frank10

You'll have to excuse me, something in my eye. Thoughts and prayers from Waterbury CT.

No problem using Email to communicate withe the scouts but don't get carried away. You are the SM not the SPL. It is a rare email that you need to send to Tommy Tenderfoot and Sammy Secondclass. Don't bypass the PLC just because it is easy to do.

Way back when I was visiting the pack that met in the same hall where I was SM. I was surprised to see that the CM (flanked by the flags) was positioned directly in front of the door of the hall rather than at he stage end. I asked if it was for better acoustics? Nope, it was to make it hard to sneak in late.

Since the requirement includes "(or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop):" and since Mikemayer67 stated "1) Scout also holds position of APL. In our troop, APLs do a lot more leadership than the scribe, librarian, or TOAR. (These scouts do their jobs... it's just that our APLs do a lot more.) It bugs me to no end that APL doesn't count for a leadership position, but nobody has asked me yet.... " Why not give the scout credit for the leadership he did show. If this troop assigns extra weight to the APL position they can assign more credit too.

" a de facto "local option" exists in some units," Isn't that the definition of a local option. (Which I am against.) "which certainly might be the case if it's headed by someone like skeptic or Beavah." Add me to the list.

I know a scout who ran away from home and joined a camping trip. Parents had no idea where he went or when he'd come back. That's the number 1 reason I use them.

Phibbles, Looks like we have the same "friends" is different packs and states...

I've always said I'd rather have successful scouts than a successful troop.

Interesting idea parkman. Be sure to ask which of the other points of the scout law and oath they fail to subscribe to while your at it. May be look for one that has discarded trustworthy as well.

Never saw this one before: Adams Family Season 1 second episode. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iflln12y6Ho Pugsley Joins the BSA (1964)

Intriguing. Thanks for sharing.

Years ago there was a news story about the scouts who were stranded by the snow on a campout and unable to return home. Not saying they were trying very hard since each day they were able walk to town for food and all they needed to go to get home was ask my father to come up with the tow truck. But that was back when kids would do anything to stay an extra few days at camp.

Moxieman, You may be missing your snow, but you have to admit, there's not much that's more fun than watching southerns drive on an inch of snow. (grin) As the son of a snow plow driver not much shakes me but have to admit yesterday did. I parked the car on a hill out side of my inlaws to pick up my 7 year old. Just as I was picking her up to put her in the car it cut loose and slid down the hill. I pushed her out of the way and held on to the door frame while it slid past 4 more houses. When it came to a stop I walked back to her and then back down to the car. Did the half mile to home and parked it for the night. First time a storm has kept me off the road.

Any chance of getting help from the local high school print shop instructor? That's where I learned to make ours for ourselves. (Helps that the teacher was also camp director and a SM).

I could play either side of this but since Skeptic and Eagle92 have politely taken the "against" I will take the "for"... I agree that the letter of the law has been violated on this project but I think the spirit of the law has not. Consider that each scout donates many hours of voluntarily community service and that this statue is likely to promote membership in scouting. By helping to increase membership and in general increase enthusiasm towards scouting this project is likely to have a larger net effect on community service than if this scout had chosen a project that directly served the community. Thoughts?

Why is it an issue of "church and state" when government supports us but 26 congressmen sticking their noses in BSA business is a good idea? Kinda a bit of having your cake and eating it too... Don't they have real work to do?

Our PLC asked us to see if we can find a dance instructor to come in and teach them a few steps they can use at the school dances. Haven't found one yet but we will do it someday.

We would have held the BOR. Young man Might have passed too. He would have faced teh following question... "Most scouts wear their uniform to show their scout spirit and leadership. How do you manage to do this without wearing it?"

Teach the boys to put on your socks before underwear. That will keep foot problems away from the body.

NJ, Keep in mind that post such as this are NOT covered by BSA insurance.

"It was a dark and stormy night"... troops pulling out at 10 pm due to rain. As they were checking out in the office the campmaster pointed out that only one troop was sticking it out for the night (ours). Heard a SM reply "well sure they are staying, they have all Eureka tents." Eureka 4 man timberline outfitters. The outfitters are heavier and cost more than the standard outfitters but you won't go home early or wake up wet.

We play Good Scouter, Bad Scouter. Most times I as Chairman play Bad Scouter and allow the SM to play Good Scouter. He gets to say things like "The CC won't allow us to go there if we don't have all the adults trained in YP." or "Could you just do it to keep the CC of my back, you know how he is."

If I ran the zoo... If the ban on gays was to be dropped, I replace it with a ban of ASM's under 21, maybe even 25. I wouldn't want a 19 year old female as ASM and for the same reason I wouldn't want a 19 year old gay male.

Here's one from an untrained committee: They published in the committee notes/news that at the next meeting they would appoint an new COR since they weren't happy with the existing one.

"Since, as his SM and Mom I can't do his SM Conference" Self imposed rule?