Eamonn

I'm not sure when it comes to nudity, who is the biggest prudes. - The English or the Irish? Growing up in London, with Irish parents, going around in the all together in our house, just wasn't done. I have a vivid memory of being about eight years old and going for swimming lessons with the school. The changing-room was just one big room with wooden benches. I got changed like I was at the beach. Wrapping myself in my towel and doing the "Wiggle". The Games Master, watched me for a little while, then yelled at me! "What have you got to hide? We are all men in here!" I wasn't very comfortable, but within a few weeks I was running around in my birthday suit snapping towels just like everyone else. But at home, we just didn't go around without any clothes. The door was always locked when someone was in the WC or in the bathroom. It was a real shock to me when I got married and found that not everyone lived the way we did. Today at home the bathroom seems to be the meeting place, first in comes the dogs, then OJ remembers that he has to shave, then HWMBO remembers something that just can't wait. Talk about a full house. Eamonn.

I do not go out of my way to bend or break rules. I think this sets a bad example for the Scouts/youth members that we serve. At times I find them that look for the loop-holes to be even worse than the guy who just says "To heck with it! I'm doing it my way." At least that guy is being honest about it. I have at times knowingly put the rules to one side. I don't always follow each and every step of the Safe Swim Plan. Rather than leave a little Lad alone at a camp site when everyone else had gone, I've opted to give him a ride home. With just the two of us in my car. I have set up archery and BB ranges in my back yard for Pack picnics. (Using BSA trained instructors and equipment borrowed from the Council. I even wore my WB beads with a Sea Scout uniform!! Most times when I break a rule, I know that I'm breaking it. I'm not in any way suggesting that breaking rules is a good thing or that people should go around breaking the rules. I'm aware that there is some risk involved in breaking rules. God forbid that anything should happen, because I didn't mark off a Swim Area, even though all the Scouts have passed a swim test and we have BSA Lifeguards and qualified adult supervision. Sure the Lad I gave a ride home, might in twenty years time turn around and say I assaulted him and I run the risk of losing everything I own. OK, I think the no beads with a Sea Scout uniform is daffy and maybe I'm guilty of thumbing my nose at that one!! I don't as a rule check what the rules or guidelines are before I do things. This might just be me being mule-headed? But I like to think that I have a gut feeling for what is right and what is wrong. I have of course made mistakes, seen things not go as they should and at times ended up looking very silly. For the most part, I'm happy that the rules are there and I do try to understand why they are there. I work on the theory that I have enough common sense and care enough about the kids and adults that me worrying about liability and being sued, will make me go gray and I have white hair now?? Eamonn.

" One person's skinny-dipping is another person's flashing." Or it just might be a guy taking a bath? We have solar showers. Which we hang from a near by tree. We do tarp the shower off. It is used by the adults and the youth members, male and female. My thinking is that if an area is deemed to be a "Bathing Area" and everyone knows who is using it and when, in order to avoid any YP issues. There is no problem. Of course we can always look for problems and at times when there aren't any make a few up! Eamonn.

I'm very proud to be a Queen's Scout. A week or so back I attended an ESCOH. The MC asked all Eagle Scouts to stand. I remained seated. I was wearing a uniform that made me look like a Polish Admiral(Not that I've ever seen a Polish Admiral!) I even wore my Sliver Beaver! Later a new ASM from the Troop came up to me and said how surprised he was that I wasn't an Eagle! I just let it go! Many of the nicest Scouter's I know, who have given a lifetime of service never made Eagle Scout. Eamonn.

