SSScout

...and who, exactly, was the first president of the United States? And what, if any, "oath or affirmation" did he give? A freely given "attaboy" for the histerically correct answer...

...but sit down with him and purposefully go thru the book with him and point out what he has accomplished and ask him how you and he can achieve the next few things on his way to the Bear rank? Make sure he is included in the advancement! Know what I mean?

Here we go... In the coming electronic age, where physical currency is eliminated, and all buying and selling is done electrically ( you ever see anyone in Startrek PAY for anything?), will the debit cards have "IGWT" on them?

Faith Merit Badge: (badge is a gold/silver/red flame on a light blue background) 1) Speak to a faith leader of your family's faith. Become knowledgeable about the beliefs and practice of your family's faith. 2) List for your Counselor at least 10 of the major named faiths of the world. Explain the major tenets of each. 3) Visit at least 6 houses of worship of faiths other than your own. Speak with the faith leaders at each. Learn something of their history and belief. Take notes. Discuss with your counselor how they are similar, one to another, in belief and practice, and how they are different. Can you say how these faiths came to profess what they do? 4) Define to your counselor the following terms: Monotheism. Pantheism. Atheism. Agnosticism. Meditation. Prayer. Ministry. Discuss with your counselor examples of each. 5) Assist your Troop Chaplain with a "Scouts Own" religious observance at a Troop or Patrol Campout. If your Troop does not have a named Chaplain, assist at a religious observance at your home house of worship. Discuss with your counselor what you did and why. 6) Discuss with your counselor and family how you "do my duty to God". 7) Discuss with your counselor and family how the twelvth point of the BSA Law is important to world peace. 8) Do any TWO of the following: a) Plan to earn and discuss with your counselor your plans and progress in earning the religious award of your faith. b) Assist in the observance of a special holiday or remembrance (other than #4) at your house of worship. Have your faith leader or family speak to your counselor about your assistance. c) Plan and help to hold a "Scout Sabbath" at your house of worship (other than #b or #4). d) If your house of worship holds an "Open House" for visitors or the greater community, participate and report to your counselor how you helped. e) If your house of worship is a member or participant in a community interfaith service organization, join in a project and report to your counselor how you participated and what other groups participated. f) Participate in some other project of your house of worship that is important to your faith or to the physical building that your faith meets in. Report to your counselor about how this project helped or improved your house of worship and why this project was important to you? Howzat?

Reminders: The US Guvmnt does not REQUIRE it's citizenry to attend church/temple/mission/synagogue/mosque/meeting/discussion group. It does not COLLECT tax or tithe for financing any of the above institutions. It does not PUNISH it's citizenry or visitors (both invited and not) for NOT attending church/temple/missiion/synagogue/mosque/meeting/discussion group. The majority of our voting citizenry, thru their representatives, chose to present their belief that we try to trust in God (mebbe not always successfully.Another discussion another time), however anyone may or may not perceive him/her/it to be, by a short motto on our publicly available currency. It is altogether appropriate for the citizenry to petition their representatives to reconsider that decision. Perhaps a better question is not whether we should publicly express our trust in God, but if it is possible for God to trust in us.(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Camp Cookery: Things to learn (and remember) from instruction and experience. Woodfires take more planning and time. Duty roster needs to be "fairly" assigned and rotated. Boys needing to pass requirements have priority in assignments and teaching (fire making, cooking).Wood and water tenders shold be reminded of the importance of their jobs. Not too many cooks. Cooks need to BOIL water first, for cooking, tea & coffee & cocoa AND WASHING. Put water on fire while prepping meal. Water will be hot when cleanup starts. Wood fire? Rub Soap on outside of pans. Easier cleanup. OUTSIDE of pans. Cooks CLEAN as they go. Do Not make unnecessary mess. Put things away when done. If cleanup crew is seperate from cook crew, cook crew understands that THEY (CC) need to leave things ready to clean. (see previous). Diners need to EAT what they take, and leave little or no leftovers. Therefore, menu planning can go a long way to eliminating waste. Give the cooks a cheer as thanks for their efforts. By all means, if there seems to be a problem, debrief and discuss what could be done better. Do not be accusatory or cast blame, only look to improving things. DO NOT pretend you are Arabs and burp as a sign of your appreciation.(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Ditto all the previous comments on ownership, insurance, liability, maintenance, diminuation of parental involvment. ScoutLeaders need to always insist on not just 2deep adult leadership but 2deep vehicles too. We are encouraged to NOT travel 'in convoy' but it is real nice to have another Scout vehicle to call on in case of trouble. Cell phone exchange. "Be Prepared". Sickness, breakdown, accident, misplaced destinations(!). "Hey, didn't Tom leave the school before us?" Our Troop has a trailer (owned by CO) that is main storage for gear. When big events come up, (camporees, etc.) a sufficiently large Scout vehicle needs to be volunteered to haul it. A CDL is not required, but a willing tow bar is. Catalog all the minivans in the Troop family, see if the owners will allow another adult to drive'em. Maybe you can get around the need/desire for a Troop bus.

