fgoodwin

Historic Highway - Boy Scout Road http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_80257.asp by Harmon Jolley posted February 12, 2006 This historic highway traverses the topology of Hamilton County. It has spanned the eras of the grist mill, farms, and subdivisions. Its name is connected with a youth organization which has counted future presidents in its ranks. Let's take a ride back in history along Boy Scout Road of Middle Valley. Boy Scout Road begins on the east at Hixson Pike on the slopes of Big Ridge. The route proceeds west down into the bottom lands of Middle Valley, with an offset where it crosses Middle Valley Road that likely originated from the need to avoid some swamps. Continuing west, the road meanders up and over a ridge, then crosses the North Chickamauga Creek and Norfolk Southern Railroad before ending at Dayton Pike. On the 1915 Highway Map of Hamilton County, the Foley Hixson Mill Road connected Dougherty's Ferry Road (an old name of Hixson Pike) with Dayton Pike. This road appears to follow the same route as today's Boy Scout Road. The map reflects few other roads of present-day Middle Valley, for at that time, there were several large farms on land where subdivisions would later be built. The Foley Hixson mill, also called Green's Mill, was the upper grist mill on North Chickamauga Creek; the lower mill being downstream on the appropriately-named Lower Mill Road. The March 13, 1925 Chattanooga Times reported the news which gave the road its present name. The Chattanooga Boy Scout council had decided to buy a ninety-two acre tract near Cave Spring (which supplies water to Hixson today)on North Chickamauga Creek. The Boy Scouts had originated in Chattanooga in 1910, and had been having summer camps on Raccoon Mountain since 1918. However, that site was difficult to reach, and water was scarce in the heat of the summer. By contrast, the Middle Valley location had ample water, lots of room for activities, and was relatively easy to access. Of the new camp, Boy Scout Council president R.T. Faucette told The Times, "You cannot say too much about its fine qualities. It is absolutely ideal, in location and natural conditions, for the construction of the finest all-year-round Boy Scout camp in the south, if not in the country, and that is what we intend to make it." The camp was designed to make use of the surrounding terrain. Some knolls surrounded an open field, and troop buildings were planned to be erected on the high ground. In North Chickamauga Creek, a platform was placed to make the water more shallow for younger swimmers. The property had been partially cleared, but still had ample shade provided by numerous trees. The Boy Scouts named their new camp "Tsatanugi," using the same Cherokee word meaning "rock which comes to a point" from which Chattanooga's name was derived. The name is preserved in Tsatanuga Road which is near the old camp. The April 15, 1925 issue of The Chattanooga Scout Trail gave scouts information on the upcoming summer season at the new camp. It was said to be a "hard to beat place to spend a week." Planned athletic activities included baseball, football, horseshoes, swimming, and tennis. A week at the camp cost $4.50. One week later, the Chattanooga Times reported that the sons of prominent Chattanoogan John A. Patten had donated several thousand dollars to erect one of the buildings at the camp. Scout president R.T. Faucette hoped that others would follow the example of Manker, John A., Jr., Lupton, and Tarbell Patten in honoring the memory of family members by donating to the building fund. Through the summers of the next several years, Camp Tsatanugi was the idyllic home of scouting activities and fellowship. The road leading to the camp had acquired the name "Boy Scout Road" by 1933, according to "Shutting's Map of Hamilton County." On May 4, 1944 the Chattanooga Times reported that the Cherokee Area Council was acquiring property on Signal Mountain for a new scout camp. The plan was for Camp Tsatanugi to be used mainly by younger scouts and their leaders. The Boy Scout historical Web site "Camp Images" (www.campimages.com) reports that Camp Tsatanugi remained in operation through 1950. The Highland Sportsman Club is presently located on the site. As suburbia spread into Middle Valley, subdivisions appeared along Boy Scout Road from east to west. Fairington Forest, Hampton Woods, Middle Valley Estates, and Sterling Park are some of the neighborhoods which are located along this historic route. To the south of Boy Scout Road is Eagle Drive, which was likely named for the highest rank that a Boy Scout can achieve. In researching this article, I was unable to locate any former scouts who had grown up camping at Camp Tsatanugi. On your honor, if you or someone you know did, please send me an e-mail at jolleyh@bellsouth.net.

Lisabob, IANAL, but the Constitution itself, in Article III, very clearly gives Congress the right to limit the scope of the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction:the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=285099Now, whether or not the proposed law will pass Constitutional muster remains to be seen, but the fact is, the Founders saw fit to give Congress the ability to limit the Court's jurisdiction, if they choose to use that power. W.R.T. Scouts participating in such a rally, I have serious concerns about that myself. If they were there to open the rally with a flag ceremony, that's one thing, but active participation in the rally is quite another. The article implies the latter, but does not really come out and say it.

