Beavah

Yah, hmmmm... So da actual requirements themselves, which are what da BSA defines as the sole authority on awards, are unclear. I think that leaves it up to da individuals who are making the award to decide on how to interpret it. Da Aquatics Supervision Manual has no authority to supersede or correct the Advancement Requirements. It's a guidance document for those doin' Aquatics Supervision. I think da clear intent of the Mile Swim is made clear by havin' the boys discuss safety with the counselor for long distance open water swims, eh? Why would we ask all the lads to do that

Yah, comchair, welcome to da forums, eh! Yeh are raisin' one of those issues that falls in da grey zone in terms of modern life and families. Do yeh stick to the rules that envision an intact, two-parent family even though there's really no issue of youth safety, or do yeh act with understanding and compassion toward those whose lives aren't as perfect as some busybodies would prefer? Which is best for the scout? For all the scouts? I think yeh have to ask your Chartered Organization for its views, since you work for them and have a duty to represent their values on the matter.

Yah, hmmm... I don't reckon they're confused. It's da old BSA don't ask, don't tell policy for youth, coupled with a Christian mission for both youth and adults. I think Sentinel947 has da right of it. Trail Life is tappin' into a population that has been disenchanted with da BSA for a variety of reasons, and the membership change was just the last straw. If they build a good program, maybe a bit less G2SS crazed, maybe a bit less paperwork, maybe a bit more outdoor sportsman focused than da BSA, they could become a bigger draw. Just depends. Close as I can tell da initial g

"either a person is a fundimentalist in their faith, or they not following their faith." Yah, hmmm... I reckon perhaps this might be da case for a more strict, hierarchical faith like da Mormons or da Catholics. Leastways I hear some of 'em make that sort of argument sometimes, though I think both of 'em would object to da term "fundamentalist" since that tends to refer to fringe schismatics in those religions. For da rest of us Christians who aren't biblical literalists (which is what da term "fundamentalist" generally refers to) I'm not sure I'd agree, eh? Da point of a Christian is t

Yah, hello christineke. Yeh pose a tough question, eh? Kids with Aspergers spectrum I'm told often lack da ability to interpret social cues. They just don't read body language or voice inflection the way the rest of us do. Imagine if yeh had a brain that couldn't process a frown as a sign of displeasure, eh? How hard would that make relatin' to and figurin' out other people? As a result come across as "very rude" or inappropriate. Most of us learn what is and isn't appropriate by reading the reactions of others, after all. If a lad can't do that, then he's goin' to have a hard tim

I was just passin' through checkin' to see if this software was any better. Looks like yeh are gettin' a bit more traffic anyways. Mostly I'm contributin' here and there on one of da social network groups when I find some time, but other things are takin' up too much of it these days.

Yah, I always get a chuckle out of da BSA's language on the matter. So yeh license a program from Microsoft to help with your business. One of those click-through things that yeh never read. Then yeh go out and buy a computer and a monitor and a hard drive and a bunch of other stuff to run the program. Later on yeh decide to switch to a different program and dump your Microsoft license. Now, in Microsoft's Corporation's Rules & Regulations, they say that if yeh stop using their software then they require yeh to turn over your computer and hard drive and monitor to them. A

Yah, hmmm... My question would be why is this lad and his dad still part of da trek crew? When they didn't meet da obligations that they signed a "contract" for, they should have been removed from the crew. Otherwise what example are yeh setting for the other boys? No wonder they think electin' a trek leader doesn't matter, eh? Yeh couldn't even hold to your agreement on fundamental requirements for participation. So I'd say yeh sit with the lad and explain that you're sorry, he hasn't met his obligations that he agreed to, and refund his money for the trek. Expect a blow-out.

Yah, MarkSHancock, welcome to da forums, eh! In a word, "yes." The actual relationship is that the Chartered Organization owns the unit, selects the unit leaders, makes policies for the unit, is legally responsible for the unit, and uses the unit to advance the chartered organization's goals and mission, which the BSA agrees to respect and support in the charter agreement. A BSA Youth Application is an application, eh? The application requires a Scoutmaster's signature, and can be turned down by the SM or Chartered Org.

Yah, it just depends, eh? Depends on da needs of the lad, mostly. Some lads need a lot of independence, and tend to shut down or become rebellious if there's too much adult presence. Other lads need some supportive affirmation at the start and along the way. If yeh have a younger troop, then a young SPL may need some more support, coaching, and direction. A wise Scoutmaster will take some of the load so as to allow the boy to be successful and build experience, and then shift the load back to the SPL as he is ready for it. There's no one right answer. It just depends on the

Yah, I reckon in the end da change costs us 25% of our membership when all is said and done. Maybe a bit less if public opposition is light; maybe more if opposition is organized and coordinated among major partners. Blow will fall heavier in areas where da BSA has been strong, but won't significantly improve membership in da areas where da BSA has been weak. With stresses on so many councils and camps already, figure yeh see a 50% retrenchment in those areas in terms of loss of camps and council consolidations. Won't kill us outright, eh? Just be a part of da long slow twilight years t

Yah, the Dale case was decided on relatively narrow grounds related to expressive association. That gets tricky for lots of other organizations, eh? Not da churches, but a lot of da community organizations of various sorts, and the "friends of" groups and such. Plus, it won't be long before the gay male dad who was turned down for a leadership position by a Catholic chartered organization gets picked up by the press to launch another media campaign about how da discriminatory BSA should dump the charters of any church or other organization that isn't fully inclusive. That will become da