I found this little booklet under my erstwhile desk. I can't really say how I came by it. On the back it is labeled "United, Official Airline Sponsor of the US Olympic Team 2000." Pictures of various atheletes. Text::: "What Makes a Hero? "A hero acts because it is in their nature, not because they want or need anything in return. "A celebrity is someone you want to meet. A hero is someone you want to be like. "The media does not create a hero. Courage makes a hero. "Heroes are ordinary, everyday people. Yet, their actions are anything but." :::end text.

Maybe the Russians will offer him a job driving their ekranoplanes!! Wow!

HWGA... Possible side threads (choose any that attract you): 1) The desire of the MAJORITY in a democracy to express a belief at the risk of insulting/offending a minority. 2) Requiring children to recite something that may or may not be in agreement with the parent's religious beliefs. (Q: Who would one expect NOT to recite the PoA?). Punishment? Teaching moment? 3) The tyranny of a minority opinion in controlling a philosophic situation if no "harm" is done. What really constitutes "harm"? 4) Perceived lack of patriotism/loyalty/rightness by someone who does not react "appropriately" to the *flag going by, *Star Spangled Banner being played, *PoA being requested, *name your own situation. 5) "Swearing" to tell the truth actually guarantees that the truth will be told. 6) Oh, that's enough. Choose your weapon.

Cast around and find someone (Park Ranger, UC, Amateur astronomer, local college prof, friend) who can talk about the stars and planets. Pray for a clear night at your campsite and set up a telescope to look at Jupiter or Saturn. Mars is kind of boring unless you have a REALLY powerful 'scope, but Saturn's rings or Jupiter's colors and moons are kinda cool in a good portable amateur 'scope. Tell stories about the stars, how the Big Bear up in the sky has a long tail but here on earth his tail is short (Iroquois). How to find the North Star (why is that important?). Stuff like that. An easy hour of sky watching is neat stuff for Cubs (stay up late!). Check the local Almanac to see when the next meteor shower is predicted, try to time your campout for that weekend. It is not adding to the Astronomy Belt Loop, as the defined requirements don't even ask the Cub to LOOK at the sky! But such a night out looking up can lead to the Belt Loop. You're already outside, and awake after the campfire, lead'em over to the meadow and LOOK UP!

Looking back, I went thru WB (which is better? Took...? Attended?...Earned?...) because 1) It was recommended to me by other Scouters. 2) It was promoted by Council literature as the "next step" in training, as the "graduate school" for Scouters, 3) I wanted a new challenge and some ego stroking recognition. 4) I was told it would look good on my resume (both Scout and personal), 5) My union would pay for it, 6) It sounded like fun, 7) I like an excuse to go camping with like minded folks, I am glad I took the WB because: 1) It was fun, 2) I did learn some things I didn't realize/know (yeah, I could catalog them if I tried), 3) It reinforced some organizational things I already knew from work and life experience, 4) It EMPOWERED me to go out and do some things I otherwise might not have done (ticket items not withstanding), 5) It leads to other conversations about Scouting, both with Scouty folks and others, 6) It was an excellent excuse to go camping. Thinking back, WB lacked: 1) I can't say I learned anything new about woodsy skills. We were frankly told that our WB was not for that purpose. It was expected that our woodsy skills were obtained elsewhere. 2) We practiced Patrol camping, and rotated the duties of Patrol Leader, APL, Scribe, cook, etc. among our Patrol. If we were "instructed" in Patrol method, it was by example of the Staff, not by overt teaching. 3) My greatest dissapointment came when I was told that my first ideas for "tickets" could not be approved. My proposals centered around Cub Scouts and the CSDC. At the time, I was an ASM and registered as such. But, since I was not a Cub leader, I could not do Cub things. So be it. Therefore, between sessions, I became a Unit Commissioner, took the training and became a UC. Now, I could "cross the line" and do Cub things and Boy things. And so I now do UC stuff. So my initial disappoinment actually gained me greater access to the greater world of Scouting. Ultimately, my tickets included both Cub stuff and Boy stuff. 4)The follow up and (?) encouragement could have been better, more active perhaps. My questions and inqueries were all addressed and answered, however. I will get my beads at the Troops CoH next month.

Ultimately doesn't matter. If one really does "trust in God", then the printing of the phrase on the US currency may be somewhat inspirational and reassuring. Render unto Caeser and all that. If one doesn't trust in God, then the phrase's inclusion on the currency shouldn't offend, only remind one of it's futilty. Tsk,tsk, isn't it sad. It certainly doesn't "establish" any given religion, one over another. From a penny's viewpoint, all religions are equally useless or necessary. Take your personal choice and gain or lose by the results. Trusting in the currency is another issue altogether. Now, there is a movement that is convinced that the mint is quietly trying to eeeeease the "IGWT" motto off coinage because it isn't terribly visible on the new pesidential dollar coin. Of course, it is engraved into the outer edge of the coin, so it is still there.

Amen, Beav. I, read, the, Bible, in, Meeting, and, when, moved, of, the, Spirit. I'm sure Joe (saint is an honorific, like to know how he came by it) is a Good Scout.

