gwd-scouter

Guys decided to go with two patrols after all. The third patrol leader didn't show up for the hike a couple of Saturdays ago nor the meeting the Monday after when the permanent patrols were formed. Works out well since this fellow let everyone know last Monday that he wasn't coming on this weekend's annual planning campout either because he's on the soccer team and has games on Saturdays. So, now we have the Eagle patrol and the Desert Fox patrol. The Awesomeness Patrol is made up of our SPL, ASPL, JASM and Quartermaster. Those are the only Troop level PORs we have right now. Each patrol

By misquoting people and passing the misquote along we further the incivility. President Carter did not say the majority and he didn't even say the majority of the the people protesting. He said the "overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity." It will surely be pointed out that I'm wrong, but I interpret that to mean that portion of the demonstrators that seem to be just opposing Obama, not any specific policy - those folks with the witch doctor signs, Obama as a Nazi, and such. In other words, the "intensely demonstrated animosity" not the protesters as a whole. The scre

Skipper writes: So, how do you overcome the results of a poor election? One patrol selected for PL a scout who (I feel) is just not ready. He is narrowminded, has tunnel vision, is headstrong and has no patience; he yells and will likely be completely ineffective. I believe you've accurately described the PL/SPL we had for the past year. First, a bit of background on our troop which may help folks understand my perspective on this. Until last April, our troop was always small and at that point we had 9 scouts. We were one patrol. The guys like the title SPL, but in reality he was a

"...and, by God, I've had enough of this Congress..." again, John Adams per 1776. Just to add: left-wing nuts call conservatives names, right-wing nuts call liberals names. No one owns the high ground on that.

Awe, jet, you didn't have to go and get personal about it, did you?

Where is the outrage folks? Pastor Steven Anderson of Arizona gave a sermon entitled "Why I hate Barack Obama" and in it, among other things, he says he's going to pray for Barack Obama to die. CNN yesterday was the only channel on which I've heard anything about this and saw a video clip of the sermon in which Anderson says to his congregation: I hate Barack Obama, I'm going to tell you why I hate Barack Obama, and let me tell you why GOD hates Barack Obama. So, I ask again, where is the righteous indignation and outrage over this? Where is the endless replay of the video cli

Tort reform is indeed a state issue, so I am confused why so many people that should know that (our legislators) keep bringing up tort reform in a national bill. Go back to your states and get your state legislators to step up and write a bill. One question I have for those that propose we be allowed to purchase health insurance across state lines. Since I keep hearing the statistic that 85% of Americans with insurance are happy with their healthcare, and figuring that the vast majority of those people with jobs are getting their health insurance through their employer, how does allo

The Governor and the Congressman. South Carolina is certainly getting a good bit of national medial attention these days. At least the attention is on something other than our abysmal high school dropout rate, among other things.

Beagle Scout - we did something like that with a scout in our Troop. Three years ago he was the only fifth grader in his Webelos den. All the other guys were just starting out as Webelos and the den leader was working hard with them on earning their Webelos badge. This left the 5th grader, in his 2nd year as a Webelos scout, with essentially nothing to do. In January we invited him to our Troop to work with one of our Boy Scouts to help the fella finish his requirements for Arrow of Light. The boy loved the personal attention! Four months later, in April, he was awarded his Arrow of Light by h

It's been an interesting summer. We grew from 9 to 22 scouts in April. At that time, we made two new scout patrols and gave each a Troop Guide to help them out for a little bit. We are having our annual troop planning weekend in a couple of weeks and the guys have elected a new SPL (yep, Patrick was finally elected. After the past year's struggle I had with the former SPL, I am looking forward to having an older, experienced guy at the helm). SPL called a special meeting a couple of weeks ago for anyone wanting a position of responsibility and to talk about forming permanent patrols. OK,

Ah, packsaddle, guess you haven't visited Greenwood, SC. I have never liked being addressed as Miss Karen, as the children here are taught to address adults. Very quizzical looks on the faces of new Scouts (and their parents) when they learn to address me as Mrs. Buchanan.

