scoutldr

I think you are comparing apples and oranges. The Hornaday Award is for outstanding service to Conservation. The award you are proposing is for developing one's own skill. The other "awards" you list are not for uniform wear, such as the 50 miler award and Historic Trails award. So, while your "award" may have merit I submit it is more appropriately a patch worn on a horse blanket, saddle, or on one's jodhpurs.

It's at the counsellor's discretion, but normally you can just demonstrate the skills and pass the written test to be recertified. Also, a current CPR certification is required. One excellent way of recertifying is to help teach a course.

Does anyone ever actually say yes to "Are you using illegal drugs?"

"Do not go gently into that good night. Rage, Rage against the dying of the light." - Dylan Thomas I've been to the San Diego Desert Pacific Council scout "complex" at Balboa Park. (Whenever I travel and have free time, I make it a point to find and visit the local scout shop...OK, so I need to get a life!). It consists of a camp, the scout shop, a meeting hall, and other buildings. It's a jewel worth saving. It's also the site of the San Diego Zoo, museums and the Naval Hospital. So, let the City raise the rent to a fair amount and let's get on with our lives. Where do I send my check?

Just attended a concert at the local amphitheater. The main concession stand was being manned by volunteers from the "Friends of Boy Scout Troop XXX" (I know that is true, because the sign said so). Every customer was being thanked for "supporting the Boy Scouts." Every customer walked away with a puzzled look. Only adults over 21 were allowed to work the stand, since beer and wine were being served. I did recognize some fellow registered Scouters, even though they were not in uniform. Was this a Unit Fundraiser, approved by Council. Probably not. Did the customer understand the difference? Assuredly not. By the way, the concert was nearly sold out and the beer lines were long all night. The "friends" of the unit probably made a fortune for about 4 hours work. Am I jealous? Yeah. And I didn't mind so much being ripped off 10 bucks for a Diet Pepsi and a soft pretzel (with salt).

Anytime I feel that I am low on the stress meter, I just remind my wife that I am an Eagle Scout and she only made it to "First Class". The sofa's not that bad to sleep on. I can't believe this protracted gold/silver debate. Don't we have real Scouting that needs doing?

A uniform like that, properly tailored and fitted, would probably run $300 today. (due to limited market) I suspect that's the main reason all of the better quality uniforms of the past have gone by the wayside.

In our neck of the woods, if you can't pay on-line, it's a moot point. "Registration" does not occur until the money is paid.

Ditto. Our camp requires a "swim check" for ALL scouts, scouters and staff, otherwise, they are restricted to the "non-swimmer" areas. No discussion, no debate. As a BSA Lifeguard counsellor, I usually work at the pool every summer as my "cheerful service" to the camp helping out where needed, so I get "extra-special" scrutiny from the staff...and if I have any flaw in my stroke or float, I hear about it! A lot of good-natured ribbing!

In response to the Fitness thread: Let's put Cooking MB back on the required list and emphasize the nutritional aspects. Not just plan and cook a meal, but analyze the nutritional content...read the labels, total the grams of carbs, sugars, fats, protein, etc. Strengthen this requirement in Personal Fitness, and in rank requirements. Leaders, make that a part of camp menu planning. Set limits, based on nutritional guidelines. Discourage the use of prepared, processed foods and require the use of raw fruits, vegetables and meats in meal preparation (remember the "Edible Plants" requirement for Second Class?). Have an "Aluminum Chef" competition among the patrols, with the raw ingredients provided. Most of all, lead by Example!

In response to a previous post, in this area of the state, walking to school is not an option. Even if the child lives across the street, a bus will pick them up. A lot of kids would LOVE to walk or ride their bikes to school, given the choice. Then, as soon as they are 16, mom and dad buy them a car, and the high schools have to build huge parking lots. (Don't criticize my SUV until you get your kids back on the school bus!!! But that's another thread!) Latchkey kids are forbidden from doing anything until mom or dad gets home. They must stay in and "do homework" (which usually involves an X-Box or Playstation). I know there are safety issues involved, but that's an adult problem, too. Kids are not being taught nutrition at home or at school, and food choices are not encouraged nor enforced. School lunch choices now include pizza, cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, fries, chocolate milk, on a DAILY basis. The school system has a lucrative contract with Pepsi to keep drink machines in the hallways. Both parents feel they MUST work, so, more often than not, dinner at home means something that can be microwaved or ordered over the phone. Heck, even the camp Trading Post makes 90% of it's sales from junk food. I formally complained this year because there were NO diet drinks available, so I drank water all week and took my money back home with me! I remember summers in the 60's...you would get up at 8 am and grab your bike and disappear...probably rode 20 miles a day, all totalled...had things to do and people to see. Mom didn't hear from me until dinner time, 5 pm (missing dinner was NOT an option!), then by 5:30 we were back outside again until dark (or later). So let's get the mirror out. Is it that the kids are lazy slugs, or is it what parents and society are teaching them, if even subliminally? Let's keep the blame where it belongs.

In my opinion: The District Chair's primary job is to, 1. Plan and chair the District Committee meetings 2. Recruit and supervise the District Committee chairs (finance, training, membership, etc) 3. Recruit and supervise an effective District Commissioner (who in turn recruits the Commissioner Corps) 4. Represents the District on the Council Committee and at District functions, such as FOS dinners, camporees, etc. 5. Prepares and presents District Reports to the Council Committee 6. Provides leadership in achieving Quality District "Wait a minute", you say. "That's what our DE does!" Hmmmmmmmm.

