SSScout

Without the chapter and verse, I think one will find that the project must be done to benefit something/one that is not Scout related. For the CO? Possible, but not new shelving in the Scout closet in the CO's basement. Paint the classrooms, but not the Scout room. New picnic benches and landscaping/sidewalk/BBQ fireplace/outdoor pavilion/ but not the Scout sign outfront.

Ye sons of France, awake to glory, Hark, hark! what myriads bid you rise! Your children, wives and white-haired grandsires. Behold their tears and hear their cries! (repeat) Shall hateful tyrants, mischiefs breeding, With hireling hosts, a ruffian band, Affright and desolate the land, While peace and liberty lie bleeding? To arms, to arms, ye brave! The avenging sword unsheath, March on, march on! All hearts resolv'd On victory or death! Whoa...Sounds better in the French. "You played it for her, and you can play it for me"

I also suggest you write a letter expressing your observation and feelings on the matter. A collection is appropriate, and most protestant denominations "pass the basket" . Other faiths have a "collection box" near the door, which I favor in this instance. The box near the door can be accessed later, without holding things up. I have seen contribution boxes in many venues: museums, Scout camps, US Parks. We do need to finance "God's work" (and, if properly addressed, most of it is God's work, in one form or another). That said, I also agree that the amount collected could certainly be expected to exceed the requirements for printing up prayer cards. It would have been good to allocate the remainder to Haiti relief or the Red Cross or CARE or some other worthy cause. The Chaplain missed an opportunity.

Any boy can join Scouting. All boys should. When speaking of faith and religion, whether they remain depends on their "trustworthyness" and desire to not be a hypocrite. "...duty to God" and "reverence" and the religious stuff inherent in the Scout Handbook and elsewhere in the Scoutworld (see DRP, which should be DFP) will make it clear to the Scout and his parents that certain things are to be considered when the Scout makes his Promise. We had a very fine mother sign her Cub up for CSDC and then because of the quality of the staff, volunteer herself to help. We gave her an Adult Scouter application (gotta be "registered"), and then she read the fine print. "Did my son fill one of these out when he joined?" Well, one of his parents did, Uh-huh. "I'm sorry, we are not religious. Nothing personal, you folks run a fine camp, but I must withdraw my boy from Scouting." We thanked her for her frankness and shook hands goodbye. Our Highbush BBs were picked clean two weeks ago. Mebbe two gallons off three bushes, and the catbirds got the rest. Still picking raspberries. Just built an arbor and planted two grape vines. Oh the jam.

I would like to thank Mr. LeRoy for inspiring Beavah to write as he does. That last piece was very good, and speaks my mind. Beavah: Are my PMs still not reaching you? I have had some email conversations with some others of late, but no response from you.

