Eamonn

I'm not going to post the words I used when I read this. I'm not in any way an expert on what should be allowed under the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and religion. But to me this is just wrong. In fact I see it as blasphemous. I am not a violent person, but I do think were I to bump into this group before the funeral my right to freedom of speech might well result in a few blackened eyes. My big hope is that before the funeral someone rounds this rabble up and places them in safe keeping until they come up with the cash to pay all the court ordered monies they owe. There are a number of inmates I know that could give them several more reasons to dislike homosexuals. Stuff like this makes me very upset, talk about taking the word of the Lord in vain. Of course where this lot are going they will never get to see the Lord. Eamonn.

What bugs? Where? Ea.

Sometime back I spent five really miserable hours driving to Maryland with a female Sea Scout who was on the phone (Her cell phone.) To her then boy friend. This led to me asking the Quarterdeck to do something about cell phone use. Like it or not, kids of Sea Scout age are not going anywhere without heir cell. We came up with a deal that cell phones wouldn't be used in vehicles and could be used at stops. A few months after my five hour visit to Purgatory, we drove from PA to GA. Cell phones were only used when we stopped. It seemed on the way out that the Scouts couldn't wait to get out and call or text someone. We went Sea Kayaking for a week. While I never said that cell phones were prohibited I did make it clear that in my opinion cell phones and salt water were not going to get along very well. All the Scouts left their phones in my locked car. We had a great time, the Scouts all enjoyed their time on the water and camping on different islands. When we arrived back at the main camp, some did feel the need to call someone. I drove home with four little darlings in my car. It was a real good time, we sang silly songs (Ring of Fire was the song of the year? I have no idea why!) We talked about what had happened over the week, we discussed the Ship, where we were and where we wanted to be as a Ship. Along the way we of course stopped for bathroom breaks and to eat. No one used a cell phone, in fact when we started to run a little late, I had to ask them to call home and let their parents know what time to expect them home. Of course Sea Scouts are a little older than a good many Boy Scouts. I have taken HS students on trips abroad. We did the send a post card home thing. In most cases the kids were home before the postcards. I do carry a couple of laptops in my car at all times. But I have never thought about sending anyone an e-mail when I'm away. One reason for going away is to be away!! At the 2001 Jamboree I was involved in a property transaction in PA. Because the Jamboree Guide said that cell phones wouldn't work, I left mine at home. I stood in line waiting to use a phone behind a long line of Boy Scouts who were calling home. Needless to say I got behind the kid who wanted to provide his parents with a full account of where he'd been, what he'd done, what he'd eaten and how many times he'd been to the bathroom. In 2005 I took a cell phone. We had a tarp set up for the daily PLC. Under the tarp we had a Patrol box, which acted as the Troop notice board. I left my cell phone in the patrol box and said anyone who wanted to use it could. Some Scouts made use of it while others didn't. When the storms came and when the terrible accident happened I called our Council Service Center and Her Who Must Be Obeyed, telling them that we were OK and everyone was fine. The parents had been informed before we left that was what was going to happen. I don't know how many? Or if any of the Scouts had called their parents that night or not. I do tend to go with the idea that no news is good news. If parents have a hard time talking with their son after an event or their son doesn't talk about what went on or happened, I kinda think this is something a family needs to work on. While I'm happy to communicate with parents after an event, informing them with information I think is important. I really don't ever see myself providing day by day or reports back home in real time. A big part of what we do as Scouter's is trying to help the Scouts we serve develop "Roots and Wings" I do thank the good Lord, that in over 30 years of taking Scouts and other youth groups away, I have always managed to return home with same number of children that I took with me. I think at times it's just dumb luck that it's the same children. Thinking about sending e-mails? I'd be very careful how they are worded or what is said. Something that has been addressed, managed and dealt with at camp might be seen as a big deal to a parent who isn't there and might not be getting the full picture. Again just my 2 cents. If someone feels the need and has the time and resources to take this on? More power to them. Eamonn.

