Oldscout448

thanks for the responses guys, I need some help to stay balanced here. One of the scouts who would be up for election is my son #4. Sons #1 and 2 spent some time on the ceremonies tram, as I was the coach all the bonnets, pipes, bows etc were stored at my house for years. so he has wanted to be a member since he was 5 or so. and it really burns me to have some one who has never been in the OA deny him this. based on what some SMs at summer camp told him (his words) The camp was in a different council by the way. BD, I sadly agree that for most the Order is only a flap and sash. But

thanks for the responses guys, I need some help to stay balanced here. One of the scouts who would be up for election is my son #4. Sons #1 and 2 spent some time on the ceremonies tram, as I was the coach all the bonnets, pipes, bows etc were stored at my house for years. so he has wanted to be a member since he was 5 or so. and it really burns me to have some one who has never been in the OA deny him this. based on what some SMs at summer camp told him (his words) The camp was in a different council by the way. BD, I sadly agree that for most the Order is only a flap and sash. But

PS. I think a rebellion would be somewhat justified in this case,not wise but justified. On one hand some of the best PLs we have would get fired, ( I guess the SM can do that?) on the other hand I believe the scouts to be in the right. and do we not want them to stand up for what they believe in?

Without going into a blow by blow history of the last three years, where OA elections were "next year, then if the PLC votes for them, then next year again, now the SM has decided no elections this year or ever on his watch. seems the Order is "a popularity contest, something that will take the older scouts away from the troop, a clique, all the old excuses ( sigh) I have tried to convince him there fears are unfounded, asked him to talk with the chapter adviser ( who is more than happy to meet with him ) offered to work with the elected scouts to insure they place the troop first. to no avail

Just spent half an hour pecking and it wouldnt post

If your nose is broken and the back of your head is bleeding from apparent slamming on a sidewalk ( or a rock ) then yes I will give your claim of self defense the fairest hearing I can muster.

Mozartbrau- I also did Tap-outs for 5 years as a youth, then served as the ceremony team advisor for the next 2 years, then got back into it again when my son was elected. I have been out for a few years now, but I cannot think of anything I ever read or was told that would forbid a unit level tap/call out. As a youth I must have done over a hundred tapouts at troop COHs,at troop campouts as well as the district camporees. MHO is that the smaller troop level ones were much more meaningful to the scouts,and that's what it's really all about. Oldscout

When I read the first couple of posts I figured that this HAD to be a case of the scout is still wearing his second class rank and the SM is at his wits end trying to get said scout to take some pride in his First Class rank. After all you shouldn't show up for a star BOR wearing only Second Class But a unit patch? a stinking unit patch?? Words fail me. Scoutlike ones a least. As Scouters we give of our time, money (and sometimes sanity) to HELP the Scouts. Not repeat not to throw roadblocks in their way Petty, stupid ones at that The SM sounds like a wannabe DI. Some one nee

So do the eagles who sent their medals back, get them returned?

So do the eagles who sent their medals back, get them returned?

Moose, thanks for the reply, gave me a bit more clarity. I don't know however how I gave the impression you (or anyone else) had to live up to my expectations. and if someone offered me the job of king, I'd turn it down in a heartbeat!

If "morally straight is ones own viewpoint..." and nothing more than why bother to have it in the Oath at all? If you or I can decide what is right or wrong whenever and wherever we wish... and what is a "personal religion?" one I get to make up? I mean no insult here,just don't understand. Oldscout

Gunpowder and booze should never be mixed. Doesn't shoot and tastes just awful!

Ya know the bayonet mount just puzzles me no end Just how the heck does a small blunt piece of metal near the muzzle make a rifle more dangerous? Anyone? Even assuming the bad guys have a bayonet to mount on it, has anyone ever heard of one being used in a robbery? gang drive by shooting/stabbing? sounds like a solution in search of a problem Oldscout

I attend a big church (2500 or so)according to the people that study such things, that alone makes us a target for the loonies. Here in Maryland CCWs are nearly impossible to get unless your the DAs golfing buddy. So we pay for three or four county police to stand at the doors every Sunday morning. Some in uniform, some not. Nice guys. Some of them have been members of the church for years. And yes they have guns. I wouldn't consider any of them to be morons.

