Sentinel947

I agree with Stosh. I use a pen because it's easier. It's not a bad idea to use a stamp. I just don't own one, but I never seem to run out pens.

Welcome to Scouter.com! Feel free to post any questions you might have.

In our Troop, after the Troop Elections, whatever positions are left are assigned by the SM to whomever wants them. Why aren't the scouts who want the positions running for them?

I remember my Ordeal Ceremony that night. It was 6 years ago but I will never forget it. It was so cool and memorable, and being at night really set a tone for the weekend.

Unit and Troop are the same thing. Unit can also include a Venture Scout Group. First of all, Scout positions of responsibility are not given out by Scoutmasters. Officially Patrol Leaders and the SPL are elected, and the SPL selects all the troop wide positions with the advice of his Scoutmaster. Unofficially many troops elect every position. It's not taught by the BSA but is very common. In my unit the only rank requirements are, the Scout must be at least first class, except for Patrol Leaders. ASPL/SPL must be at least Star. My unit is 80 Scouts.

Welcome to Scouter.com!!! What do you mean by a Scouting website? An advancement program like Troopmaster?

Your family spends a bit over 179 dollars a month for Scouting. For 3 people. My family spent 166$ dollars a month for three months of band for one child. Check my math. 2155/12 months=$179 3 people Vs 500/3 months=$166 1 person You spend far more than my family spent on band, but band wasn't a year round thing. It ran August-through October. Overall I think Scouting is a good value. Could the prices come down? Yes. Can National and Council finances be more transparent? Absolutely. Thanks for providing those numbers Codger. Helped make the comparison easier since I didn't pay my Scouting bills till I was in High School and was already bout 4 years in.

That's the fee increase from National. That's what I cited it for. It's comparison of youth groups was extremely disingenuous. I put the link because an above poster asked what the increase goes towards.

J2huggies: Yes Catholics are Christians. And Peregrinator, that'd be what concerns me. The lack of understanding that leads some Protestants to dislike or fear Catholics.

I've never understood the griping about Boy Scout fees. When I marched in the High School band for 3 years, it was $500 dollars a season. My sister and I marched a combined 5 seasons at a tag of $2500 total. My sister and he band took a trip to Hawaii that was extremely expensive before I joined, and I took at Trip to Disney world with the band that cost 1200 dollars. So overall my parents and I spent $2700 for me to spend 3 years in Marching Band. Marching band seasons only went from July-November. They spent at least $1,000 dollars for 2 years for my older Sister. Was it worth it? Yes. Absolutely. Scouting isn't really that expensive of an activity in comparison to many other youth activities that parents don't even hesitate to drop the $$$ for. http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2013/09/03/bsa-membership-fee-increased-to-24-what-does-your-24-get-you/ "Minimum recommended donation" Just give what you are comfortable giving, and can financially do without. If that's only 10-20 dollars like it is for me then that's all ya'll can give. If you cannot afford to give at all, then you can't afford to give it all, and shouldn't feel guilty about not donating to FOS.

Why can't a church have an opinion about how government policy's are working? What's the difference between a church and any other non profit special interest group? I'd agree any preaching that incites hatred or violent action is at the least contrary to almost all religious teachings. But you still haven't satisfied my question above.

I am having the same issue

Scoutmaster cannot disapprove a completed merit badge. A MB counselor cannot take back a badge they signed as completed/returned to the Scout. Just one of my pet peeves. It's not "We" but "our son". Your son is almost Eagle and shouldn't need his parents to hover over his shoulder in order to complete requirements. Best of luck to your son.

He can start his project now. If his project is finished before his 6 months in his POR is over, he will have to wait till the 6 months is up before he can finish his Eagle Rank. For sure, he can start talking to the district for approval tomorrow if he wanted to. He's in really good shape. Good luck to him!

Always a shameful and scandalous to see a Priest who doesn't understand the Catechism. I see reassignment or forced retirement coming if he keeps preaching what he is preaching.

