scoutldr

GW, you probably wouldn't have been able to speak to the manufacturer anyway, unless you are fluent in Vietnamese, Mandarin, or Bangladeshi. My Cox cable internet connection was recently down for a few weeks. Not enough signal strength to keep my modem on line. After many phone calls, a technician came out and declared I had a "bad splitter". Upon inspecting it, the label said "Made in Vietnam". I also recently went to the Scout Shop to purchase patches for a new shirt...each one had a "Made in China" label on the back. Don't get me started.

Nobody's refusing a background check. Just refusing to be stupid by handing out personal information to people who have no legal obligation to protect it.

Have to agree with Eamonn. BSA is one thing, but are most CO's aware that their volunteers are collecting this information on their behalf? That's a lot of liability. I once encouraged my former boss to enroll his son in Cubs. He went to school night, and when they insisted on him providing his SSN, he refused, took his son and left. At work we are drilled and trained about handling Privacy Act information and threatened with dismissal and jail time if we don't do it properly. Then we are asked to just hand over OUR information to anyone who asks? Just goes against the grain...

Just to clarify, the request was for information about the upcoming summer, not where they went last summer. The SE was adamant that if a troop went out of council to camp, they were "traitors" who were not supporting their own camp. Our job, as camping chairs, was to beg, plead, cajole and coerce the troops to go to OUR camp. My philosophy was to have "butts in cots"...I didn't care what council they were from, especially since the OOC troops paid a surcharge which was pure profit. And this camp suffers from not having any capital improvements or program enhancements in at least 20 years. Anyway, the last straw was when my DE forwarded an e-mail from the SE that said "I need this information within 30 days...if your camping chair can't or won't do what I need, then fire them and find someone who will." I replied with my resignation from the District Committee to save him the trouble. Everyone agrees that the SE is an arrogant a-- and is hard on the DEs and talks about the volunteers as though they were scum. But they won't fire him because he manages to make Quality Council.

The OA is an honor bestowed by one's peers...for those who most exemplify the Scout Oath and law and meet other requirements such as First Class, number of camping days, approval of SM, etc. See www.oa-bsa.org for more info. The OA Lodge and Chapters are youth-run and provide more opportunities for fellowship, leadership and "cheerful service" to the Council and community. The primary purpose of the OA is to promote camping at the unit level. Next, your son will be expected to attend the "Ordeal", a weekend during which he will be expected to reflect inwardly and provide service, usually at the Council camp. The details of the Ordeal and other OA ceremonies are not revealed to non-members, to preserve the mystery and solemnity of the occasions. Of course, as a parent, you are entitled to have any questions answered and to observe any activities. Contact your council's Lodge or Chapter adult advisor if you have any concerns. The ceremonies and traditions of the OA are based on the legends of the Lenni Lenape tribe of Native Americans...the indiginous people of the Delaware River area of Pennsylvania/NJ where the OA was founded at Camp Treasure Island near Philadelphia. Responsibilities: your son will be encouraged to attend monthly Chapter meetings, and to participate in future OA events as staff or committee member (Ordeals, Fall Fellowship, Christmas Banquet, Summer Camp staff, Camp work days, etc). He can run for election as a chapter or Lodge officer. Arrowmen are reminded that their first obligation is to their Troop and their OA activities should not replace what they do at the unit level. I am amazed at the number of scouts who pass their Ordeal and are never seen again. If you're not going to participate, then why bother? Congratulations to your son. It is indeed an honor to be recognized by one's peers.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

As a youth, I earned the Lutheran religious award, the "Pro Deo et Patria". I recall it required service hours approved by the Pastor (in the hundreds!), such as acolyte, cutting grass, whatever. Not sure what the current requirements are, but perhaps that would be a better use of the boy's service time to his church. But, as someone above said, it's the SM's call.

Not sure I understand your question. I don't think it's important who actually fills in the information. But the SM must sign the card before the boy starts work (approval to begin work on the badge), and the MBC must sign that the badge has been completed. Worksheets are not required, but are just a tool that some MBC and camp staffs use. Again, it's the signatures on the blue card that are important and are the only record that need to be retained until the scout makes Eagle. Emphasis on "retained"...Council records are not always complete or accurate. The final determinant is the blue card (note: not all councils use blue cards).