The requirement reads: c. Perform a conservation project approved by the landowner or land managing agency. Now, it doesn't explicitly say while on a campout, but that is the way we read it since it states with the approval of the landowner or land managing agency. The intent, I believe, is to help the boys learn to take care of the land and environment so that others may continue to enjoy.

Welcome Doug! Happy Scouting.

Going to have to look more closely at the numbers, but the US infant mortality rate isn't very good either.

It certainly has been an interesting debate. My only question right now is why, if we truly provide the best health care in the world and people from other countries (those that have "government controlled healthcare") are rushing to ours, did the World Health Organization rank the United States 37th in the world in health care systems (2000). In a country with such a wonderful health care system, why do our citizens have a lower life expectancy than those in countries that have single payer or some other form of universal health care? Would love to find the answer.

I would just like to point out that the Scouts must fill a Position of Responsibility not a Position of Leadership. Very different things.

Texas and Virginia - decreasing the surplus population?

Was chatting with a co-worker the other day. She was very upset about what she heard on the news about Obama Death Panel, socialized medicine in general and that not only will old people be euthanized but those with disabilities as well (thanks Ms. Palin). When I asked her where she got her information, she mentioned she always watches Hannity and Glen Beck. I suggested she might want to check out some other information sources and maybe find out what the other side has to say. Heck, why not watch the debates on C-SPAN and listen for herself from the source. She said, no way, all t

gtscouter writes: I'm not sure where this troop stands as far as key issues like boy leadership. I don't want to insult anyone, but as CC I would like to know where the troop's strengths and weaknesses lie so that I can recruit adults to support the boys in areas where the needs are greatest. That is one of the best things I've read on this forum. The Committee supporting the boys. Fantastic. You may consider taking some time to go to meetings between now and when your son crosses over. Start attending Troop Committee meetings now as an observer before you step into the role as CC. Go on

I don't have any additional advice to offer. Would say though that the regatta was much more fun for the boys than the derby. Sure, it's fun for a boy to sit his car on the track and watch it roll down, but it's much more fun blow on the sail of your boat with all your might to the finish line.

Agree with the others - at LEAST two campouts, could be five. As for service projects, we count working on community service projects as fulfilling both the one hour service project and one outing for 2nd class.

Interesting topic. The thing I think is most important to find out about a troop you are considering joining is just what goes on during a campout. You will found out more about how the troop functions (patrols, boy led, etc.) than during a regular scout meeting. Join them for a campout - more than one if you can. Irsap - your list of questions is OK and covers most of the questions I've been asked by parents. But, with respect to John in KC, I wouldn't expect Webelos leaders or parents to be ready to start questioning the SPL or Troop Guide or any of the youth leaders. From my experience

Full uniform for traveling to and from. Funny, but the guys do stand a little taller when we stop at an eatery during the trip and 20 scouts pile in. They like the smiles they receive. When the gas prices were over $4.00 and the economy was taking a nose dive, our guys were on their way to a backpacking trip in Georgia. Stopped at a rest stop for snacks and bathroom break. A trucker came up to one of the leaders and said he wasn't ever a scout himself, but thinks it's a great program. Handed our leader $20 and said he hoped it would help with the gas cost.

I guess my question is: Your son sustained an injury while on a campout with the troop and the troop was found negligent. Your post seems to state that you agree that the troop was negligent. Why then would you even care if they want to dismiss your son? Why would you want him to stay in that troop if you believe they were negligent?(This message has been edited by gwd-scouter)

I like the new socks. Very comfortable. Guys in the troop seem to like them too. Most didn't like to wear the red tops with uniform, but I noticed at summer camp that they all were wearing the new socks when in uniform. As for the knee highs. Both of my sons have stated it's too bad they don't make them anymore. Neither would wear them when they were younger scouts, but it seems a lot of guys that work on camp staff wear them. As my older son said, "it's what all the cool kids wear."