scoutldr

Our council has a campership program that will provide a maximum 50% of the fee. In the application, the scout is asked for a plan on how he is going to come up with the other half, through his own efforts such as mowing lawns, babysitting, unit fundraisers,etc. I know of a unit that plans fundraising such that ALL unit activities are paid for...the parents pay nothing. That would be preferable, since you don't have to sort out who is in "need" or not.

Our lodge recently went back to the original lodge flap as THE flap for all members. We are told that all the commemorative flaps are for collecting and trading only, not for uniform wear. Our flap has not changed in design since the lodge was formed in 1948, and when I was inducted in 1970, was limited to "one per lifetime". Years later, there was a huge protest, resulting in arrowmen burning their flaps in protest. Now you can buy all you want, no matter who you are. National also has done away with Lodge numbers, making many unhappy. As I recall, it was to eliminate the arguments that ensue when councils and lodges combine. Personally, I would think that "National" would have bigger fish to fry, rather than dictate what flaps should look like.

"I consider such charged discussions a waste of time" Glad our founding fathers didn't feel that way. Anyway, I tried. Sorry, OGE.

Never seen one, but I'm guessing it's a non-BSA patch. The only "legal" place to wear it would be as a "temporary" patch ON the right pocket, if at all.

"Trust but verify".... Welcome to the forums.

Godwin's Law? I get just as disgusted with political ads as the next guy. Don't tell me why the other guy sucks. Tell me what YOU are going to do and how are you going to pay for it. Why do I like McCain over Obama? While in retrospect, I believe the Iraq war was/is wrong, I think we can't just walk away from it, like Obama and Hillary want to do. McCain has the experience to extract us from this, while maintaining the political stability of the region. To me, the Iraq war is THE most important issue right now. NO MORE American sons and daughters should die for those people, who do NOT want democracy and are NOT going to change their attitudes toward us. As soon as we leave, I predict an Islamic theocracy will take over, not the "democracy" that we arrogantly think they need. But Bush started it, now it has to be turned over to someone who has the military, legislative, and diplomatic experience to finish it properly. YES, we need change, and we need health care reform and tax reform and solutions to the energy problem. But not while the country is at war. We need to focus and WIN the global war on terrorism, which is the #1 threat to our way of life. We defeated both Germany AND Japan in four years, because the country was FOCUSED on the mission, and all efforts went toward winning. The attitude among Americans was "what can I sacrifice to help win the war", not "what is the Government going to do for me." "Country First"

"Think of Alexander Hamilton, Napoleon Bonaparte, or Alexander the Great who all came to great prominence in their 20's." True, but back then, 15 was an adult, 30 was an old man and most were dead by 40. So if greatness was to be, they didn't have much time to get it done. McCain's choice is pleasing to me. I'll admit, I have gone through life as a conservative Republican, although I do not agree 100% with ANY platform. Maybe I'm more of a conservative independent libertarian. I like Lieberman, he's a good man with solid experience, but I didn't think that ticket was electable. In the past couple of weeks, I've been wavering...maybe it was the Kool-Aid fumes from the Obama rallies, and the lack of visibility and "pizazz" from the McCain camp. I like the way Obama is driven to "change" (God knows, we need it), but the lack of specificity and concrete fiscal plans bothers me. Too much like a used car salesman..."of COURSE you can afford these payments...everyone else does!" But my head and heart are clear now. McCain/Palin will have my vote. Too bad many others will vote purely on race or on how well they were "entertained".

CNY is correct. Signatures required are "Unit Committee Member" and "Scoutmaster". The Unit Committee can decide the process for approval, as long as they are not adding requirements. Edited to add: The above is my opinion and interpretation only.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

I don't think 72 is the new 52. But I do think 22 is the new 12.

Pamlico cancelled our week this year (and the week before) due to lack of interest, and refunded our money. If you go, be sure to have a Plan B (we didn't...didn't even occur to us that it might be cancelled).

What, us argue? Surely you jest!

