Gunny2862

desertrat77 says, "The scout owns at least 50 percent of his fate in scouting." I am going to disagree. IF there is anything resembling a decent program in place - THEN the Scout(unfortunately and/or his guardians) owns at least 90% percent of his fate in Scouting. I would actually tend to place this number higher if the If-Then statement above is true.

Also remember that those volunteers of the GOBN are most likely dying to get new members, even though it may not seem like it. And the cliquishness you detect MAY be because every year they hear the promises of enthusiasm and joining in the adult side logistical activity that makes it possible for the boy side to occur. And then every year see it wane and fall away - they are just looking for that parent who IS as COMMITTED as they are. Step up, carry some water, go to some training, carry some more water and see if you don't accidentally become a GOB yourself - but you can't do it wi

We use Crocs or generic similar almost exclusively - in addition to their other properties if they DO come off, they float. They don't really have to dry because they don't absorb water, the strap makes them easy to attach to the outside of a pack for stream crossing (save those boots).

No helicopter parent/guardian yes. Not, no moms. I think my ASM who is a Mom is great. And she'll specifically deal Mom/Son issues either before or after an outing - almost never is she in Mom mode on an outing. And I try not to be in Dad mode when I should be in SM mode also.

At at least one of our Jr. Highs the showers don't even work - and are used for Storage now instead -ewww.

thanks OGE

But see Gary, you are fine with exercising local options to use the program the way YOUR COR wants to use it but don't want anyone else to have the ability to do with a local option what they want to. And while I may not personally agree with everyones choice of local option - it should be all have it or none have it. Also while i understand and applaud your COR's commitment to providing Scouting to your youth in most other COR's (IME) Scouting is only one of the programs - not an intentionally integrated part of the COR's youth strategy. And if we disagree about what another COR

Ditto ScoutNut, except in this area the CM can delay the rollover until School starts by requesting PRIOR to June 1 for a delay to allow the Scout to continue work on the current rank. But as others have noted, once the School year begins - next rank.

As to Ghost Scouts in non-LDS scouting it really is simple economics, if we have non-attending/inactive Scouts on the roster there is no way we get a free leader at some events - for our particular situation unless we want to pay additional costs at every event we go to we need to pare DOWN our list rather than just carry in-actives. When your CO doesn't foot the tab and the Scouts and their parents pay for everything except the meeting place, economics and certain parts of the Scout law, i.e. Thriftiness, become important.

Okay, apparently a truly differing experience here. Disclosure, OA Brotherhood member. Our Council Camp is the PRIMARY single beneficiary of our local OA chapter, there are SO many things that the chapter does. At the Council Camp they clean up Campsite do minor repairs, clean campsites, ensure facilities are in working order add new program areas(new COPE activities) - under the guidance of the Ranger. If you see a youth working at just about any Council driven event - he probably was made aware of the opportunity through either the OA or his Troop but was not recruited to work

For all but HA trips we pay as we go - you sign up and pay and then you either go or lose the money. For HA trips we have a little more flex but there are so many more things in play; e.g.: 1) Johny's dad is driving us to Philmont - Johny fails and is going to summer school, is Johny's dad still driving? 2) Billy's dad is our rock Climbing specialist - owns and operates Climbing gyms - Billy can't go - Is billy's dad still going and running that portion of the event AND/OR still providing the protective gear or do we have to go find a new Expert and equipment? 3) Outfitter g

It's the Scoutmasters Call, but I believe Stosh - (jblake47) has the right of it. It's what I'd call but in this instance I'd have pulled a Tour Permit for the family camp...

