SR540Beaver

Bugle, Pardon the length of this post, but here is our council's policy for linking a unit or district site to the council's site. Also, the national policy for linking a council site from the national site. Hope this helps. http://www.lastfrontiercouncil.org/lfc_policies.htm Last Frontier Council ("LFC") Website Policies and Procedures Updated as of July 21, 1999 The content and format of the LFCs Website will be approved and maintained by the LFCs Internet Committee ("IC"). The LFC Website will adhere to all BSA policies and procedures regarding Websites. Units, other LFC committees or individuals desiring to make changes or additions to the Web-site will submit all requests to the IC chairman for review and approval by the whole IC. The IC will consider factors such as content, applicability and resource consumption before approving additions to the LFCs Website. The LFCs Webmaster will be a member of the IC and will be responsible for all updates and additions to the LFCs Website once approved by the IC. Appropriate content includes, but is not limited to, the following: A. Links to Unit Websites and the BSA National Website. B. Calendars and schedules of upcoming events such as training, Camporees, Scout Show, etc. C. Forms such as event registration, tour permits, etc., provided such forms comply with all applicable LFC and BSA requirements. If a Unit requests that its Website be linked to the LFCs Website, the IC will review the Unit Website for appropriate content, as outlined below, before such a link will be established. IC members will be assigned responsibility for monitoring the Unit Websites linked to the LFCs Website. IC members will perform a review of their assigned Websites monthly to insure continued compliance with BSA and LFC policies. Before a Units Website link will be approved for inclusion on the LFCs Website, it must meet the following criteria: A. Unit Websites must adhere to both the BSA National and LFC Website Policies and Procedures (the "Policies and Procedures"). The Policies and Procedures will be accessible from the first page of the LFC Website. A copy of the Policies and Procedures, signed by an adult Unit leader, must be on file with the Council IC Staff Advisor. Copies are available in the Council Service Center(s). B. The Units Website must abide by all laws regarding copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property. C. No youths personal information, e.g. address, phone number, etc., will be available on the Units Website without password protection, in order to comply with BSA and LFC Youth Protection policies. The password must only be available to the approved adult leadership of the Unit and must be changed at least every 90 days. D. Any links used on Unit Websites must also adhere to these Policies and Procedures. It is the Unit leaders responsibility to insure enforcement of the Policies and Procedures. The LFC provides the LFC Website and links to Unit Websites as a service to the youth and adults of the Last Frontier Council. Inclusion of a link to a Units Website does not constitute an endorsement by the LFC of that Unit or its program over those of any other Unit in the LFC. The LFC, through the IC, reserves the right to discontinue a Units Website link, or the LFCs Website, if such a link or the LFCs Website is deemed to be not in the best interest of the LFC or the Boy Scouts of America. These Policies and Procedures may be amended, expanded and otherwise changed from time to time by the IC. It is the responsibility of the adult Unit leaders to monitor any such changes and comply with the same. http://www.lastfrontiercouncil.org/national_policies.htm National Council, Boy Scouts of America1 Website Policies and Procedures Following are the standards set fourth by the National Council, Boy Scouts of America, that must be met for a local council to have a link from the National Council Website to the local council Website. In order to request a link to your council's* Web site, please verify that you are following these guidelines: The council must have direct control over the content of its official Web site. The content of the council site must be appropriate to the Scouting movement. The council site cannot contain links to any sites that contain material that is not appropriate to the Scouting movement. The council site cannot contain any advertisements or commercial endorsements. The council site cannot engage in the electronic sale of BSA Supply Division merchandise or competing products. The council site cannot replicate any BSA publication currently for sale through the Supply division. Council sites must abide by all laws regarding copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property. Council sites must consider the safety and privacy of their participants by obtaining the necessary permissions to release information about or images of any individual. * District/Unit Websites are not linked from National, but may be linked from your local councils site. 1These Policies & Procedures are standards for the Last Frontier Council having a link to the LFC Website from the National BSA Website. In order for a link to be included on the LFC Website for a Units Website, that Unit must adhere to the National Council Policies and Procedures as well as those of the Last Frontier Council.