A little while back, I had an appointment to see someone at one of our States tougher correctional facilities. I was a little early, so had to wait in the waiting area. I have always been a people watcher, watching people in airports and places, trying to imagine where they are going or coming from, has just been something that I've done. On that day there was a African-American family waiting to get in for a visit. Two women who looked to be in their late 40's and a man who was a little older. They were dressed up in what looked to me to be their Sunday best. The man in a suit and the women in floral dresses with big hats. They looked great, with not a hair out of place. I'm not sure why? But for some reason people seem to want to chat with me. It happens all the time and just about anyplace I go. The man started by asking me where there was a local hotel? I didn't know the area that well but pointed him in a direction where I knew there were a few motels. He went on to tell me that they were visiting their Grandson. Before long, without me asking anything I was told a sad story. The Grandson's father was in jail, his mother, their Daughter had died from a drug overdose. It was 10:00 AM, they had driven from Philadelphia, which is a good eight hour drive. To have got there by 10:00 AM, they must have left really early. I never asked the name of their Grandson or what he was in for? While of course it's wrong to make judgments I was left feeling that these were nice and good people. I couldn't help feeling that their Grandson, had let them down. Or how lucky he was that he still had such strong family support. There are times when my son does stuff that I don't like. I'm thankful that he has never done anything really dumb. I'm maybe guilty of not telling him enough how proud I am of him. While I'm good at saying that my love for him is unconditional, the truth is that it has never really been tested. I don't think he is as "Grown Up" or mature as I was when I was his age. While I'm willing to accept some blame for that, I also think the schools he attended need to take some of the blame. I really have and do try to give him Roots and Wings. Eamonn.

"Boys will be boys" I suppose just like "Wait till your Father gets home!" This can take on different meanings in different settings. While I'm very much for coed units. I do think that there are times when we all need time away from members of the opposite sex. Boys of Scout age (And girls of the same age) have a lot of things going on. A lot of things are changing. Some people manage change better than others. Some changes just can't be controlled or managed. Many of us who have been around boys of Scout age for a while develop a sense of when we need to step in and when the best thing to do is to take plenty of No Notice. We kinda get a feeling when something happens? Who will be in on it and we very often get a feeling of who the ringleader will be. All too often the Lad who is always in hot water is a nice Lad who is easily led and is willing to own up for things that he has done. With some help, in time he can make a good leader. Ringleaders have leadership qualities oozing out of them and with some guidance make great leaders. I have more times than I want to count posted: "Train Them, Trust Them, Let Them Lead" There is of course some risk involved in trusting anyone, let alone young boys who already seem to have overloaded plates. We have to hope that the training's they have received, at home, at school, in Scouts and from life will come into play and the trust we place in them is rewarded. Eamonn.

For the most part the District doesn't get involved in the recruiting. We do organize events that Packs can participate in where they recruit new Cub Scouts. The big event is of course school night in September. (My days of working with the little guys are long gone! I don't think I have the patience to work with them or their parents anymore!) Right now I need to be able to inform the Cub Scouter's what they should do if they only recruit 2 or 3 boys. I'm thinking that maybe if the Pack has a ACM that having her work with the Den and help them recruit and organize things for the first few months might be the way to go? Ea.

My term as a CM wasn't that long. About four or five years. I was very fortunate in that I had a wonderful Den Leader Coach, a Lady who I swear woe her Cub Scout uniform to bed, in fact I rarely seen her wear anything else. We were chartered by the local R/C Church, which had a small school and we had a very Cub Scout friendly Elementary School which went out of its way to help with recruiting. Our Tiger Dens, were Dens. Each Den had six or more Tigers in. The Den Leader Coach hung around each Den until it was up and running and then eased herself away, allowing the parents to do their own thing. In time many of the Tiger Partners went on to become leaders. Now that I'm trying to serve as District Membership Chair. I do see the need to recruit these little fellows and their adult partners. But looking at the Packs in the District, I see that they are small, some very small. Most in the past few years have not recruited enough boys Tiger Cub age to form a real Den. Nearly all don't have anyone who seems able to help the adults get things going as they should go. Packs seem to recruit a couple of Tigers,they don't seem to know what to do with them and the little fellows recruited in September have gone by January or February. Of course trying to push the Packs to recruit more of boys this age is the easy answer! But I don't know if this will happen and I have no way of making it happen. So my question is, what do you do when you end up with two or three Tiger Cubs? Do you try and keep going? Running the program as it is written? Do you in some way mix them in with another Den? I'm supposed to be giving a big presentation about recruiting and retaining Cub Scouts, sometime in early September. I know how things are supposed to work! Just not sure what happens when things don't go the way that maybe they are supposed to? (In the real world?) Any ideas or help would be great. Thanks! Ea.

