scoutldr

From our Council newsletter: There are some changes being made to the Quality Unit Award as of the 2007 year. The Centennial Quality Award, as it is called, is named in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. The Centennial Quality Awards program is designed to recognize units, districts, councils, areas, and regions in achieving excellence in providing a quality program to a growing youth population in America at all levels of the Boy Scouts of America. The new award begins in 2007 and continues until 2010. Each year that you qualify, you will receive recognition for that year. 2007 will have a red background, 2008 will have a white background, 2009 will have a blue background, and 2010 will have a red, white, and blue background. If the award is earned for all four years, there will be a special distinction developed to recognize groups at all levels in 2010. The main objectives for the award are: direct contact leaders complete Basic Leader Training for their position, including Youth Protection Training; to retain a determined percent of our members, recruit new youth, and recharter on time; commit to recruit new adults to be active; 60 percent of youth members advance in rank for Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting or earn Venturing recognition awards, or we improved by 10 percent over last year; youth members had an outdoor experience or one activity per month, and conduct annual program planning and provide the financial resources to deliver a quality program to our members. Additionally, the form allows you to share whether or not you have had visits from our unit commissioner this past year, and if your unit supported the council by participating in Friends of Scouting and the annual product sale.

If the MBC has signed off as "completed", then it's completed. The MBC is the final authority. Why is a scout being retested on a "completed" requirement?

I got one today for the first time. I just installed a new version of Norton.

Summer camps, at least in this area, are very competitive. I would write a letter to the SE and Camp Director of the camp in question, explaining what you have told us. Also explain, that in good conscience, your troop cannot continue to accept merit badges that are not properly earned and you will be looking elsewhere for your summer camp experience. It's likely that the Camp Director has no idea that there is no quality to his program.

My son recently received his degree...a BA in History. Now he realizes that Dad was right...a BA in History is pretty much worthless. But, as he said, "I'm sick of school and just want to graduate and get out." He wasn't interested in math or science because it was "too hard". And if he wants to teach high school history, which was his original plan, he needs two more years of school. Meanwhile, he landed a planning job in local government paying the handsome salary of $26,000 a year. Average apartment rents here are $1000 a month and up, so needless to say, he's still here in Dad's house. Another frightening thing is the apparent financial ignorance that is rampant. As the boomer generation starts retiring, very few have significant savings to sustain them through retirement. A lot of companies are ditching their pension plans in favor of 401k plans which the employee has to contribute to and actively manage if they are to be successful. The generation X and Y workers coming behind us are even less knowledgeable and aware. We're headed for a train wreck as a society. The business world and economy are much different than they were 20-40 years ago. Regular or Super Size?(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

I believe it's been discussed here before that BSA guidelines are that medications are the responsibility of the scout and his parents. Unit leaders are not obligated to take on that responsibility, and I for one would be hesitant to do so. Maybe it's because my wife is a school nurse, but I won't even give them a Tylenol. I hope you're carrying a huge umbrella liability policy.

You mean there are vacations OTHER than summer camp??? As I write this, the Today show is reporting that the average American worker forfeits 4 days of paid vacation per year. Reasons vary, but most feel that if they want to remain competitive in the workplace and meet workload expectations, they just can't afford the time off. Growing up, we never took the proverbial "family vacation" a la the Griswolds. We went to see grandparents maybe once a year for 2-3 days, but that was it. Dad was in the Navy and out to sea a lot. So I guess I don't know what I'm missing.

I thought I read a while back, that with the advent of on-line ordering from Scoutstuff.org, your local council shop now gets the "credit" for the sale. What that means exactly I don't know, but apparently that was the sticking point with bringing online ordering a reality.

Ditto what Lisa said. We are a small troop, so the adults pay their own way. That being said, the adult "patrol" does eat well!

Ok, the suspense is killing me. What's the "news"??? Or do I need a secret password?

I didn't receive it and have no idea what you're talking about. Looks like we have a class action, nldscout!

Wow, wonder what that was all about? That's what I get for not visiting every thread. I was wondering how the sizes are running? I am, shall we say, horizontally challenged...5'6" and a 44 waist in dress pants. But I find that BSA uniform pants run small...I need a 46 or 48 waist, then the crotch is down to my knees and I have to have about 14" trimmed off the cuffs. The end result looks pretty ridiculous. One reason why I hate BSA pants, and don't even attempt to order them online. I know, I know..."why don't you just slim down?"...but that's another forum and I'm not here for that kind of advice. I've TRIED growing taller, but it's just not working. So, are the sizes running true, or small as usual?

For what it's worth I observe that the parents do not share the same surname. Perhaps Dad's not available for camping because they are divorced and he doesn't have custody? In which case, Mom needs to buy herself a sleeping bag! I wonder if dissolving the unit would make the case moot. As a CO, this would certainly cure me of my desire to offer the BSA program. As a volunteer, I don't have a legal responsibility to provide anything for any kid that's not my own. If the parents want "equal access" and even special accomodations, they are free to form their own unit. Isn't this analogous to the gay/atheist debates, or the "no female leaders" debate? If the SCOTUS has determined that we are a private membership organization with freedom to determine our own membership rules, why is this an issue? The parents should be told, "sorry, those are our troop policies. You are free to find a troop with policies more to your liking."

