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Everything posted by fgoodwin
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Congrats on growing your Pack so much in just your second year. With so many new parents on board, try to get one of them to be the Pack Trainer. Its the PT's job to provide new parent orientation, but if you don't have one, that role will fal to the CC or CM. In addition to a parent HB (only good if the parents actually read it), there is a parent orientation video available from National. Ask your DE if your Council provides a lending library of videos, or if they can make a copy for you (not sure which of these two is the actual parent orientation video): AV-01V006 Cub Scouting: It's Not Just For Kids ($14.95) AV-01V012 Cub Scout Orientation ($15.95) If your Council doesn't have the video available for loan or copy, ask the staff at your Scout Shop, they may be able to order it for you.
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Try this: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucac/20061004/cm_ucac/whoknewcongressmanfoleywasacloseteddemocrat http://tinyurl.com/qfq7l
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To Boy Scout, building labyrinth is a journey itself http://www.oregonlive.com/metrosouthwest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_southwest_news/1159667704221670.xml&coll=7 http://tinyurl.com/hxpba Service - West Linn Lutheran's new footpath reflects Kevin Lenihan's vision and perseverance Thursday, October 05, 2006 CORNELIA SEIGNEUR The Oregonian Kevin Lenihan first walked a labyrinth at age 14. "I just loved it," he said. "Just finding an inner peace. That is the whole purpose of the labyrinth, to walk silently, really just calming down." Now he's the designer of a new outdoor labyrinth at West Linn Lutheran Church that will be dedicated at 10:30 a.m. Sunday during regular church services. A reception will follow. Lenihan, 17, a West Linn High School senior and a member of West Linn's Boy Scout Troop 149, designed and organized construction of the labyrinth, which symbolizes a spiritual journey, as partial fulfillment for attaining Eagle Scout rank. He met with church leaders, figured out what supplies were needed and then organized and delegated the volunteer labor, most of it done by Boy Scouts and their families during three weekends last summer. His dad, Tom Lenihan, took a week off work to assist. "Every time I was out there working, my dad was out there working with me," Kevin Lenihan said. His mom, June Lenihan, helped serve meals to volunteers. The construction consisted of excavating and leveling a 30-foot-diameter area and building two 40-foot-long retaining walls. Then 16 cubic yards of gravel were added to provide support and drainage. Afterward, 3,000 brick pavers were sorted, with half of them washed to remove white lime deposits to distinguish the labyrinth's red footpath from its whitish border areas. During the project, several challenges, such as finding rebar, arose. Pastor Barry Rogge offered Lenihan an easier route, suggesting he make the area into a meditation garden instead, but the teen would not be deterred. "He had it in his mind, and he had to work quite hard to shape and describe his vision. We would say, 'Kevin, this is great, but,' and he'd come back with the answer, and then we'd say, 'OK, Kevin, what about this?' Topics like landscaping and safety issues and accessibility." The hesitation from the church leadership had "nothing to do with us not wanting Kevin to do it, but (was) more (that) we were interested in a partnership with Kevin that would succeed," Rogge said. "The most astonishing element was watching people organize and share Kevin's vision of what this could be," he added. The vision was fulfilled July 10 with 759 work hours, from planning through construction. "I knew it would take long, but this was really about seven times as long as other Eagle projects," Lenihan said. Most Eagle projects require 100 to 200 hours, said Randy Tomsik, Lenihan's Eagle mentor and one of his troop's assistant scoutmasters. "This was a pretty major undertaking, both from the amount of work that was required and some level of details that needed to be decided upon," Tomsik said. All of the material was donated, and the church helped fund the project. Kevin Lenihan will speak at the dedication to thank the community for its support, especially his Scout troop, his family, his church and Jon Accord from Pumilite Building Products for donating materials. Also on hand will be Pastor Zane Wilson, who is assistant to the bishop of the Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America -- and an Eagle Scout. "I am very impressed with this project and for the time Kevin spent," Wilson said, "and that he found something to do that has such meaning." Cornelia Seigneur: inaword@comcast.net
