Gone

@@Eagle94-A1, seems council just asked our unit to run the tomahawk and slingshot range for next spring's cub program. Our SM reminded them about 'hawks and CS being a no-no. Seems sling shots are okay. Earth-friendly shot? Dog chow.

Nice to hear. I wish more lodges went local. I think it does them proud to show interest in such things. I get that some tribes might be more interesting than others (regalia-wise), but I would think the lodge would want to be as historically accurate as possible. But I am sure the kids saw cool Buffalo head or massive war bonnet and went that route. Who could blame them?

So I guess they missed the fact that this membership policy was in place back then too, huh? I hope you reminded him of that.

Wow, you like to use specious reasoning don't you. Comments below.

Sad @@Stosh. We had a similar experience with our district after not attending for three years. My ASPL went to an adult "referee" to complain that the scout officials were not being impartial. This adult told him to shut up and get back to his unit or he would disqualify the whole patrol, maybe even the unit (4 patrols)!! At our PLC that night they drafted a note for the district planning group. Very respectfully done. They presented it to the DE who summarily told them, "If they had complaints they (the boys) should plan and run camporee next year or stop complaining." Needless to say, the PLC met the following meeting and elected to go canoeing instead of camporee next year.

@@moosetracker, I suspect your region may be somewhat liberal and support such policies. Nationally I suspect things are much different. As for polls, I find it interesting you throw conservative polls under the bus when an objective person would throw liberal polls under the bus with them. Very telling. I still fail to see this ground swell you speak of. Regionally i suspect that might be true. Nationally I would doubt it takes root. Even non-aligned polls have the country split on the issue.

@@moosetracker, it's a fact that a majority of BSA members polled were against allowing gay scouts. It is also a fact that BSA membership decreased after the vote. It is also a fact that many districts and councils lost more units than they started after the vote. if I recall correctly the decline in BSA numbers was greater after the vote than in years previous. You can say that's happenstance but I don't buy it. I also don't buy that there's some huge ground swell of people who'd suddenly join BSA if gay leaders were allowed in. I have seen nothing concrete to even suggest that's the case. However there is at least one religious group (Church of Christ) that's said they'd gladly support BSA if they went back to their old policy.

So where in this statement does it "go beyond" what I said? ""Governor Abbott directed General Betty to provide regular updates to the Governor’s Office to ensure that Texans’ “safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed†during the eight-week training period from July 2015 – September 2015." If you bothered to read any of the local press -- and not just side with the conservative bashers -- you'd see that the last time the Army (and Marines) used private property they did over $10m in damage, left behind live munitions (one near a state park) and held 10 residents for 24 hours because they drove in a restricted area which the Army failed to secure. All the Texas residents want -- and I am talking about the average ones affected and not the Grassy Knoll nutters -- is to make sure that this stuff does not happen again. There's nothing in the official statements that say ANYTHING loony or conspiracy-minded. I think you guys are reading in to this like NPR is. If this was from the State of NY no one would be questioning the statement. Talk about a tempest in a teapot. It's just fun to bash conservatives, I get that. When they do it they're labelled Nazis or something else. Meh.

Sorry, but according to BSA's own membership stats they are in yet another year of decline. In my district we had seven units lose COs and none of them found new homes. They were integrated with existing units. Council-wide the number was closer to 35. Add to that the continuing drop in membership numbers and you have a bleak picture. I highly doubt those supporting gay leader inclusion would suddenly swell the ranks of scouting to make up that loss. If you have official stats on the national loss of units I'd like to see them. Mine was admittedly hyperbole, but even BSA's own pole on the gay scout issue had those supporting it in a minority position. I don't think it is too much a stretch to say that if they added gay leaders to the mix that 50+% would increase a great deal.

Exactly, hence my previous understanding. As for 'hawks, smaller kids who have the arm strength will always do better....lower center of gravity. I love watching big scouts and adults pling their 'hawks off the target because they try to muscle it in. Our best thrower is a 4' tall 11 year old.

At least three 0's short. They'd lose 70% of their membership if they did that. $50,000? ROFL, now THAT'S out of touch.

@@RememberSchiff is spot on. We built a ceremonial team based on our local Indian tribe's customs, dress, etc. The local lodge is based on relocated Indians from the East, yet they say we are incorrect. Local lodges should do the research and be true to the local tribes to the best degree possible.

I swear. Nothing like NPR and their "journalism". They cobbled together quotes and misquotes from reliable and non-reliable sources to craft up this fictitious piece of garbage. If you read the official state press release, the Texas state resources are monitoring the exercises for any violation of state law since a portion of the exercises are taking place on private land. This was done at the request of the land owners in the event that federal troops damage or otherwise ruin private resources. A third party is required under Texas law to witness and investigate any claim in order for the land owner to be reimbursed. This happens ALL THE TIME in ANY state when private property is used. NPR is doing their usual slam job by making stuff up. Figures.

@@Stosh, it's because of those low flow toilets, otherwise Grandpa might have suffered the same fate.

Our local council did archery, slingshots and tomahawks for webelos. Guess they we violating the matrix.

Depends on the country. The recommendation from the banking industry, State and the travel agent industry is only use a debit card in Europe. Use a CC for everywhere else and always for anything over $100.

I say again, no one who knows anything about international travel would use a debit card for a major purchase. Lighten up Francis.

ROFL. I have to laugh. First, if you use a debit card internationally for a major expense like renting a car you're crazy. Read the fine print. They will charge you a full week or more. NO ONE uses a debit card for large purchases internationally. No one!!! As for domestic use, again, find a bank that doesn't charge those fees or put a hold on your account. They DO exist. I was at the bank yesterday and brought this conversation to my branch manager. They agreed some banks do these things but mine doesn't. They don't allow holds on my funds. Period! Do the research.

Find a bank that does not do that then. You guys make it sound like using debit cards is akin to dancing with the Devil. Most major banks don't do this and have the best protection. Smaller banks tend to have higher fees and put holds on certain amounts if you make a purchase and your balance drops below a threshold. But if you maintain a $1000 minimum most banks waive all that stuff. Don't fear change.

Yes, but Cubs can no longer do archery or tomahawks except at district or council events. There's your trade off.

For services you can stop payment. My bank has an expedited recovery group where you can stop payment and recovery your money. This does not happen very often but only works in the US. For foreign purchases I always use a CC. The debit card is more accepted than a check so there's that. And if lost/stolen you are protected.

Cubs don't have time to do fun work? I think it is more like they don't make time.

We visit the packs. We offer first to help teach a skill related to a badge, loop or pin. We show them we are there to support them BEFORE we ask them to embed a DC in their Dens. Many take us up on the offer and then we have DCs in their pack. I sense we are going off on a tangent related to membership and recruitment so I will stop here.

For the sake of discussion I will disagree with the premise that the CS program is intended for boys that come from such households. The very basis of the program is the relationship with Akela, which is supposed to be primarily the parent. Many of the requirements are centered around working with the parents to discuss family relationships, attitudes and activities on various subjects. I'd argue it is Boy Scouts which is more designed for the group you suggest; those disadvantaged boys who have no father or parents. The whole aspect of "adult association" and de-emphasis of the parent role in Boy Scouts seems to confirm this. Of course, that was the old program. I have not looked at the new program to see what BSA has mucked with.

And yet POOF the universe began? Riiiight. I'll take my "magical" being, thank you.