SSScout

To answer the original question: No. To answer the next question: Yes, to EARN aMB, the Scout needs a properly signed Blue Card. Now, keeping that in mind, back in the dim dark ages, here's how a Scout did it: 1) Scout browses thru the Scout Handbook for Boys, notes that there is a MB in a topic he is interested in (Aviation, say). 2) Scout goes to SM, says, "Mr. A, how do I earn a MB?" Mr. A pulls out and looks in a well worn booklet and says, call this phone number, and they will tell you the names of the MB Counselors for... what MB? 3) Four or five days later, after band practice and dinner and homework, Scout pulls out the note with the Council office number on it. Figures the office is closed at 9pm, and goes to his mom. "Mom? can you call this office and ask them for the name of a Merit Badge Counselor for Aviation? I'll be in school when they're open". 4) Mom calls the number the next day, gets transferred three times, eventually gets the name of the only MBC in Aviation still registered. He lives about 30 miles away (!) on the other side of the river. 5) Next time mom and Scout visit the big department store in town, he buys the MBBook at the stores Scout Dept (!). 6) Scout takes name and number from mom (real good meatloaf, mom!) and calls him. Dad has already coached him in the niceties and courtesies of calling a strange man. 7) Scout has a looooong conversation with the MBC, who is a retired aircraft engineer and amateur pilot. He talks about the models he has made, the kites he has flown, the uncle he has that won trophies in glider flying. Makes an appointment to visit the MBC at his home a two weeks hence. Scout gathers up his models, starts writing the papers for the MB. Dad gets aviation charts from local airport. 6) Scout visits with MBC. Dad drove him there. Spends an hour in his workshop, R/C flying models every where. Covers most of the requirements. Makes appt. for another meeting. 8) Home again, complete requirements. 9) Dad drives over for next appt. Spend another hour plus talking aviation. Mucho cool. 10) MBC takes out a tan card FROM HIS DESK, fills it out with Scout's name etc. , signs it, dates it, lists his address and phone number. Hands it to Scout. 11) Scout presents card to SM, who copies info from it to another list, hands card back to Scout. That is the card in the Scouts "memory" box. That is the card he presented to the Eagle Board to show he had earned it. No triple page do-hickey. The times they have a-changed.

Merl, my friend, I wonder at the facility you display (as others herewith do) in how you manage to turn another's words to your argument. I just watched the Colbert and Stewart shows, and, man, you do have some competition. From your 10/23 post: ""SSScout writes: Agnostic folk aren't sure, atheists are sure it isn't a being that can't be seen or felt or sued for fault. Nope, atheist means "not a theist," which merely means the person doesn't believe any gods exist. It does not suggest any particular degree of certainty. "" Of course it suggests ALOT of certainty! GOD(s) does not exist! And that is where our argument starts! If my "authority" for my actions is that I have discerned God's will for my life, then we must ask, what is the "authority for the actions in YOUR life? Again, I say ""atheists are sure it isn't a being that can't be seen or felt or sued for fault"" How is this not true for you? I see you claim a non-belief in the existance of "any gods". Fine, does that mean you claim the authority for your actions to be from anything other than yourself? My point was that people of faith seek to do the "will of God", whether that means caring for and curing the leper or killing all the infidels. People of athiest bent seek no such Higher Authority, trying to do the "right thing" from ... umm , what authority? Am I correct in feeling the only authority an athiest would claim must be (therefore) palpaple and (dare I say it) human in source? This is why the Conscientious Objector must show some "authority" as proof of the sincereness of their claim. Even if they do not claim a religious/faith basis, they must convince the military and governmental officials that the CO assertion is not merely their own flippant, convenient to the times, claim. So I believe the athiest MUST have a physical, personally confrontable being, to be there, to disagree with, to 'sue'. Can't do that with a (the) g(G)od. Perhaps we here are a part of Merlyn's god against which he rages.

