scoutldr

Congratulations! It is indeed gratifying to see. I gotta comment, though...I think if I were the MB counselor, I could have found a way for him to do both...like had him come see me later in the day and make it up during free time?

That "wealth redistribution" thing that got them elected. I realize that my loss was due to the stock market crash, and being a good Conservative, I take full responsibility for that risk-taking and don't want nor expect a "bailout" from my fellow citizens. I'd just like to hang on to what's left so I can support myself when I'm too old and sick to work. Self-sufficiency, ya know? It's a wonderful concept. ;-) (I do feel better now, thanks.)

"You want this and that and the other thing, great, the wealthy can pay for it." So, who decides what "wealthy" is? I've heard six different definitions since the start of the campaign. Everyone always thinks "wealthy" is anyone making more than them. Well, the reality is, everyone is going to be hit. You tax the small businessman, he will just lay off people to compensate...if he can stay in business at all. Yes, I am relatively "well off". I was born to a Navy Enlisted man and stay at home mom. We didn't have much, but I didn't notice. I went to college (state school and lived at home) and got a Masters all on my OWN nickel, while working a "part time" job of 38 hrs a week. I had two kids and my wife stayed home to raise them while I worked a "white collar", but entry level state job (I thought I was rich when I broke 5 figures). We sacrificed to do it...no new cars, no cable TV, no eating out. If cell phones had been invented, we wouldn't have had them either. We saved for our kids educations and with help from my parents' meager inheritance, I sent them both to college WITHOUT the benefit of any financial aid. Since then, I have doubled up on my retirement savings, only to see half of it evaporate in the last year. And now, OBAMA and PELOSI want to take what I have left and "redistribute" it to those who won't work and have 6 illegitimate kids all with different last names??? I'm sorry, but I am OUTRAGED. Nobody ever gave me a DIME. And yes, I give liberally to charity...but that's MY BUSINESS...not yours, not the Liberals (most of whom don't have any "skin" in the game anyway), not the GOVERNMENT's, and NOBODY has a God-given right to the fruits of MY labor and sacrifice, unless I consent to it. And THAT's in the Constitution.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

I can't get a signal in my office due to the building construction. Do I have a right to demand they fix that? I think a copper screen placed above the drop ceiling in every classroom would do the trick. Expensive, tho. A better solution would be to just expel them and not issue them a diploma. Especially a private school! You want a diploma, go take the GED test. Try pulling this at Annapolis or West Point and try to get "forgiveness". The funny thing is this school charges more than $10 grand a year tuition, which parents gladly pay to shield their kids from "those bad influences in the public schools", as a co-worker told me. I reminded him that he was referring to me and MY kids. As Pogo would say, "we have met the bad influences, and they is us!" As one commenter noted, "a coupla Nuns with wooden rulers would have this nonsense straightened out in a day!"(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

