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Ya Pint, I'd rather send my Christian kids to a proper Druid service. Give them an idea of what St. Patrick was encountering every year when the days grew short. By the way, the X is simply a Romanization of Chi, the first initial for Christ in Greek orthodoxy. (If the Arab world were into mash-up abbreviations, it would be Mmas, because they use the Semitic word, Messiah.). It's use is in no way meant to remove Jesus from the purpose of the day, but rather to remind Christians who tried to ban the Victorian celebration that the last authority to try such a tactic was the Roman empir

The problem, as I see it, is that Venturing is this "other program". When venturers aren't part of the picture on National's web page, it shows a lack of vision. One prominent scouter told me "but venturers make up a small percentage of our base.". That's not the point. National should put up a picture of what percentage it *should* make. If they believe that every CO should have a venturing unit, then the stock photo of scouting should have a Venturer and a Sea Scout behind a cub, web, and first class scout. Donors should have a clear vision of whom they are supporting. If National bel

OGE, I was referring to root beer. Don't know what Beav was talking about.

A few decades ago, middle school was easy to be a scout, but I was the only kid in my High School who wore his uniform on Scouting's anniversary. My classmates were good people, and respected individuals. But I was also the guy who stood up for bullied kids, even when my friends were doing the bullying. In any case I carried Scouting with as much pride as the QB carried football. I felt sorry for the boys who were afraid to put themselves out there ... I can see nowadays that middle school would be tough, but social media encourages individualism, and once kids are able to use that

I'd be more impressed if the conclusion was more like ... "So I'm starting a new youth organization: free of duty to God, an 11 point law, and welcoming to adult leaders of all sexual persuasions -- strictly new morality straight. You're kids will love it! You'll be amazed by their superior character compared to youth from other narrow-minded organizations," Praising folks for defunding youth is just gay and empty-idealed whining.

But reduced registration fees don't do anything for event or camping fees. In the grand scheme of things it is a small amount of money. So if you dropped it to $5 then you end up with a bunch of members how can't afford the outings Above food costs which the kids would be spending anyway (c.f. Beav's comment regarding pizza and beers), I bet I could get a couple of vehicles of kids to some pretty sweet trailheads twice a year on $12 per. Two more activities per year -- not pricey. Just enough to get that esprit-de-corps growing. On a cub level: second pinewood derby. Or, ano

This stems from having a bear of a time getting my crew to recharter ... $15.00 (registration fee) + $1.50 (unit accident insurance) + $40.00/crewsize (unit recharter fee). Keep in mind that I'm in a crew where kids pay their own way for most everything. Even if the check comes from parents, they are thinking of their investment, and the above fee structure merely puts them on the mailing list. They are very much aware that they are paying 50% - 100% of the cost of one activity just to "stay connected". Not always worth it for college kids who already shell out for student activ

I wish I had Beav's advice for a couple of my pastors. Anyway, all the best BP. Don't forget us. You might need the sermon fodder! Oh, and on Scout Sunday invite a crew pres or JASM to take the sermon...

... rationing out positions gives the SPL the political power to reward friends and punish political opponents, and to gain compliance with his leadership ... Thanks for the cynicism, SP. SPL's who "reward" friends usually find sooner rather than later that work isn't getting done. A troop isn't as "slushy" as big government.

Twelve clicks through the main picks on http://www.scouting.org/: no venturing youth (male or female). Three adults in green. No logo. Correction: two possibly female youth in winter gear on a snow-drifts. Getting that swept-under-a-rug kinda feeling ...

Case in point: there is a banner add on the top of this page today with a picture of a scout, then a road driving through some woods with the text "Donate Today" and the outline of the fleur-de-lis behind the eagle logo. This clicks through to aplacetogive.scouting.org which rolls through three tabs: Support scouting: Picture of a group of boys and their SM's at Jambo.Clicking on this takes you to a page titled "Invest in the Leaders of Tomorrow" with a picture of a boy scout and two cubs, and tents at the base of a glacier.Send a Scout to Camp: A young boy on a BMX course with the eagle/fl