After reading some of what has been posted, I'm left wondering what I'm not doing right? I have never ever had to deal with parents who seem as ready to call in anyone because their kid wasn't advancing. While I agree that knowing what is expected before you take on any position is vital. I also can see that in a new unit a written job description could be a nice tool. But maybe I'm just lazy? I have tended to allow history and tradition replace this. Most of all I know the Scouts in the unit I serve. Many of them I have known for a very long time. I know what makes them tick, I'm aware of their strengths and their weaknesses.(Just as they know mine.) I care about them and want them to be successful. I train them for success. I don't need a formal SM Conference to tell anyone "Well done" or "Great job". Nor do I need one to give "The Look" or have a word in someones ear who is messing up. In the Ship and in Troops I have led, we use and have used Reflections to assess, what worked, what didn't work and at times the fact that someone has let the side down sticks out like a sore thumb. The person or people responsible are aware of their successes or failures and we work toward making any needed changes in how we go about doing things. To be honest I'm willing to not take very much notice about what National or anyone else has to say about what constitutes being active or serving actively. Life isn't that hard. As I see it a Lad who has made an oath to do his best to keep the Scout Law is going to keep his word he is going to do what he said he was going to do. My role is helping him do it. I'm willing to use every thing I have learned about leadership to give him what he needs, I'll use all of these skills to set a good example and provide the resources and tools needed to do the job. The expectations I have are set for each individual not some standard that is laid down in black and white. The Scouts, the other adults and the committee know that it would be a cold day in you know where, if I allowed someone to advance just because they had worn a path for six months and had not done their best to do what they said they were going to do. Very often a Scout will start off doing the work that a position entails because he wants to please me, but in time and over time he starts to understand that this isn't about pleasing me. It has more to do with his honor and him wanting to do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do. At some place along the line ethics do come into play. The "I have to do this or Eamonn will be upset" is replaced with the "I have to do this because I said that I'd do it" starts up. Each and every Scout is different. I have know Scouts who without blinking a eyelid are able to take on and manage just about any position, while others struggle with getting anything done. Life is a lot easier with the Scouts who just seem able to jump right in, but it is far more rewarding to work with the Scout who struggles and ends up getting what needs to be done, done. This talk about: " trying to implement criteria/standards to assure scouts are aware of their leadership roles and what is expected of them." And "make certain that scouts have accomplished their leadership requirements before scheduling them for scoutmaster conferences. We need to make sure these scouts have made meaningful contributions before they are signed off. While it might read very well is to my mind a bunch of twaddle. I'm happy to work with one Scout at a time. I'm happy to reinforce good work with a pat on the back and provide slackers with a friendly kick in the pants. This isn't rocket science. I'm not the HR department for IBM. I'm just a volunteer doing my best to help Scouts grow and find the joy that comes from them doing their best. Eamonn.

Please don't take this as any sort of a put down. It really isn't intended that way. I think a lot depends on where you end up camping. Our Council is small. I think that no matter where you live in the Council you can drive up to the camp in less than an hour. (It takes me 26 minutes.) Campers arrive on Sunday afternoon. Most are dropped off by loving parents. Parents night used to be on Wednesday, but because some Scouts were homesick it was moved to Thursday. Come Thursday the camp is invaded by the loving parents who come loaded down with covered dishes and goodies from home. Breakfast at camp on Saturday is cold cereal and danishes. By about 0930 all the campers are gone. Picked up by the loving parents. Being as parents and Scouts are only separated for about 96 hours at the most and that there is a pay phone along with the Scouts who bring cell phones. I really don't see the need. In fact it might not be such a good thing! Kids go to camp to get away from home and some parents are happy to allow their son to go out on his on and stand on his own two feet. Just my 2 cents. Eamonn

When Her Who Must Be Obeyed stops telling you that you have sexy knees and starts telling you that your too old to be wearing shorts. Ea.

I'm not a quilter and don't know very much about quilting. Dave Steele who was at one time active in this forum was I seem to remember into quilting. Quilting is big in the area where I live. Just down the road from where I live we have The West Overton Museums, which every year hosts a big quilt show and I think a competition. Over the past year or so I have had to spend some time out near Bird In Hand and Intercourse PA, both are small Amish communities. I have been thinking of having a quilt made for Her Who Must Be Obeyed as a Christmas present. I don't think she would really appreciate a Scouting quilt. I do know of a Sea Scout Ship in Maryland which is chartered by a R/C Church. Every year the Catholic Mothers make a quilt which is raffled by the church and the money raised goes to the Ship. I might look into seeing if there is some way the Council I serve might be interested in using this as a fund raiser? I could pay for the quilt and donate it to the Council. I'd need to check out what the rules are. I thought the material with the merit badges was really neat. Eamonn.

