Eamonn

I'm willing to admit that for a very long time it does seem that the stuff coming down from the powers that be, doesn't work and from my point of view led Councils in very much the wrong direction. Sad thing is that in many cases the grass roots volunteers got sucked into this mess. While I'd guess that most of the regular Forum Members are the exemption to the rule. Most parents are OK with their kids doing things where: The kids are safe. The people who run the activity are seen as being good people. The activity doesn't entail them having to get them very involved. I know that

I don't know what studies the BSA has or hasn't done into 21st Century Volunteers? My thinking, which might be way of base, is that people do not want to volunteer for something that is endless. People might be more willing to volunteer to do something that has a very defined start and end. We don't seem to have a problem recruiting volunteers who sign up to work for a day or so and know that once the task is completed they go home till they sign up again to do another task. Like many of the Scouters my age, I really don't see myself as an expert in a lot of the things we do with our Sc

I don't know that much about who it is that decides who fits into which or what group. I'm thinking about the generation groups. I supposedly am a "Baby Boomer". Being that I'm very much on the tail end of the Baby Boomers, I'm not sure that I really fit in? Up until about ten years or so, maybe a little more? I never really gave much thought or never mind to these groups. Today there seems to be so many of them that I'm having a hard time keeping up and remembering who fits in where and what the characteristics are. While maybe I'm happy to disregard a lot of this stuff as just being

I like these big Scouting events. The young people lucky enough to attend come away full of the joys of Scouting, knowing that they belong to something that is so very much bigger then they could really ever imagine. As a Scout in the UK, I was a little bit miffed when another Scout from my Troop was selected to attend the last World Jamboree that Japan hosted. I haven't looked it up, but I think that was in 1971? The Lad who was selected was a great pal of mine. He came from a single parent home, lived in a really bad area of council flats (The projects) Lucky enough our Scout Group h

As a little fellow I had a great time in Scouting. My parents were not in any way involved in the Troop. While willing to pay for what I wanted to do and turn up when asked. -That was about it. This meant that I was free! I really enjoyed and relished in this freedom. When we moved to the USA, some friends got me to sign up to serve on a Council Committee that rarely met and didn't do much. I was OK with that, willing to support the Council. Time past, we had a son. I was very busy. He joined Cub Scouts. Somehow I ended up as Cubmaster. When the time came for him to join Boy Scout

Many if not most of us here believe in Scouting and have a passion for it. So it's fair to say that maybe I'm unable to offer an un-biased opinion? I really don't care if BP did or didn't come up the: Game with a purpose. I do think that I really like the sound of it. No kid that I have ever chatted with said that he joined Scouts because he or she felt the need of to have his or her values or character looked at. They join with the great hope of having fun, spending time with their friends and doing activities that are fun and maybe adventurous. While maybe there are other groups, o

One of the traditions left over from back when I was a Scout was that near the end of the annual summer camp the adults would take the PL's out to dinner. Normally at a nice restaurant. We were camping in Ireland in Galway. I took all the PL's out to a steak house (Their choice.) The waiter was taking the orders and asked one Lad, how he wanted his steak. The Lad didn't miss a beat and replied "Nice" Eamonn

Not far from my home there was a farm that I tried to buy but lost it to a group that is into antique farm equipment. They bought the land about 15 years back. Back then there was as you might imagine a lot of excitement and activity. They have a saw mill and using local cut wood built all sorts of buildings: A meeting room /small house type building, all sorts of sheds to house a fair sized collection of old tractors and a blacksmith shop. Along with an area built for tractor pulls. Their seventy or so acres is next to a couple of fields that I own. In all the time we have been neighb

Not sure why, but I wasn't able to get the audio to play? I have a very dear and close friend who was a Roman Catholic, came to the States to work as a camp counselor and converted to become a member of the LDS Church. He remained active in Scouting in the UK even after they made their policy on gay scouts and leaders clear. However when a openly gay man was made District Commissioner, he became very unhappy and not long after married a female member of the LDS Church and moved to Utah, where he became active in the BSA. I have not as yet had the chance to talk with him, but he is a

Hi and Welcome. I crossed the pond just over 30 years back - Yes that makes me feel old! Some of my fondest scouting memories are from being a Service Team Member at Walton Firs, back when it was a National Camp Site. The Camp Warden was Bill Cook a very interesting fellow who while at times was maybe a little eccentric ? Was a gifted Scouter. He served in the Royal Navy as a Signals Officer on submarines. Was truly gifted with Scout pioneering and I think it was from him that I got my great love of messing around with rope and building stuff. He was very much responsible for bringing the

Aging is a funny thing. It is said that with age comes wisdom. I'm not so sure. Back when I was a little fellow I was OK with believing that the Catholic Church was the way to go! This was thanks to my Irish Catholic parents, nuns beating out the catechisms to a rhythm with a ruler on a desk. At about age 15 or so I started questioning my faith and for a while turned away. I did return but still had and still have questions. This has at times led to some really wonderful discussions with people who are far more religious then I am or ever will be. These chats have always been respectf

A couple of weeks back both OJ (my son) and myself were both free and made the trip up to our council summer camp. Not sure if it's old age? But I really can't remember the last time I was there when camp was up and running. I'm thinking that it's been three or maybe four years. The camp is very special for me. It was there where I spent my first summer in the United States and this camp was my reason for being in the United States. It was at this camp back in 1977, that I first met the young Lady who was foolish enough to later become my bride and who has stuck by my side for over thirty y

