ScouterPaul

I was told 2 months ago by my son, who is a military police for the National Guard that the Security Alert was going to be raised during the holidays. How did he know, he was told by his superiors. I think for the most part thise secruity alerts are political in nature - fear after all is power. Has any of these alerts changed my behavior - not at all. I have a greater chance of being killed by a falling tree while camping than I do by terrorist.

Anything cooked in a Dutch Oven!! Here is a recipe that our adult patrol loves. 1-2 large cans cooked chicken 2 cans cream of chicken soup 1 cup mayonnaise 1 box "Stove Top" stuffing, chicken flavor Combine soup, mayonnaise, seasoning from stuffing and chicken. Stir and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Make a pot of succatash and you have yourself a pretty decent meal.

There have been many a Sunday at McDonalds that we've said the Philmont Grace.

A Winter Camping Book and Gift Certificates to my favorite outdoor store - half of which will be spent on personal gear and the other half as always will go to towards Troop Gear.

le Voyageur Thank you for the information. I was not aware of this. I will however due a little research of my own. Trail Pounder - "What a load" Can you prove any of the facts presented by le Voyageur to be false? If not how can you justify your statement? Eisley - I may have missed the reference but the way I undstood the information was that the companies that had been siezed had been seized because they were trading with the enemy and were not German owned.

EagleInKy - I understand exactly what you are experiencing regarding the Scouts first BOR. I am the MC and Advancement Chair for our Troop. In addition I'm the CM of our Pack. I would never allow a "Mock BOR" at the Cub Scout Level. As Cubmaster I try to meet informally with each Webelo II throughout the year. I ask him about the Scout Oath, Law and other related items. Hopefully this prepares him for the transition to Boyscouts. Our Troop is nearing it's 2nd anniversary as a Troop and we experienced the same problems that Eagle has. The way we handled our first BOR was to coach the Scout on what to expect. We related it to a job interview - which is something that they all will have to do at some point. We stressed eye contact, introducing themselves, not sitting until told to, to treat the adults with respect ect. Were they still nervous - absolutely. Were they nervous the first time they rappelled, the first time they backpacked - absolutely. But it's amazing to witness a Scout come out of the BOR standing a little taller, with a grin from ear to ear and maybe a little more confidence in themeselves. YIS Paul

FOG Regarding my innocent until found guilty statement you replied with the following: "Nope, unless I missed something, the Constitution simply guarantees a speedy trial by a jury of peers. What sort of peers should a terrorist have on his jury? More terrorists?" If he isn't innoncent until these peers find him guilty why is he guaranteed a trial? Using your logic a person on trial for murder would have to have a jury of murderders. Why don't we just forget all of the legal stuff and allow Bush and Ashcroft to be the sole judge on who is guilty. Sure would save a lot of time.

Thanks Ed I think you pointed out the primary difference between you interpretation and mine of this reqirement. My belief is that the requirement is that the Scout isn't required to pack his bag. Getting the mother to let the boy "fly" is a different isssue. I believe that a Scout should do for himself. Paul

Ed and FOG I would be interested to know why your method of packing is so complicated that a Scout couldn't learn how to do it without actually packing. Our Troop uses the bag of bags method. A new scout can learn how to pack correctly by a simple visual observation. No hands on or practice required. On page 230 of the Boy Scout Handbook introduces the bag of bags concept and also how to load a Pack. A Scout could read this section and tell you how to pack. I know how to perform the Heimlich Manuever. However, I have never actual perfomed it. I can demonstrate the manuever, I can show how the manuever is performed and I can explain the proper way to perform it. I can do all of these without actually ever having performed the manuever. Just my 2 cents worth. It sounds as if the Scout is to be punished based on personal standards. Paul

Trail Pounder - with all due respect I believe that under our Constitition a U.S. Citizen is considered innocent until proven quilty by a jury of his peers. For you to state that he isn't innoncent means that your are either privy to information that the Bush Regime has not disclosed to the American Public or you don't believe in the Constitution. If he is guilty then try him in criminal courts - he has the same constitutional rights that both you and I have.

eisley, At this time I will only comment on the Padilla case. The last time I studied the structure of our government I understood that the Presdident was in charge of the Executive Branch and thus was charged with enforcing the laws as established by Congress. What Bush has done in the Padilla case is an obvious violation of Padilla's constitutional rights. It is a sad day when a U.S. citizen can be held without being told why he is being held and having no access to legal counsel. The criminal courts are the only place to prosecute Padilla.

