and longitudinal harm that bullying causes. It didn't happen to everyone, but we understand now how deeply affected were the folks it did happen to; that's the reason to take it seriously. Social media and electronic communications are force multipliers and accelerants that can make the bullying experience take off faster and be even more devastating, and so they add a level of both danger and complexity to a preexisting problem. It is possible

I certainly believe this is a big part, but funding is driving Nationals actions (reactions) today. I believe the movement values debate is irrelevant now because the law suit is the game changer. National is in survival mode and all the changes we see going forward are for saving the organization. The BSA was rich in funding before National started in the progressive direction. I believe alumni would have come to the rescue if the law suit happened 25 years ago. Barry

Perhaps grace is more common in those units chartered by a church or temple. Grace is definitely said in my son's troop (chartered by a catholic church), and the boys just do it as a matter of routine. When I was growing up though, my troop was chartered by the school's PTA. We didn't say grace unless an adult "reminded" us...

dangers to scouting is not external BSA is destroying itself from within poor leadership at every level, all lie to protect their image no respect from the general public, as I don't blame the general public for that Scouting is no more than a glorified daycare service, that's it

I would think most troops has some teasing or horseplay that could be construed as bullying by someone who is very sensitive. We try to teach 2 things to be proactive - Protect those who are less likely to be able to protect themselves and we tell some of the scouts to "grow a pair" and learn how stick up for themselves. We occasionaly find a Nelson Muntz but they get ratted out pretty quickly and we stomp that behaviour out pretty quickly.

I guess the point of it is that it is a worldwide award, that any scout in the world can earn, and so making the point that we're part of something bigger than our patrol/troop/unit/group/district/county/state/country.

The whole thing strikes me as largely a joke. I fail to see the point of yet another doo-dad for a service project.

There used to be a mention in the Uniforming Guide that mentioned the Distinguished Expert Medal from NRA in same position as Eagle and other medals. It no longer states that. So, I am not aware of any official guidance that allows it. Having said that, I have never been, nor plan to be, a Uniform Police. (If you catch my drift.......) ;) I have a shirt I wear on the range with all my NRA and USAA insignia. w

Working copies were distributed at recent course director conferences but it is not 100% yet. Probably 90% done.

When National raised the rates last time (by $12) our annual dues had always included BL for all Scouts. Moving forward we kept the dues the same and let the Scouts choose Y or N for an additional $12 if they wanted BL. Not sure if any of the Scouts take BL any longer

Invite Tim Horton to the meetings, eh?

I would take it one step further in why the ethical decision making will be tossed onto the scrap heap, and @Eagledad nailed it with the note of "challenging a scout". If we as leaders (adults, youth troop, youth patrol) challenge a youth on his decisions; not only ethical but practical ones on an outing; are we not potentially bullying the Scout into our way of thinking. The concept of bullying has evolved into one being made uncomfortable by someone else. I would also say that this statement while optimistic, is rose colored glasses. As BSA morphs from what is was to what

I should add BSA has a relationship with the NRA BSA teaches scouts to murder and butcher fish BSA promotes scout Sunday thereby disenfranchising their open/closeted atheist members to my second list of bullets above. The list is almost endless...

While I appreciate your optimism I think this is simply naive. First, no matter what settlement comes out of the bankruptcy, it will be belittled in the MSM and progressive media as insufficient. The BSA will be portrayed as a greedy organization trying to short-change the victims by declaring bankruptcy. Second, I can think of at least 4 additional membership fights to come (in no particular order): Local option for fully co-ed packs and troops because separate but equal isn't working Mandatory fully co-ed packs and troops because nobody should be allowed to discrimina

Honestly the challenge is, or the question is, that at a National and Council level, NOT the unit level, have we lost our focus as an organization? The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. The Vision is The Boy Scouts of America will prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law. At the UNIT level we do this with campouts, fun activities, community serv

I'm a librarian and we use Scotch book tape to reinforce paperback books that get checked out. I'd recommend getting some and using it as a way to laminate your covers and spines. The non spiral books are easier to repair. We're in Cubs so we use the spirals as they only need to last nine months or so.

Paper books will be around for a while. Yes I know publishing is getting more digital, heck I'm about to transfer all my journals to e-formats in my library, but things happen with e-formats. reader issues, power outages, user difficulties accessing what they want, etc. As a trained archivist, I can tell you that it is easier to access WWII and Korean War paper records transferred to microfilm and fiche at NARA than it is Desert Storm's electronic records. That's because the programs to access DS's records are no longer in use. BUT the best example of "lost" electronic records is NA

My sons book lasted because of the Scout Store material cover, and using a zip lock bag on camp outs. He's almost an Eagle and on the same book. Getting them wet or just damp will cause them to go bad fast. (This message has been edited by dg98adams)