Gold Winger

Interesting to read that many projects that would actually involve leadership are rejected.

"You do now." I do? Where?

" he or she does not understand the parents role in the unit. " I didn't think that parents had any role in the unit. SM, ASM, MC, CC have position descriptions but I haven't seen a position description for "parent".

I'm really for less parental involvement. A friend's son recently crossed over into what he describes as a well run troop. Why? Because of parental involvement. There's a parent to do everything. There's a parent who calls all the patrol leaders to remind them of their job at the next meeting. There's at least one parent for each patrol to "make sure that the boys stay on track." Parents take roll. Parents take care of the troop library. I asked what the boys get to do but the question went over his head. He's headed for Wood Badge so maybe he'll get some knowledge squeezed into his head.

"The only patch that doesn't have the edging all the way to the edge are the numerals. They can be more difficult to hide the stitches." The solution there is to trim the excess fabric back to the border. I'm with Stosh, it doesn't take that long to hand sew a patch on. Clear thread? Nah! It melts if you hit it with a hot iron. A little thought and a little practice and you can sew patches on like a pro. Never did and still don't like the look of patches sewn on with a machine. For some reason, that 1/8" that's floating free offends my sense of the aesthetic.

I like to know how they're protecting the secret treasure vault revealed in the historic document "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets"?

The cynical me wonders if all the Scouts will get refunds. If there is a refund, how much pressure will be applied to the DEs to get that shortfall made up through FOS. Or how many DEs will lose their jobs over this. Could this be the end of Goshen? Could this all be a plot by a rival camp? Could it be the actions of homosexual atheists? The heck with the health department, call the FBI!

"GW, does that mean that just because someone makes Eagle (or stays in the program through age 18) that they "should" continue as a Scouter? You say "should" rather than "must", but even the word "should" implies some kind of obligation." A better question would be "when should they?" Right away? That works for some. After college? That works for others. Some might never become Scouter but wind up in a position where they can offer an Eagle an internship or they convince their company to donate a few million to Scouting. Giving can happen at any time and can take many forms.

"by the new eAgle Scout or a scout aging out of the program is for the most part a manufactured element . . ." Hey BeeDub, every element of the Scouting program is a manufactured element. "Giving back" is quite a common thread when someone feels that the experience was life enhancing or life changing. I I've worked with many sports officials who officiate to "give back" to the sport that they can no longer play. I know adults who help out with school activities to "give back" to the drama club or band which helped mold them. Give back to Scouting? I'd say that is helping other boys get the most out of the program. Must anyone give back to Scouting? No. Should anyone give back to Scouting? Yes.

Daddy long legs are harmless. Let them be.

The basic problem is that most kids don't want to be in Scouting. They stick it through Cub Scouts because their parents want them to be there. In Boy Scouts . . . they just don't want to be there. It isn't cool. No video games. You're expected to be nice. You have to do things that seem lame like learn about CPR. Go outside? Sweat? Sleep on the ground? No TV? How lame can you get?

"No merit badge is required,make it a Tenderfoot requirement that the Scout sew his Scout patch. Done." It wouldn't happen. Mom would sew the patch on because little Bobby would sit there and cry about it. "As far a sewing being for sissies, I wish we could reincarnate some old time filthy dirty sailors that were tough as nails, call them sissies while they repair sails." Call my tailor a sissy and he'll sew up your burial shroud.

The point, snoring bear, is that one does not have to be a Cub Scout to be a successful Boy Scout and that there is not great disadvantage for those who were not a Cub Scout. Maybe even an advantage because they don't have the parents who want to toddle around after little Johnny like they did in Cub Scouts. As for being away from Mommy for the first time, it's time to grow up.

"These pics at the link above are "dorkyness" defined. They also bring out the worst in the uniform -socks to neckerchief ! regardless of where the patches are worn." Dorkyness is in the eye of the beholder. BSA could decide to wear NBA style baggy shorts and singlets with ball caps worn backwards and that still wouldn't make the boys WANT to wear the uniform. For the record, I consider baggy shorts and backwards ball caps to be the epitome of dorkyness.