Talent joins locals for pro-Pledge rally http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/299501567047573.htm By Chuck Orman The Sedalia Democrat Sedalia veterans, Boy Scouts and officials joined U.S. Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) Friday in pledging support for the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Talent, junior senator from Missouri, with Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), is sponsoring the Pledge Protection Act of 2005 ensuring that federal courts can not rule that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional with the phrase "under God" included. Speaking to about 100 people at the Pettis County Courthouse, Mr. Talent said, "We'll be having a vote to see who in the Legislature will stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance." He took the dias surrounded by representatives of veteran's groups and Boy Scout troops to host the pro-Pledge rally. Tony Gallagher, Chef de Gare of Voiture 333, 40 & 8, introduced the senator with a speech in support of Mr. Talent's bill. "Under God was added to the pledge in 1954 in a bill signed by President Dwight Eisenhower," Mr. Gallagher said. He told the crowd that no one is forced to repeat the Pledge and we should not be kept from acknowledging God. Mr. Talent said that on Sept. 15, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution he had sponsored supporting the Pledge and condemning the decision by a U.S. District Court that the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional because it contains the words "under God." The senator said he believes that the United States has survived and prospered because of the guidance of a loving and benevolent God. He said despite what the Constitution says, truths are not self-evident -- they are constantly being challenged. "It's time to stand up for those basic principles," Mr. Talent said. orman@sedaliademocrat.com

M's' Lincoln relives Norman Rockwell moment http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2005/03/07/newscolumn2.html http://tinyurl.com/acb8m From the March 4, 2005 print edition Behind the scenes Patti Payne Seattle Mariner's head honcho Howard Lincoln is in Peoria, Ariz., in the thick of spring training. "We should set a new record in spring training attendance based on ticket sales so far," he says. But Lincoln is returning on March 31 for a special event -- the Boy Scouts of America National Endowment Art Tour at Chateau Ste. Michelle -- where some Norman Rockwell paintings will be on display. The most famous of the works is called "The Scoutmaster," and Lincoln has a personal connection to it. Little Howard's 12-year-old face can be seen clearly in that painting, which has been viewed by millions of people over the years, mostly at its regular home at the Boy Scout Museum in Texas. Rewind to 1954 at a Boy Scout Jamboree in Irvine, Calif. Fifty-thousand scouts packed every inch of land. "My scoutmaster Del Anderson told me I was going to be in a Boy Scout calendar along with five other Scouts. We went out and pitched a tent and built a fire in broad daylight. Norman Rockwell was there. He explained the scene was nighttime, a scoutmaster standing by the tent, and we would all be asleep. It was 90 degrees in the shade in the middle of the day." Rockwell took photographs that day, and painting from the pictures, turned day into night, complete with stars. A year later Lincoln got a letter and $25 from the painter, asking him to sign a release. The calendar came out in 1956. Lincoln, who later became an Eagle Scout and more, is positioned to the immediate right of the campfire. He faced forward because he knew that his mother would not be happy unless his face could be seen. "I am looking forward to seeing the original painting. I haven't seen it since it was exhibited in Seattle in the 1980s. And this time I get to show it to (wife) Grace. She has never seen it," he says. To this day he keeps in touch with his Scoutmaster, now 98, who lives in Alameda, Calif. And Lincoln chairs the board of the local Chief Seattle Council, listed as one of the top 20 councils out of the 309 nationally, with an annual self-generating budget of $5.2 million.

Welcome to the Forums, jediwannabe! You wrote:Just to let you know, there are very few Scout Associations that aren't co-ed with BSA being one of them (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Organization_of_the_Scout_Movement_members for a list)What you listed are BOY scout associations around the world (i.e., WOSM members), most of which are undeniably co-ed. If the URL wraps, here's a tinyurl: To be fair, let's take a look at GIRL scout (or guide) associations and see how many of them are co-ed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Association_of_Girl_Guides_and_Girl_Scouts_members As you can fee, WAGGS has FAR more single-sex associations than WOSM does, but I see no hue and cry to force them into being co-ed (not that you are suggesting that BSA should become co-ed, but many others do). I note that GSUSA is one of the single-sex associations and again, I hear no national movement afoot to make them accept boys. I note also that guiding in the UK (where the guiding movement originated) and in South Africa (where you are from) are both girls-only. I draw no conclusions from the asymmetry -- I merely point it out.

