andrews

That is why I stopped giving anything to the United Way years ago. I now give directly to the organizations I support.

Brad

Sctmom,

There is very little, if any, evidence homosexuality is inborn. The few studies widely trumpeted as such were later shown to be flawed, usually in the size or selection of the sample.

How exactly would you prove something is not inborn anyway?

The other side of the issue is that even if a tendency is inborn, fulfilling it is still a choice. Given my family's history of alcoholism, some of it probably lies in the genetics, and studies have agreed with that. But that would not negate my role in whether I become an alcoholic or not. Even if I was predisposed to it, I can make the choice to not follow that tendency.

The same can apply to any other "lifestyle" choice.

Brad

Lets limit the rights of employees. That will produce more civil liberties, right....

Brad

Having a complete merit badge roster is not impossible. I believe the one in our district had all slots filled. Whether they are all active is another question, but all the slots were filled. If I recall correctly, Archeology was the only empty one for a while, but they found someone for that.

Of course a motivated Scout could find quality people in the fields and sign them up as a councilor. I did that for a few of my teachers on my own path to Eagle. Though I only got enough badges in total for my Silver Palm, and the last few were by looking for what was easiest out of what was left. I was also 17 at the time and was trying to get the palms done before time ran out. (I realized they existed about 1 year before I turned 18.)

Brad

Many camp jobs have a very minimal leadership component. I would be very hesitent to open it up to any camp job, if such was even considered.

Coordinating big projects is a key aspect of the Eagle project. You need minimal coordination skills for camp work since most of it is provided.

Brad

Many of the chuckbox plans make ones that are too big for even two new scouts to carry.

Someone in our troop added pole holders so four scouts could work together. Still tough, but doable.

As the scouts get bigger, it is less of a problem, but young scouts are usually not very strong.

Brad

Or he got signed off on some things when he shouldn't have.

My youngest son got to go to winter camp this year and told me that none of the boys were able to do the shooting required for one of the shooting merit badges, but they got the merit badge anyway.

I don't know if this youth really did all the work or not though, I just know the system does have drawbacks.

If he really did, I would have to agree with DD that he really is a prodegy.

Brad

My own son (possibly two) may end up getting all the merit badges, so I must speak in defense of that.

Yes, Scouting is a major part of our lives, but we also homeschool, so we use the merit badges as part of the learning experience. The youngest just finished all the optional merit badges for Eagle and the other has enough for 1 or two palms.

They are working on Eagle required badges, and they are also taking their time to advance through ranks (one is almost Life and the other just has his BOR for Star). Though they will probably have all the badges they need, I expect that getting Eagle won't happen for another year or more because of needing to work on a good Eagle project.

I believe that they would do well in life if they have covered the full spectrum of what is offered in merit badges. Of course some are easy and others hard, but my goal is to have them well exposed to life, and what better way than working through many different areas?

Brad

How good are the "boots" that you find everywhere these days, especially in stores like WalMart?

They are certainly much cheaper, and for growing boys that is a big factor. Are they good enough for stronger hiking? What is the real difference?

I recall getting my pair from Kohls, but I haven't done major hiking since.

Brad

All my son's patrol activities are just the boys, no adults other than parents, around. The bike hikes have been in the neighborhood, without a tour permit.

If we had to provide two deep adult leadership, or even any adult leadership, most patrol meetings wouldn't happen.

Please point out where this is wrong, if it is.

Brad

I agree. While focused attention might be great, it is likely to give a false impression of the troop and may not live up to the concept of "truth inadvertising." Instead focusing on keeping the meetings interesting as much of the time as possible would be a better goal. You may miss out on some who hit an "off" night, but the ones that do come should have a better idea of what is going on.

I have mixed feelings about a parents' briefing. I agree that it would be great, and could give a lot of good information to the parents, but it is also another thing to add to the plate of usually already swamped adult leaders. Of course some of us who often sit around and yack should kick ourselves to be more hospitable to new adults, but a formal program may not always fit in.

A formal presentation would make more sense if there was a specific night when Webelos came to visit, though I have found most such visits to be sporadic and rather unplanned.

Brad

Rooster,

I was referring to 1/2 the patrol as to turnout, the whole patrol should be invited or it would not be a patrol activity, and percentage wouldn't matter.

Watching my oldest try to organize patrol things as patrol leader, even that 1/2 seems high at times. Though he does have a "small" patrol of only 5-7 boys.

Brad

Note that it can be a patrol activity, but applying the same criteria (while counting 1/2 the patrol) would seem reasonable.

Brad

Could one of the projects also be an Eagle project? Or do they need to be separate?

Most of the examples seemed like decent Eagle projects, at least in concept.

Brad

My oldest son got together with his patrol for a bike hike around the neighborhood several times. At least one counted toward that requirement if I recall correctly.

For my youngest son, normal campouts, along with fundraising events (selling popcorn in front of a store) and Scouting for Food covered the activities.

Brad

We should be careful to differentiate between the Truth, and what we perceive as true. The latter changes all the time, while the former is unchanging. Without a firm belief in the firm foundation of the Truth, you have no foundation on which to build, for everything is relative and therefore shaky.

Brad

A big problem in this area is that too many people benefit by making tenstion and divisions stay around, justifying many PC activities.

As scouts, we need to always aim for what is right, and believe that God will work things out in the end as we faithfully work with what is in our sphere of influence. We should care about others based on the content of their character, not any outward appearance.

This won't prevent problems from both sides of the issue, but it will make us more steady, and grounded in what is truly right.

Brad

My sons have decided to aim toward getting all the merit badges in the coming years. Any idea which ones are slated to be retired so they could actually get more than 119?

We will see how they do on this, but it is kind of fun to consider.

Brad

Why are there 119 Merit Badges? At the least, I would expect it to be an even multiple of 5 (for palms) above the Eagle requireds. But then there are 20 (not 19) Webelos pins.

I can see not wanting it to stretch too high, but why did they pick the number they have?

Brad

> I require all my new leaders to complete Scoutmaster Fundamentals.

How do you enforce that? Our troop has a lot of active adults, but if we enforced that we would only have 3-4 of us, at most. And I will be starting a new troop in the fall where having 3-4 active adults (it is in an inner city area) would probably be great. Of course I will try to get as many trained as possible, but enforcing it would seem impossible, and counterproductive.

Brad

> An upraised pinky?

With a teacup in hand!

Brad

The danger with "letting the boys pick it" is that a few (or even a majority but not all) boys may consistently pick the same things - say basketball. Those who don't like that activity never get any respite because the others enjoy it.

I don't know if once a year is needed, but I could see once a quarter being a good goal.

Brad

The question for the young man would be if he has acted on that "feeling." If not, then he needs some serious counselling. If so, I would ask if he was still openly practicing it. I would expect the same if he said he was sexually active with his girlfriend. If true, he would not be living up to the ideals of the Scout Oath and Motto, a requirement for advancement.

Brad

Where can you get the eagle bead, or a wide variety of other beads? I may try that idea with the troop we will be starting in the fall.

Brad

Doesn't that reinforce the false idea that Eagle is a terminal badge?

Brad