scoutldr

I don't want to get into a battle of semantics, but "non-profit" is very different from "charitable" organization, which I believe is more in line with the intent of an Eagle project. Some non-profits are very definitely "big business." One assisted living facility here is owned and operated by Marriott Corp and the residents are charged $3600 a month rent. You can't get much more "big business" than that. Building that nature trail may benefit the residents, but it's also benefiting the business by providing free landscaping work and adding to their bottom line. It's a tough call, and I can see it both ways, however I think the requirement is unambiguous. If it's a "business" (whether "non-profit" or not) it's not eligible to receive an Eagle project. I think we need a lawyer to untangle this. NJ you out there? To answer Noah's original question, I think he answered it himself. The school is operated as a "for-profit business". There should be no question. The fact that it's a school is irrelevant. Sorry to be a hard-liner, but them's the requirements and the Scout needs to go back and re-read them.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Anything that burns fuel (propane, Coleman fuel, etc) will produce carbon monoxide and should only be used in well ventilated areas. Today's nylon tents with zippers, floors and rain flys do not meet that criteria.

I think it's customary that another Eagle give the "Eagle Charge", however I'm not aware of any "rules". The ceremony is pretty much what the Troop, the Eagle, and his family decide it should be.

(trying to get the thread back on track) Thanks for the explanation, Eammonn. It's a nice idea that I will take back to the District Committee.

From the "Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook": "...The project also may not be performed for a business or an individual, be of a commercial nature, or be a fund raiser." A strict interpretation of this is that, if the organization is incorporated as a business, even a "non-profit", it is not allowed. Although in this council, projects have been approved for a local Assisted-Living facility, such as landscaping of a "nature trail". Even though it benefits old folks who are paying a pretty penny to live there, it is clearly being operated as a business. We may neither add nor subtract requirements.

Camp Hidden Valley, Loysville, PA Keystone Area Council. We camp there in the winter (cabins) and make Gettysburg a day trip. Also a day trip to Ski Roundtop.

Just curious...if the West Fellowship award is presented by the District, where does the thousand bucks come from? As far as I can tell, the award can be "donated" to honor an individual, but the money must still go into the Endowment fund.

I hope he wasn't abducted by aliens or something...

For Scoutmasters, there is the Scoutmaster's Award of Merit and the Scoutmaster's Key. All other Scouters, including ASMs earn the Scouter's Training Award.

You're breaking up, boleta. Wave your arms around and try to get a better signal!

No, actually I wasn't kidding. This being a free country, Scouters are free NOT to wear any knot that they feel is a "joke". That's what I feel about the James E. West Fellowship knot that can be purchased for $1001.25. The side-effect of my suggestion is that youth would also be eligible to wear those knots, in addition to the Religious Award knot that is currently authorized. More recognition can only be a good thing.

A few years ago, we invited the local Astronomy club to work with our troop on Astronomy MB. They registered as MBC, as required. At the COH where the badge was awarded, we invited them and also recognized them with a BSA "Thanks" pin and a Certificate of Appreciation. One of the counselors also asked me for a MB that she could sew on her ball cap, but Council wouldn't sell me one without an Advancement report. :-( With a little searching, I found one on eBay. I don't disagree with establishing a knot for registered Scouters who do outstanding MBC service. I would also like to see knots for things of major accomplishment, such as BSA Lifeguard, 50 Miler Award, Historic Trails Award, etc.

What do adults do at your OA chapter meetings? Around here, we frequently have more adults show up than youth. Some are parents of the youth members attending, but most are not. They are the ones with tons of square knots, WB beads, a coffee cup hanging from the belt...you know the type. Mostly, they just sit around the edge of the room and chit-chat with each other, which I find distracting. I think they just come for the socializing. I have suggested to the chapter advisor that, perhaps the adults should have a separate meeting (same time, different room) and discuss "adult stuff", like how they can be of "cheerful service" at an adult level. I tried to use the opportunity to recruit training staff, but with OA meetings and such, they're "way too busy already." I'd be interested in other opinions. My observation is that only about 10% (or less) of our registered membership are actually active (attend meetings and other functions). The rest just enjoy wearing the flap. Is this the norm?

I'm familiar with a "Scout-O-Rama" and a "Scout Show", which my COuncil doesn't do any more... But what's a "Fun Fair"???

