scotiacat

I was over on ebay and came across a Scout Swastika!!! Is this for real or a hoax? It says it was "old school" before the Germans took it, but I find it hard to fathom. I also wonder if it is real/true, what people think of it, knowing what it means now, although apparently not then. In another thread someone asked if something was a Scout item in the past is it still legit now.... can you imagine the issues if a Scout wore this item today?????

http://cgi.ebay.com/V-RARE-BOY-SCOUTS-SWASTIKA-THANKS-BADGE-SCOUTING_W0QQitemZ120058315833QQihZ002QQcategoryZ404QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm not sure where to stand on this topic. Looking at official Council websites and even in marketing materials, the Tigers are STILL shown wearing the "old" orange T-shirts. Some even show both uniforms in their marketing and sites.

I'm not sure if this has some connection to using up over-runs of marketing materials and even excess shirts at the Council stores or something, but at least the sites are running consistent with the flyers and pamphlets they are giving out.(This message has been edited by scotiacat)(This message has been edited by scotiacat)

Catch and Release....

Let me get this straight; I catch a fish, it is under the state Department of Wildlife's minimum length. Do I release it or risk getting caught by a game warden and facing fines, penalties and possibly jail time for having in my possesion an illegal fish?

Uh- duh!!! Hello....

http://www.peta.org/feat/merit/index.html

Is there anything this group won't do????

During last nights college Bowl game on ESPN, the BYU (Brigham Young University) Cougars had the ball and the announcers were talking about their (Mormon) Church Service where they were required to go to other areas and do their church work. It was during this discussion with the co-announcer that they also mentioned of the 92 players, there were 30 Eagle Scouts on the team. Interesting...

Thought the folks would be interested in these three articles from our local paper.

http://www.masslive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/living-0/113195787744470.xml?nnae

http://www.masslive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1130835010199160.xml?nncp

http://www.masslive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1130834701199160.xml?nnnp

Longhaul,

The 2005 second printing edition of the Cub Scout Leader Book clearly defines (and updates) the advancement of each rank. No longer does it say they must be in first grade for a Tiger, second grade for a wolf and so on.

It now reads that a "Tiger Cub badge is for those boys who have completed kindergarten (or are 7 years old)." This is on page 18-4 of the book. It also refers to the other ranks in the same manner.

Since June 1st is the advancement date, this enables all Scouts, even Tigers, to attend summer camp and do work specific to their rank. As an added note, my son attended the 2005 summer camp for our council after moving up in rank from Tiger to Wolf and had accomplished all the requirements for the OAA by mid September. He was presented with the patch at a Pack meeting by the Cubmaster at the end of the month and now wears it proudly on the right pocket flap.

I would then tell Torveaux to go back and re-read his Wolf book and not to select words from a paragraph by leaving out the remaining portions. (is this where the Scout police come in and warn about interpretation of the written rules?)

it continues...

"He might, however, find some electives that he could be completing before he earns his Wolf badge. Some of the activities in "Sports," Wolf elective 20, might be examples. As long as he completes these electives after he has earned his Bobcat, you may credit him for them, but be sure to keep him focused on the 12 achievements until he completes them."

Lets not forget, as of June 1, all Cub Scouts move up in rank level. So a Tiger moves to a Wolf den on this date and may now start earning rank towards his Wolf (or any other move from rank to rank for example). Hence, when a boy goes to summer camp, he is working on tasks towards Achievements and Electives that are appropriate for that rank. The stipulation being, the boy cannot receive an arrow point until AFTER he receives his Wolf badge. Therefore, after being handed his Wolf badge at a Pack meeting, he could then be handed the appropriate gold arrow point and any other silver arrow points he has accomplished the required number of credits for.

Electives 13 and 19 are other good examples that could be done prior to earning a Wolf badge. It is a good item to do in the late spring, summer and early fall and credit can also go towards the CSWCA.

I think if you read the comments from FScouter, Bob White and others, they tend to read "scripture" from the BSA as if it is law. That is the impression they give, there is no flex in a subject, no gray area what so ever. No common sense, just because it is written, "so it shall be done".

WARNING... this message may be taken as an attack on an individual. However, it is NOT. Rather, it is my interpretation to one (and others) posters actions. It is made to encourage thought and debate. Maybe it should be its own thread, I don't know.