The chart on page 7-1 of the Cub Scout Leader Book shows the DLs and ACM(s) "reporting" to the CM; the CM in turn "reports" to the Pack Committee. But my experience in several different Packs in two Councils has been that most Committees run by consensus; I've never seen a CC "pull rank" on a CM or DL. But its also generally the case that delivering the program and how that is done, is left to the CM & DLs, whereas supporting the program (fundraising, getting a meeting location, finding a PWD track, handling paperwork, recharter, etc.) is the job of the Committee.

Service through scouting http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/kentucky/living/community/13875178.htm http://tinyurl.com/e29lh Teens take on projects big and bigger By Esther Marr HERALD-LEADER CORRESPONDENT Posted on Wed, Feb. 15, 2006 Without Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, the world would be missing more than just Thin Mints, tins of popcorn and childhood camping trips. Perhaps a bigger void would be felt in the communities where scouts dedicate hundreds of hours of their time on service projects that result in new hiking trails, reading programs for kids and food drives for needy families. The projects, mandatory for girls and boys who plan to "graduate" from the programs and compete for college scholarships from the groups, are meant to encourage volunteerism and build leadership and character in the youths. Each year, scouts in Central Kentucky receive Eagle Scout Awards (for the boys) and Gold Awards (for the girls) for projects. The girls, who receive their awards in the spring, must spend 65 hours of service on their projects. The boys must commit 80 hours. Here's a roundup of a few of the projects that will be recognized in the spring: A peaceful message As you drive by Pax Christi Catholic Church, it's hard to miss the vibrant hues that gleam through its lower-level window, visible to passers-by off Man o' War on Victoria Way. Before the completion of Katie Carter's mural, though, the interior walls were white, bland and devoid of cheer. Carter, a Lexington Catholic High School senior and a Girl Scout since first grade, devoted 50 hours to planning, researching, painting and presenting her project. After carefully mapping out her drawing plans, Carter, who started attending the church last summer, got approval from the church board. She then gathered a crew of volunteers, including some members of the church's youth group, to help. Carter's project began with trips to the library to research all the steps involved in painting a mural, something that would fulfill the requirements for the award and appeal to her interest in art. Carter and her crew completed the mural over two days on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. This month, she gave presentations at a few Masses and talked to congregants about the project. "First I drew lines out to where I should paint, then I practiced my sponging techniques before beginning," said Carter, who instructed her crew on where to use specific colors and the technique of sponging. The words "My peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you" are now scripted on the wall, accented by the church's dove symbol. Following the quote and image is a streamlined series of colors representative of a sunset, with shades of yellow, orange, red and purple. "The mural was something the church wanted and needed," Carter said. "I simply responded to the call." She said the men's club at the church had provided the money for supplies. Sew much for free Nicholasville resident Andrea Watts is putting the finishing touches on her project, which involved making and distributing pouches to residents of Royal Manor, a nursing home in Nicholasville. "It was a great experience, knowing that I helped them in some small way. They kept asking me how much (the pouches) cost," Watts said. "They couldn't believe it that they were free. ... It was so neat for them to know that someone in the community cared about them." Watts, who had help from her mother, grandmother and a sewing circle at her church, made hand-crafted pouches for the men and women at the home. The pouches, made to hang on wheelchairs or walkers, were filled with handkerchiefs, emery boards, Kleenex and other items. Watts came up with the idea while volunteering to assist residents in their exercises and bingo games. "I knew I wanted to make something," she said. Watts and her team of volunteers created about 120 pouches and distributed 50 during a reception at the home. Her family attended and served food to the residents. Watts said her project was a way to support the World War II generation that "fought for our freedom." "It's my way of saying thank you," she said. "The most rewarding part for me was knowing they were so happy. Even though the pouches might not last that long, it was worth it for the moment, just to see their smiles." Buddy Walk signs Glenn Fernandez has never felt awkward around people with Down syndrome. For as long as he can remember, he has interacted with and engaged in activities with his aunt, who has the condition. To him, people with Down syndrome are just like everyone else -- they just need a little extra help every now and then. For several years, Fernandez has participated in the Buddy Walk, a charity event sponsored by the Down Syndrome Association, where participants travel by foot from Keeneland to the Kentucky Horse Park. Fernandez, who became a boy scout at the end of fifth grade, decided to incorporate his involvement with the association into his Eagle Scout project. He talked to the president of the Downs Syndrome Association and discovered the need for various types of signs to mark the way from start to finish for the Buddy Walk participants. "They needed (signs) they could reuse each year," he said. After raising money and buying wood to create the signs, Fernandez built two prototypes. In September, he began painting and assembling more than 30 signs. with help from volunteers. Ashland conservation Reynolds Foster, a senior at Henry Clay High School, has lived in Lexington's Chevy Chase his entire life. Nearby Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, became the subject of his Eagle Scout project. Foster's mother is a member of the Lexington Garden Club, a group that has wanted to conduct a conservation project at Ashland for quite some time but lacked the manpower to complete it. With more than a dozen volunteers and instructions from a garden club member, Foster helped clear vines from more than 15 trees on the lush trails surrounding the estate. By clearing the vines, Foster also revitalized the endangered buffalo clover growing near the trees that had been nearly choked out. Foster, also a member of the Henry Clay High School football team, started with Cub Scouts in second grade and has stayed with Scouts through high school. He plans to attend the University of Kentucky next year. "This project has taught me how much planning it takes to get something off the ground," he said. Love of animals Alexis Ashmore has a keen interest and passion for helping animals. So when it was time to decide on her project, she chose one to feed that passion. Alexis is a volunteer at the Boyle County Humane Society. The humane society has a pet cemetery on its property and a meditation area where owners can reflect on the times they shared with their pets. After a few visits to the area, Alexis realized something was missing in the cemetery -- a place for mourners to sit. Alexis is raising money to build a gazebo or park bench for cemetery visitors. Domino's Pizza in Danville recently donated 100 coupons, worth $10 each, for her to sell and use the money to buy supplies. She hopes to complete the project in the spring.

