Proud Eagle

When I went through SM/ASM specific training the weekend before last, there was a lively discussion between a few of those in attendance (including one of the trainers) about distinctive unit patches. Two people from different troops were wearing such unit patches. They were in the same location and of the same size as the region patches, worn on the right sleeve. It was the first I had ever heard of such a thing. It may be common here in the metro area, I don't know. Another odd thing, one of the ASMs from one troop mentioned having to earn their troop neckerchief by demonstrating certai

I am going to have to agree with Bob White and FOG on this issue. I think it would be nice if every Scout at least had the option of experiencing Scouting through a program tailored to the needs and wants of their faith. That doesn't mean I want every Scout unit to be a religious ministry, but there would be nothing wrong with having a multitude of Scouting units that make take full advantage of the opportunity to help Scouts learn about their respective faiths. There is also nothing wrong with a Scouting unit that does not affiliate with any particular creed, sect, or church. Th

Bob White, I could be wrong, but I would think that for-profit company that provides good and/or services to the general public would have a problem if it discriminated against people for being members of the BSA. If they can discriminate against BSA members they can discriminate against Catholics, Republicans, atheists, or ACLU members. Now perhaps a drawing wouldn't qualify as the sort of service that the business is prohibited from discriminating in the provision of, but I would think it is. It really doesn't matter if the BSA engages in legal or illegal discrimination. That is not re

EagleInKY, There are 3 coarses this fall in KY. SR-652 Shawnee Trails, Aug 27-29 and Sept 11-13 SR-649 Blue Grass, Sep 17-19 and Oct 8-10 SR-606 Lincoln Heritage, Sep 24-26 and Oct 8-10 I wouldn't mind going this fall. However, since my fall schedule is highly uncertain and I still haven't finished the current round of training, I am probably go to wait until some other time. Plus I really am not doing much with Scouting now, so it would make completing a ticket somewhat interesting. (On the other hand a year when a person isn't busy with Scouting stuff would have some advan

This would really depend on under what circumstances this backpack is being given away. If it is just an individual getting rid or old equipment, I would say that is totally their option. You could always try to convince them the good done is greater than the harm. You could also make the argument that what groups you or anyone else is a member of are of no consequence. You should ask rhetorically if he is checking the religious and political affiliations of everyone else involved. Then you should let him know that these boys will be using the backpack (if they receive it) for X, Y, and Z

Bob White, When I said normally I had in mind the fact that some time back during one of these legal/financial arguments it was determined that in at least one state the state's laws were such that BSA units were, at least in certain cases, legally separate from the charter organization. I don't remember who it was that made the point or what state it was, but no one managed to refute it at the time. OK. Now on to the fun stuff. If the BSA unit and the charter organization are legally and financially the same, that would mean several things. The most important of these w

OK. Thanks for correcting the record on that. There are times my understanding of rulings (or just my memory of them) is a bit off. Either way the safety issue should be of prime concern.

This is both a legal and an ethical issue. Legally, Scout units (in the USA) are normally part of the charter organization rather than a seperate entity. (There are of coarse places this may not be the case.) That would support the idea that anything that belongs to the unit actually belongs to the charter organization. However, any funds raised by the unit were expected by those paying for goods and services (or donating equipment and supplies) to be used for the original intended purpose. People bought tickets to the pancake breakfast both to get a good meal and to support S

Can a charter organization (assuming it is a cheritable organization) apply for private grant money and other things of that nature on behalf of a Scout unit. As an example, if the group offering the grant requires applications to include the intended use of the grant money, can the charter organization honestly answer that it intends to use the money to purchase equipment for use by its Scout unit? I am guessing that is OK. If it isn't then there are some very serious and, based on my experiences, widespread problems.

If it was purely a matter of ideals, and not perceptions, I would expect to see such a move the next time a left leaning Democrat is elected. However, opposing the BSA would be like opposing the Army, or opposing the Daughters of the American Revolution, or opposing the Catholic Church. It is something politicians might be willing to do on the idealogical level, but they would not do because of how radical such a thing would be perceived as being. It would be sort of like a politician coming out against apple pie, July 4th fireworks, and barbecue. Even if they thought those thing

OK, let me see if I can shed some light on this. OIL CO pays a combined $1.25 to purchase and refine oil to produce unleaded gasoline. The company decides it wants to add a 10% mark-up to the cost. So the company adds .125 to the cost, producing a total of $1.375 to the next entity down the line. Now lets say the cost to OIL CO increases to $1.35 per gallon. OIL CO still wants to keep its 10% mark-up. However, they realize if they pass on the full increase in costs and the increased mark-up to the consumer, they will lose enough sales to impact profits. (There is usually som

Generally speaking, my understanding is that ADA only applies to public accommodations. Part of the basis for the Dale ruling was that BSA wasn't a place of public accommodation, as I understand it. Therefore there is little in the way of a legal argument on this issue. Also, there is one very strong argument you could make. The safety of the group is a greater concern than allowing any one person to go. If the individual can not be relied upon to do what is required when it is required, that could jeopardize the safety of the entire crew, under certain circumstances. It would defini

There is a large group of Scouts/Scouters (an entire troop I think) that still wears the old uniform around here. They search long and hard to find replacement parts and patches, but they somehow manage to do it. So some people still haven't made the switch. I never have really figured out what that is all about. I guess they must not like the current uniform very much.