Still here and still Twittering. What else can a twit do? Can't say that I'm up on everything that has gone on and is going on in Iran. I do think that the outcome of the election just over a week back sounds a little fishy. Have been more than a little surprised that many of the demonstrations have been allowed. Maybe allowed isn't the right word? But not sure what is the right word? I do have to wonder if the Brits and the Americans are doing something to fuel what is going on? I don't think the Brits or the Americans are responsible, but have a sneaky suspicion they both might be stirring the pot. Seeing photos of people being beaten and killed on the streets is very upsetting. I'm glad that I'm not tasked with trying to sort out what is going on in that part of the world. I wouldn't know where to start. Seems to be far too many loose cannons. Way too much emotion and when religion gets thrown in the pot??? What will be the final outcome? Again I don't know. But I tend to think that it's going to be like The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Maybe in time things will change? But I don't see it happening now. Eamonn.

What happened here is very sad. Clearly the people both youth and adult need to be held accountable for what they did. From what I've read it does seem that the Scout Camp and the Council have done and are doing the right thing. For that I admire them. My big hope is that everyone involved in this gets the help that they need. Reading what has been posted has got me thinking. One one hand we have: "One prank gone wrong". On the other we have: "Horseplay, pranks, Boys being boys ect. this behavior left unchecked always leads to trouble period". This has me wondering, what my feelings are? When I first joined Boy Scouts the Troop I joined had a Camp Initiation Ceremony, which the adults seemed happy to turn a blind eye toward. Young Scouts were "Staked Out". (Four tent stakes were in the ground and the Scout was forced to lie down with his harms and legs tied to each peg). Most times this was followed by the the other Scouts pouring cold water over the poor guy on the ground. Sometimes it did get out of hand and the poor Lad would have his underwear removed and food items like jam and butter would be smeared over him. The end result of this was that many young Scouts wouldn't go to camp. The folk lore that surrounded these ceremonies took on a life of there own! Stories about red ants, spiders an the like made this even more frightening for the young Scouts. I once was a victim of this. I didn't like it. I do not, have not and never will allow this sort of thing. I'm 101% against hazing. I believe that it does nothing but harm. Having said that. I can imagine how a report in the paper could make this sound and how bad it might sound. The truth is that most times the Scout who was being initiated would struggle for a little while, then just lie down and get a little wet. Sad thing is that at times it did get out of hand. So as far as : "One prank gone wrong". I don't agree. That should leave me with: ""Horseplay, pranks, Boys being boys ect. this behavior left unchecked always leads to trouble period". I suppose how you interpret "Unchecked" is the big thing? I have been around Scouts and Scouting for a very long time. Never once have I had, seen, witnessed yet alone allowed this sort of thing. I have never felt the need to have a rule about this sort of thing. It was just kinda accepted that we didn't participate or allow this sort of thing. Why? I'm not sure why. I think because the Scouts knew it was just wrong. We have never had a rule about not taking stuff that isn't your's. - Again because it was taken for granted that doing so was just wrong. I've seen Scouts pull off some really wonderful and very funny pranks, heck I've pulled off a few myself. I don't think I really know or have ever read a clear definition of horseplay? I think that some horseplay is a very natural thing and is a part of growing up. Someone used the term "Troop Culture". If the culture of the Troop we are involved with and if we set the right example and tone? - Maybe that's all the checks we need? Eamonn.

