scoutldr

Shrimp are usually caught from a boat by casting nets. Think Forrest Gump! I like to steam them in beer...one 12 oz can in the bottom of a stockpot with a liberal sprinkling of Old Bay seasoning...stir occasionally until they have turned pink...about 10 minutes. Cooking too long will make them tough. Your crew may find it odd that a shrimp in the wild comes with a head and long antennae!

Down south, squid is usually considered bait unless you're in a Japanese restaurant. Perhaps some fried fish to go along with the grits, biscuits and sausage gravy? Iced tea will always come sweetened with sugar (mixed in while still hot so it will melt) unless you specify otherwise. Adult females you are not related to are addressed as "ma'am" regardless of age. Referring to one as "peach" may get you slapped (or worse!). Be sure to try the Brunswick stew (still unknown whether it was originated in Brunswick, GA or Brunswick County VA), collard greens, spoonbread, peanut soup and pecan pralines.

At the next PLC meeting, inform the troop leadership that there will be no more camping until all the gear is accounted for. Then let them figure it out. For the future, hold each patrol leader responsible for the gear his patrol uses. That way you don't have to keep track of who's responsible...it's always the PL. If they "lose" gear, then the next campout that patrol does without...or doesn't go. Peer pressure can be a very effective tool if used properly. But as long as the adults "cover" for them or bail them out, they will not be motivated to take ownership of the problem.

Part of "providing leadership" to the project is planning how to raise the funds. I don't believe that the troop donating funds is appropriate...that's not the purpose for which those funds were raised. I agree with OGE...it's going to set a precedent that will be hard to maintain. Usually, the Eagle candidate is expected to visit local businesses to solicit "in kind" donations (such as lumber from the local hardware store", or to organize fundraisers (car washes, spaghetti dinners, etc) which are planned and led by the scout with the assistance of his troopmates, who can in turn earn service hours.

After spending the entire day at my niece's high school graduation and subsequent party, my 2 sons surpised me with an iPod nano. Pretty neat gizmo. Does anyone know where I can get B-P's speeches and the BS Songbook in mp3 format? :-)

I've been full of radical proposals lately. Here's another one. I would like the DOT to mandate that cars be built so that cell phone reception is impossible while the motor is running. A simple $5 electronic gizmo in the ignition circuit should do the trick. We also need an Etiquette Merit Badge...Eagle required. Yes, your scouts should be taught that is rude to carry on a phone conversation while in the company of others. That's been rude since Alexander Graham Bell's day.

I thought polygynous was being married to two gynecologists at once.

From the Army: Lightning Safety Awareness Week is 18 - 24 June. Read the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration pamphlet, "NOAA's National Weather Service Lightning Safety Outdoors" Lightning Kills, ensure Soldiers are not unnecessarily exposed. See the NOAA's web page "When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!" for tips on avoiding lightning. Soldiers are encouraged to view the NOAA's Power Point presentation on lightning, "Safe or Not Safe Game" and use it during unit safety training. http://www.noaa.gov http://struckbylightning.org/(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

POint taken, Neil. But if the SM does not sign off on "SCout Spirit", then he has not met the requirements. You are correct, a BOR can occur any time without resulting in advancement. But these "progress checks" need to occur well in advance of his 18th birthday do he has time to rectify any deficiencies.

Where and when in Virginia, Eamonn?

If I'm not mistaken, the position of BSA President is a volunteer position. The Chief SCout Executive is the big bucks guy. 20 years was not that long ago. I don't see that much has changed.

Point taken, Counsellor. But even you have to admit the justice system could be run a lot more efficiently. One idea would be to severely penalize frivolous suits that force settlements in the absence of a finding of guilt. This case presumably has cost the BSA and/or Council thousands of dollars that could otherwise be spent for programming...for an event that could not have been prevented (IMHO). Money will not bring the scout back, nor will it make camping in the summertime any safer. Again, I am truly sorry that a family lost their son.

I have to disagree with dhendron. If the SM does not recommend the Scout for Eagle, the BOR never happens. Signing the boy's application, having an SM conference, scheduling a BOR, then appearing at the BOR to say he's not Eagle material doesn't make sense. When BOR night arrives, the SM has only one function...to introduce the Scout to the Board and, with the scout's permission, remain as an observer (keeping mouth shut). I also have to agree with the others...the BOR is not the place and time to surprise the scout with the news that he has not met expectations. If that's the case, then the SM has not done his job. At the Life SM conference, the SM should lay out the expectations for the coming year, and then provide constant feedback.

That's my point, Fuzzy. If you can't support a child, then it should be a crime to produce one. And I agree with your solution. Parents should be responsible for the actions of their minor children, including supporting the children of their minor children. That's the way it is in "less civilized" countries. Confiscating the money of taxpayers to pay for their lack of self-control is abhorrent.

