Gold Winger

unbeliever (nb-lver) noun One who lacks belief or faith, especially in a particular religion; a nonbeliever. BSA, that's what this forum is about. Right? Sheesh! Even Merlyn knew what I was talking about.

"Yah, yeh know. BSA program materials are meant to be read and applied in context, not in isolation. They're a help to units and developing youth; they shouldn't be an obstacle." So the rules only apply if they are convenient.

Does that include bacteria, molds, and horseflies?

No, I don't intend to stake them out at 600 yards and use them for target practice with my M1. :-) Seriously. I've never been to a church were unbelievers weren't welcome. Okay, in the Orthodox church, you're supposed to leave about midway through the service so that you don't see the mysteries of the consecration. However, you're still welcome for much of the service. Why not admit atheists with the explanation that there will be Sunday morning prayer and discussions of the creator, by whatever name he uses? If the atheist doesn't like that, he can quite. However, if he sticks around, he might wind up with a greater understanding of the universe and may reach Znerflot.

"Gentlemen, Merlyn is not and never has claimed to be gay, he has repeatedly stated he is married to a good Christian woman." How can you say that he is not gay? Do you have proof? Marriage to a woman is not proof. Does the name Rock Hudson ring a bell? Could he be married to a woman just to get medical benefits? For that matter, how do we know that he is married to a woman? As I've said before, Mrelyn is a spoiler.

"I confess I sorta like that option better, even though it's nominally against the current ACP&P. Seems like it would fit better with the character and structure of a Ship than havin' the committee do it. I wouldn't squalk at a Ship making that tweak." "Nominally against"? Sounds like a blatant violation of the ACP&P. Remember, this is Boy Scout advancement in a Venturing setting.

Call me the frugal hiker. For Philmont, I looked for bargains Inflatable mattress came from ALDI, the European chain of discount stores Nylon hiking shorts were found on the closeout rack at Gander Mountain for $10 Wool socks? Costco, 4 pair for $10. Plastic undershirts? Wal-mart, $7 each Sleeping bag from Alps Mountaineering for about $60 Lexan water bottles from Target, $7 each Sterns rain suit from Wal-Mart for about $30. I learned the hard way that cotton underwear didn't do me any favors on hot days, so not wanting to go commando, I started looking for synthetic briefs. First problem was that they were expensive and second problem is that most don't have a fly. I found underwear that fit the bill at www.freshpair.com. One place that I made the mistake of buying cheap was bookts. I bought a pair of Itasca boots for about $50 that are waterproof and came up over the ankle. The problem was that on rocky trails, the sole flexed way too much and caused problems with my feet. I did luck out on replacement boots. I had just bought a pair of Asolo boots at REI for $150 and stopped at the local Dick's because they were having some sort of show in their parking lot. Big clearance event. Took a look at boots and there were the Asolo boots that I had just bought but for only $100. Bought those and took the REI boots back. One more thing about cheap boots. Two members of my Philmont crew had bought cheap boots at Target, their boots did not survive the training hikes and the trek. The soles seperated from the upper. However, if the only hiking that you'll be doing is a five mile jaunt to the campsite, those cheap boots might do you well.

Bob, we'll still waiting. How is it supposed to be done?(This message has been edited by Gold Winger)

Gee Bob, illuminate us. What does the Sea Scout manual say? If you're looking for official, I found this at http://www.cvc-bsa.org/advancement/bsAdvancementFAQ.html As the Venturer meets the requirements for the Star and Life ranks, a board of review is conducted by the crew or ship committee. The Eagle board of review follows the procedure established by the local council. And I found at http://hoac-bsa.org/Adv_Venturing.cfm As a Venturer meets the requirements for Star and Life ranks, a board of review is conducted by the crew committee. Are council web sites official enough?

" It is a made up term by an actor/ politician (when have they ever been known to tell the truth?)" I think that it was actually coined by commedians who were poking fun at an actor who was not yet a politician.

