Scoutfish

So does that mean I have to be committed against it, or just not for it? I believe in gay peoples rights to get married based on the fact they are human. Not due to one country's citizens imposing only certain religious "rights" on the Federal laws. Now, I said I feel they have the right. THis does not mean I am going to push it, nor do I deny it. I just believe they have the right to be married to the person they love..if they choose so. Persoanlly, it doesn't affect me either way! If two gays move in next door to the right of me, are they any more immoral than the neighbors on the left who are single and have wild drunken raving heterosexual sex parties? Are they any worse than the heterosexual neighbor caddy-corner and one block over who is cheating on his wife without even trying to hide it? Or the couple who love each other to death, have been totally faithful to each other, lived together for 9 years without getting married? ( I supose it's common law marrage now) Marrage is an understanding between two people. It is deciding that you want to be with that person for the rest of your life, and no one else. The act of getting married is only a ceremony to show how you feel and that you committed to each other. The ceremony does not make you respect each other , nor does it make you stay faithful. That's all in the heart. The marrage license is just a piece of paper so goverments can get some $$$ from it. So the thing to me is this: Who cares if they get mmarried? I am not gay. It doesn't take away from my marrage, it does not affect my marrage , not can I blame any gay people for any issues that arise in my marrage to my beautiful and loving wife of (almost) 15 years. And if anybody says gays being married ruined their heterosexual marrage..they are just looking for scapegoats! So I guess it doesn't suprise me that more people are supporting it, as they realize it doesn't hurt, demean, or change the status or dynamics of their own marrages.(This message has been edited by scoutfish)

I have seen the 5.11's in Quartermaster. The only difference I can think of that makes them different from military surplus is a new/better fabric Now, I'm not sure about the surplus stores in your area, but they are different here: ex-military vets( stoners) or retired vets own them here. The clothing, boots, most equipment uis brand new, but you can get some WWII and Viet Nam era used stuff. Oh, around here, 4 types of people go into the surplus shops: 1)Those who are active military who want to save some $$$ by going to a surplus shops instead of a base supply house.They know what they are talking about. 2) People who want to look the part and act the part, but would never consider being the part. 3(War and militart buffs. Same as train buffs and car bufs, but differet outfits. 4) People like me who want to save a few dolars for something practical. Not everything is camo. I have a pair of OD green pants that are very, very similar to my $40.00 scout uniform pants....except I only paid $25 for them brand new. I use these when we do outdoor service projects involving stuff like dirt, treecutting/hualing, etc.. I have 3 pair of dark navy blue EMS pants that I bought fromtrhe surplus too. They are more comfortable/ less itchy/ cooler than the poly work unifom pants my company provides. I bought my son's first pocket knife there too. He earned his whittling chip using a 1 1/2inch lock blade with a thicker handle that fit his hand better for $6.00. And not exactly the scout shop, but all kinds of very cool camping stuff there too. 2)

Well, It is a 3/4 inch size plastic shamrock pin with MDA on it. Was gonna wear it on my collar. Not as a representation of BSA' support, but of my own. Was only gonna be for a meeting or two. Not long term. But not somethimng I absolutely have to do. More of an idea really.

Yep! You got me to rights! Called me out , plain and simple. I guess I see the light now. Next leaders meeting, I , as the CubMaster, will tell al leaders that we are going to discipline or remove any parent for speaking anything other than English. Mater of fact, I will specifically and enthusiastically call out each ethnically differt person, explain how their talking so as I cannot understand it is "rediculous garbage" and I will not stand for it. I do hold the reigns afterall. So what if we have 3 Indian( that's from India, not Native Americans , by the way) 2 Phillipino, 1 Korean, and 1 German descnded scout in my pack. And since I am of German, Columbian, English, Romainian , Scandinavian, and Italian bloodlines...I know exactly what I am talking about. I am practically Hexalingual! So how's that? Would that make me more scoutlike?

First off...In your original post, you made plenty of references to the moms being polish. Not just being loud or dissruptive. You plainly stated the problem was that they spoke ina language that the Non Polish speaking COULD NOT UNDERSTAND. Yet you confirmed that they were being talked about hatefully. The purpose of this? You say the Polish ( not Poles, by the way anymore than Japanese are Japs!) Are "suddenly a problem this year. You mean since you became an ACM? As for little experience: You mean with diverse backgrounds? I have a huge lifetime of the most diverse friends and family you can imagine( Colombian, German, French, Scandinavian, English, Romanianetc..and that's just bloodline, not even accounting for marrage. Scouting rules? You are the one looking for a rule to squash people from talking because a hsandfull of moms got paranoid. Or in general? Working with or living around or just plain interactting with people? Or position? I an a CM who was a ADL who was a volunteer parent before that. I was asked by my pack to become CM as I just happen to get along with EVERYBODY...including the 2 Indian ( from India, not Native Amnericans),the one Jewish,the 3 Asian ( sorry, could be Korea, Japan, or China) one Russian, and one who is from the Phillipines. Funny, you say that having no idea about us? Un scoutlike? Umm? Who is trying to silence people here? Not I or Lisabob. Nasty? Who called the moms speaking in Polish "rediculous Garbage " ? And then what? You gonna act very "scoutlike" and kick the moms out because you know "some" Polish? and because they do not speak "the right language"? Are you going to tell them to speak English or else? "Yes, it's a freakin' soap opera that needs to wrap it up" WEll, we definantly agree on this one! Again, just because we didn't agree with - it doesn't make our statemenst any less valid. And as far as attack, you are the one basically saying : "If you do not agree with me, you are idiots who know nothing." Yes, very scoutlike indeed. I bet as soon as you become CubMaster and take ahold of "the reigns" things will just become peachy keen at "Pack English only".

