scoutldr

Can't wait for the Executive Order that says our YP program is unconstitutional and we have to allow genderless latrines and showers at camp.

The green ones were in the official catalog in the early 60s. I used to look forward to getting that catalog in the mail like getting the Sears and Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogs.

Well, I am even more of a "traditionalist" than most traditionalists. There are several purposes to the MB program, not the least of which is to get boys familiar with taking the initiative to contact an adult they may not know, set up appointments, and complete the requirements without the "spoonfeeding" from parents or unit leaders (e.g. Merit Badge Fairs). My pet peeve is those units who sign up (or not) parents to counsel MB to their own troop only, which parents may or may not be "experts" in the field. The program was designed for MB Counselors to be registered at the District level to be a resource for all troops. Not every troop will have a true "expert" in fields such as Composite Materials, Beekeeping, or Fruit and Nut Culture. (I know those are "retired" subjects and I'm showing my age here The second purpose is to introduce scouts to potential career fields, learning from true experts by vocation or avocation, who have a passion for the field and can effectively communicate that passion to the scout. Not just someone who can read the MB requirements and verify that they were completed. It's the journey, not the piece of cloth.

Duluth has been too pricey for my budget. I'm a Hanes man.

Maybe she's jealous that her daughter will not get the first "Gold". Petty.

@KDD - yes, cooler. As I recall, this was Sunday, we had just checked in and Mom had not gone home yet. Pretty sure the cooler went with her. Glass bottles were all we had back then...plastic had not yet been invented . Mattress was about 3 inches thick and stuffed with cotton batting....military surplus I think. In later years, they switched to canvas cots and you brought your own foam pad/sleeping bag. Meals were delivered to the campsite in "heater stacks"...no dining hall or central showers. All aquatics were in the James River. My first and only MB was Rowing and oh, how I remember those wooden rowboats were so heavy to launch and swamp and carry back up the beach. Swimmers test and Mile Swim were in the river, following a rowboat...upstream halfway and back down the last half. That was when men were men and the boys were too.

He will be kicking himself the rest of his life if he walks away now. Not sure how to impress that on him. I know too many adults who are "Life for life" and every one of them regrets not finishing.

First summer camp, circa 1966. Pipsico Scout Reservation, Tidewater Council. Didn't know about mosquito nets. Learned quickly. (I am the handsome young Second Class on the left!)

I always told my Scouts to be aware of what they were learning in school, especially extra-curriculars like band, drama and sports. Lots of those activities will satisfy MB requirements...just get them verified with a registered MB Counselor, preferably before starting.

Standard summer camp gear included skeeter nets (army surplus - durable) and pre-cut sticks or dowels about 4 feet long. Duct tape the poles to each corner of the cot and drape the net over (which is in a box shape). The cheap nylon nets available at places like Walmart are ok for one season, but tend to get holes in them. Make sure the net reaches all the way to the floor...you may have to adjust the length of the poles.

A pack cannot re-register without those leaders in place. Talk to your District Commissioner and District Executive and let them know they need to step in and help save the Pack. They should be working closely with your Chartered Organization.

Keep in mind...Scouting is about the journey, not the Eagle. Advancement is a byproduct of the program.

I have many Jewish friends. Never heard them say "OH MY G-D"

And the adjective "frickin" seems to have become acceptable in polite conversation. We all know what it's a substitute for. I guess "gosh darn" was the analogous phrase in our parents' day.

I find the copious use of "Oh MY GOD" (OMG) to be just as offensive. I had to remind one scout (who was devout Catholic) of the Third Commandment and he was like, "what are you talking about?"

http://www.businessinsider.com/history-of-the-40-hour-workweek-2015-10

In my council, EBOR are scheduled and performed by the Unit Committee (like all BOR), with a District Rep present. The District Rep's job is to ensure an appropriate BOR is conducted, i.e., reasonable time limit, no retesting, no inappropriate questions, SM,ASM and parents not participating, etc. Council does not get involved except to "pre-approve" the Eagle app, the Registrar certifying that the advancement records are all correct. The District Advancement Chairman approves the Eagle Project plan before the Scout starts work. When the EBOR is complete, everything is given back to the Scout, except the Application and Letters of Reference. The letters are destroyed and the App goes to Council for forwarding to National. Parents will be told it can take up to 8 weeks to get back, then they can have the COH (or not).

And that's precisely why the Govt pays 2-3x more than it should cost for a given result.

What I see happening is that the job of the DE will become more tightly defined. The jobs that should be done by volunteer youth, Scouters and Commissioner staff will simply not get done. I have seen DEs staffing summer camp, chopping wood at camp, conducting training, attending Blue and Golds and Pinewood Derbies, unloading the popcorn truck and other "duties as assigned". Their core duties are "more units, more scouts and more money".

The difference is "independent contractors" i.e., free lancers. Your "statement of work" is with the Contractor with whom you have a contract. The people who "come and go" are employees of the Contractor. You don't get to tell the contractor HOW to achieve the statement of work, how many people to hire, what to pay them, etc. Independent contractors are usually "sole proprietors", if I'm not mistaken. The example I always use is the plumber who buys tools and a truck and a yellow pages ad. You hire him to fix your pipes and he comes out usually onHIS schedule, not yours. You don't get to tell him how to dress, what tools to use, or how long to spend. You pay him for results. But this gets complicated, and like I said, I'm not an expert.

Sounds like they have a case of negligence on the part of the guide and the Outfitters. If it was a "scheduled release" the outfitters should have known about it and canceled the trip. Prayers for the family of the Brother Scouter. He's with the Great Scoutmaster now.

I'm not a labor lawyer, however, in my short career running a consulting firm, I learned that you are either an "employee" or an "independent contractor". The difference is in who specifies the "means and methods" of getting a job done. And if you are a contractor, you have to pay your own AND the employer's share of SS and Workman's comp insurance. In my layman's opinion, camp staff would be employees, since they have a boss telling them where to go, when to be there, and how to do the job. If they are not free to do whatever they want, they are "on the clock".

Any thoughts on how the new overtime edict from the White House will affect Scout councils, specifically camp staff and the Professional Corps? For those who don't follow the news, as of December 1, 2016, anyone not classified as a "Manager" and making less than $47,476 per year ($913 per week) MUST be paid time and a half for any hours in excess of 40 in any given work week. That's up from the current $23,660 ($455 per week). Personally, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, it's going to increase the cost of doing business (inflation). On the other hand, lots of employees get screwed by being arbitrarily titled "Manager" when they are truly not.

@Stosh- not sure how they get Not sure how they get away with that. In our neck of the woods, the References are requested by the troop committee, sent directly back to the troop committee, and then destroyed after the EBOR. No one sees them (or should) except the EBOR members. The only thing submitted to Council is the Eagle Application (duly signed) and an Advancement Report.

If a "Letter of Reference" is an essential part of the Eagle Application, then BSA needs to state that in the requirement. That's all I'm saying. When I represent the District on EBOR, once in awhile all of the letters are not received by the EBOR date. What am I supposed to do? Reschedule? No. We proceed...since it's not a "requirement" anyway.