scoutldr

I was one of those fat nerdy kids who would rather sit in his room and read a book than go out and ride bike or play baseball. This year at camp, I was struck that the majority of the kids looked just like I did when I was that age...bellies hanging over their bathing suit, flabby chests and love handles...but now from video games and junk food instead of reading. No wonder there's an epidemic of Type 2 Diabetes among teenagers now. When I joined Scouts, I was transformed. I was still heavier than than the other kids, but I became fitter and managed to earn Swimming, Lifesaving, Marksmanship, Rowing, Canoeing, Three 50 Miler awards, Mile Swim, Red Cross Sr Lifesaving, and Water Safety Instructor. Was "awarded" the Eagle badge at age 16 and BSA Lifeguard and Lifeguard Counselor as a adult. Nobody gave me any slack along the way. You either met the requirements...or not. Don't say it's too hard. I did it. Ya gotta want it. SA is correct, alternative advancement requirements are available, but I think you need a Doctor's certification and Council approval. Being a couch potato won't get it.

Is it any worse than charging me $350 for an FOS CSP and coffee mug? Or charging the public $30 for a tin of popcorn that they can buy for $3.99 at Wal Mart? (But the tin is "collectable"!!) If you have problems with it, then call it what it is...a token gift in appreciation for your donation. As long as it's clearly identified as a fund-raiser, I think it's fine.

National Organizations Partner to Launch National Preparedness Month For Immediate Release Press Office Contact: 202-282-8010 August 10, 2004 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), The America Prepared Campaign, the American Red Cross, the National Association of Broadcasters and the U.S. Department of Education have joined a coalition of more 50 national organizations to engage Americans in emergency preparedness by launching National Preparedness Month on September 9. The launch event at the United States Capitol is co-chaired by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and Representatives Christopher Cox (R-CA) and Jane Harman (D-CA). In addition, all 56 state and territorial governors have pledged to mark National Preparedness Month with local events. National Preparedness Month brings together an amazing coalition of partners to make citizen preparedness a priority for every city, every neighborhood and every home across America, said Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. Homeland security is a shared responsibility and I am pleased that so many organizations and so many national leaders are working together to help get this information out into communities across the nation. National Preparedness Month will provide Americans with a variety of opportunities to learn more about ways they can prepare for an emergency, get an emergency supply kit, establish a family communications plan, and become better aware of threats that may impact communities. It will also provide them with several opportunities to volunteer or get first aid or CPR training. State and local governments, individual communities, private businesses and nonprofit organizations will host events or promote preparedness steps around the country during September to encourage all Americans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. Below is a list of the organizations participating in National Preparedness Month as of today: The Advertising Council The American Legion American Legion Auxiliary The America Prepared Campaign, Inc. American Red Cross The American Safety and Health Institute, Inc. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Boy Scouts of America Church World Service Citizen Corps The Council of State Governments Emergency Management Accreditation Program Easter Seals Fraternal Order of Police Girl Scouts of the USA Hispanic Business Roundtable Hispanic War Veterans of America International Association of Chiefs of Police International Association of Emergency Managers International Association of Fire Chiefs International Union of Operating Engineers Jewish War Veterans of the USA The Latino Coalition The Medical Reserve Corps National Association of Broadcasters National Association of Counties National Association of State EMS Directors National Cable and Telecommunications Association National Crime Prevention Council National Emergency Management Association National Fatherhood Initiative National Governors Association National League of Cities National Organization on Disability National Retail Federation National Safety Council National Sheriffs Association Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Persons Outdoor Advertising Association The Points of Light Foundation Reserve Officers Association The Safe America Foundation The Salvation Army Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc. United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners United Service Organization The United States Chamber of Commerce United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce USA Freedom Corps The U.S. Conference of Mayors U.S. Department of Education U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Washington Metro Area Transit Authority World Vision of the United States Details about the official launch of National Preparedness Month and local events will be distributed in late August. For further information or to join this effort please call Kristin Gossel or Lara Shane at 202-282-8010. The Ready Campaign is a national public service advertising campaign produced by the Ad Council in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Ready Campaign is designed to educate and empower American citizens to prepare for and respond to potential terrorist attacks and other emergencies. Citizens interested in receiving a "Get Ready Now" brochure may call 1-800-BE-READY or visit www.Ready.gov for more information. ###