I hate to say I told you so. Parents are not usually rational when confronted with evidence that their sons made a written death threat. The fact that the Father knew about it and let it go, should tell you a lot. You are in over your head here and it will just get worse. Now that you have the Dad's "non-support" what do you expect to accomplish with a SM Conference? The kid doesn't have to listen to you, Dad said so in not so many words. When I gave the advice to turn it over to law enforcement, I knew full well that the kid would not get life in prison over this. Being a juvenile (presumably with no priors), the most he will get is a stern talking to by the judge, a psych eval, and maybe probation until he's 18 at which time the record is expunged. Hopefully that would have sent a wake-up call to both the kid AND dad that such behavior is NOT tolerated in today's society, much less a Scout troop. This is a lose-lose situation...the more you stay involved, the worse it will be for you. And no way in heck would I be signing off on the kid's Eagle app. That's my final advice. Do with it what you will...

I saw an out of wedlock father get the Eagle award, so that's apparently not an issue for the BSA. I don't even know who Brady is (I'm not much of a sports fan). I did raise my eyebrows, though, of the corporate CEO whose favorite author is Ayn Rand (a noted atheist and Libertarian who founded the Objectivist movement), author of "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead".

Sept 30...in case anyone wants to send me a card!

If you have to ask...that's your answer.

I guess that would depend on how big the bags are...

Over the top? OK, guilty. I had some of MY scouts at Va Tech in those very buildings when the shootings occurred. Those were VERY long hours until I got confirmation that they were OK. I can't imagine being a parent in that situation. All of the "experts" say this is a "zero tolerance" situation. Do not try to second guess the lad's intent. We are not qualified to do that. If he has the b---s to do this at 15, what will he do at 17 or 18? I don't even want to think about it. Sweeping this under the rug or turning it over to defensive in-denial parents is absolutely the WRONG thing to do.

My mother in law discovered that her husband's g-grandmother was half black...the issue of the hired hand on the farm. My wife, descended from her, thinks it's really a hoot, since her grandmother was the most prim, proper Southern belle (from Richmond)complete with pictures of RE Lee and Stonewall Jackson on the living room wall. Alas, I've been sworn to secrecy though.

First of all, NO, you are NOT overreacting. This is how Columbine and Virginia Tech started. This kind of thing should be taken VERY SERIOUSLY and I would IMMEDIATELY turn this over to law enforcement. Let them sort it out and get the kid the help he desperately needs. This is not "humor"...this is sociopathic behavior. Just call the police non-emergency number and request a meeting with a detective. Do not call the parents, do not call the District or Council. They will likely blow it off to avoid publicity. Do not put this off...please. Yes, you may lose a scout ... better than someone losing their life, because everyone ignored the clear warning signs.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Just a bit of clarification...in the Boy Scout program, it's the "Scoutmaster's Key", not Scouter's Key. It is for Scoutmasters only. All others in the troop are eligible for the "Scouter's Training Award". The "Key" can also be earned by Venturing Advisors, District Committee members and Commissioners. In the early 80's, the Cub Scouter Award, Den Leader Awards and Cubmaster Award were introduced (among others). Cubmasters were no longer eligible for the "Key".(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

My memory is a little fogged...however...I became a Boy Scout at age 11 (1965). I received my Lion AND Arrow of Light shortly before that, so that would have been 1964-65 time frame. I started Cub Scouts a year late (age 9), so never earned a Wolf badge. Can I go back and do the requirements now???

I for one am disgusted with the quality of BSA patches lately. These illustrate what I am talking about...cut edge cloth, looks very amateurish. What happened to the old "rolled edge" knots and patches of the "good ole days". Are they really that much more expensive? These look like they were made by 10 year olds in Bangladesh...hmmmmm.

Bob White must be on vacation. He'd be downright apoplectic! So the Lion program is LFL, yet they are allowed to mingle with real Scouts at a Pack Meeting? What about the "wall of separation" between Scouting and LFL? What about the DRP? What if a Lion is, like gay or atheist or something and one of the real Scouts gets converted? Gasp! Say it ain't so, Joe!

I'm so conflicted...

Have to agree. My biggest complaint was at 0300, the medical students would come in to poke my belly and ask questions about my bowels. Then at 0430, get poked for blood work. Then at 0500 the Resident would come in for more poking and questions. Just as I would drift off to sleep, the IV would run out and it would take them 30 minutes to come and silence the alarm. Then at 0800 the Surgeon would come in on rounds with all the students following him...more poking. I said, "don't you people ever talk to each other?" Then the nurses would wonder why I wanted to keep my door closed and sleep all day...as to the food...after being on nothing but clear liquids for 3 months, even camp food would have looked good ;-).