"Guess again about CiW. The US is a member of the UN, NATO, IWC, contributes to the ISS. The BSA is a member of the WOSM." I'm for canning this one too. I'm tired of the new world order, global economy, no more borders crud. All it usually means that the rest of the world wants the USofA to pick up the tab and doesn't really benefit us in any way. Let's make sure that people understand what goes on in their own country first.

"Guess again about CiW. The US is a member of the UN, NATO, IWC, contributes to the ISS. The BSA is a member of the WOSM." I'm for canning this one too. I'm tired of the new world order, global economy, no more borders crud. All it usually means that the rest of the world wants the USofA to pick up the tab and doesn't really benefit us in any way. Let's make sure that people understand what goes on in their own country first.

ScoutNut is right. I was around for the initial ScoutParents roll out, I have the disks and all of the paperwork. It isn't a BSA initiative. It was developed by a wealthy man (whose name I've fogotten) who wanted to help BSA. "Thing is, the BSA is in need of more volunteers. " Not really. They just need better distribution of volunteers. When you have a troop of 30 boys that has 50 registered adults, some of those adults should be serving elsewhere. However, like most youth activities, most of the parents don't want to get involved at any level where it isn't going to either have an immediate impact on their child or where they won't be able to spend "quality time" with their child. "Instead of being on the troop committee, how would you like to help out with the Camporee?" Nah, I'm here to spend time with my kid.

"Escherica coli is need in your gut." I know that, that's why your poo is 80% e coli. "GW, you do not get the disease from yourself." Hmmmmm . . . let's see . . . an 11 year old boy goes to the can and gets his own poo on his hands. He leaves the latrine and doesn't wash properly, if at all. Then he munches a Snickers bar. E. Coli going in the wrong end. Unless you are asserting that you are immune to the e. coli that come out of you.

Oh wow! 13 out of what? 1,200 for any given week? Your poo is 80% e coli. Now can anyone imagine that 13 out of 1,200 Scouts didn't wash their hands after going to the latrine? Sheesh!

Maybe it was here but somewhere I read that the manufacturing process for solar panels generates horrible pollutants that makes a 1960s vinatage car look eco-friendly. Besides, there isn't enough sunlight to do all the stuff that we've grown accoustomed to. Heck, just look at the amount of energy that it required to keep Las Vegas lit up.

However, Pioneering is about building things from nothing.

Take him out into the deep woods for a snip hunt, put a hamburger in his pocket and then head back to town. Eithter that or have some discussions with the Charter Org. As for being "in charge," the SM really isn't "in charge." His job is to teach leadership to the PLC.

"Over the years as a Cubmaster and Scoutmaster, I have been blamed for damage to portions of the buildings, that we do not have keys for, or remote access to. The Scouts are totally innocent of any damage, but once the IH, COR, and their board of directors have their minds made up. There is nothing the Scouts can do to prove their innocence." The CO for my son's troop is similarly whacky. They've threatened to kick us out of the hall because we missed some dirt on the floor. They asked us to set up chairs after a meeting for their event the next day. We did so and then they whined because we set them up wrong. They've scheduled events on our meeting nights (it's been Monday night for nearly 20 years). We can't use the facility on weekends. Etc., etc.. However, they did build us a shed for storage and then complianed about it. Now on the flip side, we get incredible support from a local church. The dinners are held there. Committee meetings are there. No charge. And they give us a donation every year. Another church in town let's the Cubs use their gym for the PWD, at no charge. Maybe the key is to avoid dealing with your CO for anything other than signatures.

"Well there are a couple assumptions that aren't quite correct. The huge majority of scouts in troops did come from the Cubs." I never made an assumption, I simply reported my observations about Eagles that I know. "The reason for the higher numbers back then was a successful advertising program developing a culture that second grade boys automatically join Cub Scouts." Back then, you joined Cubs in 3rd grade. " First grade boys are too young for this program and problems of Tigers has taken away the culture of second grade boys automatically joining scouts." I think that second grade is too early as well. However, we are competing for bodies with sports that start in kindergarten, piano lessons, karate, and the like. Scouts? To many parents, that's for losers because the goal isn't to WIN! (This message has been edited by Gold Winger)

" I wonder how many Eagles actually earn Lifesaving" Nearly everyone in my son's troop did/does Lifesaving during their second summer camp.