Eamonn is correct...the DE's primary job is to help the volunteers make Quality District. His piece of that is to generate more youth members, more units and more money (from corporate donors). Everything else should be covered by a volunteer...it's the District Chairman's job to see to that. As a former professional member of these boards was fond of saying, however, "What the volunteers won't do, the Professionals must." I have had a similar problem...when I wasn't doing the job the way the DE thought it should be done, he would step in and "take care of it." My response to that is to step back and say "have at it, Bud...knock yourself out." My pay's the same, either way. I have seen many young men come up through the scouting program, go to college, and come back as a first year DE. After all, I'm an Eagle, OA Vigil, and had a blast...what better life than to do all that and get paid, too! They don't last a year when they find out what a DE is really supposed to do...and that you are expected to work unlimited hrs a week for what amounts to little more than minimum wage (and no overtime).(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

JimmyD said, "I disagree with swimming and life saving with being required because some people can't swim. Lifesaving can be diffcuilt especially if the kid is out of shape." Scoutldr replies, "Well, duhhhh." I guess we'll "Be Prepared"...as long as it's not too hard.

It sounds like you all need a refresher in role delineation. The CM does not hire and fire the CC or committee members. The COR does. The CM's job is to 1) Emcee the pack meetings and 2) Recruit and mentor the corps of Den Leaders, making sure that the Dens are doing their thing. These CM and CC are two distinct roles. Committee work should not done by the CM and DLs (unless they are dual registered).

Just make sure it's your own handwriting!

Paleontology...I like it but we'd be outvoted by the creationists who think that whole dinosaur thing is a scam. I do think that Cooking, Swimming, and Lifesaving ought to be returned to the Eagle required list (no either/or choices)

All those patches would sure look good on the back of an orange jumpsuit! It would clash with the red jacket, tho...yuk.

You guys are starting to sound like Wheeler! Cut it out!

People frequently ask me "why are you not happy"? Most think I'm depressed and need to be on drugs. I do not. I get extremely frustrated by those who waste what little time I may have left on this Earth by their ignorance, stupidity, laziness, carelessness, thoughtlessness, and selfishness. Even more so as I approach the big 5-0 in September. I recently came across a quote that I think answers the question very well...and is a lesson that our children are missing completely...and that depresses me. "The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Since someone seemed interested, El Paso Natural Gas is a publicly held company. I am a stockholder. If this deal goes through, I will make about 3 bucks. The big winners will be those whose mutual funds and pension plans invest in this company...probably some or most of those on this board, unless you ensure you invest only in "green" companies. It was formerly a subsidiary of Tenneco, Inc, (formerly Tennessee Gas Transmission Co, stock symbol TGT) which also owned Monroe Automotive (shock absorbers and mufflers), Hefty (plastic bags), Newport News Shipbuilding (aircraft carriers and submarines), and some others. The conglomerate has since been dismantled. For those who are opposed to besmirching the wilderness, why don't we start making a difference in your own neighborhood...take the car keys away from your kids and make them get back on the school bus. And next time we need a gallon of milk, let's walk the 6 blocks to the store. Let's all admit it...we're all for saving the environment...as long as it doesnt' inconvenience us.

Marksmanship MB, 1967. The rifle range was run by a Marine Corporal, who might as well have been a General in our eyes. Shooting was done on mattresses from all positions...no resting allowed. We were allowed to bring our own rifles and ammo. Spent the first day or two "sighting in"...then we learned how to shoot from an expert. By the end of the week, we could shoot the left wing off a fly at 50 meters. Still my favorite MB. We also qualified for the NRA Safe Hunter patch at the same time.

In all likelihood, if the NG deposits are that close, then Philmont is prime property, too. Wait until National puts 2 and 2 together. Does this mean no more popcorn??? It may be worth it! The same objections were raised over the Alaska pipeline...but recent studies have shown that the pipeline itself has had little or no effect on the wildlife. A previous poster made a good point. The whole reason Philmont exists is because of Big Oil profits (Phillips Petroleum). Don't be so quick to bite the hand... Personally, I think the US needs to do whatever we need to do to become energy independent, so we can tell OPEC to shove it.

Not to be confused with a "skill award" which was a belt loop.

Howdy, Pardner! Welcome to the campfire! Grab a cuppa joe and pull up a log! We're a friendly bunch, mostly, but we ARE opinionated! Just keep a thick skin and remember we're all here for the same reason...the boys (and Venturers). There are a few youth here too, so we try hard to behave.

According to the insignia guide, it is "legal" to wear temporary patches on the back of the MB sash. Nothing is permitted to be added to the OA sash. My temp patches are in shoe boxes in the closet, and when I die, my sons will probably sell them for 5 bucks at the yard sale, since they mean nothing to anyone but me. I wear one temp patch on my uniform shirt...a 1966 patch from our council camp...the first year I attended. I do have a red wool jac-shirt with my 50 miler patch on the right pocket, but that's it. The darn thing keeps shrinking, though!