Inmy experience, so are Asians, Blacks, Cajuns , Rednecks , and WHITE PEOPLE! They do! There policy is no policy, but you do not like it and are trying to find some sort of loop hole!

Council is allowing boy to remain in scouting, higher authority rules. Here's another thought too: Every situation has it's own chemistry. It could very well be that this boy's chemistry reacted with another boy'schemistry within your troop. Maybe the atmosphere wasn't quite right. Not saying anybody is too blame, but it happens. I used to have a freinds that, when ever we hung out, we go into trouble. But when we were apart, we were really good kids . Chemistry is a funny thing. SEcondly, something in his life may have changed wether naturally, or due to the therapist. Not your place or mine to question or jusge it. You had him removed from your troop. Council pursued further investigation and he's still in. Pursueing it further would be revenge.

I cannot imagine it being anything more than a case of " We don't know what they are saying and we just don't like it!" Seriously, the most disruptive thing I have seen at Tiger meetings is the Tigers abundant energy levels...which is actually cool in jmy book! They are so eager to learn, you can't hardly speak without them interupting and asking questions. Again, that's a cool thing since it means they are interested and they are not too scared to participate. Now as for the CM splitting the pack....does he really have the authority and power to do this? I'm thinking that this is MAYbe something the committee could do, but really thinking that is something only the COR or CO could do.

First, your CO should do some sort of basic minimal check. If nothing else, check references and see if you have a red flag locally. As far as BSA, they check it first. Once your turn out okay, the pace slows down a bit. Getting info, putting it in the system isn't the only thing they do, so it get shuffled in with everything else. But I'll say this: Your number was in the system before you found out what it was by getting the id card. Not sure about other councils, but ours only prints cards in numbers. Not individual. Might be your number was in the system fora little while, but they only recently printed up a handful of cards.

FDepends on your pack. In our pack, we buy our own. But I decided that as CM, starting next year, I'm gonna buy one for each leader who has it. I will present it to them at a pack meeting when they earn it. Might set me back around $40.00 at first, but then after that, looking at maybe $7 or $8 a year

When I went to BALOO, it was recorded as BALOO...which , is correct. When I went to Pow-Wow, it was recorded as Pow-Wow, not the 6 individaul break down subjects. But again, this is just in my council, and not on a National registry. Probably cause PW is not a specific skill or class , nor is it a safety thing like SSD, SA . YPT, WP, etc...

Go out and buy a baseball card collector type photo album. Put those cards from training in there and save them. If for some reason the council "loses" any of your info or myscouting somehow dumps the info, this is your backup files.

Nah, I believe it is as an SAdult in the troop. I think you saw something that wasn't right, and mentioned it and also brought it to the attention of those who should handle it ( although I think you did just fine yourself). Is it your buisness? Yep! Just as long as you don't make it your only buisness..which seems to not be the case here. A scout salute to you!

Gotta wonder if the parents were the parents at scout fuctions who tried to bend the rules, get signoffs behind the SM's back, and were the tuype who thought every scout activity we all about their own child only. Maybe rolling up a tent was just as good as actually pitching a tent. Maybe mom and dad only brought junior to 4 den meetings all year long, but had a sheet that said Junior did every single Beltloop and pin. If so, then the boys did learn well....just from the wrong teachers!

You don't record your trainings. Council does that. It's be too easy for anybody to just type in they took training in everything offered. But what you can do is go to your profile, and edit in your BSA id number to your account . If you did not have a number before, all you had was a name and some info. Edit it and put in your BSA ID # and your council name. This will then tie all the info in together,. May take a few hours to a week, but it will eventually mesh together. Now, after this is done, all future trainings will automatically sync up to your profile.

