srisom

While each unit has an area assigned, the setup in that area is up to the unit. All of those killed or injured were inside the tent. There was no one on the outside spotting for them. Might this have something to do with it - Power lines in Alaska mostly if not all underground.

My wife and I visited the Jamboree on Wednesday. We have been there in the past also. There is always a lot of walking. You take it easy and stop and rest if necessary. I have riden the buses many times. The buses are so full that there is no room for strollers. But remember that the buses are really there for those attending, not the visitors! Wednesday was hot and humid. We did not go every place we might have normally due to this. When we felt the need we sat down and rested. All the while we were drinking lots of water. Not because we were thirsty. If you wait until you are t

We learned a lesson on trailers a few years back. Our troop trailer, with markings, was parked at the sponsoring church. It was not readily visible from the road. It was broken into and most of the contents removed. They even held a party, leaving wine bottles and footprints. The police were called and did a very poor job of investigating. They even stated that they felt they knew who had done it from the footprint. However, nothing was ever done. We did find some of the items at a flea market just over the state line. Most of the items had troop and/or patrol markings. A claim w

There are many in my area that continue to wear OA flaps and ribbons, even though they habe not paid their dues in many years. I'm sure that is probably true in other areas of the country. It is true that once someone is selected and takes their Ordeal, they are an OA member forever. However, once they stop paying their dues, they become an inactive member. Most Lodge have by-laws that state only active members may wear any OA insignia. The OA Handbook and Guide for Officers states that only active members may wear the flap, ribbon or sash. If you have not paid your dues, then

According to what I have read and seen, national says that visitors are welcome from Wednesday, July 27 through Tuesday, August 2. Most days the hours for visitors are 9am to 5pm. However, on days with the big shows, like July 27, the hours for visitors will be 12:00 noon to 11pm.

Our council has "tap-out" each week at Summer Camp. Any who have missed the opportunity at District Camporees can be done at camp. If that is not possible, we have had teams go to unit meetings. The book says the candidate has one year from election to complete Ordeal. This might be great, but when elections are hels many times 2 to 3 months before Summer Camp, this does not give the candidate much time. Our Exec decide it was better to give them one year from "tap-out". This gives them 3 weekends to do the Ordeal within the next year.

A lot of the mystery and drama has gone out of the "tap" due to a few who have complained. Call-outs are the preference in the new "Guide to Inductions". However, this is a guide, it has not been made mandatory, yet. Our district will be having a tap at our Spring Camporee this weekend. I know of one troop that has told the boys they were selected. Most like to leave at least a little mystery for the youth and adults selected. Several districts in our Lodge now do Call-outs. Whenever the OA Chapter in our district is given the choice, they choose to do the tap. We will continue to

The District OA Advisor(actually the Chapter Advisor) is there to guide the youth of the chapter, similar to a Scoutmaster guiding the youth in a troop. There is a Chapter Chief, Vice-Chief, Secretary, Treasurer that are elected by the youth members. The Chapter is essentially a small Lodge. They hold meetings, can have Chapter functions, raise money, etc. Then they become a part of the Lodge at the Executive Committee meetings and Lodge functions. Like Lodges at Conclaves. The Chapter Advisor is there to guide the Chapter Chief in doing his job. Just like in some troops, the adult ma

Sounds like my council dropped the ball. I have talked with both staff and participants and their experience was not like Vicki and ItsMe. I will share their comments to other in my council. Thanks for the input.

I took the pre-21st Century course for Boy Scouts. I really enjoyed the course. The classes were good. The outdoor sessions were also. To me, the old course was set up to get the adult to feel like a scout and experience what a scout would experience. It was life-like. I have not taken the new course, but have talked with enough who have, to see that it is set like so many other things today. No real patrols. No patrol cooking, meetings, etc. No outdoor activities at all. No uniformity in the uniforms by staff or participants. No consequence for actions. The new course refle

Here are some suggestions I was given for the new Requirement #5 for Citizenship In The Community. Can not vouch for each one. Check them out. Follow Me Boys Pay It Forward SpiderMan-2 The King and I Mr. Hollands Opus Its A Wonderful Life October Sky Mr. Smith goes to Washington (1939) Room for one more (1952) Call Northside 777 (1948) Broken Arrow (1950) People will talk (1951) 12 Angry Men (1957) Goodbye Mr. Chips (1939) To Sir With Love (1967) Lilies of the Field (1963) Boys Town (1938) Remember the Titans Radio Big Fish Local Her

As I understand it, the server crashed. They are in the process of getting a new one and re-loading everything and should be back up soon.

