eisely

To my knowledge the charter organization representative can hold no other position in a unit. This is not to say that the COR cannot do things such organize an outing, put together a program for a meeting, or teach skills. Just as scoutmaster, cubmaster, and committee chairs are unique positions that cannot be occupied by the same person, the COR holds only that position.

My biggest problem with shorts in the past has been the way they are sometimes cut in the crotch. I am not sure that the length isn't merely a fashion issue. Haven't you noticed how shorts in recent years vary in length like skirts' hemlines? Too bad the boys don't want to accept the uniform for what it is, but I don't think scouts should look like gang bangers.

Jerry Falwell was never my personal cup of tea. I have only seen him on TV occasionally on various national talk shows where he was presumably on his best behavior. But he did apologize for his recent remarks, and I think we ought to take that at face value. Disregarding Falwell as the messenger for a moment, it is indisputable that the ACLU and the US Supreme Court have had a tremendous impact on a number of issues ranging from abortion to school prayer to freedom of expression to pornography to limitations on police investigative powers. Some of these issues matter a great deal to a lot

Falwell's remarks were at the least embarrassing to Christians everywhere. Like many I am concerned about the decadence I see around me, but none of the people that Falwell talked about were at the controls of those airliners. He owes a lot of people an apology.

Like so many others I am still trying to understand all the events of September 11 and figure out what it means for people everywhere. We are truly blessed in the US. Through the efforts of those who have gone before we are both wealthy and free, and fortunate to occupy a wonderful piece of real estate. We have taken our privileged status, and life itself, for granted for so long. I only hope that a people that has become self indulgent, self absorbed, less god fearing, and overweight (self included) can now rise to the occasion. I pray that we do not lose too much that is good in dealing

pray reflect and give blood

Outdoor emphasis and outdoor adult training are alive and well in the Mt. Diablo Siverado Council here in California. Out of curiousity I do plan to sit through the new adult training in just a few weeks, just to check it out.

Based on this and similar stories it appears that United Way needs the Boy Scouts more than the Boy Scouts needs United Way. See the details towards the end of the story. It is sad that zealots opposed to Scouting are so willing to "destroy the village in order to save it," to borrow a famous quote from the Viet Nam war. One of the major arguments for United Way as a concept is efficiency in fund raising, by keeping the fund raising costs as a percent of funds raised very low. United Way was also a good deal for employers because they could enter a program of charitable payroll deducti

The piece below is from an online news source called "Agape Press," an explicitly conservative Christian news source. Allegan County Michigan is on the Eastern shore of Lake Michigan South of Grand Rapids. This particular United Way chapter is small potatos (potatoes?) compared to the urban metropolitan United Way chapters, but it is an interesting story nonetheless. Perhaps a reader of this post who is familiar with the controversy can offer more information. Michigan United Way Chapter Under Pressure to Fund Boy Scouts By Allie Martin September 7, 2001 (AgapePress) - Resi

jmcquillan, Whatever you do, I hope we will continue to see you in these pages. I have a somewhat different take on this general issue. Lack of sufficient parental support is a problem, not just in scouts, but in all kinds of youth activities highly dependent upon volunteers. One always finds a few highly dedicated volunteers who hang in there for years, and every organization needs some of these. Unfortunately, this also spoils other people who come to expect and rely upon such dedication. This can create different problems. I can think of two powerhouse troops in our district

I like OGE's suggestion. There is time to think about this.

And don't forget the value of images. If one does ever appear on camera, be in complete uniform, well worn. Stand up straight and be mindful of body english. Maintain eye contact. No shuffling of feet, or that sort of thing. Scouting has a positive image already. That is why the gay rights people love to have Steve Cozza show up in uniform. Adults and youth in uniform looking good always strike a responsive cord. That is why politicians love to have scouts at their rallys.

Rooster7 If one could do an honest poll right now of the American people and their attitudes towards scouting, I think you would find a growing ambivalence because of all the bad press. The news media are overwhelming liberal in outlook and will continue to take shots at scouting every chance they get. It would be nice to believe that the overwhelming majority of all americans support the position of scouting on this issue, but I fear that the tide is going the other way. Clearly there are also going to be geographic differences. I would wager that attitudes towards scouting exactly m

I like the idea of a silent protest, but one would still need signs so that you would not be confused by the media as part of the scouting for all protest. I agree with OGE's comment about building "traditional values" into the the theme. It is not that I am opposed to traditional values, but a lot of people are automatically turned off by that phrase. If one were to seriously do something like this, one needs a simple message that reaches the "undecided." The purpose of a demonstration is to reach others, not those already on your side. This is where using some of the words of the c

NEWS FLASH Researchers claim that catnip is superior to DEET in repelling flying insects! No kidding. I heard this on my car radio yesterday. Anybody else hear about this one, or is this just another urban legend? Has anybody tried catnip for this purpose? I don't know if I would want to wear something that would attract cougars, even if they are in a good mood. Far out.