Fussing?? Cub Scouts due to their age should be subject to closer supervision than Boy Scouts. The recommended size for a Den is eight Cub Scouts. No Den meeting should ever take place without there being two adults present. Even at a Pack Meeting the Dens should be under the supervision of their Den Leader. Of course if someone is acting as both the CM and the Den Leader? This just can't happen. This isn't fussing it's doing things as they should or shouldn't be done. While some Boy Scout leaders might be willing to accept that reading Playboy or a magazine like it, is maybe part of the passage from boy to man? Or while maybe not entirely acceptable? Not a hanging offense! Young and very young children are not ready to be exposed to this sort of material and should not be exposed to it. While there might be an explanation of how a young child came to get hold of this? Him bringing it to a place where there are other young and even younger children is totally unacceptable. The Parents do need to be told. They need to understand that no matter where it came from (I'm thinking maybe a parent or older brother?)This is not a good thing. Some people who would do harm to young boys use this sort of material to open the door to sexual exploitation. Older children are better equipped and maybe more knowledgeable to use the 3 R's of youth protection from abuse. Depending on where the child got this magazine? It might be matter that is worthy of a police investigation. The Pack Committee and the CO should be informed. I'm sure that no CO would ever want young children in a youth program that it is involved with being exposed to even stuff that isn't considered "Hard Core". Fussing? I don't think so. Eamonn.

OK, I'll bite! I'm not sure how anyone is both a CM and a Den Leader? I'm not sure why it would take a Den Leader almost a month to find out that a little Lad had this magazine? I do think you know what needs to be done. Ea.

For the 2005 Jambo, one Troop from our Council did King Friday's Castle. From Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood, with a working train. The CSP that year had Fred Rodgers on. We got permission from his widow and at the shake down weekend she and Mr McEeely came and we presented them with a special patch. If you send me an email address I see if I can dig up the old photos. I'm not sure where they are, being as I had the guy in the store transfer all the stuff from my old computer to this one. I wanted to do a rope weave! But the Scouts out voted me!! Boy those kids do get in the way!! (Joke!) Eamonn.

I'm the sort of guy who when all this HIPAA stuff came along found it to be a bit of a pain. Mainly because I didn't understand it and I got a little fed up signing all the forms everywhere I went. HIPAA has been around now for a while. I have heard lots about it. I heard that there was some concern at the Jamboree about how the information was being transmitted? I think it's fair to say that I'm as dumb now as I was when it first came along. When I read what you posted I did a search on Ask. com I came across this: http://www.ask.com/bar?q=+Does+HIPAA+law+and+regulation+apply+to+a+scout+unit%3F+&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Frec-law.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fnew-bsa-medical-form-is-disaster.html I don't know anything about the people who put this together. But next time I'm at our Council Service Center,I'm going to try and find out what they know? I'm not expecting the people in the Service Center to be much more informed than I am! But maybe someone will know who to ask? I'll get back when I find out more. Eamonn. (Looks like you will need to copy and paste for the link.)(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

At the ESCOH I attended on Saturday, I was talking with the SM. A nice fellow. We were talking about Summer Camp. Like nearly all the Troops in our area, they are a Troop that goes to the Council run Summer Camp each and every year. Same site, same week. They have been doing this for a very long time (They were there back in 1977, under a different SM!) The SM said that they are off to camp in two weeks, with 21 Scouts, they had paid for 24 but a few Lads had dropped out at the last minute. I'm not sure what the refund policy is about this sort of thing. As we were talking an older Scout came up to us. I've seen him around but don't really know him. I'm thinking that he is about 16. From the conversation that followed it seemed to me that this Lad was a little like OJ was when he was his age. One of the older Scouts who didn't attend that many Troop meetings and had become what I'd call a "Troop Visitor". The SM tried selling this Lad on Summer Camp. I think in the hope of filling one of the empty spots. The Lad said that he wasn't interested as he didn't want any of the Merit Badges that the camp was offering. The SM tried selling him the idea that the older Scouts were doing the COPE program, but the Lad just wasn't interested. The Camp is very much about Merit Badges, but is very slowly coming around to the idea of offering more programs and things that the Scouts can do which are not all about Merit Badges. I hate the idea that summer camp is just a MB Factory. But I do understand that the camp needs Scouts to come to camp or else it will fail. It has to sell what the Scouts want or like this Lad, the Scouts just aren't going to attend. This strikes me as being a little sad. When did we allow advancement to become the be all of what we are about? Has it always been this way? Or is this a new thing? I've only actively been around the BSA for about 26 years. UK Scouting was never like this. I really don't like what we have become -At least when it comes to Summer Camp and churning out MB's. Sad thing is that from my point of view, I don't see it changing. If the mighty Merit Badge rules? What choice do we have? Ea.

