Proud Eagle

This is really a nutty case. So this radical guy goes to a homosexual event and intends to protest/preach then he is confronted by a mob of the homosexuals using whistles and foam. (I wonder how loud those whistles were? Could have a hearing loss related lawsuit in the making...) So the police then asks the group who have been surrounded by another group to move. They refuse. The police arrest them. Do I have that relatively close to correct? There are a few details that are a bit unclear such as: Was this guy interefering with an event that these other p

I seem to remember hearing that ScoutNet only allows a youth to be registered in one Troop. This makes sense in a great many ways. On the other hand, there is no reason a Scout could not someday decide to join a Crew or Ship, or even multiple Crews. After all, since a Venturing Crew can choose its primary focus, it would be possible to be in multiple Crews without repeating stuff. However, one Boy Scout Troop (at a time) should be able to deliver the promise of Scouting. If the unit is not doing that, then that unit is failing its members. Now, if someone who is a member of

In fact, wearing either sash on the belt is prohibited. The only way to wear either an OA or a merit badge sash is over the right shoulder. Only one or the other, never both, may be worn. Many people seem to think that hanging something on your belt isn't wearing it. However, the BSA thinks it is.

I must say I agree with a good portion of what has been said here. Back in the summer of 2003 I taught Pioneering to most of the guys in my troop. Most of the time was spent on knot tying. The guys mostly knew how to tie the basic knots, though they weren't fully comfortable with all of them. However, teaching the pioneering knots was a real chore. I enjoyed doing it mostly because it refreshed me on how to tie them. There was one Scout that could watch you tie a knot and be able to do it blindfolded without any practice. The rest took a bit more work. Well, at the end of summe

Many schools offer many different types of scholarships. Some of them are paid for by private money, others by public money. The key is who is paying. Now, there is a way around this for Maryland, or so it seems to me. They could create a system that gives free tuition to anyone that recieves any number of different types of awards. As long as there are awards on the list available to aethiests I think it would probably fly. I personally have no idea what award there is that an aethiest can earn that is even vaguely like the Eagle, but I am sure there is one out there some place.

Adults should wear the uniform as an example to the youth. If the adults are not going to set the example then who will? If it isn't important for adults why should it be important for youth? Adults should ask the youth to wear the uniform to appropriate events and functions. If you wonder why no one is in uniform it may be because no one asked them to be. Most importanly the adults need to make certaint there is a good scouting program. If there is a good program then as Eamonn says, the uniform will be worn. Put on a good program, set a good example, and encourage good u

Just because supply division sells a book of Eagle COH ceremonies that includes an OA themed COH with the names in it doesn't make it right. I personally thought the OA themed one seemed a bit hoaky to put it mildly. I was the chief of my lodge at the time I recieved my Eagle. I didn't even seriously consider using the OA themed one, in part because of the issue of the principles, but also because it is a COH conducted with my troop, not an event of the lodge. Heck, I don't even like it when people wear an OA sash to a COH unless their is some special reason. Of coarse some people

So, am I the only one that finds it somewhat hypocritical to say that you can represent Scouting at a Scouting fundraiser and drink if you are in civilian cloths but if you put on the uniform you can't drink? So the clothing you are wearing determines what is right and wrong? I though ideals and values and all that should apply both in and out of uniform. If it isn't right to do it in uniform, then anyone who is representing the district/council at such an event shouldn't do it in civilian cloths either. If I go with my troop on a camping trip, it doesn't matter if I wear the uni

I just used this story as the basis for an adviser's minute at a meeting tonight. It went over pretty well. I basically tied it in with that shoot for the moon land among the stars thing. I told the guys if one cub scout can do this, then the members of Scouting's National Honor Society should be able to achieve even greater things.

Eamonn, While I would not be comfortable drinking in uniform in public, I don't know of any place it is technically outlawed, so to speak. I know you can't serve alcohol at an event with youth. I know there is no alcohol allowed on BSA property (I wonder how they handle weddings at such at places they rent out their facilities to the public?). However, I know of no specific provision on drinking while in uniform, off property, in a more or less private setting with other adults. If it is a Scouting function it should not make a difference if he is in uniform. If it is rig

I wonder how they delivered an order that large?

The troop's leadership should consider it their responsibility to explain what the significance of OA and elections are before the election team visit. I would actually say this should be something done during the year, not just 5 min before the election team arrives. It is also the election teams job to explain the election process, including enough background to make a good choice. The troop leaders must assume the OA will do a bad job and the OA must assume the troop leaders are doing a bad job, just to be safe. Besides, it won't hurt anyone to hear it again. Now, as for th

Count nights as actual nights. (Sleeping periods in other words) Count days as something like a program day. For example, you may only get a very short period in on Friday, and may get less than a full day on Sunday. If you put the two together you probably get something like a whole day. Another option would be to follow the national camping award criteria. That defines a day as being a 24 hour period. So a typical weekend trip is probably around 40 hours or so. I think most people would count that as two days since that is what it rounds to.

