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fgoodwin

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Posts posted by fgoodwin

  1. Two thoughts:

     

    (1) Kitty Genovese all over again. People, no matter how "nice" they are simply don't want to get involved.

     

    (2) Lack of a moral compass? Of course not -- the moral compass is simply look out for No. 1, do whatever feels good and the heck with the other guy.

  2. GKlose, the reason I asked is because your answer would affect the way I respond.

     

    allangr1024 pretty much gave my response; I would add this: don't get too anxious about the ins-and-outs of writing a ticket until you actually are seated in your course. Although WB21C has a standard syllabus, every course is different, and I wouldn't want to give you info here that might conflict with something you're taught in your course.

     

    I would offer you the same advice as others have said: let your TG (or ticket counselor / advisor) do their job by guiding you as you learn about and write your ticket.

     

    Its human nature to be curious about something that you may soon face, but let me close by saying my own ticket writing experience was mostly painless (in fact, I wrote three separate, complete tickets, and my Troop Guide helped me sort out which would be best and "doable" for my particular situation).

     

    Good luck,

     

    Fred

    "I used to be an Owl . . ."

  3. Its unrelated to council histories, but I recently finished Robert Putnam's "Bowling Alone".

     

    If you've ever wondered why BSA membership is down, take a look at this book. W/o getting into 3-G territory, suffice it to say that almost all traditional organizations have experienced membership declines, and Putnam's book looks at various explanations: the advent of working mothers, the increased number of corporate relocations, the increasing use of TV, Internet and video games, etc. Putnam offers no easy solutions, but his follow-up book, "Better Together" looks at specific examples of organizations that have managed to buck the trend.

     

    I recently started reading that book and hopefully it will offer some insight into stemming the losses.

  4. Spend time exploring the outdoors this summer

     

    http://www.chillicothegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080604/OPINION/806040316/1014/OPINION

    http://tinyurl.com/6nt5ra

     

    June 4, 2008

    Editor, the Gazette

     

    The Ohio Department of Natural Resources recently kicked off its "Explore the Outdoors" campaign, created to encourage Ohio's young people to turn off their video games and computers and get outside this summer.

     

    The cornerstone of this campaign is a full-color Explore the Outdoors Activity Guide that includes 10 activities for young people, from hiking and birding to fishing and camping under the stars. Some 750,000 activity guides were recently distributed statewide to public school students in grades K-5.

     

    For more information, visit http://exploretheoutdoorsohio.com or e-mail explore@dnr.state.oh.us

     

    ====

     

    Download the activity guide at:

     

    http://exploretheoutdoorsohio.com/Portals/24/pdf/ChallengeActivityGuide_08.pdf

    http://tinyurl.com/3ewhdl

     

    Although the activity guide lists Ohio-specific resources and locations, the activities themselves are suitable for Cub Scouts everywhere.

  5. This article was obviously written to be provocative and to promote Schweizer's new book. It is about as objective as something Ann Coulter might write to promote one of her books. Schweizer is clearly a conservative idealogue, so is it no surprise that he fills his article (and books) with studies that promote conservatism over liberalism.

  6. I guess I disagree with my good friend John re: the need for a CM to take all the DL courses.

     

    The CM's job is to plan and run the monthly pack meeting -- and the training tells him or her how to do that. The DL's job is to plan and run the weekly den meetings. And the training teaches them how to do that. Why does a CM need to know how to run a weekly den meeting? Is it "nice to know"?

     

    Sure, but when one has limited time to do all this stuff, the "nice to know" will be deferred to some unknown future in favor of the "need to know" like CM-specific.

  7. Is Your Backcountry Safety Net A Personal Locator Beacon or Cell Phone?

     

     

    http://tinyurl.com/5473y4

     

    Posted May 19th, 2008

    by Kurt Repanshek

     

    Do you skimp on backcountry preparations, figuring you've got your trusty personal locator beacon or cell phone to summon help at a moment's notice? It's tempting, no? Why prepare yourself equipment-wise and possibly skill-wise when help is just a button push away?

     

    Curious about the SAR [search and rescue] professional's opinion on these gizmos, I turned to Butch Farabee, who during his 34-year National Park Service career participated in more than 1,000 SARs in such parks as Yosemite, Death Valley, and Grand Canyon, for his thoughts.

     

    He'd didn't mince words.

     

    "Most SAR people will tell you that this kind of technology is great from their perspective and when it is used appropriately and there is a connection, i.e. the cell phone gets the distress call into 911 or that the cell phone can be traced through the various cell phone towers and related sites, etc. That is the good news," says Mr. Farabee. "The bad news is that all too many people are now believing that all they need to take into 'the field' is their cell phone. Forget the rain gear or matches or whistle or tarp or mirror or checking the local weather forecast or letting someone know when to expect them back and where they were going, etc."

