SemperParatus

I would guess the merit badge sash will be changed to match the color of the new pants.

Our troop has been loaning out our canoe fleet to a venture crew for five years or so. We've never had a problem. With an ASM and four older scouts on the scene, I am sure the trailer will be well looked after. A scout is generous.

Rare triple play Triplet Eagle Scouts, 18, are a tribute to their mom Word of the triplet Eagle Scouts has been percolating through the community for a couple of months now - three brothers, born within minutes of each other 18 years ago this spring, who will achieve the highest rank attainable in the Boys Scouts of America. These things don't happen every day - in fact, it appears to have happened only once in nearly 100 years of Scouting - so attention must be paid. It's finally official, which means we get to tell you about the Podhorniak boys today, and we could not have a more

Ed, I can assure you they are read from beginning to end (often several times) by the District Eagle Project Coordinator. I remember when my son went through the process several years ago (his project was the creation of a field guide book for a local preserve that required research by volunteer teams), he was asked who is going to make sure the pencils are sharpened - and shouldn't that be included in the plan. A very small point, but one that left me flabbergasted to say the least. Every page of the workbook has to be inserted in a sheet protector before the guy will review it (he doe

In our district, the scout must meet with the District Advancement Committee's Eagle Project Coordinator, a nice guy who has been serving in this capacity for about 15 years. Needless to say, over the years he has come to expect more and more in the workbooks before signing off. Consequently, most workbooks (plans) that are approved are 100+ pages in length and include such items as: map of project location, detailed drawings, detailed material and supply lists by project day, detailed tools list by project day, detailed time and task schedule for each project day, a detailed financial budge

Dawn, In addition to the Troop gifts mentioned previously, our Troop has developed some other traditions of things that happen at our ECOHs. The Scout removes tape covering his engraved plate on our Eagle plaque. The Scout signs our Eagle Banner that includes the signatures of all of our prior Eagle Scouts. A blue star is added to our Troop Seal to honor each Eagle Scout. When the time comes for the badge to be pinned on the Scout, we ask that he stand on our Circle of Honor - basically a dial constructed from a 36" pine tabletop with a large BSA decal covering it. Ea

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Our Troop pays for the Eagle Scout Presentation Kit (badge, medal, parent and mentor pins), the embroidered Eagle Scout neckerchief and slide, and membership in the National Eagle Scout Association. We also provide a $50 stipend to the family to apply to reception expenses. Totals $100 per scout.

Thanks everyone. Yeah, I knew our District has been running amock on this for some time. Every few years or so, a new crop of adults makes a run at throttling this back and it goes no where. Instead, every year some new 'helpful guidelines' are added to what is 'expected' in the project workbook, that then morph into a 'gotta have'. For example, this past year our eagle candidates are being asked to include an additional spiral notebook in the back of their eagle books that includes a diary of their discussions along the way, preliminary thoughts and drawings, etc etc. Definitely, Twilight

As part of our District's Eagle Scout process, once the the Eagle Application has been verified by Council (all dates are compared with Council records), the Eagle Candidate is to turn his Eagle Project Workbook (consisting of the project plan, final report, etc.) in for District Review prior to the scheduling of the Board of Review. Now, our District Advancement Committee has turned the whole workbook process into quite an academic exercise, resulting in most project plans and final reports encompassing anywhere from 100 - 300 pages of task lists, materials lists, budgeting, volunteer job de

from today's Wall Street Journal... Girl Scouts Seek an Image Makeover Green Skirts Are Out As Organization Faces A 'Nonjoiner' Society By ELLEN BYRON March 25, 2008; Page B5 The cookies will stay, but the green skirts are history. The Girl Scouts, seeking to reverse declining troop numbers, is shaking up its image. On Tuesday, the organization is expected to announce the appointment of its first chief marketing officer, a former senior partner and executive group director at WPP Group's Ogilvy & Mather. Laurel Richie will be in charge of modernizing the

The criteria for deducting out-of-pocket expenses in the giving of services to a charitable organization are that the amounts must be: 1. Unreimbursed 2. Directly connected with the services 3. Expenses you had only because of the services you gave, and 4. Not personal, living, or family expenses First aid and CPR training taken due to your role as a registered Scout leader should be tax deductible. While they have some personal benefit (doesn't all scout training?) the critical issue is whether you would have taken this training had you not been a Scout leader and had you

Doesn't the Scout Handbook have a place where you list the ten animals you saw. Why use another piece of paper? I would much prefer they use the Handbook for the resource tool it is intended to be.

Welcome home and best wishes for your son as he embark on the journey.

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OneHour, Your tinder is still a bit wet from the drenching rains of November, but it is definitely drying out nicely. The waiting can be frustrating, but is a great time to start collecting some logs for the flame when it does return (and it will). Continue with your youngest and watch your budding eagle as he develops. Your own words tell me you have never been far from the meaning of scouting. Semper

I am sure some folks who live on the west coast can direct you to some interesting scouting points of interest. My suggestion would be to use the internet to find a boy scout troop to visit one evening during your stay. More than anything I can think of, that will give you a taste of scouting here in the USA. I am sure the boys would love to see the Australian uniform and here about scouting down under. Have a great trip.

Congratulations to son (and dad). It is a very special moment in time. I just wish we could bottle it up and bring it out on occassion to let others get a whiff of that feeling of accomplishment and relief. Best of luck to sons 2 and 3 - there is nothing like having an older brother to offer encouragement!

Well, over the past few months we have had several scouts join our troop because they were not getting advancement support/opportunities with their previous units. They were all 13-14 year old Tenderfoot scouts looking for the challenges and recognitions that advancement can offer. In talking with them, the decision certainly sounded like it was theirs and not their parents. Go figure.

Tiger Dad...your time will definitely come when you too can happily proclaim, "...its just one hour a week." Just showing up at everything as a helping hand will be recognized and it won't be too long before you are leading pack efforts. Pack leadership does change over rather quickly, so don't be surprised if you are leading the pinewood derby next year, provided you gain some experience this year (like showing up to help build the track, manning the scoring table, check-in, etc.) Even if they think they 'have it all covered' a reliable, enthusiastic helping hand will be found work to do.

Here are the recently completed/in process eagle projects in our troop (also Baltimore Area Council): 1. 80 page full color Visitor's Field Guide to local nature preserve 2. Trail refurbishment - benches, water bars, mulching, etc. 3. Musical concerts at three nursing homes 4. A full production Christmas play for a large church 5. 5 books (teen novels) on tape for the Maryland School for the Blind 6. Three nights of homeless meals for the local Homeless Shelter 7. A series of Senior Technology Seminars to assist seniors with understanding electronic de

I realize no one has proof of intimacy, yet the parties admission of a 'mistake' being made is probably a nice way to put it. Just curious... Would we all be so forgiving if there were two women in the tent and they had a threesome?

I'm a big believer in term limits. I think 3-4 years in the key positions of COR, CC and SM is plenty to make an impact. That could break the cycle of entrenchment and give more volunteers a chance to carry the torch of leadership.

IM, Way to be! So Mr. Scoutmaster, let's hear the story so far.

The PTA board or its officers has the authority to appoint anyone to the COR position. The pack leadership should reach out to the PTA officers to figure out how a better relationship can be established and if a change in the COR is warranted. I suspect the Asst. Principal serving as the COR is a holdover from earlier days when the school may have been involved.