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mmhardy

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Everything posted by mmhardy

  1. The editorial is the WSJ is entirely accurate based on the authors view point. Period. If your interested in getting the facts right how about the ACLU stating that the military gives the BSA $2 million per year to support the Jamboree. (See Final paragraph in http://www.aclu-il.org/news/press/000220.shtml) Its a LIE. In addition there is nothing mentioned about the millions that the BSA will spend on AP Hill for capital improvements to the base in preparation for the Jamboree. These improvements will end up supporting ALL groups utilizing the facility. Finally, the ACLU is being f
  2. The WSJ is right on the mark with the overall tone that those who support the efforts that Scouting promotes. There has been an interesting development in Texas now that the Dale suit has set precedent. A Christian Legal Society bars gays from participation. The group has filed six seperate suits against various colleges who have taken away funding for the groups activities on campus. So far two of the six suits have been resolved in the Christians groups favor. The ACLU is being flanked. See Time, Nov 29, p. 18
  3. Just to get back on the trail...My intent of this posting is to point out that the ACLU (for good or bad intentions I don't care) is handing the BSA the opportunity for excellent press coverage. Don't get twisted around the axle with the minutia of arguments about chartering, gays, or the price of tea in China. The BSA can take the absolute high ground with publicly pointing out every time that there is an attack what its core mission is. It does not have to say anything else. Should we encourage these groups to keep the chatter going? If the ACLU, Scouts-for-All, or the Rainbow Knot Grou
  4. There is an old saying that PR folks like to tell that goes something like this. The press can print anything they like as long as they spell my name right. The recent ACLU activity in a series of lawsuits since the year 2000 has yielded numerous stories in the media. Today, a quick search engine query on the Internet yields over 450 news stories that mention the terms ACLU and Boy Scouts This is a Public Relations firm dream. But who is benefiting? If you examine the content of most of the stories one gets the impression that the ACLU is trying to hold the government to the letter of th
  5. From the Lake Orion, Michigan Observer& Eccentric Newspaper New trail teaches youth about disabilities By Jenna Kloeckner - Staff Writer A new "disAbled Awareness Trail" in Camp Agawam in Lake Orion is up and running. Developed by the Chief Pontiac Trail Committee - a volunteer group administered by the Clinton Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America (CVC-BSA) - and other Boy Scout leaders, the trail's purpose is to inform the public about programs for Boy Scouts with disabilities. "The trail represents that Scouting is for all," said Mike Hardy, public relatio
  6. The ACLU contends by the DOD offering children the opportunity to belong to a Cub Scout Pack or Boy Scout Troop that government employees acting in their official capacities have administered a religious oath and practiced religious discrimination. The ACLU feels that such support is tantamount to the practice of religious discrimination. However in its zeal to undermine the Scouting movement, the ACLU has taken an awkward and backhanded stab at the United States Constitution. Article I of the US Constitution states Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibi
  7. Enough of the hissy fit cat fighting....lets move on. Hardy
  8. 900 Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and their families enjoyed the crisp early autumn weather at Camp Agawam near Lake Orion, Michigan on Sunday October 3rd. Scouts took in the early fall colors while hiking along the many trails in one of the oldest continuously operating Boy Scout camps in the country.The highlight of the day's event was the opening and dedication of the "disAbled Awareness Trail" The trail is a legacy of the late Ron Emmit,member of the all volunteer Chief Pontiac Trail Committee who developed the concept over eight years ago. The dedication ceremony was lead by Mike Jewell, a vo
  9. I start to weep a bit every time I open this thread to check. We need, or is there, a training course to cover what to do when lost?
  10. There is a web page from www.troop97.net that had an excellent page tht captures the sprit of boy lead troops. The page can be found at: http://www.troop97.net/unique2.htm The SM has been at this troop since 1979. Here is small part I thought hit the nail on the head. "Boy Scout camping activities center on the patrol, where boys learn teamwork, leadership, and most camping skills. It is important that adults not be in the middle of patrol activities such as site selection, tent pitching, meal preparation, and anything else where boys get to practice decision-making. A key dif
  11. Wow great dialog. I don't want to appear that I'm anti parent involvement. Geez I'm a parent and a Scouter (2 in BS, 1 Webelo). I love everything about the program. However I feel that my boys would be better served by me if I allowed them to express their own leadership without me around. I told both of my own boys when I volunteered to be up at summer camp that I would not be looking for them, hawking them, nor directly "coaching" them. I wanted them to go to another Scouter if they needed something signed off or to review a skill. I wanted them to be "boys" and have exposure to o
  12. Got to bounce this one off you.... I dropped my son of at the yearly PLC meeting. Here is where the boys look at the year ahead and plan activities for the program year. Back in the day when I was SPL this consisted of the SM, ASM and the boy leadership. Imagine the old geezer shock that I had when I walk back to the conference room to see half the seats at the table filled by adult committee members. I told my son I would see him in about an hour. I got a few glares as I left. In an hour the meeting was still going on so I grabbed a chair sat in the back and observed. In all f
  13. Good Grief....I'm going back to the woods now. Wild blueberrys are now well in here in Michigan.
  14. I knew a guy who had a tattoo. He got it right after college while he was in Europe. It was about an inch high and it was the number "8" with wings on each side. After coming home in 1945 he went on to become an brilliant surgeon and family doctor for 30 years. Yes you guessed it. It was my grandfather. In 1942 he was in the 8th Army Air Corps and was a flight surgeon stationed in England. From the Fieldbook..."As I grow older I pay attention to less what men say then what they do."
  15. Gosh the memories keep pouring in. Our troop just got back from fishing. We were using live minnows to catch a mess of perch and I remember we were pretty successful. One of the boys was playing with the minnows in his hand and of course it flipped out of his hand and right into the Scoutmasters can of soda. A one in a hundred shot!! The Scoutmaster didn't see this, (chatting away with the other dads), before anyone could say anything Mr. Oak grabs the can of soda and takes a long pull. All of us sat stunned and wide eyed at the truly strange moment that just occurred. Mr. Oak sets down
  16. There really was a Harris. He is now a minister and I work at one of the Big 3 in Detroit. It was 1974 - 1979. Now I'm sending my boys off to camp in two weeks to start stories of their own. I've already told them that Pink Dish Soap should be handled with great care...dangerous stuff in the hands of a camp rookie. (grin)
  17. I have one more story that came to mind. When I was 13 I went back to Lost Lake for two weeks. The first week was spent with another troop, I was a visitor. The next week was with my troop. By the middle of the second week I had really gotten to know the camp staff and how things work. However I was almost broke. My budget had not counted on buying cheeseburgers in town with the staff on the weekend. After our lunch on Wednesday I had an idea. The jar of dill pickles was empty and we were just about to throw out the pickle brine and jar. (Days before recycling)I bet my patrol a $1 a piece
  18. Back in the day I was on my first summer camp up at Lost Lake near Clair Michigan. Toward the end of the week it was my turn to cook. Our Scoutmaster was the guest of honor. We were cooking over an open fire and we "soaped" the bottom of the pans so it would not be a huge chore to scrub the soot from the pan. Well in my zeal not to blow a half hour scrubing pans I must have put a bit too much pink dish soap on the bottom of the pan. It dripped down to the edge and must have followed the side into the pot when I flipped it over. As the corn was cooking I noticed the prettiest bubbles comi
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