Aquila calva

Thank you, Mr. Churchill! Congratulations that your Philmont belt still fit 30 years later! You must have purchased it extra large as a youth! Wink, wink. The big question remaining is... Does rattlesnake really taste like chicken? Does anyone know for sure?

Another suggestion... Whenever the Mom laughs at bad behavior from her son(s), quickly and calmly walk up to her, look her in the eye, and (again calmly) say, "That is not funny." Then immediately continue with the program. This may help. Or, she may be in complete denial of what is going on. Really sad!

Hello Margaret, Welcome to these discussions. Below is a link to some past discussion on a similar situation. There are some helpful suggestions from a number of contributors. This was from March 2006 in the Cub Scout section of the discussion board. The title of that thread is Unruly CubScout keep or kick-out? When a situation develops that basically comes down to its the good guy or its the bad guy we need to make some difficult choices. When the bad guys include an eight-year-old, out-of-control, child, along with his Mom with questionable parenting skills, and an older brother who hurts other children, our hearts just ache. You and your other den leaders need to come to terms with what your talents are and what you can do, and are willing to do, to help. Scouting asks that we Do Our Best. One important mandate is that we need to keep our scouts as safe as possible. Having an older brother around who hurt a scout at a Pack meeting is a red flag. Hurting another person cannot be tolerated in scouts (or anywhere else). Mom needs to know that right away. (And the Cubmaster needs to know about what happened at the Pack meeting.) You have a den of 12 scouts. That is great! You may soon have a den of 11 scouts, and thats great, too. http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=128219#id_128263

One Hour says "We were a small troop 20-25 boys." Gosh. In our Council the "average" size of a Boy Scout troop is 20 scouts. That isn't small. That's average. Not bad at all. The quality of the program, and the good relationship among the members are the most important aspects of this important group activity. Have fun Scouting.

"I'm happy to be a dreamer, but the Scouts who join Scouting didn't join to just dream." The Scouts joined to have fun. Let's see...What IS that vision thing? Vision Statement The Boy Scouts of America is the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. In the future Scouting will continue to Offer young people responsible fun and adventure; Instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law; Train young people in citizenship, service, and leadership; Serve America's communities and families with its quality, values-based program.

Eds advice IS correct. But also tell your Scout Executive about this man, and do it today. You may find out that the SE already knows. Your CC, COR and SM need to act quickly and decisively. These three need to understand the situation and be in total agreement as to what to do and how to do it. These three need to deal with a situation that is immediately dangerous. This is one time when a committee meeting is not necessary. This is one time when the CC should pick up the phone and tell this guy he cannot ever show up at a meeting again. You are dealing with a man with major anger management issues. The fact that he was in prison for breaking another persons arm is MAJOR! His recent behavior gives you ample evidence that he does not have control of his anger. Your troop is in jeopardy. This is no time for any kind of group therapy. Be prepared to call 911 if this guy ever shows up around your troop again. (This message has been edited by Aquila calva)(This message has been edited by Aquila calva)

A different view...or two. "The truth is this: no one of the gods loves wisdom [philosophen] or desires to become wise [sophs], for he is wise already. Nor does anyone else who is wise love wisdom. Neither do the ignorant love wisdom or desire to become wise, for this is the harshest thing about ignorance, that those who are neither good [agaths] nor beautiful [kals] nor sensible [phrnimos] think that they are good enough, and do not desire that which they do not think they are lacking." Plato, Symposium, 203E-204A. 1 Corinthians 3:18: Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. (19) For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written [Job 5:13], "He catches the wise in their craftiness," (20) and again [Pslams 94:11], "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." http://www.friesian.com/wisdom.htm Proverbs. See chapters 8 and 9. Perhaps, Proverbs 9, verse 8. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. I like. A wise son makes a glad father. Proverbs 10:1 Does it take wisdom to teach our sons wisdom? Some of us will hope not. One of the things I remember from being an altar boy is the Suscipiat I can still recite it from memory because when I was in the third grade and learning the Latin prayers, the older boy helping me with the Latin said The Suscipiat is the hardest one to learn. I learned it and still can say it. Ill be 57 next November. I still have the scout garter straps with the red and green tassels. I wouldnt even dream of wearing them today. Is that wise? A Scout is Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, etc.and wise. A bakers dozen. Or, then again, are the thoughts of the wise futile?