lrsap Welcome. I think if I were in your shoes. My key words for now would be. Fun. Program. Membership. More Fun. Most of what I have read in BSA material doesn't offer a lot about how to run a small Troop or a start-up unit. This might mean that you at times will have to think out of the box and use a little more imagination. I'm guessing that you know the Scouts that you will be kicking off with? You have some idea of their strengths and their weaknesses. Step one for you is to read and re-read the Boy Scout Handbook from cover to cover and then read it a few more times. Find ways that will ensure that you have all (Yes all!!) The skills that you need. How to do this might not be easy. I'd be looking for someone who has the time, knows the stuff and is willing to work with me one on one. Be careful that you don't allow this person to take over! Or become a "Bar Stool Scouter" trying to run the Troop from afar. (It can and does happen.) A phone call to the District Training or Camping Chairman might be a good idea. Look for fun ways of having the Scouts practice the requirements that they need to get done. Here I go with yet another Eamonn Ramble!! I love dogs. Some people tell me I've become good at training dogs. I know when I take a dog out and I want to do some training, that the dog has a very short attention span. The dog wants to have fun and the dog wants to be rewarded. I try to keep the "Hard Work" that we need to do sandwiched between the fun stuff. I mix up the rewards,sometimes it' a treat sometimes it's just a kind word or two with a pet. Of course Scouts aren't dogs! But dogs respond to much of the same things that kids do! They know when someone is treating them well and they very much want to please that person. Young Scouts will want to please you. - Tap into this. Make it work for you!! To start with I wouldn't worry too much about being Boy Led. I would want to keep the idea that I'm not going to do anything for a Scout that he can do for himself. My goal for now would be to teach him the stuff he needs so that he can do these things. Membership has got to be a main concern. Much as I hate to say it,chances are that not all the boys that you start with will stay. Some will see that this isn't Cub Scouts and that will be more than they want to take on, some might see the more established Troop down the road and think that the grass is greener over there. Running a Troop of five is hard running a Troop of three is really hard!! Never ever miss an opportunity to recruit a new Scout. If you have access to the list of Lads who dropped out of the Pack, give them a call. The District should have a list of the lads who didn't cross over this year give them a call. Beat the heck out of the Scouts you have to bring their pals, family, relations. Look at your own family. - Your sisters kid might not have had any interest in being a Cub Scout, but with a little push might join the Troop? Make time to listen to the Scouts. While you are a long way from having a working PLC, find out what kind of things they want to do. Look for ways of doing the stuff they want to do. Some of it might not seem very "Scouty" but remember that you are thinking outside of the box. Just be careful that the Scout stuff doesn't get left behind and forgotten about. Fun is the fuel that makes Scouting work. Everyone needs to have fun. Adults and Scouts. Treat the adults like adults. If you can find a pal who you are close too, who you can really talk with, who is willing to share this new adventure with you. Then you are indeed very lucky. Look after him or her. When the going gets tough or you get frustrated he or she will be your life-saver. A big thing for me was learning to laugh with the Scouts (Never at them.) Enjoy the things that they enjoy, bask in their successes. Look for opportunities to reward them. The reward might just be a kind word, or a signature in a handbook or having that whatever filled in on the big advancement chart on the wall. Never forget the age of the Scouts. They are not ready to take on Philmont or some of the stuff that maybe you might want to do! But you are laying the groundwork now for all the good stuff that will follow. Set realistic goals. Write them down. Work toward them. If you meet them? That's great. If you don't? Be honest with yourself and find out why? What went wrong? Then go about fixing the problem. Right now with things as they are, this new Troop is all about you. Like it or not? You are the life and soul of this Troop. It's no easy task, you are going to need the help and support of a lot of people. People in Scouting are really great people, they will help if you ask. You need to do the asking and try to make sure that you ask th right people. Do make sure that you remember that you have a family! If you spend all your time with the Troop and leave them out, your going to lose their support. Without the support of your family you will burn out very quickly. Please update us about how things are going. Have fun with the Scouts, enjoy the challenge and the adventure and remember to smile eve when things seem not so wonderful. Good Luck. Eamonn.

