le Voyageur

Black or Brown? Go with black,and paint the heels red, an 18th century British custom showing that one has been recieved by their King...maybe the SM will groan, but, you'll at least be "well heeled"...

Best advice...stay the course with the advancement guidelines..as long as you've got all your ducks in a row, then those scouters who are still having heartburn over this issue will have no recourse but to air their complaints to National....

Thinks for the info....gotta get some of this stuff weeded out, or else find another place to live....

I'm considering placing on ebay an incomplete collection of Jim Crow era, circa 1950, tan and red hardback merit badge booklets, 24 in all. 18 are stamped "xxxx County Negroe Library", 3 with "GN" ( again for xxxx County Negroe Library", and 3 with "GW" (xxxx County White Library). Question? Is there an interest in this kind of material? If so, what would be considered a fair asking price?

Sorry to break the sad news, a very reliable source has informed me that CVC has sold Chick to developers. But, units interested in camping there should check with CVC to check on the camp's current status....

http://www.historyisfun.org/jyf1/calendar.html Interested Troops and Crews can find camping at Tidewater Council's Pipsico Scout Reservation. The ferry across the James is free, and lands very close to the Settelment so there's no way to get lost...

For those with Venture crews being introduced to blackpowder shooting/hunting, it's a frustration and a safety concern to have the gun dry fire because the lubed patch has dampen the powder. A simple technique to prevent this is to add a bit of dry farina, cream of wheat, or cornmeal between the powder and the lubed patch...as for the amount needed you'll need to guesstimate for the gun you're using, for my .62 I'm guessing that the 1 1/2 teaspoons of cornmeal used gives about a 1/4 inch of seperation between the charge and the patch.....

Have each patrol see who can set the best formal and informal table...

Talk to your Council's C.O.P.E. director about the problem and see what can be down for you. Tend to think that a little High and Low C.O.P.E. for these two might shift their attitudes for the better....

a cyalume lantren can be made from bamboo, or pvc for directional lighting. Drill out one end, and make a slit along the length to whatever length and width is desired (3/4" x 5" as an example). This will make reading, or checking the map at night easier without the glare.. to keep the cyalume from falling out use a cork for the bamboo, or a cap for the pvc....

The below normal temps on this side of the country are life threathing for those forced to live out on the streets. Not all can be takened into shelters and must walk for hours to stay warm. A blanket, a warmer coat can make a miserable night a little more tolerable. As for sticking around, only off and on. The uniform is gone, and as a past scouter just thought that perchance some of the super scouters on this forum might try walking the talk they like strutting.....

and it's not over yet. If you've got a few spare bucks hit the thrift stores and buy blankets. As many as you can afford and take them to your local homeless shelter so they can hand them out to those who are on the streets....or organize a blanket drive and do the same. Scout Motto - Do a Good Deed Daily

Been pondering for awhile about ending my involvement with BSA and making this my final year. Having been with this program since 1957 it's been a tough call to think about qutting. But, since I can longer support BSA's polices that promote both bigotry, and intolerance it's time to move on now. I'm in the process of forwarding a letter to the Council stating my reasons for leaving, and also ending my FOS payments. I've also changed my UW alloment, shifting those funds to another organization. I hope in time that those of you who are staying the course that BSA has set for you will someday see, and feel the suffering and humilation being inflicted on others by these polices that is endorse by your memberships. No longer YIS, my last post.....

jeezs, pure baloney.....not even worthy of a comment!

pfan It is also my right as a citizen to choose who I will, and will not respect....again, I elect to show no respect for this person since he serves to undermine the Consitution. If you still have a problem with this reason, and my political views thats your problem, not mine.

Ed, The reason for this post is twofold...first, it's a counterpoint to Rooster's love fest thread for Bush. The second, unlike the smoke and mirrors found in the far right wing rags, these guys spills the ink which allows one to explore and verify many different topics from many different sources. Both OGE and KS picked up on one of the topic, but Rooster went into the attack mode. So, what is wrong about openly talking about the continuity of government, or the direction that the Bush Adiminstration is taking this country. Or of the many other topics that has been broached. Does all the information that is fed to us by the media must come from the far right, and only from the far right. What's wrong with looking at something on the far left for a change to see where these folks are coming from, a feel a different under current in American fabric. Shouldn't being informed mean availing one's self to as much material as possible to be a better and more informed voter..... As to what Rooster or the other few negative posters have stated I could care less. Being a skeptic and a freethinker I've been called worse.

sctldr... Will have to more than agree with you on that last point. Makes me wonder how many Scouters will be cringing about their past "sins". As for myself since we seem to be coming clean is this, my "only" transgression in the past, of which I have no shame or concern about, as it was an affair of honor was an Article 15 in the military for dueling (the coward was a no show, and hid out for a wee bit of time being later charged for going AWOL for two weeks....he got 60 days brig, I lost 50 bucks, so sweet). So if BSA wants to remove me from the program for this which happened back in 68, I've got no problem with it....

TJ Stay the course, you're welcomed to sit around my fire anytime.

You've got a computer in front of you...do some homework and look for the Washington Post article on "Shadow Government", 28 Feb. 2002.....(so, will this make me a conservative Republican now???)

littlebillie S4A, hey...then your term "gay friendly" was a compliment. I stand corrected, my apoligies your way for the use of the term "homophobic"....... My concern in this matter is this, will there come a time in the future when Unit Leaders, by staying the course with BSA's antigay policy become subject to prosecution under State and Federal hate crime laws... it's an legal avenue not yet travelled, but seems the more plausible. Going after volunteers would quickly wreck havoc on the program....

Yep, nothing like being the squeaky wheel......

I can't, and I won't....our position as privite citizens is superior and above the offices of public servants . He is intitled only to the same and equal respect as other citizens, period.....

Since you used the term "gay friendly" should I consider that a compliment....your homophobic rhectoric was a cheap shot....

A little something to ponder on as we head into the next presidential race.... http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/mar2002/shad-m04.shtml

littlebillie how you err, BSA promotes the Christian faith at the expense of the others since the majority of it's members are of that faith. BSA simply kow tows to the majority... by the way, a little mudslinging on your part..if you must know, I'm actually nuetral on this isssue as I've not formed an opinion one way or the other. Unlike most, I like to explore the issues in order to educate myself and be better informed. In the future try to be more civil. If you can't then don't opine.....