scoutldr

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)

I agree with the ban on cellphones at camp, except for emergencies. And any kid who is allowed to spend 3 hours a night on a cellphone has morons for parents. Is it any wonder that your typical 14 year old can't read or write a standard English paragraph?

He asks the question Who is supposed to help and/or make sure things are followed in the BSA guidelines and help pack and troops that are not following those guide lines and make sure all the leaders are receiving training? A: That would be the Commissioner staff. The CO can insist that all unit leaders receive training, since they are the ones who approve unit leaders. The Council has no authority to "fine" units for non-compliance with BSA policies. It can, however revoke the charter if the terms of the charter agreement are not being upheld.

I was always taught that hitchhiking was a bad idea.

I would think the folks in Irving would be monitoring this forum constantly. What better way to get a cross-section of opinions from Scouters across the country (and other countries!).

I don't think anyone has said, "go back and kick up a fuss". We're just answering her question by stating BSA policy. What she chooses to do with the information is up to her.

The BSA uniform does not include pants from Campmor (yet). If the troop is doing this, then they are not "in uniform". If they want to wear the pants with a troop T-shirt, that's fine...but its not a BSA uniform. If the troop leadership wants to do this, what's to keep them from tweaking other rules that they don't agree with?