This was frustrating to me as well. As District Camping Chair, I would prefer using e-mail because I didn't have time to spend evening after evening playing phone tag with people. A simple request, such as "where is your troop going to summer camp this year" would go ignored. Out of all the units in the district, I would be lucky to get one or two responses. I never understood that. I tend to think the attitude was "none of your durn business", when they got a request from a silver looper.

Find a member of NESA and get a copy of the NESA newsletter, "Eagletter". In it there is a form for ordering replacement Eagle Scout credentials...certificate, wallet cards, etc. Have him fill in the form with the date he was given and mail it in. If he gets a positive reponse, mystery solved. I am amazed that your local Council is not able to help. Ours has a record book with every Eagle Scout ever earned in the council going back to 1910.

I don't think that re-earning awards multiple times is a priority for most scouters. Most that I know don't even wear the devices and service stars they are entitled to. I do think that it should be possible to earn the District Award of Merit and Silver Beaver more than once. These are awards that are not sought, but are bestowed only upon the nomination of others.

Interesting trivia...originally, Life came before Star.

All of the rank badges are variations of the scout badge (fleur de lis). Explanations are in the Scout Handbook.

Slouchat, we kill hundreds a day with American beer. Especially when mixed with gasoline.

Welcome to the forums. Unfortunately, the Eagle is a youth award which must be completed prior to the 18th birthday. This was not always the case, as adults could earn the award up until the 1950s. This is one of those "life's regrets" that we have to live with. I try to impress upon the boys that they will regret it the rest of their lives, however it doesn't usually impress them. There are other awards that adults can earn for service to youth, but it's not the Eagle.

Macy, I apologize if you were offended by my comment. It was your invocation of the "separation of Church and State" thing that got to me. Do you think that the BSA is an arm of the State? I don't know anyone who even comes close to thinking that. We do get trolls here from time to time who enjoy stirring the pot and pushing buttons. Some even claim to wear the uniform!

I find it hard to believe this was a serious question.

"(we now have changed the name to "Service Weekends" so as not to scare anybody off)" ARRRGGHHHHHHH! The day my lodge does this is the day I put my OA sash away forever.

Unless your unit is self-chartered...

The only way to get action is to refuse to buy. When you go into the Scout Shop and see "Made in China", put it back on the shelf. Tell your SE, "when you get some made in the USA, give me a call." And then put your old uniform back on or go without. So how many are willing to do that, hmmmmm?

What is "Blackfoot"? Must be a local coucil thing.

YOu state that the offenders were "arrested" for embezzlement. I would think that, if CONVICTED, their membership in the BSA would be revoked by the council. I would expect no less. As Americans, we are all innocent until convicted. As others have tried to explain, the Unit belongs to the Chartering Organization (CO), not the Council. If the adult applications are approved by the CO, and the background checks come back clear, there is no reason for the SE to act.

I just remember them to be very expensive...and the council would not sell them individually, you had to buy them in packages of 6. A COH would break the treasury, especially after summer camp.

That is the policy here, as well. NO advancement report, no rank badges. It was necessary because troops were stockpiling badges, and the paperwork never got submitted...not a problem until the Eagle application got stopped cold. They do make allowances to buy a badge for a spare shirt, but we still have to submit an advancement report, sign it and certify that it is for a new shirt.

Our first Eagle was a no-show for his EBOR. He claimed it was a communication error. We scheduled a second one, which he passed. Never heard from him again, despite numerous e-mails and phone calls. We still have his medal and will just hold on to it until he decides he wants it. He never was real motivated...I think he just finished it to shut his parents up. We explained the COH procedure and offered to do whatever he and his parents wanted...a troop COH, or they could do their own thing. No response.

One more thing...see your insurance agent and take out an umbrella liability policy...about $5 million should do it. No youth leader should be without it.