" I would not let my son sit under the authority of someone with that attitude." Hi, JJJJ (Boy that's a lot of J's) Welcome to the forum. I would hope that the adults in any youth program you allow your son to join would do their best to respect what you want for your son. I know for my part I do try. This doesn't mean that I have never messed up. Years back I was the leader of a very diverse Troop. The Patrols did try to make the menus they put together work for the Scouts in the Patrols avoiding pork, which some of the Jewish Scouts didn't eat and the Muslim Scouts didn't eat. I paid a surprise visit early one morning to a Patrol that was Patrol Camping and seen one of our Muslim Scouts enjoying a bacon sandwich. When I asked a few questions about this I heard from the Patrol "He always does that". I talked with the Scout and explained that he was not living up to the expectations of his religion or the expectations of his parents. I did feel maybe a little bit responsible for maybe not doing more to ensure that we as a Troop were maybe doing more. But I did feel and still feel that the Scout himself needed to take most of the blame for not doing what he knew he should or shouldn't have been doing. As Scout leaders our job is to provide a program for the Scouts we serve. We are not policemen, while we try to ensure that the Scouts are free from harm (Not just physical harm.) There does remain some element of risk. Parents do need to know the people who are in charge of their kids and at times do need to hold these people accountable for what they do and what they fail to do. I have seen soccer coaches come down really hard on players who have failed to play up to the expectations of the coach. I coached soccer and when I seen this I knew that this was just not my style. I've also seen coaches cuss out players for playing badly. When I seen this, I did everything I could to have them removed from coaching young players. This to my way of thinking was and is just wrong! Strange thing was when I tried to have them removed, I was seen as the bad guy. Many of the parents seemed to think that this was OK or in some way acceptable. There is a line. Sad thing is that not everyone has it at the same place. Eamonn. Eamonn.

Kind of like a kid waiting for Christmas, I've been really looking forward to taking a new catamaran out on the water. Last weekend I was ordered by HWMBO that we had to attend a graduation party. While of course I'm happy that kids I know do make it through school,I'm not that keen on Graduation Parties. Seems to me that the kids don't really want us old folks there, the old folks don't know that many of he kids who are there. I' just as soon write a check stick it in a Hallmark card and be done. But of course the parents of the Graduate had attended OJ's graduation and his ESCOH,so I was duty bound to go. This weekend I went to an ESCOH. I didn't really know much about the Lad getting his Eagle Scout,he was just joining the Pack as a Tiger Cub, when I was moving on. His family are great. Dad drove OJ to the last Jamboree, when both of them were on staff. Mum was one of the best Den Leaders, when I was CM. She went on to serve on the District Committee doing a wonderful job with P/R when I was District Chair. His older brother served for a while as Boatswain when we first started the Ship. I wasn't sure what uniform to wear. So I put on a Boy Scout uniform with a District Committee patch. I wore my WB beads and my Silver Beaver, only when I put the Beaver on did it hit me that I hadn't wore it in over 3 years. To be very honest, now days I very rarely ever wear a uniform, I think this might be the third time this year!! Over the last holiday weekend a great pal of mine had invited us to his home for a cook-out. He has worked for our Council for a very long time. (Other than a very short stint in New Jersey, about 32 years!) He works as the Council Program Director and over the summer as the Reservation Director for the Scout Camp and the Cub Scout Camp. He'd given me the low down about camp this year; how many were signed up, who was coming back on staff, who wasn't returning. What problems he thought he might and might not have. I was pleased about a lot of the people he named. Yesterday at the ESCOH, I was overjoyed to see Sarah. I knew that she was going to be the Water Front Director this year. But seeing her and talking with her was just great. I sat next to her for the meal that followed the ceremony. Sarah before she took of for college had been the most wonderful Sea Scout that any Skipper could wish for, just a really super nice kid. The type of kid that made me at times wish that I'd had a daughter. We talked about camp and she asked if my ears had been burning? It seems that my name has come up a lot with the younger members of the camp staff. The Camp Director is a great Lad who I have watched grow. He was a Scout who went to the 2001 Jamboree with me. The Lad who got homesick and missed his dog! (I let him use my phone to call home and he was fine) He was my 3rd ASM for the last Jamboree. The Pathfinder Program Director was a Scout who went with me to the 2005 Jamboree, he has come a long way! Back in 2005 we spent a lot of time going over knots, when he wasn't able to tie a Taut-line Hitch. The Assistant Ranger is also an Ex-Sea Scout. Even the Camp Commissioner, a really nice older fellow is a man who had been active many years back, but it wasn't till his Grandson joined the pack that a couple of us selected him to be on the District Committee as Boy Scout Training Chairman. (This fellow received the Silver Beaver this year.) I don't have the full list of who is on staff at camp this year. I've heard a rumor that the camp nurse can't cover the entire summer and that OJ is going to be her replacement (If the results of his State Boards are out by then.) My ears weren't burning. But I do admit to feeling good about having so many of "My" kids and people that I may have helped working with the 1,100 or so Scouts that are going to camp this year. Maybe there is something after all in this "Leaving A Legacy" stuff? I'm not sure about that, I do know that right now I'm a very proud little Eamonn. Ea.

