ManyIrons

Unless a unit has been attending council events without paying then no one has been getting a "free ride". And as for what units expect from their councils all I can say is that I expect them to do their job -- as they expect me to do mine. If processing paperwork competently and on time is a burden then they're not doing their job. That portion of their responsibilities should have nothing to do with popcorn money or FOS. Flame on.

Owl, It's a tricky subject, but one where it's always best to err on the side of etiquette. If you prefer to be called by your first name and it doesn't cause problems with other adults in your unit, more power to you. Addressing someone you do not know, or is older than you by Mr., Mrs., Sir, Ma'am is a sign of respect. Some refer to it as a courtesy or manners, but by doing it you are being respectful of another person's dignity. Assuming familiarity by using first names without permission is being disrespectful of another person's wishes. You say you were taught "to addres

Folks, I am chagrined. I've been having trouble (like many) accessing the forum for several days now, and I only just stumbled onto this thread while taking the long way in. I appreciate all your kind words and well wishes. It was a quick 23, but it was enjoyable. The Air Force afforded me the opportunity to do things I might not have been able to do otherwise (the neatest of which was my tour at Cape Canaveral AFS supporting rocket launches -- best fireworks in the world!!). Thanks go to purcelce not only for his kind words, but for ensuring our pastor made it to the ceremo

Eamonn, I'm with ya on the merit badge thing. This year in one of my Summer Camp Prep emails to the parents I specifically cautioned them about using the number of completed badges to rate the quality of camp: "Finally, when your son comes home please guage the quality of his summer camp experience by the enthusiasm he shows when talking about the things he did, the friends he met, and the opportunities he shared. In other words measure the success of his camp experience by the amount of fun he had, not by the number of badges he completed." Did it work? Not even close. Too many

In our troop all adults are referred to as Mr. or Mrs. as the case may be. (It's Mr. in mine) My Scouts do refer to purcelce as "Mr. Purcell", but only partially for the reason he gave -- it's also because he gives such a good reaction Interestingly this topic came up almost 2 years ago -- and it was a 5-pager! Here's the link: http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=49833#id_49833

22 years and counting. Over the past 11 years Scouting has been expanding to fill my available time and the wife has graciously been at my side all along (she's even a troop committee member). Of course, I work hard at remembering to provide her with equal time. As with purcelce (Hey Cary!), I too credit Scouting with bringing me back to church and strengthening my family.

The USSSP site has an extensive overview of the various camp honor societies over the years. Here's the link: http://usscouts.org/usscouts/honorsociety.asp Perhaps the best known one, at least in the Missouri region, is the Tribe of Mic-O-Say: http://mic-o-say.org/ There are many variants of this organization, one is the Tribe of Mannaseh in the Okaw Valley Council (Illinois). Good luck with your efforts.

It would seem to me that satisfying the list of requirements in dancin's second post should be enough. Requiring people to "give up" beads, and work a new ticket strikes me as insulting (and I'm a graduate of the new course). I realise the Bill Hillcourt question is a hypothetical, but asking him to take a Wood Badge course would be like asking the Pope to repeat divinity school. I'd love to know the rationale behind these changes. Thanks for the heads up dancin'.

Thanks Acco, I forgot to look there. And for a 3rd iteration see the Boy Scout Handbook, 11th edition, pages 85 and 412. This version list the same 6 actions from the back of the card as "requirements". That falls in line with the Scout Requirements book (an optional pub), but doesn't match what's on the card. I guess if you go 2 out of 3 . . . And some wonder why there's so much angst out there in the great Scout nation. Giddonah, see what you've started?! No other patches, other than OA lodge insignia, on the pocket flap? Then why, oh why, did someone at National ap

Here! Here! again ScoutNut. The last time I saw a Totin' Chip produced it was rather lumpy and didn't have any discernable corners. Good thing I'm not into that corner-cutting thing Okay, I did a crazy thing and went and read the Totin' Chip card. Now I'm even more confused. According to the front of the card, the only requirement to issue it is for the Scout to read the "woods tools use and safety rules" and acknowledge that "ownership or use of woods tools means responsibility" and "accepts it". No fuss, no muss. "I read it, you bethca, where's my card Mr. Scoutmaster?". Not

Here! Here! to ScoutNut and FScouter. I guess Im in the minority that doesnt see the need for either the card or cutting the corners. Im all for the instruction, but I wish BSA would just add it all to the rank requirements. However, until such time, I will continue to see that our new Scouts receive the instruction, but I wont cut corners off the card. If theres an infraction, our leaders will deal with it on the spot. If its a serious incident well involve the parents and committee. I dont see the need for anything else.

