RememberSchiff

IMO, pack leadership typically has younger leaders with more frequent turnover than troops - so more fertile ground for change. Also I think units and CO's are realizing families are not necessarily traditional, i.e., reject one family member and lose the whole family, reject upstanding citizens and lose the community. What happens at crossover time to Webs from these packs? Will families find a troop with a "Policy of Acceptance" and continue on the Scouting trail? Evolution from the bottom-up. Will mutations thrive or die? Will the species itself adapt and live on? My $0.01 fo

Add Pack 24, Redlands, CA http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21421165/developing-redlands-scout-pack-taking-stand-against-boy?source=rss

Good to read, Louisiana scouts filling and stacking sandbags to save homes from flood waters. http://www.nbc33tv.com/news/local-news/boy-scouts-helping-out-with-isaac-approaching

I looked last night and started thinking ... some BSA commemoration - do Jamboree on the Air at night with full moon? - do a nationwide model rocket launch next Aug 5 (his birthday) or July 20 (Apollo 11 landing)? - other ideas?? Back in the day, I had to know the names of all 7 Mercury astronauts. There was no Space Exploration merit badge. Today, it is hard to believe there is no specific requirement about astronauts. We can fix that too.

Scout salute and farewell....

"Marblehead (Mass) Pack 79 has created its own policy in response to the Boy Scouts of Americas announcement that it will continue to not allow openly gay people to participate." From their website http://pack79mhd.scoutlander.com/publicsite/unitcustom.aspx?UID=5990&CUSTOMID=55066 "Pack 79 recognizes the benefits of scouting for all boys and their families. We openly reject the national policy put forth by Boy Scouts of America barring gay boys from membership and gay or lesbian adults from serving as leaders. We believe that Scouting builds character and enforces important val

January 1, 2010. New form No. 34605, which replaced the Class 1,2,3 forms, required a yearly physical for everyone. Yep used to be 3 years.

No, we take responsibility here. This is our screw-up complete with the diminished BSA brand. Where this new merit badge did not interest my scouts in SAR, this recent gripping story of a volunteer search and rescue did. "A group of Colorado mountain climbers rescued a German Shepard named Missy from 13,000 feet, where the dog's owner abandoned her. Missy was stranded for eight days before two hikers found her close to death and bloodied. In a strange twist of fate, the owner wants custody of Missy again - a privilege the animal-loving hikers think the man lost when he left the cani

http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges/snr.aspx

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2012/08/20/at-last-search-and-rescue-merit-badge-requirements-released/

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2012/08/20/at-last-search-and-rescue-merit-badge-requirements-released/ What a disappointment, another dumbed-down, classroom merit badge. Explain, discuss, hypothetical scenario, talk to some people... Left hand salute

I will erase the Espanol sections and use that space to insert a copy of both sides of my insurance card.

Fixed link - sorry about that.

As always, careful planning went into the development of the updated version, with input coming from councils, volunteers, and the Health and Safety Team." Gee I don't remember being asked. Have NO use for bilingual on the same form - now even smaller fonts. A preview copy of the record can be found at: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-001_preview.pdf (This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

Probably this was BSA's mistake too, i.e., assuming laws and statutes in West Virginia would be like other places. Apparently this goes back to a 1944 West Virginia Supreme Court case. From Findlaw real estate is not exempt where owned by a [charitable] organization and is leased for private purposes, notwithstanding the application of the income from rentals to charitable and benevolent purposes and upkeep of the premises.  Central Realty Co. v. Martin, 126 W.Va. 915, 923, 30 S.E.2d 720, 725 (1944).   See also State v. McDowell Lodge, No. 112, 96 W.Va. 611, 123 S.E. 561 (1924) (holding t

"Minneapolis (August 15, 2012) - Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII), the leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles, today announced the company has donated a total of 28 Polaris all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and safety gear to the Boy Scouts of America's Northern Star Council's Tomahawk Scout Reservation, the second largest Boy Scout camp in the nation, and the Northwoods Camp, run by The Salvation Army, the world-wide leader of social, youth and rehabilitative services. The donation, valued at $100,000, is part of Polaris' long-term partnerships with the two organizations, focused on youth ATV

Following from http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/W-Va-Boy-Scout-reserve-seeking-property-measure-3790767.php "The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve cannot lease its facilities to anyone but charities without jeopardizing its tax-exempt status." "The proposed amendment would open the Summit to some of its corporate sponsors, McGowan (BSA lawyer) said. AT&T, for instance, has pledged $50 million and will put its name on a grass amphitheater that will accommodate up to 80,000 people, he said. That company wishes to host events there, McGowan told lawmakers."

From Charleston Gazette "There's already talk that Bridge Day festival organizers might be interested in leasing the Boy Scouts' new stadium for concerts. But the Scouts can't lease out the amphitheater and other facilities to outside groups without jeopardizing its tax-exempt status. McGowan said the Summit would host only a small number of public events -- mostly concerts -- each year. The Scouts also may temporarily lease out other Summit facilities, including camping sites, a "Leadership Excellence Center," "Better Body Health Center," and technology center, McGowan said."

Ha you got me , pre-coffee posts are offten subjeck to tpyos... I heard some local group(s) had some interest in booking rock concerts at the Summit's 80,000 seat "amphitheater on grass. But some stupid with a flare gun, Burned the place to the ground. Smoke on the water and fire in the sky. (This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

To maintain tax-exempt status while renting Summit facilities, including an 80,000 seat stadium, to non-charitable groups, the BSA would need an amendment to the West Virginia Constitution "Current state law would only allow charitable institutions to use it for a charitable purpose. A bill calling for a vote on a proposed constitutional amendment passed the state Senate earlier this year but was not taken up in the House of Delegates." http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=54357&type= IMO, it is a stretch to get it both ways when it co

In general is it worthwhile to ask about camping on military bases? To whom should such an inquiry be directed? Definitely, particularly if there is an airshow or other public base event that weekend . Usually one contacts the base Public Affairs Office. (This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

Back when I was a kid, I often watched an early morning tv show called "The Big Picture". Here's a 28 minute episode "U.S. Army and the Boy Scouts" that I watched more than 50 years ago, about the time I joined Cub Scouts. Very cool back then having soldiers and West Point cadets teaching rifle shooting.

"A generous contribution from the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation has made it possible for local councils to present selected Eagle Scout candidates with a $100 prepaid gift card to be used toward their service projects." More details and link to application form here http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/trailtoeagle.aspx

I doubt anything happens but I do not know for sure so I used "former?". I would hope their medals and sashes are stored as the future always holds the promise of reconciliation. Ignoring these letters would be discourteous. God forbid, their returned medals and sashes are sold on Ebay ... now that would be a PR disaster. Another $0.02 (This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

An online list of 100+ turn-ins and their letters. http://eaglebadges.tumblr.com/ I sincerely hope each former? Eagle receives a personal response letter from National. My $0.02