oops, I hit send twice.....sorry(This message has been edited by kwc57)

sm406, Role models come in all shapes and sizes. There are positive and negative role models. Last night there was one of the news magazines on TV. I think it was on ABC, but it may have been on NBC's Dateline. There was a story about a bodybuilder Dad who started taking GHB to enhance his workouts. He became addicted. His preteen son took the families camcorder to record his half comatose, twitching, convulsing Dad. He even had pictures of him passed out in the middle of the yard. GHB can be bought over the counter. The man is now in prison over his use. He has devestated his family. The son took the movies for several reasons. One was for his Dad to see what kind of an idiot he was when he was using and also for others to see what drug use can do to a person. We made our 10 year old Webelos son sit down and watch it with us. All of the positive talks we have with him and the example we set in our home about how bad drug use is will only go so far. We felt he needed to actually SEE what drug use does to a person and their loved ones. This guys misfortune and the bad example he is setting can have positive outcomes. As a parent, I am very protective of my son....that's my job. But I do him a diservice to put blinders on him and never let him see the world in full color and what the consequences of actions are. We can be over protective and then our children are not fully prepared for life. It may be a good thing for the scouts to see the hardships this girl will face because of a lapse in judgement and self control. Nowhere have I seen where this troop was going to throw a parade for this girl or hold her in high esteem for being an unwed teenage mother. She is going to have a hard row to hoe. Someday, when these scouts are out on a date and things start heating up, they may think back to this pregnant girl and remember how her youth was cut short and decide to cool things off. I know of what I am speaking of. I had some of the best parents in the world. No, make that THE best parents in the world. They were committed Christians. Honest, caring, giving, loving, morally straight, hard working, fun, etc. But I grew up assuming that everyone went to church everytime the doors were open, never drank, never cussed, never argued, cared what others thought of them, put other peoples needs before their own, etc. Boy was I unprepared for life and in for quite a surprise. When I encountered people who lived their life different than mine, I was self-righteous and looked down my nose at them. They were sinners. I'm older and wiser now and have been around the block a few times. I teach my son the same lessons my parents taught, but I try to let him see the negative side of life occasionally so he can see WHY we live like we do. I think this girl needs to be back in an environment like scouting and her mistakes can become a positive thing for the kids.

BW, There was a threat of punishment......being sent home.

ASM1, As usual, you pop in and say something cryptic and think you've made some sort of coherent and profound statement. I have to confess that I am a news junkie and cruise CNN, MSNBC, FOX, Drudge, Washington Post and a variety of other news sites throughout the day. My boss would probably pass out if he knew I read as much news on the job as I do. Then I watch 2 to 3 hours of news each night as well as keep up with several news magazines weekly. I have not heard of any story about US veterans who are muslims being arrested as terrorists while playing paintball. Even though you THINK you've made your point, please give us the courtesy of explaining what the heck you're talking about! I could have started a thread about Elvis being sighted at the Statue of Liberty wearing a purple cow suit and fighting aliens with six shooters. I'd be laughed at too unless I provided a little more information for people to understand what I'm talking about.

Oh for Pete's sake, ASM1 is off his meds again! Please provide a reference or a link to what you are talking about. Your post makes no sense whatsoever.

Mark, God is a loving God, but also a just God. The Bible says that He can not look upon sin. The Bible says that we have all fallen short. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. The Bible says that God desire for all men to come to Him. It is man's rejection of God that dooms them to hell. God forces no one to heaven, it must be by their own free will choice. Being "good" has nothing to do with obtaining salvation. God sent his perfect Son to die as a sacrifice for us. It is thru accepting Christ as our Savior AND our Lord that we are held sinless before God and can enter His kingdom. While evangelism is annoying to some people, this is why Christians "bug" people about finding salvation. It is up to Christians to spread the Gospel to the world and see that ALL do have the opportunity to know God and enter His kingdom. There are various interpretations of how people prior to Christ were saved. I don't have the time or the undivided time right now to attempt to explain it clearly. I'll leave that to someone else to bite into.

Ed, Yes the nurse is there 24/7 and avalable if needed. If little Johnny gashes his leg walking to the latrine at 3 AM, the nurse would be availalbe. I thought I said it, but perhaps I didn't. If her scheduled hours for doling out medications won't work with your needs, she will work out something with you individually. If Johnny needs medicine every hour, perhaps camp isn't the best place for him to be without Mom or Dad tagging along. While Hipaa may not apply to BSA, if the council wishes to utilize the privacy Hipaa provides, they can. Kind of like seat belts. Some states require them, some don't. Regardless, it is a good practice to use them in any state.