"Aren't Scouters wonderful! " There are times when even Her Who Must Be Obeyed might even agree!! I do hope you remain fit and well and are able to remain with the Scouts at camp. At the risk of sounding sexist. Summer was made for boys and just being around to witness them having fun and enjoying being boys while maybe learning the odd little something or other, is just pure joy. Eamonn.

I know and have known some really great people who have taken Wood Badge. I have also known some real twits who have taken Wood Badge. I know some really great Scouter's who work with Scouts who have never taken Wood Badge. I also know some wonderful Scouter's who don't work with youth who have never taken Wood Badge. Over the years I have been very fortunate in being able to make more than my fair share return trips to the "Happy Land". Back when the Cub Scout course was around as a Leader Trainer Course, it seemed to me that a lot of participants either didn't know or didn't care that it was a course about preparing to become a better Leader Trainer. These participants wanted a Wood Badge. Some felt that there was no way a Boy Scouter was going to look down on them. Some of these Cub Scouters never got involved in Leader Training once their Ticket was completed, while some went on to become outstanding resources as trainers in the District and Councils they serve. As a Wood Badge staff member, back when staff members had tickets, one of my ticket items was to promote the course and recruit participants. As a course director I made it very clear to the staff that I recruited that one main task they had in order for us to have a course was recruiting participants. To this end we all invited,coaxed,pushed, pleaded and begged people to sign up. There were of course people who as soon as they heard that there was going to be a course who mailed their deposit in, that same day. While there were other who needed a little arm-twisting. Some went because they felt it would help them do a better job serving in what ever area they were serving. Some went because they are "Training Junkies", some went because a certain staff member asked them, some went because someone else they knew was going, some went to get away from the house for a while, some went out of curiosity. To be honest I don't know why some went. Maybe some did go in order just to be able to wear the beads? I seen my role as a CD as providing the best course possible. While of course I cared for each and every participant, I didn't care what reason they had for being at the course. I don't buy into this idea that people who have earned their beads belong to some elite club, where we all hang out together. To be honest I'm not sure if I even notice if people are wearing beads or not. A great friend of mine has just received the Silver Buffalo. Over the years I have gone out of my way to hound this fellow about attending Wood Badge. So far he remains bead-less. But never the less he is an outstanding Scouter. I have really enjoyed the times I have spent at Wood Badge courses. There have been times when I have heard myself say jokingly that Scouting would be a lot more fun without the Scouts. I really do think that any time you bring a group of adults who share the same values and passion about anything that a good time is almost a given. Each and every course I have attended has been a lot of fun, each with its own magic moments. I like to think that every participant has come away with something. I'm sure that some have came away with more than others. My hope is that the people who at first only signed up in order to be able to wear the beads, do by the end of the entire experience learn more about what the real meaning of being a Scouter and being a leader is about. A lot of time is spent on the 21st Century course looking at values and searching for a personal vision and mission. If the vision and mission is just to end up with a couple of beads on a leather boot-lace? I can't help feeling that something is out of whack and maybe Scouts and Scouting is not the right place for this individual. Wood Badge is a good time and for many a very special time and experience. But it is when all is said and done just a Training course. I don't wear my beads to bed, I can't recall more than half the names of the people who were on staff on the course I took 30 years ago!! Many people have romantic?? memories of the course they took. Most people who have taken he course will say they had fun. But no matter what course Wood Badge is about "The Training" Eamonn. PS I still think that Wood Badge Beads belong to the Wood Badge course and using them to recognize other courses is just plain silly.

I'm sure that there will be a time for asking all the could have? Should have? Might have? Questions. From all I have seen and heard on the news, it seems that the Scouts acted and reacted exceedingly well. The loss of four teenagers is so very sad. My heart goes out to their families, friends and fellow Scouts. I just can't imagine the pain and loss that they are going through. For now all I can do is offer a few prayers and kind thoughts. I do hope we don't allow any sort of second guessing cloud the fact that we have lost four Scouts and a number of other Scouts have been hurt. Eamonn

I have been looking at the May National /Regional Membership reports. Cub Scouts show an increase of 0.1% (1,142,031 up from 1,140,417) Boy Scouts are down 0.3% (740,306 down from 742,470) Venturers are up 2.9% (193,772 up from 188,285) While of course the Boy Scout total isn't good news. With the decline we have seen in Cub Scouts over the past few years, I kinda think this is to be expected. Ea.