At http://www.scoutstuff.org, I see ladies pants, shorts, culottes, and skirts, for uniform wear. Now, I'm no expert on women's clothing, but I wonder why have separate listings for ladies slacks, if they aren't cut any differently then men's slacks? Just from the thumbnail photo, its hard to tell what the differences are.

Boy Scouts to help promote weather radios http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8FLSIVO5.html http://tinyurl.com/8lq3t ABILENE, Texas (AP) Boy Scouts in more than three dozen West Texas counties are using their "Be prepared" trademark motto to educate people on the value of being ready for all types of disasters and having emergency kits handy to respond to all types of warnings from their NOAA weather radios. It's all part of a partnerships between the Texas Trails Council and the Concho Valley Council with the National Weather Service. Representatives of several organizations laid out plans Wednesday for the West Central Texas All Hazards Preparedness Campaign. Kent Brown, the Texas Trails Council's executive director, said the Boys Scouts will help educate the public about the value of the New NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, which activates when alerts are issued on severe weather as well as things like hazardous spills and Amber Alerts. Carl Wright, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Angelo, said the Scouts are helping spread the message about preparedness at churches and schools, among other places. Wright described it as a grass-roots approach to get people interested in being prepared for various types of hazards. Abilene Mayor Norm Archibald, an Eagle Scout, said in a story in the Abilene Reporter-News on Thursday that the widespread distribution of the new radios will enhance Abilene's disaster preparedness efforts. Abilene no longer has an outdoor siren warning system.