Ah. I think I understand. I don't think you have much to fear from Catholics in America. Many of them don't buy into the actual doctrines of the Church anyways. =/ In my Diocese, (Cincinnati) My priest gave a talk about the importance of voting and voting in a way that honors God. He definitely covered abortion, euthanasia, and charity to the poor, but I don't remember coming out of that thinking he had a noticeable tilt. To a non-Catholic that might seem political, but to an Catholic like myself, that's a reflection of the Church's teachings. Now if they push or promote a candidate or a party, like you said, that's different. It's dangerous on a totally different level. Why Catholics and Republicans agree on a few things, it would be foolish of the Church to align herself with Republicanism, because I can point to a few Republican positions that violate Catholic Teachings. Ultimately in an election Catholics are called to vote for the lesser of evils. I don't like the idea of the Church pushing people to vote for one candidate or another. But the Church should definitely tell the faithful what kind of people they should vote for. I don't see the problem with a Church acting like any other special interest group. I guess I don't understand your fear. That in a democracy one group or another will exercise a tyranny of the majority in a way that could be harmful to you? Why is it only a religion that's scary? Couldn't that be any group of people, religious or not? Thankfully our Founding Fathers did a pretty good job of creating a system to prevent that at the Federal Level.

As a Catholic, I wouldn't feel comfortable in an explicitly Christian organization unless it was explicitly Catholic. There are some Protestant groups that really do not like Catholics.

No support? No Pack. Boy Scouts Troops can be run by a moderate cadre of dedicated adults. Cubs requires more adult participation, and the level of involvement you and your wife have taken is ridiculous. Your generosity is being taken advantage of. I'd transfer my son. The other parents had plenty of time to step up to the plate.

Where are your sons in the program? How long have you been involved? In what roles?

I think that it's a product of parenting and culture. My parents have been very disciplined about finances. I wasn't given everything I wanted as a child, even though my parents probably had the money. At the same time, consumerism is rampant in our throw away culture. New IPhone? Buy it. Hot new toy? Buy it. Millennials have been bombarded with ads and the consumerist culture since they were little. Many of my generation were practically raised in front of a television screen. A lot of Millennials have a flippant attitude towards school and education. Part of it is their role models at home, but it's also to fit in. Kids who get straight As are resented by their peers. Not caring about school is pretty common. I'm not sure how different that is from earlier generations. I don't think it's a majority of mine. I think the irresponsible, yolo, I do whatever I want, when I want party children is a small obnoxious minority of my generation. What are you seeing OP? I didn't understand what your point was.

Sorry Qwazse I had to go to work. Gotta pay those college bills (and maybe new Hiking boots before I hike part of AT this summer) I'll put my perspective in a new post.

When I was an 18 year old Eagle, I took IOLs. It was a joke because my troop had me well prepared in my Scouting skills. But I didn't complain because it's a requirement and needed to be done. Eagles should have those skills and it should be easy for them to pass IOLs. They don't need an exemption.

I have no idea what you are going for. But as a member of the generation you are analyzing I might be able to give you a little insight.

If Boys want to play Army, then maybe JROTC is for them. They can do Drill and Ceremony just like the real Army! Then they can learn how to fill out request forms just like the real Army! Then they can learn to fill out Operation Order Plans just like the real Army! Then when they get something wrong, they can get smoked by their Patrol Leader, just like the real Army! What fun! Baden Powells early Scouting skills were very similiar to the ones he used in reconnaissance in the British Army. But the way it operates is not the same. Scouting is a unique thing. So I don't like the military analogies. Besides some similarities in certain skills, a hierarchy structure, the fact it uses ranks the military is a very different breed of animal. The military isn't for everybody. I want to try to include as many boys as possible in Scouting. But go ahead Kudu, let your Scouts play recon patrol. You gotta play the Lieutenant. So start pushing that paperwork. Cause that's what Lieutenants do.

I can request a status update from the developer on that particular issue. I have the ability to send them, but I've never had any of the people reply. I assumed they can't get them.