mmhardy

The freak Coulter is a lier and she is on her way to eternal damnation. I prey for her wretched soul every day...

Amen to Beavah...better yet see if there is a local Boy Scout Troop that you can check out now. Your Comissioner may suggest a local troop or two that may offer a campout with the Webelos. Our troop does that and they are a riot!!

The older Scouts teach one or two items to get the W2s toward their arrow of light.

Lastly it looks like your an involved parent. You may want to get some training yourself and get psyched up to assist in your new troop.

A study was prepared for the BSA by the Roper Group looking at kids ages 8-17 and contrasted the kids with parents born between 1946-1964(Boomers) with those parents born from 1964-1980 (Gen X)The subtile differences are compelling and I would say I'm encouraged by the younger set of GenX parents. (Being born in Dec of '63 I would say I have a foot in both camps.)

For example:

88% of parents today say that children are a part of the Good Life

In 1975, the number was 77%

Boomers- The Have It Generation - Gen. X- The Do It Generation

Gen X Kids Do More Activities With Family

Gen X Kids Under Tighter Supervision and Control

Boomer Kids Claim Less Free Time

Boomer Kids Look to Escape

Gen X Kids Have More Optimistic Outlook

Gen X Kids More Apt to Seek Success and Independence

Gen X Kids More Likely to Exhibit Altruistic Attitudes and Behaviors

Gen X Kids Place Greater Priority on Family - 63% of Gen X Kids say they are not likely to get divorced when they grow up. 11 points more then the Boomer group.

The study can be found on http://www.marketing.scouting.org/ You will need to have a login ID.

Actually there have been a couple of good points. Myspace.com is most certainly not the ONLY Social Network out on the Internet. But it has the worst reputation, perhaps by design. (Press coverage good or bad = free PR)There certainly other services may adhire to a more acceptable decorum. I found the following "other" social network sites.

CampusBug, Tribe, Facebook,Faces.com, Neighborwork.com, LinkedIn

Orkut,Swellster.com,Yahoo! 360... and about 80 others.

One Family Friendly Social Network Site is called Imbee.com, it says its a secure, social network and blogging site. And it's geared at kids ages 8 to 14. Offers email, instant message, and swap pictures.

Its not the price its the price point!!!

A $10 minimum is too high. People are used to paying $3-4 for GS cookies how come we don't have a product in that range?

We have resorted to selling packets at 3 for $5. Yes your not supposed too but thats the only way we can really move the product and the profit margin is way better!!

BTW we post the ingrediant list and have a handout if people want the calories

Carefull on that yellow_hammer, your missing my point. My question remains...Given that so many young folks are utilizing social network tools like myspace is anyone using this tool to reach out into this vast communitee to introduce the Scouting philosophy.

So far only OldGreyEagle has offered a suggestion. Which is to have virtual patrol meetings. Excellent idea.

There is protecting and smothering. Teaching kids to make good choices and allowing them to do so out in the world is parenting too.

I guess the question is whose world will they survive in? My G-G-dad was a large animal vet and remembers when horse an buggy was the only way folks got around. When cars came around it was a HUGE change in the social underpinning of our society. I'm sure that there were folks thinking that if a young man didn't know how to handle a horse in 1910 that he would amount to nothing.

As Business Week points out these kids see no difference between the on-line and off-line world. Again your falling victim to seeing only the ills of the technology. What are ways that Scouting can benefit and reach out?

As usual on this forum, we have managed to demonize another element of modern society. No one has mentioned that there are over 100 groups within myspace that have dedicated Scouting themes.

It is given with this Internet technology that as a parent:

Monitor it...of course.

Watch your kids...duh...your responsible.

However if you think that myspace is some kind of freak fad for perverts....son...you better sit down. Business week had an article called The Myspace Generation that points out some interesting figures.

"MySpace.com, whose membership has nearly quadrupled since January alone, to 40 million members. Youngsters log on so obsessively that MySpace ranked No. 15 on the entire U.S. Internet in terms of page hits in October, according to Nielsen//NetRatings."

The article further notes..." Although networks are still in their infancy, experts think they're already creating new forms of social behavior that blur the distinctions between online and real-world interactions. In fact, today's young generation largely ignores the difference. Most adults see the Web as a supplement to their daily lives. They tap into information, buy books or send flowers, exchange apartments, or link up with others who share passions for dogs, say, or opera. But for the most part, their social lives remain rooted in the traditional phone call and face-to-face interaction.

