Gonzo1

Hunt, Yes I put up with it, I'm actually glad we do it. here's how. We're on the battlefield, capture someone of interest who we believe has actual, credible information. If we then put that guy in a cell, turn off the lights and let him wait. Bring him a breakfast for example. Wait an our and bring him lunch. Tell him that 5 hours passed. Wait about 20 hours and bring him dinner. Tell him that 5 hours passed. Use bright lights, loud music, sensory overload or deprivation. I'm OK with that. Why? BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KILL HIM ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND WE DIDN'T CHOP OFF HIS HEAD. The gu

Ed, as usual, makes a good point. Vote for the candidate of your choice. Gern makes a good point Ed. Congress is pretty much party driven. So, for 'agenda' items, gotta pay attention to party. Lisa, I'm sorry, but Clinton, Albright, Obama, Feingold? C'mon, Clinton got impeached and the ONLY thing that kept him from being removed from office was a spineless Trent Lott. Sure, with Clinton, the economy was good, but it's good now. Unemployment is at all time lows. In other words, employment is at all time highs. Sure, there's a deficit now, there will always be deficits, even du

Well done everybody!...... Polite disagreement. Calico knows the drill, ...... 'early and often' and remember everyone, the dead have as much right to vote as the next guy. Republicans vote on Tuesday, Nov. 7 and democrats vote on Wednesday. Good day. (This message has been edited by Gonzo1)

You guys know by now that I'm a veteran. I gotta tell you, I'm opposed to real torture. You know, bamboo shoots under the finger nails, brutalizing people, uh, chopping off their heads, and dragging them through the streets, oh, wait a minute, the enemy has done those things to our guys. We feed and clothe our prisoners, allow them to practice their religion, etc. Sure, the worst of the worst may not get the red carpet treatment. I am however for extracting information that will save Americans lives. I think it should be OK to tinker with the clock, make some one think it's a differe

So we can all deliver a quality program with a focus on basic scout skills, what kinds of Mafeking type adventures does your troop do? We've done navigation, first aid, pioneering, etc. but what have you done? Thanks,(This message has been edited by Gonzo1)

LisaBob with the usual wisdom. I didn't mean to suggest that the TG or SPL should always sign off advancement, but rather that they could show junior that some things had been earned and could be signed off. Thanks for enlightening me. jg

You could have the TG or SPL causually ask for his handbook and review it, quiz him and sign off some things that he's done. Be patient.

Think of any "secrecy" in OA as allowing for 'guided discovery'. They can't hurt you, you will however grow from the experience.

ex Fox, ozemu is right, Beavah is the man! Always has good advice. Ozemu does too. Have PL's provide input to newsletter, when next inspecton is, next patrol outing, whatever. SPL provides his comments, SM give some wise words. Mail it out. What's the cost? 39 cents each? ... C'mon. Develop your PLC, build and develop you Troop Committee. Good Luck

emb021, I agree! Besides, who can forget that some over achieving mom is going to have the claim of having the 'first female Eagle Scout', the first female to earn ____ merit badge or XX number of merit badges. Rather than admitting girls to Boy Scouts, perhaps GSUSA could have an outdoor program similar to Boy Scouts.

Congratulations to all of you!

I think you're working youself up into an unecessary frenzy. I'm trying to picture you driving by a school and getting all worked up. I'll give it to you AGAIN: Allow me to give you the First Ammendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Please see the part about 'nor prohibit the free exercise thereof' and the 'right of the people to pe

Merlyn, It's funny you mention Glen Ellyn. I grew up there and I had to do a google search on the school. I had almost forgotten about it. Turns out it's a school for the deaf and blind and has enrollment of about TWENTY students. I don't know why "publicly funded orgainizations" can't charter scout units, I don't care. But, why do YOU care? Are you bothered that a school that houses children all day might actually have them for a few hours after school? ... I'd have to guess that it's because the BSA has the DRP and schools are government institutions. Then you'll make a claim

Good comments above, something else to consider is posting an advancement chart on the wall. Some are motivated by seeing the progress of others. Require the scouts to bring handbooks to all meetings, outings, etc. Have PL's remind boys to bring handbook. Provide mentorship to SPL an TG to check for handbooks, then have them look at the advancement in the book. SPL sits down with a scout, TG with another and asks questions, scout demonstrates, TG/SPL sign off. Then, walk over to the chart and check it off. Everyone sees the progress on the chart........ it takes time.

