scoutldr

The autism comment rang a bell with me...Asperger's maybe? If this is a legitimate medical issue, the mom should level with you. I will bend over backwards to work with a kid if it's a medical thing. But not for spoiled brats.

I'll never forget the time at a camporee when we had Webelos with us...the SM was dishing up spaghetti from a huge stockpot and a young Webelos announced, "I don't eat spaghetti without parmesan cheese!"...the SM, not batting an eyelash, said, "Ok" and dumped the bowl back in the pot and said "Next!"...The kid was, to say the least, astonished. He did eat it once he realized no one cared whether he ate it or not. No one is going to starve over a weekend. From what you describe, the kid is malnourished and possibly mentally ill. There are some things Scouting can't fix. On the other hand, your list of "permissible" foods doesn't seem that far from a typical Patrol menu anyway. The only things missing are PopTarts and Kraft mac and cheese with hot dog slices in it. ;-)

I like to apply the Duck Test. Just checked my council's website...there is a recruiting announcement for an Explorer Post and the LFL Executive is listed as a Council employee...whom I assume reports to the SE, a BSA employee. So, if LFL has "severed ties", the word hasn't filtered down to the COuncil level yet. Also, the LFL website lists it's headquarters as "Walnut Hill Lane, Irving Texas". I'm not dissing Exploring (I loved it when I was in it), or LFL (which most people know little about). Let's just end the charade. Quack. PS: Note to lgbtpov.com...the BSA logo is a registered trademark. You might want to remove it from your website.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

This is not the place to advertise a business. If you contact Scouter-Terry, the owner of this site, I'm sure he would be glad to discuss an advertising contract with you.

When I earned the Eagle in 1970, the little jewelry box it came in said "Eagle Scout Award". (there's one on Ebay right now). The 2009 version of the application form refers to it as the "Eagle Scout Rank". Are the terms used interchangeably, or was there a conscious change somewhere along the line? I don't know...didn't notice. If Eagle is now considered just another rank, then yes, it's just a diploma, certifying that the requirements were met. If it's still considered an "Award", then that's different...you have to earn 21 MB and do a project just to be considered...but it's not automatic. I would hope it's the latter.

At least he didn't mention P.I.E.

Our DE used to drill it into us..."the parents are paying 12 months' worth of registration, they deserve a 12 month program."

No disrespect intended, nolesrule. I have great respect for computer techs. My brief exposure to computer programming was a semester of Fortran IV in 1974. Punch cards. Wait 3 days to pick up your printout from the computer processing center, only to find out the program crashed because i had a comma out of place on the 3rd card. I thought, "well this is BS." Gives me the willies just thinking about it. As I stated before, I am a product of the 1970-era Exploring (Fire/Rescue) program. During my tenure, the program went co-ed. I had the time of my life, and otherwise would have dropped out of scouting. My comment about being confused is only half tongue-in-cheek. Too many people don't understand either Exploring Or Venturing...there is no brand identity. If it were up to me, Venturing would be the "senior scout" program, (e.g. Rovers in the UK).

"Most people receive about 18 years advanced warning of the date on which they will turn 18" My wife tells parents the same thing when their little darlings can't attend the first day of school because of the lack of shots or a physical. "But she was at Grandma's the whole month of August!" or "I called the Dr last week and they can't see us until November"...waaa, waaaa.

C'mon, eisely. Those Chinese children are doing the best they can.

Math, science and computer nerds...isn't that what Exploring is for? I'm sooo confused.

I wish someone would call ME a jerk...at least that way I would know they were listening and getting the message.

Thank goodness for pedantic book-thumpers. There has been a void here that needed filling. The problem is, we need "book(s)-thumpers". God forbid they should put all relevant rules, requirements and information in one location.

Abel....first of all, welcome to the campfire. My first impression of your letter is that, while I agree with most of it, it's way too long. A CEO doesn't have time to read that much. Take three key messages and put them on a one page letter...three paragraphs max. That being said, I think you are tilting at windmills. THe only real power we have as volunteers is our wallets and our participation. If you feel that strongly, just don't buy the stuff. If enough of us do that, they will get the message. If your UC or DE want to know where your uniforms are, tell them "Beijing, and they're gonna stay there". And before Ed beats me to it, "Uniforms are not required".