Posted on Mon, Jan. 22, 2007 This article is about Big Brothers Big Sisters. When I read the phrase one hour a week and when this article made a reference to volunteers time, I thought the scouter forum may like to read this. The times they are a changing, indeed. Schools + mentors = a perfect match Homeroom Big Brothers Big Sisters / Young program's popularity growing rapidly BY MARY BAUER Pioneer Press It's noon, and the two students are on the floor, hunched over a piece of art paper in the school gym at Kenneth Hall Elementary in Spring Lake Park. At first glance, they're an unusual pair Kristen Senftner, 18, is a lanky 6 foot 1 inches. Myah Ashley-Staple, 7, is not yet 4 feet tall. Yet the two are a matched set. They offer a snapshot both figurative and literal of a relatively new Big Brothers Big Sisters program that brings volunteers into schools. "It's really rewarding," said Senftner, a senior at Spring Lake Park High School next door. "The kids are always in a good mood and happy to see you. That's different from being in high school, where a lot of people don't want to be there." The two have met once a week since 2005 at the school, where Myah is a second-grader, as part of the school district's contract with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities. The district is one of several in the metro area signing onto a school-based program launched in 2002 that has proven so popular it shows signs of overtaking the traditional big and little matches that focus on movies and outings. "When we first started, we were begging schools to take us," said Patti Hague, vice president of programs for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities. "Now schools call us asking for services." The newer program initially was designed to woo today's volunteers who are crunched for time, said Jessica Hultgren, director of the site-based programs for the charity. "This is more marketable to volunteers," Hultgren said. "It's one hour a week at that school. And school-based mentoring allows us to serve a lot of children we couldn't otherwise serve." Volunteers have answered in waves. The compact time slots allow companies like Ecolab and Best Buy to send employees in groups, she said. High school students find the program a good fit for community service requirements, the case for Myah's "big." "I wanted to do some sort of volunteer work," said Senftner, who plays basketball and is on the student council. "Because Myah's school is connected to the high school, it was really convenient and easy to fit into my schedule." The program had 250 matches its first year, Hague said. In 2006, the group matched 1,127 children in 40 schools with mentors, of which 571 pairs were active at the end of 2006, she said. The community-based program had 2,295 matches in 2006, but Hague said she expects the school-based program to take the lead this year as more schools sign up. Statistics sell the idea to many districts. The Anoka-Hennepin School District partnered with the Twin Cities group this month after boning up on mentoring research, said Jennifer Bailey, assistant director of prevention programs for the district. She cited an independent study in the early 1990s showing children in the program had markedly lower rates of truancy and illegal drug use. "As a district, we're trying to close the achievement gap," she said. "This is one of the programs shown effective at doing so." Costs vary, but the Anoka-Hennepin district expects to pay the Twin Cities BBBS about $500 per match or about $100,000 this year, said Eric Moore, director of student services. The program is one of several the district offers as a safety net to at-risk students, he said, and is funded through grants and crime-prevention funding. Much of the costs go to building recruitment in an area from scratch, he said. The cost should drop by half or more after three years, he said. The charity runs the program top to bottom, including recruitment, criminal background checks, training and troubleshooting, Moore said. They also collect data so that after three years, the district can measure the impact and decide whether to continue, he said. Tutoring is not stressed, although the sessions can include that. Myah and Kristen shoot hoops, draw or hang out in the computer lab at Kenneth Hall. Other matches do craft work, reading or playing board games. The idea is to lead by example. "It's always good when you are little to see a teen-age girl who is a positive role model," said Brenda Alexander, whose daughter, Emma, was mentored by a high school student now in college. "Girls are so bombarded with negative images of what girls are supposed to be and do." The two keep in touch by e-mail, Alexander said, which increases the payoff by planting the seeds of college for Emma, now 8. Children in the program are referred by teachers, school counselors or other school staff who believe a child needs extra support, Hultgren said. The organization eschews labels, she said, but examples include academic struggles, social isolation or language barriers. "When we originally got matched, Myah was pretty shy," Senftner said. "She's opened up a lot more and is a lot more comfortable." Myah gives Senftner a glowing report. "She's like really fun and smart," she said, her 10 braids bobbing as she spoke. "I like that she can play basketball. One day she said I can see her play." Mary Bauer can be reached at mbauer@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5311. To Help To find out more about school-based mentoring or to become a volunteer, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities at thinkbig@bigstwincities.org or 651-789-2400 or visit www.bigstwincities.org. 2007 St. Paul Pioneer Press and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.twincities.com

During a radio interview yesterday on Minnesota Public Radio (you can look it up if you are interested), Peter Kottke said the lady had made camp in a very protected area, out of the wind, but it was also out of sight of where they were hiking, on the other side of the river. Peter said she had expressed disappointment that no one had come searching for her. The young men didn't know what to say at that point, but found out later that a searcher had been about 300 feet from her camp, but didn't find her. He went on to say that it is most important to tell family and friends exactly where you are going before setting out on such an adventure. Good advice for all.