I'm not really sure I understand this talk about "outside the sphere of Scouting". One of the reasons I'm involved in Scouting is because I like kids. I hate to see any kid hurt or harmed. While some Scouting activities do involve an element of risk and maybe even danger, we the adults do try and make Scouting as safe as possible. As a parent I would hope that if anyone seen my son participating in something like this, they wouldn't hesitate to pick up the phone and tell me. OJ will be twenty next month, but he is still on my insurance and would very quickly be enjoying being a pedestrian. If I seen anyone doing this, you can bet I would be on my cell phone calling the police then and there. Within Scouting? Were I to find out about this after the fact. I feel sure that the people involved and myself would be having a real heart to heart. The Scouts that I know and have worked with know and are aware that I do really care for them. While of course I would point out how very stupid they have been, I would also point out that they are not living up to the Oath that they took as Scouts. Of course I'm very thankful that no one did get hurt or harmed. My big hope would be that their parents would take the action that they think is appropriate and necessary. Eamonn.

I had to smile. Last week I received an e-mail from our Council Scout Shop announcing that they were offering a 10% off sale on Scout uniforms. While I have enough uniforms to last me a couple of life times. I think it would take more than ten percent off to make me rush out and buy a uniform that while still valid would be outdated within a couple of months. I can't wait to see the first Webelos Scout Den or New Scout Patrol all kitted out in this new uniform. I bet they will look great. Of course if our Scout Shop doesn't manage to sell the stock it has on hand? It might take a while. Eamonn.

As ever BW you have got my little gray cells working in over-drive. For the record, I'm a little unsure where the comment "person who chews gum in class with a person addicted drugs" Comes into play? I think maybe I wasn't very clear. My point was that things seem to me to have changed a lot over the past 30 years. While of course back then (1970's) Drugs were around and there were children using them, it didn't seem as widespread as it is now. I have been trained with how to deal with addicts, but most of the material focuses on adults and the training I have received only deals with adults. (I don't work with youth offenders.) While there is a lot of research being done in the area of addiction and there seems to be a lot of theories. For the most part I have been informed that there is no cure for addiction. Addicts can be detoxed, some do benefit from entering rehabilitation units after which some will receive some sort of therapy and enter into a 12 step program. I spend a fair amount of time talking with these addicts about "People, Places and Things". To the best of my knowledge there is no cure for addiction. Addicts do go into "Recovery". How well they do? Is dependent on a lot of factors, some of which they do have control over, some which they don't. I'm sure (At least I think I'm sure!!) that you are not saying that we should turn our back on a youth who has been; shall we say an active addict (I know that there is no such term in use.) and is doing his or her best to work on their recovery. There are times when I give my little "People, Places and Things" sermon, that I feel that I have no idea what the heck I'm talking about! It's all too easy for me to maybe think that they will return to a nice safe neighborhood like the one where I live. While I have of course read about the places they live I have never lived there. While it's easy for me to tell everyone to "Just say No!" I'm not hanging out with a group of gang members who are all involved in drugs. You are of course right when you say that we as volunteer leaders don't have the training to take on drug users. My hope would be that maybe we could do more to do more for the youth in these areas before they get into this sort of activity. I talk with a lot of men who if I believe what they say seem to have fathered a lot of kids, many to different women. Of course if they are talking to me it means that they are locked up and either have been or will be for a long time. While of course the BSA, you,and I can't fix all of the problems that are out there. I still think we could and can do more than what we are doing. Over the coming weeks I will be visiting our Council summer camp. I'll bet that I don't see one black face or hear anyone speaking Spanish. We have to improve on that! Eamonn.

Not trying to hijack the thread. But.... While maybe it's not true? I have been told that one of the first signs of going nuts is talking to yourself. While I of course know that I'm very slightly nuts. More and more I find myself talking to myself. Her Who Must Be Obeyed, knew I was a nutter when I started singing little songs to the dogs. She gets upset when I argue with the GPS thingy in the car. (I hate that voice -Even though I have it set on English!!) I get some very strange looks when people come in my office and I'm having a chat with my computer. At times using language that is very un-scout like!! I don't have very big hands but I always seem to push that silly wheel on my i-pod past where I want. So I have a little chat with that. Seems to me that thanks to technology, I'm spending more and more time talking to myself. Eamonn.