I lost both parents in 1995, so here is my experience: Flowers are nice, but they are a lot of money for something that only lasts a couple of days. Most of them are left at the gravesite and are thrown away within 1-2 days. We were inundated with food within 24 hrs, which is nice if you have a lot of out of town guests. Storing it all became an issue and being able to use it before it went bad. But one of the nicest things was someone who waited a week and brought over a full meal...when all of the initial food had been either consumed or thrown away. It came right at the time when we were most exhausted, all the guests had gone home, and the finality of it all was starting to set in. A donation to a church memorial fund or other favorite charity is always appreciated, if they have one.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

If it's any consolation, the same problem existed back in 1967 when I was a Troop Scribe.

Bob said, "Quality unit meetings have zero reliance on council/district action or support." Is it not the job of the District Commissioner Staff to monitor unit program delivery, identify "problems" and help the unit to initiate corrective action?

Some are of the opinion that it is better to keep a struggling, small unit on the books, rather than to strengthen an existing unit by combining resources. When the quest to "make your numbers" takes precedence over quality programs, I have to shake my head in amazement.

What's a Commissioner? At least you have warm bodies. We don't even have that. Even if we had them, I think the Commissioner role is the most misunderstood in all of BSA, except for the Professionals. Most unit leaders I know would look askance at "some muckity-muck from Council telling us how to run our unit." That's their perception, and "perception is reality."

To each District, our council supplied the basic training "box set"...a large box that contained the Training syllabi, posters and video tapes for eact level of training. These materials are NOT available on the internet. They must be purchased or duplicated from existing copies. The current materials are fast becoming dated, so my council will not invest in new ones at this time. The district training chairs are instructed to turn in their receipts for any other expenses, like Kinko's and flip chart (I mean "turn chart") paper. Even council charges me 9 cents a copy to use the Xerox machine. I have turned in receipts once or twice, and had no problem getting reimbursed. Mostly, the receipts go in my wallet and by the time I remember they are there, they are too faded to turn in. I borrow a laptop and LCD projector from work, and pray the bulb doesn't blow while I'm using it ($500 each). Each course should be "budgeted" to determine how much to charge. The Council training committee should do this to set the fee for each training course for the year. Then that amount is charged to each attendee (usually $6-10), which is to cover cost of handouts, refreshments, insurance, "council administrative overhead fee", etc. This year, training is free to any unit who sold popcorn. Additional charges can be made to cover food for overnight events, such as IOLS and WOE. If a unit hosts the training at their location, they are expected to cover expenses and no charge is made by council. Trainers are NOT expected to fund the training budget out of their pockets, although some do voluntarily to some degree.

The soda machines were a big profit center at summer camp, as was the ice cream and candy. Every choice was of the sugar/caffeine variety. Me and my diabetic ASM would have loved a diet coke once in awhile, but it was not to be had.

My name is scoutldr and I'm a drug addict. R/ "Hello, scoutldr." Went on a campout once and one of the other adults said, "I'll bring the coffee." So far so good. Sat morning, he pulls out this green can of decaf. . I excused myself and went to the nearest convenience store before my migraine headache set in. Once it starts, I'm done for the day. I tried quitting cold-turkey once and was incapacitated for 3 days. So far, other than a slight heart arrhythmia, no ill health effects. Dr said, "it's benign and won't kill you, but if you quit caffeine, it will probably go away." Now if you will excuse me, my cup needs refilling...

I take all extremists with a grain of salt. Their rabid zealousness tends to obscure their message, which turns people off. Zeiger makes Sean Hannity sound like a Liberal Democrat.

Eammon, your concerns are all well taken. However, I have seen the same thing happen at District training courses by Scouters who were so old and so entrenched that no one bothered to check on what they were presenting. We have trainers in different districts who've been doing it for 25+ years. What they remember about running a Tiger Cub den meeting, I don't know. Personally, I'm not involved in the Cub program on a daily basis, so I can't keep up with the program changes. That's why I'm looking to enlist Pack Trainers with more recent experience. The reality is, National disagrees with you, and the Pack Trainer position is here, at least for now. Their job description, published in the Cub Leader Manual, says they are to conduct training in their units. The smart District Training Chair and Unit Commissioner would make it a point to "audit" the training being conducted to ensure Quality. How about a "Pack Trainer of the Year" award at the District Dinner?

If I had witnessed an incident of suspected child endangerment, and those in charge did not act, I would have immediately notified the local law enforcement. The immediate concern should be to remove the youth from danger, not whether the Camp Director is following the proscribed script. If the "use of alcohol" did not occur on Scout property (i.e., he showed up to pick up kids after having imbibed somewhere else), then it's a Youth Protection issue. YP training is required for all camp staff and registered Scouters. The "plan of action" is your council's policy for YP and those reporting requirements should have been followed, if not by the Camp Director, then by whoever witnessed the alleged violation. There are a lot of facts missing here, so it's probably unfair for anyone to comment who wasn't there.