"We really do need a Faith,Religion and Chaplaincy forum." The answer to your titled question, as has been previously enthusiastically stated, is YES. The diversity of faith in Scouting is, some other's opinions not withstanding, truly one of it's strengths. In few places can a boy (or any child, or person) expect to meet folks of such diverse culture and belief, all included by a love and loyalty to two things: The Scout Promise (or Oath) and the Scout Law. My advice to you is to approach the Taoist temple/church and offer to help them charter a Scout unit. Cub Pack, Boy Troop, matters not. I know a Viet Namese community in Virginia that includes Catholics, Buddhist, and Taoist families. They have several active Scout units. It works because they see the value of the Scout program. Unfortunately, I have more than once had to disabuse a Scout leader of the opinion that Scouting is inherently Christian. No, it isn't. Altho it is not "official" BSA policy/dogma, I still like to refer to The Founder's instructions in this regard: "Reverence to God and reverence for one's neighbour and reverence for oneself as a servant of God, is the basis of every form of religion. The method of expression of reverence to God varies with every sect and denomination. What sect or denomination a boy belongs to depends, as a rule, on his parents' wishes. It is they who decide. It is our business to respect their wishes and to second their efforts to inculcate reverence, whatever form of religion the boy professes." =Robert Baden-Powell, Aids to Scoutmastership If the definition of "God" is the sticking point, I must leave that to the adherent; I will not attempt to define or judge them as to their suitability for Scouting. My job is to teach Scouting, not religion. Welcome to the ecampfire, again. Come back as often as you need, to refresh yourself. YiS(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Very interesting.... Church sponsors Scout Troop. Church did not understand that it is an option (underline option)for Scouts to learn about safe firearm use. Church (understandably) is concerned about youth and firearms. Will not allow firearms on Church property. In my family, we do not allow firearms (or their representation) in our home. It is understood that games and activities (paintball, war world, etc.) that make shooting humans seem like "fun" is against our faith and we will not pursue or support them. Yep, we even get into a discussion about waterguns at CSDC, but another time for that. This does not mean that we did not allow our Scoutson to earn his Riflery and Shotgun MBs. Knowledge and awareness are important. I have a stepson who has turned his life around (another nother time) and returned from a stint in the army as knowledgeable about firearms as anyone can be. He well understands our belief. The church is not changing the requirements by saying the Scouts in it's unit may not earn the shooting MBs (how about Archery? also dangerous), it is merely giving vent to it's own moral compass and it's results. The shooting MBs are "optional", not required. Actually, come to think of it, all rank requirements are "optional". But again, knowledge of an issue often results in the lack of desire for further activity. The church must sit down with them and make sure the Scouts understand the reasoning, the faith requirements inherent there in. Otherwise, there will be much resentment and that will be a worse result. Quakers have always been on the non-violent side of things, and when the VFW and American Legion come to decorate some graves in our cemetary on Memorial Day, they respect our wishes and do not bring firearms on our property for their ceremony. Pioneer Quakers often had a rifle over the mantlepiece (so to speak) but it's "intention" was the important thing, not it's mere presence. Scouts use .22s and shotguns in the safest possible environments. If there is any doubt about the quality and supervision of the shooting range teacher/leaders, it is incumbent upon the accompanying Scout Leaders to speak up and do something about that. Learning the safe handling of a firearm might save a life in the unknown future of these Scouts. Knowledge is never a bad thing. The use of that knowledge needs guidance. That is where the faith comes in, I think. YiS

Miquinn1978: Howdy, Pull up some magnetic bubbles and join the virtual campfire. It's entertaining and thought provoking. Provokes other things too, but you'll see... Yeah, when I was Scout, working on my Dinosaur Herding Merit Badge, I sure wasn't concerned with the stuff that concerns me here, now. Scout HQ migrated from New Jersey to Texas, instead of selling donuts on Saturday morning (Troop fundraiser,) we have corporate popcorn, Eagles have a project to plan and complete, GPS gets you lost instead of a paper map. It is a brave new world, but very similar to the old one, after all. Oh my, don't wait for the Fall, Get your TD off early, summer picnics and hikes are not to be missed. Your boys are waiting for you.... YiS

we really do need a Faith, Religion and Chaplaincy forum. Can I have an "amen"?

To what end? I have better things for my thumbs to do, if I was at the Jambo, which I will not be.

I like to sit them down on our deck, pull out my Bible, with all the notes attached, and discuss their arguments. Very often, they are surprised to find that their Bible does not agree exactly with mine. This leads to a discussion about which translation is appropriate, which verses were left out or "edited", which translation ( I don't speak greek or hebrew or aramaic) we can trust. If they ask about such and such a verse about (frinstance) blood tansfusion, I refer them to another about testing the truth of testimony by making folks eat dirt and, if the Bible is , indeed, infallible, which do we obey and which disregard? " An old timer was asked which translation of the Bible he favored and he replied, 'why the King James, of course, if it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me'."

We really do need a "Faith, Religion and Chaplaincy" forum. "It is a sad Reflection, that many Men hardly have any Religion at all; and most Men have none of their own: For that which is the Religion of their Education, and not of their Judgment, is the Religion of Another, and not Theirs." =William Penn, "Some Fruits of Solitude", 1682

Magnets are useless for Cub Scout recruiting. You need to convince the boy it's fun and the parent it's good for the boy. I like the idea of a craft to make, and take home, even if only a paper airplane race. Local Cub Pack makes up stickers with contact info on them and then gives away popcorn (popped!) at the local school fair. Stickers stuck to Popcorn bags. Cubs in uni and or Tshirts. Flags, photo board of activities, folks to answer questions. Cub books to look at.

In this article about New Delhi's new airport, there is an accompanying picture that shows a wall with some decorative sculptures of hands, one of which is VERY similar to the three fingered Scout Sign. Can anyone explain the reason behind these sculptures? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/02/AR2010070203125.html

Among the Quakers, we call these "queries". Go to any Yearly Meeting website and search "queries". Sing "Scout Vespers" to yourself... Say to your self... Have I been Trustworthy? and pause for the answer to come. Repeat thru the Scout Law... As to Scout bureaucracy, and being the best SM, CC, ASM, etc. you can be, yeah, "feedback is a gift", but be willing to accept the answers you get without defensiveness. Just accept the answers. Don't try to "explain", just accept the answers others may give you. Compliments are nice, but knowing who feels slighted can be good too.