Agency cites Boy Scouts http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137833997956 http://tinyurl.com/e3rfs OSHA says organization responsible for campsites at jamboree where 4 died BY KIRAN KRISHNAMURTHY TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Friday, February 10, 2006 2005 Boy Scouts Jamboree FREDERICKSBURG -- The Boy Scouts of America were "responsible" for where 2005 National Scout Jamboree participants erected tents, including where four Scout leaders were electrocuted, a federal agency stated yesterday. The leaders died after a tent pole touched an overhead electrical line on the first day of the quadrennial event at Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County. "The Boy Scouts had a plan and a map of where all these tents went," said Charles T. Pope, a spokesman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. "The Boy Scouts were responsible for the campsites." Pope would not detail OSHA's specific findings. He said the agency will release its report next week, now that the tent company hired by the Alaskan troops, Tents & Events of Fishersville, has settled fines with OSHA in connection with the accident. The company was cited by OSHA for "serious" violations last month and has agreed to pay reduced fines of $3,000. Gregg Shields, a BSA spokesman, responded yesterday by saying jamboree troops are assigned campsites and are given a diagram of a typical troop site, but that individual troops decide where to place tents within each campsite. "Specific placement of the equipment is pretty much left up to the contingent," he said. Troops should factor the terrain into their decisions, said Shields, who has also said that Scouts are taught not to erect tents beneath power lines. Jamboree troops arriving for the event typically found their campsites staked off with string or rope. A number of troop leaders also told The Times-Dispatch after the accident that the staking marked the perimeter of individual campsites and that troops determined where to place tents within campsites. While other troops from far-flung places, including other parts of Alaska, used picnic-style canopies no more than 8 or 10 feet tall, OSHA reported the center tent pole of the Western Alaskans' canopies measured 28 feet, 8 inches. Bill Haines, the Western Alaska Council's executive leader, said previously that two Tents & Events employees asked the Alaska leaders for help when the second canopy was ready to be raised. Haines did not return phone calls seeking comment yesterday. Michael Harman, a Richmond attorney for Tents & Events, said the company settled the case with OSHA in part to expedite the public release of the agency's report on the accident at the 10-day quadrennial event. "We thought that it ought to come out for the public and for the families," he said. The Times-Dispatch filed a federal Freedom of Information Act request in November for all documentation relating to OSHA's investigation. Harman said Tents & Events employees told him that the Western Alaska Council's campsite was already "marked and laid out" when the contractors arrived with the Alaskan troops. Fort A.P. Hill and BSA officials have previously said they consulted on a master site plan. Ken Perrotte, an A.P. Hill spokesman, said yesterday that the BSA determined the layout of the camps. "We provide the jamboree site under a license [to the BSA.] They draw up their subcamp plans," he said. The accident on the first day of the jamboree claimed the lives of Ronald H. Bitzer, 58; Mike Lacroix, 42; and Michael J. Shibe, 49, all of Anchorage; and Scott Edward Powell, 57, who had moved from Anchorage to Perrysville, Ohio, in 2004. Shibe's twin sons and Lacroix's son, all 14, each witnessed the death of his father. OSHA determined that the contractors were not properly trained to recognize electrical hazards. The agency originally fined Tents & Events $5,600 last month, but Pope said OSHA reduced the penalties because the company has closed and has agreed to correct deficiencies if it reopens. The company functioned as a division of RentQuick.com. Last month, Army officials said their separate criminal investigation into the electrocution found no evidence of criminal culpability and that the Army would classify the deaths as accidental. The next jamboree is scheduled to be held at A.P. Hill in 2010, to coincide with BSA's 100th anniversary. The event has been held at the Army base since 1981. Contact staff writer Kiran Krishnamurthy at first kkrishnamurthy@timesdispatch.com or (540) 371-4792.

Scoutnut is correct. Any youth can earn the religious emblem of their faith, because the medals are awarded by the youth's religious institution, not by the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or Campfire, etc. So, a youth does not have to be a member of any youth clubs in order to earn the religious medal. And in your son's case, yes, Baptists follow the "God & Church" program for 6-8th grades (God & Life for high-school aged youth). Now, having said all that, it is also true that once your son earns the medal through the God & Church program, he qualifies for the BSA youth religious knot (silver on purple), which IS awarded by the Troop. Once he qualifies for the award (i.e., after you pastor has signed the workbook), he can be awarded the knot ("immediate recognition") in a Troop meeting. There's no need to wait six weeks for the medal to arrive for the formal medal awarding ceremony at your church. Your Scout Shop should stock the religious knots. Some Councils are more strict than others regarding how to document your son's qualifications. My Scout shop sells them upon request, no questions asked. YMMV

Nick, if its a "boy-led troop" in more than name-only, whatcha gonna do? We're supposed to sit back and let them run things, right? Will the movie be the entire meeting, or just the program? In other words, there are specific parts to a troop meeting (gathering, opening, skills instruction, patrol meetings, inter-patrol activity, closing, after the meeting) -- where does the movie fit-in? As to the adult's concern: what are you afraid might happen? I think as long as you set some boundaries (no "R" rated, must somehow support the troop program, etc.), I say let them run their silly movies and see what happens. After a couple of weeks of pushing the adults' buttons, ask the SPL and PLC what points of the Scout Oath & Law were advanced by spending troop meeting time on the movies they chose.

zepeagle, welcome to the forums! Your Pack should have in its library a current copy of the Insignia Guide (2005). It will answer most questions about proper uniforming. If they don't have a copy, they should invest in one, but you can also turn to the Cub Scout Leader Book, which has a section on wearing the uniform (ch 12 of the 2001 edition). As ScoutNut wrote, the 75th anniv. patch is a temporary patch and is worn centered onthe right pocket (or can be suspended from the button using a plastic badge holder). Have you been to training? Training is also a good place to get such questions answered, as well as Round Table! Happy Cubbing! Fred Goodwin

