Eagledad

>>I was once told..."scouting is for every boy...but every boy isnt for scouting"...I fought the idea, at first. But then it becomes a matter of resources...where to spend your time and energy to do the most good...do your best and dont beat yourself up too badly

>>the official interpretation of the APA is that the *credible* evidence out there supports that childen in households with two same-sex parents are just as successful in all measurable ways as children in households with two opposite-sex parents. But, again, you''''ve made your opinion of the APA incredibly clear from previous posts. However, like you, I am also nauseated by the misrepresentation of research for political gain (such as a "traditional family, anti-SSM" agenda).

>>Well, Barry, I am a psychologist who actually works in that field. We''''ve gone back and forth on this before, and will get no where doing so again. You say the studies supporting one conclusion are biased, I say the studies supporting the other conclusion are biased. But I can''''t let Gonzo''''s statement go without giving challenge that perhaps it is not a solid, accepted fact as he has presented it.

>>"Studies show that children do better in two parent male and female homes." No, they don''''t. At least, not ones done by anyone other Focus on Family.

Very Typical. First year scouts are the most challenging scouts because they are going through that shift from adult run to boy run. While the idea of boy run is exciting at first, it becomes challenging and scary. Scary because now they realize the older scouts are truly in control of their survival. Challenging because they find that the older scouts are truly in control of their fun. The way through this is to have the first line of control be the TG and second line the TG Advisor who gives a lot of SM Conferences or advises the SM to give a conference. The new scout must learn that i

>>I''''m getting a little crispy around the edges. Some of the older boys have asked me to be their Ventureing advisor and I''''m thinking of doing that to stay involved. And like I said, it could be a year or more. I''''ve dropped the hintbut haven''''t seen any bites yet.

Have you not been called yet? When I was SM, I got a call just about every week asking me to head up this or help run that, but my response was always "check back when I give up SM". I fully planned to help with our troop with our new SM, but he wanted me to sit back a little to give him time to grow. I was getting calls the night I handed over my SM badge and I never skipped a beat. I must say that working with NYLT was very rewarding. Staffing Wood Badge has its rewards as well. You can make a really big difference teaching adults everything you learned. I love this scouting stuff.

>>Generally, filing a suit involves finding a lawyer to take your case. Fortunately, most lawyers know enough about the law to not waste 2 minutes thinking about suing a volunteer Boy Scout leader carrying out his duties, no matter how ballistic the mom gets or how loud she screams.

My gosh, I might as well be sitting between my wife and daughter during the Love Story movie. OK Beavah, I like your comment about adults meeting once in a while for donuts to talk scouting, or something like that. I hadn't thought of that, but we looked for opportunities to meet at a local pub to talk scouting. We didn't do donuts because they are fattening. Barry

Gonzo posted the list to provoke a positive discussion for traits of a successful troop program. He didnt know BW or his reputation. Im am sure BW feels honored to have something he created so long ago used to motivate a discussion. I think most of us would like to be remembered the same way long after we are gone. No doubt BW has been smiling through the whole discussion. Barry

>>While the first statement is often true for kids who have ADHD (many of them no longer need any sort of medication after puberty), the second is more typical for kids suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorders like Asperger's. Puberty makes things worse, not better.

Not meaning any offense OGE, but I kind of feel like your statement is the most emotional of all the post. While there may have been a couple opinions given of BW, they were usually followed by logical comparisons between two different list, not two different people. In fact the whole discussion has pretty much been a positive discussion on elements of a successful troop. I dont think the discussion would have changed much if Kudu had created the list instead of BW. OK, bad example. Lets say if I had created the list. I think we've had a good discussion thought might encourage some to understa

Boy Lisa, Ive been there and done that several times and Im not sure how to respond to help you feel better. When my two sons and I look back and talk about our experiences with these scouts, my sons dont have much bad to say about their experiences with them. In fact more funny stories about them are told then anything. Im trying to say your troop will survive and everyone will grow from the experience. But I do understand the whole situation and there really isnt much that can change the minds of adults. Usually there are a couple of adults who will stand with the scout and it appears

Do everything scoutldr said now. If these are emty threats, generally they will back down when when they learned that that the Council and district are invovled. If there really is a problem, you want to get it away from the unit and into the hands of the folks who deal with these things everyday. Contact the Scout Executive, District Committee Chairman, the District Commissioner and COR now. And try to keep the number of folks in the unit who have to know about this to a need to know basis. Many times the rumors can do far more damage then the situation itself. Barry

>>I have received a message asking me to edit the following statement I made in a prior post:

>>Even though it is not over! I asked him this week if he thought about working at Philmont or Double H next summer, he said yes he had, but it sounds like he may try to work at Northern Tier instead, he loves Minnesota and the BWCA.

>>Now tell me ! Boy run units ...is that the way to go ? ...jambo

Gwd-scouter is right. It saves the adults from being the bad guys and know it alls. The first time I gave it to our PLC was when they planned a weekend using Jet-skis. That was about the time I started showing scouts the Scoutmaster and Committee Handbooks so that they could see why we did anything the way we did. I gave every new PLC a copy of the Aims and Methods so that they saw why a troop functions the way it does and where the scouts could add their own dreams, visions and ideas to make it more fun. In fact, I challenged each PLC that if I couldn't justify any troop activity did t

>> EagleDad, it had never occurred to me to hand over the G2SS to our PLC and let THEM look up what they can and cannot do within the BSA guidelines.

My vision was idealistic. My experiences "in the trenches" are real. I usually make it a habit to not pass along idealistic rantings. I am and engineer by trade and we tend toward proven logic. Developing a true boy run program held within the limits of the Aims and Methods but with the goals of helping boys develop the skills to change themselves into men of character is not easy for adults. The idea that a scout can think for himself takes practice for both the scouts and the adults. Think about it, most adults simply don't trust kids. That takes practice. I am the first to say t

>>Boys who join , don't want or don't have the patience, to see how popular elected SPL is fumbling with the agenda. A boy does not join for CITIZENSHIP, or CHARACTER building....but to have fun , excitement ,adventure, games, fellowship, challenging activities, learn scout skills , and etc.

>>there is no reason one needs to destroy any organic detritus (however small and insignificant that amount may seem to us); finally, while lightweight, it looks unwieldy compared to a collapsing stove.

>>Eagle dad,thinks that running a Troop with 14 year boy, is what scouting is all about...I think he is mistaken. Then all of us experienced adults should sit back in our rocking chairs, and watch scouting program fall apart, or at best develop into a mediocre organization competing in numbers, so to get more finances.

>>So Beavah, do you tell the PLC that Troops don't have the authority to set their own uniform policy, other than for hats and neckerchiefs? Or do you expect them to figure that out on their own? Or do you just not care about that BSA policy? If the last, then what other BSA policies do you let your Troop ignore?

>>There were three brothers in my Troop who always said "(Fill in ) sucks". No big deal. Sounds like this lady was a little too stiff to be working with young men.