Since I didn't check everyone's book every week, the only way that I would know if a Scout had completed his requirements is if he told me. Since so much of adavancement is adult driven today "We gotta get these boys through this so they can be tenderfoot before summer camp!" I don't have any heartache asking them to come see me to arrange a BOR. Now, if boys were dilligently working on stuff on their own and had to hunt down an ASM or Instructor to show them that they had done X, Y or Z then maybe I'd think about asking the ASMs or Instructors to take note of when a boy has finished and to tell me. Ya gotta give the boys something to do in this process.

The Marines will take many that we wouldn't want in Scouts.

From USScouts.org. True, not an official BSA site but it's usually accurate. "As the Venturer meets requirements for the Star and Life ranks, a board of review will be conducted by the crew or ship committee."

Doing the right thing even if there is no one watching, there is no reward, or there is a great cost involved.

I got rid of BORs at troop meeting when I became advancemnet guy in my son's troop. I believed that Scout was better served by being at the meeting. A troop meeting isn't supposed to be one stop shopping for all things Scouting. Add to that the BORs were only happening the week before the COH and you have the mess. As someone else pointed out, you're making the boy wait too long before he could start the clock for his next rank. We started having BORs secheduled on every second Sunday based on need. If a Scout told me that he was ready, I'd schedule the BOR. I only had to cancel once in three years because of not having any available committee members. That surprised the heck out of me because I had around 15 folks that I could call on for BORs. Only once did I had a parent whine about his son having to come out on a Sunday because the boy had something more important to do. Funeral? Visit gramma? Nope. Sports. I pointed out that all of the other Scouts had managed to make it.

Don't find too many horses where I live. I didn't care for Ayn Rand or Kerouac for that matter. Hate gardening. I guess I'm a failure.

Stosh, it's simple. Hockey is IMPORTANT and scouts is just . . . Scouts.

The same great philosopher said: Yeah you got yer dead cat and you got yer dead dog On a moonlight night you got yer dead toad frog Got yer dead rabbit and yer dead raccoon The blood and the guts they're gonna make you swoon! You got yer Dead skunk in the middle of the road Dead skunk in the middle of the road You got yer dead skunk in the middle of the road Stinkin' to high Heaven! Seriously, men are expected to stand and die whilst the women and children hie off to safety for a very practical reason. Men are incapable of giving birth. Women are schizo when it comes to manliness. They want a "sensitive" guy who loves kittens and wants to watch "The View" but they also want a man who can build a deck, fix a car and punch out the guy who leers at them in a bar. Men are just as goofy. We want women who can play and understand football, shoot a rifle like Carlos Hathcock but yet looks good in an evening gown and can walk in high heeels.

I'm with you Torveaux. Keep the boys in blue until they cross over. So much whining about the cost of new uniform. However, I like red. Red and green have been the colors of boy scouting for decades. Red jackets. Red caps. But I've always said that the loops should have matched the old program colors as indicated by the service stars.

"Now you have been assigned a specific national ID that will follow you throughout your scoutig from youth membership through adult service regardless of where you register." I don't think that's exactly right, close but not exactly. If you do like I did and register in TWO councils, you'll wind up with two ID numbers. I had simply transfered councils, I would have kept the same number. I called and asked if I could use the same number in both places and was told no. You used to be able to do that but the "improved" system won't allow it.

"Having a gas furnace, I would figure out how to manually operate the stupid thing and then I wouldn't have to worry about the frozen pipes." You'd have to have someone stand there and manually turn the blower. The easiest way to prevent frozen pipes is to just let the water dribble a bit.

" if you ask them how they got the bruise or how they broke their arm they go into great detail to explain the ride don dead man's hill in their wagon, or the stunt on the skate board that went wrong." You've probably been buying a load of horse manure for years, thinking that it was rose petals. Kids and many men will readily tell the story of an injury if there is some glory to be had. Breaking an arm doing a stunt involves glory. Breaking an arm because you stepped on your skateboard in the dark doesn't. If you step on the skateboard in the dark and break your arm, embellish the story.

Hey Moderator! Hey said "butt"! That might offend someone. Collar turned under or necker under collar is not an individual choice, it is a unit option. Everyone does it the same way.

Ich habe Sauerbraten sehr gern!

BSA Supply makes them. You order them from the Scout Shop. I think that you have to order them in increments of 10.