purcelce

I've played ultimate Frisbee and touch football several times with the youth. Heck many times they have dragged me out of my chair to play. Best UF game was at summer camp this past year. I was the Aquatics Director. One of the troops that I work with had challenged the staff to a friendly game of UF. Staff was pumped that they would defeat the poor troop with younger scouts and old adults. I worked a little deal with the Troop. We had about two days of friendly "trash talking" between the T6 and the staff. I was the one of the ring leaders on busting the chops of the adult leaders in T6 saying that we would need the camp nurse, Geritol and other senior citizen paraphernalia to help out these older gentlemen. One of the staff members came up with this idea. On the day of the big event, I wore a superman cape and my Class A's. The staff carried me out on their shoulders and we were getting pumped and letting T6 that they were going down. The ref was the SM of T6 and I started bumping him like a baseball manager giving an umpire a bad time for a rotten call. After a few words with the Ref, I turned to the staff and yelled, "I've had to put up with you guys for three weeks and I've had it up to here." I tore off my cape and uniform shirt. The Tee shirt that I had on was a T6 shirt, and I defected to the poor Troop's team. The youth in T6 started clapping and their spirits really sored as the staff looked dumbfounded. The game started and I was playing for T6. We had a blast. The staff was mad, but T6 loved me.

cash, cash, cash. Just kiddin' folks. But I've never turned down cash The thing I want for Christmas is that my family stays healthy and happy. I've got everything I need. Also hope that those who are in need find or get what they need. Merry Christmas (Jesus is the reason for the season)

IMHO there are several alternatives to Philmont all across the country. Within 3 hours of my area there are quite a few backpacking trails that you can go out for longer than a typical weekend. Do a little research and I'm sure you can find several places to go that would be on the same high adventure level as Philmont.

Troops at Scott AFB are going the same route as the TAC folks. No interruption in the program, which was my main concern. In my opinion they can take the lawsuit and stuff it also. BSA will continue stronger than ever.

I got my Eagle in Paducah. Born and raised in Kentucky, now I'm in Illinois. People usually say that I talk different, I just them they are the ones who talk funny.

I use Velcro. Heck I even put Velcro on the unit number so it can come off when I'm a UC. Don't sweat the small stuff. The uniform nazis ain't going to put you in front of a firing squad. Sure wear the uniform correctly, but the main thing is that you're going a great job helping out the youth in a great organization. Remember we're in this for the boys, not self glory.

OA was one of the major reasons for me to stay in Scouts as a youth. My first summer camp experience with the OA was a Tap Out. I can still feel the drum beat,The older Scouts dressed in regalia spreading an awe over the camp. I actually hold my Vigil Honor (that I got as a youth), in higher esteem than my Eagle, due to the fact that Vigil is bestowed on you and something you can't earn.

Colleges Can Bar Military Recruiters Associated Press November 30, 2004 PHILADELPHIA - A federal appeals court on Monday barred the Defense Department from withholding funds from colleges and universities that deny access to military recruiters. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a decade-old federal law which allows withholding the funds infringes on the free speech rights of schools that wish to limit on-campus recruiting in response to the military's ban on homosexuals. Ruling in a lawsuit brought by a coalition of more than a dozen law schools, a three-judge panel said the government's threat to withhold funding amounted to compelling the schools to take part in speech they didn't agree with. "The Solomon Amendment requires law schools to express a message that is incompatible with their educational objectives," the court wrote. By a 2-1 vote, the panel overturned an earlier decision by a federal judge that those challenging the law were unlikely to prevail at trial. The ruling affects all institutions of higher learning, but the case revolved around law schools because most had developed policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Monday's ruling represented the first time a court has barred the government from enforcing the law. The Justice Department, which represented the government in the case, said it was reviewing its appeal options. "The United States continues to believe that the Solomon Amendment is constitutional," the agency said in a statement. One judge on the panel wrote a stinging dissent, saying he was disturbed that law schools would ignore the consequences that a recruiting ban would have on the military's ability to compete with law firms for young talent. "They obviously do not desire that our men and women in the armed services, all members of a closed society, obtain optimum justice in military courts with the best-trained lawyers and judges," Judge Ruggero John Aldisert said. He said he disagreed with plaintiffs who argued that the schools were being asked to violate their own anti-discrimination policies by welcoming recruiters who won't take openly gay men and women. The two-judge majority based its decision in part on an earlier Supreme Court ruling that the Boy Scouts of America could bar homosexuals from becoming scouts or troop leaders. The court reasoned that if the Boy Scouts could legally reject gays because it had a core belief that homosexuality is illegitimate behavior, then other institutions could impose an opposite type of restriction if it had a core value that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is wrong.