Can he be denied? Yes. Will he be? Who knows? And if he is, it could be overturned on appeal. The Eagle application has several filters. First, he needs a SM conference, and the SM and CC must approve his Eagle application before it goes to Council. Then the BOR, which in my council is run by the unit committee with a District rep present, must review his record, including letters of recommendation. Based on what they know of the scout and see in his record, they vote. The vote to approve must be unanimous. If the SM and troop committee do not think the young man is worthy, then they should not schedule a BOR until they are satisfied he has become worthy. I once sat on an Eagle board as the district rep. The young man who had just turned 18, had a baby out of wedlock and was "living in sin" with the girl under her parents' roof. This fact was revealed in a Letter of Reference the night of the BOR. The unit committee was livid that the SM and CC knew about it and didn't tell them before hand. They "didn't think it was relevant". The board vote was not unanimous and the Eagle was denied. He appealed to Council, another Board was held, and they gave it to him. Like I said, what appears to be a no-brainer, seldom is. One of my deepest regrets about todays BSA is that the Eagle has been cheapened. 21 MB and a project and you're good to go. Nothing else seems to matter. It's come to be expected if you put your time in.

"However...you'll remember in the future that he dragged his feet on getting you a timely answer, too." Is that supposed to be some kind of threat? How, exactly will that affect the DE? Sorry, but this is not the DE's problem to solve. This is a unit matter, which is why he's probably ignoring it. And push comes to shove, the original unit is not doing anything illegal or against policy, they're just being nasty. The moneys went into the Unit's account and belong to the CO. They are the ones who decide....not the DE. If they want to keep the money, you're all done. Chalk it up to a lesson in life. Even Scouters don't always play fair. Get the kids to camp and move on.

At our camp, all aquatics used to be in the river. Now we have a pool and only boating and canoeing are in the river. We have to do swim tests every year upon arrival, and if you don't participate, you're a non-swimmer, period. It doesn't matter if you're a BSA Lifeguard or Aquatics Instructor...everyone takes the test. I suspect it's the same at your camp. I think that's a good rule, because I have seen scouts who have Swimming and Lifesaving MB, but when taking a swim test, can't make it one length of the pool. It's a good QA check and necessary for safety. To answer your question...I think you leave it up to them. If they don't like the lake, they don't do aquatics. Why fight it?

Out of court settlements usually do not establish guilt. It's merely a way of saving money. BSA probably decided that paying them off would be cheaper in the long run than continuing to litigate. That's a flaw in our justice system, IMHO. Once someone sues, the court case should run its course, and the loser should pay all costs. Who was responsible? God (or higher power of your choice).

Is it that they don't like swimming, or do they just not like the lake? B-P thought that swimming was a basic survival skill that every scout should learn, and it's still a requirement for first class. We have a scout who will age out at Second Class, because he refuses to get his face wet. I have encouraged the dad to take him over the winter for swimming lessons, but so far, no action. If your scouts do not like to swim, that's their choice, but they will not make it past 2nd class and will be forever restricted to the non=swimmer zone.

If their camp registration works anything like ours, the Troop has paid the money and has the receipt for it. For that money, the original troop can send X number of bodies to camp...the camp doesn't care who. We don't have to provide names until we actually check in on Sunday afternoon. The original troop is saying it's their money to use for THEIR scouts. If a scout drops out or transfers, the refund is paid to the troop, who then decides what to do with it. All transactions are between the troop and the council, not the scout and the council. The solution would be for all registrations to be paid directly to the council by the individual scouts, but that's more paperwork for the council to keep track of, so it ain't gonna happen.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Does this mean we have to let them share a tent? I have a few friends whose daughter got knocked up and they welcomed the little mother, the sperm donor, and baby into their home to live. I've told both of my sons that if they got some girl preggers, they would be instant adults and on their own. Get a job and pay for what you did...at least for the next 18 years. Thank God I never had to make good on my threat, and the only thing that calls me Grandpa is a new Maine Coon kitten that my son just brought to see us. I am pro-life...as long as they can pay their own way.

Of course you are right, John. I meant "from the afternoon watch to the Mid watch". (4 bells to 4 bells) http://www.navy.mil/palib/questions/bells.html

Seems to be a lot of phobia going on here. There is nothing to do unless the Dad files a Leader Application. Then make it clear that there WILL be a background check done ... starting with a check of the registered offender databases. That should take care of it. If he does not file an app, then just do what we always do...strictly enforce 2-deep leadership, and ensure all registered leaders are YP trained...and ENFORCE the YP policy without exception. Encourage all parents to take the online YP training as well, so they know what the policy is. Could it be that the guy just made a mistake, and now just wants to be a good Dad?

In A Gadda Da Vida by Iron Butterfly (the long version) More recently: Carolina Beach Music (my wife made me take Shag lessons for our 30th anniversary party, and I loved it!)

If you want to be scared to death, read the "Cobra Event", about a bioterror event. Everything in it is medically feasible, and it will make you realize how unprepared we are. "Angels and Demons" "The DaVinci Code" "Blind Man's Bluff" "The Terrible Hours" "The Radioactive Boy Scout"