scoutldr

I think as SM, you have a right to see the letter from National granting the extension. Something doesn't add up. We are told that Eagle extensions are extremely rare, and must be accompanied by serious extenuating circumstances, such as serious illness, death, or mental or physical disability. This week we were told of a scout in our district whose mother died on the weekend that he was to complete his Eagle project. An extension has been requested, but they are not hopeful it will be granted.

Safety Gear Is a Must - and Watch for Snakes Release Date: May 12, 2006 Release Number: 1604-351 More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina BILOXI, Miss. -- With the end of the school year approaching, hundreds of high school and college students are expected to help storm-damaged neighborhoods spring back to life. These volunteers are a great asset in the recovery efforts. U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) safety officials remind everyone working around battered structures on overgrown sites to work smart and stay healthy, especially as the weather warms up. "Inexperienced workers may not be aware of the serious trouble that threatens their feet, legs, arms, hands and heads on job sites, as well as potential hazards to their lungs and eyes when pulling walls apart," said Jesse Munoz, acting director of the transitional recovery office for Hurricane Katrina. "We want them to be properly equipped and to work safely at all times." Snake strikes have been reported throughout the past month by workers at demolition and debris collection sites in the six southern-most counties of Mississippi . A strike is a hit on leather or protective fabric. Safety officials suggest protective equipment from the ground up for people working around debris: Sturdy work boots with sole protection against nails and glass; Long pants to guard against cuts and varmints; Leather work gloves to ward off cuts and bites and to minimize damage from smashing incidents; N-95 face mask from a building supply store to protect lungs from fiberglass and other debilitating dust; Safety goggles to keep particles and flying objects out of eyes; Hard hat to guard against falling objects and sideways bumps from careless co-workers; Be sure your tetanus shot is current; Sunscreen; and Insect repellant Another absolute rule is to drink plenty of water. Work gear, the hot sun and exertion can combine to endanger the fittest of workers who does not drink enough water. FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003. Last Modified: Friday, 12-May-2006 10:36:44

Good luck, brooktrout. Now that the decision's been made, can you enlighten us on what prompted the desire to go to a different council? Just another thought...there is really no reason why you have to wait for your current charter to expire. In fact, if you form the new unit now, everyone can transfer for $1 each as long as you still have a current registration somewhere. Your CO owns the unit charter and can keep it going as long as they want...that doesn't mean you have to stick with it until they pull the plug.

The link is to a skit...not Philmont.

"Training the trainers at the same training they are working as trainers for makes my head spin & makes no sense!" Sorry, I don't see a problem. If a person is an expert in a particular subject, e.g., "campfire planning" (maybe he's a young new Den Leader, but an ex-camp staffer and former OA Lodge Chief!), what's wrong with teaching that module? As long as the person sat through the whole course, he is just as "trained" as everyone else and entitled to a card....maybe more so, since he had to do more research and preparation for his module.

There's much to be said for taking a break. However, have you considered serving at the District level? Unit commissioner, Roundtable staff, District Committee, Day Camp staff, etc. I am a firm believer that unit leaders should focus on serving their units, however, once you decide to leave the unit, your experience is needed elsewhere!

My first suggestion would be to call your Unit Commissioner for help sorting this out. If you don't know who your UC is, call your District Commissioner (your Council can tell you who it is for your District). Start with a Unit Budget Plan (forms are available from your Council). A simple balance sheet budget should suffice. Have a Pack Committee program planning meeting to determine what activities will be in the coming year and decide a budget for each one. Don't forget awards for each Pack Meeting, which can be a serious expense. Next, decide how to raise the funds. Your CO may help out with "seed money", but don't count on it. Units are generally prohibited from soliciting direct cash donations, but fundraising is allowed (preferably by selling Popcorn, which some Packs are really good at). I'll let the lawyers and accountants help here, but my understanding is that units do not usually need an EIN or a 501c3 status. A Pack is owned and operated by the CO and is not a legal entity in itself. Therefore, packs do not "own" anything, including money. Lastly...this is all the job of the Committee Chair, not the Cubmaster. Good luck and enjoy!(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

In my experience, Scout Troops do not have "snack time". We do, however have a pot luck for Courts of Honor (usually quarterly). Of course, since troops are "boy-led", if the PLC elected to have snacks, we would let them, as long as the other meeting elements did not suffer.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but the COuncil you're in is dependent on where the CO is, not necessarily where you meet, where the leaders live or where the scouts leave (if different). The only way to do what you are suggesting, as far as I know, is to find a CO within your desired Council to charter your unit. You can ask the old CO to relinquish your unit number if you want to keep it, but they don't have to.

I believe it was a female Cub leader's hat, circa early 80's.

