Bando

OGE, perhaps I worded that wrong. You're correct in the fact that the local option would not require anybody to do anything except for CO's to choose what's best for their own units. My point is that even the availability of a local option for gay leadership would likely cause a mass exodus of LDS units. And if a gay-free BSA is more important to LDS (or any other CO) than just saying no to the option, keeping their units as-is, and letting other CO's make the decision for themselves, well, that probably says more about their dedication to the Scouting movement than anything else.

"However, since the people at making such big changes at the national level is the National Board of Directors which is made up of individuals and organizations who believe in the current values of the BSA. I doubt such a change as the so called "local option" is going to happen any time soon. " And who is on the National Board of Directors? More than a few LDS folks. "Speaking for myself. If the "local option" does happen. This Scouter will be among the many who will leave the organization. If that makes me bias, so be it. " I've never understood this sentiment. At all. Are

Our SPL routinely attends the committee meeting every month, and gives a short, informal report if he actually has anything he wants to discus. It's a great way for the adults and a representative of the youth leadership to get on the same page, share thoughts, etc. No need to be rigid or overly demanding.

The 800-pound gorilla in the room isn't that LDS constitutes such a large proportion of the BSA, but rather, the fact that their large presence has forced the BSA to take hard-line policies on a number of issues. Does James Dale happen if the BSA isn't afraid the Mormons will pack up and go home? Who's really afraid of "avowed homosexuals?" For me, that's the biggest issue I have with LDS involvement with Scouting. The attitude Gary has taken in this thread, "We have the largest number of Scouts, so why -shouldn't- it be our way?", seems to be directly in line with this. I r

Our local council shop put all of their neckers on clearance sale last month. Sweeping change appears to be on the horizon.

I'd love to wear a campaign hat, but in my unit, that's a "Scoutmaster Only" item. Usually I just go hatless. When I do sport a hat on a campout (outside of uniform), it's usually a standard baseball hat from my alma mater.

I've been asked to help teach Environmental Science Merit Badge by another ASM in our troop. The new session of merit badge classes start tonight, and I'm a little freaked out. I'm not a scientist, and while I do know a lot of the subject matter here from coursework in high school and college, I don't know it at a deep enough level (read: avocation/profession) to feel like I'm going to be particularly effective. Now, I don't want to turn this into a debate over whether or not merit badge classes are appropriate in a troop meeting setting or any of that kind of thing, as that's been deb

We have an enterprising young scout in our troop who spends his free time making woggles. Seldom found without his wooden dowel and a bunch of colored cord. Sells 'em for a buck in pretty much any color combination you can think of. And they're GREAT woggles. Maybe one of your boys could do the same, and spread the knowledge on to his friends. Or make it into a skill session or something. Everyone makes their own woggle. Then the boys make more and more and more and take some pride and ownership in their slides.

"Why on earth do you need a nametag? Don't the people in your troop know who you are?" As someone who is bad with names, and is a relatively new scouter to my troop, it's quite nice to be able to have a little reminder of a scout's name when i'm working with him. And definitely helpful for the boys to keep track of a lot of adults that tend to blend together. Then again, I'm also in a troop of 100 scouts and about 70 leaders, so yes, we do need a name tag.

When I was a Scout (mid 90's-early 00's), it was right at the advent of everyone having a Discman, the Game Boy thing, etc. etc., our troop had a no-electronics rule, except on long trips where 10 hours a day in a car without giving us the benefit of an N64 and some CD's would have likely caused all to go insane. That rule would be suspended once we entered a National Park, when we left said car, or any other time the adult leaders wanted us to pay attention to something. It worked. We all had fun, we all learned and saw and enjoyed ourselves, and it was never a problem. Regular campouts,

Nothing looks better on a campout than to stand back from the site and see sharp lines of evenly-spaced, identical tents. I've never been a fan of the rag-tag, randomly placed, non-matching village of dome tents. Then again, as long as the boys are having fun and learning something, it doesn't really matter, does it?

Option C: Fold the collar into the shirt. Really, it's the only way to do it.

As a youth, my troop had about 100 scouts when I joined. By my 3rd year, it had exploded to about 120. Yes. 120. And there were indications there would have been close to 150 with the incoming new scouts (as I recall). It was getting very, very difficult, so we started putting restrictions and criteria for incoming scouts. It got a bit contentious, some feelings were getting hurt, and it ended up hurting us. A spinoff troop was started to alleviate the whole thing, and they ended up having close to 100 at times, too. Both troops now number a little under a hundred, and both have 60+ ad

My brother in law, his brother, and my dad all got postcards. For whatever reason, I didn't. I seem to remember getting one a few years back, but not this time around.

I've been having problems with my registration for Youth Staff. Sounds like my paperwork is stuck in a logjam somewhere between the Council and Nationals. Kind of surprised at how difficult it's been to get anywhere with it.

Seems to me to be a bit excessive. Kid gets lost on the way to a meeting with a merit badge counselor. Pulls out his cell phone, calls the counselor. What's the person supposed to do, not pick up because there's not a third person on the line? That's just one example of how out of hand one could get with this. Two-deep leadership, as I understand it, is a safeguard against physical abuse. It strikes me that this policy is sufficient to keep a scout safe, even if a phone or email conversation were to attempt to set up an improper situation.

I'd second checking with the Detroit Scout Shop. Seems like a no-brainer they'd have one with Hamtramck within Detroit's borders. I missed out on my Paczki this year. :\