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PTs don't deliver NLE or position-specific training -- their job is to encourage pack leaders to attend the training for their position. PTs can deliver Fast Start and new parent orientation; see the position description at the national website: http://www.scouting.org/cubscouts/about/thepack/ptrnr.html The Pack Trainer The goal of the pack trainer is to have 100 percent of the pack leaders trained in their position responsibilities. New leaders and adult family members should receive orientation within one week of joining the pack, and leaders should receive position-specific training within 30 days. Qualifications: Is at least 21 years old, subscribes to the Declaration of Religious Principle, and agrees to abide by the Scout Oath or Promise and the Scout Law. Possesses the moral, educational, and emotional qualities that the Boy Scouts of America deems necessary to afford positive leadership to youth. Is registered with the BSA as a pack trainer. It is recommended that the pack trainer have at least one year of experience in a leadership position in Cub Scouting, preferably as a Cub Scout or Webelos den leader. Pack trainers should be trained at a district or council trainer development conference. The Pack Trainer is a member of the Pack Committee. For new packs and those lacking experienced leaders, an experienced leader from the district training team or another pack may be appointed as pack trainer until the new leaders gain experience. Responsibilities: The pack trainer is responsible for Conducting orientation of new families and pack leaders Encouraging pack leaders to attend Cub Scout Leader Basic Training, which includes New Leader Essentials and Cub Scout Leader Specific Training Helping with Unit Leadership Enhancements during pack leaders' meetings Conducting other training as designated by the district and/or council Encouraging pack leaders to attend ongoing training such as Youth Protection training, roundtable, pow wow, BALOO, Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders, and Wood Badge Remaining current with training material and program updates Keeping track of pack training records Encouraging den chiefs to attend Den Chief Training
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16th annual God and Country retreat (Houston, TX): Nov 11, 2006 The Episcopal Scout Association of the Diocese of Texas is sponsoring it's 16th annual God and Country Retreat on Saturday, November 11, 2006. The retreat is open to all interested youth from 2nd through 12th grade. Participants do not have to be registered members of any Scouting organization or of the Episcopal church. Concurrently with the God and Country Retreat, the Episcopal Scout Association is offering a Chaplain's Aide training for those serving as Chaplain's Aides in a their Troop. Participants work on age-appropriate awards designed to help strengthen them in their Christian walk and enhance their knowledge and understanding of the work of Christ in their lives and the lives of the Church. This year the Retreat is being hosted by St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 4900 Jackwood St, Houston, TX 77096-1505 (near Loop 610 and Beechnut). Check in and late registration will begin at 8:00. The opening session will begin at 8:30 and classes will begin at 9:00 a.m. We will pause for lunch at noon, then resume classes at 1:00. We will finish up with a Eucharist service let by Fr. Chris Bowhay, rector of St. Thomas', at 3:00 p.m. Participants will complete about one half of their workbooks at the Retreat. They should plan to complete their workbooks under a counselor approved by their minister. The cost for the Retreat or the Chaplain's Aide Training is $20 per participant, $10 per attendees (parents and me-toos). The cost includes the workbook, a patch, and lunch. Parents are encouraged to join with their children by participating in the Mentor program for the level of the God and Country Award on which their child will be working. If you decide to participate in the Mentor program, please let us know when you register your child and we will be happy to supply the appropriate Mentor workbook for your use. Please send registrations to: ESA God and Country Retreat c/o John Unger 78 Sandel Rd Huntsville, TX 77340-2147 For further information, please feel free to contact John Unger at Crew99Advisor@hotmail.com
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Requirement No. 8 for the Communications Merit Badge:Plan a troop court of honor or campfire program. Have the patrol leaders' council approve it, then write the script and prepare the program. Serve as master of ceremonies. http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/005.htmSo, a boy must plan a troop COH or campfire, get approval from the PLC, write a script then MC the COH or campfire. Of course, this is only required if a boy is working toward Eagle -- if a boy has no plans to earn the Eagle rank, he could very well go his entire Scouting career never having MC'd an event like a COH. Now, I've been to many troop COHs in which boys are awarded their Communications MB. I've never seen any of them MC a COH or campfire. Invariably, the COH is run by the SPL and SM / ASMs, while the campfires are run by the SPL and older Scouts. So, have the boys in our troop actually MC'd a campfire or COH in in order to qualify for their MB? All I can say is, they apparently convinced their MBC that they had done so.
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Its a tradition, but there are at least two common objections to it: (1) "Adding to the requirements!" Of course, this overlooks the fact that no one is withholding the badge from the boy. (2) "Doing a Good Turn is a Boy Scout requirement!" Of course, this overlooks that part of the Law of the Pack in which "a Cub Scout gives goodwill". I don't see the harm in it, but what the heck do I know?
