aquaticeagle

"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

My other problem is that they just had a ridiculously successful year in popcorn sales. I forget the numbers but they did better than my pack ever did when I was a Cub Scout. When I was talking about them not doing fund-raising, I meant outside of the normal popcorn sales. So if they did so well in popcorn sales then why are scouts being charged for advancement materials?

"If you believe there is only one right way..." Then I believe that in most cases you are very close-minded. Also, doesn't it mean so much more when you can discover the right way through logic and deep thought and not just by doing what you're told? Even if I did believe there is only one right way to believe, I would stress to my children that it is what I believe and not necessarily what they need to believe.

"I know many people who smoke and drink and are strong." "Unlike homosexuality, smoking and alcohol consumption has historically been somewhat acceptable within reason. I'll confess I smoke but do so in private and not at scout functions. Yes it's bad and I've tried to quit several times. I guess I should try again. As for alcohol, I see nothing wrong with responsible adult consumption." I didn't say that smokers and drinkers aren't strong nor am I arguing the rights and wrongs of drinking or smoking, I'm demonstrating the hypocrisy of the BSA's decision to ban gays on the basis of

"Like I said you can't let a child decide anything he/she wants?" I didn't say that a parent should let a child decided anything he/she wants. This just illustrates my point. A child should not be allowed to make all decisions that affect their life because they are not mature enough to do so. That is exactly why an issue as important as faith and religious belief should not be addressed until the person is old enough to do so for themselves. Of course they can be taught about religions but not taught which one they should believe. When asked about religion by a child, a parent shoul

So the BSA Legal website defends the BSA position of banning homosexuals from membership by saying that it violates the "morally straight" portion of the Scout Oath. My question is this; when is the BSA going to ban all of those who smoke tobacco or drink any alcohol? ". . . To keep myself physically strong, . . . Take care of your body so that it will serve you well for an entire lifetime. That means eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly to build strength and endurance. it also means avoiding harmful drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and anything else that c

Also, faith is a very very personal issue. Would you agree? So shouldn't a person's faith be decided by the person and not by his/her parents or teachers? After all, "it is the salvation of the child's soul for all of eternity we are talking about", not the parent or teachers soul.

"It is not OK for a child to learn objectiively the wrong faith. It is the salvation of the child's soul for all of eternity we are talking about." I agree. Since none of us know what the "right" faith is, wouldn't teaching any of them possibly qualify as teaching the "wrong" faith?

"The scouts ARE the pack. IF the pack wants to change how its expenses are paid for, that's up to the committee." My point is that the scouts are being punished for what the adults in the pack, mainly the CM, are failing to address.

I'm not involved with the pack in any way. My father is on the pack committee and since we've both been involved with scouts for a long time, he wanted my opinion on these things. I never said that it's okay for the pack to have done no fund raising. I simply said that they have not done any. My point is that if a pack does attempt to do fundraisers and still cannot cover costs, I can see reason for the scouts to each pay towards advancement materials. This pack has not attempted any fund raising so I don't think scouts should have to pay for the materials. The pack should be focusing on fund

"Aquaticeagle: I think if you read the last line of Merlyn's post you will see that he is being sarcastic. You may find his sarcasm in bad taste but I can assure you (based on reading a lot of his posts) that Merlyn does not see atheists as second class citizens. Hal " Wow, I feel like an idiot now. I guess I just read a little and flew somewhat off the handle. I apologize for that. I've been having a lot of issues with this and other sensitive "Scouts in the News" type topics so I'm a little touchy. Thanks Hal.

"A properly educated child should know who their creator is at a real young age. It is the first thing taught in any religious education class." And if we knew for an absolute fact that there is a creator and who that creator is...I would agree with you. We don't though and that is why it is called faith. A properly educated child should be taught to think for themselves and make their own decisions when they are old enough to think objectively about faith and religion.

"One would think even the smallest of children would be able to tell who created him/her." I would never think such a thing. If this were true then why are there so many religions with so many ideas?

"In fact, not kicking out the kid as soon as possible might give him the dangerous idea that he can be the 'best kind of citizen,' instead of the second-class citizen he clearly is." Wow...can you be more insulting and terrible? You're calling this kid a second-class citizen? I sincerely hope you aren't a registered leader in any scout unit because you sound like the worst kind of person to be setting an example for growing youth. Children do not automatically have any clue of the origins of the universe or how they came to be in it. That is taught and brainwashed into them from a ve

After twenty years active in scouting, I say that it is not okay to charge scouts for their advancement materials unless absolutely necessary after dues and fundraising. A scout should not have to pay for the Wolf badge because it is an award as in, something awarded not bought. Now of course scouts are expected to pay for the patches from camping trips and such and that is usually figured into the trip cost but not for advancement. The pack I am talking about has not done fundraising and the CM has absolutely no experience in scouting...she was just the only one willing to do it. What tr

This will be an issue but it definitely should not be. A child as young as Webelos age is most likely not mature enough and does not have enough information about the world to make such an important and life-changing decision. The leaders should talk to the kid but he should not be punished at such a young age for a decision that most kids aren't capable and shouldn't be expected to make.

I have recently learned of a Cubmaster that has charged a $5 entry fee to her own scouts to enter the Pine Wood Derby. I've never heard of this and it sounds very wrong any opinions? I also just found out that she is charging each scout for their own advancement and award materials whenever they earn something. Opinions?

Yes I should have pursued this sooner, I agree. When this was happening I wasn't the most assertive person when it came to stuff like this. I was very passive. I realize that most likely I missed out but I was curious so I thought I'd ask.

Let me make a correction to the first post. The Board of Review kept getting delayed, not the Court of Honor.

That's the problem. Leaders kept putting off the BoRs because the Scoutmaster was having issues. I don't know the whole story of what was going on there but I completed all of the other requirements as I was supposed to.

One more thing, my eighteenth birthday was not until January of the following year so I was active for 8.5 months between Eagle and 18. Not quite long enough for the Silver but definitely for the Bronze and Gold.

Hello all. I got Eagle Scout in May of 2000. I was active in the troop and already had 13 more merit badges than are required for Eagle. I was pursuing Palms but my CoH kept getting delayed for reasons still unknown to me. Let's just say that the troop wasn't that organized. Is there any way to ever be awarded a Bronze and Gold palm for my efforts? I would have pursued this sooner but I guess I just figured that I missed out. I really think I deserve to have them awarded though. Any ideas?

Thanks Secret, that really helps! So, attending NCS in the past for Aquatics Director wouldn't count? Does it have to be Camp Director, Program Director or Commissioner?

That's what I thought. I knew I had read somewhere that said Boy Scouts could wear the cords but didn't mention "Scouters" when it had been clearly mentioned "Scouters" as being allowed to wear other awards. Who would need to be written to about this suggestion?

Because you can't wear the cords as an adult. They're only worn until you are 21 at the oldest.