RememberSchiff

Well...he can still be a Boy Scout.

Sorry to sidetrack the discussion, just wanted to followup. "Could someone explain to me why the Dept of Ed. continues to partially fund Howard University as a budget line item to the tune of over $250mil annually?" Because it's one of the very few colleges that were chartered by Congress,... That's my point, those other federally chartered colleges - Gallaudet, George Washington, American,... are not annual line items, let alone BIG ticket line items, in the Dept of Education budget, so it seemed odd to me. As I understand, Congress is not required to fund entities chartered by them and these are private institutions (sound familiar?). Another $0.01,

Could someone explain to me why the Dept of Ed. continues to partially fund Howard University as a budget line item to the tune of over $250mil annually? I would put that money to pre-K or SPED programs in a heartbeat. My $0.02

You also need to sell it to the parents who see 1. membership in yet-another-scout-unit along with the time commitment (me driving) and cost (another fundraiser yippy). Unknown leaders (to me) and in joining my permission was not sought (fix that). 2. secret squirrel stuff. Alarms go off when told or suggested that parents not attend. Have answers to their common questions 1. What does OA do for my son that his Boy Scout troop does not? 1a. Okay, why doesn't his Scout troop do that, it earned a quality unit award? Parents are usually under the impression that summer camps are setup/taken-down by the camp counselors and the units/scouts attending. Parents often do not see the need for OA or equate OA to being similar to their school National Honor Society - an honor with a ceremony and bounded service commitment. Scouting tends to be invisible, parents rarely see scouts in the community but they do see them at troop meetings. Now OA, parents might NEVER see a sashed OAer well except at a Klondike Derby selling candy (ughh!). My $0.02 and if you want to shoot the messenger, please use wood arrows. Say that would make an interesting ordeal - make you own arrow(s) and shoot.

Who gets to decide what are stupid rules? A leader, someone you and others are willing to follow. Another $0.02

Their call. You informed them of the rules and consequences, let them decide. Back in the day, my patrol designed a rectangular patch as it fit our roadrunner drawing. We too were informed after a dozen patches were made. "There will be rain on your parade Roadrunner patrol." "We have ponchos." I would rather have Brave scouts over Obedient scouts when it comes to stupid rules. Best patrol ever. My $0.02,

Exercise scenario: the simulated lost scout suffered from Asperger Syndrome and was last seen arguing with two other boys near the camp chapel. The scout had wandered off in an undetermined direction. More than 20 SAR units from 6 states participated. Does anyone know if any scout units participated or observed, particularly given that the Summit is in West Virginia SAR area. http://www.pocahontastimes.com/news/story/search-and-rescue-exercise-at-dilleys-mill/204004 Yes, the lost scout was found and evac.

I ask but mostly indirect, focused questions and sometimes I get a more than a one word answer and maybe some head gears turn. "Did you have a situation today where you were not sure what do?" "Anything happen today that you knew right away what to do when others stumble? Were others looking to you for answers(leadership)?" "Did you disagree with someone today? What was it about?" "Were you alone in any decisions today?" "Anyone accuse you of acting like a Boy Scout? What was that like?" More so today, there is a misunderstanding that a scout is only expected to be a scout when in uniform or at an official scout activity, that leadership only counts if it is a POR in the troop, and the only scouting on the great outside is the occasional service project, sort of the 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas' mentality. I disagree. My $0.01 for pre-coffee rambling

I think other religious organizations and even states will adopt a requirement to photograph, fingerprint, and background check all employees and volunteers who have children in their care. So today it is the Catholic Church, tomorrow it may be the Methodist Church, next week the State of Maine,... I can see the church offering financial help to the Sunday school teacher but less to an organization that is already asking their volunteers to pay for their training, uniforms, and other expenses. Remember when the cost of volunteering was just your time? My $0.02

Possible spoiler??? The "unofficial" requirements as posted on meritbadge.org before being removed for whatever reason. http://tinyurl.com/43zldzl So far, no lite requirements to watch a movie with a robot in it or name five robots real or fictional. I think keeping an engineering notebook might be the biggest challenge. Looks encouraging. For official news and requirements http://boyslife.org/section/about-scouts/merit-badge-resources/robotics/ http://tinyurl.com/5tnj2z2 My $0.02(This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

Here's a general indication of requirements http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2011/04/08/PR-Robotics-Merit-Badge-FINAL.pdf

It is the Eagle's choice and that choice should be respected. He and his family may plan a unique ceremony or they may follow a troop tradition or they may have no ceremony at all. The latter is not uncommon with "late" Eagles busy with planning college, graduation, entry into armed services,... Long ago, my Eagle ceremony was much like Twocubdad except that was my preference and it went against the troop tradition of a separate ECOH. My $0.02,

getting outdoors broadened their horizons Well hard to argue with you there

4-H predates the STEM acronym with their own Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) programs in association with their respective state university. Not uncommon to see a 4-H club in a FIRST or NASA robotics competition at all levels. Other former scout nerds: Bill Nye (the Science Guy), Steven Spielberg, Bill Gates. This announcement seems like vaporware. Another $0.02