The MySpace generation, by contrast, lives comfortably in both worlds at once. Increasingly, America's middle- and upper-class youth use social networks as virtual community centers, a place to go and sit for a while (sometimes hours). While older folks come and go for a task, Adams and her social circle are just as likely to socialize online as off. This is partly a function of how much more comfortable young people are on the Web: Fully 87% of 12- to 17-year-olds use the Internet, vs. two-thirds of adults, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Teens also use many forms of media simultaneously. Fifteen- to eighteen-year-olds average nearly 6 1/2 hours a day watching TV, playing video games, and surfing the Net, according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey. A quarter of that time, they're multitasking. The biggest increase: computer use for activities such as social networking, which has soared nearly threefold since 2000, to 1 hour and 22 minutes a day on average."

Companies like Coca-Cola and Proter & Gamble are spending millions on this Social Networking area for marketing to todays fickle youth. It huge business. There is a news report today that says myspace is worth $15 billion.

So my question remains...are we, representing a supposedly a primer youth organization going to sit like a house on the side of road and let an opportunity to connect to todays youth pass us by or are we going to find ways and offer ideas to connect with this "wired generation"

What do you think? What are your ideas to use Internet Social Networking to advance Scouting?

Monitoring is a given...enough said.

As to using it are there any Crew's that use myspace to activly communicate between them?

I'm trying to find out about adult leadership knowledge about teen use of myspace.com? 2 out of my 3 sons have a myspace account and seem to like creating their site and chatting/blogging with friends. What is your experience? What is your view of this new social network tool?

As an MSU Alumni I'm extremely pleased and proud that the 2006 NOAC will be held at Michigan State. Its a beautiful campus with an abundance of trees, gardens and trails. You can even grab a canoe and paddle up the Red Ceder river that runs through campus.

All of this natural beauty is a short walk to a great city of East Lansing. If your going have a great time.

Athegeek...thats my boy. 9th grade, captian of the soccer team, varsity (yes HS varsity track), starts swimming next week. Very active in Scouts. Wears his hair a bit too long for my liking. Likes to wear his green scout pants and Jambo belt to school. Oh and BTW he is considered one of the "cool" kids at school.

As an aside...why all the interest in "why" this pack died. That was not the question. joefloyd was a volunteer, they gave their valued time, it didn't work out, they parted ways, now what to they do with all this stuff, end of story.

I'm interested on hearing the proper way to dispose of unit assets when a unit disbands. If you want to hear confessions tune into Dr. Phil.

We had started an ran a tiny pack (12 boys) for 2 years. The energy to sustain a pack is tremendous. We did little recruiting and as a result our pack just kind of aged out.

I still have all the assets from our pack. A nice track, set of flags and a checking account with a bit of cash in it.

I told the my DE that I would work with him to help restart the pack with a new group of parents. When they get re-chartered then I will get some space back in my garage. ;-)

I should mention that our CO was/is totally absent and neglectful in its duties. It didn't want us to meet in their new facilites. Never offered a dime for flags or support and we didn't have one boy from the parish.

Its a fact, one that I have never mentioned seen on this board, that may fraturnal organizations will allow a unit to be chartered for the only reason that it punches a ticket within their own national organization to be a "quality unit". Our DE has become a close friend of mine and mentioned that he has used this detail to advantage several times.

Put it another way. What if the CO failed to exist? Would the unit continue. No. You would have to find another CO. On the other hand to me its the CO responsibility to ask for accounting information. If required. Since the accounts are not combined and the oversight is not I don't see the GAAP requirement that the unit report.

It's not a BSA R&R issue.

1 light bulb response from a "Junior Forum Member" with just enough posts to make his next post achieve the vaulted "Forum Member" status.

This is more serious then you can imagine. To protect you and your other committee members.

1) Follow the YP guidelines to the letter. If you don't have a copy get one. Contact your council SE TODAY. Follow their advice/instructions.

2) Contact your committee and registered leaders and arrange a meeting. Get it on the record what happened and what steps youre taking to correct the situation. Review the YP guidelines AGAIN!

3) Document what training this individual had. Is he registered? Did he have YP training? Is it current?

3) If charges are filed. (You may or may not be aware if they are.) Notify your SE.

4) Cooperate fully with local law enforcement. But don't go looking for trouble. If the local police want to interview you or anyone on the committee, have an attorney present. Dont fool around. There is nothing logical about the law. It is what it is.

5) Defer any press inquiries to the SE.

6) Document, document, document. If you and other committee members are named in a future civil suit contact an attorney.

Bob White is right, whats done is done. It has seen way too much adult second guessing in what is supposedly a boy led program. A parent cannot add a requirement, a feeling, or second guess what an approved BSA councilor as already signed off on. If it means that much to you then come back as a MB councilor yourself and ensure that the boy does the requirements!!!