Scouts get the call to Ford Field http://www.macombdaily.com/stories/020406/loc_scouts%20help001.shtml Troops place cushions on seats. PUBLISHED: February 4, 2006 By Robert Selwa Macomb Daily Staff Writer The official volunteers of metro Detroit helping out at Super Bowl XL and festivities in Detroit include about 1,000 Boy Scouts. They're involved in a seat cushion project. For eight days, from Jan. 28 through Feb. 4, troops of Scouts have been equipping, section by section, the 66,842 chairs established for the game with seat cushions with pouches of souvenirs. Paul Ruzinsky of Shelby Township, chairman of the seat cushion project and a longtime leader of the Clinton Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America, said the boys and their parents and troop leaders are thrilled to be part of the great event. "We're doing this because it's a great opportunity for us to help our community," he said. "We are part of the greater metropolitan Detroit area. There is a pride factor for all of us as citizens. This year we have an opportunity to help Detroit look good. We're going to make a difference as part of the 8,000 volunteers with our 1,000 Scouts and leaders and parents giving a helping hand." Ruzinsky, 58, is married with three children and has served as an adult leader in Scouting for 22 years. He said that in the pouch of each seat cushion are several gifts for those coming to the game -- a mini radio, a mini flashlight, Michigan postcards, and coupons. Ruzinsky said that more than 3,000 extra seats were added to Ford Field for the Super Bowl because the demand for tickets was so great. Bob Finta, 47, married with a son in Scouting, serves as scoutmaster of Troop 156 which was chartered by Peace Lutheran Church of Shelby Township and which meets Monday evenings at Morgan Elementary School in Shelby Township. "It's a great opportunity for the kids. They get to go down to Ford Field and be a part of this. The kids are excited, and they eat it up," he said. A special National Football League patch is being given to each Boy Scout participating in the project. John Sinshack, 14, of Shelby Township, a member of Troop 146 for five years and now a Life Member aiming for Eagle Scout, said Scouting "is a great experience. You enjoy the outdoors. You get to help out. And you get to meet people."

Weren't the Steelers wearing white when they won their first SB, beating Minnesota 16-6 in SB 9? Being a Cowboys fan, I hope the Seahawks win, only because I don't want another team to join Dallas and SF as 5-time winners. The Steelers can be happy being only the third team to have played in the SB in three different decades: 70s, 90s, 00s. The others: NYG: 80s, 90s, 00s; and Oakland/LA: 60s, 70s, 80s, 00s. But I expect it will be a good game either way.

Such questions are a standard part of the SM conferences in my son's troop. He's been asked how he shows Scout Spirit at home, and he's replied with examples such as doing chores without being asked, offering to learn how to use the mower & power trimmer, etc. He's also been asked how he shows Scout Spirit at school and at church. So, because a Scout is Trustworthy, I think the best way to determine whether a Scout lives the Oath & Law in his everyday life is to ask him for examples of how he does that. And no, our Troop does not include a participation requirement as part of Scout Spirit. As Nick said, that's part of being "active".

Boy Scouts of America Under Attack Again http://www.thechurchreport.com/content/view/808/32/ Protecting Your Rights By Jay Sekulow Boy Scouts Face Another Legal Quandary The Boy Scouts of America find themselves in another legal quandary this time over federal support of the National Scout Jamboree, an event held every four years in Virginia that attracts thousands of Scouts from around the country. [A lawsuit was filed in 1999 claiming that support provided to the Boy Scouts by the Department of Defense was a violation of the separation of church and state. Those who filed suit contend the federal governments involvement with the Scouts is unconstitutional because the Boy Scouts require members to swear an oath which states, in part, On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country. In March 2005, a federal district court declared a 1972 statute passed by Congress that enabled the Department of Defense to provide support for the Scouts unconstitutional and ruled that it violated the Establishment Clause because it had a primary effect of advancing religion. Now, the case is before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. We are asking the federal appeals court on behalf of nearly 90 members of Congress to overturn the lower courts decision. Our amicus brief filed in the case of Winkler v. Rumsfeld contends that the Defense Departments support comes in the form of non-religious supplies and services. The brief states: The militarys rental of forklifts and trucks, transportation and military equipment, restoration of Fort A.P. Hill after the Jamboree and provision of other secular services is clearly neutral and non-ideological. The only possible message that the militarys aid can be viewed as conveying is that patriotism, self-reliance, physical fitness and support of the military are positive things. We also noted that the militarys support of National Scout Jamborees is part of its larger community relations program. The military has supported events such as the Goodwill Games, Special Olympics, political party conventions and presidential inaugurations; and has assisted other groups like Girl Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the YMCA and the YWCA, the Police Athletic League and Campfire Boys and Girls. The military has not established a national religion merely by including the Boy Scouts within its community service programs. It is our belief that the district court incorrectly applied the Supreme Courts Establishment Clause cases in reaching its conclusion. By comparing the case to decisions dealing with financial aid to students and private schools, the district court took a much narrower view of the Establishment Clause than it should have. We explain that the militarys support of National Scout Jamborees poses fewer Establishment Clause problems than the school aid programs upheld by the Supreme Court. For example, while some tuition voucher programs allow tax dollars to reach private, religious schools, the Boy Scouts do not receive any money from the military for Jamborees. Also, Scouts and other people attending Jamborees are there voluntarily, while students are required by law to attend school. We present a strong argument that the Establishment Clause does not require the military to sever all ties with the Boy Scouts merely because the Scouts include religion in their belief system. We are hopeful the appeals court will reject the flawed legal reasoning and permit this important association between the military and the Boy Scouts to continue. CR] Jay Sekulow is chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, a constitutional law firm and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. The ACLJ is online at www.aclj.org

