John-in-KC

At the risk of waking Rick, and having him blow the Gilwell horn... B-P SFAIK was a non-smoker, and actively encouraged Scouts not to smoke. The issue of any drug, no matter how intaken, isn't easy. Many are legal is prescribed, but illegal if self-procured and self-taken. Some are out and out illegal. We've tried Prohibition; it failed. We as society need to decide what matters, and regulate those to a fare-thee-well. Come to think of it, we have. I just don't want to be in position of being the first victim to sue someone for being high on cannabis and operating a motor vehicle under the influence. In fact, I'd rather not be a DWI victim at all, thank you.

And some folks along my life's trail thought I was a pedantic sonofagun. You, Sir, may have every pedanticism trophy I've ever learned. I guess no one ever taught you this simple sentence: "Politics is the art of the possible." I shan't be posting further in this thread. Don't worry about responding to me.

Long, long, 40 years long ago, When I was SPL I was not a member of any patrol. My duties, the ASPL's duties, and the QM's duties were to the Troop as a whole. Most of the time, we would coordinate to eat with a patrol, paying our money to that patrol. We had our own tent, though... when we needed a tent. There were a lot of nights we slept under the stars.

Neither was Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus. The point is, UENI (or our grandparents really, both my parents were way under 15 on Inauguration Day 1933) needed confidence in the banking system. FDRs method gave it to them. It worked. We have a bunch of political floundering going on now. Our politicians need vision and goals. Do you have a better policy idea to give confidence to the American people? If so, articulate it.

This isn't rocket science, it's politics.Obama can and should be optimistic. He has to be, imo. He owns the bully pulpit. If he says something, anything, a sound bite of it will be on youtube, googlenews and the old ways in minutes to hours, and in old hardcopy newspaper the next day. FDR knew it: What was his first inagaugural address theme? " I AM certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our Nation impels. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itselfnameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days" http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres49.html I don't fully agree with FDR's policies, but I agree with his style (and style matters):- He was upbeat to the American public ... always upbeat. Even his call for a declaration of war was not negative.- He took decisive action designed to provoke the confidence of the American people. We're bloody well muddling through the financial garbage. Go read about the Bank Holiday. Close everything, get the examiners in there. The banks that are sound, re-open. The banks that aren't... are gone.- We're approaching 10% unemployment. That's not 25%, but it's not full employment either. Real people are hurting. Where is the President, calling on us to help our neighbors through our church hunger pantries and clothing closets? I'm not talking income re-distribution here, I'm talking about simple help, one set of neighbors to another. Where in the Sam Hill is BSA National Council right now??? IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME FOR A NATIONWIDE SCOUTING FOR FOOD DRIVE, THIS IS IT!!! Vision and goals. Those of us who are WB21C folk heard that more than once. Both sides of the political debate need to look away from their platform positions and try to find what really matters. Sure, the Democrats can run through whatever they want right now. That's not a way to run a railroad. Sure, the Republicans can be a monolith against everything. That's not the way either. Thank you for letting me vent.(This message has been edited by john-in-kc)

SM and other Troop leadership should have single consistent message: We love you, we care for you, we will provide our all for you. THEN!!!! Contact your Council. Somewhere in one of the units, I'll bet bottom dollar, is a psychologist or psychiatrist. The young man needs professional counseling: Emotional and spiritual. Yes, he needs mentors and role models who stand by him, but this is clinical stuff. Help him help himself back onto the road to success. My prayers are with him.

A Pack I serve is 12 months out from CC and CM taking their kids to Boy Scouting. I spend more time at Committee meetings than I do program events, counseling smooth succession. I did do a stand up gig at their B/G. Brought up some Cubs. Brought up the Den Chiefs. Hip-Hip Hooray for the Den Chiefs. Brought up the CC/CM. Cubs again 3 cheers for them, and audience applause. Then had them sit down. Told audience to look around. Where was the top leadership??? This would be a reality next February. Told them to expect conversations and phone calls. Asked them for now to prayerfully and carefully consider supporting the Pack. Turned the show over to Mr FOS. CC and CM have both since told me they're getting phone calls and emails about what's needed for the PAck. It's a start

Read this thread, Candidate: http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=230011