How about suspended turkey...roasted over charcol (wrapped in heavy foil) with hardwood mixed in. hummmm. mashed potatos, lit'le squash. and some green beans with beacon. With a berry pie baked in fiol box from a few coals from the turkey...drool.

Akaluga, you have an excellent idea. I hope it takes root. My own First Nation ancestry is well past 1/32 but my family is well aware of our roots...all of them. The OA ceremonies teams that I have seen want to be respectful. They also want to be authentic and good enough to compete with other native dance teams locally.

A guide is a great idea. But it has to also respect the diversity of the area. What is considered normal near the Four Corners area would get strange looks in the Great Lakes.

Here is Michigan we are reminded everyday of the heritage of the First Nation. The city of Pontiac is down the road. I'm in the Ojibwa district. My friends daughter goes to Central Michigan...go Chips! (Chippawa's)One of the state's finest hotel's is owned by the same tribe.

It has generated alot of interest and study by our youth. The annual powwow in Southfield is a three day event that is well attended by all Scouts.

The spiritual and religious aspects of many tribes of the First Nation is very worthly of serious study. I would hope that someday there is some kind of deeper acknowledgement of this aspect of their culture by Scouting.

Second the Day Camp Staff. Specifically Range Officer...too few volunteers...significant training requirements...large responsibility.

However doing the job itself I found immensely satisfying.

Ahh back from another nice weekend in Michigan's north country. Even got a bit of golf in.

jkhny noted on my Google search for "boy scouts and service" having more hits then 4H Boys clubs, etc.... "This reflects CONCERTED Public Relations by BSA. First, your search term "service" is BIG in the BSA phrase book which boosts counts immensely."

If the BSA has a public relations plan I would be shocked. So far this year (up to July) BSA national has issued only 11 press releases. 5 releases in July alone. I think the word I would use is PATHETIC!!! A national service organization like BSA should have something out every day. Use any search term you want. More times then not Scouting has more hits then ANY other national youth program. That is only because of the efforts at the local level.

"Even in local Councils there is a real effort to "market" Scouting. If you help an old lady across the street NOW, our SE wants you to issue a press release."

Oh if it where only true. I'm our District PR and marketing guy, a volunteer. I tell you the real concentration is on the boys (program development and funding to keep it going) Marketing is a distant after thought. It's usually me that is up until 2am faxing releases to the local media. It usually takes about 30 releases to finally get a story. Honestly if your in a big MSA the media really does not care a hoot about the service that the BSA does. Most of the news hits on Scout activity is from small town papers.

"Sorry, but I think your search helps make one of my points. BSA has a focus on IMAGE and puts more effort into that than SUBSTANCE."

Sorry friend but as I pointed out the BSA national has failed miserably about projecting ANY image. The image that the general public is aware of is the same one that has held for almost 100 years and its all established on the local level. If a local council has successfully fostered a relationship with the local media to get one or two stories a month then that is a success.

"In my opinion - and from personal contact - various Boys and Girls Clubs efforts serve "disadvantaged" youth in a very real way, youth who NEED a "program", FAR better than BSA. But they spend far less time on public relations."

Here is an interesting point. The B&G Clubs has 5 Clubs in Detroit. There are 25 packs and troops in Detroit. Each of those Scout units is sponsored by a CO that utilizes the BSA program to serve their youth. Don't fall into the wrong headed trap that BSA national somehow goes into an inter city like a McDonald's franchise. Its the CO that picks BSA to supply the program. Its the CO that serve the youth

Again, even WITH a CONCERTED effort by BSA to project a "positive" image, there is far more negative to offset than there should be.

I disagree. As I pointed out there is very little, if any, image building done by national. BSA national does not seem to respond when they are attacked. There are also very little resources supplied by national that a local council could use to establish a marketing and PR program. We could to a lot better to get the word out about the BSA program and the good works that are generated from that. That being said if you ask someone on the street Does the Boy Scouts of America have a good or bad image? Most will say the program and what it does for the boys is favorable.

Taking a different tack from jkhny I tried the following searches.

Google SEARCH

"boys and girls club" service - 134,000 hits

4h service - 648,000 hits

"boy scouts" service - 929,000 hits

Thus my point is scouting is more visable on many fronts.

If you Google only the NEWS area the results are even more pronounced.

Google NEWS

"boys and girls club" service - 61 hits

4h service - 32 hits

"boy scouts" service - 1,910 hits

Umm I see a trend...and it's positive!!!

Does Big Brothers, 4H, B&G Clubs, Campfire have the same organizational structure as the BSA?

Is it true that just about any group can obtain a charter as long as they agree to the standards of the BSA program?

Does 4H, Boys & Girls Clubs have the same charter structure?