The following piece was lifted from sfgate.com. It has nothing to do with scouting, but speaks volumes about political trends and what we are up against. That our "moderate democrat" governor would even consider such an appointment is an outrage. ___________________________ Davis' education appointee has sideline in racy videos Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross Wednesday, August 29, 2001 Gov. Gray Davis' opponents have been dig, dig, digging around on the background of some of his appointees -- and they've turned up one of those "gotchas" on Reed Hastings, the governor's

We should consider the idea of organizing counter protests on the same day. That should make things interesting. The problem is coming up with an appropriate theme statement that can't be misconstrued, either deliberately or unintentionally, as bigotry. A suggested poster: "Choice in scouting" Thoughts?

The Contra Costa Times is published in Walnut Creek, California by the Knight Ridder chain of newspapers. We actually subscribe to the print edition, although I seldom do more than look at the headlines and the entertainment section. My spouse reads it because she tracks the real estate market. I never saw the piece you refer to. Unfortunately the edition you mention has already gone out with the recycling. If I remember, next week I might go by the public library to check out this back issue. Knight Ridder is also one of those corporations that decided to no longer contribute di

I was not aware until I saw this piece that school uniforms were in wide use in public schools anywhere. There are numerous advantages to school uniforms, and it is not a trivial issue. Do you suppose the school board will come around for uniform inspection for the scout units?

One little thing that is sometimes overlooked is making sure that vehicles used for transportation on outings are fit and ready, and that other measures are taken to anticipate problems. Several years ago on an expedition into an isolated part of Arizona with a large group of people and a large number of cars, our scoutmaster drove an oil burning clunker. One we hiked out from our trek to the trail head to drive home, his dip stick didn't register anything and we were almost 100 miles from the nearest service station of any kind. Fortunately I was able to provide him with some oil, and we a

I overlooked the story below from the Sun Sentinel of Florida. I did not realize that the dispute with the Broward School Board had gotten resolved so favorably. _______________ Broward schools to waive room rental fees for Scouts, others By Toni Marshall Education Writer Posted July 18 2001 After a nine-month battle with the Boy Scouts of America over school use, the Broward County School Board on Tuesday recommended allowing the Scouts and all other nonprofit groups to use schools rent-free, as long as they pay for lights. The proposal is a reversal from the

The following article confirms the bear attack report I posted earlier and provides at least a partial explanation for the attack. _________________ Hungry Bears Attacking Humans in New Mexico By David Bennett SANTA FE, N.M. (Reuters) - A series of attacks on humans by hungry bears has left New Mexicans as wary of their beloved mountains as some Floridians are of their beaches following recent shark attacks. Residents of the southwestern state are taking new precautions after a black bear broke into a home Aug. 18 in the mountain village of Cleveland, 50 miles northeast o

Yarrow, Should your son be elected, he should accept the honor and go to an ordeal. Then he can make a more informed decision about future involvement. Accepting membership in OA is more of a commitment to scouting than it is to OA specifically. There are a variety of ways that one can serve and meet the spirit of OA without necessarily becoming an officer in the organization. I have three sons, all of whom went through ordeals and became members. Only my youngest, still in high school, has shown any real interest in OA, getting his brotherhood this last June. I am somewhat conf

Yarrow, A scout is, among other things, helpful. As far as I can tell there is no website for the national OA. At the end of this post I have pasted in the text of a "fact sheet" from the BSA National official website. I can find 60 lodge websites on the internet. There may be more. All I did was search for "order of the arrow." You need to see if one of those websites is for your local lodge. Even if your local lodge does not keep a website, you may find it useful and informative to browse some other lodge web sites. This will give you a flavor of what the OA does. Conce

This is a follow up story from the Detroit Free Press on the situation in Ann Arbor. It appears that the local scout executive may have stumbled onto a winning public relations strategy in these debates by simply calling the issue one of "choice." Who among the liberal media is opposed to choice? On bias issue, Ann Arbor gives United Way a choice August 21, 2001 BY MARYANNE GEORGE FREE PRESS ANN ARBOR BUREAU The Ann Arbor City Council approved a resolution Monday that keeps the United Way in the running for the city's charitable giving but opens the door to other fund-