"The Seventh Cross", 1944, Spencer Tracy

A local Eagle candidate recently completed a very creative project. It is a "Labirynth" behind his home church. He had help from many Scouts and folks from his church. Only took one long weekend. The pastor expressed gratitude and real pleasure in it's completion. In a month, when the grass grows back, it will look as if it has always been there. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a "Labirynth" is a path design that is used in a meditative way. It is similar to a "maze", except that there is only one circuitous path, and the walker is not meant to get lost or confused on the way to the goal. One walks the path, from the outer entrance beginning to the center goal, with the intention of prayer or meditation on the way. There is usually (but need not be ) a bench or stool at the center to rest on. Then one walks the same path back out to the place of entry. Labyrinth paths can be a few yards or a few hundred or thousands of yards long. They can be inlaid in tile floors or be an outdoor landscape addition. This Scout's creation is about 30 feet across, and is a creative use of stone pavers and sod. PM me for the address, if you might be in the MD area.

We really do need a F&C forum, but y'all know that. What it boils down to, IMNSHO, is what is the "authority" people claim as being behind their actions. Agnostic folk aren't sure, atheists are sure it isn't a being that can't be seen or felt or sued for fault. Folks of faith claim it is a spirit or something that pervades all of the universe in one form or another and that has spoken to and inspired humankind on occasion to certain behaviors. Now, the big problem, ultimately, is the seeming inconsistancy this Spirit has exhibited. For some, their inspiration leads to creation and tolerance and help for the less well. To other people, it leads to war, killing of folks that do not agree, and the enslavement or repression of folks percieved as "different". Often, the people that profess a particular faith appear to not follow the tenets of that faith. The athiest and agnostic observe this and deduce that ALL the people of that faith are like that. Hence, religious folk are hypocrites and "God" is therefore a worthless concept. This concept can be seen at work from any faith, be it the nature based worship of our Native American brothers or the Christian or Hindu or Muslim. When the True Adherent of a faith (follower of Mohammed? Jesus? Ba'Hai? Lao Tze? ) is seen actually doing the teachings of his inspiring person/teacher, they are often seen as "wierd", a "problem", a "troublemaker" or worse. Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. come to mind. And Osama ben Laden. Then we get into a competition as to who has the REAL religion. Wicca anyone? Aztec human sacrifice is , ultimately, self-defeating. Voodoo has been adapted from African religions and mixed in with Catholic faith in Louisiana. Ultimately, one man's miracle is another man's coincidence. If it satisfies your soul (if you feel you have one), then good luck to you. I dare say that there are some right good Christians out there among the athiests. I personally think that SOMETHING is out there and has affected my life and spoken to me in sometimes loud, sometimes silent ways. Christianity, both as a religion and in personal exmples, has unfortunately often strayed from Jesus' teachings, to our regret. William Penn said it well: " The Humble, Meek, Merciful, Just, Pious and Devout Souls, are everywhere of one Religion; and when Death has taken off the Mask, they will know one another, tho' the divers Liveries they wear here make them Strangers." Ya pays yer money and yer takes yer cherce.

So much for Rudyard Kipling... No more "Law of the Pack" ,therefore no more need for Akela, or BALOO, or the (already abandoned) animal prgression of size and strength. Might as well not have CUB Scouts. Mowgli was a Cub, you know. Might as well call'em , oh I don't know, if the older ones are "Boy" Scouts, maybe "Kid" Scouts or "Young" Scouts or "Sprout" Scouts or "Wannabe" Scouts or "Apprentice" Scouts, or... I still favor the gradation , the transition. Most traditions, societies (tribes?) have a transition from Childhood to Adulthood. Yeah, I know , this isn't from that to this, but it is a passing on from a younger, less responsible time (Cubs)to an older, (Boys) more self-responsible time. The differences in the Promises recognizes that. The continuation of the CSP and LotP and the SP/O and SL is a natural one. I did not see the artificiality of the Venture Promise as necessary, but it is a more abstract, philosophic view. But once again, if you subscribe to the SP/O and SL, why another version? I too see it as not so much an improvement as a change because we can.

