Nike

Where's the "steer back to topic" button?

And this too shall pass...

Definitely make contact with Far East. They have an incoming SE who was a DE in TAC. We have lone scouts here in Europe that come to our camps, frequently hooking up with a pack they met at a previous camp. Be aware that the overseas councils generally are subsidized by the DoD and that non-DoD members must pay the Fair Share cost, as mandated by Federal law. This year's FS is $85 in Europe. You might be able to stay with your pack in the States, but then you would have to send all advancement paperwork through them. I'm assuming that your son will attend an international school. You may find a pack there, or at an ex-pat club. If there isn't a pack, you might be able to connect with scouts from other countries and even join their groups. We have several non-American pack/troop members whose parents are here as military liaisons and with local HQs of big trans-nationals.

Somehow I don't think he makes many decisions based on what BSA thinks. How many registered voters do we represent in Ohio? PS: Took him long enough. Must be a nightmare waiting for this guy to choose between the menu and the daily special.(This message has been edited by Nike)

I wanted to make arrows with the WEB 2s this summer and let them shoot those.

I would also encourage you to write a letter explaining the circumstances, your remorse, how you have paid your debt to society, and what you have done to become a productive and upstanding citizen since then. Being up front about these things is always the best option. In the end your COR will have to decide whether to sign and then the council. Good luck!

OGE: While attributed to Socrates via Plato, the origin is disputed since none of Socrates' writings have survived. Even if Socrates didn't actually say it, I bet he (and every other elder for the last 2000 years) thought it.

With the traffic in that area, getting to an outlying district would be a nightmare many nights. So what does the DE say? You are in a grossly underserved area. And, if those troops aren't meeting, are they ghost units or COs who won't give up a charter but also won't really support a unit?

Teach him to sew it on.

Aquarats should be sporting Carolina Blue epaulets. Nobody else has those and they make you real special! Just ask my BIL.

AHG is more in the mold of the sectarian scouting associations you find in Europe, a continent where sectarianism was much, much more strident when Scouting began. The US avoided this sectarianism in large part with the establishment of two large, overwhelming scouting organizations. I believe the way our Scouting was and is organized works for a more tolerant and pluralistic society as we have become. Areas where religion was a flashpoint for violence and social insurrection probably benefitted from a longer road toward ecumenicalism.

Treat them like unit coins. If you don't have a coin in the bar, you're liable for the round when challenged. CMs could also have some hard candy on hand at pack meetings, ande everyone who has their cards get a piece.

Sleeping on coral. Pads are for wimps says my husband. I am a wimp, and he slept like....a rock.

Necker + Giant Collar on Scout Shirt = Sweaty Plus, people want to just about strangle themselves with the darn things, fastening them all the way up like ties. And, over or under? I think they look nice when worn in a sensible fashion.

When GSUSA got its start, Juliette Gordon Low sold her wedding pearls to help inital funding. She recruited wealthy, well-connected, and influential women for her first National Board, which helped the new organization's finances enormously. GSUSA has stood on its own two feet since the beginning, the way Daisy wanted it to. AHG needs to be able to stand on their own with out relying on BSA for so much. It is laughable that an organization for girls and women, which purports to develop leaders, can not develop, organize and fund their own training or conferences. They will not be as strong of an organization if they can always just say, "We'll get that from the Boy Scouts." If BSA is going to allow AHG to participate in training and Philmont conferences, the AHG members, who are there in an AHG capacity, should be doing so at a non-subsidized rate. AHG should also put its books and other written material on the open market. Why restrict purchasing the books to only registered members? Awards, sure. Some people might prefer to check it out quietly without an AHG rep sitting across the table. And, frankly, I'd like to know more of the backstory on why BSA has chosen to partner so closely with AHG. I don't believe for a minute it has anything to do with values and morals, but rather demographics and internal politics and pressure.(This message has been edited by Nike)

When a BOR denies advancement, they have to state in writing what steps the Scout must take in order to advance at his next BOR.

#1 son wanted to go, but will be at Philmont those dates. Any chance NOAC will ever get to a big southern school?

I've thought about it since we'll most likely be home on COT leave. However, being asked to narrow down to three jobs overwelmed me when I saw the huge list. Still considering it.