Yah, hmmm... I can't even figure out what this thread is supposed to be about. For what it's worth, most intelligent contemporaries of their day believed Copernicus, Galileo, and Einstein, eh? They were just reportin' da science based on the evidence. Da folks who were denyin' reality and ignorin' or tryin' to suppress science were the same then as now. Well-monied entrenched interests and their lobbyists tryin' to preserve their own place as bigwigs at the expense of others. Then, as now, they got a lot of ordinary folks to go along with 'em based on "religious values" and

Yah, I think IM-Kathy is tryin' to say that there's a difference between a scout who admits his mistake, comes clean, and is sorry and a scout who lies and denies and is not sorry. For the first, the character lesson is how to rebuild your reputation after making such a mistake, eh? By goin' out of your way to demonstrate responsibility, includin' voluntarily withdrawing your Eagle application until you have repaired your relationships with others. That sort of boy yeh get help, and counseling. For da second, the character lesson is that when yeh don't take responsibility for your

Yah, Fehler, we're not talkin' about sendin' a lad to jail, eh? For that, yeh need a jury to convict based on evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. We're here as scouters, teachin' life lessons. That means that we respond to kids even when we think something is up, like when they're sneakin' around and giggling too much. Or when we have a suspicion that there's some bullyin' goin' on. Acting as friends and parents and scouters means yeh don't wait for proof beyond a reasonable doubt. It means yeh care enough about 'em to respond when yeh feel the lad needs yeh to.

Yah, most of da time I can't post because I keep gettin' the JSON error qwazse is talking about. Something about "unexpected character". Really annoyin' after typin' a long message.

Yah, sure, some lads are incapable because of real handicaps, like baseballfan's kid. We all recognize that, and make exceptions for it. What's not true is that a healthy lad who can do 3 pull-ups is not able to improve to doing 4 pull-ups with a reasonable training routine and some effort. That is just nonsense, and we do kids a disservice when we make those claims and excuses.

Yah, sure, some lads are incapable because of real handicaps, like baseballfan's kid. We all recognize that, and make exceptions for it. What's not true is that a healthy lad who can do 3 pull-ups is not able to improve to doing 4 pull-ups with a reasonable training routine and some effort. That is just nonsense, and we do kids a disservice when we make those claims and excuses.

Yah, hmmm... Much confusion in my mind. Do yeh really think a MB day is a good idea? As a fundraiser? I'm sorta struck by Venividi's comment, and by the notion that in the BSA, merit badge counseling is one of da things we do for kids as part of Adult Association method, eh? It's not somethin' we do for money. Be that as it may: 1) Tour plans have nuthin' to do with insurance. They're to help units plan activities and transportation and such. Yep, troops from out of the area probably should do them, but that's up to them. 2) General liability insurance is in forc

Hiya Rayburn, nice to see yeh back in da forums! Sorry about the nature of the incident, eh? This is the stuff where Scoutmasters really earn their pay! I think your plan is a decent one. Talk to the witnesses, then to the boy, then to the parents. Let the responses guide you. Now Beavah's rule is that no lad ever gets caught smoking the first time he does it, eh? The point when boys get caught is the point when they've been doing it long enough that they start getting brazen and sloppy. Like choosing to bring weed on a scout campout instead of doing it with friends in the wo

"The coach simply shrugged and said it was just my build." Provin' that da coach was full of it. If yeh were doin' lots of pushups but very few pullups odds are yeh were creatin' muscle imbalances which could lead to longer-term shoulder injury. The reality of the thing is that compared with goin' from 20 to 25 pushups, goin' from 3 to 5 pull-ups is more work. Takes more time, requires more effort for a variety of reasons related more to physics than to build, eh? What I see most of da time in most troops is that adults want to give kids "outs" from this requirement because it takes mor

Your choice, eh? Here's da deal with pull-ups. If yeh look at the Presidential Fitness Award test for pull-ups, for 11 year old boys, doing 1 pull-up puts you in the top two-thirds of boys your age. In other words, not being able to do a single pull-up puts the lad in the bottom third of boys his age, or a third of our first year scouts won't be able to do a pull-up. Now, yeh can look at that and say that gee, it's goin' to be hard for those boys. If they're in the bottom 10th of boys their age, to go from zero to one pull-up is goin' to be a lot more work for them than it is f

Yah, we will net lose units in our council, no question. And net lose members. After da initial losses nationwide, which might be fairly severe, I predict continued gradual decline. There just really aren't that many folks like packsaddle describes, and most of them are relatively well-off folks whose kids have lots of other opportunities to choose from. Scoutin' is just one activity of many, and will keep just one kid of many.

Yah, SoloTS, welcome to da forums! Two thoughts for yeh. First is that those Board of Review members are good eggs. Yeh should be grateful for them. Rather than just goin' through the motions, they care enough to do their part to help this lad learn a valuable lesson, eh? No matter how good you are on paper, you can lose your chance of going to your first choice college or your chance of getting a job or foul up your relationship with your future father-in-law by having a bad interview. That's an important lesson for this boy to learn, and yeh should thank 'em for their part. Now you

LOL. Yah, TwoCubDad, I reckon if yeh take a poll at your next troop meeting, you'll discover that all of the boys do not actually sleep with their sisters at home. I'm really gettin' too subtle with my points these days! B