I just need to clear this one thing up. What you describe is not in any way considered "Den Camping". Den camping is den camping because only the den goes...without the rest of the pack. Not because parents want to drop off the scouts. You are correct tha6t only Webelos can go den camping, but this only means the Webelos den can go on an organized and BSA sanctioned camping trip without it being a pack event. No other dens or ranks are necessary for the Webelos to go camping. The rest of the dens do not have this ability. If the rest of the dens want to go camping as a den, they cannot. THis is in the pack though, if only one den opts to go to a council camp or district camp, that is another matter alltogether. But at that point, it is still not a den campout, but a district/council campout. Now back to parenst dropping them off: NO! But as mentioned above, if a parent cannot attend, they can make arrangements and see that the scout has a guardian for the trip who is responcible for that scout. Personally, I'd get the parent to sign something to that extent just to CYA.

AWESOME! I'd send you a high five, but that's how I broke my computer monitor last time!

Basement, I feel that SOMETIMES you can be a touch too rough and gruff. But this is not one of those times. It's one thing to think a scout could do a little better, do a little more than what he is and maybe even put more effort in his work. But that does not fit the bill here. It's had to think he could work harder if he ain't working at all. I do see a future in scouting for this kid though...he's gonna be one of the parents who does nothing but complain at every function, every event, and find fault with everybody...yet will not lift a finger to help out or participate or even come up with a soulution. Personally, I think you you are seeing this the right way. Let this one scout do things ( or lack of) his own way, and you might as well just tell al the scouts that merely showing up meets all requirements.

So it all comes down to common sense...which is.....in short supply!

Our move up with their sons. Except of course, the CM and ACM and various committee members. One of our Wolf leaders this year is going to jump back to Tiger DL next year since his youngets is going to ba a Tiger, but he has done a great job of grooming the ADL to be a DL for the future Bears.

Based on the part of G2SS quoted in your original post I'd say YES amd NO. Yes: there is mention and therefor, a set and written policy on sheath knives. No: They are not banned nor is an exact specific use stated by BSA. The thing is, the policy states : "Avoid large sheath knives. They are heavy and awkward to carry, and unnecessary for most camp chores except for cleaning fish." So Policy says that you do not need them to peel potatoes, carve staves. slice tomatoes, or pick food from between your teeth. But you may end up cleaning fish. Now, it doesn't list anything else, but I am sure there are practical used for it. I have found out on my own, that my Rapala fillet knife is a great pork roast slicer, and a great Thanksgiving Turkey carver. I'd be the guy using a sheath knife to cut watermellon, cantalope, beef, peeling potatoes,removing the saftey seal off a bottle of ketchup, etc.. But then, I use a sheath knife more than any other knife and have become more comfortable with them than any other knife. Oh yeah, my Rapala is great for filleting Flounder, spanish Mackeral, and cleaning/skinning Red Drum .

It's the polyester. It doesn't breath good enought and as a result, acts as an insulator to you..ecept when it's cold and would be welcomed. I had this same issue with my poly/cotton work shirts . I'd change shirts 5 times a day because they would be so wet, youcould literaly wring out a cup and a half of water. Plus the poly will rub your skin raw when wet. I started wearing the Under Armour heat gear/compression shirts underneath...and found out WalMart sells the same shirt in the "Starter Athletic" brand for a cheaper price( $12.00) . I can now wear one shirt all day and it hardly gets damp at al. The Starter shirt somehow sucks up the sweat and let's it evaporate without me being as hot or my outer shirt getting soaking wet. I buy mine a size larger than it'seant to be though. Still fitted next to my skin, but not as tight as it was designed to be. It is a compression shirt after all.

Almost everyday, I go throuh a Bojangles drive-thru on the way to work. They have awesome biscut combos and the best tea of any fast food joint around. WEll, okay, they are also the only place on that side of the hiway in all 30 miles from home to work! But still, they have the best tea - hands down! So they are selling shamrocks right now to support MDA. I have a collection of 12 or so on my dash. So to the point of the post: I'm kinda thinking about wearing one on my collar to show my support. Yeas, I know it is not officail, not is it BSA endorsed. Nah..I really don't care. I figure I am no more implying BSA is supporting MDA anymore than I would be implying support for Bojangles, Texaco, Food Lion, Wal-Mart or Home Depot if I happened to be wearing my uniform when I stopped by those places. But I am saying that I support MDA...which is my point.

Yeah, to echo what Clemlaw said and to be more in depth with what I posted earlier: June 1st is a date National chose because it was a "well, why not" date. Every pack, district, or even council may have different dates based on their own ideas or dates based on their school caledar. Thing is, evert school system ...right down to the county level ( at least in NC ) sets it's own start/stop dates. So instead of figuring out what school system or state to follow, National goes with June 1st. Truth be told, that might not be the entire technically correct truth, but close enough ( as I was told by my DE) for practicallity's sake. So you can call your Tiger a Tiger until the first day of the next season of scouting, or you can call him a Wolf on the last day of this season. Or you can have a graduation ceremony anywhere in between abd graduate him to the next rank. We have a graduation campout/pack campout in April. When those boys are done with the ceremony Sat night, we consider the the next rank. But at this time, we start cooling off a bit and most activities are of the beltloop/pin nature anyways and are not necessarily rank specific or constrained.