CANDIDATE! The only things I will say about your forthcoming Ordeal are: - You should get an information sheet on what to bring from your Lodge. COMPLY. (It's a lot easier for you if you have a backpack and are used to having your life on your back) - If you have a special need (physical disability, dietary neet, whatever), there should be a form in the packet your Lodge gives you. Get that in pronto. - IF you are an adult, AND you have a special craft or trade (electrician, carpeneter, plumber, heavy equipment operator...) call your Scout Reservation Ranger. In the Council/Lodge I serve, crafts and trades, while not being released from duties and responsibilities of the Ordeal, are generally given work on projects that leverage their skillsets - ABOVE ALL, LISTEN AND LISTEN WELL, from the time you get on property until the after-Ordeal crackerbarrel.

I guess you have not read Mein Kampf along the way, The Scout. Too bad. Apart from the insidiouness of the plan, it's an archetype of political polemic literature. Hitler's strategic goal was world hegemony under the flag of the swastika. His agenda included: - Racial superiority of the German people. - Racial inferiority of most other societies. - Absolute racial inferiority of the Hebrew people, to be resolved by their destruction as a people, worldwide. - His research into atomic weaponry was one of the impeti to our research from 1939 forward, first under the National Bureau of Standards, and later under the War and Navy Departments through the Manhattan project. That he didn't get there was more a diversion of mindpower to operational needs of battlefield systems than it was desire to accomplish the mission. - His research into rocketry and missilery was far beyond where the US was. His vision included ICBM reach. No, the 3d Reich, from my assessment of the history, wanted to destroy the last democracy standing (Britain), which would have given it access to resources and factories. Then, it could have focused on fully isolating Switzerland and Sweden. Then, the Tripartite Pact could determine how to attack America. Japan just launched on its own time schedule. This is my last post in this thread.

Two thoughts: First, sounds to me like some great Scoutmaster minutes in the making. Color of our skin is not, cannot be a determining factor on anything. Second, at the end of the day, our youth members are minors. Parents are the ones who are responsible for their upbringings. If there is a perception, there's a reality for some parent. It's not the youth member you have to account to, it's the parent. Personally, if a Scout doesn't win the election, I'd be having a friendly SM conference that very night with him, and I'd be talking to the parents. What does he think the reason is for not being elected? How can he overcome that in the next election cycle? Is there an appointive position that interests him? (Yes, refer that downstream to the SPL). In talking with the parents, share your observations. Take the wind out of this sail as fast as you possibly can.

Speaking as a Roundtable staffer, BSA National Council, and the local Council, by Charter agreement are obligated to furnish program resources. The National program, with its monthly themes, is published by National on a 3 year cycle. The themes of each month of Program Year X are announced about 12 months in advance, with the publication of the Rountable Guide. The National program is further supported with the Annual Program Helps, the periodic inserts in Scouting magazine, and the monthly articles in Boy's Life magazine. District Roundtable Commissioners build their monthly presentations to support the annual program plan. Yes, units may choose not to use the National Program. If they choose to do so, they cannot, imo, complain that District and Council support does not meet the obligations of the Charter Agreement.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Nike, Let me tell you about my Council's Investing in Character Family Campaign. (ducking and running)

I agree with Barry, but I also agree with Ed. I'm rather paranoid about doing them at my home, or even the Scouts' home, in these days of YP!! This is wholly different when I was a youth member, and my Scoutmasters house and family was a friendly place

"FDR had no reason to fight Germany. He shot at their submarines on the high seas and send aid to the British." What in the Sam Hill kind of revisionist history is that, Sir? Go back and review the timeline of World War II: Dec 7/Dec 8, 1941: Empire of Japan attacks United States of America at Pearl Harbor, Nichols Field, and assorted other Pacific Island stations. Dec 8, 1941: In a special session of Congress, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt asks for a Declaration of War against the Empire of Japan. December 11, 1941: The German Third Reich declares war against the United States of America, under terms of the Tri-Partite Axis (signed Sept 27, 1940). The United States of America reciprocates. As the son of a soldier who fought on Corregidor in the defense of the Philippines, get your bloody facts straight! (This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

These days however, such intolerance is widely seen as an embarassing and archaic character flaw. And there's the rub, Trev. From my POV, those positions are neither archaic nor character flaws.

