Gone

One unit here that folded gave back all the down payments before they settled all accounts. The money left over was given to the CO's food bank. The gear was given to another unit and some to a local school who needed gear for their outdoor program. The trailer was sold and the money used to fund a small unit party. There was nothing left over for the district/council.

I would agree it is a shell game. Heck I have seen DEs who literally had no idea that unit funds and gear "belonged" to the CO or the Council. As stated earlier, I have seen a few units in my area switch COs and they took the funds and gear with them. District did not say a word. Of course, district cannot find their own butt without two hands, a flashlight and a GPS receiver. I am sure there are semantics to play out. If the unit folds during the year is the charter still active? What would district/council do if the CO said they will hold the money/gear and they will start up another uni

Wow our state parks have flush toilets and showers. All of them. It's the national parks that are more primitive.

@@RememberSchiff except that in that circular its says in another paragraph that "Your unit “belongs†to your chartered organization, not to your local council." I read that as the CO has right of first refusal on the money and gear.

God : the perfect and all-powerful spirit or being that is worshipped especially by Christians, Jews, and Muslims as the one who created and rules the universe

Before 2013 (1994-2012) the organization averaged 3% year-on-year membership drops. After 2013 the organization has averaged 6-7% year-on-year membership drops. We shall see what 2015 brings. My bet is doubel-digit drops. When my canoe has a hole in it, I don't punch a larger hole in it to make it sink faster. I patch it and get to dry land.

BSA can explain away their use of the word God all they want. The known world describes God as this. So if BSA is going to interpret known, accepted words differently to do their moral gymnastics so they don't tick off the minority interest du jour, then I guess my unit can interpret various words they way we want to too. On that basis then @@CalicoPenn *is* allowed to do what he wants within his unit. This is fun. I'm going to make up all sorts of new definitions to fit my point of view.

The word God means God, not a rock. If the someone does not believe in God (big G) then they cannot fulfill their duty as a Scout. The policy is pretty clear on that. To interpret God = rock is obviously not what is meant or intended.

That's pretty much what I thought. I guess I was expecting two things. First, that the technology was more refined in the 5 years since I purchased mine. Second, that the technology was getting cheaper then 5 years ago. Sadly, neither of those seem to be the case. I guess I will wait, like you, to see what the next gen stuff brings. Thanks!

It's nice to pick and choose what policies we want to follow, isn't it?

That seems to run contrary to BSA membership policies on atheists. So you don't seem to be following BSA policy as required by your charter.

So since you discriminate against no one, you allow atheists?

Because lawyers never argue jurisdiction or which case law (or military law, or canon law) takes precedent, right? When you read his brief on the subject it was not based on emotion or an attempt to cover anything, but based on legal grounds. How many times have we seen DAs or judges make similar decisions based on case law or precedent?

Really? All I heard this past Sunday (and at the meeting Monday night) was how the congregation disagreed with BSA and those pushing for the change and how THEY were the ones not considering the boys, but rather considering a small minority of people instead. Our parish seems behind the unit and am hoping the diocese is too. The plea from the church (I have heard today) has already gone out to the diocese stand firm on our membership position and for the church to support our unit....and not to see this as a chance to pop BSA in the nose.

Paging @@Stosh. If I am not mistaken he is in a similar boat and has not elected an SPL...sticks with mostly the PLs. He tells the story much better.

In looking at all these (good) analyses one thing seems to ring clear: Since I bought my Solio in 2010, the capability of these devices to fully charge your phone directly (rather than charging a secondary battery which will then charge your phone) has not progressed much. The goal of these devices should be 1) lighter weight, 2) less bulk, 3) to provide a full charge, 4) to reduce solar charge time need to achieve #3. Seems in the intervening 5+ years these goals have not been met very well by any of the devices reviewed so far. Would that be accurate?

The Catholic Committee only said Scouting is important. Their statement does nothing to clarify the Church's position on how to go forward. We are seeing that play out in several diocese right now. I would not read it as a confirmation of the local option or acceptance of the BSA policy change.

Figured this was an appropriate point for an on-topic comedic break... http://economicsoftheoffice.com/all/?id=18

We had a similar issue. Every year the PLC asks guys to sign up if they want to pursue this badge and the segments beneath them. If they do any training hikes, camping, etc., as a group (no matter how small) we will "sanction" it as a unit and therefore (from our perspective) it falls under the requirements for the badge. Family-based stuff is a bit harder because you'd have to follow other BSA rules (tour plan, two-deep, WRFA training, other training, etc.) to technically qualify the outings. The patrol-based stuff can easily qualify so we encourage that a bit more.

We will do what we did when they shuffled requirements in 2010. It's a pain in the butt but doable.

But you posted something abhorrent and hateful from a VERY extreme person exposing killing someone. NO ONE here has posted ANYTHING remotely similar about those supporting gay rights. Yours was overkill no matter how much you try to window dress it. The fact you are even trying to defend it with this lame excuse make even more sad.

To give equal credit, here's one new CO coming on line despite those leaving.

Thanks to mods to stepping in and stopping this.

Corn cobs for everyone.

Yes, some on the right are doing that. I support their right to do what they want. Problem is, they seem to be aligned with those who what to totally change BSA and take away my rights. One can be afforded equal protection (gays being allowed in BSA) while still allowing others the ability to exercise their religious beliefs (to have a unit that does not allow gays on religious grounds). The problem is that many of those supporting gay leaders being allowed in BSA don't want to stop. They want to abridge my freedoms and change BSA. The evidence of this approach has been posted e