scoutldr

In Virginia, the waitress will ask if you want sweet or "UN". In NC, you have to special order Unsweet...the default is sweet. In some places, you don't get a choice. So, taste it before you pour in the sugar or pink stuff. Yes, the sugar is boiled into the tea, at about the rate of 1 cup sugar per quart. Brunswick County, VA...the birthplace of Brunswick stew. That should flush out the Nawcalinah and Goaja boys (each claims the same fame!) Born and raised Lutheran (ELCA), Pro Deo et Patria award recipient (From MY Pastor, harder to get than Eagle!)

I checked the internet, and it doesn't look like it. Keep in mind, you will be entering a "foreign country" and have to go through at the border crossing near Buffalo. Not a big deal, but make sure you have proof of citizenship...I don't think passports are required, but at least a birth certificate is. And dont' forget Customs... A quick call to the Canadian Embassy can answer most questions.

Smokers who think there is nothing wrong with exposing themselves, their children (and others) to carcinogens and throwing their lit butts on the ground, and then say "It's MY life, it's my RIGHT to smoke if I want to!" And Government regulators who are too hog-tied by Big Tobacco to do anything about it, while health care costs go through the ceiling. (By way of background, I lost my father at the young age of 69 to lung cancer, even though he had "quit" 20 years earlier, and am currently watching my mother in law die a slow, progressive death from emphysema and COPD...yes I'm LIVID!)

Mr. Sun Oh, Mister Sun, Sun, Mister golden Sun, Please shine down on me! Oh, Mister Sun, Sun, Mister golden Sun Hiding behind a tree. These little children are asking you, To please come out so they can play with you. Oh, Mister Sun, Sun, Mister golden Sun, Please shine down on me! Oh, Mister Moon, Moon, bright and silvery moon, Please shine down on me! Oh, Mister Moon, Moon, bright and silvery moon, Come from behind that tree. I like to ramble and I like to roam, But I like to find myself at home. When the moon, moon, bright and silvery moon, comes shining down on me. (repeat 1st verse)

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My thoughts are with those who don't get the day off... nurses, firefighters, police officers, those serving in the military at home and in harm's way. God keep you safe, SPC Kevin M., US Army MP, Mosul, Iraq.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

(S)ingles ©lub ?

NEWS FLASH: Gays and lesbians ARE serving in the military. I work with them every day. As long as they are professional and respectful, and do their jobs well, the question never comes up. If they were to engage in "PDA" (public display of affection), they would be hauled in and disciplined. But so would the heterosexuals. Most commanders just choose to look the other way. Yes, females are now on all of our ships, except submarines and the SEALS. The result of that was the pregnancy rate of unmarried sailors skyrocketed. Millions of dollars were spent to reconfigure ships to provide separate berthing areas. Ships are undermanned because pregnant sailors are immediately reassigned to a shore assignment. This means that someone else has to take her place at sea. This is patently unfair. In my opinion, there is no place for a single parent in the military. It is IMMORAL to bring a child into the world, knowing that you will be absent from their lives for half of their lives, 6 months at a time, or as an E-1, 2 or 3, you are financially unable to care for it without going on food stamps. It shows a lack of judgement and maturity, qualities that I don't want in someone I count on to save my life. Females who become pregnant out of wedlock and their male partners should be immediately given an Administrative Discharge. What disturbs me is the opinion of some that homosexuals are, de facto, immoral, however nothing is said about fornicators, adulterers, etc. Is someone from Irving going to Cancun, Myrtle Beach or Miami during spring break, taking names so they can be added to the "banned from Scouting" database? As I have said before in other posts, why does the BSA selectively enforce it's value system? Are some values more "morally straight" than others?

I've always preferred what I term "outcome oriented" leadership. For instance, I tell the SPL, "we have to be at the flagpole at 8 pm for the campfire." Then he knows that in the intervening time, they have to prepare dinner, wash dishes, put the gear away, etc. Normally what happens is they are busy lounging around and suddenly notice at 7pm that the adults are finishing eating and they haven't even started. They manage to get dinner cooked, but then have to do dishes at 9:30 pm after the campfire instead of the planned "capture the flag" game. Everyone suffers for the poor planning, and a lesson is learned.

We had the local Astronomy club come in to do Astronomy MB with our troop. We registered them as counsellors, and one of them requested a merit badge to add to their club scrapbook. A reasonable request, right? The council shop refused to sell me one because it wasn't on an advancement report. I was embarrassed to have to tell them "no" after all of the hours they had donated to scouting. Rules are rules, but gimme a break!

The local Roman Catholic church will not allow scouts the use of their building...not for meetings, not for adult-only training sessions. They don't want anything to do with BSA, no way, no how. That's the parish priest's decision, who apparently is empowered to make such decisions. The DE has tried for years to get units chartered there...they won't even meet with him. A parishioner whom I know explained that the church does, indeed, require criminal background checks for everyone who comes in contact with youth...sunday school teachers, CCD teachers, youth group advisors, etc. To avoid imposing that requirement on "outsiders", they simply won't allow them access.

The best gift that a SM can receive is to see his (or her) scouts grow into responsible, successful young men, exemplifying the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives, and passing on what they learned to others. IF they happen to make Eagle along the way, so much the better.

Try again...the Green Cross is a registered trademark of the National Safety Council. The Safety MB is a white cross on a green background. Clear as mud, eh?