I can't count the number of times I was told as a kid, "Stop that or you'll put someone's eye out." If that were true, wouldn't there be a lot of one-eyed 50 year olds walking around today to serve as examples? I agree, on its face, it sounds like overkill. And why 2 years after the fact?

Just wait until you try to tell them the difference between 4 bells and 8 bells! I work in a military organization, and the way I always remember is it just to add (or subtract) 12. If it's 5 pm, add 12 to make 17 (1700). If it's 2100, subtract 12 = 9 pm. Midnight is 2400. One minute later, it's 0001. And then there's OH-Dark-Thirty which is REALLY early!

Just wait until you try to tell them the difference between 4 bells and 8 bells! I work in a military organization, and the way I always remember is it just to add (or subtract) 12. If it's 5 pm, add 12 to make 17 (1700). If it's 2100, subtract 12 = 9 pm. Midnight is 2400. One minute later, it's 0001. And then there's OH-Dark-Thirty which is REALLY early!

If one is not an MD, why would one wear a "Physician" patch? Our camp medic wears a position patch that says "Camp Medic". It must be a custom patch because I've not seen it anywhere else. Unless worn as a temporary patch there is no place on the uniform for an EMT patch. I like the idea of a hat or T-shirt. In the 60's and 70's, the Red Cross issued the rectangular "Emergency First Aid" patch to those who had completed the Basic and Advanced First Aid Courses. There was also an "Instructor" patch of similar design. These patches were worn by Rescue Squad and Firefigters (and our Explorer Post which was chartered to the local VFD). As a 16 year old, I was proud to be able to wear that "Instructor" patch.

I don't understand requirement #2. Being an experienced trainer, both at work and at the college level, I found TDC to be a tremendous waste of time. To make one repeat it every three years is cruel and unusual punishment. I learned how to use a flannel board (which I NEVER put into practice), but nothing about how to present the various CS and BS training modules. I had to figure that out on my own. In our district, to be on the "training team" all you need is the approval of the training committee chair. The only requirement for TDC is for a Pack Trainer to be considered "Trained" in their position.

About 3 miles, one way. The location was chosen to be centrally located, so no one in our district has to travel more than about 5 miles. We still can't get them to show up.

I vote "no". The religious programs are not BSA programs and should be earned through the Scout's church. The only connection with BSA is that the emblems earned are allowed to be worn on the uniform. While "duty to God" is a tenet of the BSA, religious instruction is not in our mission...nor should it be.

Gern said, "I'm one of those people who think obesity is choice, not a disease." This statement shows how ignorance leads to discrimination. I am 52 years old and have been obese since the day I was born. There is a genetic predisposition, and the disease called obesity is very complex. If it were about "choice" or "education", I would not be this way. That's like telling someone with Asperger's that they are just "choosing to be bad" or telling someone with depression to "just snap out of it." Smoking is an optional choice, but one of the most revered Scouters on this forum chooses to remain a bad role model. So, at the risk of highjacking this thread, let me say that I wrestle with the same moral dilemma. The God I know does not allow me to judge and reject our fellow humans. He reserves that right solely unto Himself. My religious teaching tells me I am to "love my neighbor as He has loved us." I find it difficult to remain loyal to an organization that forces me to discriminate, contrary to my religious upbringing. Yesterday, I saw a TV spot from the United Church of Christ, showing a gay couple embracing in church, and being forcefully ejected (as with an ejection seat). The closing message was "God doesn't reject people, and neither do we." Is the UCC the next organization to risk the wrath of the BSA?

Why in the world would we need 8 different styles of Stetson hats? Made by Stetson, I expect they won't be affordable.

As a frequent EBOR member, I would be more impressed if the thank you note came from the Scout. That being said, I've never received one ... from anyone.

It's not a question of language, culture, or freedom. It's a question of respecting the laws of the country. My forefathers were German immigrants in 1765. They immigrated legally through the port of Philadelphia and I have copies of the paperwork to prove it. I'm not saying the current laws or immigration processes are correct. But it is the law until changed. Crossing the border without permission (no they have not been "invited") is a crime. If you don't agree with that, then work to have the law changed.

I guess what I find most ironic is that those who most vehemently oppose non-English speaking immigrants are those who can't properly conjugate a verb, distinguish between "too" and "to", "breath" and "breathe", or "there" and "their", recognize apostrophic abuse, or understand etymology. Its like to intoxifying for word's

Ed, the root word for intoxicant is "toxin" meaning poison. The word is appropriate.

"...but ultimately they SHOULD learn it in the language it was written in." I guess the same could be said of the Bible. Anyone up for Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek lessons?

Have to disagree, oldsm. I think that teaching a scout to earn his own keep and pay his own way in society is one of THE most important "scouting outcomes." "A Scout is Thrifty"