Posted on Tue, Jan. 16, 2007 A routine hike and a rescue Minnesota brothers come to the aid of a woman stranded five weeks in the mountain wilderness of southwestern New Mexico BY TAD VEZNER Pioneer Press Before Saturday, the Kottke brothers could count on one finger the number of times they'd encountered other hikers while exploring the mountainous wilderness of southwestern New Mexico. But last weekend, they found and saved Carolyn Dorn, a 52-year-old South Carolina woman so weak and desperate for an offered feast of Tang and ramen noodles that she could barely move her fingers. On Saturday, the seventh day of their nine-day hike through the rugged Gila National Forest, the Rochester, Minn., natives heard a faint cry echoing across the nearby Gila River: either "help" or "hello," or possibly just a startled bird. Both brothers were Eagle Scouts; they'd spent many days at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center on Minnesota's North Shore. Albert Kottke had spent 50 days in the Yukon on a single hiking trip. But as for the rugged New Mexico land, where they have hiked for three years "It is serious country," said Albert Kottke, 24, who is pursuing a doctorate in civil engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. "You're either in the valley, scrabbling over loose cobbles, sand and mud, or up in the hills, hiking over the hard lava layers" of volcanic deposits, sometimes reaching elevations of 9,000 feet. When the pair saw Dorn shamble into view across the river, "It was a weird wave that she did to us her hand was more off to the side. Just bad form," said Albert Kottke, whose parents now live in St. Paul. "So we waved and kept going. Just kind of kept watching her." When they got close enough to actually see her condition filthy, hunched over, cheeks sunken, fingers curled from malnutrition they didn't waste time with pleasantries. This was obviously the woman a friend of the Kottkes had mentioned while dropping them off at the start of their hike: the one who went missing Dec. 6, on what was supposed to be a two-week camping trip. It was now Saturday, Jan. 12, and the woman had more than doubled her stay, even after more than 100 searchers and three dogs, looking for three days over Christmas after the discovery of her parked car, had not been able to find her in the 3.3 million-acre forest. "I haven't eaten in three weeks" was the first thing the 5-foot-tall woman told the Kottkes after the brothers one 6 feet 5 inches and the other 6 feet 2 waded across the thigh-deep river. They fed her. Gathered firewood. Gave her 2 pounds of food nuts, granola, an energy bar, dried apples and cheese, two liters of filtered water and one of the four paperback books they had brought: Michael Connelly's "Chasing the Dime," a crime-mystery about a technology firm. "It wasn't really related to the situation much," said Peter Kottke, 20, a geological engineering major at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. "But her eyes lit when she saw it." And then, as a thunderstorm rolled in, the brothers raced for the nearest highway 20 miles away, or three days of travel at their regular pace. They hiked until they couldn't see, made camp and talked about the stranger wondering how she had gotten there. "I don't know if she really understood what she was getting herself into. She was dressed in waffle-print long underwear," Albert Kottke said. Cotton long johns flew in the face of a Minnesota adage the brothers knew well: "Cotton kills," because of its tendency to freeze when it gets wet. "Her tent was a Wal-Mart tent for children, not adequate protection from the elements. I really wouldn't want to be caught in a rainstorm in that," Kottke added. She wasn't filtering her water and had no iodine tablets. And worst of all, "no map," he said. They rose at dawn and made it to the road by noon, crossing the river 13 times, 20 miles of hard scrabble in less than two days. Finally, a family dropped them off at a Highway Patrol post in nearby Silver City. As civilians, they couldn't ride aboard the Black Hawk helicopter the New Mexico National Guard brought in for the rescue after they pinpointed on a map where the woman was. And they haven't heard from the woman since. But authorities tell them she is doing well recovering from hypothermia after nighttime temperatures dipped well below freezing. The helicopter crew, using night-vision goggles and a U.S. Geological Survey map the brothers marked, rescued Dorn before dawn Sunday and flew her to Silver City, where she was hospitalized. Her condition was not released. "It is a miracle she came out alive," search-and-rescue coordinator Frankie Benoist said. Dorn's brother-in-law, Stan Cornine who traveled to Silver City from South Carolina during last month's search told the Las Cruces Sun-News that Dorn was at home in the outdoors. He described her as "very much a free spirit," who sometimes wouldn't contact her family for a year or more. He said, however, she had called before heading to Silver City, telling her family she was going West. As for how the brothers were feeling, physically, "It was just like any other hike," Peter Kottke said. "You're sore, your feet are tired. You just want to kind of rest." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Tad Vezner can be reached at 651-228-5461 or tvezner@pioneerpress.com. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2007 St. Paul Pioneer Press and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.twincities.com http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/16468724.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