Okay T, I'll bite. Which "G" (God, Girls, or Gays) are you referring to?

I wuz just a fun'in G.B. Gotta admit, it was funny to see an admonishment (in the gentle/friendly reproof sense of the word) over the interpretation of the definition of the word "admonishment". Now that there's funny

Now that's an admonition, and apparently worth saying twice. Or was that an echo?

I like it!!

Watercub, there was a similar thread a few months ago. Here's the link: http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=98495#id_98495 Let us know how you're doing/what you're going to do. I used to be a buffalo (and I still retain all the charming qualities )

After two near disasters with School Night for Scouting (the school forgot to handout the flyers last Spring and this Fall) I decided to take a different route I put out the council-provided promotional materials and sign-up sheets at our towns annual Founders Day. We normally run a few booths for fundraising so I set the materials on the counter at each booth. I got six boys (with their parents) to sign-up in one afternoon. Four of the boys visited us at our last troop meeting and the other two will be visiting next week. On top of that I've got 2 other prospects from boy-to-boy recrui

The Eagle Award ribbon is the medal you were presented at your Court of Honor. The palms are worn on the ribbon portion. Per page 46 of the Insignia Guide, medals (5 at a time) may be worn immediately above the seam of the left pocket (i.e., the pin goes right above the seam so that most of the scroll is above the pocket flap). Note: Normally when there's a cloth patch and a medal that mean the same thing they're not worn at the same time. For my two cents, I say wear the medal (with the palms on the ribbon) only on special occasions (e.g. court of honor) and wear it as described abov

Get thee to an Insignia Guide hendrickms24 is correct. On page 23 of the 2003-2005 Insignia Guide it says: "worn only on the Eagle Award ribbon or Eagle Square Knot" Congratulations by the way for staying active as an Eagle Scout. Keep up the good work and keep earning those palms.

Famous Phrases Never Uttered: Gee, Im sure glad I didnt finish my Eagle rank My oldest son was going like gang-busters right up through his project, but then slowed down through the last few badges and took an eternity to complete the write-up and go through the board of review process. He completed his Eagle rank about 6 weeks prior to his 18th birthday. During his slow period I would occasionally ask him how it was going. I usually received the Im working on it but I knew he wasnt. Finally I gave him the line at the top of my post and then told him whether he finished or not

Alcohol too Ed?! Say it isn't so! "Don't look Ethel!"

Whoa! Hugging, butt-slapping and Elton John songs?! I think I'll just mosey inside and see if there's any pie left.

Eamonn, I understand completely. When my eldest son graduated from high school 3 months ago I got a chance to see a few of the boys from his Cub Scout den. It brought back a lot of great memories and I too think (wistfully) about returning to Cub Scouting when my youngest son moves on from the troop. My path isn't clear. If he gravitates toward Venturing I suppose I'll feel a responsibility to move with him (and selfishly spend more time with him). However; I also feel a "tug" from our OA lodge as well as from the council (they're doing the tugging). I know I can find any number of ways to hel

Just got back from annual planning, where I previewed the Scout Zone video for the PLC. They all thought it was "pretty good" and agreed that we should include it at our display during School Night for Scouting. Sidebar. The annual planning conference went very well. Anyone who tells you that it isn't necessary for a good program or that the Scouts aren't really able to do that type of planning is flat out wrong. My Scouts developed a great program with some really neat goals. They impressed me with the quality of their ideas and suggestions. It was inspiring to me and the assista

CubScoutJo, I'm not sure who's targeted to receive these - I'd guess the Scoutmaster and perhaps committee chair. The instructions say "Feel free to duplicate it". Check with your council if no one in your unit received one. Hopefully they'll add this to the Scout Zone website. I do wonder if this is a Boy Scout only item or if similar DVDs were created for Cubs and Venturers. Anyone know? Purcelce, Not to worry, we'll have a half-dozen Scouts to police the premises. P.S. Check your home email - we need help with a summer camp blue card.