scoutldr

GKlose said, "Our Scoutmaster found a counselor (a scientist at a nearby air force base) and we spent several weeks traveling to this guy's house. He spoon-fed it to us, bit by bit, teaching us the parts we didn't know. I had some interesting projects come out of that, including growing some irradiated bean seeds and building a geiger counter (with a G-M tube coming from this scientist). ... I feel like it was one merit badge we both earned the hard way, by putting in a considerable amount of time." That's the whole point of the MB program...to learn from a real expert scientist...not from someone's mom or dad who happened to volunteer for a MB fair for the day (unless of course, they happen to be experts). The goals are to 1)seek out an adult you may not know (adult association), 2) learn the topic from a real expert by vocation or avocation, and 3) have fun and come away with a lifelong skill or knowledge. The focus seems to have shifted to "earn 21 MB as soon as you can so you can make Eagle". Not the same thing.

And Councils wonder why people won't go to training...sheesh. I would copy your post into an email to the Council Training Committee Chair and Council and District Commissioners. And be prepared to serve on the Training Committee! (that's what happened to me!)

The only good thing I see about Obama's "wealth redistribution" plan, is the way things are going, I'm probably going to be on the receiving end.

D.W. Simons VIRGINIA BEACH - Donald W. "Si" Simons, 80, of Atlantic Shores in Virginia Beach, formerly of Hudson, Mich., a veteran Scouter and retired military officer, passed away Oct. 24, 2008. Capt. Simons was a decorated Korean and Vietnam war veteran receiving numerous commendations including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal. After retiring, Capt. Simons was employed by the Virginia Beach public school system. Capt. Simons, known to most as "Si," was a lifelong Scouter and left one of his biggest legacies in the form of local, state and national Boy Scout initiatives. Among them are: Tidewater Council commissioner, vice president of Programs, vice president of District Operations, Blue Heron Order of the Arrow Lodge advisor and program director for Pipsico Scout Reservation. He also served 50 years as Roundtable commissioner or staff. He was the Southern Region Order of the Arrow section advisor and served as a committee member on the National Program Committee and National Training Staff of the National Order of the Arrow. He was a life member of the National Eagle Scout association. He served on the Philmont Scout National Training Center instructor staff for six years. His Scout honors include: Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award and Southern Region Silver Antelope Award. Additionally, Si was active in the National Sojourners of the Masonic Lodge, served as past chapter president and commander of Hero's, most recently serving as regional representative for Southeast Virginia. He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Louise L., and is survived by three children, Jorie L. Simons, Karen L. Van Duzer and David Simons; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. There will be visitation with family Tuesday at Foundry United Methodist Church, Virginia Beach, from 6 to 8 p.m. The memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the church. Si requested that memorial gifts be in the form of camp scholarships to the Tidewater Boy Scout Council Tribute fund in his name. Send to: Tidewater Council Boy Scouts of America, 1032 Heatherwood Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455. Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Lynnhaven Chapel, is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.

Absolutely! Congrats to your nephew!

"A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor" Making earning MB as painless and easy as possible...is that what the MB program is for??

Ditto, gwd. If it makes you feel better, I had to put 2 kids through college with NO financial aid of any kind, so my retirement savings are not what they could have been. They were in that zone where they were too "average" for merit scholarships, and my middle manager govt salary was too "rich" for a need scholarship. I'm under the new federal retirement plan, so the bulk of my retirement income will be whatever I manage to sock away in a thrift plan (401K). I've lost 40% of it since January. After getting the two boys launched, I thought we would be on easy street, but then my MIL became "terminal" with COPD and with allegedly 6 months to live, I agreed to have her move in with us. That was 3 years ago, and she is still here, not contributing a cent to her own support although she has an income of about 30K per year. Don't get me started. Retirement for me now is a fantasy...I am resigned to the prospect of just dying at my desk. And I have told my 2 boys that no matter what happens, I will NEVER ask them to support me. I too am fed up with politics and lying politicians with their attack ads. The local congressional race is particularly nasty. I see in a few jurisdictions they are passing "none of the above" laws...where if "NOTA" wins, the candidates are thrown out and we start over. That would be real interesting. Let the people decide who the candidates will be...not the political parties which are controlled by special interest groups.

This is from the Sacramento light rail website. Sounds like they have their own security. I would give them a call. Police Services RTs Police Services includes full-time contracted Sacramento police officers and county sheriffs deputies, and RT Transit Officers. RT also contracts with a private security firm to monitor activities at light rail park-and-ride stations and on trains operating at night.

"With Commissioners now having new duties and responsibilities" Am I the only one who didn't get that memo? "The District Committee will become a District Board of Directors who have little or no knowledge of what is really happening in the Districts." Sounds like the Council Executive Board model.

I would try contacting the local PD or Sheriff's Office and explain your situation. Perhaps they could assign an officer (or auxiliary officer) to escort (or at least keep an eye on) the troop as they hike back. Also, off-duty cops are always looking to make a buck on the side.

Why is ANY adult "running the show"? That's the SPL's job. The SM's job is to train the youth leaders. The ASM's job is to assist the SM. Agree with Lisa, everyone needs to get trained for their positions. Sounds like the Unit Commissioner is long overdue for a visit.

