Gonzo1

Maybe the higher number of Eagles may (I emphasize the word 'may') be due in part to parents who live vicariously through their children and want to get the Eagle they missed or build a resume, or puff up a college application.

Perhaps the requirements for tenderfoot should be changed (AGAIN)! Maybe "flexed arm hang" could be substituted for pull-ups. Maybe "Show improvement by performing more repititions in each of the activities listed in requirement 10a after practicing for 30 days. How about "riding in the back of open pick-up trucks is acceptable as long as the driver is going slow." OK, I'm being a wise guy. So, how do WE, the forum members, effect change at the National level??? How can we all become part of the solution?

Ed, your comments are good, but not THAT good. (wink) G

It's the uniform trifecta! BSA shirts, pants and oh my gosh, neckerchiefs on each of them!

epalmer, I wasn't trying to gang up on you. I sent private messages twice, but you didn't respond, so I posted it publicly. I really enjoy your comments. I just find the double posts annoying, but not you. Sorry, Gonzo1

Packsaddle, Have you ever been to Gary Indiana? Now that's bad. Krippe, There are lots of great places to go to. Enjoy your trip, for the USS Yorktown itself, take and use in the shower flip flops. Adults may want to consider ear plugs. Our scouts just did that trip last June. Enjoy. Gonzo1

Beavah, I agree it's about knowing when it's time to say when. Nothing wrong with someone driving the kid home, taking 2 hours on the scenic route to do it is another matter. I'm not sure about confession in the catholic church without the parents. I'm a Methodist, it's not our thing. Maybe having another adult nearby is OK. Happy New Year. G

Packsaddle, thanks for the comment. Happy New Year to you by the way! epalmer, I'm sorry if I offended you. I tried private message a couple of times over the last 2 or 3 weeks, but nothing changed. I'm sorry. Gonzo1

Krippe, Welcome to the forums! Memphis TN has Mud Island, a scale model of the Mississippi river. Memphis also has Graceland and minor league baseball. Tupelos MS has the birthplace of Elvis. Huntsville, AL has the space camp and the Redstone Army Arsenal will allow camping, probably for free and you can get meals in the mess hall for about $5 per day, not per meal. Whitewater rafting is available on the Ocoee River in east Tennessee. Atlanta has the Atlanta Braves and the new aquarium. Helen, GA has two tubing outfitters on the Chattahooche river, a nice lazy float on coo

epalmer84, I enjoy your comments. I find your double posts annoying. Sorry, I don't mean to offend. G

Welcome to the forum. Try taking a pocket knife and "score" the post of the pin a few times making several, small lines in it that go around the post. When you put on the clutch back, there is something extra to hold on to. I don't wear service stars, but this worked well for my military medal/ribbon holders and name tags. Happy New Year.

Eamonn, Here is a rare time when I disagree with you. As with Beavah, EVMori Brent, SR540 and others, I appreciate your comments and insight, even your mentorship. However, since you brought up the topic of Program Cops, we must all be cops at times. What would you do if you saw an adult and a scout heading off to the bath house together? I might observe and see which doors they enter. I'd remind the scout about taking his buddy. As a UC, I'd suggest to the SM to remind the SPL about using the buddy system. I understand the balance of picking the battles. So, if someone is wearin

Ed, I think our posts crossed. I agree that there is some room for interpretation, but when it comes to BOR, 2 adults + 1 scout does not equal 3-6 members of the troop committee. 1 or 2 members and some parents is far more preferable than using older scouts.....IMO. A solution is register most parents. On the other hand, the SM taking scouts on a hike without other adults is wrong. Not having a fire bucket handy is kinda wrong. Passing a kid for Star for example when he did not do a service project is wrong. Passing a kid for any rank that requires POR when he didn't

Eamonn, I think there are many program cops. If the SM is doing SM conference behind closed doors, the first who adult who spots it should be the cop. If the unit is admitting girls, etc., the CO/COR had better be the cop. If someone is signing something off for advancement that wasn't really done, the SM and/or the BOR better be the cop. I suppose that if the SM doesn't like what the UC has to say, that might be fine, but might also be too bad for the SM. Maybe the SM is hiding something or can't accept constructive criticism.

Everybody, These are great comments. Here's a little more clarification: This unit was recently assigned to me. I call the SM first, chatted briefly. Attended a meeting and was asked to provide any help at all. At the second meeting I attended, I noticed the BOR situation. I mentioned it to the CC and COR. The CC and COR have asked for more guidance. I don't think I'm overstepping my bounds. I'm trying to take a somehwat gentl approach, none of the adults are trained. I'm going to get them to training. The troop does NOT attend district or council events, that too in

I'm sitting this one out. Gonzo1

Allow me to clarify. I can't think of a time when I serve as a commissioner that I don't use a gentle approach. I wouldn't correct a scout for example, I only deal with adult leadership. I was asked by the COR of this troop to come and observe and to help fix things that need fixing. The COR is also an ADC, but has some conflict with committee members. There's more to this that I sent in a PM to Beavah. I had no idea that a post would be fodder for this type of discussion, however, I hope we can learn from this. I appreciate Beavah's comments and comments of the forum.

Mollie Duke, Thanks, the packet just arrived. Gonzo

Local, C'mon! Packsaddle is a good guy. I admit, I didn't think so at first, sorry Pack, but he and I have exchanged numerous PM's, email, snail mail. He's really quite a nice guy, maybe a little misunderstood......... like me. I even got a Christmas card from him in the mail. Some of my post, particularly those in the WB area tend to tick off a bunch of people. I wouldn't mind coordinating a gathering in the Southeast. There, I said it, I volunteered for something! Gonzo1

I think it's more doable than not. But, it is something that should be considered on a geographic basis. For example, scouters in New England might meet at one place while others in the Southeast meet at another, and so on. We could have a gathering at some scout camp or National Forest area and see how it goes and then plan other campouts from there. I'm for it, but it should definitely be by reservation to determine how many campsites would be needed. Someone could arrange a weekend through their council office, each person brings their own food or contribution of food for the c

FB, I think the Southern scouts get this one. (wink)

I HATE THE DRAKE!!

Happy Festivus to All, I bet spam is the main course. And of course, a marble rye!

bowhunt120 Welcome to the forum! Dan, It seems like what you propose is the YMCA, Awana, or Royal Rangers, our Methodist youth group, maybe Campfire Girls, I mean Campfire (they slipped on the slope).

Beavah, I think you're getting a little sensitive on this one. I don't think it's OK to change the program. Suppose the scout does a longer long jump, runs/walks faster, etc. but does the same on pull ups, I think he improved enough. I'm a UC. I attended a troop meeting where the troop had a BOR, they had 2 committee members and A LIFE SCOUT SIT IN ON THE BOARD. While this is wrong, I did not come unglued. I asked the BOR chairman what was going on, he said they let older scouts sit in and participate on younger scouts BOR. At the next committee meeting, I addressed it and