emb021

I believe the recent article in Scouter about knots showed many of the defunct knots. There aren't that many. Also, regarding the restrictions on OA flaps. MANY years ago, National OA asked lodges to stop doing that. This was before the more recent ruling to stop having separate flaps for the different levels: "The National OA Committee recommends that no restrictions be placed on the purchasing of lodge flaps." There is also the OA ribbon, that every member may purchase and wear.

I believe the recent article in Scouter about knots showed many of the defunct knots. There aren't that many. Also, regarding the restrictions on OA flaps. MANY years ago, National OA asked lodges to stop doing that. This was before the more recent ruling to stop having separate flaps for the different levels: "The National OA Committee recommends that no restrictions be placed on the purchasing of lodge flaps." There is also the OA ribbon, that every member may purchase and wear.

Both the professional organization and the volunteer organization have been posted. See Click23's message for links to these charts. Keep in mind they are high level, and don't show the various sub & sub/sub groups.

OGE is correct. While I think we'd like the old stuff (red loops and red & white numbers) to only be used on the old shirts and the new stuff (olive loops and tan/olive numbers) on the new shirt, there is no rule that requires that. I am hearing mixed things about the new shirt. I don't wear it (don't need to, being in Venturing), and frankly don't quite like the look of it (not sure what I don't like). Some seem to like it, others don't Heard complains about the way the 'BSA' strip is put on, so that might get changed.

You can not compare Jamboree to summer camp. Going to a Jamboree is one of the handful of 'mountain top' experiences in scouting, along with going to a high adventure base. Keep in mind that the Jamboree is a 2 week experience. Cost of the Jamboree itself is really $800. Everything above that is tacked on by the councils to cover costs of traveling, touring, and the like. Scouts will experience a LOT of things at a Jamboree that most will never experience at a summer camp or local event. This includes: * 2 large arena shows * many other local shows * Action adventure areas with a wide variety of activities * the OA show * national exhibits, including the Venturing Mine * chance to meet scouts from other countries * change to meet scouts from around our country * merit badge midway, with top-level instructors from around the country. * lots more.

While is a great idea to have the boys been in charge of the boys, etc, sometimes it doesn't work. You will encounter boys who just will not listen to what the youth leadership says. I encountered this while a SPL, and had a boy who didn't feel he needed to do what the youth leaders (PL & SPL) told him. this is because his parents (his dad really) had drilled it into him that he doesn't have to do anything another kid tells him. This attitude totally undermined what we were trying to do. I have to wonder that the whole 'won't tuck his shirt it' is just the tip of a larger problem.

"Back in the old days, weren't there national high adventure areas in Maine and Cumberland Gap? (I know for sure about Maine -- I was there in '76 -- and it still exists as a council-run base, with some of the same staff)." Yes, there was the Maine National High Adventure Bases. As you note, they still run one of the bases as a council program. There was also the short-lived "Land Between the Lakes" High Adventure Program in the TVA area. It made use of leased land. When the lease ran out, it wasn't renewed because it hadn't been used enough.

FWIW, the BSA has supplemental training on these topics: Scoutmaster Conferences: http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/trainingmodules/scoutmaster%20conference%20training.aspx Board of Reviews: http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/trainingmodules/board%20of%20review%20training.aspx All these trainings are at this page: http://www.scouting.org/BoyScouts/TrainingModules.aspx

So much for the rumors I heard that Nevada was being considered. Looks like the finalists were Virginia, WV, and Arkansaw. I thought it might be neat if they got the park they used in Idaho for Jamborees in the 60s.

Thing is, the SM is the one who signs off on Scout Spirit, Scoutmaster Conference, and (as applicable) POR. These are all done before the boy goes to the BOR. So for good or bad, the SM can use these to hold a boy back. In most cases, if the boy doesn't get these signed, he's not going to the BOR (as, without them, he's not going to get the rank, so why bother?) I believe the BSA has started putting out training on how do the Scoutmaster Conference & BOR, because so many people misuse it.

Plus, if it went to court, it would be in the public record. Should be possible to find judge and the 'eagle scout' names, etc. And such a case would probably be included with similiar cases by anti-BSA websites, etc. AFAIK, Dale didn't have his Eagle award taken from him.

My understanding is that there are further committees (subcommittees actually) underneath those shown. There is still a Relationships Committee, but I don't see it listed, and so its probably at another layer deeper.

I read the memo. What was needed was a simple statement to the effect that "Sea Scouts are still part of the Venturing program". Instead we had to wade thru 4 paragraphs of other stuff before they say something sort of along those lines. What idiots write this stuff and thinks it helps things? Ok, for those who might want to understand more, you could mention what happened to the National Sea Scout committee and its purpose, keeping in mind that many scouters don't even know it exists. But it could have been done AFTER the above statement, and in a clearer fashion.