As a Youth it was SPL and Lodge Vice Chief. As an adult it's Venturing Crew Advisor, I worked with most of these guys at summer camp this year and they are a blast. ASM is a very close 2nd.

I think I would volunteer my services to my church youth groups.

I think I would volunteer my services to my church youth groups.

mwbarton wrote: Cool. I was in the first year camper program in 1984. I attended again is 1986. It's always far to find those "small world" situations. I was on staff at a part of the First year camper program back in 1984. I think there were three of us on FYCP staff. I was the one from Paducah. The other two were from Indiana. One of the best stunts I pulled that year was when I lead the team that used the camp cannon to over take the nature lodge.

My goof...should have been 1981 instead of 1881. Hey Manyirons I thought you were born in 1881

Camp Joy - Okaw Valley Council Illinois. In my opinion it had one of the best Aquatics program in 2004. (Hops quit smiling) The camp is small and that makes it special. I spoke to all of the out of council troops that went to Joy this past summer and they all gave it a thumbs up. Program Director this past year was by far one best I've seen. Other camps I would recommend: Camp Roy C Manchester - Shawnee Trails Council Ky Camp Drake - Prarielands Council IL. Any of the Greater St Louis Area Council Camps.

I have friends in Shawnee Trails and have been told that Camp RCM is still up and running. I think the plan was for the Council to has some timber harvested from one of their other camps to help with the finances. But as far as I know RCM will be open in 2005. side note. I grew up at RCM. When I first went to camp there it was know as Four Rivers Scout Reservation. I think they change the name of the camp in 1979-80. I was a staff member in 1881 82 and 84.

keep same design but make a few bucks cheaper.

Amen Hops! Now some good news. Venture Crew 805 will be marching in the Vet's Day Parade and helping out at the VFW afterwards.

amen....and amen.

My polling place was the club house of my townhouse community. There were no people telling me who to vote for. Around these parts "the people who tell you who to vote for" have to stay at least 100 feet away. As I stated didn't see any those folks. There was a decent line at 830 when I showed up. I was told at 600 there was a line a mile long. I only had to wait about 30 minutes before I made my mark. Only thing that got my goat was nobody was asking for any ID. Kind of disappointed since I had my voter registration card, driver's license and military retiree card out and ready to be checked.

I've brought my kids (ages 2 and 6) to summer camp while I was working on staff. They didn't participate in any of the Scouts activities. Camp Director and Program Directors had no problems with it. Heck the Scouts loved them. I had to make sure that some Staff members wouldn't "kidnap" them. Scouting is a family affair. As long as the younger kids are not causing any interference to the Scouting Program, and it's ok with the Unit's Adult leadership. Then I say bring them along. Just my 2 cents.

Contact your DE. I did, and we got a new one started.

I'm with 2cub on this one.

Scout Teach, Who is your charter organization? The Charter organization is the group that selects the adult leaders for the Scout unit. Have you contacted the local Council office for help. Your scaring me a little, parking outside a school and taking pictures is not "normal" in my book.

Hi Merlyn!

Hey ManyIrons, You call what we did this past weekend camping? To me it was more like freezing. Only in the Midwest will it be nice and warm in the day, then the temp drop 40 degrees in two hours once the sun goes down. Enough of the sarcasm. Hope you had fun at the conclave, I sure did! I would go with something like "God Bless the USA" that has been suggested, or with "Stand By Me".