"A Scout is a registered member of a pack, troop, team, crew, or ship who tries to learn and live by the values of the Scout Oath and Law." I'm more than OK to accept that as a fair definition of what a Scout is. The point of my bringing up about a young crack dealer was to show that this does happen! There are very young kids out there caught up in things that people like me, seem happy to either ignore or just pretend are not happening. Going back to: " A Scout is a registered member of a pack, troop, team, crew, or ship who tries to learn and live by the values of the Scout Oath and Law." The word that sticks out for me in that statement is "Tries". Being a Scout didn't take a lot of effort for my son, he really didn't have to try. Everything he needed was in place. He could of course at any time decided to turn his back on his family and our family values. When I read about teenagers who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, I wonder where their parents are? I also accept that addiction is an illness. I have never had (As far as I know) a Scout, who while a Scout was an addict.Still I can't help thinking that any kid facing these demons would have to try a lot harder to be a Scout. Most of the Scouts I know who have been caught with drugs or alcohol (In fact I have never caught a Scout with illegal drugs) have been experimenting or just trying it to find out what it is like? They knew what they were doing was something that they ought not to have been doing. They knew what they were doing was wrong. For that time they decided to stop trying to be a Scout. What happened next - When I found out or caught them was up to me. (I'm thinking of a specific occasion, when I took the Troop to Holland and some of the older Scouts bought some beer and drank it.) I felt that they had let me down, they had let the Troop down, let their parents down and had of course let themselves down. They had messed up. We did find a way of dealing with the incident, their parents were informed and involved with this. But the Troop was happy to keep them as Scouts. It did take a little more time for them to regain the trust I had placed upon them. - That was something I had to deal with as it was my problem. It could or might be argued that drinking beer and trying illegal drugs are not the same thing? A very long time ago when I was teaching, the problems I faced were kids chewing gum in class, talking in class and lads with their hands in their pockets (One of my pet peeves!)The idea that anyone would bring a gun to school and harm anyone? Was way beyond my comprehension and I think just about everyone else's. Scouting can become a "Safe Place" for good kids to hang out. Maybe that is a good thing? I however would like to see us go out and reach every eligible youth and do what we can to serve them. I know that by doing this maybe the "Rockwell" image of Scouting will be harmed. I'm almost sure that Scouter's will be forced to face new problems and challenges. At the risk of sounding out of line. I think the time for us to stop giving diversity lip service and the time to do more for the kids who maybe don't fit the image that a lot of people have of Boy Scouts and Scouting is now. Eamonn.

I like to think we might all agree what we might like the young Lad who joins Scouts to become. I also like to think that each and everyone of us is doing what we do to help each and every youth become a fine example of the Scout Oath and Law in action. I however don't believe that every youth is born into being the fine example of the Scout Law and Oath. Heck I have over 40 years of trying and I still at times mess up. I love my son, more than life itself. I'm proud of him and for all of my moaning, groaning and complaining, deep down I know that he is a good kid. Scouts and Scouting has played a big part in helping make him the person that he is. The adults who have been there for him, worked with him have been a great example for him. The guys he has chosen over the years to hang with for the most part have been super nice kids. But.... While these kids are super nice kids. Most come from families that are fairly well off. All are white. Most seem to be fairly competitive. They come from families who have strong values. In fact a good many of his friends parents are involved in Scouting. We have come a very long way from when he was in first grade and his teacher Sister Lucille, would phone me almost every night with his "Sin Of The Day". At one time I was sure that he was going to be the next Axe Murderer! I had a little chat with Sister Lucille. I explained that the problem was that she was seeing him as a child of God, who wasn't up to that standard, where as I was seeing him as a little Devil who was trying to reform. Sister Lucille never did come around to my way of thinking!! OJ, was suspended from school for 3 days for bringing a knife to school. A knife he won at an OA weekend (For pie eating!!) He put the small knife in his pocket and forgot it was there. I had to go to the school and pick him up. Of course I wasn't happy. But I do understand the zero tolerance policy that the school district has. One teacher carried on as if this should be a hanging offense. The principal was nice about it and explained that the rule was the rule, but she knew it was an honest mistake. To the best of my knowledge OJ has not tried drugs or alcohol. I think in part because he knows that he has too much to lose. While he thinks I don't know!! I have heard a good deal about the mischief that him and his pals got into while working at summer camp. I was talking with a guy of about 26 years old who is a convicted criminal. He was telling me that he started selling crack on the street when he was nine years old. Often the money he brought home was the only income his family (Mother and brothers and sisters) had to put food on the table. I wonder if at age eleven if we would have welcomed him into a Troop? I wonder if we are capable of understanding that maybe these were the sorts of kids that BP had in mind when he first started thinking about Scouting? Even the kids from "Good Families" seem to spend a lot of time on their own. Parents are busy, parents are tired, parents just aren't "There". While maybe the idea of cute little Lads with clean faces and combed hair might be the poster Scouts? I would hope we are able to do more than just be a meeting place for white, middle class, competitive kids from good families. Eamonn