By Lauren Roth The Virginian-Pilot July 14, 2009 VIRGINIA BEACH The world of crib sheets and scribbled notes under hat brims has collided with the realm of technology. And one local school is dealing with the fallout. Dozens of seniors at Bishop Sullivan High School used cell phones cradled near their pockets to share answers to a test in the last weeks of school. In the end, a third of the members of the senior class were punished by an honor court of their peers. And half a dozen saw their memberships in the National Honor Society revoked. Matthew Smith, 19, who graduated from Bishop Sullivan this spring, said he heard or saw at least two students text messaging during the test on modern forms of government, the last before exams. "I didn't know they were texting all the multiple choice questions. I thought they were just asking for help," a more routine occurrence, Smith said. At least 30 of the 100 seniors at the close-knit Catholic school cheated, said Principal Dennis Price. The test was given in several class sections over the course of the day. The case illustrates educators' concerns about cell phones as a tool for dishonesty. A survey last month of more than 1,000 middle- and high schoolers found that 83 percent have cell phones. Among that group, more than a third admit using them to cheat in school. The survey also found that fewer than half of the students think texting answers during a test is a serious offense. A San Francisco non profit called Common Sense Media commissioned the survey. "It's not that with cell phones a new thing is happening," said Dan Wueste, director of the ethics institute at Clemson University. "All that's changed is the technology." Price said a Bishop Sullivan student alerted the administration to the widespread cheating. While disappointed by the behavior, "they're still kids," Price said. "They do dumb things. The objective is that they learn now." He said student and staff orientations this August will address the incident. Punishments were individualized by the honor court, and many of the students received a zero grade for the test and demerits on their record. Another spring graduate, Paige Dwyer, 18, said cheating was allowed to persist for too long. "This wasn't the first time. It just involved more people." She said it bothered her to see students accept awards at graduation only a few weeks after cheating. Several students described being part of a senior class praised as among the best. However, some turned a blind eye to requests for tips or clues about tests as their high school careers drew to a close. Like most local schools, Bishop Sullivan forbids student use of cell phones during the day. But cell phone policies seem to make little difference in student behavior. According to the Common Sense poll, 63 percent of students in schools that ban cell phones use them, and 66 percent use phones in schools that require them to be turned off. Wueste said that while cell phones have made cheating easier, prevention can be simpler as well. "Make them check them at the door," the ethicist said. Price said the school will not turn into "Big Brother" as a result of the cheating. "We're just going to be more vigilant, that's all." This was the first school year for a new honor code and peer judging council, both developed with input from students. The honor pledge states: "On my honor, I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I give or receive unauthorized assistance on any work. I will expect the same of my peers." Price said he's disappointed by the students' behavior, but realistic. "Going in, we didn't expect it to change everything in one year," he said. "Our goal is to make sure it won't happen because students won't put up with it." Caitlyn Pugsley, 18, a member of the Class of 2009, said she felt hurt by her classmates' behavior but said the administration's reaction was appropriate. "Being at a Catholic school, we teach the forgiveness thing," she said. "Everyone deserves to be forgiven."

I think, Ed, the real problem is that MORE people exercised their right to vote. Whether they understood the issues and consequences or not. Whatever you think of Hannity, his "man on the street" interviews are eye-opening. Simple questions like "who did you vote for President" (Obama). "Who is the Vice President" (blank stare). "Who is Pelosi" (WHO?)...what does "cap and trade" mean (never heard of it). "Do you think everyone should have free health care?" (Sure) "How about free dental" (Sure) "How about free child care and transportation" (uh, yeah, I guess so)... And these people have decided our future. Truly frightening.

Be aware that some MB have a time element to them. While he may think he has until his 18th birthday, that's not true of some of the merit badges, which need to be started way ahead of time. Personal Fitness, for example, requires 12 weeks.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

I don't see anything strange about a bank not accepting worthless IOUs...didn't they just get burned from questionable business practices and ordered by Obama to clean up their acts? Make up your mind...can't have it both ways. Would you accept an IOU from your neighbor, knowing full well he had no plan in place to pay it back? This country is about to implode...and I don't blame any particular party...I blame US and the "gotta have it all now" mentality. I feel sorry for our children and grandchildren who will be forced to clean up this mess. On Friday, I had to wait 3 hrs at the DMV to get my driver's license renewed. More than half of the 15 customer service windows were closed and the A/C was off due to budget cuts. Then, as I was finishing, the computer went down and I had to wait another 30 minutes for it to process. I would have done it online, but they required me to get a vision test (which was a joke).

I thought the hole was for drainage after you get dumped out of the canoe. Don't take offense, Eagle1987. Welcome to the campfire and keep your thick skin on! It can be brutal around here!

If he has been MIA for a year, how does he stay on the charter? Does he mail in his dues/registration fees?

If you can believe the radio pundits, 40% of the American populace do not pay taxes. If I didn't have to pay taxes, I too wouldn't care how Obama plans to pay for all this...just give me my tax "rebate" and free healthcare. I DESERVE it. I got a blinding glimpse of the obvious (BGO) when I recently traveled to Canada. We had to get a "briefing" before leaving the good ole USA. They said, "as a foreign visitor, do not try to go to a private MD...they will not see you if you are not part of the Govt health plan. If you DO need to go to the Emergency Room, you will need to pay CASH UP FRONT, or you will not be seen. Your health insurance is no good there." Perhaps there are several lessons to be had from that...

