scoutldr

I have written to my legislators and all three of them (Democrats) have responded that they will not support the bill. I am cautiously optimistic that they are starting to listen to their constituents.

"Unfortunately, I do not possess the intelligence to make sense of it." And that about sums up the Democrat strategy. Rush it through before people have a chance to figure out what it means.

I can't afford to join another club...I'm already a Scouter and an Ilk.

One "District" job that would get you to meet a lot of people fast would be Roundtable staff. Good luck. Been to Palm Springs once...in August...all I remember is HOT and DRY.

Actually, there were "Den Dads", but it was not a registered position. The Den Mother was the boss.

Sexism, or more correctly, genderism, is alive and well. I don't have a problem with female leaders in the BSA. But our GSUSA counterparts don't seem to agree. And as you know, SWMBO is an elementary school nurse (RN). With the opening of the nursing profession to males over 30 years ago, I wondered out loud why there are no male school nurses. Her reply, "it ain't gonna happen". Seems it's ok for females to take children of both sexes into a restroom and help clean them up after an "accident", but not ok for a male to do the same. After all, everyone knows that a male wanting to be an elementary school nurse MUST be a pedophile. Seems that gender quotas are ok for some professions, but not others. I was hospitalized twice last year, and I really didn't care what gender my caregivers were (and I had males and females)...as long as they were professionally competent. It was a little strange to have to explain to a young female intern young enough to be my daughter, all about my bowel movements and gas production following my colon resection. But I got over it, since it was my ticket home!

I take it back, we did have a flag in church years ago...it belonged to our Troop. :-)

If you go to the US Mint website, you can sign up for news releases and be advised when it is released. I'm guessing it will either be in conjunction with the BSA Birthday (Feb) or the Jambo. If the final design is anything like the stamp, I'll pass.

Welcome back!

Pack, just because he's a man of the cloth doesn't mean he's not a moron. I can see demons, too. They spend most of their time in Washington, DC.

The issue here is that the city laid off union workers, then allowed volunteer labor to replace them, or at least 200 hours worth of one of them. The SEIU's beef is with the city. Whether that's a grievable management practice is a matter for the arbitrator. Mr. Balzano and his ilk lost my support when he chose to go to the media and drag the BSA and an innocent Boy Scout through the mud. And yes, I am a former union member and shop steward and now am management, so I've been on both sides.

"What would you have replied?" Unfortunately, that's not something the SM controls. My reply would have been, "Well, that's up to your son, not me." Then provide your program. If it doesn't meet their timeline, wish them luck with another troop.

I belong to an ELCA Lutheran church. We do not have flags...anywhere. Not sure if that's based in theology, or that no one ever bothered to buy some.

From Wikipedia: West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943), was a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that held that the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution protected students from being forced to salute the American flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance in school. It was a significant court victory won by Jehovah's Witnesses, whose religion forbade them from saluting or pledging to symbols, including symbols of political institutions. However, the Court did not address the effect the compelled salutation and recital ruling had upon their particular religious beliefs, but instead ruled that the state did not have the power to compel speech in that manner for anyone. scoutldr comment: That being said, I think that if the dad were a Jehovah's Witness, he would not allow his son to stand and pledge, either. I agree with the advise above...live and let live...if the scouts ask about, just be truthful and say "I don't know, why don't you ask him."

Maybe they're gonna "make him an offer he can't refuse..."

artjrk, How about the Eagle's troop make it an annual service project to keep the courtyard from falling into deterioration? Shouldn't take too much to keep it "spruced up" and becoming another Eagle project. No reason the Eagle couldn't come back and help, too. "Cheerful service" doesn't end when you pin on the Eagle badge...it's just the beginning.

And we're glad you came, Eamonn! Funny accent and all!

Looks like they were designed to be "water shorts" first, which dry quickly when they are out of the water. Probably well suited to summer camp when you are canoeing one minute and in the dining hall the next. Not sure i would like them as my "every day" uniform shorts.

"For a man of character, those things are their own reward, and yeh do 'em for as long as you need to because that's what being responsible means." Yeah, I agree and that's the way I was raised. Ya just do the right thing because it's the right thing to do. But that's not the way today's kids (and their parents) are being raised. It's that "epidemic of narcissism" thing again. The other problem I see, is that in mega-troops, there aren't enough POR to go around, therefore the 6 month limit..."times up, now Jimmy gets to do it"...Maybe we should let the democratic model have it's way and those who are successful get re-elected, grow into the job,...and get advanced. Wanna make rank? Get yourself elected. Everyone could be a Den Chief, i guess...

Is the "American Labor" merit badge also manufactured in China? Just askin...

Owl stated, "The boy does not obey Scouts elected over him. He is immature. (As many 14 year olds are---but only one 14 year old is going up for a BOR/SCC). I would really like to see this young man try to lead people that are just like him." Typically, this type of behavior does not manifest itself for the first time in the 6 months prior to the EBOR. How was it addressed in prior BOR (FC, Star, Life)? I'm assuming it was not addressed, since he's Life already. It's not really fair to let things slide until the Eagle SMC and then slam dunk him. Not sayin you did that...just sayin.

Here on the Chesapeake Bay, we have an annual "Clean the Bay Day" manned by thousands of volunteers, including Scouts. Guess we won't be able to do that any more, since there are Union workers out there who could do it. Wonder if they will want the patch, since they are made in China? (Note: the most numerous item of trash cleaned up by far is cigarette butts) In my opinion, this union just lost a lot of sympathy from the public. This was a Boy Scout, for Pete's sake...not a competing contractor. He can "look into the Boy Scout" all he wants...there was no Union contract with the scout OR the Council, thus no duty was breached. Sheesh.

MY ancestors immigrated legally from Germany through the port of Philadelphia, according to the laws that were in force at the time.

I refuse to be made to feel petty and uncaring because I expect the laws of the land to be obeyed and enforced.

The Lone Scout program published a magazine for awhile and across the masthead it read, "The Real Boys' Magazine". After awhile, it was changed to "The White Boys' Magazine" (circa 1930's). You still see them from time to time on Ebay.