scoutldr

Well there's at least one advantage to single man tents...there's at least an outside chance that they'll change into dry underwear before going to bed...

"We used to have an absolutely wonderful scouter who had all kinds of breathing snoring issues...Everyone would wait to see where he would pitch his tent and then try to park as far from him as possible...then at night most of us alternated between wondering when the "Kodiak bear fight" would end ....or during numerous silences wondering if he would take another breath....(breathe steve breathe!)" This is a classic description of sleep apnea, a serious condition that can result in stroke or sudden death in the middle of the night. Not something that you want a bunch of 12 year olds to wake up to! I was diagnosed and now sleep with a CPAP machine, which limits my camping activity to areas in reach of an electrical outlet. I also wear ear plugs to drown out those who are too macho to sleep with a machine. I once spent a miserable night sitting in front of the fire listening to the cacophony echoing through the woods. Our troop is small, and everyone supplies their own equipment. Scouts arrange their own tenting buddies and if they choose to sleep alone, they are allowed. We have a 14 year old who is 6 foot 4, weighs close to 300 and has size 14 feet. He gets to sleep alone! I can see the issues with a mega-troop and space limitations, but for most troops, it's not an issue. Rowdiness is handled appropriately. Some people just like to make rules where no problem exists!

Sorry ... double post again.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Where does it say that kids must be entertained and "have fun" every waking moment? I think that's the problem...today's kids (and parents) think that if they are not having fun and thoroughly "psyched" about an activity, it's a waste of time. Every BOR, I ask the question, "what would you do to make the troop better?". Answers are "more camping", "more games", "no MB homework", and "less boring meetings". I tell them that the guy who can fix that for them is in the mirror...go talk to him. Activities won't happen unless they plan it. And that sometimes means sitting down around a table and talking about the boring details. Preparing them for life? YOu betcha. If all parents want is entertainment, then let them sit home with their Xbox.

The "district has no commissioners", yet the DE gets a promotion? What am I missing here?

I know some youth and adults who are registered with units only so they can participate in OA. Never see them at unit meetings or activities.

This is wrong on so many levels...what are these people thinking? If the Lodge Advisor doesn't straighten this out, have a chat with your Scout Executive, who also wears the hat of "Supreme Chief of the Fire" in the OA Lodge. If this is the only way that the Chapter can get attendance at meetings, then there is something seriously wrong with the youth leadership and program.

The easiest way to avoid these situations is to avoid making rules that don't make sense. Who cares when the car was made? Do you also disqualify cars that are purchased on eBay? I was a CM and DL for 6 years. THere were many instances when a Cub would bring his book in with all kinds of things signed off by "Akela"...the Cub had no idea he had done all those things. It's not our job to second guess the motives of parents in such matters. All we can do is make it clear to the scout and parents what the expectations are and then trust that they understand. I had a wake up call two weeks ago...and I'm realizing that some things in life just aren't worth worrying about. This would be one of them.

I don't actually "log in" either. Just getting the page to appear is near impossible. This time took me 5 tries. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining (well, I guess I am). I dearly appreciate this free resource. If it's a money issue, let us know ... we can do an on-line fundraiser...I for one would be willing to contribute towards a new gweebo disk or whatever. Since I won't be stroking a check to FOS this year...(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Navigating this website has become painfully slow. It's taking me 5-6 attempts to log on, getting the "timeout" error message. I have high speed cable modem at home and a T-1 line or better at work. I'm addicted to this site and it's really frustrating!!!!!

Ditto, tmonahan. I ordered a pair from scoutstuff.org and had to exchange them at the SCout shop for a larger size...also the shortest I could get was a 30 inch inseam and they drag the ground. I can't wear anything off the shelf and have to pay to have everything shortened...which you can't do with these because of the zipper at the cuffs. The Velcro is a good idea, maybe I'll try to add some. They do fit better through the seat and thighs than the old style, but I still like my cotton gabardine uniform from the 60's a lot better.

First of all, the SM does not advance a scout. The Troop Committee (BOR) does. What the SM does not give, the SM cannot take away. I have never heard of a scout being "demoted", and the district advancement committee would probably approve an appeal.

Lawyer disclaimer...I'm not one. Your insurance company will probably settle out of court, if they can...whether you're in the wrong or not. It's a lot cheaper than litigation, and IMHO, that's a significant flaw in our system of jurisprudence. Oh, and then your insurance company will drop your butt like a hot potato. Just ask those in the southeastern coastal hurricane zones whose homeowners insurance got canceled this year.

I still don't see a rational explanation as to why the OA needs to have a different definition of "adult".