The BSA may not have any troops that are made up of adult leaders. But there are two groups that take on some characteristics of such troops. They are Wood Badge (adults) and Order of the Arrow (youth and adults). Then there are those temporary troops that form during summer leader training at the Philmont Training Center at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Do an internet search on the following and you will learn a lot. Wood Badge, Boy Scouts of America Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America Philmont Training Center, Boy Scouts of America

Seventeen scouts at summer camp taking Wilderness Survival Merit Badge. They go on an overnight. These are often supervised by the MB counselors at summer camp. 15-year-olds may well be the camp counselors. At other summer camps, how many of these Wilderness Survival overnights have adults along? Probably not many. Things may change. That was 2002. This is 2007. Those 15-year-olds are now 19. Possibly married, with children of their own. Future Boy Scouts.

Indeed! "These are the good old days." An idea that has been around since...well...the good old days. We can never know about the days to come But we think about them anyway And I wonder if I'm really with you now Or just chasin' after some finer day Anticipation Anticipation Is makin' me late Is keepin' me waitin' And I tell you how easy it feels to be with you And how right your arms feel around me But I, I rehearsed those lines just late last night When I was thinkin' about how right tonight might be Anticipation Anticipation Is makin' me late Is keepin' me waitin' And tomorrow we might not be together I'm no prophet and I don't know nature's ways So I'll try and see into your eyes right now And just be right here 'Cause these are the good old days These are the good old days And stay right here 'Cause these are the good old days These are the good old days These are the good old days These are the good old days These are the good old days Anticipation By Carly Simon, released 1971

Thanks for the post. Creating the good old days for our children and grandchildren is a wonderful task. A little free association...It made me think of the theme song to "All in the Family" and made me smile. (Politically incorrect and all.) "Boy, the way Glen Miller played. Songs that made the Hit Parade. Guys like us, we had it made. Those were the days! Didn't need no welfare state. Everybody pulled his weight Gee, our old LaSalle (a car) ran great. Those were the days! And you knew where you were then! Girls were girls and men were men. Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again. People seemed to be content. Fifty dollars paid the rent. Freaks were in a circus tent. Those were the days! Take a little Sunday spin, go to watch the Dodgers win. Have yourself a dandy day that cost you under a fin (five dollar bill). Hair was short and skirts were long. Kate Smith really sold a song. I don't know just what went wrong! Those Were the Days!"

...held out his LEFT hand... We will most honor Eagle Scout Ford when this country ELECTS an Eagle Scout to the post of President. Our work is cut out for us. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

Who is Kohlberg? From Wikipedia.... "Lawrence Kohlberg (October 25, 1927 January 19, 1987) was an American psychologist...... Lawrence Kohlberg grew up in a wealthy family and attended Phillips Academy, a private and renowned high school. During World War II, after finishing his high school education, he enlisted and became an engineer on a freighter. On that ship he and his shipmates decided to aid Jews attempting to escape from Europe to Palestine. They accomplished this by smuggling them in banana crates that were secretly beds, fooling government inspectors that formed the British blockade to the region. ..... Kohlberg contracted a tropical disease in 1971 while doing cross-cultural work in Belize. As a result, he struggled with depression and physical pain for the following 16 years. On January 19, 1987, he requested a day of leave from the Massachusetts hospital where he was being treated, drove to the coast, and committed suicide by drowning himself in the Boston Harbor. He was 59 years old."

Before the marvel of this night Adoring, fold your wings and bow, Then tear the sky apart with light And with your news the world endow. Proclaim the birth of Christ and peace, That fear and death and sorrow cease: Sing peace, sing peace, sing gift of peace! Awake the sleeping world with song, This is the day our God has made. Assemble here, celestial throng, In royal splendor come arrayed. Give earth a glimpse of heav'nly bliss, A teasing taste of what they miss: Sing bliss, sing bliss, sing endless bliss! The love that we have always known, Our constant joy and endless light, Now to the loveless world be shown, Now break upon it deathly night. Into one song compress the love that rules our universe above: Sing love, sing love, sing God is love! Jaroslav J. Vajda (b.1919)

