scoutldr

As a result, I think that ALL registered leaders (at a minimum) and ALL parents be encouraged to take the on-line Youth Protection training...then the parents will understand what rules we live with and why. I also agree that it appeared to be an off-the-cuff remark with no nefarious intent, and that the TC is over-reacting. I agree with those who think a quiet one-on-one counseling is all that is needed. Is the TC equally intent on disciplining the scouts who started the whole thing?

It's making a connection that feeds us The Virginian-Pilot August 19, 2006 I'M USUALLY THE ONE patting the knee of the meeting organizer. "It's not about you," I croon. "I know you lined up nine experts and stapled 200 handouts and only eight people came to the meeting, but it was good for those eight people, wasn't it?" Those days are over, friend. The next time someone complains to me about lack of attendance at a school meeting, church group or ship function, I'm gonna snap. "Don't you get it? We are not JOINERS!" I will holler, shredding my handout. "We are a whole generation that does not join things. We exchange e-mail addresses; we don't attend meetings. We look stuff up on the Web. "Face it, groups-of-all-kinds, it's over. We're not that into you!" Everyone will stare at me openmouthed. Then those same eight people will form a committee to deal with my welfare. It seems to me that technology has eliminated the need we used to have for groups. The information and instruction and camaraderie I used to find when I went to local meetings, I now get online. And I don't have to find a place to park. I see this as making us all a little more capable of standing on our own two feet. We seem to prefer it that way. So shouldn't the school and the church and the ship recognize this, update their Web sites and quit begging for our attendance? Maybe not. Sociologist Jean Twenge says even though I'm right that today's generation of young people are not big joiners, I'm dead wrong about the ultimate value of standing on your own two feet. In her book, "Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled - and More Miserable Than Ever Before" (Free Press), Twenge says this belief that we need to stand alone all the time is one of the strange offshoots of being trained from toddlerhood to focus on the self instead of the group. "We were taught to believe in ourselves and that we have to love ourselves first," she said in a recent interview. "The downside of this is that the self is not a very good support mechanism. For mental health we need other people." In the research, Twenge found that people with good social connections consistently trump the own-two-feeters. Joiners have less anxiety, less depression, fewer ailments. "Human beings are social animals. We are hard-wired to need other people." So why don't we do it, Maybe because the computer and the TV and the phone don't belch or cough or get up when you sit down next to them. Maybe because we feel that we are plenty connected with thousands of people we communicate with online. And yet, as connected as I am, I haven't invited one person to go for a walk since I moved here. No one online notices when my allergies are bothering me or when I have a good hair day. Maybe that's why Twenge says we are a generation starving for affection. "We live on a junk food diet of instant messages, e-mail and phone calls rather than the healthy food of live, in-person interaction." I think she's got me there. Yes, I feel full to bursting with connection, but that kind of connection doesn't really feed the bones of our lives. I hate to admit it, but we do need our church groups. We need to pat and smooth a young woman whose sailor just left her for the first time. We need to be patted and smoothed in our turn. That kind of in-person connection nourishes us in a way that our online connections never will. I just hope I still remember how to go out there and do it. Reach Jacey Eckhart at jacey1@earthlink.net.

Sometimes selling off a capital asset will eliminate ongoing expenses. Our SE regularly threatens to close and sell our camp, which was paid for back in the late 50's. He says it costs $10,000 a month to maintain it, or $2500 per weekend. That expense is not covered by summer camp fees, which barely covers summer camp expenses. The answer is to recruit more members, who can sell more popcorn and who have parents who will donate to FOS campaigns. Sadly, it sounds like that ain't gonna happen. That camp is the one I attended as an 11 year old in 1966, and both of my sons attended in the 80's. If the camp goes, while the SE continues to receive a 6 figure salary, my long tenure in the BSA will come to a close.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Yes, we had one in our COuncil...Crew 911.

