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scoutldr

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Everything posted by scoutldr

  1. If I was COR, I'd have many questions about the quality of the unit aquatics programs/procedures if anyone less than a BSA Lifeguard is signing off on the BSA Swim Test. John, I am a BSA Lifeguard Counselor and I'm not aware that only BSA Lifeguards can sign off the First Class swimming requirement. Did you just make that up? If you have a BSA Lifeguard in your unit, it's fine that you ask him/her to sign it off...but it's not a requirement that I know of. Of course, if you are doing the swimming requirement as a unit, then all Safe Swim Defense rules should be followed, including "qualified supervision".
  2. Thanks for the update, Eisely. Please thank your son for his service to our country. As a DoD civilian, I know too well that civilians, both civil service and contractors, work side by side in harm's way with our military comrades, and often the only difference is the clothes we wear. I don't begrudge them their medals and other recognition, but there are many more people serving than what is seen on the 6 o'clock news. Their families' fear and anxiety is not any less.
  3. No, Ed that is not the definition of hazing. Go back to the beginning and carefully read the thread again. Merry Kwachrismakah.
  4. When I was an Explorer in the early 70's, the Sea Scouts changed to Sea Explorers. Now they are back to Sea Scouts and Explorers are now Venturers which is not the same as a Venture Patrol, and Explorers are some other group part of Learning for Life that is not part of the BSA, but really is, except that gays and atheists can join because so many of the COs are govt agencies that can't discriminate. And then there's Varsity, which is part of the BSA but is really sports, and was created for the LDS church but is open to all, but I don't know of any non-Mormon units. I'm so confused. Am I still a Scouter?
  5. Just a word to the wise...if your kid is on Myspace.com, take a minute to log on and scope it out. I did this with my niece and her boyfriend, because my sister suspected she was into sex and drugs. Turns out the boyfriend had illegal handguns (visible in the picture) and was engaged in hate and gang activity. Also, a lot of personal and obscene information was posted. You would be amazed at what you can find out about your kids and their friends. If your kids are under 18, you have an obligation to know what they are doing on line.
  6. Beave, just because your state has legally defined a term, doesn't mean the BSA can't have higher standards and a different definition. Most states also define discrimination in legal terms, but the BSA definition is different in many cases. This concept is common...in the Safety and health field, OSHA has defined "hazard" in legal terms, but employers are free to define it in more stringent terms if they feel it is in their best interest, as long as they meet the minimum requirements. Now as an employee, you may think that the more stringent requirement is silly, but you are free to choose a different employer. In addition, as you describe your state law, it sounds like it applies in an educational setting and is probably not relevant outside the school setting. I would venture a guess that in most states, "hazing" is not illegal outside the school setting, however other laws may apply, such as harrassment, libel, slander, assault, battery, child abuse, sexual harrassment, etc.
  7. William T. Hornaday Unit Award A Hornaday unit certificate, No. 21-110, is awarded to a pack, troop, team, or crew of five or more Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, or Venturers for a unique, substantial conservation project. At least 60 percent of registered unit members must participate. These units may be nominated, or they may apply to their BSA local council for recognition.
  8. No, Ed. Kitchen duty is a necessary camp job. Making an 11 year old Tenderfoot wait until midnight to set up his tent while the older boys stand around harrassing and ridiculing him serves no purpose that I can see. How many points of the Scout Law does that support??? From the dictionary: Hazing: 1. To persecute or harass with meaningless, difficult, or humiliating tasks. 2. To initiate, as into a college fraternity, by exacting humiliating performances from or playing rough practical jokes upon. ETYMOLOGY: Perhaps from obsolete haze, to frighten, from obsolete French haser, to annoy, from Old French.
  9. Whoa, there yourself. What Lisabob said was, "Consequently, the least experienced (who so far are also the youngest) boys always end up setting up their tents last, usually in the dark, often quite late at night. My son feels this is unfair because, he says, the boys who get done first then also heckle the boys at the end of the line to hurry up (but, he says, they don't actually offer to help) so that everybody can get to cracker barrel and then go to bed or whatever." Hazing is in the eyes of the recipient...if the young scout feels hazed, (or embarrassed or ashamed, etc) then it's hazing. And no one said it was adults doing the hazing, although they are apparently condoning it. If the shoe fits...