This was in our local newspaper on 12/8/06. Good advice! Should his focus be on kids or cleaning? ABIGAIL VAN BUREN Dear Abby: I would like your opinion about something. I am a single dad with two kids. I work 60 hours a week to support them. I'm involved with the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, soccer, their school, etc. I am often on the go to the point that the vacuuming, mopping and dusting are postponed. Personally, I feel that being involved with the kids is more important. I have a lady friend I have been seeing for a few years, and our relationship is at a standstill. She is a very neat and tidy person, and the moderate clutter in my house is a bone of contention. She feels I should cut back on some of the activities, perhaps just drop off the kids and leave so I would have time to clean the house to her standards. That would mean the Girl Scout troop would fold, and many of the activities of the Boy Scout troop would be curtailed, but her feeling is that the housework comes first. I feel that being involved with the kids comes first. What do you think? Slightly Cluttered, Washington State Dear Slightly Cluttered: The investment you are making in your children will reap untold benefits in the future. You seem to be a man whose priorities are in order. However, it appears there are some important lessons you are not teaching your children and one of them is how to share the housekeeping chores. If they are mature enough for scouting, surely they can make their own beds, clear the table, load the dishwasher and help with the dusting. You are a wonderful father, but please do not overlook this important part of their education. It will help them to be independent later, and frankly, you could use their help now.

Sounds like a good idea for an improvised grommet. Calling it an Indian grommet probably doesnt give Native Americans enough credit for very carefully-made loops and stakes that served to hold their dwellings to the ground (tipis in this case). (The dwellings were made by and owned by the women of the tribe.) Here is a link to a photograph by Edward Curtis from about 1926. Look along the bottom edge of the tipi for the loops that must have been well-sown into the rest of the material that covers the frame. There are extra stakes near the girls feet, too. http://www.ushistoricalarchive.com/indians/photos/ct18046.html Here is another photo of Whistle Smoke standing in front of the same play tipi. http://www.ushistoricalarchive.com/indians/photos/ct18066.html Here is a photo from about 1900 of an Indian (Piegan) encampment with lots of full-sized tipis. Indian grommets galore! http://sf.curtisprints.net/large_img.php?gallery=2&i=5&page=1 (By the way, the Piegans are a subtribe of the Blackfoot Indians.) Patobin, you may want to consider taking copies of these photographs to your troop meeting to show everyone what a real Indian grommet looks like and how they were used a hundred years ago.

Hmm. "Scouting for Life" There's an idea.

Sounds like fun. Here is one place to see pictures and even a short video. http://ropesandpoles.blogspot.com/

"now all you buddhists, sit this one out, we've been over it" That would be Lotus position, I presume. I am a Roman Catholic just about to go to sleep, praying to the BVM that mk9750 will now drop the inquisition of this scout. Life is too short! It sounds like the real "problem" is with the scout's parents. Give the scout a break, for heaven's sake! "Hail Mary, full of grace..."

mk9750 In reading some of these posts again, follow Hunts advice. His advice coincides with the message being offered by the current President of the Boy Scouts, Rick Cronk. When people use the word "membership" you think of kids, and Scouting asking kids if they believe in God. ... We don't ask those questions. Rick Cronk, President of the Boy Scouts of America Published May 23, 2006, USAToday http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-05-23-cronk-interview_x.htm The following is from an interview with Rick Cronk published in USNews last June. Turning to God in the scout oath, does one have to believe in a Christian God to be a Boy Scout? There must be hundreds of Gods out there. God in the oath refers to a supreme being of some sort it's a moral or ethical or spiritual orientation. We don't care if it's Mohammad or Buddha or a rock in Japan. We ask the kids to take the Scout oath and what they do on their own time is up to them. Mr. Cronks last sentence above is the best advice. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060613/13scouts_3.htm

The young man probably hasnt had a whole lot of opportunity to study world religions. He may not really understand the extent of his choices. Perhaps one place to start could be here: http://www.buddhistinformation.com/ He could come to his next meeting with you and explain how he has taken up an in depth study of Buddhism and is now on a journey seeking truth. He could say his God is Truthfulness. Or perhaps (to get closer to the Christian texts)...his God is Love. He could say "I believe in the higher power of truthfulness and love." A line from the page listed above... "May I be a lamp for those who seek light, a bed for those who seek rest, and may I be a servant for all beings who desire a servant."

beetles = insects The Beatles = the rock band (1960-1970) ...as in "to beat the drum." A little musical etymology. The band had split up before John L recorded "Imagine" (in 1971) which was also the title of his second post-Beatles album. (Some of our younger readers will be wondering what an "album" is...Oh well.)