Ah yes, I remember this old thread. Bob White, forgive me if I get this wrong, but Bob has always said he would never be responsible for a scouts meds. I found it very interesting when we went to Webelos Scout camp a few weeks ago. After check in, we had to head to the health lodge. Because of the new Hippa laws, everyone had to stand in a line outside the lodge and come in one at a time to turn in your health form to the camp nurse. She checked it over to make sure it was complete and then told you that any meds had to be given to her. She had a schedule of when you could come to the health lodge to take your meds. If the schedule would not work for you, she would work out an individual arrangement with you. Adults could either give her their meds or lock them up in their vehicle at the camp parking lot. They did not want them in camp where they could get lost, stolen or borrowed. Their idea is that little Johhny's mom gives him a little white pill when his head hurts or a pink pill when his nose was stuffy. Johnny noticed that Billy had white pills and Tommy had pink pills. Johnny helps himself without knowing what the pills really are. Anyhow, for what it is worth, this is how our council approaches meds at camp. Turn them in and take a hike to the lodge when it is time to take them and get them rom the nurse.

Ditto on not funding United Way. I quit years ago. A comapny I worked for was always big into United Way and wanted 100% participation by the employees. If you chose not to give or were late with your pledge, an HR person came to see you and twist your tail. If you still refused, they would give a dollar in your name so they could crow about their fake 100% My company telling me how to spend MY salary left a bad taste in my mouth. The same company used to "urge" us on how to vote on local and state questions too. Sorry, I have a brain already! I gave over and above my tithe to my church and gave to charities that I had an interest in. That the United Way was an all or nothing plan where you couldn't designate funds made me eventually back away from it. I probably give more to charity on my own than I ever would as a blanket approach like the United Way. My list of "charities" now includes FOS. But more important than the money I give scouting is the time and effort I give scouting.

Dan and Rooster, Drink more Ovaltine!

OldGreyChicken, You just had to stick your beak in didn't you?!

I have to agree here with BW and OGE, recognize and report.....period. With no disrespect or offense intended to Oxcop, I think your law enforcement side is taking over and you are trying to, well....be a cop. As a registered scouter, your first and only obligation is to report it to the SE immediately. Talking to an investigator friend first to see what the legal possibilities are isn't really an option. The SE is trained to take the report to the proper authorities and let them begin and conduct an investigation. While you attempt to act as a detective, the guy can be continuing his alledged offense. Report it and let it be. As a policeman, you know the importance of the chain of command and this is a job for the SE.

asm514, Perhaps you are familiar with other forums around the internet where flaming, name calling and rudeness are common activities. I know you are fairly new here and may think that this forum operates like any other forum out there......it doesn't. Your behavior is very unbecoming for a scout leader. We disagree here often, but we do it like gentlemen about 99% of the time. Please look around to see what I'm talking about. The moderator seems to be fairly tolerant, but it is within their power to ban a person. I fear that you could be headed down that path. The idea behind these forums is to exchange ideas, not insults.

nldscout, I can answer your second question. Girls who are part of the Venturing program can apply and serve on camp staffs just like any other Scout can. We just returned from Webelos Resident camp a couple of weeks ago and there were at least 2 or 3 girls on staff that did an excellent job. One ran the archery range and the other did flag ettiquete classes. They like all the rest of the staff took their turns working in the dining hall as well. As long as they are part of the BSA and meet the age requirements, they are eligible to work on staff just like the boys.

May I offer a suggestion? We have once again confirmed the correct protocol for wearing flag patches by the military. The matter is settled. Can we now just move past this thread and go about our business. The thread has turnd political, ugly and just plain silly. We as scouters should be bigger and better than this. I would ask that we just let this thread die and no one else throw their two cents in. I'll leave you with these two thoughts: 1. Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them. 2. Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you don't have a leg to stand on.(This message has been edited by kwc57)