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'No child left inside' http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2006/09/26/news/wyoming/ac28d689f62e60f0872571f50001a995.txt http://tinyurl.com/qoo23 By RUFFIN PREVOST Billings Gazette CODY -- With changing demographics among visitors to national parks, and some observing that kids increasingly feel less comfortable in nature, it's time for gateway communities to launch a "no child left inside" program. That was the message Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis delivered to a gathering of business owners and civic leaders here Monday. "Visitation is going down nationwide in the National Park Service," Lewis said. "For Yellowstone in 2006, we'll finish up at about a 1 percent drop" from last year. Lewis said there was also "a lot of debate going on about 'nature deficit syndrome,'" citing "Last Child in the Woods," a book by Richard Louv that postulates today's Internet-generation is less likely to identify with nature. "When I grew up in suburban Ohio, we played in the woods all day long," she said. "But today, a lot of kids aren't comfortable in the outdoors. When you add computers, video games, TV and all those things, we're absolutely producing a culture of children that don't identify with the outdoors." Which could mean bad news for national parks and the communities that depend on them for business, she said. "If that is true, then who are going to come to parks in next 20 years?" Lewis asked. "And when they do come, what will be their comfort level in the parks? What will they want in these wild places?" Lewis said a declining interest in nature may mean a lack of long-term stewardship for places including Yellowstone, but she said such a trend also represented "an opportunity in Cody and other communities." "When your visitors come to Cody, you have to look at how to market yourself," she said. "What are you doing to help families have a good experience in the outdoors?" The same challenge faces those in Yellowstone who create interpretive programs, she said. "You have to have exciting, fun things they want to do. If it looks like a boring walk with Mom and Dad, it's something (kids) don't identify with," she said. "So how do we entice them with information before they come? Maybe it's something on their iPod and computer that makes them excited about getting out of the car." Lewis also touched on other issues of concern to gateway communities, including park infrastructure and the process of managing finite resources. She said road construction from the east gate to Sylvan Pass was going well, but rising construction costs and growth elsewhere in the region had affected park projects. She said receiving only one construction bid recently for a new visitor center at Old Faithful showed the growing competition for builders in the area. "It used to be we were the biggest generator of (construction) work in the region, and we're not any more, and it's showing," she said. "Things are getting tighter and more competitive." Bids closed last week on the third phase of renovations at the Old Faithful Inn, she said, which is budgeted at around $9 million. "Our next and only big project in the next couple of years is completing the Madison-to-Gibbon road and Canyon Rim Drive," she said. Based on public comments, Canyon Rim Drive will become one-way, entering from the south, she said. Lewis said park administrators around the country must work to find better processes for reaching consensus on management issues, citing the debate over snowmobiles as an example of how the process should be improved. "This spring, we'll release our third environmental impact statement" on snowmobiles, she said. "We'll exceed 1 million public comments on that issue." New processes are needed "to follow up on challenges like that," she said. "We have to come up with new ways in the community -- when we have disagreement about how to move forward -- to take the least amount of time to make the best decisions we can."
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Dave, welcome to the Forums. If anyone wants to see a non-professional Scouter wearing the 50s jacket, look for the movie "Mister Scoutmaster" (1953). It stars Clifton Webb, and I can tell you, he looks VERY sharp in a SM jacket. Good enough that I've been on the hunt for one ever since I got back into Scouting, but w/o success so far. But I'm ready with the OD tie once I find the jacket!
