firstpusk

I am shocked by the delay in SM conferences. In my tenure as SM, I often had conferences with the boys that were formal even though they had not completed requirements for the next rank. This was especially true when they were not advancing. Kinda touch base. Let them give me a feel for what was going on. Sometimes there would be a reason and we had something to work with. The same with boards of review, although that was much more rare. We never viewed it as a high pressure testing situation. When I signed off on rank requirements, they were ready for the board. One thing that is

I think I have seen documentary footage of your BOR process... BRIDGEKEEPER: Stop! Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see. LAUNCELOT: Ask me the questions, bridgekeeper. I am not afraid. BRIDGEKEEPER: What... is your name? LAUNCELOT: My name is 'Sir Launcelot of Camelot'. BRIDGEKEEPER: What... is your quest? LAUNCELOT: To seek the Holy Grail. BRIDGEKEEPER: What... is your favourite colour? LAUNCELOT: Blue. BRIDGEKEEPER: Right. Off you go. LAUNCELOT: Oh, thank you. Thank

My first son at his Eagle Court, my mother, my mother-in-law and my wife with tears in their eyes. My younger son and all the other scouts making me proud of the teamwork they built on JLTC staff this summer. It is good being Course Director. On the St. Croix, watching an eagle almost take a fish within 15 feet of the canoe of two of the younger scouts. My brother and I were the sweep and we chuckled as the scouts stopped paddling and talking stared in absolute awe.(This message has been edited by firstpusk)

Training boy leaders to run their troop is the Scoutmasters most important job. Train Scouts to do the job, then let them do it. Somebody alot smarter than me put it better - B.P., of course!

"The boys should be responsible for as much as they can handle!" Exactly! And the adults should be able to handle staying out of their way to allow the process of self-discovery. Guidance is the key. They don't get this without help - but they won't get it with too much help either. I think it is always advisable to start with a patrol outing. They handle an easy bike or canoe outing. You are involved with the planning to ensure health and safety. Ask them questions and have one of them make a list of what is needed. The patrol leader splits up the work and sets a timeline. I

Bob you are on the money here. Canoeing safety relies on the capability of all participants. That is why the certified lifeguard requirement is in GSS for those that have not passed the swimmer's test. In situations on rivers, even those without white water, there are tricky currents, strainers, bridge peirs, deadheads and your own swamped canoe that you must keep in mind. The wise leader also insists on the capability of effective self rescue for all scouts and scouters participating. As someone who has been certified as a BSA lifeguard for nearly all of my leadership tenure, it

Padre, I am sorry to hear that you have such a negative view of WB. The staff on the course I attended promoted an unofficial "ticket item" - committing yourself to spending regularly scheduled time with your spouse. Dating if you will. They wanted you to talk about what you are doing for scouts and what you might plan to do. I have tried to follow that advice. Once a commitment is made, the dates need to go on the calendar. The commitment is a shared decision. I won't say yes to anything significant without consulting her. This allowed me to act as course director/SM for one of my

My Dragonfly, stovetop espresso pot and fresh ground coffee.

The thought of such a thread brings a tear of joy to my eye. My favorite is salsa verde...my own home made, of course!

I agree with you eisely - fun, outdoors and values are great and at the core of the program. But the most important thing is that the boys decide and they lead. This kind of opportunity changes an underconfident boy into a man committed to good citizenship. It is a program that really makes a difference.

Ed, My deepest sympathy in the loss of you and your scouts and scouters. I have lost three fine young men the same way over the years. One was in my troop , one I worked with on district events and the third was a camp staffer over a number of years. Each was a wonderful person that touched my life and the lives of my scouts. When you give so much to youth, it makes such even more painful. You and all of your folks are in our prayers here in Minnesota. My God grant peace of spirit in this time of terrible loss.