Yeh, reading the links posted and the stated long lead times to unroll these awards (two years?), I cannot get excited. But let me say National #$%@$!^ better FINALLY release the requirements for Robotics merit badge next week (National Robotics Week) as promised and long overdue! It would be great if there were MBC's registered and informed in preparation of this announcement but that is another story. Reminds me of what happened last year with those four historic merit badges... My $0.02

Stay home? Isn't the concept of a fixed structure building contrary to Leave No Trace? Back in the day, Scouting was less uniform, yet more like minded about being respectful of others. We could have camporees and summer camps where we all more or less got along without some individual or group making a big issue about someone doing something different. We still do campfires with local firewood (???? very odd to do otherwise???), LNTer's can join us in the light or they can stay in the darkness. If the activity is safe, start thinking about saying NO to those that say No To Everything Outdoors, Scouting, or Fun. And if that doesn't work, do the activity outside of scouting. My $0.02

Thanks for your follow-up and involvement. Should be an interesting Eagle Board of Review, hope the successful turnaround continues.

Tried and failed to recruit two more MBC last night. One look at that over-the-top background check on the Adult volunteer application killed all hope. Anyway, I had this idea for the Council level Quality Whatever-it-is-called-this-year Award. "Council must have at least two qualified MBC's, not otherwise serving as adult leaders, for each elective merit badges offered by the BSA." Maybe have area exceptions for certain badges, but something like that. While Council is making the rounds for business donations, I would like them to recruit some outside talent for MBC's. My $0.02

Springrobin, Welcome to the forum. Why wasn't this matter handled by your SM and PLC instead of your Troop Committee?

Years from now when most of us are long gone, your son will look at his sash and say to his son, "Oh this is Bugling Merit Badge, they don't have that anymore with txt msg...I earned that from your great grandfather, he brought out a bugle that must have been older..." Family scouting heritage, seems to be forgotten when Adult Association method is discussed these days. Moderation, there's nothing wrong with earning some merit badges from competent, scouting-involved relatives. Denying a scout and his grandpa the opportunity to work together to earn Bugling merit badge is just short-sighted. Here's a hint: Think how we can keep the few merit badge counselors that we have. Need another hint: Think how we can lose the few merit badge counselors that we have. Moderation, family scouting heritage, and adult association. Get Scoutmaster approval and go for it. My $0.02 from someone who EARNED Marksmanship merit badge from his dad, Mr. Offhand. (This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

Sort of the idiot light flashing on the dashboard. Don't ignore it, there's a problem. If I was teaching the Den Chief course, I would have failed him (no certificate) and contacted his SM ASAP in hopes that a scoutmaster conference would quickly follow. That scout doesn't appear ready for a POR (especially not Den Chief) so get him help, don't ignore the problem or make it worse. Now the Training Chair/Committee would, of course, have my back on this and make an additional call to SM asking why he recommended this scout to be a den chief and take this (my) course. (Maybe it would make that SM think before recommending just anybody for NYLT...sigh) And then with this feedback, an interesting and educational SC would follow where the Scout Oath and Law was reviewed, what was going on in his life, his future in scouting,... BTW, that dead cats and death stuff is very similar to comments made by said Eagle scout who is now on trial. He became a lost soul (goth?) sometime senior year or after. DAMN SCARY. Old school responsibility, not buck passing. My $0.01

We have to be responsible adults and teach the boys the same. No end-arounds, you can start over but...but, your past record goes along with you in school and the community. In passing his Troopmaster records, I would also pass along a summary of that BOR, his expulsion from the troop and Council's promised actions. Your CO may also be interested in contacting the new CO. Forewarned is forearmed. Council should have explained, in writing, to your troop their decision change as I would be shocked to see this boy again in a scout uniform at another scout activity. What message would that tell my scouts? Whatever you do, you can beat the system? And then if he gets Eagle on top of it? Where's the discipline? Does anything go now? I am hard pressed to recall a tough decision where Council did not eventually cave to parental pressure. I would also send a formal letter to Council and your district Advancement (Eagle Board) expressing your concerns regarding his return to scouting and express path to Eagle. If there is a EBOR, you should have input. Sorry to hear that you are in this situation. They say SM's are the gatekeepers in Scouting, but it probably more correct to say they are the only gatekeepers in Scouting. My $0.02 (This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

Thanks BA, that was very helpful. Hopefully we can try dry ice this summer. Congratulations on using the patrol method. Another $0.02

So is the "yellow cake mix" gluten free? Are there nuts in the brownie mix? Each year, we bring more and more of our own food into our "patrol method" camp. We are not allowed to store in the camp commissary so we store in our own trailer. Replacing ice for refrigeration is a pain, keep meaning to try dry ice. We have talked to the camp about opting out of this commissary service. No dice. Bulk buying saves money but does not teach scouts how to buy food and save money. I can understand a "standard menu" for new scouts and leaders, but I have seen experienced patrols (including NYLT, don't get me started) just go for the easy "standard menu". Not patrol cooking in my opinion, so not patrol method. My $0.02

It puzzles me that patrol method camps order food at all. I would think it would be easier all around for patrols to buy and bring their own food based on their own requirements and the camp commissary would simply provide dry storage and refrigeration storage with space limits set and known in advance. This would be 1. Patrol Method cooking as intended - the boys plan, buy, manage their food and not opt out with the camp Standard Menu. 2. Food restrictions and preferences are handled by patrol, subject to SPL approval. My $0.02