My knowledge of Explorers is vague. I suspect that their Youth Protection policies are the same for the rest of the BSA. Was the leadership involved in these cases just ignoring the policy? http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/06/25/explorers.abuse.ap/index.html Research: Teens Victimized in Police Explorers Program Wednesday, June 25, 2003 Posted: 9:32 AM EDT (1332 GMT) (AP) -- At least a dozen teenagers assigned to work with police departments as part of the Boy Scouts' Law Enforcement Explorers program have allegedly been sexually abused by officers during the past year. In the past five years, such molestations number at least 25, according to criminologists' research being released Wednesday. Sponsors have promised reforms to the program, which attracts tens of thousands of teens annually. Among recent cases: The East Ridge, Tennessee, police department suspended its Explorer program after Officer Keith Maynard, 31, was charged with two counts of statutory rape and two counts of aggravated child molestation, accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl in the program. He is awaiting trial. In Haltom City, Texas, former police officer John Ross Ewing, 28, was indicted by a grand jury in March on charges that he sexually assaulted two male Explorer scouts, ages 15 and 16, at his apartment. In San Bernardino, California, Freddie Lee Johnson, 34, pleaded guilty in April to having sex with a 16-year-old girl on a scout-related camping trip. According to court records, the girl woke up in her tent and found the officer on top of her. He was sentenced to 60 weekends in jail. "I was scared that if I said anything, I would get into trouble and I would have to leave the sheriff's department," the victim said in a statement at the sentencing hearing. Her mother added: "We trusted him. How could we not? He was a law-enforcement officer. He was our daughter's (Explorer) adviser. He was invited to our daughter's graduation dinner at our home. ... He shook our hands, gave me hugs, and all of the time, he was betraying our trust." Law Enforcement Explorers is a co-ed program affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. The broader scouts Exploring program also places 14- to 20-year-olds with firefighters, medical providers, lawyers and others to learn about those careers. In 2002, about 43,000 Explorers were assigned to police and sheriff's departments around the United States. Boy Scouts of America officials said they were surprised and concerned to learn of the incidents. "One child, 12 children, it's always one too many," said Boy Scouts of America national spokesman Gregg Shields. "I really don't understand why this is happening," said John Anthony, executive director of the Learning For Life program, which oversees Explorers. Anthony's office is reinforcing youth protection guidelines with all law enforcement Explorer programs and requiring supervisors to go through training about how to protect participants from abuse. The extent of the abuse is detailed in research that will be released Wednesday by University of Nebraska criminal justice professor Samuel Walker and his colleague Dawn Irlbeck, who study police sexual abuse of women. Almost half of the reported teenage victims of police sexual abuse in the past decade were enrolled in police Explorer programs, they found, with the rest abused during arrests, traffic stops and in other situations. "When you have repeated incidents across the country, a new one every month, that's a real problem," Walker said. Even where abuse is not alleged, critics have faulted some programs for endangering teens. Explorers have been used on undercover pornography stings in which they enter adult bookstores and purchase materials banned for their age group. In other cases, scouting officials said, they have been allowed to drive marked patrol cars, which could expose them to harm from gang members and drug dealers. "Stings are prohibited and always have been prohibited," said Shields, the Boy Scouts spokesman. "These are juveniles and it's just not proper." The Explorer program's own written guidelines discourage the practice of allowing teens to drive patrol cars, noting, "This is potentially putting inexperienced (immature) youth in harm's way." Under those guidelines, unsupervised, one-on-one contact between Explorers and officers is banned, with one exception -- during certified law enforcement ride-alongs. But this is when many of the reported cases of abuse have taken place, the research found. "I think it's a program that allows inappropriate contact between the officers and the kids without the proper supervision," said attorney Todd Walburg, who represents a former Explorer alleging in a lawsuit that David Kalish, who ran for Los Angeles police chief last year, sexually abused him while in the program during the 1970s. Kalish, 49, has been suspended as deputy chief, pending grand jury action. But others emphasize the benefits of the program. Sgt. Rick Martinez of the Anaheim, California, police said he was inspired by his experiences as Explorer 30 years ago to join the force. Abuse is "a rare and unfortunate instance," he said. "But keep in mind there are thousands of kids who go through this program without abuse, exposing them to career options and teaching them to help their communities." Even so, Martinez is all too aware that problems can happen. He resumed his position as the program's adviser last year after the former leader, 31-year-old officer Jason David Rosewarne, was charged with having sex with a 17-year-old female Explorer. Rosewarne, who resigned, was charged October 25 with one felony count of oral copulation with a minor. But the married father of two may never go to trial. Rosewarne, who was born in Britain and has dual citizenship, recently moved with his family to the London area. Prosecutors initially said they would seek extradition, and a judge issued a warrant for his arrest. But because the age of consent is 16 in Britain, he will not be returned to the United States. Even when officers are convicted in this country, sentences are often light, records show. For example, in March, a judge reduced charges against former Woodlake, Calif., police officer Eric Martinez from three felony charges to a misdemeanor after the officer, in a plea deal, admitted he had sex with a 17-year-old girl in the Explorer program. He was ordered to perform community service and was placed on probation.