Sounds like retesting to me, Ed. Then what if he can't do it? Does he fail the BOR?

I don't disagree, acco. But the Eagle is the only "rank" that you wear until you die. "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle", but you're a Second Class only until you earn the next rank or turn 18, whichever comes first. I guess the "gatekeeper" for all of this is the Scoutmaster. We need to be a lot more circumspect in signing off the "Scout Spirit" requirement. Speaking from personal experience, the SS requirement is only viewed in the Scouting context. It doesn't matter that he is failing 3 classes and was given in-school suspension for misbehavior three times this semsester...as long as he gets along with others OK on campouts... The take-home message for Scouts and parents is that being a "Scout" is 24/7...not just for 90 minutes on Monday nights. It's a lifestyle, not just another extra-curricular activity.

We had a similar problem with raccoons at our council camp...no fear of humans and ravaging tents and troop supplies at night, even with us adults snoring loudly. This year there were none. Allegedly the ranger had "trapped" them all and removed them to some other property. I suspect they were sent to raccoon heaven...the Ranger doesn't strike me as being a PETA supporter. Either way, we didn't have a coon problem this year...everyone's candy stash was safe. I agree with the others...if things are so dangerous that camp staff must be armed...I would think that the camp would be closed first.

Were these the local "public" newspaper? If so, unless the papers were removed one at a time for 50 cents each, it was theft, and the ISU campus cops should be looking to arrest the perps of that crime as well. Were these the ISU student paper (unlikely this time of year)? Or were these the NOAC newspaper? A similar thing happened here...the local University student newspaper obtained the salaries of all faculty members via the FOIA and published them. Within hours of distribution (in free racks all over campus), all of the papers mysteriously disappeared. The University claimed they had the right to approve/disapprove whatever was printed, even though as a state University it's public information. Membership in the BSA requires "duty to Country." In my mind, that means respecting and upholding the First Amendment rights of others....at least that's what the voices in my head keep telling me.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Umm, that would have been me. Based on the fact that the little box that the medal comes in has "Eagle Scout Award" on it. You are correct that the Eagle Scout "Rank" is referred to throughout BSA literature...even on the "Application for Eagle Scout Rank". Perhaps the "Award" refers to the medal itself. I don't think it's worth arguing over. Personally, I don't like the term "rank" used in the BSA context. That implies that responsibility and authority are vested in the rank, rather than in the POR. I know many Eagles in troops where the SPL is a Life. The Eagle "rank" should hold a higher place of honor than just the last step of the advancement trail, IMHO. Getting all of the boxes checked should be just the prerequisite for being considered for the "award". Just like the Vigil "Honor" is based on more than whether the candidate has been a Brotherhood for two years. For example, the not so hypothetical scout who has received (earned?) 21 MB, watched his dad build a park bench and wore a Scribe patch for 6 months is too often automatically sent to the BOR and advanced. Oh, that shoplifting conviction or suspended drivers' license? Well, he was just a juvenile and deserves a second chance. His 15 year old girlfriend got an abortion last year? Boys will be boys. Perhaps there should be things that automatically preclude an Eagle Award: Any conviction in a court of law Being fired for cause from Camp Staff (or any other job) Any school suspension or expulsion Becoming an unwed parent As I stated before, society thinks Eagles are the cream of the crop, not only of Scouts, but of all young men. They are expected to be the best of the best...in all aspects of their lives, not just knot-tying and first aid. We have a weighty responsibility not to disappoint. Or are we going to look the other way and keep dumbing down the requirements just to keep our numbers up? Not sure I'm expressing it adequately...maybe I'm just getting old.

And you should be fined for violating the noise ordinance. Just like the gangsta rapper should be who is blasting obscene lyrics into my car (and kids' ears) from the next lane at the stop light. One man's "good news" is another man's obnoxious noise. Both have rights to the "quiet enjoyment" of their environment. What a great country!

The Priest of the Catholic church in my neighborhood will have nothing to do with Scouting. Won't even let me use a classroom for adult training. New Priest came in...same policy. Meanwhile, the Catholic church 2 miles away actually charters a Pack and Troop. The Priest is an Eagle Scout and sits on Eagle Boards for candidates from their troop. Why the difference in policy, especially in the same diocese whose Bishop is Scout-friendly?(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Must be like those cabins at camp that no one is allowed to use, except the Professionals and selected Good Ole' Boys/Girls.