A couple of weeks back both OJ (my son) and myself were both free and made the trip up to our council summer camp. Not sure if it's old age? But I really can't remember the last time I was there when camp was up and running. I'm thinking that it's been three or maybe four years. The camp is very special for me. It was there where I spent my first summer in the United States and this camp was my reason for being in the United States. It was at this camp back in 1977, that I first met the young Lady who was foolish enough to later become my bride and who has stuck by my side for over thirty y

I haven't lived in England for a while. I was a youth member and a Scout Leader there until I was in my late 20's. Other then the National Camp sites and a small staff in the National HQ everything was done by volunteers. To my mind that's the way it should be done, the way BP kinda wanted it done. I don't know about your windmill? But windmills all over the world make Scouting work with just volunteers Eamonn.

I agree that both Districts and Councils should do everything that they can to serve the units. Happy units make for happy Scouts. I also understand that many of us by nature have a hard time telling anyone NO. Trying to ensure that "The District" doesn't become a inclusive club of silver-tab wearing old cronies can be hard. While I would never ever ask a unit leader to take on a position on a District Committee, I have no problem asking any Scout youth or adult for help. My view point is that we are all stewards. I would hope that every unit leader hopes that his or her unit wi

Had a few friends over for burgers and beers earlier tonight. The Gates speech came up in conversation. One of my friends is the Parish Priest from a parish near by. He used to be our PP but got moved. He was at one time the Executive Officer for the Pack, when my kid was a Cub Scout. The conversation was a little like what is happening here in the forum, people taking sides, people seeing it as inevitable, others seeing it as the beginning of the end. My pal the good Priest after he had finished a burger and a beer shook his head and said that if the Holy Father on his plane is giving mi

I kinda thought that it went without saying that we all do what we do for the youth in the area where or near where we live. Sometimes this youth is not as yet a member so we serve him or her by offering something that will attract him or her into our ranks. While the adults in a unit are the people who make the rubber hit the road. From a District point of view helping recruit new members both youth and adult is important. Starting new units that will serve the local youth is sometimes a bit of a pain in the neck and requires a lot of hard work which sadly often sees the new unit fai

My education must be sadly lacking? I've never attended a gay parade. We don't have one in the small town near me. Would I have to shave my legs? (Joke.) Eamonn

Reading some of what has been posted about Councils and Districts has got the little grey cells turning over. I get it that many if not most people join a unit and that unit becomes home. Where I live most of the Troops have had the same SM for over ten years and many have had the same SM for far longer then that. Some have ASM's who were Boy Scouts in the Troop and have never moved far from home base. Their first and sometimes only loyalty is to the Troop. I also get that it's sad when the only time someone from the District comes out of the woodwork is when they are pushing FOS or

I'm thinking that Mr. Gates did his homework before making this speech. Many of us thought that some of the organizations that charter a lot of units, I'm thinking of the Roman Catholic Church and the Mormon Church would never have anything to do the BSA if the policy against gay leaders were to change. Could it be that Mr. Gates had a chat with some of these fellows before making the speech? I remember posting, some little time back, that I didn't think the change would come in my lifetime. - Looks like I was wrong. Kinda strange as about the same time as I posted that I had just spen

She isn't called "Her Who Must Be Obeyed" For no reason!

This came up when it first appeared several years back. Back then many of the same things that are being posted now were posted then. My thoughts are that I do see why the BSA has got hold of this, it goes along with some of what they have said about similar "Pointing weapons at others" And that good stuff. I have enjoyed many a good water fight and it is a great activity at camp on a hot day. Better yet if the Scouts are dirty! While not wanting to change the subject. I was reading a book yesterday about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. While I don't know how true it is / was

Some years back I attended a week long conference for District and Council Commissioners at Philmont. I came home thinking that there were a lot of Councils who were in really sad shape and did things that seemed way off base. At that time we had just removed our SE. As far as I know we had had followed the rules and done everything by the book. There I was in New Mexico, one guy who was leading the conference was a SE and before I even sat down he was asking me about what had happened and explain all the consequences. We (The Council.) Did get a rap on the knuckles in the form of a prov

I'm never sure about the glass? Just when you think it's full, someone will fill it full of sand. Or worse still call "Last Orders"! As so often happens this thread has taken a few turns and I'm now left thinking about Discrimination. I live in a "Lilly White" Community. There are only three black African American families in the school district and no Asian families. I think that there might be a Middle Eastern family, but the Dad was a Doctor and I haven't seen or heard much about him lately. There was a synagogue in the next town, but it closed and the building was donated to the town.

If I'm very honest I have to admit that I'm a happy little fellow. My life is good, I'm very comfortable enjoy what I do and like the people I have as family and friends. I'm not cold, I'm not hungry and I'm loved. While I'm willing to admit that I'm no longer a spring chicken, I'm not sure if I'm willing to accept the idea of being old. I'm the product of two Irish parents, who left Ireland to find work in England. Strange as it might sound, even though they stopped living in Ireland all of us, my brother and both sisters were brought up as if we were still living in rural Ireland. B