asm514, Crow is not a very tasty dish. This has already been discussed in these forums and it is the accepted way the military wears the flag on their uniforms. Go to this thread to read the discussion. And if it'll make you feel any better, BW didn't post in that thread, so you won't have him to get hot and bothered about. By the way, BW is right about 99% of the time. Irratating? Yes, to some. Beneficial? Yep! http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=26912(This message has been edited by kwc57)

sager, Can we also turn this around and say what a father did to make us proud when we were kids? The list would be too long to tell all the sacrifices and things my dad did for us kids. He was a good husband, father, son, brother, grandad, friend, neighbor, worker, deacon, etc. He was liked by everyone and never knew an enemy. He died in Oct 2001 at the age of 76. I never knew of my dad to take a single drink of alcohol or ever utter a curse word. He had the patience of Job. One of the small things my dad did that made a big impression on me as a child was when a clerk at a store gave him too much change. It was a small amount, just a few coins. He realized it after getting home. We packed back up in the car, went back to the store and he returned the extra change. I was proably between the age of 5 and 10 and that single act of honesty has always stayed with me. My dad was never a scout, but he lived the scout law everyday of his life.

eagle90, Careful buddy, you're stepping on some mighty big toes with that comment about peanut butter!!! I consider it one of the major food groups, right behind chocolate and coffee! LOL

hmmmm, since we've only been in scouting less than a year, I'll have to expand outside of that a little. I have been blessed repeatedly with my 10 year old son. Literally every teacher/coach/scout leader he has had has always commented on his maturity, attitude, intelligence, attentiveness and politeness. They have all said they would take a class/team/den full of kids like him. He makes me proud all the time. While no big thing, just this last week he shocked his mom and me and made us proud. My mother has been keeping him this summer during the day. She had to have back surgery, so he got to stay home alone for about 2 weeks. He called and asked permission to fry some bacon for breakfast. We went over the danger and the care he needed to take to get the job done. It went off without a hitch. When I got home, I found that he had actually washed the dishes by hand instead of putting them in the dishwasher and had even made bean and cheese nachos for dinner in the microwave for himself. He is 10 years old for pete's sake! We had kids at resident camp the week before who couldn't even keep up with their own swimsuit for 24 hours because mommy wasn't there to do it for them. The kid always amazes me. I like to think it is my superior parenting skills!!! LOL

sager, Not to speak for KS, but it is never too late to learn Martial Arts. My son's school had 5 year olds and grandparents in class. And no, the grandparents were not black belts who had studied for years, they were new students as well. Physical size (fat) my affect your ability, but it does not exclude you. I watched one of the men in our school attain his black belt back In February and he is a pretty big ol' boy. Beginning Martial Art students come in all sizes, shapes, colors, ages and genders. Just like getting your physical and having your medical forms in scouting, it might be wise to have your doctor sign off on the activity before your son starts. Can't hurt.

Mark, I don't think so. All of the students in my son's school had to break boards in testing. The boards were 10 inch long 1x10 pine. Below a certain size and age, they had to break a "half board" which was only 5 inch long 1x10. The boards were cut to length with no other modifications or cracks. My son has his color belt test and date written on all of his boards and has them displayed in his room too. KS, While I doubt the BSA's view would ever changes wouldn't you agree that the philosophy and lessons of TKD in particular and MA in general dovetail nicely with scouting?(This message has been edited by kwc57)

Being fairly new to scouting, I have only seen one calling out ceremony. Could someone explain the "tap out" to me? What, did they club the poor guy?

Pack, My respect and admiration for you grows with each new post I read! I marvel at your wisdom! I couldn't agree more.