Thanks, AK. Apparently we're supposed to be celebrating 100 years of world Scouting in 2007. Looking at the website was the first I'd heard about it. I agree, seems like BSA is a non-participant, saving the festivities for 2010. Shame.

Not sure what patch you are referring to...the Centennial Quality Unit award will be worn on the right sleeve in place of the Quality Unit patch. It has no rockers, to my knowledge.

I have to agree, I think summer camp is too busy to also try to do an ordeal. "Callouts", (tapouts were outlawed years ago), happen at the campfire, but Ordeals are separate weekends, twice a year. There is so much that happens at an Ordeal, that I think the intended purpose of the Ordeal would be diluted and the candidates distracted in a summer camp setting. In our Lodge, the Ordeal weekend is also a camp work weekend for Lodge members...the Spring weekend is focused on getting camp ready for the summer. We also do the ice cream social thing one night at camp, where all Arrowmen wear their uniforms with sashes.

As we say, grab a log and a cuppa coffee and join the campfire! We are good people, every one of us. Sometimes the tempers and opinions fly, but that's because we all share this passion called Scouting and we all want it to succeed and flourish.

It's interesting to me that, in spite of the BSA trying hard since it's origins NOT to look like a paramilitary organization, the Sea Scouts still wear a Navy uniform. In fact, the BSA does not produce SS uniforms, they are authorized to buy them from the Navy. Only the insignia are different. So, if the SS are not a "military" organization, why do they want to look like one? Couldn't they wear the Venturing uniform and still do the same activities? If kids want to learn the history and traditions of the Navy and look like Sailors, they can join the Sea Cadets or NJROTC. That being said, I think the SS are a wonderful organization steeped in tradition. I'm just trying to figure out the mixed messages.

Per BSA advancement requirements, Den Chief is on the approved list as a POR. The SM does not decide this. If a Scout wants to be a Den Chief and the Pack approves, he's in. If he goes to DC training, he can wear the TRAINED strip as well. If the Troop will not give him a position patch, the Pack can present it. If the SM will not give him advancement credit for a POR, you can appeal to the District Advancement Committee. I have a hard time with these leaders who think they can make up their own rules, especially when it comes to advancement requirements.

Could be that the troop doesn't know there are different versions of the kit available. I certainly didn't until reading it here. I much prefer my sterling Eagle medal from 1970 to the present version, which looks cheap and more "stylized".

Where do you get them new brooms? We could use one.

Good question! I don't have a clue, but I think this points out the dilemma of having two different definitions of "adult" in the Scouting program. I have never seen a rational explanation for the double standard. PS: The other requirement is that a candidate must be approved by his SM to be elected.

Ahhh thanks for the explanation. I think we called it "geedunk" back in the 60's. Or maybe that was the trading post...aka "geedunk stand". Now, our troop calls it "stash". Each scout brings his own supply. The adults bring peanuts (salted in shell only), pub mix, fruit, pistachios, and homemade jerky.

Distracted driving caused wreck that killed three Boy Scouts By DAVE FORSTER, The Virginian-Pilot February 9, 2007 | Last updated 6:14 PM Feb. 8 Distracted driving caused the wreck in November that killed three Boy Scouts and an assistant scoutmaster near Franklin, State Police concluded. The sole survivor of the wreck, 12-year-old Michael-John Oliver, told investigators that his father, John Oliver, became distracted while driving, said Sgt. D.S. Carr, a State Police spokesman. Officially, the cause was driver inattention, Carr said. He would not describe the nature of the distraction. Were not going to get into any of that, he said. We dont want parents back there guessing if it was their son who caused it. Reached by phone Thursday, Kent Stephenson, whose 14-year-old son, Carter, died in the crash, said only: It was an accident. None of the other families of those who died could be reached. Residents of the close-knit rural areas poured by the hundreds to the four funerals. The Suburban that crashed was part of a two-vehicle caravan returning on Nov. 5 to Franklin from a weekend camping trip. It veered off Va. 35 near Sebrell, hit a tree and burst into flames. Michael-John Oliver was in the front passenger seat, twisted around and talking to his friends just before the accident, according to an account his mother, Natalie Oliver, gave in an interview last year with The Virginian-Pilot. He turned back around in time to see the SUV headed for the tree and screamed Daddy! Michael-John broke his leg in the crash and crawled out of the Suburban. A motorist who stopped to help pulled him from the wreckage. Investigators spoke with the boy shortly after the wreck but waited to release his account until they had seen the final toxicology results on the driver, Carr said. Investigators did not suspect John Oliver, 43, was under the influence of any drugs, and the tests proved that, Carr said. In addition to John Oliver and Carter Stephenson, Luke Drewry, 12, and Jackson Fox, 13 also were killed.