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More than just a hiking trip http://www.pittsburghcatholic.org/newsarticles_more.phtml?id=1761 http://tinyurl.com/nvcz3 Friday September 22, 2006 by: Bob DeWitt Brian DeFazio felt the call to the priesthood long before he hiked the rugged mountains of northern New Mexico in July, taking part in a high adventure leadership program with other Catholic Boy Scouts. Now hes even more certain that he wants to become a priest. Brian, 16, of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Pleasant Hills, may be the first Boy Scout from the Diocese of Pittsburgh to be chosen for the biannual St. George Trek at Philmont Scout Ranch, sponsored by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. Named for the patron saint of Scouting, the St. George Trek helps develop organizational and leadership skills in high school-age Catholic Scouts and Venturers while nourishing their spirituality. Venturing is a co-ed high adventure program of the Boy Scouts of America. At night, it was amazing to see the sky so lit up with stars, what God created, as he left for us, said Brian, a Life Scout with Troop 210 who hopes to earn the rank of Eagle Scout in the Greater Pittsburgh Council. I felt myself growing closer to him, and it became clearer to me that I really want to be a priest. Before undertaking the demanding 10-day journey across Philmont, Brian and 67 other Scouts from across the country joined lay leaders, priests and two bishops, including Bishop Daniel Conlon of Steubenville, Ohio, for a three-day retreat in Albuquerque. The young men quickly became friends in faith as they listened to speakers like Father Thomas Coogan of Rockville Centre, N.Y., who first made the trek in 1995 as a seminarian. Father Tom compared life to a game of five-card poker, Brian said. You need to know what youre playing for in order to know which cards you want. If youre seeking what society offers, keep the cards of money, power and a sexual life. But hold onto the cards of chastity, poverty and obedience if youre seeking (the priesthood and) the happiness and salvation that God offers you. Brian and his fellow Scouts soon found themselves immersed in the legendary Philmont experience, climbing mountains, crossing mesas, praying at meals and celebrating Mass nearly every day along the rocky trail. It was such a meaningful experience because it was much more than just a hiking trip, Brian said. Being out there in the wilderness, you understand better the magnitude of his world. The wildlife come right up to you, theyre not afraid. All of Gods creatures are there, living in harmony. While hiking, the Scouts reflected on how the Ten Commandments apply in their daily lives. They took part in Benediction and eucharistic adoration and received the sacrament of reconciliation. A sunrise Mass was celebrated one day alongside a reservoir down the mountain. Brian sees a strong connection between Scouting and his Catholic faith. The Scout Law pretty much follows what Jesus taught, to love your neighbor as much as you love yourself, he said. Scouting helps me to be a better Catholic. It teaches you how to accept others, and to work together to make the world a better place. The mission of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting is the constructive use of the program of the Boy Scouts of America as a viable form of youth ministry with Catholic teens. The trek encourages the integration of morality and values, spirituality and faith and Scripture, with the responsibilities of Christian leadership and vocation awareness, according to organizer Austin Cannon. There is a tremendous dynamic at work in terms of leadership development, Cannon said. We hear from so many parents, My son is home now, but he hasnt been the same. Victor and Carol DeFazio can vouch for that. Im very, very proud of Brian, Victor said. It was a chance to combine the Scouting experience of Philmont with a retreat of our faith. It meant a lot to him. He also got to see that these bishops are real people. Being an effective peer leader at home is one goal of the St. George Trek, and its a challenge for Brian, now a sophomore at Thomas Jefferson High School in Jefferson Hills. Ive always been a little outspoken (about my faith) with my classmates fire and brimstone, Brian said. I still want to get the message out, but in a way they can relate to. These lessons should help me do that, to be more of a Christ-like helper.
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Troop Leadership Training "mandatory" every six months?
fgoodwin replied to fgoodwin's topic in Advancement Resources
Barry: I am talking about the troop level leadership course, which is now Troop Leadership Training (TLT); Junior Leader Training (JLT) is no longer used. TLT replaced JLT about a year ago. I never taught JLT, but I assume we would have the same problem if we were still using JLT: most of JLT (like most of TLT) is about leadership in a generic sense. Most of JLT (like most of TLT) does *not* focus on a specific position. So forcing boys to retake even JLT upon a change in position, presents exactly the same problem I posed. Sorry if I wasn't clear about my use of terms. Fred -
Troop Leadership Training "mandatory" every six months?
fgoodwin replied to fgoodwin's topic in Advancement Resources
In theory, I can understand a local requirement to retake TLT if the boy is changing positions and hasn't been trained in his new position. But those of you who have taught TLT (and I have) will spot the problem here: 95% of the course isn't position-specific. We do go over the various positions, but every boy present hears the presentation of all the positions, so in theory, they've already been trained in every position. So as I see it, once a boy has attended TLT for *any* position, he's heard everything he needs to hear for *all* positions, meaning he shouldn't be required to retake it! Otherwise, we'll have a lot of bored boys, and that's exactly what I expect to see under this troop requirement. -
Prairie_Scouter says:The country is split almost evenly on the gay rights issue.I don't think that's the case at all. As I said in the Danforth thread, almost everytime the gay marriage issue has been put before the voters, it has lost by huge margins (the nominal exception being WA or OR, in which it still lost, but by a smaller majority). So, I think there is still a huge majority of people who are not yet ready to embrace the idea of gay marriage. I'm not saying the majority is necessarily right -- but I am saying there is a clear and definite majority. So the country clearly is NOT split evenly over the gay marriage issue. Is the country split evenly over gay rights in general? Well, that's hard to say -- but if it were, I don't see you how can explain the lopsided votes in the various gay marriage referenda.