I have to wonder how many MBs your son has that you can't get them all on the sash. You did put them on in rows of 3?

I hope that someone can confirm/deny this. I've heard that the BSA has taken away Eagle from certain individuals, usually for doing some henious crime, tho I've never heard of any specific examples. I know that the BSA does kick people out who come out as gay. (I'm not here to debate this) I have someone on another forum who is claiming of Eagle Scouts (apparently some youth) who have had their Eagle badges taken away from them because they came out as gay. The only 'proof' he's given is "TV". I assume he heard something on tv, maybe a reporter, maybe a commentator, so he thinks this is so. SO, my question is: has ANY Eagle Scout lost his Eagle Badge because he was gay? That is, the BSA has revoked his Eagle.

I have a copy (actually a 2nd or 3rd generation photocopy) of a booklet that BSA put out in 1981 called "Brownsea Island Camp" (#27-202). It was put out for the 75th Anniversary of Scouting to help people doing Brownsea Island recreations. I've never seen it showup on sales lists of scouting literature (I collect it and haven't seen it). I really wish the BSA would re-issue it for the 100th Anniversary. I created a PDF scan of it, but wish I had an original copy to scan it, as its a little rough. Anyone have an original they can scan?

Dover also has reprints of several Seton works. Seton works: Wild Animals I Have Known Two Little Savage Sign Talk of the Cheyenne Art Anatomy of Animals Beard works: American Boys Handy book Field and Forest Handy Book Camp-Lore and Woodcraft Boat-Building and Boating Shelters, Shacks and Shanties American Girls Handy Book (done by Beard's sisters) Others of interest 1911 BSA Handbook 1908 Baden-Powell Scouting for Boys (reprint of the 8 booklet version) Indian Scout Craft and Lore by charles Eastman Indian How Book by Arthur Parker Woodcraft and Camping by George W. Sears Nessmuk http://store.doverpublications.com/summer04.html

The EBL was big in the early years of the century, when 'boys books' were a big market. I think by the 1930s/40s or so, it had declined and National had stopped putting them out. In addition to the work cited, another source of info is the "collecting Scouting Literature". Some of the scouting collector sites still might have copies of the 2nd (and so far last) edition of this work.

I've seen beadings done at a variety of locations. A lot of this is due to the wishers of the recipient. What's I've seen: * Roundtable (did mine there. But most RT are well attendend) * at large scouting events (Camporees, Scout Shows). Usually off to the side. * at WB gatherings (we just had our annual WB breakfast, proceeds go to the WB Scholarship. We had a beading afterwards for several people) * Pack Meetings/Banquets, Troop COH

As noted, its not uncommon, but some units do do so. Since WB 'costs' a little over $200, plus 2 3-day weekends, its something to consider if you have key leaders (SM, more active ASMs, especially ones you think will become SM) who haven't attended, and might not due to the cost. Many councils also have WB Scholarships to help out deserving leaders as well (mine does). So that's another avenue. I would recommend that the troop re-imburse the leader for no more then half the cost AND only after completion of the ticket.

Don't believe there is a form. You just put it on the Advancement chart.

"The interesting thing I learned when I placed the order today is that the new 'background' for the numbers is GREEN! for Boys Scouts and continutes to be red for cubs. Did everyone know this already?" Yes. They changed the uniform for Boy Scouts back in August. For that uniform (called the centennial uniform), they wear olive green loops and green on tan unit numbers and trained strips. Red/white numbers are STILL used for Cub Scout and Venturing.

"At one time WB use to offer continuing ed hours. That was before WB21C. Also Some universities would take it as credit for management courses, but again before WB21C. I have not heard about that being offered withthe new course. If they did that, I may be able to get work to let me off to attend." AFAIK, they don't offer CEU credits with the new course. My understand is that to do so, the BSA would have to pay a fee to one of the CEU groups. Not enough people took advantage of the CEU with the old course, so the BSA stopped it.

I long ago gave up on getting worked up about bad uniforming in the photos of Boys Life and Scouting. Yes, you would wish that they would make sure people are properly uniformed, to set an example for others, but it doesn't happen. What I see a lot are photos that are obviously 'staged' (ie the boys know they are being photographed), and so will be wearing inappropriate items such as OA/Merit badge sashes and medals at a service project (those items are more appropriate for a court of honor). You also see a lot of bad uniforming on scouters in Scouting. I also noted the new Centennial uniform being used in the cartoons in the Feb BL. Wonder if they started doing this in January?

The next Jamboree will be 2013. Jamborees are on a 4 year cycle, not 5. They pushed this one out to hit 2010. But by doing so, they have it next to the upcoming World Scout Jamboree in 2011. So the next one will be pulled in a year to get back on a cycle where National is 2 years before/after World. 2013- National 2015- World (Japan) 2017- National 2019- World (TBD)