TG: The next decade of venturing will depend on the young adults age 25 - 40 who were part of the program while we were just figuring out how to run it! Yesterday, I was pessimistic. But, this morning I noticed that 1/2 dozen former crew (now age 21) just joined our FB group. I know it's a big leap from clicking a "like" link to filling out that adult application and putting in a few hours, but it's nice to know they still care on some level. Hopefully a couple will see their way to replace me! Oaths, uni's, and bling (recognitions, not advancement) are trivial -- so much so

We're small, so there are more positions than boys who need to fill them. Our SPL did remove a PL at summer camp. We backed the SPL and, God bless Mom , she backed us. He left camp early, but came to the next troop meeting. Now, if there is a job that needs to be done and the boys step up and do it consistently, then we may consider them to be holding a position even if nobody put a patch on their sleeve. It's never really been an official issue because those are usually boys who wind up holding another position at their rank for six months down the road. In any case, you are

West, Ssounds Ike council is yanking your chain. You could yank back. Or, you could find out what's going on in that little collective brain of theirs. Do consider time constraints.

I always found it poetic that the code for crew advisor was also the abbreviation for Not Applicable. It sure feels like it sometimes.

Oh yeah: waterproof digital sport camera.

While you're waiting out a no doubt rough transition, look up a local outdoor/conservation club and sign up for a weekend hike/activity that may suit you. No, it's not scouting. But it's more likely to fit in your near-term schedule. Plus, when you have custody of the kids, you might be connected to some resources that you could use on short notice.

"scouts" oriented Well, you want to get your boy oriented? Get him a nice compass! If the boy is a little older. A map set of his favorite hiking areas might be a good investment. A lightweight multi-tool is a great idea for hikers. Or a pen knife. Some of our boys are really proud of their one-man tents. Whatever you get, engrave or otherwise label it with his name.

The true advantage may very well be in a common treasury with greater accountability. Funding structure would be simple. Apportion general contribution by numbers. More members are younger (usually), so they get a larger allocation of general funds. There would be a standard policy for allocation to scout accounts. The youth in each den/patrol/crew decide how much from their SA's they will contribute to "community events" like PWD, B&G, CoH, Pizza Par-t, Trailor, HA and how much will be for ensuring individual scout preparation for any event (i.e. camp fees, gear, etc ...). I

Ya Brew. I don't countenance the smoke-blowing about CS being irrelevant or too class-roomy. In these parts, they are the smallest classes the boys will be in until they pick a college with low student:teacher ratio. For emergency preparedness, the small room is a big deal. It makes every youth accountable to know his stuff. I breathed a small sigh of relief when my youngest went through the rescue material and I knew everyone in my household knew it in their own right. Until then, we would try to get him to remember his house #, but we were never to sure he was taking it seriously!

Not cupcakes, but ... SPL asked if the boys could bake cookies next meeting!

Cchoat, What age are we talking about? If it's 12-13 I'd let the therapy run its course. Make it no big deal if he takes until 16 to make 1st class. Let him rack up bunches of other merit badges until he gets this phobia licked. That rank advancement will represent his conquest of his fears. If we are talking a 16 y.o. who's finally got this thing diagnosed, I'd talk to the district advancement chair, the boy, and his parents. There's no one-size-fits-all alternative. For this boy, there may be a series of excersizes that chip away at the boy's mental blocks. (Think rowing machin

Pch, you beat me to it. But, I think JoeBob isn't about to be fooled.

Yes, it's part of the Woodbadge curriculum. And the point is to get us to see things through the scouts' eyes, not ours. It's something you should keep in mind even if all your boys go to the same church. I've taught Sunday school long enough to know kids who are heretical for a large portion of their teen years. They spend a lot of time trying to make their world view fit into our denominational box. Every church service is alien to them, even if their parents are daily devotional befor dinner types. It takes the living life as an adult to help them determine if this religion is for the

Could there be such a thing as over-dedication? My SM, retired single with a part-time job and plenty of time to spare, was the straightest arrow in town. Perfect for the job which he held dutifully for decades until the Parkinson's got the better of him. The COR was also a great guy and passed shortly thereafter. The troop didn't last after that. The plan to transfer leadership wasn't there. (The economy and subsequent job-flight didn't help.) Sometimes an SM giving the group a "2-year warning" is the best way to get others to step up. And, frees the ex-SM to continue servin