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One Hour wrote:Your Bears start to work on their Webelos requirements once they got their bear rank advancement.I don't think I agree with this. Under that theory, a Bear could continue to work on (and earn) Bear arrow points, while also working on (and earning) Webelos activity pins. A boy can't be a Webelos until he completes the third grade; since some Bear Cubs earn their rank at B&G in February (or earlier), they should spend the remainder of their 3rd grade year earning Bear arrow points, not working on Webelos stuff for which they are ineligible anyway. I like the idea of starting the three month clock at either June 1, the end of school (if earlier), or the "graduation" (or "crossover") date, for those boys who continue as Webelos, or the joining date, for those 4th or 5th graders who are new to the Pack & den.
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tominrichmond: welcome to the Forums. All I can say is, you picked quite a topic for your initial post. I hope you have your flame-proof suit on!
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TS: welcome to the Forum, and welcome to Scouting! Let me echo the good advice you've gotten so far. Each Pack and den is different, so the question of the time involvement should best be answered by fellow Scouters in your Pack & Den, especially the den leader (DL) with whom you'll be working. Do Ass't Den Leaders (ADLs) wear the uniform? Yes, but again, your Pack may have its own policy re: how "much" uniform to wear. I've always worn the full uniform, including pants / shorts and bolo, but cost wasn't a major issue for me. I know it can be for some -- you might check your Round Table to see if they have a uniform closet of "experienced" uniform parts since your Pack doesn't have one. You can use your son's Tiger Book, but it won't explain the job of an ADL. For that, you'll need a copy of the Cub Scout Leader Book, or you can rely on the copy in your pack library (assuming your Pack has a library, and that its copy of the manual is current). You can spend as much or as little on literature as you want -- but as ADL, you might want to rely on your Pack Library copy or borrow the copy from your DL now and then. Things like the belt-loop books (Academics & Sports), "Sparklers", Pack & Den Ceremonies, "How To" book, etc. You can browse the titles at your Scout Shop to decide how much you want to invest in. If you think you'll become a full DL down the road, you might want to bite the bullet now and get your own copy(ies) for reference. Assuming your Pack uses the monthly "themes", get yourself a copy of the annual "Program Helps", which lays out a full month of Pack & den meetings, for every level except Webelos, for a full twelve months. It costs about $5, but as others have said, your Pack might pick up the tab. I always made it a point to attend Round Table, but honestly, I didn't go that often as a DL (I wish I had). When I became CC, I went religiously, then realized how much I'd been missing. In my case, child care wasn't an issue because my wife was at home to watch our two kids. In my current district, the RT staff sponsors an activity room so single parents can bring their kids. We want RT to be as accessible as possible. RT usually runs about one to 1-1/2 hours, but I suppose that can also vary by council & district. Best of luck to you -- looks like you're well on your way to being a great Scout Leader and a mentor to the boys in your den.
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FB: Danforth isn't alone in thinking the Republican Party has been hi-jacked by the Religious Right. Personally, I disagree with him, but the man has a right to his opinions.
