Papadaddy

I agree, zero tolerance. Bringing a joint is one thing, but trying to "share" with other boys is another. I'm not an attorney, so I won't comment on what liability there is for a parent or leader who has knowledge but does nothing.

Not sure how this could have been prevented. Thankful for a good outcome.

Now that I've "retired" from unit scouting, one of my greatest rewards is watching "my boys" grow up into productive young men. I am "friends" with most of them on facebook, and they still send me messages and we spar back and forth. One is now a Plebe at the Naval Academy and his brother is one year behind him. Others are making their way through college, or chose to go the "blue collar" route and are starting families of their own (not always on purpose!). Two other brothers are in the Service as enlisted men and I enjoy seeing pictures of their experiences as they progress up the ranks.

I have met the "District" and "Council", and they is us.

I would spend it down before your CO wakes up and decides you have too much. Camperships for all. Woodbadge for all adult Scouters. New tents. A high adventure trip. Maybe see if there's a Scoutreach unit and buy them uniforms and camping gear. Do you use the unit budget plan? You should plan for income=expenses with a small reserve fund. Your expenses can be whatever you want...as long as the income covers it.

Prayers offered up for his family and scouts. He is already in Heaven and doesn't need our help. The hand of God was surely protecting those scouts that day. I think we need a new forum topic for "Prayer Requests". Couldn't hurt...

The Judge speaks wisdom. I would base my actions on what I or my son personally observe, not on hearsay.

More square knots! WOO HOO!

I don't have the rules in front of me, but I seem to remember that "maintenance" projects are not permitted. It's up to your District advancement committee to interpret that, and he cannot begin until they approve the concept.

I agree with Abel. I would be pissed that we were USED in order to make the DE look good and make his/her "numbers". We did not display the ribbon nor did we buy the patches for the scouts, because we did not earn them. And complaining to the SE is ludicrous...they are probably in on it.

If the camp standard says "disabled or other individuals", that pretty much opens it up to anyone. The camp I attended for 30+ years doesn't allow them, AFAIK, except for those with a medical reason. WHat they do allow is the use of personal vehicles for adult staff to get from their cabins to program areas to the dining hall, etc. It was annoying having to get out of their way, and the dust issue was also annoying. UNit scouters are required to keep their vehicles in the parking lot, unless leaving camp. We did have a camp medic a few years ago who used one...but he was about 400 lbs.

Who wants pi?

I had a scout like that in my troop. Came in as a Webelos crossover and he was 15 before he made second class. He's now an Eagle Scout and a freshman in college. It can be done, with patient instructors, peer support and determination. I agree...every scout should know how to swim.

Happened to us...we did not participate in the Centennial QU Award because all of our boys were Eagling/aging out and we did not intend on reregistering the troop (the DE was aware of this). Got the ribbon/patch anyway.

Well, in our council-run scout shop, the manager has assembled a uniform on a hanger with all the patches in their proper place. The parent can refer to it as they are shopping...all they have to know is unit number, den number or patrol name. Just as in any store, the goal is to keep the customers happy, not to remind them how ignorant they are.

I've never felt like an orphan. I hold my parents in my heart and the speak to (and through!) me every day. Sometimes I say something and my wife will look at me and say, "OK, Bob". Bob was my dad. There's a message for your stepson. His dad is not "gone". He will be with him and guide him the rest of his life. You are just there to help.

One other thing for those who know someone who lost a loved one. Don't say "if you need anything, let me know". They will never call you. Do a little homework and find out what needs to be done...and just do it. Cut the grass, take a meal, take the kids to scout meetings, show up to sit with an elder or child to give them a break...even if all they do is retreat to their room for some uninterrupted quiet time. Or just go and sit and hold their hand...no words are necessary. Speaking from experience, the most lonely time is after the relatives have gone home and the food is all gone, and

In an effort to be "fair and balanced", it has since been reported that removing the adult diaper from the elderly cancer patient so that TSA could inspect it was actually the daughter's idea. She just wanted to do anything to speed up the process so that Mom didn't miss her plane and cause more stress. The sad thing is that Mom was ever put in that position to begin with.

I've had three scouts lose a parent during my tenure with the troop. One dad went from being a strapping 6'4" 260 lbs to a shell of a man in months with pancreatic cancer. Another's mom (of two scouts) fought a hard battle against breast cancer for eight years. Neither one was easy. As a troop, we tried to provide as "normal" an environment as possible...a place where they could depend on people who were supporting and loving and not treat them "different". Everyone grieves differently and at different rates. Nothing can heal the pain but time. I myself lost both parents in 1995, 6 mont

I have a Master's in Public Health and have to agree with Fscouter. Gastrointestinal illness is more often due to poor personal hygiene or food handling technique such as not being held at proper temperature after preparation or cross contamination. THere's also the possibility of a virus, such as cruise ships experience with norovirus. I generally ignore expiration dates, except for milk, eggs and fresh meats, while my wife will throw stuff out the day it "expires". Pharmaceuticals, however are a different story. That being said, for the prices most camps and Philmont charge their custom

Hit and run. Being somewhat of a "subject matter expert" in nanomaterials and their toxicology, I fail to see the connection. And he is correct...military items are not controlled, except to those who can legally enter a military exchange (or buy them on Ebay). But wearing an Admiral's shoulder boards to impersonate somethine you are not will land you in jail.(This message has been edited by papadaddy)

My first thought was Youth Protection. Not much privacy under a tarp.

Why couldn't the troop advancement chair merely check his records (Troopmaster) to verify that the scout had earned the badge? Next time check Ebay. You can usually find anything you need there, including restricted items. Oh...and find another troop.

Simple psychology...display the behavior you want to see imitated. My biggest pet peeve...as a District rep on Eagle boards, I can't tell you how many boards I've been on where a committee member will show up in shorts, t-shirt and flip flops.

I'll never forget my original SM fundamentals training. The esteemed Scouter (who passed 2 years ago) met us after lunch wearing a "half uniform"...sliced down the middle (midsagittal plane, for you biologists). THe right half was a perfect official scout uniform, complete with 7 rows of earned square knots, and the left half was a plaid flannel shirt and blue jeans. A seamstress friend of his made it up for him. His point...if "half a uniform is ok, it doesn't matter how you slice it". Everyone agreed it looked ridiculous. Point taken. At the next session, I had my scout pants on.