SA has my point. A meeting with half a dozen 8-20 year olds is so controversial the President of the United States cannot be seen with them? Hello? What's going on here? As to those who ask my status, yes, I am retired from the Armed Forces. My oath, however, never was to the President: "...to support and defend the Constitution of the United States...". My full free speech rights were restored to me (many members of the military understand their position has a voluntary, somewhat written, somewhat unwritten abridgement of their 1st Amendment speech rights), and I will say about this man what I choose. From my POV, his domestic policy is direct and willful attack against the values imparted by the Aims and Methods of Scouting, starting with the Citizenship Aim, the Values Method, and Thrifty in the Scout Law. And yes, Mr Bush gets to stand right next to him on breaking thrifty to a fare-thee-well.

Bring your IH and COR into the loop. Finding leadership for the unit is part of their job. Together, you can develop a plan to replace certainly the CC and (if he so desires) the SM.

< Cynic mode > So the Community Organizer in Chief conveniently forgets that Scouting is part of the fabric of many communities and panders to his liberal blogosphere base: He closes the White House to reporting (per Eagle92's earlier post) when the group of Scouts come to pay their annual office call on their Honorary President. I guess keeping the Community Organizer in Chief's liberal base happy (what they don't see, they cannot blog upon) is better than showing a group of young Americans that the values impared to them by Scouting matter. My 0.01 (the other cent got caught in ARRA) < / Cynic mode >

My guess? Both of the above, plus, he didn't want those groups who are on the left side of center to decry him for working with upstanding young Americans. I'll spin a topic off...

Sweet mercy. The scenario you just described is so far on the outlier it's not funny. I'd guess we're talking about 5th standard deviation beyond the mean. We don't ask Scouters to set their brains nor their hearts aside when they step up to a position such as District or Council Advancement Committee. Page 25 of ACP&P applies when the youth member sees he will not complete requirements by his 18th birthday. Remember that the requirements for Eagle run up TO but do not include the EBOR. This request is going to go to National, and the stipulations plainly in the book stack the odds against the youth member. Page 29 covers the matter of a Scout who gets to the edge of his next rank on his 18th birthday. While this can be used for any rank, the common usage is for Scouts moving to Eagle. Finally, Page 40 covers the circumstances and requirements when a Scout has a physical, educational, or emotional disability and will be a youth member for an extended period (up to lifelong) beyond his 18th birthday. BTW, none of these apply to an appeal. If a Scout is not advanced to Eagle by an EBOR, the Board must tell him the reasons. Their documentation of how he gets from here--->there, when he's already over 18, by COMMON SENSE dictate giving him the appeal information. What part of this do you not understand? For bureaucratic program language, this stuff is as simple to KISS as I've seen in a long time.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

yep, that's what I meant... BTW, the First Amendment guarantees my right of free political speech. That includes henpecking his policies to a fare-thee-well. I can say the Emperor has no clothes if I darn well want to!

If you want to play in Advancement, being a unit serving Scouter is the wrong position for you. At the unit level, you follow the procedures promulgated by the National Council as amplified by your Council and/or District Advancement Committee. If you want to be an agent for change, you work to become a COR, and thus have a seat at the table on the District Committee, or you work to become a working member of your District Advancement Committee, and start paying your dues. BTW, remember what Lisa said: Play nice.

There are procedures to extend the time to be a youth program member and earn rank in the Boy Scouting program of BSA. I don't have ACP&P with me, but I will post those tonight. - They apply to: -- Special needs Scouts, who have learning/emotional disability. These can be permanent in nature, if the youths mental capability will never bring him to learning level of an adult or emotional maturity of an adult. -- Extensions of time for special and unique circumstances. These procedures are wholly different from those to obtain an extension of time for the Eagle BOR, or for an appeal that extends beyond the youth members' 18th birthday. More later.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

To expand on OGE's post with my own roughly parallel thoughts... If you think your son would benefit from another adult's perspective (he does get your own a fair bit, we've all been there/done that), then let someone else do his SM conference. If you think time with Dad (even SM Dad) is rewarding for your son, do the conferences.