Having not read the book and not knowing anything about it! It's hard to come up with a real informed opinion. Thinking out loud! (Kinda) What are your plans for the book? How do you intend to use it? You can copy the good parts and use them. You might see it as a historical book and want to donate it to a place where it will be seen as just that? Maybe not in a Troop setting, but maybe for a Venturing Unit it might be used as something that could open a very interesting discussion about censorship? Ask: What is censorship? Have you experienced censorship? What types of works are typically censored? Tell the Crew that schools sometimes censor books because of their content, and ask them for their reactions. In another thread that is now running there is some lively talk about video games. What games should and shouldn't be allowed at Scouting events. Is this a type of censorship? How do the Crew members feel about it? I think at the end of the day, I'd want to keep it with the other stuff that was left by my father maybe as a friendly reminder of how things have changed. Eamonn.

cardinal50 Thank you. Most of the SM's who serve in the District that is unlucky enough to have to put up with me don't have a college degree. They still week in and week out turn up and do the best job they can for the kids they serve. God Bless Them. About 15 or 20 years back !! (Yipes!)There was a joke doing the rounds. If I remember correctly it went something like: How many Scouter's does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: 13! One to change the bulb and 12 to hold a reflection about changing it! Around that time it seemed that "Reflections" were very much the flavor of the month and Scout-leader Training's were full of anything and everything that had to do with reflections. Those of us who were around then and those of us involved in training did make a big joke of it and poked fun at it all. But aside from the jokes and the fun we found that these reflections weren't a bad thing and that they worked! To this day I still use them and still think it's a good tool. But like most tools, at the end of the day it becomes up to the person how much they are going to use it or how they are going to use it? I never seen my father use a wood chisel for anything other than opening paint cans, but he thought his paint can opener worked great! EDGE does seem to be the new "Flavor of the month". If we want we can sit around and pick holes in it. (I think that the Guided Discovery saved a lot of time as we didn't waste time teaching stuff that people already knew. EDGE doesn't seem to take that into account.) My feelings are that we have been presented with something that really isn't that hard and given a chance will work. Back when the 21st Century WB first came out, there was (maybe still in use? A VHS tape, on this tape the people who had developed the new course explained some of what they had done and why they had done it. As I was preparing to present the course; which was not an easy task, being as it was new and my only real exposure to it had been one time staffing it, under a CD who really didn't get it with a Staff who wanted to pick holes in it! I tried to imagine which person from the tape had been responsible for what parts of the course. It was clear that different people had put together different parts of the course. I know I was being a little unkind, but there was one Lady on the tape, who I took an instant dislike too! On the tape she sat there with her laptop in hand, it seemed to me that she was reading her part from the computer screen. Anything that I didn't like about the course I blamed her for! I think that was all because of the laptop! For me at that time laptops and scouting just didn't seem like where we should be at! Don't tell anyone but within a year when the time came for the course, I brought two laptops with me! Some of the course presentations and material were a little tough for some of the participants. I remember spending a very long time fighting with a slide that was supposed to show the Team Leadership . I couldn't make heads or tails of the graphics. I of course blamed the Lady with laptop in hand for that one! Right now I'm smiling thinking about how uneasy John in KC, was the first time he had to deliver the "be healthy and wholesome Soldiers, don't patronize the local ladies of the night" lecture! I bet that would have been fun to see! Ea.