FScouter, while I applaud you on your knowledge and also your research and looking up the answers for everyone in various manuals much like Bob White, I have to ask, is everything done by the book? I challenge you to find any day camp, where the Scouts wear a camp shirt, that the adults don't encourage the Scouts to salute. They, for this Scout activity, are in uniform. What is wrong in that?

If National suddenly acknowledges a "Class B" uniform, do folks who go "by the book" suddenly beleive in it too? I get the impression that folks like this never have gone over the speed limit, accidently went through a red light, had to measure a baseball diamond to be sure the size was right for a pickup game (since the rules say what those dimensions should be), etc..

Some rules are guidelines, not cold hard law. Maybe the next time I see one of my Scouts enter a building or church, regardless if they are in uniform or not, I will remind them to remove their hat. After all, proper etiquette dictates that this be done. And according to the dictionary, etiquette is defined as the prescribed rules of behavior in society. The only reason I mention this is because not even the military wears hats in a church. They remove them upon entrance. Why should the BSA be excluded and allowed to wear them inside the church, evn if just passing through for a den meeting in another room? Etiquette says, no hats.

I am now off my soapbox.

After reading some of the replies, I thought I'd chime in with my two cents. So the Chartering Organization gets everything, let's take a look at this, at least from my perspective:

1.. My pack gets a place to meet, a hall in the church from the CO. We get no money or anything else, just a meeting room.

2.. You mean to tell me, when we have a fundraiser and the money that goes into the pack account and Scout account, the CO (in this case, the church) owns those funds?

3.. If someone, regardless if they are inside or outside the pack donates tents, money, equipment to the pack, the CO (in this case, the church) owns it?

4.. So basically what you are telling me is that in my state, Massachusetts, when the church is getting sued (in this case, the Roman Catholic Diocese for sexually abusive priests) the packs that are chartered by the CO (in this case, the local church in the diocese), we stand to loose everything because our funds and equipment are owned by the CO (in this case, the church)?

Please, do not cover every jurisdiction with a blanketed policy. As mentioned earlier, each state has their own law which supercedes any BSA policy. To give an example, if you give a check to Wal-Mart for your purchases, they will ask for your license to write your social security number on the check. That is store policy. However, it is AGAINST state law and you have the right to refuse to give it to them. Since the check is consider legal tender, Wal-Mart cannot refuse you the purchase. If you have a history of bad checks at the store though, they can refuse you the purchase. You can also threaten a suit against the store if they write the number down. I know, I'v been there!

As a parent, I would repremand my child if the incident was out of control. If the leader handled my son in such a manner, he'd be looking up at the sky while lying on his back! Sure, I'd be just asa wrong. But if charges are put on me, I'd claim it was self defense for my child who was being manhandled by an adult. By the way, the leader would've had charges filed as well.

I'm sure the BSA National office would like this type of publicity.... NOT!!!

Good God people, are we that brain washed that we live every minute and every day by the BSA book? We don't don't even live by the good "Book", yet we have this debate....

Think about this, then you tell me what is right and what is wrong.

When companies and their employees donate to the United Way, the UW doesn't discriminate against those people and how they contributed or where they contributed it from. Now, where do you think the local BSA Council's get their funding from? Yep, you got it, the United Way.

So when the companies and employees of Miller, Anheiser-Busch, Coors etc donate to the UW, are the local BSA Councils crying foul about where some of those funds came from when the UW distributes the funds? Do the Councils return funds because they came from such companies/employees that the BSA is not in total "friendship" with?

Again I say, come on people, use common sense.

The first thing that comes to mind after reading some of the replies are that first we have the uniform police, now we have the fund raiser/activity police. What am I referring to?

I Quote: "The Boy Scouts of America prohibits the use of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances at encampments or activities on property owned and/or operated by the Boy Scouts of America, or at any activity involving participation of youth members."

"It's those last words, "any activity involving participation of youth members", that seem to disqualify this type of fundraising."

By that statement, NO SCOUT should be attending Scout Night at either baseball or hockey games. God forbid they see someone or a parent with beer in their hand. Our local speedway offers a month of free attendence to any Scout group, athletic group to the races when they wear the uniform. Are they (speedways, sport centers) going to stop selling alcohol just because the BSA is in attendence? I think not. While it isn't a fund raiser, based on what you said it is an activity.

Come on people, use common sense.

How do you get to the chat room?

So basically, National wants to try and increase they Scout numbers. All a kid has to do is say he tried and the other party wasn't interested. The Scout "did his best", but the other boy wasn't interested in joining or coming to Scouts.

