Eagle732

I see erosion of our rights almost daily.

Well ol' Mitt lost so that isn't saying much.

Philmont just posted an entire list (maybe 150) of crew openings for 2013. Seems like it's a light year for Philmont, maybe due to Jambo.

http://philmontscoutranch.org/filestore/philmont/pdf/2013Availability.pdf(This message has been edited by Eagle732)

My Boy Scout patrols budget $13 per person, per weekend. This includes 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 1 dinner. They never seem to have a problem meeting the budget.

Study the writings of the founding fathers and you will find the answer. We now live under the government that they warned us about.(This message has been edited by Eagle732)

Well the website linked in the article was down when I tried it. I wouldn't put much stock in anything the Fuff Post reports.

If I could find someone to download all the information and keep it up to date for me I'd go with the flash drive. It would be better then what we're doing now which is not bringing forms with us on outings. I'd hook the drive on my key ring, if it got lost I'd have bigger problems than a lost flash drive!

I'm well aware of the HIPAA Privacy Rules and they do not apply to private individuals (your state laws may though).

Barry hits the nail on the head.

Calico, apology accepted

Our council does a Stem program with the help of a local military base. My son took Veterinary Medicine which had an Army Vet teaching the class. Son says he got a lot out of it.

Also had one of our dads counsel at the same Stem, he's a retired engineer.

I think these programs can be good if qualified counselors are used.

Got a buddy that owns a bakery. He always hires Eagles when he can. His experience is they are dependable.

When I interviewed for a job in a large metropolitan fire department 30 years ago they asked me extensively about being an Eagle. They hired me. I also have a friend who has 3 sons in the same FD today that are all Eagles.

Another friend is VP of an environmental company, he says he hires Eagles because of their dependability and outdoors experience.

Some of you all just wish Eagle didn't mean anything. It is still recognized as a great accomplishment.

Family camping is for Cub Scouts. Troops need parents for transportation and other support but they shouldn't all be camping, especially as a family.

We do have a core group of 3 or 4 parents that camp with us in addition to 4 ASMs. It is sometimes a challenge to keep the parents from interjecting themselves into the process.

Calico said "If you're a Christian and support the death penalty, or war, then frankly, you're not a real Christian - you're a fraud."

So you get to decide who's a Christian and who isn't?

I can quote you Bible verses that indicate killing in self defense, state execution, and certain "just wars" is not a sin.

Oh, the link didn't work? I didn't try it. I already know what people that hate BSA have to say so I didn't bother reading it.

Merry Christmas!

There's plenty of people that think the other way too Merlyn.

NJ, you even tolerate people with red noses and big shoes?

"Are there clowns? I can't stand clowns."

Yea, I can't stand clowns either. And there's too many of them around these days.

Again those that demand tolerance offer it the least.

Thanks for bringing that to my attention Merlyn!

Merry Christmas and God Bless You!

I proposed to increase our dues to $600 per year made in two payments due December and May.

For this money a scout would get BSA registration, Boy's Life, Troop dues which covers all patches and handbooks, 11 weekend camping trips including all fees and food, and a week long summer camp. Not to mention well qualified adult leadership, a meeting hall and most of the necessary camping equipment.

If you think about it that's a pretty good deal but no one would go for it. Instead they pay $75 dues, extra for Boys Life, an average of $25 per weekend trip, $325 for summer camp. So now a boy going to all the trips actually pays more. My intent was to increase participation since trips would essentially be prepaid.

You can view 100 years of Boy's Life free through Google Books.

http://books.google.com/books?id=b2YEAAAAMBAJ&source=gbs_all_issues_r&cad=1&atm_aiy=2010#all_issues_anchor

The old BL had some good info in it. Skills, make your own gear and lots of stories.

Had a guy give me 7 years of BL magazines from the 50s the other day. My son looked at them, his first statement was "these are BIG magazines". Then he started looking through them and said "who's this Greenbar guy? He knows a lot of stuff"

"I see it on other forums as well, folks don't even try to hold back. But they aren't scout leaders either. They don't have the scout law."

Some here are not Scouters. Then there are those that post mainly in the Issues and Politics forum that seem like they only want to bust on BSA over their policies.