"A youth who brings illegal drugs to a scout activity has already quit the program, he just forgot to stop coming." Maybe I'm a little guilty of trying to do everything possible to save every Scout? I do know that I'm in no way shy of doling out tough love. A youth who is using illegal drugs has a problem and does need help. We might not be the best fit for dealing with this? But there are times when who knows some Scout Leader might be just what is needed. It's all too easy to view Scouts as Angels in uniforms. But the truth is that Scouts are a work in progress. Kids do make bad decisions, they do take the wrong path. To just dismiss a Lad because he has made a mistake? No, I'm sorry I think that is not what we should do. Each and everyone of us deals with the consequences of our actions everyday. Sometimes we benefit from them, sometimes we suffer. While life is not always fair or may not seem fair. Removing the Scout from the program is not fixing the problem, it is I would hope the last option that we should think of as being a "Appropriate Consequence" Eamonn

BW, I do agree that there are times when what is in the best interest of the Scout might not seem to be that way to him or his parents. A young Lad who was a scout in the Troop back in England, started running around with a not so nice gang of Lads. He got into a fight, pulled a knife and one lad ended up getting stabbed. His parents did get him the best defense available. He did get a five pound fine and bound over to keep the peace for a year. His parents made him repay them for all the expenses that the trial cost and only allowed him out to attend Scout meetings and activities. He went on to become a great Scout and is now serving as a Leader back in the UK. He claims that this episode with the police and the law was the best thing that ever happened to him! His parents could have paid for the lawyers and the expenses, but they made him take the money from his allowance. I would hope that if we as Scouters do ever have to get involved with a case like the one OneHour has posted, that we do know the Scout and do look at all the options before we rush to a judgment. Removing a Scout from an activity to ensure the safety and well being of everyone else is of course a no brainer. It's what happens next that needs to be given a lot of thought. It's all to easy to just go with "Get him out of the Troop" But is that what we should be doing? Is this really in keeping with the vision and mission? Ea.

BW, I think we are going to have to agree to disagree. To my thinking, while I don't in any way disagree with the action taken when the boys at the Jamboree were sent packing with their parents. I do however think that your argument is flawed. When you say: "Appropriate" is responding in a way that is legal and controlled by existing rules and procedures." These Lads were in fact breaking the law and the police should have been called to deal with the situation. However it would seem that someone? Made the decision not to call the police and call the Scouts parents. Some BSA Trainings do point out that some older Scouts and Venturers are going to experiment with illegal drugs. While maybe I'm guilty of reading something that isn't there? It does seem to me that the BSA while of course not condoning this behaviour, does accept that some experimentation is going to happen with some kids. Each and every case is different, just as each and every Scout is different. This being the case I'm sorry I just fail to see how blanket statement like ""Appropriate" is responding in a way that is legal and controlled by existing rules and procedures." Fits the bill. We are here to make the words found in our Vision and mission statement come to life and have real meaning. Before we start talking about existing rules and procedures we need to think what is in the best interest of the Scout. Yes there are times when calling the police and allowing the "System" to deal with it is the best course of action, but that might not always be the best course of action. Eamonn.

I don't claim to be a "Uniform Expert". In fact most of the time I'm happy to take plenty of No Notice about what people decide to wear or not wear. But even a dummy like myself can see a great number of mistakes on the http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle/uniform.htm web page. Now that the insignia guide is on the BSA site, my hope is that Mike Walton will remove this page and stop providing information which is just wrong. Eamonn.

