qwazse

Can state rules for candidacy be appealed in federal court, or does this have to wait until a judges is disbarred? I don't know much about a state's right to limit the freedom of association of holder's of office.

Out council's University of Scouting program is pretty good. Think day-long roundtable and you get the idea. We also have courses for youth: den chief training, venturing leader skills course, SPL forum. One hint: drop by the Dutch oven class. Sometimes they need help "grading" students.

In general, from Oxford: [h=3]Origin[/h] Old English ilca 'same', of Germanic origin; related to alike. So....

The OP is sparse on background, so it does bring up the question of motive. Lacking details, I'm willing to go with these being hypotheticals a/he has been mulling around. Maybe someone in the unit brought them off or said something had to be a certain way. 'm always of the ilk that if a governing body hasn't specified, I have latitude. BSA intends to ban homosexual leaders, so quarters for same-sex couples or triads or whatever is gaining equal status these days is a non-issue if I'm complying with the membership standard. If I'm not, then why am I worrying about tenting arrangements?

Our Crew's memorial day service project (graveside flags in and urban cemetery) draws LDS units. Haven't seen much of them otherwise. Back in the day we did camporees and service projects together, even had a joint worship service on a Sunday morning. Both my SM and the LDS SM kept track of both of us boys as we graduated.

Yes, yes, SMs don't need to go making up spur-of-the-moment rules. Parents also need to understand that just because "planning to ask forgiveness later instead of asking permission now" may be an efficient strategy many days, it will also backfire some days. This is one. The boy decides to take a MB in one week, calls SM before the holiday, no answer, goes to course, learns stuff (that may save someone's life someday, huzzah), comes back to SM with the "you were too slow" excuse and expects a badge for it. Hear's how I think this went down, really. ('Mom22, feel free to correct.) This course was offered to some older scouts. Mom got wind of it and said to these younger scouts "hey kids here's how we can fast-track your ascent to Star." SM doesn't isn't available, drops the call for 5 days, assumes that any scout who really wants to advance rank in the next week would have talked at the last meeting, whatever! Mom figures she can just assume she has/deserves the go-ahead. That's a lot easier than saying "well, lets just take the course for skills an not worry about patches. If you want to knock off a required MB, why don't we study the requirements for several of them, and you can practice doing them then start the clock once we have a blue card?" The SM and committee react like an old-boy's network. This guy's unwritten rule really goads. But, here's the deal. I've been a look-out at aquatics areas. I've seen a 14-year old guard's immaturity get the better of him and the director come down on him like a hammer. Distraction yields danger. That's the mentality. I've said as much to SM's over the years. I'm sure other guards have said the same, hoping that sinks in. So along comes this 11 year-old jumping the gate wanting to be credited for something a patrol will count on when they set up an impromptu swimming hole. I can see why the SM is coming from. So, Mom22, at your next family reunion, when everyone wants to take a dip in the pond, will you say "Okay, my son's got Lifesaving, everyone listen to him and we're good to go."? If so, then keep pressing for that patch. Otherwise, move on to support your boy for the next MB!

j649, we had this dynamic that didn't settle down until after SM's changed guard. Then the gripers realized that things weren't changing and we didn't care, and they found the door. (Unlike you, we had a core group of adults who still carried their weight.) Son #1 was old enough to pick up on what was happening, and eventually asked me why I put up with his SM. I simply said, "There are a lot of people who will try to sweet-talk you into resenting the sour-pusses. Bottom line: respect who does the work. Anyone else is just blowing smoke."

There's a balance. Depends on the maturity of the boys. For example, we left a pretty open schedule this weekend in case of snow vs. clear nights for star-gazing, etc ... But I made it clear that I would be bringing maps of our community in which they were to plan and make at least one significant hike. They did. (Meanwhile SM and I hiked to a coffee shop and touched based via cell-phone when they asked for guidance on our way back.) Meanwhile one scout realized we were camping next to a girl friend's property, called her, and she asked if they could visit her chicken operation. I told them to clear it with her parents, invite the rest of the patrol, and be sure to invite them back for dinner (which they declined, but it's the thought that counts).