Update: my laptop at home is working normally. Only have the problem at work. Might be a firewall issue, since it's the banner ads that seem to be getting blocked.

Around here, the boys are still on "summer vacation". School doesn't start until after Labor Day. Our last two Monday meetings were sparsely attended, in spite of the SPL calling each scout to remind them. Even then , they "forgot" to come to the meeting. I am hoping things will improve after school starts and they are out of "vacation" mode. As far as the meetings themselves, boys this age don't like being "talked at". They get enough of that in school. Make sure your meetings are fast paced, no more than 10-15 minutes on any one task. The more physical activity and "hands on" the better. Having them sit and listen to someone talk should be a last resort. There's a reason it's called the Scoutmaster's "Minute".

Me too!!! I thought it was my server but I guess not.

Or, we can go on making the best buggy whips in town, wondering why more people aren't buying them.

Aug 25, 11:09 AM EDT Scout's Pentagon Memorial set for dedication LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) -- A granite monument with a limestone remnant from the Pentagon is Joey Ricketts' Eagle Scout project and memorial to the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. The 5-foot memorial, installed this week in front of the American Legion Post 16, will be formally dedicated Saturday. The project brought Joey and his father, Bobby Ricketts, to northern Virginia earlier this summer to attend a private groundbreaking for the national Pentagon Memorial. There he met Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, other dignitaries and family members of some of the victims. The granite pedestal in Lynchburg features bronze plaques dedicating the monument to those who died at the Pentagon and aboard Flight 77 that day, including Col. David Scales. Scales' father, John Scales, is a longtime member of Post 16. Tiles with pictures of David Scales and the crash site are placed above the plaques. Another plaque that lists the names of the victims will go on the back panel. The pedestal also holds an interior piece of the Pentagon that a former employee donated to Joey. The monument is under a white cloth and black tarp until Joey and his father unveil it at the dedication ceremony Saturday. Some 500 people are expected. Bobby Ricketts said representatives from the Pentagon, as well as John Scales, are expected to give speeches at the event. The American Legion Honor Guard also will participate, he said. The ceremony will include music from the brass quintet of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra and the remaining members of a musical trio with whom David Scales played. David Scales was an accomplished pianist, Ricketts said. "I'm starting to learn that David was an inspiration to a lot of people," Joey's father said. Joey said he chose to create the monument for his Eagle Scout project because he felt that the victims of the Pentagon attack had not been recognized as much as those of the World Trade Center. He spent the better part of the past two years writing letters asking for donations and designing the monument. "Being a teenager, you don't want to be in the house writing letters; it was the last thing I wanted to do," he said. When he first began, he estimated the project would cost $6,000. But as more donations came in, it grew larger. The finished project cost about $11,000. He said he's looking forward to Sunday, when he can resume normal teen activities. "I hope to go to the mall, just to get out of the house," he said. --- Information from: The News & Advance, http://www.newsadvance.com/ 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.

As the EBOR chair, this person works for (or maybe IS) the District Advancement Chair. As has been written above, once the EBOR is over and the Eagle Application is signed , this "gentleman's" involvement is over. IF he's invited to the COH, it is as an invited guest and he should comport himself appropriately. The COH is a troop function, not a District or Council function, and as long as it's conducted in good taste and there's nothing that would embarrass the BSA or the Chartered Organization, the troop is free to design it as they see fit, with the input of the Eagle and his parents.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.

Been around scouting since the early 60's and collect memorabilia before that. Doesn't ring a bell. There was a khaki shirt without epaulettes briefly in the late 70's, but the other insignia you describe doesn't add up. Could have been a contrived uniform for the photo shoot perhaps because the BSA uniforms are registered trademarks and the BSA wouldn't grant permission? You see that frequently in movies.

I are one. My main function is to make sure I'm there when the Advisor can't be due to work or other commitments. The Chapter Chief is supposed to run the meeting, but I'm the "adult supervision" who makes sure the door gets locked at the end of the night. And, as my position description says at work..."other duties as assigned".

At least for the adults.

Yes, there was an agreement, which the city has terminated. No berth, no riprap. I don't see where there's anything to go to court over. The city is merely saying, "no more special deal...you must now pay for your berth." Analogous perhaps is our own Troop, who enjoyed a free 10x10 storage unit at the local Self Storage place. One day, the owner called and said he had to start charging us $40 a month (which was still half price). Did I consider going to court? No...we graciously thanked him for his years of support and started stroking a monthly check. We're just grateful to have a place to store the troop equipment. In return, he gives us a huge American flag about every three months to "retire" when he replaces it with a new one.

Congrats to your dad, Kichkinet. When your time comes, you will be honored appropriately. It's hard for me to envision a "Fall" Fellowship in August. We don't have Fall here until October!