scoutldr

I would explain that "crossing over" means "into a BS Troop". Just like they will not get an Eagle COH if they have not actually earned the honor by the time they are 18. They are eligible (I assume) for the AOL ceremony, which can/should be done separately. To get to "cross over" would require a completed BS app. Parents these days...sheesh. I'm beginning to see it in the workplace, too...people who want awards and honors just for showing up most every day.

I guess it's moot, since "member closed account". "My position is Committee Chair/Unit Commissioner" I thought that was prohibited? I guess there's more than one way to make Quality District.

I hope I'm there on Judgement Day when G-d/Allah/Yeshua says "You did WHAT in my Name????"

I think Eamonn may be on to something there...how about competitions where the answer has to be texted back to the Judges' table? First one in with the right answer wins. Or an orienteering course where the coordinates are sent by text. Since this was a council event, the rules of the event should govern. Cell phones were more of a PITA for me when the troop was younger...11 and 12 year olds phoning Mommy every night and crying that they were homesick. Now that our guys are older, they all have cell phones, but we don't notice. They have learned how to be discreet.

I was going to suggest the t-shirt option also. Finding enough Explorer shirts in the right size and in good condition would be difficult at best. Are you wearing Venture uniforms because your staff is chartered as a Crew? Since you are the new Camp Director, shake things up and allow the Crew to choose their own uniforms, or shift to the new Centennial uniform. Another option...you may be able to find a work shirt (Dickies?) in a similar color, and make it look like a Venturing shirt with the addition of epaulets and patches.

I haven't been through WB, 21 or otherwise, but I do share baden's observations about the Cub Trainer Wood Badgers. I went through CSLBT in 1980-something and the instructors (all ladies) still come up to me and call me by name when I run into them at Council functions. They also ran the PowWows and CS roundtables and I actually looked forward to going every month and filling up my bead necklace. They were fantastic instructors and had an enthusiasm that you don't see in the "youngsters" coming up. I think they were the last of the "Den Mother" generation.

The "symbiotic balance" is called "commensalism" in Biology 101. "In ecology, commensalism is a class of relationship between two organisms where one benefits and the other is not significantly harmed or benefited. The term derives from the English word commensal, meaning "sharing of food" in human social interaction, which in turn derives from the Latin com mensa, meaning "sharing a table". - Wikipedia In other words, "wealth redistribution" as the Democrats espouse it.

"my kids are required to keep my husband and his adult children on their Friends lists." That's just the page they WANT you to see. My adult son blew the whistle on his 12 and 13 year old niece and nephew who had racist/obscene MySpace pages, listing themselves as 21 year old college students. Their mother's response, "oh, well, maybe I need to pay more attention to what they are doing." That same niece is now 14 and going to the prom with her 17 yo boyfriend, and her mother has no idea where they are going after they "make an appearance" for an hour at the prom. My point is, if the parents don't care enough to know what's going on, you're wasting your time. If you see things that violate the Scout law, print a copy and haul it out during his next BOR, and ask "if you are doing this kind of thing, why should we advance you?"

I had two kids...as many as I could afford to raise without government assistance. What a concept.

Hidden Valley Scout Reservation, Keystone Area Council N 40 21.098 W 077 21.288

Welcome, MarinesWife! I visited 29 Palms last year. Interesting place...

Hidden Valley Scout Reservation, operated by the Keystone Area COuncil, in Loysville, PA. They have cabins with full kitchens and adirondacks. Year-round shower house with HOT water! Located in Perry County west of I-81 near Carlisle.

You mentioned you attended a District Committee meeting. Why? As a unit CC, you will really have no role on the District Committee (although you can attend if you need another meeting to go to), unless you are elected as a District Member at Large (which I wouldn't recommend for unit leaders). Your COR is the one who should be attending, as they are ex officio members of the District Committee and have a vote. You mention that the District is "controlled" by one unit...this can't happen if all the CORs show up and do their jobs. As a unit CC, you should be attending monthly Cub Roundtable meetings, and as the others said, get trained ASAP.

Octuplet Update LOS ANGELES Police said Thursday they will investigate death threats against octuplet mom Nadya Suleman and advise her publicist on how to handle a torrent of other nasty messages that have flooded his office. Word that the 33-year-old single, unemployed mother is receiving public assistance to care for the 14 children she conceived through in vitro fertilization has stoked furor among many people. Police Lt. John Romero said officers were meeting with Suleman's publicist Mike Furtney about the flood of angry phone calls and e-mail messages against Suleman, her children and Furtney. More at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090212/ap_on_re_us/octuplets

Haven't parents always had that right? What's the controversy? |

A while back, we had a young, single guy helping out with our troop who said he was an Eagle. As part of checking references, I e-mailed his home council asking for verification. Never got a response. He has since moved on, but we had no problems. One tactic you might take is to ask for dates and places (and WB course number) to "complete your records" in Troop Master and Scoutnet. Do this for all leaders, if you don't have the info. If he's been trained through WB, he should also be wearing the Scouters' Training Award knot. If he tries to join the local lodge, they will also probably need dates and/or proof. If you know what council he served and was trained in, they may be able to talk to you. I consider it all part of "checking character references".

"Taking out his anger of his dad being away on me and other scout leaders. and to the point where the other scouts don't want to be around him. The scout was caught last year buying drugs at school and this year was caught smokeing. I kinda still feel the boy is still doing drugs but haven't caught him at a scout event." I don't see the scout's age, so does he have time to "redeem" himself? If he's close to aging out and we make this kid an Eagle, what kind of message does that send to the younger scouts and the community? Does "character count"...or not?

Goshen, VA is in Rockbridge County in the mountains of Virginia. Comparing the climate there to AP Hill is apples and oranges.

Whoever said life would be fair? I've never been to Philmont, because I could never afford the week of "touring" tacked on to each end of the trek. Three weeks of vacation time and a coupla thousand bucks was outta my range.

Pack, I was agreeing with the quote. Sorry for the confusion. With regard to vaccines...in the Public Health world there is a concept called "herd immunity". It is not necessary to vaccinate every individual. I think the number is 20-30% is enough to prevent an epidemic. That was discussed in the preparations for the Pandemic Flu that has yet to materialize...there is no way we can produce enough vaccine in time should an epidemic start its way around the world.

Let's reopen the Warren Commission and Project Blue Book, too while we're at it.

No harm in asking. Ya don't ask, ya don't get.

Bulldog is right. The young folks probably don't realize it, but all you really need is a kitchen table and a coat hanger. Before Roe v Wade, many pregnant teens took this route and many died from perforation, hemorrhage and infection, or if they were lucky, merely became sterile. We eliminate legal medical abortion and they will return to this barbaric practice. Where there's a will there's a way, indeed. Preach all you want, but they will find a way to get it done. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but as a Public Health professional, I'm telling you the way it is in the trenches. Eternal life is low on their list of priorities when they're 14 and pregnant.

aquaticeagle: All is not lost. You've learned a valuable lesson. The Scouts under your charge will get better treatment, I'm sure. There is no reason to deny or delay a BOR if the Scout is ready.

"they don't participate in the camporee per se" Well, why in the world not??? Are they not members of your Troop? What better way to get them functioning as a patrol!