Eagle732

"Sorry that you got your own panties in a wad over it.... OA sucks. I'm still paying my dues. Too bad. Game over. You can't argue with logic like that!

Bando, A Scout's Eagle ceremony does not only belong to the Eagle Scout. It belongs his troop, his parents, his mentors and his leaders. They all (at least in my troop) play an important part in helping the Eagle get to this point in his life. He didn't do it by himself. So if said Eagle Scout wants to use the Eagle ceremony to express his own personal political views I find that inappropriate. There are appropriate places to make one's views known but a ceremony where everyone has gathered to celebrate your achievement is not one of them. I find it highly disrespectful to the people who have taken their personal time to support you, not to listen to your political opinions. As a SM for many years I've been a part of dozens of Eagle Court of Honors. I've never had this happen and I'm not sure what I would do. All of my Eagles have used the time during their ceremonies to thank everyone who helped them, not make political statements. I do believe that since my unit purchases the Eagle Award kit I would have the right to leave the ceremnoy with the award up until the point where I have actually given the award.(This message has been edited by Eagle732)

How about a trophy? Everyone deserves a trophy! How about the Cub tells his story at a pack meeting and he gets a big round of applause? That would probably mean more to him than a certificate.

And of course government run health care would eliminate all the waste and fraud and lower costs for everyone. Maybe they can get the GSA to run all the hospitals:)

I'm suppose to be boycotting DIsney!?? What did they do? Whatever it is the boycott's not working, I was there last month and the place was crowded as heck.

Our Scout Building has the only public flag poles in town, a set of 3 poles. We fly the Maryland and Pennsylvania flag (since we're on the state line and serve both states) and the American flag. I've never had anyone come to me and say we're not flying the flag correctly, maybe that's because we follow the protocol, it's really not that hard to do. We consider it a community service to display the flags. We've recently added a POW/MIA flag donated by the local VFW. Schools not installing flag poles because it's too much trouble? Seems if an unpaid volunteer Souter can make sure the flag flies properly an overpaid school administrator with a fully paid staff should be able to. I'm sure there's a few Scouts in that school that would be glad to do it for them. Unintended consequences or convenient excuse.

"If a Scout decides to turn in their Eagle, I would strongly caution them that their decision should be considered permanent and reversal is unlikely. If the BSA ever becomes the organization they desire for it to become, they may regret their action. " Na, they can just buy another one on eBay. Being an Eagle is not about a medal, or at least that's what I tell my Scouts.

"Unit level, how many have had a heart to heart with your COR, He has voting power at the council level right?????? A district or too of COR could beginning the change.... Or would he throw you out for such talk... " I've had this talk with my COR and received clear instructions on what the CO's beliefs are. I run my troop accordingly. As far as sending Eagle medals back, do what you want with your Eagle medal, I'll keep mine thank you.

Here's a good resource for information on flying the flag: http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

We try to keep it simple. Adults set the dates. Camping trips are traditionally the last weekend of the month unless a holiday interferes. Boys choose the activities they want to do and which month to do them.

Maybe he went to summer camp.

Yes Eamonn we should all try a little of the Sixth Point. Maybe we could all try a little tolerance too.

That license plate thing pales in comparison to this other stuff. At least we didn't hijack the entire site over it!

Hey Basement, I'm glad BSA24 is here, he's taken' some of the heat you'd be given' me

Your SE 's not fat he's just big boned, or maybe he has a thyroid problem or some other metabolic disorder. Anyway this thread has nothing to do with Scouters being fat, it has to do with BSA not allowing gays to be members. The OP posted this thread as an example of other ways we should or could discriminate against members. Welcome to the forum Northern Scouter, this place is a hoot. You'll need some thick skin to play here.

I can tell you how I do it as an SM. New scouts join and some dads want to be a part of the program. They're allowed to attend camping trips where I observe their interactions (or better non-interaction) with the scouts. Helicopter parents are not considered. I talk with the parents, ask about camping/outdoors skills and past scouting experience. When I settle on the candidate(s) I make recommendation to the CC and a courtesy call to the COR. This is all private and if everyone agrees then I go to my current ASMs and ask for an opinion on the candidate(s). If everyone is OK with the candidate(s) then I ask them if they would like to take the position. I've never had anyone disagree to a candidate and never had a candidate turn down the position. Although not a requirement all of my ASMs are Life or Eagle Scouts.

I'd like to see our lodge do something no one else is doing, promote our council's camp.

In my area OA might just be the only place where a boy can be a part of a real boy led organization. BSA24 is too busy fighting another battle to comment about real program that is run by the boys.(This message has been edited by Eagle732)

BSA24, no comment? I guess you're not into Cheerful Service.

BSA24, you call it free labor, I call it cheerful service. I guess it all depends on you perspective. OA promotes camping. Helping your local camp prepare for summer camp seems to me to be part of promoting camping. Fortunately membership is not mandatory so if you don't agree with it then you can drop your membership.

"Good grief, what next" Panic bars on tent doors and emergency exit lights.

Not something I would want my son to watch. I certainly wouldn't pay money to see them either.

Seems like we have some full time trolls who are intent on taking over this forum. Ban fat people, ban smokers, who else do you want to ban in order to make your point?

Lots of ladies in the OA in my lodge, some even Vigil. As far as I know they did all come initially from the Boy Scout side but some are currently in Venturing. Nothing discriminatory about it, it's just a Boy Scout thing.

About a year after becoming SM I proposed to the committee to change meeting night to Sundays, same time, 7 to 8:30. My reasoning was to avoid conflicts with after school activities, homework and sports. Several parents objected so the committee decided to make the change on a trail basis for 6 months. During that trial we saw attendance at meeting increase by about 20% on average. After the 6 months the committee decided to stay with Sunday meetings and we've been doing it ever since. A few points about Sunday meetings: Meeting time is 7 to 8:30. Most familiess are home from weekend activities by then. Boys have had all weekend to finish any homework. We don't meet on a camping trip weekend although announcements and some brief meeting type activities are done after returning from the trip. Cleaning up and setting up tents to dry is all done upon returning from camp. The troop owns the building so there's no problem with leaving things out to dry all week. We don't have meetings during Sunday holidays such as Easter or Labor Day or Memorial Day weekends. This and other holidays that might fall on Sunday cut into our total number of meetings a year. We average about 38 meetings a year since we meet all summer. Our CO is a Lions Club.