There is a lot of good ideas here. This thought came to me as I was reading the posts. How about inviting the Webelos from you feeder pack (or other Packs) to attend your Troop meeting and witness the Boy Lead pack inspection. It would be good for the Webelos to witness a real activity and hopefully learn something.

Preface: Our Troop is a start up currently in our second year. How many boys registered? 9 How many boys active? 9 (Started with 7 one moved out of state and we've picked up 3 boys) How many Patrols? 1(we have committments from 8 Webelos to cross over this spring. This will give us our 2nd patrol and another NSP) Does your troop go to summer camp in or out of Council? In Council Does your troop go to Dist/Council Camporees? Yes (Our young scouts benefit greatly from these) Does your troop support FOS? Yes Does your troop sell Popcorn? If not, what are your fundraisers? Popcorn Does your troop use NSP, FCFY method? Yes Does your troop have a Venture Patrol? Not yet Does your troop have a feeder pack? Yes How does your troop recruit non-Cub Scouts? We try to invite the friends of our scouts to go with us on our day activites - hiking, sledding, movies ect. Has your troop seen your Unit Commissioner in the past 6 months? Never seen him or her. Is your Unit Commissioner helpful or a pain? Can't answer Does your troop leaders attend Roundtable? YEs How many members are on your troop committee? 5 Is your troop boy led? Yes but not enough. This is where I clash with our SM

Eagle Merit Badges earned during summer camp are valid (I don't always feel that the instruction is top notch). The Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures outline the requirements for Summer Camp advancement. It clearly states that the local Council's advancement committee is responsible for setting the procedures and that they must include the four processes for advancement - learning, testing, reviewing and recognition. There are also specific guidelines for Camp Merit Badge Counselors. The National Executive Board's policy statement on merit badge counseling states the following: "Group instruction and orientation are encouraged where special facilities and expert personnel make this most practical, or when Scouts are dependent on only a few counselors for assistance." Many of the badges offered during summer camp fulfill this statement. It is my belief that Merit Badge classes held during Troop meetings violate these procedures. The Advancement section on group instruction of merit badges states the following: "In harmony with this policy, a troop or team may use merit badge counselors i unit meetings. The merit badge counselor can make a presentation covering the highlights of a merit badge subject...." I feel that the meeting time can be used more productively. Paul

Eagle, I probably didn't phrase my post correctly. I feel that the Scout in this case didn't do the work, but once the Counselor signs the blue card then the Scout has earned the merit badge. This in and of itself would not keep the Scout from earning the rank. I think I would be concerned if I felt that he hadn't done any of the work on any of the rank requirements. On page 187 of the Hanbook it states the following: When you have decided on a merit badge you would like to earn, follow these steps: 1. Obtain from your Scoutmaster a signed merit badge application..... 2. Along with another Scout, relative, or a friend, set up and attend your first appointment with the merit badge counselor..... 3. Complete the requirements..... Maybe I'm being to strict but this sure doesn't sound like "show up at the troop meeting and you will earn your ____ merit badge." These steps are also outlined in the Advancement Committe Policies and Procedures. I debate these types of issues with myself constantly so I appreciate they thoughts and opinions of fellow Scouters.

Neil - I was aware of the boy who has been moved up a grade or home schooled who might technically be eligible to join. Here is something that I have pondered. I am the Advancement Chair and my understanding of the BOR is that it isn't a test but a process to insure that the youth has done the work (this is just one of the BOR goals). How do "Eagle Mill Troops" who hold merit badge classes during meetings and campouts justify their program. If I as a BOR participant have a Scout who earned 5 merit badges and I ask him what he gained by calling the merit badge counselors to make arrangements and his answer is I didn't have to because I earned them all during Troop meetings. Has this Scout done the work? Did he get a Blue Card and ask the SM to sign it? Did he get a list of Counselors from the SM? Did he call and make arrangements? Or were all these details done for him? My belief is that the Scout hasn't done the work - but is it his fault and if not should he be penalized? What are your thoughts?

