BDPT00

it sounds to me as though you may have an undiagnosed Scout (or maybe the parents aren't sharing). I agree with giving him a task to do. Experience tells me that he will work better with kids not his own age. He may listen to SPL if he's 2 years older and clearly in charge, or he might do well with some of the newer Scouts. Ask mom. She may be more open about it than dad. Find out what works at home.

BDPT00

To many, the highest 'rank' is Scoutmaster, and that would trump any other position.

BDPT00

Sounds like mom has an axe to grind. Does she want this to happen, or not?! It also sounds like the council is very willing to do what it takes. She's her own worst enemy. Just get 'er done!

BDPT00

I'm finally catching on. I was wondering why I saw all of the "Write something here" posts. Now I know.

The notion that only half could be elected under the old system was/is a very common misconception. One simply needs to read the form and do the math to figure it out (this includes the OP).

People will make up rules regarding adult selections, too. Whatever they come up with won't be spelled out on the form, so don't believe it. There are as many ways to do it as there are ideas.

The most important thing to do regarding elections is to get your teams trained, and to get your troop leaders to trust them and let them do their job. It takes both to make it successful.

BDPT00

Write something here

packsaddle,

You keep asking why someone would leave. Ask that same question of the Eagles who turned in their badges. They were disgusted with the policy. This is no different. Are you seeking an argument? I think it's easy to understand: an organization known for its traditional (conservative/old fashioned) values gives in to public pressure. That's embarrassing, and might cause members to walk.

BDPT00

Why not? Are there any? I don't know, but I wouldn't fear or scorn them. If they share Scoutings values, let's go for it.

BDPT00

It's funny. With all this talk about freedom to assemble/associate, why do some feel it appropriate to chastise the AHG. Their organization started because it's original members chose to associate with like-minded people ... and they grew. In the process, they and the BSA chose to associate with each other.

Do you feel threatened by them? I sure don't. I like what they stand for, I like their style, and I'm feeling the urge to associate with them.

BDPT00

Here's where I am right now.

Prior to this upcoming weekend, because I'm a member of the BSA I feel labeled as an anti-gay bigot (previous thread here) or homphobic. I am neither.

After this weekend, because I'm a member of the BSA I will be labeled as pro-gay. I'm not that either.

I think that corporations (contributors), chartered orgs, churches, etc might not be interested in supporting an anti-gay organization. I also think that other corporations will not wish to support an organization known to be pro-gay.

The labeling by the press is what's going to damage us the most. We have an image or branding issue (always have). The name calling does us no good, especially when it's from our own people.

I think that some may choose to hang it up, rather than supporting a pro-gay organization. I get that, but it's due to the name calling. Ultimately, I don't think much will change ... just the labels. What caused Eagles to turn in badges will now cause the headache of retro-active Eagle-wannabes trying to get what had been denied. It's going to be a mess. I hope it gets defined quickly and carefully (I think it will). Sure would be nice if this could be handled outside the view of the press, who are chomping at the bit to write a sensational story for the front page. I'm embarrassed by it, but I'll live.

Respectfully, BDPT00

(not pro-gay nor anti-gay, so don't slap a label on me)

Rapture in 1996.

Packsaddle,

That was funny. I fail to see the humor in the OP though.

BDPT00

I've already seen, "What about athiests?" and "What about girls?"

Once there's a crack in the dam ...

Sounds to me like BSA is approaching this with caution, and here we go making all sorts of assumptions. We're ripe for rumors.

I'll wait here.

BDPT00

And here's my issue ...

There are two distinct and opposite viewpoints. Feelings are strong. Just because you might have an opinion different from mine, it doesn't mean I'm wrong. It doesn't mean you're wrong. Accusing an organization for being wrong because they don't share your point of view does nobody any good. It's slinging mud. Doing it in public, directed at an organization you and/or I belong to isn't a worthwhile way to go about leading change. Calling the BSA the last bastion of anti-gay bigotry is a wonderful example of how not to lead change. Find a better way.

BDPT00

The camel's nose wasn't intended to be logic. It's an opinion, and I see it everywhere. If nobody stands up to the movement, there's no end in sight. The labels put on things is are fine example. I don't think it proper that just because I happen to support Scouting, someone would choose to label me as an anti-gay bigot, but that's what I'm reading here. The last bastion? Does that mean that people who share my values should gather in the Alamo to await the final outcome? Just because the movement is strong doesn't cause me to change my opinion. I don't feel a need to join in at the moment. Will my opinion change? Maybe, but don't force it on me.

BDPT00

This is exactly what moving to the middle looks like. Time to change... It's OK... No big deal. Let's just go along to get along. Don't worry about standards. Just make sure we try in every way to not offend somebody. Pick a group. Let's find a way not to offend them. Then find another group. Let's eliminate a Law or two, just in case they may offend someone. Our 100 year old Oath is probably too strongly stated. Let's change that too. Let's ask everybody else what we should or should not stand for. It's OK. Not a big deal.

BDPT00

I didn't mean the entire contingent. I meant only the Venturing part of it.

BDPT00

I think that the potential weakness of the Republican Party and the BSA (if that's what we're trying to compare here) is a willingness to compromise values. The strength of the Democratic Party is a willingness to promise more than can be delivered, and the hope of those willing to listen to believe those promises. I don't know if it's fair to try to make a comparison because while the Republican Party tends to move toward the middle to get votes (mistake?), the BSA is attempting to stand firm. Many don't like that ... many others do. Our society is at war with itself, and I fear we're all going to lose.

BDPT00

Agreed.

Well said.

BDPT00

I wonder what the girl/boy ratio is. 8 to 1 in our council, so far.

No direction yet from national on how they should organize themselves. Crews are generally not used to 40 people in the same unit.

BDPT00

Eagle92,

What I meant was that nobody had said anything about rainman being in college. He's 18. That's all we know. Might still be in high school. 92U has nothing to do with it.

BDPT00

Thank you, sheldonsmom.

Finally the voice of someone with actual experience. Everybody else is just running scared with speculation.

BDPT00

"Far as the pregnancy thing......Just what the BSA camps need is a bunch of girls running around it. The boys are entirely different animals when the gals aren't around......"

*** What did I just miss there? Does this have something to do with GS or AHG?

BDPT00

We sure did, but we never saw any blood or flying body parts, and we didn't have a reset button so we could do it all over again. You crash or die ... no big deal ... just reset. Next time, find a meaner way to kill the other guy. If you get a really messy one, show it to your friends.

Sounds like perfectly innocent fun for 3rd graders to me.

BDPT00

"I bet the AHG don't have as liberal a view on scout pregnancy as the GSUSA does."

Neither do I. So?

BDPT00

How did college get into the mix? The issue is age (under-age).

The answer is clear and simple. So are the suggestions (except those implying that rules don't apply to certain people).

If someone is trying to fill an empty slot on paper (for JTE?), it won't work anyway.

BDPT00

Sounds great.

Have fun with it.

BDPT00