" You're welcome to believe that da laws in your state prohibit community foundations and the United Way (which exist solely to transfer charitable donations to other entities). I reckon You're welcome to believe that da laws in your state prohibit community foundations and the United Way (which exist solely to transfer charitable donations to other entities). I reckon you're welcome to believe in Martians too, eh? When I sent the application in for the Ship to get 501(3)© status. A mission statement had to be provided, along with the bylaws of the organization, so while the United Way and other foundations can transfer funds to other organizations, not all can. Have to say that I find the: "I reckon you're welcome to believe in Martians too, eh?" Comment a bit over the top and totally uncalled for. Eamonn

I was unhappy with my sons reading ability and had him redo second grade. I also moved him to another school. He moved along with the Den when that time came. Other than a few slight problems when he was a Webelos Scout, when some of the other members of the Den had learned some things in school that he hadn't it really wasn't a big deal. The trainer it seems wasn't right. I'd be happy to talk with the parents and see what they want to do. One reason I moved OJ to a different school was because in the school he was in the second grade spent a lot of time preparing the kids for their First Holy Communion. As he already made his First Holy Communion, going over all that again seemed a little silly. Not that maybe he wouldn't have benefited from a good dose of religion!! (I was happy not to have the Nun call me every night with his sin of the day!) Eamonn

Beavah, not sure what I'm missing? You post: " is to treat such donations as scouting donations, which should be tax deductible." If you are offering tax advise? What should be? Doesn't come into play. The IRS does what it does within the rules that are laid down. We are left with what is. No one is saying that we want to place anything in the way of the Lad doing the project. I'm sure we all wish him nothing but the best. If you are saying that all donations to scouting in your view ought to be tax deductible? Then you are not offering any advise just an opinion. I not 100% sure, but I seem to remember that here in PA there is something that prevents one Charity using funds collected and donating it to another charity. Which would or could make things difficult were a Council to collect donations and then give them for the benefit of say the YMCA. Being morally right is great, but when you get audited? Might not carry that much weight. Eamonn.

While I don't think you have to do anything that you don't want to! Back in the day... We went with 4 meetings a month. Three Den meetings and no meeting on the week when we had a Pack meeting. Some Dens that met on a Monday, that had done an activity over the weekend didn't meet the following Monday. I think this was to give the Den Leaders time to regain their sanity. Ea.

" I believe da most proper way to proceed is to treat such donations as scouting donations, which should be tax deductible." Sorry Beavah, while I'm not an expert on taxes and I haven't talked this one over with my accountant, my gut feeling tells me that what you posted isn't right. I strongly urge anyone who is thinking of making a large enough donation to discuss this with their tax adviser as well as the CO of the unit to which they belong. The Scout in this case does seem to have maybe overstated his case. I would tend to think that this was just a genuine mistake on his part with no intent of doing any real harm or damage. A lot would depend on who was benefiting from the project and whose name the donation was made to. OJ did his project for the local YMCA. The Troop he was in and the CO of the Troop did not in any way benefit from what he did. The Troop is not listed as a charity, as the CO is a local Civic Society, I'm not sure what standing they have or don't have? The YMCA is listed here in PA as a charity, so donations to the YMCA are deductible. No one who donated to OJ's project gave enough to really make it worth while messing with all this stuff. I think the people who are lightly to donate a lot will have "Their People" look into this sort of thing and make sure that they cover what needs to be covered -I know I would. That's why I have my accountant. Eamonn