scoutldr

Welcome to the forums and congratulations to your prospective Eagle! And kudos to him for wanting to be properly uniformed! To answer your questions: 1) Yes. 2) According to the BSA Insignia Guide, badges of office or rank are not considered "temporary insignia". Temporary insignia are defined as those representing "events" such as camporees, summer camps, etc. At the Eagle BOR that I am privileged to sit, the Scouts frequently have a "brag book", usually a 3-ring binder with plastic pages (like for baseball cards) that contains his Scouting history, cards, certificates, pathches, photos, etc. They are nice to look at and the Board can use it to generate discussion, but not mandatory. 3) Yes, those are acceptable. That being said, if son shows up without devices on his square knot or a Den Chief patch on his sash, I doubt anyone will mention it.

If it's THE Historic Trail Award patch, it doesn't go on the uniform or official jackets at all. If it's a patch he earned for a specific event, then it's OK. "Temporary" patches are as temporary as the wearer wants them to be. That being said, patches earned as a Cub are not usually worn as a Boy Scout. It shouldn't be too long before he earns another one to fill that space.

Part of growing and maturing to adulthood is realizing that the "ethical" choice is not always, indeed it's usually NOT...the easiest, most comfortable, fun, cool or popular choice.

My nephew, who is severely LD, is a "lazy toad", to borrow a phrase from Eamonn. I don't really think the two conditions are connected, however. He was in Scouts until his first campout, which he was very excited about...then he found out he had to actually cook, clean up and do his share of the work, rather than just sit around and poke sticks in the fire. Scouting was just not compatible with his lifestyle, and his dad didn't do anything to countermand that notion. He is no longer a Scout, which is a real pity. If you want to play ball, you eventually have to get off the bench.

Has anyone ever run into a Freemason dressed in full "regalia" at the grocery store or at work? Not being a mason, the only time I've ever seen one was at a funeral where they rendered Masonic "honors".

Been thinking on this some, as I hate to give up on a boy, even those who are pains. One thing you said keeps ringing in my brain, "This particular boy was our first SPL; he was very motivated and loved his position as SPL. Then came election time. Several boys expressed interest in becoming the next SPL, we put them all on the ballot, however, this scout no longer wanted to be SPL and did not want to run. That was the beginning of his down hill slide." Whenever someone's personality or behavior changes and we can point to the time it changed, we should ask ourselves, "Ok, what happened at that time in his life to cause the change?" Drugs, alcohol, depression, girl problems, problems at home, parent marital problems? All possibilities. Or maybe not. Maybe he's just a brat. In any event, it might be worth a SM conference with Mom and/or Dad to gently express concern. Has he lost interest in everything, or just Scouts? Maybe they are unaware...or maybe they are and might be grateful for the help. Just a thought. We are not shrinks and can only do what we can do. But maybe we shouldn't toss him to the curb quite yet. (I'm getting soft in my old age, I guess)

"What if the scout and the parents say we never knew or The SM has it in for us?" Are the requirements not written in the scout's Handbook? One solution to this, if the scout doesn't show up and participate, don't recharter him at the end of the year. You have offered him a custom POR and he refused. That would be it for me. If he wants a POR now, he has to be elected, just like everyone else. If he has merit badges left to earn, provide him a copy of the Counselor list and wish him luck. No troop outings in the past 3 years? The first step to success is to show up. I'd be willing to help any scout who asks for it...but they gotta meet me half way.

Gutterbird, YOu already know the right answer. Stick to your guns! ALL of the requirements must be met...including Scout spirit, which it seems is lacking here.

If being a smart-aleck in the 8th grade is a legitimate reason to deny the Eagle, none of us would have received it.

Sorry...my mouse finger had a spasm.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

First thing, you would hear a collective CHEER from scouts and parents alike. Secondly, we'd probably have to dispense with Advancement, since there would be no use for rank badges. Watching the TODAY show Saturday (or was it Sunday?) morning, they quickly panned on a troop in the courtyard outside the studio. Not a pair of Scout pants or shorts in the whole group. And the First Class Scout in the very front had a pair of plaid shorts on. Looked pretty tacky on national TV (especially considering they probably KNEW in ADVANCE they would be on national TV!). Didn't catch where they were from and couldn't see the CSP, so they shall remain nameless.

This gets more bizarre by the day...how can a District hold an EBOR without the Scout's (and parent's) knowledge and consent? All I can say is, if this were my troop and District, your son would be an Eagle Scout now, taking all that you have said at face value. Your only mistake was in not transferring to another troop/District when you had the chance. As an Eagle Scout and 30 year Scouter, I too, am embarrassed.

I think it depends on the Chartering Organization (a concept that the GSUSA does not use). I have read about units in Scouting Magazine for Hmong boys and we once had a Sea Scout Ship consisting of muslims. If a CO desires to "target" (or "limit", depending on your POV) their unit, they are free to do so.

Thanks, "white eats". That's what I said back on Page 1.

