Kaji

So let me get this straight - In Glen's opinon, if 5% of the country disagrees with something that the other 95% approve of, it's our duty to bend to the will of that 5%?

I think you're confusing libertarian with anarchist, Glen. He's not demanding that everyone have the right to do as they see fit, he's saying that people should be entitled to put their freedom of assembly to use, and organize into towns according to their beliefs if they so choose. If someone doesn't like the rules in one place, he can seek out another where they're agreeable. As I said in the other thread on the matter, I personally don't see where it violates the first amendment. The BSA doesn't support a specific religion, just religious practice in general, and so federal aid and

Journalist needs to get their facts straight, it's every 4 years. Only reason it's 5 in the case of the next one is because of the 100th anniversary, as I understand it. Personally, I don't quite see where it disagrees with the first amendment. True, the BSA requires participation in some form of religion, but it doesn't specify a single religion. The first amendment states "a PARTICULAR religious establishment", meaning the favoring of one religion over others (and hence the establishment of a state religion, a la the Church of England). Besides, it's an excellent recruiting opportun

Probably a bit dated since the site hasn't been updated in a while, but I seem to recall Mike Walton in his discussion on camo making note of the fact that the SE has the legal right to strip someone of all scouting effects they have, something about the emblems being property of the movement and all that stuff. Could this guy be mixing up the two? I'd heard rumor about it as well, but then again the person cited Charles Manson as his case, and I seem to recall a Snopes trip calling that claim false...

The pack I'm with out here in Salem, WV doesn't do it, and I haven't heard of any other unit in the area doing it either. I remember helping with it the first year it ran when I was a cub over in Northern Virginia though, and doing so right on through my boy scout years (we always did it in November my district though, usually the first Saturday we'd put them out, second Saturday we'd pick them up).

Hear, hear on that last line, Lisa! The boys certainly deserve a fair shot for all the effort put into it.

I'm kind of in agreement with the previous two posters, but I do see a strong case for aluminum nonetheless. We ran our derby this year and decided to go to aluminum because the car that ran down track 2 won every race without fail during the finals. Even switching the cars and running a second heat, and going through the finals all over again due to the confusion. With an aluminum track, it's easier to guarantee that it's the car that's doing the winning, and not the track.

Decided I'd throw up a list of my patches I have available for trade, anyone who's interested feel free to post offers here or via e-mail at Kaji_sensei@mac.com. This is all I have that I'm willing to offer, so if it's not listed, I don't have it. Unless otherwise noted, all patches are in excellent condition. Ranks: Scout -Orange and brown border x5 (one has slight marks from being thrown in a box where the previous owner had a number of patches with spray bond or something like that, though it blends in with the design) Tenderfoot -Rough twill square x2 (one has a minor ink st

I hear ya, Lisa. That's actually why I used to go to the MB University-style sessions whenever one came up (well, other than the fact that it's always fun to roadtrip up to my dad's alma mater, the USNA...). I used them as a chance to get some of the ones it's difficult to get counselors for at home (genealogy, cinematography, geology, radio, and electronics come to mind). In my mind, you're kind of squandering the experience merit badges are supposed to provide if you make it all the way to Eagle, but only do the required ones and 9-10 "safe" merit badges that are either easy, or that you'

Since we had a youth throw in his 2, I figure I'll throw mine in as well on the youth positions, since my experience there is more varied. I held all but librarian, chaplain's aide, and quartermaster in my time as a youth, and by far my favorite jobs were Den Chief and Troop Guide, for about the same reasons, really. Den Chief was more to the effect of Den Leader (sort of like the classic Cub Scout structure where the DC lead everything and the Den Mother would just be there to provide extra supervision), which made it that much more fun at the time. As for troop guide, I found it a lot of

Only board of mine that wasn't on-demand was my Eagle board, and that was because it took 3 months after the scoutmaster conference for the troop to finish getting all the paperwork and such filed with district and processed. Other than that, it's really not that hard if you have the people available, no? Even if you can't do it right away, it's generally not too hard to call people up to see about setting up a board for the following week's meeting.

Of all the 37 merit badges I did, I think that maybe 2 of them had the backs filled out in detail. The rest of them the counselor just scrawled something, usually to the effect of "Completed" across the back, and that was that, and it never proved to be a problem when they went in for review for things like my Eagle application.