A trip to Costa Rica, a surfing adventure and an Eagle Project all in one! Sounds like the best of all worlds! I would ask how he raised the funds for the trip, how many other scouts did he lead in the project, etc. Maybe it's a good one, maybe not. I'd have to see the write up of the execution.

OK, moderator, you locked the wrong thread. This is the one that should have gone away. The original post (which I don't have any more) was passed out at the last RT meeting, which I didn't attend, so I'm not privy to any discussion or explanation which may have occurred. What you saw is what i know at this point. I also agree the "6 month" interpretation is wrong.

I'm no lawyer, but how does the ADA apply to a private membership organization run by volunteers? From the Department of Justice website: A. A public accommodation is a private entity that owns, operates, leases, or leases to, a place of public accommodation. Places of public accommodation include a wide range of entities, such as restaurants, hotels, theaters, doctors' offices, pharmacies, retail stores, museums, libraries, parks, private schools, and day care centers. Private clubs and religious organizations are exempt from the ADA's title III requirements for public accommodations. (This message has been edited by scoutldr)

"The blame is on the National mucky-mucks (easily identified by the fact that they lived in air-conditioned general's quarters or hotels many miles away and drove everywhere in air-conditioned Escalades)." Please tell me that the Escalades were donated by a local car dealer. Once a co-worker was on Govt travel and had to take a Lincoln Town Car as a rental...it was all they had left and they gave it to him for the same price as a compact...$25 a day. He was soundly chastised because of the "appearance" of impropriety.

Richmond Times-Dispatch, VA August 15, 2006 Jamboree documents released; Army: Witnesses did not recall seeing signs about power lines before four Scout leaders died By Kiran Krishnamurthy FREDERICKSBURG - Three witnesses to the electrocution of four National Scout Jamboree leaders did not recall any signs warning of high-voltage power lines in the vicinity, according to investigative documents. However, a photograph included in the documents does show the presence of a sign. And one Boy Scout from the Western Alaska troop stated he noticed the overhead electrical lines before a metal tent pole touched them on July 25, 2005, the first day of the quadrennial event at the U.S. Army's Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County. "We did not think about them," the youth said in a sworn statement. The Army released the documents this month in response to The Times-Dispatch's continued federal Freedom of Information Act request for materials from the military's criminal investigation into the accident. The Army previously found no criminal wrongdoing arising from the accident. The supporting documents, which include accounts from witnesses and emergency personnel, also detail the severity of the injuries sustained by the Western Alaska leaders. Witnesses say the four adult leaders were electrocuted when the center pole of a large canopy they were helping a contractor erect touched overhead power lines. Boy Scouts of America officials say the organization provides individual troop leaders with a diagram suggesting how tents can be placed but that individual troop leaders decide where to put tents within their campsites. Kenneth Schoolcraft, a lawyer for the family of one of the dead leaders, said last month that he does not know whether any lawsuits will be filed in the accident. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Tents & Events for two "serious" workplace-safety violations; the company paid $3,000 in fines. OSHA officials also said they would have cited the Boy Scouts of America for a violation if any of the Alaska Scout leaders had been employed by the organization. OSHA said it found "significant" safety concerns with the Boy Scouts of America. The National Scout Jamboree has been held at Fort A.P. Hill since 1981, though its future at the Army base is the subject of a federal lawsuit alleging religious discrimination by the group and its use of federal property.

"to boldy go where no one has gone before..." And suddenly the split infinitive becomes socially accceptable...

Unless you're an engineer...then you just see a glass that was improperly sized for the job.

We did an "Aluminum Chef" competition at a camporee...the mystery ingredient was.....SPAM!

I am looking for a Quality District 2004 patch (more than one if possible). PM me if you have one to sell or trade.

Just curious...what is the purpose of registering "non-active commissioners"? Does the position patch on their uniforms say "non-active"?

We're having a Hegelian Dialectical spiral???? COOOOLLLL!!!!! Too bad Bob White's no longer around...this would have been REAL entertaining! Let me say publicly that I really appreciate the civil and mature, albeit passionate discourse. We can agree to disagree, but in the end, we're still friends and brother (and sister) Scouters. That's what it's all about. Now let's go have a beer...the first round's on me!