Many moons ago someone posted a link to a relatively good web page talking about most of BSA's older youth programs, when they were created, what their basic function was, and what they turned into later. If anyone happens to remember that link, or the thread it was in, that would be a good starting point for discussing this.

Who, exactly, did this offend again? I must have missed that part. While many people may not agree with this list, I can't really see any particular reason to be offended. "but the world is full of idiots and probably always will be" That appears to by a more or less true observation. Can anyone site evidence to refute it? I think the idea is that there will always be some idiot saying something stupid and offensive, and just because they are an idiot saying stupid and offensive stuff gives us no right to make them shut up. Sure, the person preaching about putting the wonde

I don't think that I hurled any insults. I did make some observations. I did make some analogies (or is that simile or metaphor? to be quite honest I am too tired to think about that) that expressed my reaction to my observations. I certainly never said anything I would have found insulting. Now I may have been incorrect, or my experiences may be non-representative, or I may have even made incorrect conclusions based on my observations, but I don't think it was insulting. If anyone was insulted, understand that I certainly did not intend it that way. Sorry if anyone's

I should note that a Venture Patrol has almost nothing in common with a Venturing Crew. The program that a Venture Patrol is most closely related to is the Varsity Scout Team. In most respects, a Venture Patrol in a Troop and a Varsity Scout Squad in a Team are nearly identical in terms of program and activities. In fact, most of the Varsity awards can be earned by members of a Venture Patrol. Keep in mind that despite its name, a Varsity Scout Team is not necessarily sports related.

Yah, there was this program full of great ideas and great people. It decided to go out on a wilderness trek. Unfortunately due to lack of focus, direction, proper support, and lack of materials, they didn't really know how to find the way. Now that program and the good people in it are lost in the wilderness. That about sums up what I think has happened with Venturing. We constantly hear that Venturing is NOT SCOUTING, and yet that it is part of the traditional program. So what does that mean? Well, Venturing does have ideals. Those ideals are loosely based on the Scout Oath an

Does any one have a definitive source on wether or not a Crew can alter the BSA Venturing uniform? I understand that a Crew can choose a uniform of its own design, but I was always under the impression that if you chose the "official" uniform you couldn't mix and match. This isn't to say that many Crews don't do it, many do. It may even be the best, most practical option. However, I have yet to see anything which would over-ride the Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America, which clearly states (as reprinted in the insignia guide) Insignia, Uniforms, and Badges Article X, Sec

Someone can correct me if I am wrong but... I thought if a uniform was ever official it still was. So if in the early days Venturing adults had an option, that would seem to indicate they still do. As to the issue of Crews not being older age Troops with girls, I would agree they should not be. However, many are because they are being run by experienced Scouts and Scouters who carry over a good portion of the program. Also, many Crews recruit older youth from Troops by telling them they will do the same activities, have girls, not have younger kids, and still be able to earn th

OK. I checked the Uniform and Isignia Guide 2003-2005. On page 30-Venturing Insignia there is the following: "Shoulder loops, green ribbon, No. 00678, Venturer and Venturing adult, on shoulder epaulets worn on the Venturing spruce green uniform shirt. Not to be worn on Boy Scout khaki uniform." That seems rather clear. However it leaves several questions in my mind. For example, why does the adult uniform inspection sheet mention wearing green loops on the khaki shirt? And could someone correct me if I am wrong, but I remember reading something in Boys Life or S

Adults can receive nominations from one of two sources, depending upon what their primary registration is. If a person's primary registration is with a unit, then they are only eligible for nomination at the unit level. If a person's primary registration is at the district level they may be nominated by the district. All nominees should then be screened by a selection committee and only those who will be able to in some way contribute to the program should be made candidates. Backpacker, I must say I certainly did not say that Venturers don't live up to the ideals of Scouting. They ce

Eamonn, One little correction about Venturing leaders and campaign hats. The adult leaders in the Venturing program may either wear the green shirt/grey pants of the Venturing program or the may wear the tan shirt/green pants of the BSA field uniform with green Venturing shoulder loops. With that uniform the campaign hat would be appropriate. I could be wrong, but can't all adults registered with BSA wear the BSA field uniform (which also happens to be the Boy Scout/Varsity Scout program's uniform)? Oh, EagleInKY, if you remember, let us know if the staff at your camp are

Perhaps allowing local councils to recognize the awards in some way would be a work around for the administrative problems. Or, perhaps BSA could figure out some way of passing on any administrative burdens to that faith community. I don't really know. There has to be some method of providing for recognition of the religious awards of small faiths without bogging BSA down in reviewing the awards of 10,000 little independent churches and such.

As the OA Lodge Adviser, I serve on our council's camping committee. The camping committee, among other things, oversees the operation of the summer camp. I was also asked to attend the last meeting of the summer camp program committee. I was on staff last summer and I intend on returning to staff again. (I would also be applying for Jambo staff, but since Jambo staff week overlaps with summer camp I don't guess that will be possible.) At the recent camp program committee meeting we discussed what the approximate salaries should be for each position. Obviously the actual amou