AHG is hitting the "easy" button by not developing thier own trainings and programming and relying so much on their partnership with the BSA. 1. What happens if there is a significant philosophical change at BSA in the next ten years in regards to the DRP and homosexuality? (No. Not holding my breath.) What happens if BSA withdraws their support of AHG? Will AHG be able to keep going? 2. What happens if BSA decides they want to incorporate AHG officially as the "Girls' Division?" Will AHG accept BSA's DRP, which means any spiritual force, or is the Christian ministry more important than the scouting activities? (I have met an AHG mom who told me that AHG is the girls' side of BSA.) 3. How does it help or hinder BSA if they become more and more identified with an exclusively Christian group? 4. Do we want sectarian Scouting in America? In Europe many countries have Protestant, Catholic, and non-denominational Scouting in balance with their religious distribution. Usually these groups have confederated so that many of them can be WOSM/WAGGGS members and no one has to pick one creed over another. In the States we have avoided sectarian Scouting. Here in Germany, the non-denominational Scouting group is the largest by far, however there are over 150 different scouting organizations belonging to many different international organizations. Only the largest four belong to the Ring and are WOSM/WAGGGS members.

I found this list here: http://www.crventuring.org/Membership/Memorandums_of_Understanding/ Something for everyone, or maybe not. Mostly these seem like groups more likely to charter or support a BSA unit than not. Perhaps it makes it easier for a DE or CO to already have something from the national organization when chartering new units or transferring old ones. Organization & Document 4-H Informal Agreement African Methodist Episcopal Church Memorandum of Mutual Support African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Informal Agreement Alpha Phi Alpha Informal Agreement Alpha Phi Omega Not Online American Appaloosa Horse Association Not Online American Association of School Administrators Letter of Endorsement American Baptist Association Informal Agreement American Baptist Churches in the USA Informal Agreement American Cadet Alliance Memorandum of Mutual Support American Canoe Association Not Online American Heritage Girls Memorandum of Mutual Support American Legion, The Letter of Support American Radio Relay League Memorandum of Understanding American Red Cross Letter of Agreement American Veterans (AMVETS) Memorandum of Mutual Support American White Water Association Informal Agreement Anglican Church Informal Agreement Armenian Apostolic Church of North America Informal Agreement Armenian General Athletic Union (Homenetmen), Western Region Memorandum of Mutual Support Assemblies of God Church Letter of Endorsement Association of Nature Center Administrators In Talks Baha'i Faith Informal Agreement B'nai B'rith Informal Agreement Boys and Girls Clubs of America Informal Agreement Buddhist Churches of America Letter of Endorsement Byzantine Rite Catholic Church Informal Agreement Catholic Church, Roman Letter of Endorsement Catholic Parent Organization, National Informal Agreement Christian and Missionary Alliance Church Informal Agreement Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Memorandu m of Mutual Support Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Memorandum of Mutual Support Church of God Informal Agreement Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints, The Letter of Endorsement Church of the Nazarene Letter of Endorsement Civil Air Patrol Informal Agreement Civitan International Informal Agreement Commemorative Air Force Memorandum of Understanding Community of Christ Letter of Endorsement Congregational Church Informal Agreement Community of Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church Informal Agreement Disabled American Vetrans Letter of Endorsement Eagles, Fraternal Order of (F.O.E.) Informal Agreement Eastern Catholic Associates Letter of Endorsement Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting Letter of Endorsement Elks, Benevolent and Protective Order of (B.P.O.E.) Informal Agreement Episcopal Church Fact Sheet Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Informal Agreement Farm Bureau Federation, American Informal Agreement Federation of Fly Fishermen Not Online Federation of Islamic Associations in the U.S. and Canada Informal Agreement Fencing Associations In Talks First Church of Christ, Scientist Informal Agreement Focus on the Family Letter of Support Forum of Catholic War Veterans of the U.S.A. Informal Agreement General Association of General Baptists Informal Agreement General Commission on United Methodist Men Letter of Endorsement Greek Orthodox Informal Agreement Holy Name Society, National Association of the Informal Agreement Indian Affairs, Association on American Informal Agreement International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians Letter of Support Islamic Society of North America Memorandum of Mutual Support Izaak Walton League of America Informal Agreement Jaycees, United States Informal Agreement Jewish Community Fact Sheet Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. Informal Agreement JROTC, Army Partnership JROTC, Naval Partnership Kiwanis International Informal Agreement Knights of Columbus Memorandum of Mutual Support Knights of Pythias, Fraternal Order of Informal Agreement Lions Clubs International Informal Agreement Lutheran Church Synod Missouri Memorandum of Mutual Support Marine Corps League Informal Agreement Marine Technology Society Memorandum of Understanding Maritime Archaeological and Historical Society Memorandum of Understanding Masonic Order of the Eastern Star, Universal Informal Agreement Members of Churches of Christ for Scouting Reaffirma tion of Support Mennonite Church Informal Agreement Military Order of World Wars Memorandum of Mutual Support Moose International Inc. Informal Agreement Moravian Church in North America Letter of Endorsement Muzzle Loading Associations Not Online National Assembly of Voluntary Health and Scoial Welfare Organizaions Letter of Support National Association for Interpretation Memorandum of Mutual Support National Association for Search & Rescue Memorandum of Understanding National Association of Free Will Baptists Informal Agreement National Association of High School Scholars Memorandum of Understanding National Association of Presbyterian of Scouters Fact Sheet National Baptist Convention of America Informal Agreement National Baptist Convention USA Inc. Informal Agreement National Catholic Committee on Scouting Fact Sheet National Episcopal Scouters Association Memorandum of Mutual Support National Exchange Club Letter of Endorsement National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, Inc. Informal Agreement National Football League In Talks National Future Farmers of America Organization Informal Agreement National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry Letter of Endorsement National Lutheran Association of Scouters Fact Sheet National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Not Online National Pan-hellenic Council Memorandum of Support National Rifle Association Not Online National Shooting Sports Foundation Not Online National Society of High School Scholars Memorandum of Mutual Support Nazarene, Church of the Letter of Endorsement Odd Fellows, Independent Order of Letter of Endorsement Optimist International Letter of Endorsement Original Free Will Baptists Informal Agreement Orthodox Churches Informal Agreement Outdoor Nation Memorandum of Understanding PADI Americas, Inc. Memorandum of Mutual Support Parents Without Partners Informal Agreement Pentecostal Churches Memorandum of Mutual Support Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Letter of Endorsement Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Informal Agreement Primitive Baptist Informal Agreement Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc Memorandum of Mutual Support Reformed Church in America Informal Agreement Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Informal Agreement Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Not Online Rotary International Informal Agreement Roundtable International Informal Agreement Royal Rangers Letter of Support Ruritan National Informal Agreement Safari Club International In Talks Salvation Army Memorandum of Mutual Support Serra International Memorandum of Understanding Sertoma International Informal Agreement Seventh Day Adventists Informal Agreement ShelterBox USA Memorandum of Understanding Sons of the American Revolution Informal Agreement Southern Baptist Convention Letter of Endorsement Sovereign Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Letter of Endorsement Steuben Society of America Informal Agreement The Explorer's Club Not Online Trout Unlimited Memorandum of Mutual Support U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce Informal Agreement Unitarian Universalist Scouters Organization, Inc. Memorandum of Mutual Support United Church of Christ Informal Agreement United Methodist Church In Talks United Pentecostal Church US Canoe & Kayak Association In Talks US Coast Guard Auxilary Memorandum of Agreement US Department of Defense Letter of Endorsement US Department of Housing and Urban Development Letter of Endorsement US Power Squadrons Letter of Endorsement USA Council of Serra International Not Online USA Shooting Associations In Talks VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States) Informal Agreement YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) Informal Agreement YMHA (Young Men's Hebrew Association) Informal Agreement YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association) Informal Agreement Zeta Phi Beta Sorority In Talks Zeta Psi Fraternity Memorandum of Mutual Support