Hmm, I've been to Eagle mentor training and two Life to Eagle seminars in the last 4 months and have never heard of this. Also there is no mention of this on my council's website. Maybe I'll call council tomorrow and see if I can get any info. Too bad I'm just hearing about this now, just had a Scout finish a project at the local nature center, he could have used some lumber from Lowes.(This message has been edited by Eagle732)

JoeBob, I thought I covered it pretty well in my posts. CM has said that the DL is needed in his current position. Also the committee chooses and approves (usually with input from the CM) ACMs along with all the other adult positions. When a change needs to be made, they should make it.

ScoutWolf, maybe you could send a letter to the committee announcing your availability for the CM position. You've got a lot of great ideas but you can't implement them from the back seat. Jump up front and drive the bus! Your first job is to find a DL to replace you.

My uncle was involved in Scouting for 64 years, from 1936 until his death in 2000. He was a Cub when Cubs was just beginning (I have his Cub uniform), a scout who made Life then went into the Army at 17 so he never made Eagle, the an Explorer who made Silver. Later he was a CM, SM, and probably most other unit positions. He then went into Council service and at one time was a council president.

When he died they had a Boy Scout Honor Guard at his casket for 3 days. Scouts and Scouters came to the viewing by the hundreds. I couldn't believe it, to me he was my uncle but to all these other people he was a leader. Someone, probably at the council level suggested it would be nice to do the James West Fellowship award for him in leu of flowers. They raised I think 4 times the amount needed for the JWA, which was awarded to my aunt several months later. I know it meant a lot to my aunt to know that so many people thought so much of my uncle to do that for him.(This message has been edited by Eagle732)

"A Cubmaster who is saying "no" to parents who want a part in the program has the wrong attitude, by and large"

Unless the person volunteering has the wrong attitude or doesn't work well with others. It's the Committees job to choose the best person for a job, not accept everyone who wants a position.

ScoutWolf,

I was a CM for 5 years, I also taught the CM training for my district for 6 years.

Some comments on your post:

"I have work and I cant swing it tonight"

Before retirement I was a firefighter, that means working weekend, holidays, nights etc. It was never a problem because I had good ACMs. I missed a lot of meetings and trips but my shift work allowed me to do things during the day like get awards and patches from the Scout Shop during the day when everyone else was working. Don't discount the things your CM does when you're not around.

""Well you wouldn't be DL anymore, and Im more involved than many CMs I know. In fact, many of them dont even show up for den meetings to help out. They only show up for pack meetings. Many of them dont go on campouts or outings. Im probably one of the more involved CMs in our district."

From the CM point of view having good DLs is the most important thing you can have for a good program. CM apparently believes you're doing a good job and he can't replace you. Take it as a complement. I rarely attended den meetings unless there was a problem or I was invited. I always went on camping trips because they were pack events but I know CMs who don't camp. That doesn't mean there's no camping program in the pack, just that someone else runs the camping trip (Like a ACM or WDL).

"One night he wasnt there, one of my bear cubs we discovered had a peanut allergy that both the parent and scout did not know about and we had to get him some medical attention. Told the CM. His response "Oh." Not my reaction when we discovered it. I called him after the meeting and never called back."

Not sure what you're suppose about a kid who just finds out he has a peanut allergy other than to make sure his parents know so he can see a doctor. Unless of course he has a full blown anaphylactic reaction, then it's time to dial 911.

"His communication is less than stellar. Except to tell us when he isnt going to show up."

At least he tells you when he's not going to be there. How many of us had had leaders who just didn't show up and not even bother to tell anyone?

"I just finished WB training and I loved it. However his hatred (yes) towards WB given past experiences with it has caused a bit of a rift between us that I was not trying to create."

I understand you're just trying to put all that Woodbadge training to good use. When you become CM that will all come in real handy. I did WB and understand what it does and does not do to prepare you for a position in Scouting.

"It concerns me because I love our parents and I dont want to lose them to the disfunction that could potentially arise. Parents are growing concerned. Our committee chair is frustrated with it because they have addressed it with him, but he seems to not really take what they say to heart."

The committee choses the CM, with approval of the CO. The Committee can replace the CM at any time. If the parents are not happy them maybe it's time for a change. Get your training and put your name in the hat, sounds like you would be great at the job.