First, I am not a PE. Second, Some of us who work in Engineering have a hard time with things that are not cut-and-dried, fixed, with rules that change and have "wiggle room" or especially "undefined wiggle room". That said, we need to get off of the spouting lines back at each other bandwagon and actually listen to what is being meant by those who are choosing sides in this discussion. IMHO, the sweet spot on this lies somewhere in the middle. I don't think Lisabob nor Engineer61 want middle schoolers to be doing homework until eleven in the evening five nights a week. Nor, do I

Our Troop has made it a practice, As his SM, I don't think I've signed any advancement in my son's book except the cert. that we talked about the YPT pamphlet in the front of his book. Just like I want every other boys book to be in relation to their parents. As to MB's, as his SM our Council has advised that they don't want SM's doing any MB's for any Scouts in their own Troop. I do have some highly qualified parents who do MB counseling for their sons but only when doing MB's in a Group scenario. Which we don't have an on-going system of, but is rather by request from a Group of Scout

Actually Gary I'm KIND of interested in your input. But not to the point where if we are having an open discussion that I consider what you appear to be proposing, to wit and putting words in your mouth but it's the way I'm reading it, "I'll gladly tell you about the LDS as long as all comments are favorable and any factoids I provide aren't challenged." I am a fan of discussion because that's about the topic, I am not a debate fan because that's about a competition and who crafts their argument the best - not about finding the truth through conversation.

You want more, I got your more right here... Referring to on-going Training YPT, SA, SSD, etc. Quote, "What Training certificates? I completed Woodbadge. I don't have to do any of that on-going training anymore!" UnQuote. Someone, please, smack me again,... wet noodle please?

Eagle92, you are making my point, maybe I didn't pitch it well enough...

It IS likely that the council would turn him down. OTOH, the COR should have a private brief not just on/with this fellow but on/with each and every applicant. His signature is the one telling Council that the COR thinks this fellow is okay. Then Council can decide it's own level of comfortability not only with this fellow but with each applicant. If the COR feels strongly enough maybe they have a talk with the DE about the fellow either before or while tuning in this fellows application. If not, well, maybe that is a lack of endorsement - but if that''s the case why would the COR

Exchange between Engineer61 and Gary_Miller "Engineer61, "3) Warning that I have received from parents of the LDS allowing known sex offenders into the BSA troops as leaders. (We know about Oregon.)" All rummer and lies. If a person is a CONVICTED sex offender they are not allowed to work with youth in any capacity in the church. The key word is convicted. Accused is not convicted. This is still America innocent until proven guilty" So is Gary Miller saying that anyone who isn't a CONVICTED sex offender is going to be seriously considered to work with the youth in an LDS Scout U

I'm joining Oak in the middle ground. One) Adults very definitely have rights. Two) The Registered Adults, especially Scoutmasters, should support the Troop to the extent of their capability. Three)Discussion: Okay, until a youth is caught (trapped) in a cave that I would have to crawl in and no one else(Senior Scout, ASM, Park Guide, EMS , is deemed capable of retrieving them, and I am not of more use in a site coordinator position (seeking outside help, coordinating response, keeping track of who is in the cave and who is out and if out where they are, is medical response r

The more I do this the more I realize there isn't a set answer to this. Key: I think it's because it depends on the boy. Hopefully, although not always, the parents know their child better than we do. I try not to worry about what methods the parents are using - they most likely won't listen to me about their parenting style anyway. And frankly, SOME parents aren't self-aware enough to make a rational plan about managing their children in anyones interest other than their own. So for some, a good thing; for others - the nail is in, they won't do it just for spite.

If the food is provided and prepared for a certain time and one misses it, well they will be hungry for a couple of hours - or in the U.S. they will for the first time in a while realize what the beginnings of hunger feels like - not a big problem. If an advancement opportunity is provided for the group with all of it's attendant preparation and planning - do you run through it again for the Scout who chose to be late? Not the one who was the victim of an unfortunate circumstance beyond his control - but the one who CHOSE not to be there at the appointed time? Choices and Consequenc

You could use lots of charcoal - to create plenty of Co2 for that new tree to work with and let the boys make their Dutch oven Dump cakes for the event...

WAKWIB and others according to: boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-43409.html Gottesmhlen mahlen langsam, mahlen aber trefflich klein; Ob aus Langmut Er sich sumet, bringt mit Schrf' Er alles ein. - by Friedrich von Logau (1604-1655), in Sinngedichte, (1653), III.ii.24. Translated by H.W. Longfellow: "Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience He stands waiting, with exactness grinds He all." (Cite: Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, 3rd ed.) Which may have been popularized by a Winston Churchill Spe

Trev, ditto..