I last "visited" a Jambo in 1995, and it was just like that. About the only thing you could "participate" in as a visitor was the trading post and geedunk stands. Understandable, since we did not pay the registration fee and therefore have no right to "participate". Walk around and look. For this 2010 Jambo, I plan to stay away...thousands more people than normal, parking issues, tight security...no thanks. Others may have other opinions.

I liked the original Aviation MB with the Wright Flyer on it. I earned most of my MB in the 60's...the old style. Then my sash got stolen out of my tent and when i got them replaced, most of them were the new "technicolor" designs with the silver borders for Eagle MB. Boy was I disappointed. I bought a grab bag of patches at a patch auction and in the bag was a Fingerprinting MB. Only later did I realize it had a silver border...obviously a rare error. I also liked the old POR patches, without the position names on them. Just seemed more classy.

My personal philosophy is that I don't wear (or even seriously collect) patches of any kind if I personally didn't earn it by attending that function. I wore the OA flap I was issued as a young Ordeal member in 1968 until I made Brotherhood in 1991, then switched to the Brotherhood flap. Our Lodge has since gone back to "one flap for all", but I haven't replaced the flap yet. The Lodge once had an infamous policy of "one per lifetime", so the older flaps (like mine - pre FDL) are quite rare and valuable. To wear a NOAC flap that one didn't attend would be, in my mind, akin to wearing a Jamboree patch that one didn't attend. It simply not "proper".

That's been the recent pattern.

We provide the scout with the name of a counselor. Along with the names of all the other counselors on the list. Sometimes they have to call 2 or 3 people to get a positive response, and more frequently than not, the response is "sorry, I don't do that any more". Saves time. IMHO, the MB program is broken. But that's another thread for another day.

Since it was a youth, and recent, I would ask the SM to have an SM conference about the meaning of "Trustworthy" and ask the scout what should be done to "fix the error". Ideally, scout should contact the lodge chief and ask that the "administrative error" be corrected as he turns in his Brotherhood sash. As appropriate "fix"? Restart the clock and wait 10 more months, then reapply for Brotherhood Honor. Have to give the benefit of the doubt, since there were errors on all sides.

Was this a youth or an adult?

Looks like a cost-cutting measure as well...all the awards now use the same parts, which reduces manufacturing costs. I'll hold on to my original Pro Deo Et Patria, which was durn hard to earn back in 1969.

"Purview" People who can't spell really annoy me...especially when they try to correct the spelling of others.

Hmmmm...if the "King of Siam" is taboo, can we still do "Birds in the Wilderness"??? Singling out a scout for embarrassment and ridicule? Just asking. I love Birds in the Wilderness...and the King of Siam.

I don't think it's that rare. We had a guy who came up as a youth...SPL, Eagle, Vigil, Lodge Chief, JASM, ASM, Camp PD, Camp Director, SM, etc. Then he became active at the District level and within a year or two, had the DAM and SB. Not to imply it wasn't deserved...just fast.

THere are lots of examples of POWWOW books on the internet. That should give you lots of ideas. When I was a CS leader, the book was a treasured hand-out that everyone looked forward to. Examples of classes off the top of my head: Crafts (usually the most popular, so schedule more than one session) Uniforming Religious Awards (maybe separate sessions for Catholic/Protestant) Advancement Fund Raising Pack Management Pinewood Derby Management (how to run double elimination, rules, etc) Pack Camping (family camping) Webelos-Scout Transition

Herbie, welcome. What is your position in the troop? Has the SM been to training?

There are two rules of Nature...never buy v1.0 of anything and never go to Week 1 of camp :-)We always expect Week 1 to be a little bumpy...new staff who need to work out the wrinkles, menu adjustments, supply issues, etc.. But what you described is a nightmare and people who were clearly out of their league. It might be more effective if dissatisfied parents wrote the letters to the SE, mentioning the word "refund" (yeah, good luck with that). I agree with the comment...it's how the challenges were handled that is disturbing. Not running the "lost scout" drill and having an unsafe waterfront program is inexcusable...better to shut it down until adequate trained staff can be hired. At our camp, we pre-register for MB months in advance...that way there's no excuse for not having enough staff. Be Prepared!