Excuse me if I sound a little confused. Neilup you stated that is is possible for a Scout to earn his Eagle at the age of 10. Based on my knowledge of the requirements the minimum time it would take to earn Eagle would be 17 months. This would require that he earn his Tenderfoot,Second Class and First Class within the first 30 days. During this 30 day period he would have to go on 3 campouts and 7 additional Troop/Patrol Activities other than Troop and Patrol meetings. Further, in order to become a Boy Scout a youth has to meet one of the following: graduate 5th grade, Earn the Arrow of Light or be 11 years old. The AOL requirements state that the the youth must be active for 6 months since either turning 10 years old or graduation from the 4th Grade. In order to earn his Eagle while he is 10 years old - the minimum age for him to graduate from 5th grade would be 9 years,4 months and 29(30) days. YIS Paul

Camping Merit Badge Question How do you all view the hiking 2000 vertical feet requirement? Is it cumulative or does it have to be 2,000 at one time? Thanks

CubsRgr Our Troop just this past weekend attended our Districts Winter Klondike. Our Troop consists of 6 6th graders all of whom are second class. The boys came in 3rd place overall out of 12 patrols from 7 troops. Sounds like your boys were short changed by the PLC. Paul

NJ Sorry about the 3 day delay. I just attempted to click the link and received the same message as you. I typed the address in my address bar and was able to get to the website.

I found this interesting. It came from www.wicca.org. Most Witches don't believe in the Christian concept of God. As one Wiccan teacher put it, "My God does not have a beard nor does it hate women." They believe in an unknowable Ultimate Deity. Witchcraft, being the oldest religion/philosophy on earth, has its own pantheon of Gods and Goddesses that are used in a way similar to the way Catholics use Saints. Please also refer to information from our Pantheist friend for more on this subject

Ed The following is from the Advancement Committee Policies and Procdures: Eagle Scout Boards of Review The Boy Scouts of America has placed the Eagle Scout board of review in the hands of either the troop, team, crew, or ship committee or the district or council committee responsible for advancement. The council will decide and promulgate which method or methods may be used. At least one district or council advancement reprsentative shall be a member of the Eagle board of review, when conducted at the unit level, and may serve as chairman if so requested by the unit. Paul

I would like your thoughts regarding the following situation. We are a start up troop with only one patrol of 7 boys. One of the boy's Grandfather owns an Auction Co. and has let the Troop run a concession booth (coffee, hot dogs, ect.) at his auctions. We have worked two auctions since September. After expenses the Troop has made approx. $150 per auction. Our policy is to allocate 50% to the Troop with the remaining 50% going to the Scouts who worked the auction. Here is my question. We are expecting a second Patrol this spring. Is it appropriate to have a fundraiser that "belongs" to one patrol? Is this fair to the new Patrols? It isn't a large money maker but we most likely will bring in about $1,000 over the course of a year. Thanks Paul

On my honor I will do my best.... I can't speak for everyone but I do my best to obey the Scout Law. I'm sure that over the course of time I've broken several of them. For instance at times I've been known to be less than cheerful, my wonderful wife claims that I'm not thrifty and yes on campouts I've come home less than clean. I think that the key words are do my best. I want to be a Scout. I have read the Scout Oath or Promise and the Scout Law and promise to observe them. Also, I will attend troop and patrol meetings regularly. On my honor I will do my best to be a good member. The above is from the Boy Scout Application No. 28-209M. It doesn't say that the youth will believe in God or a God. It doesn't say that he will be religious. It says that he will observe the Scout Oath and Law. The Oath only says that he will do his best to do his duty to God. If a Scout truly thinks through the Belief in God issue and comes to the conclusion that there is no God then in my opinion he has done his best to do his duty to God. I believe that Mr. Lambert has fulfilled all of the requirements to be awarded with his Eagle Rank. To take it away from him because beliefs differ from ours would be spiteful and un-Scoutlike.

littlebillie To me the answer is obvious. If a Scout or Scouter is in the "closet" then they are okay. It is only when and if they come out do they become unacceptable. Paul