scoutldr

Only Committee members can serve on BOR, so this would give you a larger pool to choose from.

In my opinion, mergers are done for only one reason...to reduce the number of paid professionals and related overhead costs. There is almost always no benefit for the unit.

If it weren't for Facebook, we could lay off half the people who work here. The youngsters seem to think it's ok to work with an iPhone in one hand.

"He expressed a belief a "God" but was unsure what that meant, and wants to find something to believe in, and is actively searching" Heck, that describes me most days, and I am on the far side of 60. I think the board made the right decision.

Proponents of a US National Heath System take note. I would venture to say most US teens don't have a clue unless it involves Snookie, The Bachelor, MTV, or the latest video game.

"Doesn't like camping"? You should ask him why he joined. Would he join a swim team if he hated the water? Sheesh.

Don't worry...the government microchips are coming...just like dogs.

I was always taught, "do a good turn daily", but don't seek recognition for doing so.

Rule #1 of goal setting: don't set goals for something that you can't control. Seems to me the "control points" for QA of the project are the SM conference for Eagle and the EBOR where there should be a discussion as to why the final result did not adhere to the plan. My wife, the school nurse, was once the recipient of an Eagle project where the scout proposed to build shelves in her clinic. She agreed. She never saw the scout (or any scouts) again...the kid's Mom came in during the week while he was in school and completed the project. I had to listen to that rant for weeks about how the BSA and the Eagle Scout project was such a joke. (She is a former First Class GS). This was in a different district, so I never saw the scout at his EBOR, but I urged my wife to refuse to allow the mom into her clinic, and call the Council to voice her concerns.

In my state, insurance is not required at all, as long as you pay a $400 "Uninsured motorist fee", which does not provide any insurance coverage. In all my years in Scouting, no one ever asked to see proof of insurance. When my financial advisor found out I was a Scouter volunteer, he highly recommended I purchase a blanket liability policy in addition to my car and homeowner's insurance.

The latest trend in our state is to register your clunker as an "Antique vehicle" if it's more than 25 years old. Makes them exempt from state inspection, although they are not supposed to be routinely driven (which a lot of people ignore). It also makes it legal to park these junk heaps on the street. I also recently read an article that more and more states are doing away with annual vehicle inspections. I always found them to be a PITA, however it was a good way to monitor brake and tire wear.

Just realized I responded to an 8 year old question. Sheesh.

http://www.scoutstuff.org BSA>Uniforms and Insignia>Insignia Cloth>Other>Page 3 "BSA FDL Emblem"

I, too was in Exploring sponsored by a Vol fire dept and rescue squad. We took all the same training as the firefighters and squadsmen and provided first aid support with an ambulance to most Council and OA activities. The only thing we couldn't do was drive the equipment until we were 21. The Post went co-ed and the girls who joined went to high school with us and most were also Senior Girl Scouts. I made Eagle in 1970 ... the first Post member to do so. I fully understand the LforL program (I think). It's the USSC and Army Explorer program I find "hoky"....reading the Commander's bio...from a Navy enlisted man to a 2-star General...without a whole lot of detail provided in between. I don't want to unfairly accuse someone, but there are those who like to put on uniforms and "pretend". In my state, we have the Virginia Defense Force...similarly hoky.

I thought the BSA strove to distance themselves from lookng like a paramilitary organization? Sounds hoky to me. We already have programs for military-inclined youth such as JROTC, Young Marines, Sea Cadets, Civil Air Patrol, etc.

To end a sentence in a preposition is something up with which I will not put.

There is no "voting" unless that's how the CO/COR wants to run things. All adults serve at the pleasure of the CO/COR. If you can't work with these people, you can vote with your feet and find (or form) a new unit.

From our Council newsletter: Fully loaded 15-passenger vans, like those some to transport Scouts to camp, can be more dangerous than you might think. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says 15-passenger vans with 10 or more occupants are three times more likely to roll over than those carrying fewer than five passengers. That’s why all Scouters should take heed of this breaking BSA news: Effective Sept. 1, 2015, the use of 15-passenger vans manufactured before 2005 will no longer be allowed in connection with Scouting programs and activities. 15-passenger vans manufactured in 2005 or later may be used, as long as they are equipped with Electronic Stability Control and seat belts for all passengers and the driver. This applies to all vehicles, regardless of ownership (privately owned, owned by chartered organization, rentals, etc.).

Ideally, troop meetings should be focused on T-2-1 skills. Those who are already First Class do the teaching. The balance of the meeting is for planning the monthly campout, games, etc. The annual planning session is done by the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC). It is refreshing to see so many on the board who recognize the true purpose of the Merit Badge program.

Thanks for clearing that up, RichardB. Although I'll bet some are wishing the question had not been asked...I can see issues trying to get AHMRs from parents and guests who are not registered members.

This saga illustrates why self-chartered units are not recommended. Sorta like the fox guarding the henhouse.

If I were asked to take over as Treasurer, I would request an independent audit before agreeing, so we start with a "clean slate" so to speak. The audit could simply be by a committee appointed by the CC...perhaps consisting of a few parents and/or members of the CO.

I haven't seen RichardB in a while...he is the National POC for G2SS issues. "any and all activities" is pretty unambiguous. If that's not what BSA meant, they need to revise the language. For the swimming example you posted above, I would say definitely yes. If every Scout has a parent or LEGAL guardian present for the activity, then they assume the responsibility for medical issues, not the Scouters. I would insist that every Scout have a permission slip signed by the parent for every activity that is not a routine meeting. Caveat: I am not an attorney.

I;m amazed the GSUSA isn't jumping all over the trademark infringement.

I think the intent for "2 deep" is that when on an outing, if an adult has to take a scout (and his buddy) for medical care, there will be an adult with the group left behind. Then, as long as there is no "one on one contact", everything is fine until the adult returns or a second adult can join the group. Yes, you can have a meeting with one adult present (it's not an "outing") as long as more than one scout is also present.