Youngblood, I am glad you were given the book. I take it you went to it to try to find something to justify your position. 'I will quote exactly out of the book I was given at camp school, " b. Policy determination and application". ' Your quote is a heading, a fragment of a sentence, not even a complete thought. Generally, I expect that the beach director will have read a little further and put a little more thought into "policy" than that. There are many things that someone in charge can insist on when they are given authority. There are a lot of things that I "have alwa

"I will ask this question once more. I address this question to anyone in opposition to AquatDir and my policy on the issue. If you discover that a boy cannot pass the swim test unless he is wearing goggles and a nose clip, are you going to classify him as a swimmer and permit the boy to participate in all aquatic activites(boating, sailing, waterskiing, swimming in crowded areas, etc...) at camp?" First, with all due respect, neither you nor AquatDir have the authority to set BSA policy. That is done by the BSA. It is true, that you are charged with interpreting these policies. You ne

AquatDir and Youngblood, I understand your position and respect the job you do. I have been a scoutmaster for a dozen years and carried the BSA Lifeguard certification almost as long. I must agree with Bob White. Go to the Guide to Safe Scouting and read the section on Classification of Swimming Ability. The word aids appears twice and assistance once. In each of these occasions, they are refering to the ability of the person to either start the initial stroke, change strokes or turn. They describe aids as things like easing into the water, using a ladder, the bottom, the dock,

hops_scout, The name of this forum is Issues & Politics. Kind of a free for all for issues that may or may not be directly related to scouts. I would suggest that the strong emphasis on citizenship in scouting would provide more than enough justification for these discussions. If you don't approve of the discussion, don't get involved.

You forgot, "Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, I am free at last!" Although we generally have disagreed here, I think we do agree on a lot more than one might expect. I too think that scouting is a great program, yet have my reservations. We also agreed on Emeril. "Pork fat RULES!" I wish you well and good luck.

Rooster7, The first thing I want you to understand is that I want Saddam Hussein gone. I wanted him gone in the early 80's when GW's dad viewed him as an ally. We aided them and encouraged the oil kingdoms to aid him. He was our guy right up to the time he went into Kuwait. There has been no solid connection established between bin Laden and Iraq. Stories were floated but they have not panned out. Is the US partly responsible for the problem in Iraq. Yes, their programs for chemical and biological weapons were aided by the US during the Iran-Iraq war. "So I guess you e

kwc57 I share your concern. I was not unhappy to see us go in to Afganistan. That government was certainly much worse for its people and was actively promoting terrorism. The case for Iraq is not so clear cut. Certainly they have been aggressive. Certainly they have murdered their own citizens. It is interesting to say the least that most of the examples people trot out occurred when they were our ally. Speaking of allies, why the go it alone mentality? Are we taking our eye off of the ball to gratify a family grudge. Are we forgetting about our borderless enemy - ter

"No man is an island intire of itselfe, every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is lesse, as well as if a promontorie were, as well as if a mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any man's death diminshes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." from John Donne's Devotions #17

"If you say the Scout Oath, add hypercritical to that list." Sorry Rooster7, There has been far too much talk of dictionary definitions, but, here we go again... Hypercritical - adj, Overly critical. Hypocritical - adj, Characterized by hypocrisy. That being said, I will add HYPERCRITICAL to the scout law the next five times I recite it.

le Voyageur, My sincerest thanks for the years of effort you have given the scouting program. I have talked with other volunteers that have come to the same conclusion. Each and every time I hear it, it profoundly saddens me. I understand your decision and wish you the best. The organization is the lesser for your departure. The bell tolls again. Did you hear it? Did you understand?

"Media bias concerns what is reported AND what is NOT reported. Eisely's post had to do with the latter." The article exemplified the latter. Kind of the pot calling the polished silver tea service black. The article asserts that the two situations are comparable yet does not give the context for the remarks, so how is the reader to know. Clark appeared to be addressing Falwell's remarks. Likely answering a question. "I don't follow the argument you are trying to make. What facts should have been checked? And are you saying the size of the audience determines whether the uttera

frankj, Then the Journal's Art section is infected with the same lousy standards ast the editorial page. I don't give a rip if a reporter, columnist or editor is liberal or conservative. What I do expect is some standard of professionalism. Comparing the two situations is tenuous at best. Falwell was on a highly rated national news magazine for a major network in prime time. Clark was making an appearance that was not reaching anywhere near that audience. Also, it appears he was addressing Falwell's remark. The nicest thing one could say about it is that it was lazy journalism, i.e

eisely, TV news is the scourge of decent journalism in our age. FOXnews is the nadir. They distort - we deride.

"So, we have a "reactionary" on the USSC I'd agree, but note that from my position on the political spectrum that it's not Justice Scalia" Just for grins, who is your pick for reactionary US Supreme Court Justice? "Finally, your contempt of conservative values and those who hold them is noted. I would hope however that while you hold Justice Scalia and his legal opinions in contempt, you might at least display a touch of respect for the POSITION which he holds." I wouldn't class his work as reactionary or conservative. It is better classified as opportunistic and political. He