SR540: You should be proud. I am impressed that your SE takes the time to write a monthly column at all, especially one that is so erudite and inspiring! Great web site, too! Six camps and two service centers! Last Frontier must be doing a lot of things right! I'm envious.

Duplicate post...sorry.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Just received this letter from our Council Advancement Chair: All, Recently I have encountered an alarming number of instances where Merit Badge Counselors were using outdated Merit Badge requirements. In one instance, boys who attended a MB Fair spent more than a month working on invalid requirements for Citizenship in the Community and were virtually at ground zero when the error was uncovered and they met for their follow-up session. This year alone, there are revised requirements for 22 Merit Badges and updated requirements for six. These changes affected almost 30 percent of all Merit Badges. Most counselors have told me that they have the latest Merit Badge pamphlet. Please note that the inside cover of the 2006 Boy Scout Requirements book reads, The requirements listed in this book may not match those in the merit badge pamphlets because the pamphlets may not have been recently revised. The requirements in the book are the official requirements of the Boy Scouts of America. I realize that for the past several years, there has been an annual update of the requirements book. However, it is incumbent on each Counselor to verify each year that he/she has the latest requirements listing. Also, we should be publishing at Roundtable or other appropriate training venues the lists of recently updated Merit Badges. If the wrong requirements have been used, the badge is NOT earned until the correct requirements have been completed. The only exception is if the old requirements have been grandfathered. Normally, grandfathering does not exceed about 6 months. Please ensure MB Counselors are remaining current on requirements. Thanks, Council Advancement Chairman

One thing that pops out at me from your post is that "old CM" has no vote on who is selected to replace him. That is solely up to the CO and the Council. The "old CM" and unit committee can make recommendations, but that's it. Once he says "I disagree", he's done.

Acco40, amazing! I thought I was the only one who had that "conversation" at home. Now that my mother-in-law has moved in and taken control of the house, I have two women asking my opinion, so they can spend 30 minutes telling my why I'm wrong and why their way is better. If you don't want my honest opinions, then don't make me waste my time thinking about it. (sorry....didn't mean to vent)

Have to disagree with ASM59. Too many SMs out there doing it wrong, then they train the new guys with their bad habits. Better to have standardized training from a common source. Unfortunately, that common source is inadequate and outdated. Especially on the blue side. In our neck of the woods, we do allow the SM Outdoor Leader Training to be done by a "mentor". It's essentially all the outdoor skills up through First Class, and if they can demonstrate the skill, they can be signed off without having to commit a weekend.

When they pull an inexperienced and untrained secretary or DE out of the office and say, "go do training" (all you have to do is play the video and read the script out of the book), that's not "training" or "learning". That's a huge waste of time for all involved. It does make the stats look better, though.

As we've said once (nay, many times) before...unless the response is in quotes and references chapter and verse of a BSA publication, it's only someone's opinion. Granted, that person may have a wealth of experience, but I personally know some SMs wearing a 30 year pin who are still doing it wrong. Just because you're old and been around a long time doesn't mean you have a clue, eh? One of my favorite quotes is "when you don't know what to do, figure out what the right thing is and just do that." No point in making up things when you don't need to.

Normally, nothing should be registered in the Unit's name, since a unit is not a legal entity. It should be registered in the CO's name, or an individual's name. In our case, we "own" an old Chevy Suburban that someone donated. It is registered in the SM's name and he pays the insurance on it (liability only).(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

One of the best benefits of being an Eagle Scout was that I got to be dismissed first from the dining hall on one of the 6 days of summer camp. I'm sure there are other benefits...but getting anything free from the BSA is not one of them. Perhaps he is a Life Member of NESA and is just confused about what that means (you get a magazine 4 times a year, most of which is a list of new Life Members).(This message has been edited by scoutldr)