I'd take it up with the Committee Chairman or the Cubmaster (if you don't know your committee chairman or he's not easily accessible) and have them take care of the situation at this point. One family's internal problems shouldn't be costing the pack a committed volunteer. As for down the road, I'd personally go with whomever has primary custody, is coming to the meetings, etc. If it's a case of shared custody, then perhaps a small meeting is in order to discuss how to handle things and to make it clear that you are not there to be a scapegoat.

OGE: I wasn't saying that LFL is crap, merely that this stuff about it being under LFL AND Cub Scouts is. If they're not going to continue in LFL afterwards, then what's the point of making it an LFL program? If it really IS an LFL program, then why is it being considered a part of a Cub Scout pack? Wasn't the whole reason we got the Venturing program because they decided that Explorers were LFL now and couldn't be considered a BSA program?

If I recall correctly from my Cub Scout and Den Chief days, the only real rule about car construction was that they had to use the original axles that came with the kit, the body doesn't have to be original to the kit. So in theory under that guide I guess you could say that it's legal as long as it has the same wheels and nails that everyone else is using. Personally, I don't see what the point is in selling them. I've got three or four of the five that I made sitting in my room as I type. Lot of memories of working with my dad and grandfather on them. To each their own I guess, thou

No problem at all, glad to help!

Never done it myself, but the gist of it is that you build a box, then cut sections out on one side for each portion. Next you lift this side off the box, and glue sections between the sections you cut yout to shield each from the other sections' lights. Then inside the rest of the box you place a group of light fixtures, and run the wires to a separate box (although I guess you could build it with switches right on the back of the box if you wanted). Then you take colored cellophane and glue that in the appropriate sections. Paint the details in black on the cellophane afterward and all t

Any objections people have to the age group aside, I think half the reason people object is that, as we saw on the first page, many people remember the old Lion rank and how it was one of the crowning achievement of their Cub Scout days. To see it reinserted at the bottom is a bit demeaning in that regard, kind of like taking Life or Eagle out for a few years and then sticking them back in at the bottom of the stack as a new way to motivate scouts. If they'd call it something other than Lions and cut this LFL crap, I'd be willing to give the program a shot to see how it works out.

Any objections people have to the age group aside, I think half the reason people object is that, as we saw on the first page, many people remember the old Lion rank and how it was one of the crowning achievement of their Cub Scout days. To see it reinserted at the bottom is a bit demeaning in that regard, kind of like taking Life or Eagle out for a few years and then sticking them back in at the bottom of the stack as a new way to motivate scouts. If they'd call it something other than Lions and cut this LFL crap, I'd be willing to give the program a shot to see how it works out.

I'm all in favor of it as a control measure, and because I'm sick of people attaching unrelated **** to bills in congress. True, it can be taken too far (some states that have it give the power to veto individual characters and words, meaning one can reword and reverse the meaning of things with their veto powers. If you limit it to sentences/clauses, however, I see it as a powerful tool, especially when you factor in that the veto can still be overruled). That said, I can see a case for wanting a constitutional amendment for it. I don't, however, see it as unconstitutional.

Still think it's a bad idea. Even more so if this bit about it being a Learning for Life program is true. It's either Cub Scouts or Learning For Life, don't try to cut it both ways.

(Although there used to be a hiking belt loop at the Boy Scout level once upon a time...)

Well, you could always wear them beside, as well... http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle/scoutman.jpg If you check out Mike Walton's picture of himself in uniform on his site, he's got 5 rows, the world crest, 2 stars, and what looks like the 75th Anniversary Achievement Award over his pocket. All he did was move the crest up, which doesn't look too bad (at least to me, anyway). Be nice to have this problem, but I've only got 3 right now...hehehe...

I don't think they're allowed to wear them around the patch if it's worn over the pocket where he wore it during the jamboree. If you wear it in the temp patch slot, you can wear one complete ring around it without getting any complaints.

Well, if you're Catholic, then your option is the St. George award (I've seen stuff on the Bronze Pelican as well, but I believe that one's not around anymore, not sure). While you can't directly apply for the award, one option you might try if you want to try for it is discuss it with your priest and see about working with him to promote the Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII programs for your church's troop if it has one (and perhaps the Cub awards as well).