No I think geometric covers it, specifically though, the amount of chaos per body-count is typically hyperbolic rather than exponential. There's an asymptote out there somewhere ... a.k.a. "Shh, the SM's gonna hear us!"

jc143, have you read the Guide to Safe Scouting? From your other two questions, I thought you had, because indeed there are no specific restrictions. But, this one sounds like you've been taught the opposite of national policy. What resources are you using? Maybe we can direct you to better ones.

You've answered your question.

Depends on the tent. Most I've experienced was maybe 24. Growing up, our troop had a "circus" tent donated from the national guard. We'd set it up on winter campouts. (Mainly 'cause it was easiest to move via Klondike sleds.) Like 'HAWK said, geometric curve ... as in bedtime snowball fights (the snowballs on parabolic trajectories, of course )! As far as minimums, I've allowed -8. That is, if a group of boys wanted to sleep under the stars, and only a couple set up a tent or an emergency tarp in case of rain, that was no problem with me. Site clean-up is actually a lot easier because stuff stays in boys' packs rather than splayed all around a tent.

I fondly remember the summer after first grade walking with my cousin (visiting from out-of-town) about a mile to the community park, then dropping by an uncle's bar for a hamburger and soda. Yes my mom was afraid of nearly everything, but she was more worried about what would happen to me if I stayed home when the "adult features" on PBS started coming on.

Would you expect there to be? We're talking about a very loose federation of national organizations. They aren't in a position to issue censures. If I understand the history of world scouting in general, the real impact comes as youth convene at world jamborees then take their discoveries about scouts from other nations home and re-tell them. A truly glacial process in our post-modern age, but then again glaciers are receding more quickly as well too! I think substantive "actions", if there will be any at all, will be in which organizations get invited to world jamborees. For example invitations sent to, the US based Baden Powell Scouting Organization vs Trail Life might indirectly communicate WOSM's sensibilities. (Or it might simply indicate, who knows who in the broader scouting community.) In any case, at the moment we can't even expect to have tea leaves to read.

JG172, although I respect your enthusiasm, sometimes taking a step back is the best strategy. Does it mean fewer youth get served? It could. But it could also means that fewer scouts have to look at a burned-out ASM and say "Gee, I'm never gonna volunteer and wind up like him." Doing all those things for the committee meant j649 was doing less and less for the boys. Worse, it sounds like he was an easy mark for parents who lacked the stones to deal with the SM. That's a bad place to be. It's one thing if parents aren't stepping up ... you just reduce the number of activities ... it's another if they are not stepping up and criticizing the SM/ASMs for how they choose to take up the slack.

That's good news about your son! (Nobody wants to here a bad report, but it's good to know you have folks tell you straight.) He's comfortable with his buddies and you can count on him to keep experiencing scouting with minimal tears. Parents do need to step up. Eventually you will find the one or two things that you do best and let the other 10 fall by the wayside. Every parent and boy has to decide to do the same.

Great points S947, and I think you just made 'HAWK's point ...

I had an erudite reply, but the forum locked-up before I could send it. Who can you talk to besides some guys spending lots of time on the internet? Well, you should have a district or council advancement chair. That person keeps up to date on the requirements. If the supervising counselor is convinced that your boy really is worthy of the badge in no uncertain terms, he could give the SM a call as well. But, what was really lost here? Well some communication. And, that's a pity because communication is what builds trust in the long run. The only fix is that son learn how to plan a little bit more in advance and try to close those communication loops between him and the SM. Then there's a patch. That's it, the boy doesn't have a little round patch that can be sewn on a sash. But the SM seems to indicate that that's only a matter of time. And, good news! There are 130+ other patches to earn in the meantime. I think his next move is to ask for a conference about what MB (or two) he should work on next. What's gained? Skills! There are precious few young men who know how to safely perform water rescues. You now have the peace of mind that your son now has some sense of what to do (or refrain from doing) when a day threatens to turn very bad. Combine that with good judgement and some assertiveness, and he may have a hand in forestalling death. Then, you may talk to your district/council advancement chair about Medal of Honor paperwork! If he stays in shape, in three years he can take the BSA guard course ... make sure he picks the biggest buddy he can find to be his practice victim!