Mike Long

Sager please take a look at http://www.asthmastory.com/ I met this man on the Appalachian Trail in the Smokies when he was finishing his 200 mile hike. He was CURED of asthma. Many medical conditions are now being proved to be caused by viral infections. Ulcers for example. There is strong evidence to suppor that some forms of asthma are too. Might be something to look into for your son. It is better to find a way to do an activity than to simply say you can't. I have many asthmatics that regularly attend our HA backpacking trips but indeed, every case is different.

1. The only thing I don't like is the shorts. 2. Our troop does just fine with funding because we work hard at earning money ourself. 3. This is not a problem with the BSA program, it's a problem with people who won't use the program. 4. The media only reports sensational news as it is now all about entertainment and not information. Nothing we can do about it other than promote ourselves through sending self written articles to the paper. 5. This is part of #3. Check out the troop program features, lots of fun stuff in there or use your imagination. 6. I can't say too much about

Yes and yes. That's usually the best way to get the ball rolling. Just show up in uniform. They will ask why. Just tell them that you believe that scouts wear the uniform to scout meetings and that this is a scout meeting. You are all still scouts even though the rest of the troop isn't looking. I wouldn't make up any rule or make any grand announcement. They ask a question and you answer. If they ask is it required ask them what they think about it. Let the discussion run for a couple of minutes and then get the PLC meeting underway. Next PLC meeting I'll bet more of them are

Yes we do. We require uniforms at scout meetings. The PLC is a scout meeting.

I know exactly how you feel. After college (23) I became active again as an adult leader. Luckily I got involved with a small troop that quickly realized that I indeed have a large amount of experience in the areas they were lacking. So it worked out and they valued my contributions. A few years later when I became involved on the district and Lodge level. Despite the Assistant Scoutmaster and Committee Chairman patches on my arm (not at the same time y'all) I was treated like a 17 year old. The lodge advisors would try to shepard me out of lodge forums for scouters and the DE would

My troop gets bigger every year. I don't see a case of shrinking membership around me.

I'm re-reading this thread and I'd like to point out that this family didn't get the message the first two times by being removed from another Scout Troop AND a Girl Scout troop. What makes anyone think that they are suddenly going to wise up now? Some folks are content in their lack of class and decency and don't want to change.

I have a problem with scouts wearing patches and other items with their uniform that they didn't earn. I always understood that the uniform was for (in part) to display achievements earned by the individual scout and not for souviniers (sp?) given to him. Did he actually attend Philmont in any capacity? If no then don't wear your souviniers with the uniform if yes then wear your achievements with pride.

I am all for keeping kids in the program. I hate the thought of telling a family to go elsewhere. But I refuse to make the Scouts and families of our troop into being unknowing participants in an amatuer mental therapy group for a dysfunctional family. The other families came here for a reason, that reason is Scouting. Scouting can change people, Scouting can address many faults but Scouting is not a cure-all. We are volunteers not licensed mental health care providers and family counselors. We can work wonderous positive changes in kids IF THE PARENTS WORK WITH US TOWARDS A COMMON

Just a thought that occured to me. These siblings are 98% of the time little brothers of scouts. Little brothers, I might add, that most likely will eventually be members of your troop. Why would a troop make them feel unwelcome? As long as there is an understanding between your leadership and the parents why not get to know them, show them what fun scouting is, get them excited about your troop/Scouting and turn them loose to go and get their friends/den mates excited about your troop/scouting too?

Yep, I've allowed them and had no problems. I haven't had anyone just show up before though. If they did they would most likely be turned away for simply being rude trip crashers. But first all are told the ground rules. 1. Youth protection applies to guests. 2. All Boy Scout activities are just that, Boy Scout activities. They are executed for the sole benefit of the active registered Scouts in our troop. All decisions will be made to that end. 3. Non-Scouts must be in the presence of their parent or legal guardian ONLY. No mom's boyfriend or good buddies allowed. 4.

This should help you out some with printing your own shirts. Otherwise just email me and I'll see what I can do to help. http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=11063 Folks, the term is Screenprinting not Silk Screening despite what your local printer might say.