I bought the house where I now live 21 years ago. The people I bought it from had build the house. Over the years I have made a few alterations and changes to the house. Last summer I was playing in the darn flower beds!! When the previous owner stopped by. He noticed that I had pulled up and got rid of all the ivy he had planted. (It was some kind of tricolored ivy. Which I didn't like and had a really hard time getting rid of.) He was a little upset that I had removed the ivy. In fact he said "What have you done with my ivy?" I explained that I didn't like it and had got rid of it. My thinking about this was if the ivy was so very important? He ought not have sold me the house and 19 years? Come on! If you have left the Troop? You have to let go. You have to inform the Scouts and parents that come to you that you are not the person that they need to be talking with. Wearing your "Parent Hat". You need to decide what you think is the best plan of action for your kids. If you really do believe that having your sons around this 17 year old Eagle Scouts is bad for them? Maybe removing them from the Troop is for the best? Maybe because he is already 17 years old? You might decide to just wait it out? The bottom line is that you have to as a parent do what you think is in the best interest of your kids. As to what happens to the Lad who has confessed that he smoked pot on a campout? This is up to the Troop. My hope would be that the Troop (Leaders and Committee) deal with this with the best interests of the Lad at heart. If you are friendly with the Lads parents? Maybe a quite word in their ear might be in order? If you are not able to do this. I think allowing the unit to deal with it as they see best is the way to go. While I'm sure that there are times when an "Appropriate Consequence" is what is laid down in black and white. I do however believe that we are here to serve the Scouts and there are times when the Appropriate Consequence is what is in the best interest of the Scout. Depending on the individual it might be best to teach him a lesson by "Throwing the book" at him or maybe having the right person counsel him and take him under their wing? I'm not sure what the law in our area is for pot. Our local JP is a nice fellow who does his best to try and give young offenders every chance. I don't know how much leeway he does have? I have talked with him and we both share the same opinion that giving a kid a fine, which most times only penalizes the parents who end up paying the fine does little for the young offender. Eamonn

I have at times voiced my opinion about the Board that serves the Council I serve. My main complaint has been that the Board is too big and it seems to me that a lot of people on the board are more interested in building a resume than serving the Council. But to be fair. Or at least try and be fair. Gold Winger does bring up several good points. Councils do need money and having people on the board who can help in this area is a necessity. I'm not sure if there is such a thing as an average Scouter? But from what I have seen in the area where I live. Most people get involved or return to serve as Scouter's when they have a son who joins Cub Scouts. These people are really busy. They have young families,most have large mortgages and are at a stage of life when they seem to run all the time. Run to work, work overtime, run to PTO meetings, run to take the kids to a lot of different activities. Those who survive? Who go on to become Boy Scout Leaders, still struggle to find time for Scouting and for their families. Most really do enjoy the time they spend with the Scouts. Speaking for myself. I used Scouting as my sanctuary! My time away from all the pressures of home and Her Who Must Be Obeyed. I, because of the way I worked and the hours I worked didn't feel I could commit to being available each and every week to be at a Troop Meeting or an event. So I opted to serve at the District and Council level. Over time I got to find out what I was doing!! And I like to think I got good at it!! I was selected to serve as a District Chairman, not because of what I knew about Scouts and Scouting, but also because I was a business owner in the District. I knew the guys in the local chamber of commerce. I was able to go to them and ask for their support in things like FOS. I was also able to ask them to provide services that the Council needed. Fixing broken refrigerators at camp, installing heating and air conditioning for new buildings at camp. Providing printed headed paper for the Council, taking care of council owned vehicles. Maybe not thousands of dollars but a savings for the council. I never really thought about the average age of the Board members. Many of the "Non- Scouter" types were in their late 30's or early 40's. Most of the "Scouter-types" did seem a fair bit older. These "Scouter-types" were the guys and girls who had been around Scouting for a long while. Their kids were grown and while maybe some of them felt that they were no longer up to taking on Philmont or actively serving at the unit level, still had a lot to offer in other areas. Sure some of them seemed to want to live in the past, but most of them knew how things worked and were trying to ensure that things kept on working. Eamonn.