Uniform Police here. We've discussed this ad nauseam on this forum in the uniform section. The BSA does not use the terms "Class A" and "Class B". Those are military terms. Even in the Army, when the uniform of the day is "Class A", that doesn't mean "just wear the shirt and whatever pants or shorts you want with it"...that would look pretty ridiculous, no? In my opinion, if your Troop is not going to wear the "Official Uniform" (including all its parts), then they are NOT in uniform and it doesn't matter "how strict" you are. You're either in proper uniform...or not. The best thing to do is "lead by example" and try to get your youth leaders to do the same. Cost is a cop=out. Parents don't want to buy pants, but won't think twice about dropping $50 for a video game or a trip to the movies. THere are ways around that...get a parent to start a uniform closet...cruise the yard sales, thrift stores, eBay and Craigslist. Have unit fundraisers so scouts can earn money for uniforms. WHen scouts outgrow the uniforms, recycle them to younger scouts. Have regular uniform inspections and reward expected behaviour. If scouts don't think it's expected, you'll never get there.

What should we do? We welcome him back and help him in his quest. Having a job is part of character development, too.

"Can the SM remove a parent because that parent makes the other parents uncomfortable, or would that be a committee action (delivered by the CC)? Do we need any sort of Council approval or intervention should we decide to invite the offending parent to leave our Troop?" Adult applications are approved/denied by the Chartered Organization Representative and Committee Chair. Council will generally not get involved unless there are reasons that would preclude BSA membership (avowed gay, atheist or failed the background check). They don't have to give a reason, and there is no appeal, to my knowledge.

No problem...the Democratic Party will accept him with open arms, like Bill Clinton. I'm ordering my "Ron Paul 2012" bumper stickers today. There ain't a Democrat OR Republican out there worth my vote any more.

My dad used to tell me that swimming at the YMCA pool was always in the nude...this was the 20s/30s when girls weren't allowed at the yMca. The locker room at camp and the pool was always open with zero privacy. We had a shower in each campsite...picture an outhouse with a shower attached to it (60s). 2-3 of us would get in there at a time to save time. We didn't linger, since the well water was not heated! Showering in high school was mandatory following PE and the teacher was in there watching to make sure you did. The shower was a large room with 4-6 poles in it with 4 shower heads on each pole. Our community rec center is the same, and it makes me nervous because they don't have any YP rules...I can be showering and in walks a couple of kids. Our pool house at camp still has open showers for the boys and men (separated), but when they added a women's shower, they got individual stalls. Wassup with that? When my son's best friend joined the Army and went to Afghanistan, he wrote back that their biggest complaint was that they had to take communal showers! If I were to go skinny dipping at the beach or lake, they would call the Stranding Team to save the great white whale that had beached itself! When did we instill such prudish modesty in our kids? And to what purpose?

(I'd have an issue with someone who hasn't practiced in 20 years filling out a medical form. Medicine has changed a lot in 20 years.) Maybe so...but I'm not stupid enough to accuse (or imply) that someone is incomptent and not qualified to sign a camp form. Not my job, nor am I qualified to stand in judgment. I'm glad that you feel that you are. At least we know what the issues are. In this state, the parent has no duty to disclose the disabilities or diseases of their children, not even to the school that they attend. Take my word for it...assume that EVERYONE around you is HIV positive...even the kids at summer camp. My wife, the school nurse can vouch for that. They are being mainstreamed and may be bumping heads with your kids on the playground, and they don't have to tell.

C'mon Ed, you're being a little ridiculous. A good friend of ours is a stay at home mom. She is also a Pediatrician (MD) who hasn't practiced in the 20 years that we've known her. If she signed a camp form, would I question her? Absolutely not! That's none of my business. If something happens to her child while on a trip, I will simply present the form that SHE provided to us. I have no duty to ensure it's correct, or that's it's signed my a licensed provider. That's between her and the BSA. I operated in good faith, and had no evidence she was being fraudulent, IF that's what you call it. Sue away! Take your best shot. SHE certified that the form was true and correct...not me. If a parent volunteers to go to camp and do electrical work for the Ranger, are YOU going to step in and demand to verify his licenses? Of course not. IT's between him and the Ranger and you have no liability. Sheesh.

Yes, I would hate for that to happen, too. But I think we are jumping to conclusions here. I would insist that the form be legible. That's the limit of your responsibility. Are you also checking the medical licenses of the doctors who signed all the other forms??? Let's get real here. A parent-physician who treats their own family may not be too smart...but I don't think it's illegal or unethical. Perhaps ask her to accompany the unit to camp for check-in (ask her to help drive). Then if there are any questions, she's right there. The original question was "are there any legal issues with his medical signed only by his mom?" The answer is "not for the unit." The "legal issues" belong to the mom. Volscouter, you out there?(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Since this is a summer camp physical, I would let the Camp Medical Director worry about it. This is not a unit leader problem.

Just not in skeeter or black fly country!

Correction, Ed. They will never "grow up". But they get older and then WE have to deal with them in the workplace. I'm already seeing it. They just sit and wait for direction....one direction at a time. "Why didn't you turn in your time sheet?" "It's not my fault, nobody reminded me." GRrrrrr. Then they wonder why they ALL don't get awards and bonuses...like they did in T-Ball. And when you have to tell them "NO", they are really shocked.