Overkill. Though I might ask Obama why he'd say something like this anywhere there could be a microphone on. Of course, he probably never gets to have any conversations without someone overhearing.

I have neither the time nor inclination to spend this much time and effort with my kids. What isn't happening in these parents' lives that they do this?

It might seem more efficient to combine treasuries, but because the two groups would have separate charters from separate national organizations, you might run into differing finance requirements. Plus, you'll probably have overlap of families, but not a complete overlap. The non-overlapping parents might have qualms about how the money is being distributed. You have that in any group. Would the parish permit this type of arrangement? Would you recommend this type of finance situation to a pack and a troop or crew? If any youth group is going to be successful and grow, it needs to stand on its own. Help them as they spread their wings then stand back and let them fly.

If you aren't meeting every month, and want to, make it a goal to meet more often and perhaps count some big events as pack meetings. We meet in: September--housing and school assignments are usually straightened out by then. October November/December is combined due to so many people splitting for both holidays January February is PWD and B&G March April May--crossover bonfire June--try to do a campout or other activity before school ends and people PCS, go back to the States for the summer, or go on leave July--have a meet up August--another meet up. Most people are back by mid-August, plus we have a ton of new people incoming and completely up in air about housing and school assignment. We have a community wide fair for all our organizations.

I'm sure the majority of AHG leaders and families you meet are perfectly nice people, just like in every other youth organization. As long as AHG is very upfront that they are a Christian ministry first and the evangelization of the girls is thier first priority, I'm fine with them doing thier thing. They do have a community to serve. I just don't like AHG as they present themselves on their website and would not support it. Restricting handbooks to members? That's a little odd to me, though I suppose someone will probably tell me that Boy Scout and Girl Scout books used to be restricted. And I checked: they don't appear to have troops in Europe yet so no getting to know them that way. (This message has been edited by Nike)