     

    [excerpted]

  8. Summer camp can have lifelong benefits

     

     

     

    May 15, 2008

    Heather Jones

     

    According to [an American Camping Association] study, youths attending camp benefit in the following ways:

     

    They become more confident and gain self-esteem.

    They develop more social skills that help them make new friends.

    They grow more independent and show more leadership qualities.

    They become more adventurous and willing to try new things.

    Especially at camps that emphasize spirituality, they realize spiritual growth.

     

    The following are some camper responses from the association's study.

     

    Camp helped me make new friends. (96 percent of respondents gave this answer.)

    Camp helped me get to know other campers who were different from me. (94 percent)

    Camp helped me feel good about myself. (92 percent)

    At camp, I did things I was afraid to do at first. (74 percent)

     

    The following are parent responses from the same study.

     

    My child gained self-confidence at camp. (70 percent)

    My child continues to participate in activities learned at camp. (63 percent)

    My child remains in contact with friends made at camp. (69 percent)

     

    [excerpted]

  9. Welcome to the forums, schooley117!

     

    "Relaxed fit" is a nice way of saying fat guys like me can wear it. "Classic fit" probably means suitable for the more trim of build, which I definitely am not!

  10. Welcome to the Forums, April-D; I'm gonna venture a guess and say those are probably OA Lodge Flaps, but the better suggestion would be: ask them!

     

    I'm sure most would be very happy to tell you about them. I once asked an experienced Scouter about the arrowhead patch he had on his sleeve -- and I ended up in the Commissioner Service!

  11. Unless the requirements have recently changed (quite possible), training for your position need not be completed during your tenure in the position for which you are applying for a knot.

     

    Only attendance at Pow-Wow, U. of Scouting or RTs must be completed during your tenure of service in the position. I'm sure others will correct me if I'm wrong . . .

  12. Service hours toward the MB require prior approval of the MBC; service hours toward rank require SM approval.

     

    There's nothing saying they couldn't be the same hours, but different approvals are required.

     

    Note that service hours for the MB must be done while working on the MB; that tells me if a Scout has service hours for rank advancement, but did them prior to starting the MB (e.g., he hadn't gotten a SM-authorized blue card for the MB prior to doing service for rank purposes), then those hours cannot count toward the MB.

     

    "No adding or subtracting from the requirements . . ."

  13. Has anybody been to one of these events?

     

    ====

     

    Trailblazer Adventure Day

     

     

     

    This one-day program serves as an all-around introduction to the thrill of outdoor sports and the importance of conservation. It is typically hosted at a Boy Scout camp or similar facility. The Trailblazer Adventure Day features a variety of activities, demonstrations and orientation sessions designed to show children and their parents what the outdoor lifestyle is all about. All activities are conducted under the supervision of experienced Trail Guides with an emphasis on safety. Event Managers, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance representatives, attend each event to ensure coordination between all participating organizations.

  14. Outdoor Channel and Boy Scouts of America Team Up for Original Series Scouting for Adventure Presented by Boys' Life

     

     

    http://tinyurl.com/5kg384

     

    Original Series Based on the BSA's Flagship Magazine Boys' Life Targeting Young Outdoorsmen Teaches Wilderness Skills with Emphasis on Safety and Team Building

     

    TEMECULA, Calif., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Outdoor Channel, America's Leader in Outdoor TV, will partner with Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and Boys' Life Magazine to develop the network's original youth-oriented series, Scouting for Adventure Presented by Boys' Life. The six adventure-filled original episodes capture Scouts in action as they explore the wilderness and educate viewers on outdoor skills and BSA's core values of education, safety and team building.

     

    Filmed at the National High Adventure Bases of Philmont Scout Ranch and The Florida Sea Base plus Scout camps across the country, cameras will follow Scouts as they take on intense outdoor obstacles and challenges, like coral reef sailing or mountain trekking. Each episode will also include safety tips and "how to" elements that complement the outdoor activity.

     

    The series also incorporates "Eagle Scout Features", where celebrities and successful businessmen explain how the lessons learned in Scouting contributed to their careers and impacted their lives. Scouting for Adventure Presented by Boys' Life joins Outdoor Channel's unique programming lineup in Q3 of 2008.

     

    [excerpted]

  15. The CC of my son's troop wants to make OA "more visible" to stimulate interest among the other Scouts.

     

    Earlier in the year, there was talk of not even having elections, but fortunately, they did. But I think the other Scouts (and some Scouters) aren't sure of the value of OA and what OA can do for the troop.

     

    Any suggestions?

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