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Religion and Politics: John Danforth speaks out http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/books/story/118FCE6A1D7E213C862571EB00070B87?OpenDocument http://tinyurl.com/mpz24 By Jane Henderson POST-DISPATCH BOOK EDITOR Sunday, Sep. 17 2006 When John Danforth was a student of religion and law at Yale, the divinity school dean told him: "Being a minister and a lawyer is an interesting combination. It's like being a striptease saint." Danforth made both work (and kept his clothes on) as a U.S. senator and an Episcopal priest. Primarily a politician, he let religious beliefs influence his opinions, but he avoided a religious agenda. Now retired, he's spent the past year or so rethinking that touchy combination for "Faith and Politics" (238 pages, Viking, $24.95). As a Republican senator in Washington from 1977-95, "we would have found the notion that people should 'vote Christian' at least strange and probably offensive," he writes. Now, he says, Republicans are captives of the Christian Right. The book, which goes on sale Tuesday, is part memoir and part call to action. A moderate who was ambassador to the United Nations and worked for peace in Sudan, Danforth has faith in compromise and broad coalitions. He's 70 now, and his speeches won't be given from a Senate or church lectern but during what he expects to be a grueling book tour. While he discusses his support of stem-cell research in a nine-page chapter, his motive for writing the book is more than a single issue. Distinguished in a dark suit and maroon tie, he's full of purpose this day at Bryan Cave, the law firm of which he is a partner. The only incongruities seem to be his racy red socks and his frankness on how his own Republican Party has "lost its moorings." Q: What is your main message? A: Religion has the capacity to be a divisive factor in the world and our country or to be a reconciling factor. Q: What do you mean by "a reconciling factor"? A: The possibility of very different people finding common ground and dealing with difficult subjects. To the extent that religion gets involved with politics, it generally is very divisive. On the other hand, if religion is a way of thinking about ourselves and our relationship to other people and to the world, it can be a reconciling factor. That's really the question: Should religion be reduced to specific political agendas, or does religion give us the basis for dealing with one another respectfully and with a degree of humility? Q: Religion and politics are two subjects themselves that are hard to reconcile. Have you been thinking about this your whole career? A: For decades, I've been thinking about these two subjects, but not with the urgency of the past year and a half. This was triggered by the Terri Schiavo case; that was the specific tipping point in my own thinking. That was when I thought, "Something has gone very wrong here." Q: But these signs have been around for at least a decade or so, haven't they? A: Maybe I was obtuse. People like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell have been involved in Republican politics for a long time. Of course, abortion has been a political issue since 1973. But in my own mind, it didn't have the urgency until the Schiavo case. In the past year or so, what was maybe a general interest of Robertson and others in politics and one particular issue, namely abortion, has been transformed into something much more detailed and much more a full-fledged political agenda. You have Terri Schiavo, the stem-cell issue, the gay marriage issue, the Ten Commandments in courthouses - all occurring about the same time. But, I thought, particularly with Schiavo, something different had happened: Namely, basic Republican principles had been tossed overboard at the bidding of Christian conservatives. Q: What are the basic principles you are most concerned about? A: The involvement of government in life-and-death decisions. The involvement of the federal government in what was a state issue. Also that the federal courts were used to trump the state courts. Q: At one point in the book, you say that if politicians take up time arguing these social issues, they don't get work done on Medicare, Social Security and the budget. A: It's part of it. But it's more than just a question of pre-empting time. It has to do with destroying whatever common ground remains in American political life and doing so intentionally. This is not just a problem of the Republican Party; Democrats have it, too. Witness the defeat of Sen. Joe Lieberman in the Democratic primary in Connecticut. If we are going to move forward as a country and address serious questions like, 'How do you deal with terrorism?' which I don't think we're even thinking about constructively, a person like Joe Lieberman really should be in the Senate. But he was chucked for wandering off the Democratic reservation. Q: In your book you write that 'no political agenda can claim to be God's will.' That argument is not going to persuade people who believe it can. A: No, you're not going to persuade everybody, but let's have other people weigh in on this discussion, too. Let's hear from the people who do not believe that the kingdom of God can be reduced to a political platform. And let's hear from people who believe that the commandment that we love our neighbors as ourselves takes precedence over bashing gays, for example. Q: How would that look, then, if more people were interested in reconciliation? Can you give an example? A: Let's stick with the gay issue. This issue has become politicized for the purpose of appealing to the Christian conservative base of the Republican Party. It's difficult for me to imagine that, aside from that effort, that many people really think that gay marriage should be incorporated into the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution is about the structure of government; it's about the relationship of the government and the people. It's not about behavioral issues. The gay marriage issue gained currency in Republican politics because only one side was heard from. It's time for other people to say, 'Wait a second.' I feel the same about stem