That statement is in there because there is NO requirement for reference letters. The requirement is on the Eagle Application..."list the names of people who WOULD BE WILLING to serve as a reference". You can't MAKE them send one in. And it doesn't say it has to be a letter. Could be a phone call or face to face conversation. If your council is requiring letters received by the 18th birthday, they are adding to requirements and would probably be overturned on appeal. Furthermore, of all the EBOR I have been involved in, the SCOUT merely provides the names...the CC takes care of requesting the references. (We do Unit EBOR with a District rep present).

Why don't you put the SE on the spot...call or e-mail him/her and tell him what you told us...that you are planning for next year's camp and havce been unsuccessful at finding timely information on the Council website, and does he have any suggestions for you. Otherwise, scratch them off the list and keep looking.

It's an epidemic of narcissism. Not to hijack this into a political discussion, but I firmly believe that's what swept the current Administration into power, and I see it in all ages, from my teenage nieces and nephews to my 78 year old MIL. "Someone else" should give me what I want.

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone. And John, I may try that soup tomorrow...rehearsal is at 1600 with dinner after at a local seafood restaurant, so all I have to do is show up with the checkbook. She's a little better tonight...fever is gone, but the body aches have set in...and real congested. Hope for the best...

"We vote at an Eagle BOR, don't we?" Actually, no. Not in our district. The chair asks, "anyone have any concerns?".

Thanks, Lisa. The Doc did a "rapid flu test" and a strep test, since she had "the worst sore throat I've ever had". Flu test was positive, and they are not doing further serotyping, because it's ALL H1N1 right now. The regular flu has not showed up yet. He did say if anyone else in the house gets sick to just stay home and NOT go to the Dr. They are doing vaccinations in the schools, but hers is the last on the list...some 3 weeks away. It will probably be too late by then, because her clinic has been full every day this week. I really don't understand the sudden shortage in vaccine...just a few weeks ago we were being told there was plenty and not to worry... We had the same publicity (and absence policy) here...if you're sick, stay home and don't go back until you are fever-free for 24 hrs without meds. But some people just will NOT do it. Some of the kids never make it to the classroom...get off the bus and go straight to the clinic with a fever. I don't know if it's stupidity, or cluelessness, or they just don't care. I suspect all three. I just don't get it. She swears she will be at the wedding come hell or high water...we'll see. We may all be wearing masks in the wedding pictures...talk about memories! Thanks for all the good wishes...and keep up the hand-washing and sneeze etiquette!(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Well, I knew it would happen. SWMBO, the school nurse, is down hard with swine flu...oops, I mean "Novel H1N1 flu"...don't want to hurt the pork industry, dontcha know. Woke up yesterday with a sore throat and temp rose steadily through the day to 102. Dr confirmed and prescribed Tamiflu. Just in time for #2 son's wedding this weekend and Friday rehearsal dinner that we (I mean, ME) are hosting. A special thanks to all those parents whose kids were sick with 101 fevers, but put them on the bus anyway, hoping no one would notice. Really appreciate it. Put her and her 78 year old mother with severe COPD at risk, not to mention ruining my son's wedding. But at least they didn't miss a day of work and made someone else deal with their sick kid. Did I mention my wife doesn't have any sick leave, because she's always having to take her mother to the Dr. Of course, H1N1 shots aren't available. One location had people lining up at 12:30 am for a 9-12 am clinic...then at 10 am, they ran out of the 200 doses they had available. Talk about some pissed off people.

I agree, nothing wrong with your process, that I can see. If the "District Commissioner" is not a registered leader in your Unit, he doesn't get a vote...or even an opinion. Tell him that your "boy-led" troop is going to Blue Ridge (a great camp, BTW) and you're going to miss him. Truth be told, he's probably being badgered by the SE to get all his units to go the local Council camp. Been there, done that.

Welcome, Jeff-O. We started out the same way...it's a long, hard climb, but well worth it!

I think what everyone is saying is "don't make life any harder than it needs to be." A small group of like-minded adults ought to be able to play nice and figure it out. Ya wanna see anal-retentive decision making, go to a PTA convention...sheesh. They have a full time professional parliamentarian in the room.

There is no BSA rule. I guess the PLC can implement such a rule, as long as the CO is good with it. In that case, I think the SM can assign "an alternative leadership role" to the young man, at the SM's discretion.