Scouts to heed critical report http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137833704067 http://tinyurl.com/c7hov Leaders will review policies after failures cited during heat illnesses at jamboree BY A.J. HOSTETLER TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Saturday, January 28, 2006 The Boys Scouts plan to review policies in light of a federal health report concluding that the organization failed to provide adequate water and shade during its national jamboree last summer. Nearly 3,500 of the 43,000 participants fell sick from the sweltering temperatures during the 10-day event, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its report. On July 27 alone, when the heat index rose to 121 degrees, about 500 campers fell ill with heat exhaustion or stroke. "It's tragic, tragically unfortunate that anyone suffered from heat-related illness that evening. But our medical operations were ready and able and responded," Scouts spokesman Gregg Shields said yesterday. The Scouts had initially said 300 campers were sickened on July 27 and later revised it to 800, according to Shields. The day's opening festivities were to feature a visit from President Bush, who late in the day canceled his appearance when bad weather was forecast. Federal and state health officials on hand urged specific measures to prevent heat-related illness, but said they were not implemented until the president's visit was rescheduled. The attendees, who had marched some of them 5 miles -- to an outdoor arena were exposed to direct afternoon sunlight "without adequate water or shade structures," the CDC said. The federal agency's report was the result of an invitation from the Boy Scouts to the CDC and state health officials to track illness and injury, such as tick bites, rashes and heat-related ailments, among participants at the jamboree. Shields said he did not know why the CDC's recommendations were not followed. "We're now in the process of studying what took place in order to make our next jamboree in 2010 as safe as possible," he said. Although the jamboree is a quadrennial event, it next will be held in 2010 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. Its future at Fort A.P. Hill is uncertain as the Justice Department is appealing a federal court ruling that held the Pentagon could no longer spend government money for the jamboree. Shields said the Scouts "made extensive provisions for the heat" typical of Virginia summers and handed out information reminding the campers gathered in Caroline County to drink lots of water. He said trucks carrying water lined the roads along which Scouts hiked to the arena, but did not know how many trucks were involved or how much water they carried. He said the Scouts were going to review "after action" reports the organization requested of its volunteers and combine the information with the CDC report and "see how we can improve on procedures." One of the jamboree medical volunteers, Mack Ruffin, a physician with the University of Michigan, said several colleagues told him their reports were not acknowledged by the Scouts. Ruffin said that as far as the volunteers knew, there had been no discussion of the health issues since the event ended. Ruffin described his experience as the medical director of a first-aid unit immediately outside the arena as horrendous. He said the Scouts' 26 medical units were overwhelmed with collapsing campers, many of them unconscious or vomiting. Ambulances and medevac helicopters were called in to take campers to local hospitals. The medical directors earlier in the day had voted unanimously to advise the Scouts to cancel the late-afternoon event, he said. Shields said he could not comment on the medical personnel's description of the event as overwhelming. "I wasn't there," he said. However, he was on hand that night for a news conference on the day's toll. Phil Malone, a Scoutmaster from Portsmouth, Ohio, and emergency management training coordinator, said he was confident the Scouts would learn from the event and suggested the organization could improve by involving more volunteers with an emergency background. "Who expected a heat index of 100?" he said, adding, "There's a lot of other things that could be done in the future, and I'm sure they're going to rewrite the book. "They were ready, but they weren't ready for that level [of heat]. What community is? New York wasn't ready for 9/11." Contact staff writer A.J. Hostetler at ahostetler@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6355.