So basically, National wants to try and increase they Scout numbers. All a kid has to do is say he tried and the other party wasn't interested. The Scout "did his best", but the other boy wasn't interested in joining or coming to Scouts.

I am going to play devils advocate here. Couldn't the following be in effect?

1.. The English Interpreter strip could be legit in another country

2.. Technically, I suppose in an area predominantly Hispanic could use it to communicate. They could have a bi-lingual strip because the other Hispanic child may not speak English, so to communicate with other kids, he needs another Spanish speaking individual who can speak English.

So, does that mean I could wear English, Spanish, French, Gaelic strips? Add to it I know a little of two other languages, just haven't mastered them, yet. I guess they would come in handy at a Jamboree when you meet Scouts from around the world.

Let me throw in my 4 cents, two for Greying Beaver and two for FScouter. If you are concerned:

1.. I think we all know who should be putting their tent on either side of the boys tents (Leaders). The same for the girlfriends, if they aren't sleeping in with their parents, the parents should be right next to their tent.

2.. Don't let the boys go off at night alone. Practice the buddy system.

3.. "16 year old kids are too young and too immature to be dating "steady". Whatever you fear they might "do" at this event, they've probably already done, numerous times. The parents are obviously OK with this." That strikes me as odd and stereotypical from an adult. I was seriously dating my girlfriend in High School and neither of us were Seniors. We had a tight group of friends. We NEVER did a thing that you are insinuating. Come to think of it, after college, we married (without the deed done). That was more than 20 years ago and we are together today. We even went camping with family. Wow, passing judgement without knowing the kids. That hurts...

Another thought would be to take advantage of the Pioneer Valley Councils camp at the Moses Scout Reservation. You can get camping info through the Council's website. I think they had a link on their webpage or the number to call, I don't remember, lol. Also, attend Webelos Woods at Moses in the spring. I know Knox Trail posts some of their activities on their section of the site, plus Chair members and phone/e-mail links.

You can also look at the Council's web site to see if there is training that anyone in your Troop could use. Some classes start in September.

How about attending an outing during "Scout Night" with the Springfield Falcons? They have three dates scheduled during the upcoming season. Since you are from the Knox Trail, did you know that just over the line in Stafford, the speedway there holds a Scout Night every Friday night in May? Scouts get FREE admission when they wear their uniform shirt. Maybe your Troop could present the colors on a particular night.

Hope this all helps in some way too.

Sirjimmyg, if you click on the "trails" link in the text, it will take you to a map of the park. Put your cursor over the map so an "expand map" box shows up, click on it to make the map larger. It will show you multiple areas in which to camp in, some near the two mountains.

Additionally, you can make reservations on line by clicking the link for reservations.

Just remember to have all your forms/paperwork done for the trip.

EDIT: Not sure about the camping there. While the map shows multiple camping locations, this park doesn't show up as a park to make reservations at. You may need to call the park directly and get information. Maybe they can also send you a map of the park...(This message has been edited by scotiacat)

My son is already looking forward when he is eligible to go to the 100th Anniversary Jamboree in 2010. Therefore, I am going to ask a question for planning purposes, as I am sure this isn't the first time this has come up.

With so many in attendence, what does a diabetic do with their meds? Needles, meds, they can't be just left in a tent. Where do diabetics store their things and where do they go to inject themselves in private so not to cause any (illegal, questions) issues amongst others?(This message has been edited by scotiacat)

For what it's worth, have you looked at the Jamboree pictures on their web site? They pointed out a Scout who has earned 85 merit badges and his goal is to earn ALL that is offered by the time he reaches 18. He doesn't care if they just come out with a new badge or not, he wants them all. Impressive sash to say the least.

From the Jamboree web page comes the following info:

You may send cards, e-mail messages, and memorial fund donations directly to the Western Alaska Council via their Web site at http://www.bsawac.org.

ScoutNut, I see a few problems with that thnking.

1.. Doesn't someone (other than a parent, like the DL or someone) need to fill out the application for the award? If not, then any parent can walk into their Council office and request awards, patches and the like without actually doing them. What does that serve?

2.. If I do buy them, do I let my son, for that matter the parents of the other boys as well to wear the loops/temp patches? What kind of can of worms will that open?

Again I ask, why are we so concerned about the uniform when the ENTIRE Scouting program isn't being offered by packs? Which is the bigger crime?