At camp this year, our Aquatics Director, who just completed National Camp School, said that the BSA and Red Cross were nearing an agreement for reciprocity. We have run BSA Lifeguard during the winter at a local pool. IF there's a demand, find a pool and a counselor and go for it! In addition to the skills portion, the course requires Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, and CPR Certification, so plan accordingly.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Coleman advertises the "Weathertec" system "guaranteed to keep you dry". Anyone have any experience with these? I find the hardest thing to do is convince kids not to let anything touch the inside of the tent, or the water will wick right through. We can't afford $200-400 each for the high-end stuff.

eamonn, quit beating yourself up. You lucked out...nothing happened. Learn from it and move on. None of us are perfect and we can't follow every rule every time.

Being a former Church Council President and Finance Committee chair, I don't think it's as ominous as it sounds. Church Treasurers are usually bonded and insured against fraud, embezzlement and other errors and ommissions. In order to maintain this protection, all funds must be maintained under the control of the bonded individual(s) and are auditable along with all other church accounts. As BW and others have pointed out, the Troop is owned by the CO and they can specify how they want things run. The only downside is that the Troop may need to now get all checks issued by the Church Treasurer and the Troop Treasurer keeps the books, but not the money.

I can decipher most typos, but what's an "un friendly dissution"?????

Water shoes (or extra pair of sneakers that can stay wet). Sunscreen. Long sleeved shirt and long pants with belt for Swimming merit badge. Sheets, blanket, pillow. (may be too hot for sleeping bag). Medical form.

In my experience with ADHD 11 year olds, even if he packs and takes it, he won't remember he has it and won't use it! (lol) That goes for the items you already mentioned, like underwear, and toothbrush! For some reason, that never applies to GameBoys, YuGiOh cards and what we call "personal stash" (candy, softdrinks, etc). If we knew the location and climate of the camp, we could help narrow down the list for you! For instance the list will be different in So California than it will be for Maine.

"BSA is the only branch of world scouting to take this stance." I don't know if this is true or not, (especially in Islamic countries), but I will take it at face value. Analyzing this "fact", is it because BSA uses the "Chartered Partner" concept, which I understand is unique to the USA? Is the exclusionary policy really because we believe in "morally straight" and "bad role models", or is it because of the potential massive loss of support from major Chartered Partners such as the LDS church? Most of my youth Scouting was in the Exploring program in the 70s when it became Co-ed. Our chartering organization was a Fire Department/Rescue Squad. Now, the Exploring program has been moved to Learning for Life, so that the governmental agencies can continue to sponsor units and also be non-discriminatory. I have to ask...why is a gay fireman an OK role model for a 14 year old in the LfL program, but he is NOT an acceptable role model as an ASM? Why is it OK to expose our innocent, impressionable children to gay youth in the Explorer Posts, but not in our Venture Crews? If the BSA stands for "timeless values", then why not Corporate-wide? Don't we believe in the same values for ALL youth???? If we are about being "morally straight", and other points of the Oath and Law, then why does the BSA only focus on orientation and religion and ignore situations such as those described in other threads (e.g., the ASM who will "knock the block off" anyone who disagrees with him, the adulterers and fornicators (we all know at least one), the wife beaters, the obese, the alcoholics, the racists and bigots, etc). We had a City Councilman who resigned after being convicted of spousal assault. As far as I know, his Eagle badge is still intact (we Scouted together as youth, and being an Eagle was prominent in his campaign materials). Aren't these bad role models, too???? If the Scout Oath and Law were enforced to the max, how many of us would be able to remain? I submit that it's not because we are standing on the moral high ground...it's because the BSA could not survive the loss in units, membership, and financial support if it did not kowtow to the demands of those with the biggest voices and wallets on the Executive Board. So it responds by forming "wholly owned subsidiaries" and then saying "they may be gay or atheist, but they are not really members of the BSA, and we'll keep them away from OUR children." Bullfeathers.

Here is one version, from "A Prairie Home Companion Folk Song Book" My hand on myself, What is dis here? Das ist my mohawker, Ya mamma dear. Mohawker, winky dinky doo Dat's what I learned in da school, yahoo! Mohawker, sweatboxer, eyeblinker, hornblower, boy(girl)kisser, jawbreaker, chinchopper, voiceboxer, ticktocker, breadbasket, kneeknocker, boy(girl)kicker

Most of the time, I don't get past the "Think" part. Have I missed some opportunities? For sure. But I've never been to jail, either. And I can't count the number of posts in the past few weeks that, after thinking about it, I just hit "Clear Fields" and go to bed.

Just got back from Camp and the Camp Commissioner recommended a "Bounce" dryer sheet in the pocket at all times to ward off ticks and chiggers. He said he periodically takes it out and wipes exposed skin surfaces with it, and had not had a tick problem in 4 weeks. We had a good crop of deer ticks this year, and DEET was pretty much ineffective. Has anyone else heard of this?

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Happy Birthday USA! Happy Birthday Dad! We miss you. (1925-1995)