Beavah: PM? Any ? Yet?

*sigh* Down and Derby was , er, well, a movie. Well, come to think of it, I might buy a canned sandwich. We do sell canned corn, right? Fundraising... I can see it now... a cute little Bobcat Cub comes up to the grandmother entering the Safeway, and , looking angelically up at her, says : "Ma'am? Would you like to buy a ham sandwich to support thr Cub Scouts?" I see a future here...

I dunno.... I could see coed Cubs... but maybe not in the tweens... Girls do mature earlier than boys, in many ways, but not always... Getting the genders to respect each other , brother-sister wise would be a good thing. Working together as Dens, Patrols, what a concept. But we still have gender seperate atheletic competition. Is this about "feeling good" about yourself as a man or woman, gaining confidence in one's physical ability (camping, hiking, canoeing) as well as learning to respect the other gender as an equal? Or about "opportunity" for all that, which maybe the GSUSA hasn't provided or can't figure out how to provide? Or can the BSA (soon to be the SA?) figure it out? Beavah: New PM received? It went out seemingly OK .

Hi Liz... I am sorry for your complications. Anyone know if the camp kitchen/commissary/dining service is "Council" run or a "contractor"? That may make a difference in the kitchen attitude. Poor service equals no contract... let's see, food concerns.....what I have seen or heard of.... gluten free, lactose intolerant, diabetic, vegan, vegetarian, nut allergies, shellfish allergies, hallal, Kosher (same thing? some say yea some nay), strawberry allergy, egg allergy, nitrates,,,,,

...and don't forget the Yankee pushdrive screw driver in the elevator...I still have my daddy's.

From my next to favorite recreational website: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/latest "Nashville, Tennessee - Boy Scout Catfish Sits in front of the Boy Scout Headquarters right in plain sight; very interesting and funny sculpture. It's on a very busy street -- no parking unless they let you park at the Boy Scout Headquarters. Best to see if you turn around and come from the other direction." "Boy Scout Catfish: Address: 3414 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN [show Map] Directions: On I-440 get off at the Hillsboro Pike exit and head south, is not very far off the interstate, catfish is at the corner of Woodmont Blvd and Hillsboro Pike across from Woodmont Baptist Church . Hours: Always visible."

"Black socks they never get dirty the longer you wear them the stronger they get. Someday I think that I'll wash them, But something keeps telling me, no no, not yet, not yet, not yet, not yet." Wool socks, rinse out daily. Cotton socks, need soap and water, I have never seen AF with wool sock use, only cotton. Fewer blisters with wool, too. Famous cartoon: Willy and Joe, the Bill Mauldin GIs from WW2 are sitting in the fox hole. Willy holds out a pair of socks and says, "Joe, yesteday ya saved my life, and I said I'd never ferget it. Here's me last pair o' clean socks".

2morrows, that's the way we are speaking with Scoutson. A balance of cash and cashcards.(whatever happened to traveler's checks? they were free from AAA). He will be on Jr. staff, but faces the same "temptations". Did yourScout or you receive the Jamboree catalog? 99% of what is available on site is in that catalog. Preorder some of the souvenir stuff. The Troop meals and site water jugs will keep your Scout alive, but he may not think that's "living". Ice cream, snacks, "special stuff" will be, by your local standards, expensive. He may need to replace a hat, or buy the poncho he forgot (!). Frankly, $50. for the ten days, plus travel, sightseeing going and return, might be a little low. Budget! Think about your past vacations and such. Coordinate with Jamboree Troop leadership about meals etc. while traveling...

Read the fine print. Compare cost of Jamboree card/bracelet with your hometown bank's debit/cash card.

Much good insight and advice. Something not mentioned: We are here for the boys, yes? Both ours and theirs. Do you have any contact with Mrs. Bully? What is your gut feeling about the family dynamics? Is his Take-Over, speak to the man not the woman, sabotage others' arrangements, shout down disagreement, behavior ONLY limited to Cub Scouting? I would not expect so. Is there ANY evidence of further domestic abuse? Where does that lead you ?