Packwife, Lots of good news here. You and your son recognized a problem before it became a big problem. You sought help and got it. Support you son, it sounds like he'll be fine. Not all military officers are bad guys. I'm one, (just retired) and I think I'm a good guy. Being an officer doesn't mean yelling at people, he's probably around adults more than kids and needs what Beavah alluded to by coaching, we call it "hip pocket training", kinda like on the spot coaching, mentoring, gentle reminders. So now that your son has moved to another troop, why did I bring this up?

Don't forget about The Lone Ranger, Bonanza, Ponderosa and Peticoat Junction. And what about Hee Haw.

Yeah, I forgot to mention the poncho liner! I love mine. for those who don't know, the military ponco has grommets all around and snaps too. You could snap many together for a rain fly or wind screen. You can buy the poncho and poncho liner at surplus stores, or Brigade Quartermaster, Ranger Joe's, etc. The liner has laces that line up with the grommets. Lay out the poncho, place the liner on top, tie it in, fold it over and snap the poncho closed. I've been warm and toasty in what Soldiers call the Field Expedient Sleeping Bag at 38 degrees, could probably be warm at colder temps. VE

Yeah, I forgot to mention the poncho liner! I love mine. for those who don't know, the military ponco has grommets all around and snaps too. You could snap many together for a rain fly or wind screen. You can buy the poncho and poncho liner at surplus stores, or Brigade Quartermast, Ranger Joe's, etc. The liner has laces that line up with the grommets. Lay out the poncho, place the liner on top, tie it in, fold it over and snap the poncho closed. I've been warm and toasty in what Soldiers call the Field Expedient Sleeping Bag at 38 degrees, could probably be warm at colder temps. VERY

Welcome, Square knot award are shown at the link below: http://www.boyscouttrail.com/square-knots.asp Gonzo

Here'a an idea: Have WB the way it used to be. There are 8 patrols in WB, right? get some adult leaders from Venturing, Sea Scouts who may also want to attend WB. Have the Course Director (we called him Scoutmaster) and arbitrarily assign the non-boy scout folks to a separate patrol, like Venturers in Owl, Sea Scouts in Bear and when basic scout skills are covered, everyone is on the same page. When program specific training happens at the patrol site, it's geared for that program. Folks, what do you think? It's just a thought.

Kudu, I'm an Eagle Scout (1980), served in all the usual troop leadership positions, attended Brownsea 2-2 when I was SPL, went to Philmont (1976), did lots of backpacking (with full packs), Even got elected into OA, became a Brotherhood member too. Camped i the rain, camped in the snow, Went to WB, SR-59. Never 'camped' in a cabin until a year ago when I took the family to KOA. So I guess I've been there, done that. You know, got the patch too. For the life of me, I only know of two guys who claim to be Eagle Scouts, and frankly, I don't know that they were even Tenderfoot one day.

Scoutinagain, Rizzuto and Carey used 'holy cow', but Rizutto's was much shorter duration in pronunciation where Carey was usually bombed out of his mind by the 3rd inning, that it became more of ' hooollyyy Cooowww!, hey Santo, pass me another Budweiser while we watch that one (hiccup) go out to Waveland Avenue."

I ditched the rectangular bag for a muumy bag. I bought it at Wal-Mart and paid around $30, rated to zero ddegress. Very warm, stuffs easily into a stuff sack with compression straps, lightweight and fairly small. My shoulders kept getting cold with the rectangular shaped bag. I sleep on the ground with a closed cell foam pad under me.

One day at the table, I did an impression of Harry Carey: That's a well hit ball, it's going back, back, Holy Cow! ..... Then one of my daughters said "Gee dad, you sound like Harry Carey, too bad you look more like Drew Carey!

OGE, Calico I knew there was something I liked about you two, I grew up in DuPage County and always wondered why people would get cable. We had a bunch of channels to choose from. Now after being away from Chicagoland for 26 years, I know why we get cable, to get WGN to watch da Cubs! Eamonn, If you ever want to enter Amazing Race and would like to enter together, let me know. I enjoy watching Are You Being Served on PBS, darn thing is, it's never on the same time twice. PBS is bad about that. Except New Yankee Workshop is fairly consistent.