1) the safety of the scouts is paramount! ANY deadly threat (and yes a knife is one) MUST be dealt with not shrugged off or glossed over 2) The zero tolerance policy is sometimes just plain stupid. If I could give you two cases, both real, both witnessed by me,A scout who had lost his totin-chip for previous screw ups, had been faking swallowing his meds. while on a campout. I don't know what set him off but he began screaming and cursing at everyone. Then ran into his tent produced a knife (we had searched his pockets and pack but not his boots),and threatened to stab anyone who cam

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!!! Scouts NEED people like you, the number one reason kids join scouting is to "go out in da woods,hike, swim,light fires, track animals,climb mountains,paddle down rivers, and do cool stuff". We have a lot of scouters nowdays who love their boys,like the program, and put in countless hours to make it click. BUT they were raised in the big city, or the suburbs,and you simply can not learn all of that in a weekend training event My brother and I love to hike. I went the scouting route (Philmont etc.) he went the Outward Bound way. On the rare occasions we hike

I guess I should also make clear that I have no hard data on the percentage of AT hikers, thru or section, that carry. Hikers on the trail have got to be some of the nicest,most helpful people I've ever met. I have never asked any one male or female if they were armed. You just get to talking at the shelters. The ones that did carry seemed just as nice as everyone else. One thru hiked told me he carried a small 22 from Springer to the south end of the blue ridge then decided he didn't need it and shipped it home. He was thinking about getting it again when he started the hundred mile

Beavah, thank you for making your position a bit more clear. It just seemed to me that you were lumping me (us) in with the "world gonna end hoarders" Then as I reread my post it seemed I did the same disservice to you Sorry Oldscout

Also knew a scouter who was stationed way up in Alaska years ago. he told me due the the polar bears every time the troop went camping there was always a dad who just "happened" to be hiking and camping nearby at the same site. With a big rifle. Not that he was listed as an ASM for that outing you understand. That would be against scouting policy. Next month some other dad would have the duty.

seems to me that the pro gun side is (mostly) using logic and common sense, and the other side is using emotion. " OMG! someone has a 22? now I'm scared to go camping within a mile of them." OK so that's a little extreme, sorry but come on people, 99.99% of us gun folks are not unstable, zombie fearing, nutjobs. MSNBC and da Beavah to the contrary. a lot of hikers on the AT carry, they do not go waving them about, nor do they fire at noises in the night. In Vermont back in the 80's there were enough roving feral dog packs that hikers of the green mountain state were ENCOURGED to ca

This isn't strictly scouting, but when I was coaching a OA ceremonies team, I gave each scout who had a major part a 1940's quarter. The scouts loved the flying eagle on the reverse side,and were amazed that it was 90% silver. Some of them kept them in a little leather "medicine bag" for years. The 12 quarters cost me about 30 bucks each Ordeal. The look on the scouts faces was as they say- priceless. Oldscout

This isn't strictly scouting, but when I was coaching a OA ceremonies team, I gave each scout who had a major part a 1940's quarter. The scouts loved the flying eagle on the reverse side,and were amazed that it was 90% silver. Some of them kept them in a little leather "medicine bag" for years. The 12 quarters cost me about 30 bucks each Ordeal. The look on the scouts faces was as they say- priceless. Oldscout

I was hiking a 50 miler on the A trail when I saw my first backpacking stove, in '72 or '73. Went out and bought one as soon as I got home, been using them ever since. That said I am saddened (used to be shocked) by how many scouts I meet nowdays who simply can not light a fire. Even in hot dry weather and a big box of kitchen matches. I suspect some of them couldn't do it with a quart of lighter fluid! The ability to make a fire any where,any time used to be one of the hallmarks of a woodsman, and there are cases where it has been the difference between life and death. Even if we don't

all this talk of fires, or lack thereof, sparked yet another thing changed. No more hot rocks. When the thermometer got down around the zero mark,we would place football sized rocks all around the fire, at bedtime they were so hot you could barely hold em, a dozen or so in your tent kept you warm (well warmer) all night. Now that tents have floors, I suspect this thick would result in a melted, smoky mess. Old scout