Kahuna, perhaps the reason gays in Scouts haven't caused any problems is because they know they'll be booted out if their homosexuality becomes known. If BSA should ever change its policy to admit avowed gays, there would be no reason to hide their homosexuality. And once gays can openly tent and shower with straights, then we should also remove the ban on males and females tenting and showering together.

John, forgive my lack of manners -- welcome to the Forums. The Cub Scout Leader Book states very clearly that the WCA is a temporary patch and should be worn on the right pocket (page 12-6, 2005 edition). It repeats this on page 12-7 under "Temporary Insignia" and again on page 32-4. Where a Cub chooses to wear the award is up to him, but the patch placement per official BSA literature is unambiguous.

The position above the right pocket is reserved for Jamboree patches -- I think it should stay that way. The World Conservation Award is a temporary patch, and can be worn on the right pocket. If it means that much to the boy who earned it, he can sew it directly on the right pocket rather than wearing a patch holder dangling from the button. But the Insignia Guide does not provide for the patch to worn above the right pocket.

CDC report critical of Scouts at star-crossed Scout Jamboree http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-sou--jamboree-heat0127jan27,0,1601827.story http://tinyurl.com/b7avw By MICHAEL FELBERBAUM Associated Press Writer January 27, 2006 RICHMOND, Va. -- The Boy Scouts of America failed to provide sufficient water and shade to campers at its Jamboree last summer, resulting in thousands of heat-related illnesses from soaring temperatures, a federal report concluded Friday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's analysis of state health department data focused on heat problems and did not address the event's five deaths--four adults from an Alaskan troop electrocuted while pitching a tent, and a volunteer from North Carolina who died from a heart attack. During the 10-day event that drew 43,000 particpants to Fort A.P. Hill, 14,857 campers, visitors and staff suffered illnesses and injuries--about a quarter of them heat-related, the CDC said. On July 27 alone, 500 or more campers collapsed with heat-related illnesses as they waited in vain for President Bush to arrive. Temperatures were in the 90s and the heat index--the way it feels when humidity is factored in--soared to 121 degrees. The attendees standing in the arena were exposed to direct afternoon sunlight "without adequate water or shade structures," the CDC said in the report. The Scouts had to be in place inside the arena at least two hours before the event, and some had to walk miles to get to the staging area. Bush's visit was eventually postponed when weather forecasters predicted strong lightning storms. Gregg Shields, a spokesman for the Irving, Texas-based Boy Scouts, said Friday that attendees were constantly reminded to take precautions and were provided with water, shade and ice. "That's something we come to expect in July in Virginia," Shields said. "It was tragic that anyone suffered from heat-related illnesses, but our medical operation was ready and able to respond." Earlier this month, Army officials said a military investigation into the electrocutions classified the deaths as accidental. The Army's Criminal Investigation Command found no evidence of criminal culpability.

OK P_S, let's pursue that a bit more. If a girl did not want to tent with a boy, or share a shower facility with a boy, we would honor her request out of common courtesy and a respect for her privacy, right? So if a straight boy does not want to share a tent or a shower with a gay boy, do we also honor his request out of common courtesy and a respect for his privacy? Or is the straight boy just a homophobic bigot who should just get over it? How are the two situations any different?

PS, I'd like to ask you a simple question: why don't we allow Venturing boys & girls to share tents and shower facilities?

OGE, thanx for that clarification. True, it was not the entire National Democratic Convention that booed the Boy Scout color guard -- it was some members of the CA delegation, or at least, that's all the LA Times article identified. However, when given an opportunity to either apologize or to chastise the delegates who booed the Scouts, the DNC leadership did neither (according to the Wash Times article, which of course many don't believe is a credible source). Maybe that's where the feeling comes from that the DNC leadership either supported the booing or did nothing to stop it, nor did they apologize for it afterwards. Indeed, other delegates to the Convention quoted in the article place the blame for the booing on the targets of the booing, the Boy Scouts themselves! Saying their appearance was "thoughtless" and "insensitive", sounds like blaming the victim. I'm not aware of any published apologies, but I could be wrong. I think the reason you see no published apologies is that would be an admission that the booing actually occurred. There is at least one article in which a lesbian delegate from San Diego denies the booing even occurred (SD Union-Tribune, Aug 19, 2000).