In our area of the country (your mileage may vary), it's up to the Scouter to track his/her progress and submit the application (usually at roundtable), not the unit. The applications are now available on-line as .pdf downloads, as well. When I conduct training, one of the handouts is the application for the specific knot and an explanation of how to complete it. Some are interested in uniform decorations, many are not. Another question: I think that the medal form of the awards (neck ribbon for Cub Scouters) are still available, but I have never seen one awarded, or even worn any more. The "award" consists of a certificate and the knot. Most people don't even know that a medal exists, and if they want one, do they have to buy their own? Are these considered passe' now?

http://www.scouting.org/international/recognitions.html#iap It appears that the local council determines the requirements for the International Activity Patch. In the course of looking this up I discovered a new square knot!!! The International Scouter's Award.

For as long as I can remember, my late Father called me "Shaky Jake", and he would laugh at me when doing things like trying to hit the slot on a screw with a screwdriver. I find it difficult and embarrassing to eat soup in public...not much is left on the spoon when it reaches my mouth. At an early age, I realized I would never be a brain surgeon. My handwriting, once a source of pride, has been getting progressively worse over the years. I don't shake all the time...only when trying to do something like raise a spoon to my mouth. I blamed it on too much caffeine, but after reading your post, I now realize this may be a treatable disorder. I also recognized propranolol as being Inderal, a beta-blocker used for high blood pressure.

It's not just you. I agree. BUT...the BOR chair should not even schedule the BOR if all of the requirements were not complete.

I have been told by my employer that I must value diversity. I do not patronize McDonalds because I know they are universally bad. I can count on it no matter where in the world I happen to be.

That's pretty arrogant, ed. So anyone who doesnt' agree with you is wrong? IF you want the guarantee of "Freedom of religion", then we must also guarantee "Freedom FROM religion", especially religion with which we don't agree. With the Establishment Clause (aka, the First Amendment), the Framers wanted to guarantee that the Government would never establish a State Religion (i.e., the "Church of England" or "atheism") and to guarantee that religious persecution could not exist in a free society. So, as an educated and intelligent person, my interpretation is that Government may support groups such as the Scouts, who have religious duty as a basic tenet, however, in turn those groups may NOT advocate (and thereby discriminate) a specific religion over another (e.g., LDS, Christianity, Judaism, or Islam) or exclude those who choose not to agree. Benefits provided by the GOvernment (that is, our tax dollars), must be made available to all citizens regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or creed. The solution is for the members to put their money where their beliefs are, so that the BSA doesn't need to depend on Government largesse. It's almost FOS time!

At the time it happened, the news reported that the Church had leased the camp from the Colonial Virginia Council for the weekend. The rental agreement did not include the lake, and it was specified that it was off limits. Nor was aquatics a part of the Church's planned activities. The youth snuck away from the group and one dared the other to a swimming race to a raft anchored in the middle of the lake. Their deaths were tragic, but were the result of their own misconduct.

Merlyn, I respect your beliefs and your right to express them...you are a valuable member of the forum and have made me think. Although it may not have been evident in my post, I am still wrestling with this issue in my own mind. I do believe all forms of discrimination are wrong. I, myself have been the victim of racial discrimination many times (some would call it "reverse" discrimination, but the result is the same). I wish the organization that I grew up in and still love were more inclusive, or at least not as disclusive. I think the best option might be "local option". COs should be able to set their own membership standards. We have units sponsored by christian churches where every meeting is started with prayer and a "message" and they have the Cross of Jesus on the back of their Troop neckerchiefs. They are spoonfed their religious awards in classes at Den and Troop meetings (God and Country mills???). Other units are exclusively LDS or Muslim. ALthough, technically, if a white Jew tried to join the Muslim unit, he probably wouldn't be turned away, he would feel pretty darn unwelcome while the entire unit prays to Mecca 6 times a day, don't you think? Wonder how the Jewish kid would feel having to wear Christian symbols on his official uniform and having to listen to New Testament scripture readings during the opening? Others, like ours, adhere to the Declaration of Religious Principles, but have a "don't ask, don't tell" attitude, and religion is not a real visible part of our program, so I like to think we are as inclusive as they come. Like the BSA treats sex education, my personal belief is that religious training is a parental duty, according to their own faith and custom. And I believe we will be judged on how we treat our fellow human beings, and by our stewardship of God's creation...including the sinners and non-believers He created. Maybe this is a test??? HMMMMMMM.

Merlyn, read the "12 steps"...do you also advocate goverment agencies withdraw support from Alcoholics Anonymous? Around here, churches regularly meet in our schools until their buildings are built. What about military chaplains and churches on military bases? Your tax dollars are providing religion to the troops and the amount spent is FAR in excess of the paltry support provided to the BSA. But if we want to provide a coffee pot in our office (military), we are not allowed to spend congressionally appropriated funds ... we have to pay coffee mess dues. Where is the logic? Why not go after the BIG bucks where you could make a difference.

Scouter ties are available regularly on eBay...

NAVY FOOTBALL The Naval Academy Athletic Association would like to invite your scout troop to join us for our annual "Scout Day" on November 22, 2003, for the Navy vs. Central Michigan game in Annapolis, MD at 1:30pm. This promotion is available for boy scouts, girl scouts, cub scouts, etc. We are offering $8 discounted reserved seats for scouts and $15 reserved seats for parents. You can camp out the weekend of the game, tour the yard (Naval Academy) with a Midshipman, and receive a patch for the event. There will be special recognition for those who come in groups of 20 or more and Eagle Scouts will be recognized during the game Order deadline is October 30, 2003. Please contact Ray Dixson at 1-800-874-6289, ext. 140, or via e-mail at dixson@usna.edu for further information.

Did you mean to say "Varsity letter"? We have no Varsity units in our Council...wonder why BSA keeps it alive?