scoutldr

I saw that too. As an Eagle Scout and NESA member since earning Eagle in 1970, I disagree with the concept. Life members are no more special or accomplished than us "pay as you go" members. In fact, I have paid more in dues than a Life Membership would have cost me. No one ever "gifted" me a Life membership, and when I was younger, writing that one big check was not possible. There once was a NESA pocket dangle...the NESA logo suspended on a RWB ribbon, to be worn on the right pocket button (where the OA pocket rocket goes). I have one, but sadly, it's no longer available, and they go for a pretty penny on eBay. I've put it away so I don't lose it.

It is up to the SM to "approve" all candidates before they are placed on the Troop's list of eligibles. If there is a Scout Spirit issue, then that's the place to address it. Then it is up to the troop youth leadership and OA election team to impress upon the troop the meaning of the OA and the honor it represents. It is not a popularity contest, but to honor those who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law...the "best of the best" so to speak. I, too am disappointed that the "active" Arrowmen are only about 10-20% of the membership list. The Lodge and Chapter youth leadership need to do some reflection on how to deliver a quality program. Meetings are boring.

The current vessel was probably named after the "Army Scout"...as it is a minesweeper who goes ahead of the fleet and clears the way of danger. I'm sure a USS Boy Scout wouldn't be entertained today since we are officially a discriminatory organization.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Scout_%28MCM-8%29

Clarification, you must be a registered member of a BSA unit, before you can rejoin the OA. You said you were "working on" becoming an ASM. If you were tapped out as a youth, you can be a member of a Cub Pack, Scout Troop or Venture Crew. Just contact your council office or local Lodge/Chapter Chief or Advisor and say "I need to pay my dues and rejoin the OA." Usually, they will accept whatever you put on the form and don't require "proof". (A Scout is Trustworthy) Otherwise, many of us would have to sit on the sidelines.

Membership and dues are to your local Lodge, not a national thing. Contact your Council office and ask the secretary if he/she has a dues payment form for the OA. Then just fill out the form and drop it off (or mail it) with a check. You will probably need to know the dates of your Ordeal/Brotherhood/Vigil as appropriate and the Council/Lodge in which they were awarded. Then you should look for a membership card from your Lodge secretary. If your Lodge has a website, you should be able to find meeting information and POC's listed there. The Lodge is divided into Chapters which serve each District...find out when and where they meet and just start showing up!

Only once did I see someone rip off their arrow, exclaim "this is BULL****!" and walk away from an ordeal. It was an "adult" about 40 years old. Lots of us here went through the traditional "tapout" and Ordeal as youth. How many were permanently scarred? Yes, some Allowats got overzealous and took them to their knees, but ours was a firm, but painless series of taps. I never gave it a second thought. I, for one, remember the experience with great fondness, as it was one more challenge that I overcame...something my Dad didn't think this fat bookworm mama's boy could do.

Hey, "Fat Boy" was my name when I was a scout! That is until I won the Lodge Marksmanship contest with my antique Winchester Model 74 with open sights...then it was "Sir".

"There are individuals you can't give this to and you may not know that." That's why Epinephrine is a controlled substance and should only be given to the person for whom it was prescribed. In the scenario described, I think the only recourse is to call 911, give the benadryl (diphenhydramine) to buy some time, try to maintain a patent airway and hope for the best.

I was in a large District for 30 years, when the SE decided to split it into three. Seemed like all of the experienced district volunteers ended up in one district and the other two were left to start from scratch. We still haven't recovered and filled all of the district slots we are supposed to have. Yes, it was a big deal. From the sound of this thread, now I can look forward to merging them back! Sheesh.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Whether I'm "for" or "against" is not an issue. I can choose not to buy and wear the patch. I did look at the BSA website before I posted, and the square knot design is not listed as a registered trademark. (or maybe I didn;t look in the right place?) Just as the "Scout" badge is not registered, since it is just a generic brown fleur-de-lis which has been in common use for centuries. There are lots of private issue squareknots out there...for BSA Lifeguard, 50 miler, Wood Badge, etc. But I think those who buy them and wear them are egomaniacs. But that's just my opinion and I'm sure they couldn't care less. Suppose Troy were to follow the law and registered the square knot patch as a trademark...then where would we be, hmmmmm?

