scoutldr

I have shared this rant before, but I think a troop-run MB program circumvents the intent of the MB program and short-changes the boys. The point of the MB program is to promote initiative, adult association (NOT being group-spoonfed 5 MB from "Joey's mom"), and the chance to meet some real experts in the subject. If it were up to me, I would not allow "Troop XX Only" MBCs. They would be recruited and managed at the district level to ensure quality control. One of the things I miss from the old Exploring program was the way we passed on our expertise to the Scouts. Our Post was sponsored by a Vol Fire Dept and Rescue Squad, and we regularly staffed camporees, OA events, and offered MB classes. We were all Certified by the ARC (as a 16 year old, I was an Advanced First Aid Instructor and Water Safety Instructor), and in fire fighting and heavy-duty rescue. When we turned 18 we were eligible to become real members of the squad. We offered real expertise, a quality training experience, and we had real equipment to go with it for show and tell, including a fully equipped and licensed ambulance.

I found at least one other council on Google who is offering "up to 40%" commissions to the units.

Just goes to show that no matter what I say, someone is sure to be offended. So, with that as a given, I no longer attempt to be PC.;-) The National Capitol Area Council HQ in Bethesda, MD was donated by Mr. Marriott (the hotel guy and prominent Mormon). Perhaps he will help out the Philly kids, as well.

What do I really think? I think the BSA has painted themselves into a lose-lose corner. If they cave, they lose mega-dollars in support from the religious sector (LDS, et. al.)which the organization can't survive. If they don't cave, our support from corporations, Government and United Way continues to decline and we disappear anyway. Hate to say it, but I think the GSUSA got it right. No chartered organizations...just groups of neighborhood families getting together to do the right thing for the kids...ALL kids.

I, too am now unable to edit. I used to be able to. Moderators???

For the record, I do not agree with the BSA policy on discrimination. I have not met many gay Cub Scouts (or adults for that matter) that I would call a threat to my, or anyone else's safety. Also for the record, I believe that sexual orientation and pedophilia are two separate issues. Like OGE, I would hope that all scouting functions are asexual, but also being realistic and the father of two young men (and I used to be a teenager myself with raging testosterone), I recognize that human beings are sexual in nature and things will happen in the natural course of growing up. Our challenge is to teach young people the ethics and morals necessary to control those urges, regardless of their orientation. I like the "local option" approach that others have advocated here. I think it is a shame that the BSA is willing to throw an entire Council under the bus lest their religious mega-sponsors get pissed off and withdraw support. Sorry for the non-PC verbage, but do I have it about right, Irving?

What a beautiful building that the Scouts built and paid for! That must mean that the land lease alone is $200K per year. I wonder how that stacks up to standard rates in the Phila area? Looks to me that the building is worth at least $10 million. I think the city should buy the building and the scouts can build elsewhere. Problem solved. 800 inner city kids denied Scouting. I'm sure Jesse and Al will be there shortly demonstrating in the streets.

"What are the ATM fees up to these days? Having to pay money just to get our own money back from the bank!" No offense to the Beav, but I keep hearing this whine, and I don't understand it. I am a member of a federal credit union. Use of their ATMs are free to members. Only if I want to use the ATM of a bank of which I am not a member/customer do I get charged a fee. I feel this is a reasonable price to pay for the convenience of not having to drive 20 miles to my own credit union. It is even more of a convenience when I am out of town. Why do people expect a bank to provide them a free service? If it's not YOUR bank, it's not YOUR money. They are loaning you theirs until they can get it from YOUR bank. I do know of a bank that charges fees for everything...every check you write, every teller transaction, every savings deposit. I choose not to bless them with my business. In this area, public transportation is non-existent. You can't even get a Taxi unless you call and make an appointment. It would take me 2 hours to get to work by bus, and I would still need a car to get me to the closest bus stop (park-n-ride). I can drive myself in 30 minutes, and my employer provides a free attached parking garage, so I don't even have to go out in the weather. I am free to leave work when I want, without being tied to a schedule. They are trying to get a "light rail" system started, but it would only be one straight line ... 98% of the population do NOT live within walking distance of a station. I guess you gotta start somewhere. If we had a system like the DC Metro, I would use it all the time.

Let me say this with kindness...determining which sources are "credible" is NOT your business and will land you in hot water. You do not have that authority. Your job is to discuss the YP matter with your SE (no one else at Council...just the SE) and turn it over to him/her. If the lady is indeed a crack-pot, the SE probably already knows her.

It''s a well known fact that if you ask a group for volunteers, most will sit on their hands and remain silent. You need to decide what''s an acceptable number for YOU to be comfortable. Then notify the Cubmaster what your limit is. It''s his/her job to then organize (or re-organize) the dens and find new leaders. I agree, 13 is unreasonable, and for the life of me, I don''t understand this new trend toward "mega-dens". Yes, you need more parent volunteers, but that''s the way the program is designed.

The COR is an ex officio member of the District Committee. They are the ONLY ones who have a say representing your CO and Unit at the District and Council levels. That''s a pretty important job, if you ask me.