Not sure if it holds true in other parts of the country? But one thing that is really becoming my newest pet peeve is the way our local news is reporting "Pain at the pump". It is treated like a big joke. I don't spend a lot of money on gas (petrol). My round-trip drive to work is only about 26 miles. Since gas has got so expensive I have been driving our smaller cars, a tank of gas lasts about two weeks. In fact, the other day when I took the Ford Explorer to the garden center, I worked out that I hadn't filled that tank since last January!! I was really shocked a month or so back when I received my quarterly investment reports and seen that I had lost more in a quarter than I was going to earn this year!! I called my investment Advisor. He wasn't much help. Sure I know that I'm "In for the long haul" and no I never have in a million years gone with the thinking "It's on on paper!" One reason I didn't buy a new car this year was because I thought I'd wait and see what the alternative might be. I have read about diesel cars in the UK that are getting somewhere between 50 -73 miles to the gallon. Sadly they don't as yet meet the California rules on emission controls. My big fear is what the cost of heating oil will be this winter? A friend of mine just paid $4.29 a gal. I use a little over a thousand gals over the winter. I have people who rent homes from me, who are late with their rent. One single parent has had her water and electricity cut off. Things are tough. Fear is a big part of it all. But food prices are increasing the pain at the pump is real. I'm looking at ways to not spend as much on fuel and heating, but in order to do so I have to fork over a lot of my hard earned cash and I'm not always sure if the return is worth while. I know that I'm not as "Green" as I should be. Still I'm making up for it by becoming even more frugal (OJ calls it cheap!!) than I ever have been. I can and do see why some people are not donating to things that they have donated to in the past. But I also see that sales of cell phones and video games are on the increase. I think in part because young people don't seem to know the value of a dollar. Or maybe? I'm just getting old? Ea.

So far this year we don't seem to have had a Spring. The weather has been cold and yesterday was the first day in 18 days when it didn't rain. Rory and Friday don't seem to notice the rain or the cold, so we have still gone for our daily big long walk. The result is clearly noticeable on the celery green carpet. All this rain has made keeping the grass cut a real chore. It has also delayed my "Spring Planting". I know absolutely nothing about flowers and taking care of them. Her Who Must Be Obeyed always took care of this, but when she became ill the flower gardens and the care of them landed in my lap. The first year I didn't do anything and weeds with nasty burrs took over. The burrs stuck to the dogs fur and it seemed I spent hours and hours de-burring the dogs which made a real mess. Last year I really went to town, I weeded and placed some sort of black cloth which is supposed to last ten years, it allows the water to get through and doesn't allow the weeds to come up. I bought all sorts of flowers and bags of mulch. I watered a fed the plants. While some of the plants didn't make it, the ones that did looked good. I had planted a mix of annuals and perennials. One of the perennials (two in fact) really took off and by early fall had over-taken half the flower bed. As spring came closer I watched and waited for signs of new growth. My hope was that these guys would take over and I would not have to do anything. Sadly nothing came up. A couple of plants with blue flowers, that I didn't like very much did return and the plant which I somehow managed to break while I was trying to get it from the pot came back, well it never bloomed last year, so maybe coming back is a bit of an exaggeration? I gave some thought to what my goal was. I want a maintenance free flower bed. Plants that come up year after year, cover the ground and don't allow the dos to get covered in burrs. Yesterday I took off for Wal-mart looking for the plants of my dreams. Sadly it seemed Wal-mart is not the best place for plants, so I went to K-mart. K-Mart seems to have more roses than Wal-mart. There was line after line of hanging baskets. As I was looking and becoming more and more frustrated, I met Rory's Vet. I asked him if he knew anything about plants? He admitted that he didn't and suggested that we go for a drink. This seemed like a good idea so I put my plant selecting on hold. While we were enjoying an adult beverage he let me know that his wife always buys her plants at the local garden center. This seemed like a good idea. So early this morning I took off to the garden center. I was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a golf shirt. It seems to be well dressed at the garden center you need a pair of gardening gloves in your back pocket. It also seems that real gardeners wear their glasses on a rope. I'm not sure why? Of course the place was packed. People with flat after flat of plants. I walked around reading label after label. I loaded up a cart, waited in line at the check out where I asked a few what must have been very silly questions as I got some very strange looks and the answers were not very helpful. I really did feel out of place. It was if they knew I was only there to prevent the dogs getting burred and they knew I wasn't a real gardener. I didn't know if my soil was acidic. I did know that we get the morning sun and afternoon shade. I was going to buy 8 or 10 bags of mulch, but I felt so out of place I stopped at the gas station and bought my mulch there. It cost a lot less. I have friends who have wives who belong to the local garden club. I'm not going to join. Anyway what do garden club members do? I somehow can't see myself sitting talking about how well my geraniums are doing thanks to the adjustments I made in the acidity of my compost. The plants are all now in the ground. I'll wait a few days before I hit them with the mulch. I was tempted to do it today, but my back is really hurting. I did buy a lot of perennials, so maybe next year I'll have more luck. Eamonn. PS Her Who Must Be Obeyed has been surfing the net looking at English Setters. You can bet if she gets one he or she will want to dig up all the darn flowers.