cells. Some people say that the Christian position is against stem cell research. That's true for some Christians. But a lot of Christians would say: No, when Jesus sent the disciples out into the world, he sent them out, in Matthew's Gospel, to heal every disease. I'm not for muzzling anybody. I'm for having people who believe that America has become too polarized - and for religion to be more than a series of wedge issues - to be more outspoken than they've been to date. Q: What are your thoughts on gay marriage? A: My personal view is that marriage is between a man and woman. But that's neither here nor there. I also believe in not humiliating people, and I believe in honoring people and understanding that some people are just not drawn to people of the opposite sex. The government should recognize that when there's a committed relationship, certain legal rights should go along with it. And then let the churches figure out what they mean by marriage. Q: Has the Episcopal Church made decisions in recent years that you disagree with? A: Oh, yeah. But my view of the Episcopal Church is that its tradition is to hold within itself a whole variety of views. And I think that's good. There's a big gap between God and our understanding of God. We have to recognize that there are a variety of ideas that people can have and still be faithful people. Q: What role do books have today in shaping or moving cultural discussion? A: The written word is really important. I hope that we're not reduced to not only talking heads, but shouting heads. The subject that I'm into now - the relationship between religion and politics - is going to benefit from serious public discussion, (from) books that are written, op-ed pieces, ordinary people who think about this question. In that sense, I am very Jeffersonian: If the American people inform themselves and think about this question, it's going to turn out fine. Now is the time for moderates to think and speak. Q: What if the response is detrimental to the Republican Party? A: What's the use of the Republican Party: to serve its own aims, simply to get itself elected? Or is its aim to serve the nation and the world? I don't think creating a sectarian political party serves anything beyond helping to win an election. For a short-term strategy, this is a good one, to appeal relentlessly to a narrow base. But (in the long term), it's going to backfire. John Danforth Age: 70 Family: Married to former Sally Dobson. Five children and 13 grandchildren. Education: Princeton University, 1958. Bachelor of Divinity from Yale Divinity School and Bachelor of Laws from Yale Law School, 1963. Career: Attorney general of Missouri, 1968; U.S. senator, R-Mo., 1976-1995; special counsel in Waco investigation, 1999; special envoy to Sudan in 2001; U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in 2004. Currently chairman of the Danforth Foundation and partner at Bryan Cave law firm. An Episcopal priest, Danforth has had connections with various churches; while in the Senate, he was honorary associate at St. Alban's Church. Book discussions and signings 3 p.m. Sept. 24, United Methodist Chruch of Green Trails, 14237 Ladue Road, Chesterfield. Free. (314-469-6740) 7 p.m. Sept. 29, St. Louis County Library, 1640 South Lindbergh Boulevard. Free. 314-994-3300. Copies of book must be purchased from Left Bank Books, or at event, to be signed. 12:30 p.m. Oct. 7, The Big Read book festival, Central Avenue in Clayton, Author tent A. Free. 314-863-0278.
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Its John Danforth (any reason, acco, you didn't mention him by name?). While its true he's a Republican, he's also an Episcopalian, so he's a "liberal" Republican, if such a combination isn't considered a contradiction in terms. In other words, a RINO ("Republican in name only"). The fact that he's Episcopalian goes a long way toward explaining his feelings toward Fundamentalists and others on the Religious Right. When Danforth says the "other" side hasn't been heard from in the gay marriage debate, I guess he forgets about the landslide losses that issue received everytime it was put to a popular vote (with the nominal exception of OR or WA, where it still lost, but by a narrower margin). The few times that gay marriage "won" was when it was legislated from the bench -- one wonders how exactly *that* is supposed to square with hearing from both sides?
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Troop Leadership Training "mandatory" every six months?
fgoodwin replied to fgoodwin's topic in Advancement Resources
Eagle76: You got me thinking about it differently, and I think I can understand now why its the Troop's policy to do it this way. I just wish the SM had said it was a troop policy, rather than claiming it was national policy, as if that somehow gives it more authority. Thanx for the post. -
My son's SM just sent a note to the troop that Troop Leadership Training (TLT) is "mandatory per BSA National policy" every six months, even if you've had it before. That doesn't sound right to me. I know the Scout won't be considered "trained" in his position of responsibility (POR) w/o TLT, but as far as I know, TLT (or training of any kind) isn't a prerequisite for a POR, nor is it a requirement during a POR. This sounds like another case of "adding to the requirements", but I didn't want to make an issue of it, if anyone else can confirm it. Has anyone heard of such a requirement? Fred Goodwin Alamo Area Council