Ditto Bob White. This clearly a case for removal. Not suspension, removal. I find threats of violence against another and the torture and subsequent killing of a living animal situations that qualify as youth protection violations. If the mother had threatened a scout we would all seek removal so how is it different and less dispicable that she threaten a Scouter? Do you really think that this person should be allowed in influence your Scouts? Do you think that a boy who enjoys killing should be allowed to influence your Scouts? 30 to 60 days would not be enough time to work out em

No, never. Our troop doesn't allow most electronics. No phones, beepers, games, cd players, radios ect. The idea is for the scouts to interact and work together not sit by themselves and be self absorbed. One of our primary chartering principles is physical fitness and that purpose is not served by gameboys or other devices that encourage sedentary inactivity. Not to mentioned all the argueing over who's turn is next and why so-and-so won't let me play too. On long drives bring cards, when at camp and you have any free time (if at all) play with a ball or frisbee with your fellow

Definately a range of ages here. I never wore hard soled leather shoes to school. Those were for church and we wore sneakers to school. Nowadays it has become acceptable to wear sneaks in a corporate office. On Fridays around here I can't tell who is going to work and who is going to the park for a day in the sun. I prefer to wear my hiking boots with the uniform. Actually, I prefer my hiking boots than wear any other type of shoe. I have to agree Eisely, all the different goofball looking shoes they make now look tacky with the uniform. In my opinion most of them don't look good wit

A few links on this topic http://www.faqs.org/faqs/scouting/rec.scouting.issues/section-12.html http://members.tripod.com/~kclocke/index-6.html

That's a fig leaf y'all. It was very common in the victorian era (I believe that's the time frame) for nudes to be reworked to be covered as to not offend the conservative sensabilities of the day. The fig leaf or a well placed piece of drapery became a standard element of neoclassical artwork. Neoclassical meaning a revival of Greco-Roman styled art. Although this isn't a neoclassical work it is done somewhat in the neoclassical style hence the fig leaf. There is nothing rude or uncouth about the statue it's just the artist's interperatation of neoclassicism. There is nothin

I've never owned a pack where it was easy to reach my water bottle. Getting water meant a pack off break and sometimes I don't want to stop but I do want to drink. Convenience is the key factor in choosing a cell over a bottle. Quick access to water, holds more water, collapses smaller when empty, lighter, easier to drink while moving (kinda hard to do with a wide mouth nalgene), when you fetch water at the end of the day you can carry more water with less fuss (one 110oz cell and filter Vs 3 32oz nalgenes or 5 20oz soda bottles and a filter. In my mind the only time bottles win is in fre

I laughed at hydration systems when I first saw them. "How nice, something else to blow cash on." Then I got one and won't hike without it. First off it is a very bad idea to put anything acidic in the bladder. It will weaken the seams, and knowing scouts, grow some pretty nasty science experiments if not cleaned very throughly. If you just must put gatoraid in it I'd suggest you get a system with a wide mouth opening so cleaning is easier. If you hike in cold weather the neoprene covers do work to keep your lines from freezing but I found that if it boil water in the morning an

Your concern for your son is admirable but you are overreacting in a major way. Your son is at more risk taking a stroll to the corner store than by taking a trek at Philmont. His Scout training should have prepared him for any situation that presents itself at Philmont or anywhere else. You need to put some faith in his abilites and those of his leaders and the Philmont staff. After all, they have been doing this for quite a while now and have the single best record of any outdoors youth activity camp. Let him go.

I'm up in the Jacksonville area. During our spring break we take the experienced scouts to the mountains to do a 50 mile backpacking trek. It's a big hit and keep in mind you are only a days drive from the AT in north Georgia and two hours more you have the Smokies. In the summer we try to do a week long canoe trip. The Suwannee River isn't that far away from you either. Just make the trips more challenging. Test those skills.(This message has been edited by Mike Long)

I agree with OGE with the restitution aspect. Let me understand this. The adult responsable for the wagon SAW the boys fooling around with it, didn't correct them immediately and then let those same boys be "responsable" for it? That same adult couldn't tell the difference between fun and destruction or potential destruction? LNT #1 Plan ahead and prepare. This includes knowing what not to take. At the very least someone needs to learn what are appropriate activities and equipment for a backpacking trip. Wagons are not appropriate and your situation is a good example of why they a

I agree with you Rooster. Intent definately must be considered and should always be a factor. I'll leave that to the Troop Committee to consider. My list was a set of suggestions. It's up to the Troop Committee to do what they think is appropriate. In my mind over-reacting would be tossing them out their ears with no further consideration.

The parents should always be aware of any corrective action. Yaworski, I had the same reaction when I was told about aerosol bans at camp. Stripping leadership is one thing I was unsure of doing but both of them are JASM and Eagles? I would find it appropriate. Leadership is a position of trust and they have violated that gravely. I have seen aerosol cans blow up, I have also seen cigarette lighters blow up and kill people. This isn't a case of boys fooling around, this is a case of older, experienced boys in positions of leadership promoting life threatening behaviour to younger, in

First off they lose the right (Fireman chit) to use anything with a flame. Matches, stoves, lanterns ect. and must re-earn that right. Part of earning fireman chit is teaching fire safety to others. Second they lose the right to bring aerosol cans. You should think about discouraging these anyway, for a variety of reasons. Third they obviously haven't seen an aerosol can explode or seen severe burns. How about having them help to arrange a troop trip to visit a burn unit at a local hospital and perhaps a service project on the subject of fire safety. That's all I can think of f