One's beading is much like an Eagle CoH. It can be as long and flowery as is desired, or short and sweet. WB can bs directed at the Unit, or the District or council, I guess. So too, the ceremony can be directed to the desired audience. I chose to have mine at my home Troop's CoH. It was the last thing on the program, listed as "Special Award". My WBSM and TG came, I invited some extra Scout friends to witness, and it took maybe 10 minutes. The WBSM spoke of the history and tradition, I ducked down for the necker and woggle and bead lanyard (WBSM is much altitudinally challenged) and sang the song and then closed the CoH with flags and "Great Scoutmaster..." and then to the punch and cookies. It served three purposes: closure for me, some education for the Troop (hadn't been a WBer there in a long time) and encouragement for others to help the Troop along. I think that if the WBer had the history with the CS group (?District event?) and he/she wanted to share that happy occasion there, that was appropriate and wonderful. But 45 minutes? Bad show, old boy , definitely bad form, eh wot? A learning moment, shall we say. Longest I have seen was at a District Award Dinner. Big crowd of 95% adults, lots of accolades, and 28 WBers getting their beads and neckers. Lots of harmonious Gilwell that night, and it was about, oh, say 15 maybe 20 minutes for that part of the festivities.

Contact local Parks Department (city, county) and ask for someone to come out and talk about: * possible service projects * local history hikes/ displays/ museums to go visit (Cub Scouts! Tiger Go see'it!) * Camping possibilities Contact State Parks folks for the same type of thing, and Scales and Tales" type presentations to your Packs and Troops Comtact local Sierra Club and Hiking clubs. Here abouts, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club loves to come out and give a slide show about the trails and shelters available in the area. Cooking demo out in the parking lot. Real fires, stoves, food. Utilize your IOLS instructors. High Adventure Camps... your Camping Chair should take this on. Philmont, The Summit, Northern Tier, etc. CSDC,,, how the Troops can help the CSDC and (tada!) recruit the Cubs! Don't get stuck in the legalese and paperwork of Scouting.... DO the Scouting of Scouting..... How 'bout a discussion of footcare from a podiatrist? Blister prevention. YiS

Oh, I do like this. Unfortunately, I only know of one surviving drive-in movie in Maryland, and it is waaaay across the state from us. I will mention this idea to my buddy in that District, tho. I say you work your organizational magic with Council and help them with CSDC and the Halloween event. Maybe next year combine the two? Maybe an old fashioned 1950's movie fest. You know, Bride of Frankenstein, Dracula with Lugosi, that sort of thing. A sleepin/lockin with a PR bent (public showing? wow!) I hope you got somemedia , newspaper coverage, even TV!

Back again after another 3 days of "DANGER""DANGER". Symantec gave me three form responses to my inqueries, and here we are again. I hope ScouterTerry and crew are up and healthy. I have to sit and pay bills, then I am off to a training for a guided hike I do for the County Park service and then off to the Webelos Weekend. Home Troop is doing Fire Building and I give the Campfire Ash talk at the evening campfire. Good luck all.

Phew!! I had the same "DANGER DANGER" warnings from Norton. Thanks be to Terry (I presume). I was about to go into Scouter.com withdrawal shivers.

"The true meaning of live is to plant trees, under whose shadow one does not expect to sit." = Nelson Henderson = If you happen to like apples, plant some Northern Spy or Jonathans.

The Scout the OP describes is a boy with issues, not a "home schooled kid" with issues. Home Schooling is a choice, and often a hard one for the parents. As home school parents, we did it for my now Eagle 18 year old because the county schools simply did not live up to the promised help for him. His reading problems needed more one on one than he could realistically get (even tho promised IN WRITING) from the public schools, which in this area are otherwise top notch. Scouting served as a place where he could excell at his own pace in many different areas. And be rewarded for his success. Many Merit Badges received academic credit from our HS advisor (we were members of a HS co-op, which garnered him a high school diploma), as did his work in 4H. His rabbit genetics study served as a science fair project and served as his biology credit that year. Scouting is a choice for many HSers for the same reasons. I have been asked to talk to HS groups about the MB program as it relates to various academic subjects. Scouting is what it is, depending on the adult leaders. Deal with the boy, regardless of his other "credentials", the boy is our topic and his behavior or needs. The other boys will accept (or not) the HS boy on his own merits, not so much on how or where he is schooled. Unless the boys have their own problems, but that is another thread.

Folks in the vicinity of Montgomery County MD the first weekend of November might consider: http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/Cultural_Resources_Stewardship/crs_special_events/emancipation.day2012.shtm Underground Railroad Experience Trail: http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/Cultural_Resources_Stewardship/heritage/urr_experience.shtm See you on the trails...