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Go outside and play http://www.cleveland.com/living/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/living/1158309564312510.xml&coll=2 http://tinyurl.com/pg6bd That's the advice nature educators have for increasingly reined-in kids and their very protective parents Friday, September 15, 2006 Susan Glaser Plain Dealer Reporter When Steve Cadwell was a kid, he had the North Chagrin Reservation in his back yard, and he used to disappear for hours. "My mom said, 'Go outside, and don't come back until the streetlights are on,' " said Cadwell, 47, now executive director of the Nature Center of Shaker Lakes. Rare is the mother who issues that directive these days. Thanks to everything from fears about stranger danger to video games and the Internet, the call of the wild has increasingly been replaced by the call of four walls. Children are spending more and more time indoors, a trend that author Richard Louv says has ramifications for their mental and physical well-being, not to mention the health of Mother Earth. Louv, who coined the term "nature-deficit disorder" to describe the condition, brings his diagnosis and cure to Cleveland next week in celebration of the nature center's 40th anniversary. His speech to the City Club of Cleveland on Friday, Sept. 22, is open to the public. Cadwell is hoping to build on Louv's momentum by organizing a "No Child Left Inside" summit for November, during which Cleveland-area environmentalists will try to come up with ways to lure children back outdoors. Louv said there are no hard statistics on how much time kids spend outside today versus a generation ago. But anecdotal and circumstantial evidence -- increasing childhood obesity rates, multiple hours a day spent in front of the television and computer, as well as a decline in outdoor activities such as biking -- point to a significant gap. According to Louv, the reasons are many, including parents' fears about the dangers of letting their kids out of their sight. Extensive media coverage of crimes against children make most parents think twice about letting their kids roam the neighborhood. South Euclid mom Amber Quigley said her children play outside more than she did as a child, but always under her watchful eye. "They're not allowed outside unless someone is with them," said Quigley, who spent a recent afternoon entertaining her children inside, at Chuck E. Cheese's in Mayfield Heights. "There are so many disgusting people that you hear about every day on television." University Heights mom Jill McCormac blames television and video games - and parents. "It's easy to put in a video and go about whatever you need to get done," said McCormac, the mother of an 18-month-old boy. Parents are also guilty of overscheduling their children to the point that kids don't have hours to just explore outdoors. "Kids don't muck around like they used to," said David Wright, community outreach coordinator of the nature center. "Even when they do go outside, it's pretty structured." Organized sports such as youth soccer have grown in the last 20 years, while less-structured outdoor activities such as fishing have declined, according to the National Sporting Goods Association. Even organizations such as the nature center should share some of the blame for building boardwalks and marking trails and admonishing kids who veer from the path, Wright said. "For a long time, we weren't letting them get off the beaten path," he said. "Even the exploration experience was structured." Now Wright tells his kids to get off the trail for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Dawn Wrench, director of the Student Environmental Congress at Cleveland's Earth Day Coalition, takes groups of high school students camping in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park every spring. For students from Cleveland, it's often their first camping experience, sometimes the first time they've been out in nature at night. "Some students are very fearful about nature," Wrench said. "They're really hesitant, and their parents are hesitant. Will they be safe? Are there bears there? The perception is that it's not safe." Suburban kids can be equally reluctant, but usually for different reasons, she said. They're worried about being too hot or too cold or that the whole experience is too much effort. "They hate it, and they fight it, but once they're out there, they love it," Wrench said. They not only love it, but it's good for them, Louv said. He cited studies that show that exposure to nature can lower stress levels in children and reduce the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In addition, a recent study by a Cornell University researcher found that children who play outdoors in nonstructured activities such as camping and hiking are more likely to care about the environment as adults. Wrench is trying to instill a similar stewardship in her students, simply by letting them explore outside. "We all breathe the same air and drink the same water," she said. "It's a common ground. I want to show them that it does matter." To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: sglaser@plaind.com, 216-999-4240
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Brian: As I understand it, your proposal to save Scouting boils down to updating the: 1. icons 2. uniform 3. merit badges I don't disagree with your proposals, and they actually may have some merit, but where I have a problem is this: nowhere on your webpage do you provide any evidence that you've talked to any boys about what they actually want. Your ideas are what you *think* boys want, but have you actually asked them? Please don't mistake my criticism for disagreement. I want to save Scouting as much as anyone. I just don't want to see BSA replace one set of methods with another that will also be rejected by boys. Best of luck to you in your quest. Fred Goodwin, UC Alamo Area Council
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Should Boy Scouts Recruit At Public Schools? http://www.koin.com/Global/story.asp?S=5386567 PORTLAND - A long, drawn-out fight over the Boy Scouts of America has finally come to an end. The battle pits the Scouts against an atheist mother with the Oregon Supreme Court settling the score. The question is whether Scout should be allowed to recruit at Portland schools. Nancy Powell says no -- because they promote a belief in God. She filed a discrimination complaint 10 years ago when her first-grader was required to listen to a Boy Scout recruiting presentation. But a supreme court opinion released this week says the organization did not discriminate since they extended the offer to anyone who wanted to sign up and because they aren't primarily a religious group. 9/9/2006
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I just got a note from one of the producers, Donovan Montierth; he and his twin brother are Eagle Scouts!