Was the decision to wear uniforms to the school activity a Pack/Den decision or did everyone just show up in uniform coincidentally? If a Pack/Den decision, did she not have an opportunity to get the same information as everyone else? When she said they wouldn't be there, I would have said "Sorry, we're going to miss you." Some people will never be happy, and, unfortunately, if she continues with her bullying behavior, she can be asked to leave the Pack. It is her son that will suffer, but it's her decision.

Something's missing from this thread...Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind. I'm giving the benfit of the doubt that Troy was unaware that he was using registered trademarks and that BSA permission was required. After all, the BSA just recently started vigorous enforcment of their trademarks. And it's still a free country - private issue badges/knots are prolific. I'm not aware that the square knot has been registered by the BSA yet. The rule is that they can't be worn on the uniform. A slam dunk with the rule book was uncalled for...yet again.

Bob said, "The national office of the BSA recently released the numbers and they calculate that only 29% of direct contact adult leaders have completed basic training in their job in scouting. Kinda scary huh? " Not scary at all, because I don't believe it. If they got their numbers from Council and District statistics, they are just propagating the errors. I have been involved in the same Council since 1989 as an adult and since 1963 as a scout. When I got the printout from my DE, it still had me listed as "not trained". Correcting the printouts at recharter time didn't seem to work, either. The frustrating thing was when the SE would pop in to our Council Training Committee meetings and berate us for having low percentages. Sorry to say, I gave up. For those with a TQM/Deming background, it was the classic "Red Bead experiment"....

There are no rules against cleaning the sash, if that's what you mean. Some may feel that a worn, dirty, "experienced" sash is a badge of honor, but I think it just looks bad. I have washed mine many times...separately in a mesh bag so it doesn't get all tangled up. You might also try hand washing in Woolite. I haven't had a problem with the red, but mine is over 20 years old. Don't know about the newer ones.

When I was District training chair, my averages ran about 28-30%. NOthing I did seemed to affect that number because I trained a lot of people from other districts and we are in a highly transient military area. Most leaders weren't in their jobs long enough to get trained, especially the Cub Scouters who needed new training every time they changed positions. Most didn't bother.

I've seen infants with pierced ears. Can't imagine why a parent would do that to their baby...but that's what they say about circumcision now.

Just so I have this straight...you get WOODBADGE beads for staffing NYLT? Does that mean ONLY adults with WB can staff the course?

Have to get the last word... As cub scouters, the ONLY way to join the local lodge is to have been elected to the OA as a youth (boy scout). Then you just pay your dues and sew on the flap (and hopefully participate in the OA actively!) Packs do not have OA elections, nor do they nominate adults to become members. Since you are a female leader, you will have to become an adult Troop Scouter leader to become eligible. District and Council Scouters can also be nominated. So, you have something to look forward to!!!

According to the ancient Mayan calendar we have until December 21, 2012. That's why I've decided to take early retirement in 2010! I don't want to be sitting at my desk when the world ends!

To paraphrase a comedian...Training can fix ignorance...but stupid is forever.

As stated above there are good reasons not to do it, not the least of which is the appearance of impropriety. But as far as I know, if the counsellor is registered with the District as a MBC, and if the SM accepts it, it's a done deal.

A combined Cub/Scout roundtable? That doesn't work, as you know. That's like combining an English class with a Calculus class and then wondering why nobody's getting anything out of it. If all it is is an information download, I would not waste my time and gas going. They can send me an e-mail instead.

At our summer camp a few years ago, we and the staff were "forbidden" from calling the MB "classes". They are officially "sessions". Don't want them to think they are in summer school. Of course, the teaching methods didn't change. Still had a group of 11 year olds sitting on logs with a 14 year old reading (badly) the book to them.

BSA Lifeguard, circa 1990, before they watered it down. It was physically challenging and I was amazed at how the skills came back (I was a Red Cross WSI at age 18). The instructor's attitude was tough and no nonsense and there were no "social graduations"...you either could demonstrate the skill or not. Lives could depend on it.