Campfire stories are one venue. Bedtime stories another. Campfire should, nay, MUST be recited for the best affect, but reading is okay for the neophite or the long story. Robert Louis Stephenson , "Treasure Island" is a favorite for the B/T story. Native American lore for the campfire. Many good sources for the Indian legend. Re-read it until you are familiar with it and then recite it to yourself, either outloud or silently as you drive to work. Adapt and rework til it is your own. No need to be a word for word memorization. Poetry and the "saga" is something else. They have to be recited verbatum. I do like "The Cremation of Sam Magee", but I have to read it, I'm not ready for a memorization, but I'll work on it some more.

Thanks for the reminder: http://bannedbooksweek.org/

Always buy the LONGEST sash, and safety pin it up so it doesn't drag on the floor. That 4 foot Scout with three MBs will soon be a 6 1/2 foot Scout with 28 MBs! The short sash just don't fit easily on the 190 pound Scout, and then (someone) has to re-do the MBs (somehow, see another thread) on a bigger sash.

Chaplain corps.

We (you) are not alone.... http://paranormal.about.com/library/weekly/aa100801a.htm Turtle Patrol: "Stick your neck out!!!"

"He was somebody's son and somebody's friend."

Hold Cub Sign up, look at watch..... "Okay, not bad, 45 seconds. LET"S MAKE SOME NOISE!!!" Wait... hold up sign,.. look at watch... "Getting better! 15 seconds! Okay, now we have Den 3's skit..." etc. "Cubmaster sez, put your hands on your head! Cubmaster sez, hands on shoulders! Hands on head! Oops, Tommy, ya gotta listen. tsk, tsk, tsk.. Cubmaster sez, hop on your left foot! " etc. Yep, 'silent announcements' are desirable. Have a Tiger hand them out to the adults. Include the adults in the meeting when you can: Write one word of the Cub Promise and Law of the Pack on each of enough) 3x5 cards. Collect them in a big grocery bag. When you are starting the meeting, have the flag ceremony, and just before Johnny Cub is about to "lead the Pack in the Cub Scout Promise", intereupt and say," Wait, Johnny, I know YOU know the Cub Promise and the Law of the Pack, but I want to know if the adults have been listening." Here, you walk over to the adult group and shake up the bag. "Here, everyone take a card out of the bag. I'd like to ask you to come up front and arrange yourselves in the proper order, WITHOUT TALKING, now! Yeah, I know, but we need you to help the Pack go, too! Come on, ..." The Cubs will love it...And you will get more attention from the adults!

As a retired public transit employee, I also resent and regret the admonition to "throw him/her/someone under the bus". Have you ever stopped to think how that would traumatize the bus driver? For shame. And think of all those bath water babies that got thrown out? What about them, uh?

I beg your collective pardon, but I fail to see the connection between attending a training course (which may or maynot be a good thing, see other threads) and following an egotistical failed religious leader in mass suicide. The reference is a sad one at best and has no relevance at worst. I also join in the quest for historical accuracy. Flavor-Aid it was. For "bug juice", my Troop preferred Tang.

Isn't punctuation wonderful? Now if we can just eliminate that one comma, now THAT would be a headline! I think they meant the comma to be a colon. Or perhaps an exclamation mark and the "e" would be capitalized. In any event, the headline is still a sad commentary. Time will tell...

I have worked for and with the public for many years. I learned a technique that seems to work with folks like that. It is to AGREE with them, in everything, and then turn it around like desertrat's suggestion. The trick is to show that you both are on the same side and you have heard them, even if they are making no sense whatsoever. Out of Scouting, I had a passenger on my bus come up to me and berate me for being the worse driver this side of the earth's core. She was very specific. When she was finished, I said, "you're absolutely right, ma'am. I am a TERRIBLE driver. You ,and all your fellow passengers are taking your life in your hands riding with me. (Keep in mind that 10 or 15 people are within earshot, and have stopped to listen). Might I suggest you be more cautious in the future and wait for the next bus? In rush hour, they come along here about every 15 minutes. I am sure you'd feel safer that way." She raised her eyebrows (I remember that!) and backed down the bus steps. Next day, I saw her at the bus stop, and as I pulled up, she stepped back and waved me on. Same thing for the next week. Then, one day, she did board my bus, and when we arrived at the station, she waited until she was the last one to step off. She stopped and apologized to me for what she had said weeks before. I smiled and said "don't worry about it". She became a 'regular' on my route and she wrote a letter in to my super about how good a driver I was.