Internal Revenue Service

I just hope your council doesn't go the route of mine. All those wishing the SE would leave/be kicked out got their wish. Unfortunately a certain goverment agency with a 3 letter abreviation was at least indirectly involved, so say my relatively reliable sources. irs

There have been a series of pretty good unit elections videos produced nationally. They are updated every few years, and some prefer one of the older ones over the current one, but I think they are all pretty good. It isn't unusually for several versions to be in circulation at once. Normally these videos are copied with the unit election team training video on the same tape. Some lodges also produce their own unit election videos. I haven't ever seen any of these, but I have heard some are good. Many lodges also distribute camp promotion videos. I think the videos can be f

I for one was very disappointed in the video. I wanted something that was like a mini-documentary on the Jamborree. Perhaps a video scrap book if you will. What I got was a cheesy promo video that didn't really do a very good job of showing what it was like to be there. It also left out most of the things I most wished I had a video of to remember things by. I heard that the shows staff put together a video of their own that is superior to the official one.

I attended our council's spring camporree this weekend. It was a very good (not quite great) weekend. It was also the first troop camping trip for many in my troop. 7 of the new scouts and 2 of our experienced Scouts attended. For adult leadership we had the SM, an ASM (me), and one of the new boy's parents each night. The trip was relatively successful. The acting SPL (our Troop Guide/Instructor) did a very good job keeping things together. Tent set up went nicely, even though it was done in the dark without prior practice. (It went so smoothly I had time to eat a 3 piece fish dinner

I have sometimes thought about the possibility of becoming a professional Scouter. It is one of the possibilities I keep in mind. I know I want to do something that involves the greater good or serving others. I also know I should make use of the leadership skills that I have. I don't think I would make a very good priest. I don't think I have the patience to be a school teacher. Politics is a very risky choice of a career. I am not really certain I would be the best choice for a military officer. Everyone also says to find something you like to do for a career. Well, I love Scout

recipes? there are recipes for campfire and Scout cooking? That just takes all the fun out of it. There wouldn't be any more chicken surprise if we all followed recipes. There would be no more super-atomic-green-funk-dutch-oven-chili (don't ask). There would be know more contests to name the now unidentifiable food we just cooked. My suggestion is to come up with something you want to make, and try and make it. If you put good stuff into good cookware and use good common sense methods of preparation you will get something good out of it. You may not get what you wanted, but

In my unit ASMs don't currently seem to have any real assigned function, other than just helping out when and how they are able. They are sometimes assigned tasks related to specific activities, such as coordinating some part of the planning for an upcoming trip, but very rarely is there any permanent duty assigned. I personally think this is not a good thing. Unfortunately, those that we have as ASMs (that includes me) are not always available for every meeting and every campout (in fact I think my attendence is about par for the coarse for ASMs, and that isn't too good since I go to s

I am glad to hear he is going. It is a great opportunity. Everyone I know that has gone (and I know quite a few people that have) highly reccommends it. Those that I know that have gone are among the most capable leaders I know of in the Order. I also know I regret not having gone. I recieved an invitation while I was lodge chief, but did not attend. Maybe someday I will get that opportunity again. You can find more information on NLS at the OA webpage: http://www.oa-bsa.org/programs/nls/

I love a Rumsfeld press conference.

If we are going with fictional characters, I would say the kid from the books "Hatchet" and its sequel ("The River", I think) would make the ultimate wilderness survival instructor. Now for a Scoutmaster, I am going to go the sci-fi route. I would have to say Luke Skywalker would make a darn good SM. Now the other major sci-fi franchise, would present a few problems. Despite the obvious leadership qualities of the various captains of the various Enterprises, there is a major question about faith, and of coarse the quote from ST II about the one thing Kirk never was was a Boy Scout.

This isn't directly on topic, but I wanted to express some indirectly related thoughts that don't really warrant a separate thread. This thread is somewhat interesting to me. There is a kid in my home troop that is, depending on who you ask and when (I think part of this is from the parents not being entirely forward about it) ADD, ADHD, or autistic. I have only attended one troop meeting since I knew of this. It didn't take long to spot the kid, even though I didn't know which one he was. He never really caused any real problem, though he was somewhat less than totally helpful, but t