Gold Winger

"Well after 25 years the debate seems settled. Any look at what is offered by Wal-Mart or even Cabelas and the 99% are SS blades for pocket knives."

It doesn't mean that it is better, just that more stainless knives are sold.

I'm looking forward to the redistribution of wealth. Maybe I can get a chunk of Scouter Terry's money.

" I don't want "gift cards"...because usually I forget I have them and they expire."

Not any more, by law gift cards for which the merchant has taken money cannot expire. Gift cards which are given by the merchant as part of a promotion may expire.

I too am tired of the frantic search for gifts. A friend gave me a gift card for Starbucks last year. I really hate Starbucks coffee. The friend's mom gave me a tin of homemade pizelles and biscotti. I really liked that.

Of course, parents today go frantic buying their kids "gifts" for Christmas. It seems like too many parents think that if the kid ever mentioned it, he should get it no matter the cost. Church? No time for that on Christmas day.

I could rant for hours but I have to get up early tomorrow.

"To me, that was over the line and a violation of his privacy"

He could have refused. Sometime around 1968 my mother explained that I needed to be very careful about giving my address to strangers. Today's kids are sooo much smarter and soooo much more street savvy than we were back then, aren't they?

Last time that I checked, 99.99% of Scouts are civilians, in or out of uniforms.

Oh sigh, the thread police are complaining about thread drift again. Heavy sigh.

So it's okay if a guy is around when his son is in the program but a year later, he's suddenly creepy? That's pretty idiotic, if not sick.

There's much to be said for continuity of SM that you don't get when you play musical SMs. For one thing, you don't have an SM who is worried about getting his son to make Eagle.

One of the best troops that I know has had the same SM since the troop was founded, over 30 years ago and he never had a son in the troop. Yeah, that's pretty creepy.

How about the guy in Scouting magazine who's been the SM of the same troop since before WWII? Pretty creepy there.

There are those who say that when someone talks about the negative behavior of others, they see that in themselves. Maybe you have the problem.

Maybe we should be wondering about the mothers who want to be involved in Boy Scouts. Maybe they're the creepy ones, hanging around and oggling the athletic young men. Maybe more? Hmmmmmm?

It's pretty simple, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints has chosen to adopt Boy Scouting as it's primary youth program for boys. Much like it is supposed to be for any charter organization. Because of the sheer size of the LDS in Scouting, BSA has allowed the church to make a few minor adjustments to the program as it relates to age.

"I can deal with the God/Scout link as it goes with the start of our country "

God/Scout, start of country? Don't get that. BSA wasn't around in 1776.

Mainstream? What is mainstream? Hindus? According the census bureau there are more mormons than unitarians or bhuddists, Christian Scientists or even my church, Orthodox. As Christians go, in numbers Mormons come right after Episcopalians. Orthodoxy is pretty mainstream as are Episcoplaians.

As for your daughter, you claim that she looks 16. The missionaries are 18, so a 16 year old would be in their normal range for chatting. What's the job of a missionary? To spread the word and that's what they were trying to do. Did they attempt to get her to do drugs? Have sex? I'm sure that many of her friends are pushing for both of those so who would she be better of with?

No, I'm not a Mormon but I've never had a problem with mormons.

Lem, I don't know when you played high school sports but captains are little but figure heads today.

As for martial arts, traditional martial artists hate the Americanized belt system. Red belt with a stripe, red belt with two stripes, etc.. That's a function of American life where children have to be rewarded continuously.

In any case, Boy Scouting has had your reward system for years. Ranks and merit badges. Elite? They've had that for years with Exploring, Venture Patrols and Venturing and the possibility to move on up to be in charge.

Maybe a big part of the problem is that 12 year olds are being forced to become Patrol Leaders but are unprepared for it so when they reach an age in which they could be an effective leader, they don't want the job because they only remember what a hassle it was.

"n. Keep in mind that it is beneficial to the unit if the unit leader rolls off every two years or so. Change is good. It brings new idea and fresh air to the unit. It is not healthy if the Scoutmaster sticks around for 7, 8 years.... long after his son has archived Eagle."

Sez who?

"When you have a retired MCPO as Dist. Comm., and the uniform inspections points have decided who won the district trophy in the past, they get nit picky. "

Hmmmm . . . we had a retired MCPO as Dist. Commish and I don't recall ever having a uniform inspection at camporee. In any case, isn't the camporee a function of the district committee and not a commissioner responsibility?

It's closer to 250 miles from Cincinnati to Pennsylvania.

Heritage is nice (add another 50 or 60 miles), in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Nice lake. Good waterfront program. COPE. Good staff. Cool at night and few bugs.

"For instance, we have a committe member who is big into cycling and just finished counseling a group of boys to completion. They scheduled all of their rides on Saturdays."

I'm kinda baffled about how a group can do the rides. The requirements are that each Scout plan his route. If you're all doing it together, who is planning the route?

I just discovered a connection between the Boy Scouts and The Who. Okay, a second degree connection but it is still there.

Flipping through the insignia guide I noticed that a Scout can earn the "Love for God" emblem for the Meher Baba faith. Soooo?

Every Who fan knows the song "Baba O'Riley" but who was "Baba O'Riley"?

The name comes from two great influences on Pete Townshend, Meher Baba and Terry Riley, a song writer.

Now if I can find a connection between ZZ Top and Scouting.

I heard it, I heard it, I heard it on the X

I think that Pete didn't realize that name tags ARE covere by the insignia guide. His argument was that if they aren't in the insignia guide, they shouldn't be worn.

On the new uniform, the trained patch goes on the flap of the cigarette compass tech pocket.

The thing about trademarks is if you don't protect it, you lose it. BMW NA has sued or threatened to sue the BMW Car Club of America at least twice, maybe three times over trademark infringement.

An inspection down to the socks at a camporee? Sheesh! Is the Marine Corps. Heck, I don't even think USMC checks for issue socks as long as they are black.

I wouldn't think that a Den Leader could move popcorn sales from one unit to another. Maybe a committe could but what would be the point, if you wanted to support the other unit just donate cash.

This is really a Committee issue, since finances are a committee problem. Perhaps the best thing to do is to invite the grumpy mom to find another pack to serve.

Sure he could have formed a Campfire group but there'd be no publicity value in that.

Sorry Baden, like Rythos and me, you obviously don't have a clue.

Rythos, obviously you're like me and don't understand the issues at hand. Since BeeDubya is the only one who seems to think that wearing an old uniform is baaaaad, he is the only one who does understand. Although, uncharacteristically BeeDubya has failed to cite BSA publication on the matter.

Sorry Gunny,

Texas is the nut. Why? For one thing, she can't read. I never told her to shut up. That whole thread about "forms" and adults brining friends was the writing of a nut. Now her comments in the Wood Badge related thread just cinch it up nice and tight. She's a nuuuut.

Oh BeeDubya, your position doesn't even have feet of clay. By your standards, every Roundtable Commissioner should abandon his 2007 vintage uniform and run out and buy a Centenial Uniform.

Please cite one official BSA publication that states that a Roundtable Commish musto or even should wear the uniform currently available at the Scout Shop.

"But is you aske them what they expect and do not meet their many and varied expections than you have failed each of them, have you not?"

Only if you promise what you do not deliver.