$25 per year for registration/BL. $1 a week for patrol dues. All outings are pay as you go or from scout accounts. Two fundraisers, popcorn and wreaths. Popcorn sales are nil. CO gives us nothing. We even pay the recharter fee. Scouts own their own tents and use patrol cooking gear, most of which was donated.

Great idea! I would make the uniform as "period" as possible. Decide what era you want to replicate, then get an old uniform catalog or uniform inspection sheet of that era and use that as a template. I would use the OA flap of the lodge that existed at that time. The older unit numerals were "fully emroidered", and in a lot of cases, you could go to JC Penney and buy your unit number in one patch (i.e., a "17" vice a "1" and a "7". In my box, I have a "360", a "801",a "440" and a "499", representing the units I was a member of. The newer numerals are white embroidery on a red twill background, similar to current issue. If it's an adult uniform, I would only have adult insignia on it... You may want to research when the R/W council strip was implemented...could be you should be looking for the older Community and State strips. As I recall my youth days, I think Council and District scouters wore the Council version and most unit members wore the City/State strips. Could be wrong, tho.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

What I like to do is go back and read the original question and then try to answer that. Fishbelly is not calling a lawyer...he wants to know how a scout who has been in trouble with the law make Eagle. How can such a scout make Eagle? The SM has to decide whether to sign of on "Scout Spirit" and have (not "pass") a Scoutmaster Conference. Then he has to decide whether the requirements were met and if so, recommend him to the Troop Committee for a Board of Review. The troop committee chairman then decides whether to sign the Eagle Scout application. Whether the Eagle Board is a Council Board or a Troop Board with a District Rep present, the Board then interviews the scout and deliberates based on the information they know to be true, and information they may glean from the Letters of Recommendation, if submitted. The vote to confer the Eagle is usually by consensus, but the decision must be unanimous. If the decision is to grant the Eagle, he is an Eagle Scout. If the decision is to deny, the scout has a right to appeal to the next level. So how can such a scout make Eagle? That's the process. It's based on humans making subjective judgments (not just counting the merit badges and assessing the Leadership Project). Sometimes they are not willing to make the hard decision and disappoint the scout. Sometimes they do, and are overturned on appeal (I have experience with that one).(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Eaglehonor, I assume you'll be a licensed BSA vendor, if you're using BSA trademarks?

My only question is "why"?

I believe that "real America" is not a place, but a frame of mind. Kinda like "Eagle Scout".(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Actually, that doesn't sound to bad to me. At least the Royals are entertaining...and seemingly harmless. Does that also mean we can quit paying "foreign aid" to people who hate us?

I believe there's more than enough racism in BOTH parties.

California Inland Empire Council, BSA It appears the SE just retired and there is a search committee looking for a new one.

Thanks, Lisabob. I will read it. As a "conservative libertarian", I believe that McCain is what the country needs right now. Throughout history, those who were most against wars, were those who had fought them. McCain knows what it is to fight a war, which we need to continue to do to a peaceful resolution. Obama does not. He thinks naively that we can "make nice" with the Islamofascists who want to kill our children and believe Allah is telling them to do it. You can't reason or negotiate with religious fanaticism, of any flavor. We need to win the war on terror, not engage in sweeping social reforms that we can't afford. I agree that the middle east is not worth one more drop of American blood. But regardless of how we got there, we need a systematic strategy for winning and getting out...in that order. Secondly, we need energy independence, so that we can thumb our noses at OPEC. Thirdly we need to fix the economy. Sending me another 600 bucks is just stupid and is not the answer. I still haven't spent the first check (good thing!). Everything Obama has promised has a price tag to it, and he's not telling how he's going to pay for it...except by getting out of Iraq which is being paid for with deficit spending anyway. Neither candidate can be truthful because it means pain to the voters any way you look at it. So they promise anything to get elected. Jim Gilmore (yes, a Republican) got elected Gov of Va on the single plank of "No More Car Tax" and the sheep voted him in by a landslide. Well guess what, he paid for it by eliminating state services (like laying off half the DMV clerks which means we now wait 4 hrs for a license renewal), and the tax never got fully phased out. People (like me) questioned it from the beginning..."how is he going to replace that revenue stream." Same question for Obama...if you're not going to raise my taxes, where will you get the money? Seems like a simple enough question.

I am not the least bit offended nor influenced by a fellow voter wearing a T-shirt or campaign button. What I do vehemently object to is having to fight my way to the polling place through the gantlet of campaign volunteers shoving leaflets in my face as soon as I park my car.

Sad to report this from my beloved Commonwealth of Virginia: A new state policy prohibits material such as T-shirts, buttons and stickers that expressly advocate for a candidate or issue. They arent allowed within 40 feet of a polling place entrance. Poll workers can ask voters to remove or conceal the material. Election officials will be advised to have material to cover up any political apparel.

And which part of Obama's "plan" is going to fix "the ruinous expansion of entitlement programs"?

No, I don't, but it's an excellent idea. Have you tried an optical scanner? This example is $400, but could be used for any printed material. http://colligo.us/Scan_N_Talk.php