Thanks and good luck, Pint! In the US, girls can only join Venture Crews (age 14-21). Sleeping arrangements must be separate and a female adult advisor must be present on all outings.

"Is sexual behavior automatically disqualifying?" I am here to say "no". I have related the story of a young man who proudly admitted to the EBOR that he had fathered a child out of wedlock (which of course brought up the "morally straight" question). He appealed to District and was awarded the Eagle. Many on this forum had no problem with that. So, fornication with a girl is ok...fornication with other boys is not. I think the answer is to present the issue to your CO. They own the unit. If they choose to pursue it, it''s between them, the boy and the BSA. The BSA and the CO establish criteria for membership via the charter contract...not the individual unit leadership. If he has posted such a web page, even if it''s not true, it is un-scoutlike behavior that should not go unanswered.

Congratulations! This is an achievement you will carry with you the rest of your life.

I appreciate someone taking the time to scan all this. Unfortunately, those of us who can spell would never find it ... "Woods of Wisedom"?

As a former District training chair, I presented many courses by myself. I always offered a course critique, but most of the comments were critical of the course materials/syllabus which I had no control over. When I did dare to deviate from the syllabus and answer the many questions of the students, we quickly went off schedule. There is just enough time in the schedule to read the materials to the students and play the videos...nothing more. Even in 2004, the materials were outdated. CS training was the worst. The Council office would advertise the course and handle quotas, as "Cub Scout Leader Specific" training. So, I would get the list of registrants the day before (if I was lucky), and would have 2 CMs, 2DLs, 2 WDLs, some committee members and some assistants. Now these are all supposed to be separate courses, but the Council pros refused to advertise it that way, because they wanted the numbers. So I would do the best I could, and suffer the bad comments of the students who, for whatever reason, didn''t have their expectations met. Very frustrating. Also, if I were to present the training as designed, it was up to me to provide all handouts, a laptop, and LCD projector (about $5 grand and $100 for a bulb if it happens to blow). The council office would not do ANY Xeroxing for free, even though they collected $10 for the training from each student. I did inherit a case of BSA books, but they were all obsolete, and there was no training budget to replace them. I woke up one day and realized it was "too hard" and resigned my position, since they weren''t interested in doing a good job...just in increasing the numbers of "TRAINED" leaders.

I would tell the parent that as long as he is already registered, you would be more than happy to form a new Den and install him as the WDL. With 13 boys per den, (ideal is 6-8), there is more than enough to form a new den. But since he acted like an ass, I would not go out of my way to accomodate him. Of course your CO has the final word...not the CM.

I once looked into it, because I figured..."the only thing better would be getting paid for this." The reality is the Pro side is vastly different. It is described as a sales job, with quotas and everything. Your job would be to increase donations, members, and units. If you don''t perform and meet your goals, you''re gone. In your spare time, you''re expected to do all the District committee work that you can''t find volunteers for. When you figure the hours (incl nights and weekends), the pay can be less than minimum wage, with no overtime.

All unit fundraisers MUST be approved in writing by the Council. I trust this was done? http://www.scouting.org/forms/34427.pdf

What about an SE who requires his DEs to call every scout who is "lined thru" on the recharter roster. If the parent says, "yes we still want to belong", he is added back to the roster and the unit sent a bill for the fee. It doesn''t matter if the scout hasn''t been seen in a year.

As an animal lover, I feel your loss deeply. I am a cat person. I seem to connect with cats on an almost telepathic level. Stray cats will let me hold them when no one else can get close. We understand each other, like another human can''t. My first cat, Sydney was an SPCA special. Shortly after getting married (at age 20!), my new bride got the maternal urge. Not being ready financially or mentally, I said, "how about a kitten?"...so off we went to the SPCA. Thirteen years later I had to hold him while the vet administered the injection. It was, to this day, the hardest thing I ever had to do. I missed three days of work. My current buddy, Sam, the black alley cat, is almost 14. He got his name because we found him in the gutter at Sam''s Club on Thanksgiving eve...a frozen furr ball all of five weeks old. I know the day is coming, but I can''t stand to think about it. He has slowed down, but still wakes me up at 0515 sharp every morning to go to work, and when we are sick, he''s there by our side in the bed like a faithful watchdog. We have conversations regularly, and he talks back in a language that only we understand, but the meanings of the meows are unmistakable. My wife swears that when he goes, there will be "no more animals" in her house. I hope she''ll be happy living alone. It seems the "new lady in your life" was sent for a reason. God will fill the void if you accept the gift.

So, if I send Johnny an e-mail once in a while, or "regularly", and he still doesn''t respond or show up, he''s considered "active"? So, it is really just about the numbers. Horsehockey.

As a health professional who deals in this stuff, I have to say the risk is minimal. As long as the boys are not chewing on the things, there is little chance that the lead will enter the body. Keep them away from little ones, who put everything in their mouths. This recall is just a CYA move to make the lawyers happy.

As I tell others in my profession, "if you hold yourself out to be an expert, you have a duty to be one."

What, has the BSA hired someone in Irving to think up ways to alienate the volunteers? They''re sure doing a good job of it. Just another factoid to reinforce my decision to retire beadless. What a crock.