In our Chapter, the election team conducts the election and then notifies the SM of the results. Usually, the OA Rep is on the election team for his unit. The guide says that one member of the election team can be from the unit holding the election. Makes sense to have that be the OA Rep. The Guide for Officers and Advisors is available to any OA member.

I agree that the best way to get him involved is probably as a Merit Badge Counselor. This might be a way for him to gauge the time involved. If he still wants more, get the DE to introduce him to another unit. Just make sure this doesn't happen to him (my story). I was in scouts as a youth. Only got to Star. When work and school changed, got back in as a MBC. Then a member of my church, whose sin was in a troop at another church, asked if I would consider helping with paperwork. Since I did that each day, I thought why not? Went to my first meeting. Met some of the adults and yout

I am curious. Which Lodges? When my Lodge produced a patch a few years back, part of the proceeds was to go to the museum. We never did know if it got there. I was at the opening ceremonies and had a great time.

My District has been having three camporees a year for at least the last 45 years; since I was a Scout. Some are better attended than others. Units know the dates for a year so they can plan for them. For some units this is the only time they get to camp. For other, it's just the activity for that month. Some of the camporees are Scout Skill based, some are MB based and others are for fun. At the Spring Camporee, we also hold a Weekend for the Webelos along with the Troops. We hold a cross-over at the Saturday campfire. We have had a committee that planned the camporees, but we are

Most of the time the CO does not want the items. They expect the leaders to take them. If possible another unit is started or the items are distributed among other units. As a note, in the GSA, the equipment belongs to the unit number. If a unit folds, then the council takes over the equipment and funds. If the unit re-activates later, even at another CO, then the council forwards the equipment and money to the unit. At least that's how it used to be.

All OA ceremonies are open to parents if they request it. We have had a few parents attend some of the Ordeal ceremonies. Most parents or leaders are probably not aware that they can attend. As far as I know, they rarely are told that piece of info. The youth like and even relish the idea of a little secrecy and mystique. There is really nothing kept totally secret in the OA. Members are requested, urged, informed, etc. to not discuss anything in the OA with a non-member. This gives the youth member a feeling that he is part of something special and unique. It also thrills non-

As a youth in Scouts, my troop had the singing for lost items. When I took over a troop as an adult, they were singing for lost items. After a couple years, some would not do it and the practice was dropped. No one felt any better or worse for it. Items were still lost. Now I have three big boxes of lost items that no one claims. Is singing for lost items hazing? Most likely. But in doing it, the youth did learn some responsibility. And there was some discipline. Now, there is not any real consequence for actions. Also a lack of responsibility. AS for the OA, it is a vol

My quesion is why she was wearing the uniform in the first place? Was it her decision or did the show ask her to wear it? Either way, I do not think she should have worn it. She, and the show, played up the Scouting angle and it did not put it in a good light. She should have had more respect for the uniform and the values it represents. Also, BSA should not have used it for promotion. There should have been no recognition from the BSA. A poor decision from all concerned.

National no longer recognizes Lodge Numbers. Now Lodges are listed as part of the Council. The only number recognized is the number for the Council. Lodges can continue to use the numbers, but it means nothing to National. This is due to the mergers and desire to keep the lower number. The numbers used to be tied to the council and meant something, but with the mergers they felt the numbers held no significance. They many times do to members, just not to National.

Our Lodge uses languages other than Lenni Lenape. Sometimes it's a mix of multiple languages. Gives a lot more possibilities. Selecting adults for Vigil can be hard if a cahpter does not have a representative on the VH committee. Right now each does. Most adults work hard, but may never be seen by many of the youth, so they don't know them when selections are made. We use pictures of each Brotherhood member so the committee has a face to match to a name. It has helped.

Where did the information come from about the change in age requirement? I have seen nothing about it and professionals I have asked know nothing about it. Is there some place or document where we can see this new requirement?

Posted this, but it was cut off. Guess I'm on way to being a geezer. I was in the Scouts as a youth in the late fifties through the sixties. Only got as far as Star. During the next few years, due to

Guess I'm on way to being a geezer. I was in the Scouts as a youth in the late fifties through the sixties. Only got as far as Star. During the next few years, due to school and work, was unable to be involved.