  10. I recently saw the perfect cell phone for kids without jobs (that is, not paying their own bills). It has 3 buttons for dialing out...Mom, Dad and 911. It can also be programmed to receive calls from only certain numbers. That solves the dilemma for parents who insist that "they NEED a cell phone in case of emergencies", and then gripe about a $1500 bill because their kids are out of control. I carry a cell phone only because we have elderly parents who are home alone while we are at work. I make maybe 6 outgoing calls a month, usually to say I'm caught in traffic and will be late getting home. I hate phones. Unfortunately, my DE thinks that we should spend every evening trying to call unit leaders who won't respond to an e-mail. Don't get me started.
  11. Yes, the BOR question is typical...we use it at every BOR. Your troop's camping "policy" is not. In fact, it borders on hazing, which has no place in a Scouting program. Your son's "proposal" is spot on, and in fact, is the way most troops operate, in my experience.
  12. At our District meetings we have one, maybe two CORs show up out of about 70 units. That's on a good month. No amount of training, cajoling, or inviting seems to change that. On a REALLY good month, the District Chairman shows up and actually presides over the meeting instead of the DE (even though the DE plans the agenda and prints it out for him). In my opinion, the answer is pretty simple. As I understand it, the professionals' jobs are to 1)get major donations from corporate and private sources (not the volunteers), 2)form new units, and 3) get more youth, in that order. If they are not producing and meeting goals set by the Council Executive Boards, they need to be replaced. Yes, the volunteers have a role...that is to deliver the program with the resources provided by the fruits of the professionals' labors. Too often, I see the pros getting down into the weeds with things like camporee planning, training, Roundtables, etc. As has been mentioned on this forum before, Executive Boards are hand picked by the SE, and they just rubber stamp what he wants, even if it includes selling off property to pay salaries or buy new office furniture. Perhaps Executive Boards should be nominated and elected by the Council membership at large, instead of just a majority vote of the few CORs who bother to show up for the annual meeting. My perceptions...yours may differ.
  13. I always thought the BSA had a "made in USA" policy, which is the excuse I always hear for the poor quality and high prices of uniform items. At the last RT, we were given our Quality Unit 2006 patches...official "Scout Stuff" printed on the plastic back. Also on the back of EACH patch was a small gold sticker, proclaiming "MADE IN CHINA". I have a vision of some 10 year old cranking these things out in a sweat shop for 14 hours a day making 12 cents an hour. They are of acceptable quality, though I'm not sure I want to wear it on my uniform right under the American flag. Seems kinda hypocritical.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)
  14. I would tell him that maybe God has presented him with a perfect opportunity to "turn the other cheek" and to "forgive those who trespass against us."
  15. My wish is for Scouters to rediscover the true meaning of Scouting. Let's renew our commitment to the principles of the Founders, who didn't give a whit about popcorn, FOS, committee squabbles, gays or atheists. Scouting is about developing character and confidence, fun in the outdoors, brotherhood, friendship, and service to others.
  16. The original neckerchief design was the "full square". It was designed to be a tool, useful for many things, including bandaging, and carrying things, along with the scout stave. The stave has faded into history, and the neckerchief is a vestigial shadow of it's former self, if worn at all. I say, celebrate your Troop's long and rich history...go with the full square.
  17. Whatever you did, it seems to have worked. Thanks!
  18. It's not you. The forum has become extremely slow and non-responsive recently. Very frustrating. Moderators, wassup????
  19. While I appreciate Terry's efforts as much as anyone, negotiating this site is becoming too hard. I used the "Today's Active Topics" link almost exclusively to sneak a peek during the day. If I can't do that, I won't be around much. Maybe some will say that's a good thing.
  20. Am I the only one having trouble accessing this link? THe server times out with an "Internal Server Error" (both locations, so it's not my computers)
  21. Why not ask your son what he wants and then do that? I am more concerned as to why the other 4 are choosing not to cross over.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)
  22. The art of "manners" is dying. Like the "RSVP", or simply returning borrowed items in a timely fashion without having to be asked for them...don't get me started. I wish there was a "Social Graces" MB...they probably wouldn't sell too many, though. It would be tough to find qualified counselors.
  23. scoutldr

    Troop Uniforms

    I'm not a lawyer...however... certain BSA symbols and logos are registered trademarks and/or copyrighted. I feel certain that you would not be able to use those in making up your own patches.
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