Oh. It's an "a", not an "x".

I made a copy of the article and, with the SM's permission, read some of it to the boys at the end of our last Troop meeting. Talked about then and now. Home made equipment. No cell phones. Talked about Patrol activities. About adult support of doing what the boys would like to do. Actually got a small conversation going with a couple of the boys and their dads. Hike the WHOLE AT? Three months? ummm... We'll see.

Advancement is recognized and awards made as the year progresses. Some boys and families do it quickly, some slower. B&G is for celebrating the fact that we are Cubs. It is a PARTY. Theme (if desired) , decorations (if possible), suitably respectful gathering and opening ( I was invited to a Pack B&G as their UC, and SURPRISE was asked to give the grace, which I did...), good food (catered or served if affordable, pot luck if desired), entertainment (OA danceteam, Scales and Tales, slide show, magician, Den skits, story teller,etc.), some small awards and acknowledgements ( but not the whole Pack. No one should be expected to have maxed out their rank by February), suitably respectful closing. All in 1 1/2 or 2 hrs max. Our Pack did advancement and awards at each Pack meeting. The last big thing was the April or May picnic, Web crossover was reserved for that Pack meeting. OA danceteam came and did a real flaming arrow ceremony, really wowed'em. Please try and convince the Pack leadership to NOT end the Cub year in February.

"the Scouts permit plaintiffs to make use of Camp Balboa and the Mission Bay Park Youth Aquatic Center" Yep. makes sense to me. If you want your son to participate in the CSDC at the park BSA leases for $4000. a week, your son must join the Cub Scouts. Otherwise, you (and your son) may use the rest of the park or come back when the camp is devoid of scouts. "but do not allow them to be members of their organization and participate in the activities conducted at the camps for members," Berzon wrote. I've known more than a couple of folks that know (for one reason or another) that they wouldn't fit in Scouting. Self selecting. This sounds like the same thing. The plantifs KNOW they wouldn't fit and are making damn sure everyone else knows it too. Nope. Gotta meet the membership requirements. Believe in God/higherpower/something and not make sexually overt comments to our youth members. Your sexual orientation is not of interest. If you don't mention it, it won't come up in conversation. Sexually promiscuous and inappropriately behaving adults are not welcome, be they homo, hetero, bi or any other persuasion. So it still sounds like " Since BSA controls parts of the park due to their up til now perfectly legal lease arrangement I can't use the park because I find the BSA offensive and therefore I can't come near the park to use it so it's the BSA's fault that I can't use it even tho no one has said I can't use it because I haen't asked to use it and they haven't responded to my non-existant request to use it." Now, if the REAL issue is that the BSA reserves too much of the park to warrant such a small lease fee, perhaps the "fair market " value would be a more appropriate debating topic. A balancing act. Social benefit versus market value versus public access versus private organization versus... Maybe the BSA could sublease it to the LDS or Catholic Charities or Boys Club or...ummm. That about right?

Haven't had this much fun since high school debate team... Evmori: exactly so. MlR: I find much to agree with you: Private discriminatory clubs should not be given exceptional exclusive use of public facilities. However, I don't see where anyone has proven that the BSA has denied anyone reasonable physical access or use of the facilities that (so far) have been legally leased to them. Can you, therfore, please quote us the part of the decision that defines the plantif's right to legal standing (ie, the legal basis for their right to sue the defendants) so as to show how they claim to have been injured? How the court sees (and agrees) their belief that they have indeed been injured? And therefore have a right to prove their injury before the court and claim recompense? How bad could chitlin making be, anyway?

No adult leaders. Six boys. 2000 miles. Only contact when they met the truck? One Truck followed 'em thru the whole trek? Wore out his LLBean shoes (hope he got'em resoled. Even back then, I think they were guarnteed for life). Maps? Compass? Wow. Eagle732: M4 Plywood backboard? I replaced my canvas back strap with a mesh nylon one, used it on thru my Scout career. Even screwed on hinges on the bottom and created a hip belt for it. Troop meeting tonite. Think I'll ask if I can read this to the boys for closing.(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Been busy elsewhere. Just read thru this thread. The problem is well known if not consciously acknowledged. Due to a gravitational anomaly and the third premise of the General Theory of Relativity and cotrary to general belief, there is really only 8 weekends in a calendar year. I can testify to this. A single example:: Back in April of 2008, I conferred with the Program Chair of our District. We perused the published Council and District and school calenders. We agreed on a date for an activity I was to lead in 2009. Nothing on that date to conflict. Nothing. Penned it in. After our "redistricting" in June, (see another thread), we have had several planning/scheduling meetings (called, I kid you not, 'calendering'). At last saturday morning's meeting, our new Program Chair (third in a year) listed all the claimed activities and organized them on the blackboard by genre (Cubs, training, etc.) and by date. Sonofagun, the weekend of my activity now had FIVE other activities listed. All worthy things to do. We then scratched our collective heads and realized that most of the listed activities were, indeed, collected around only 8 or 9 weekends.For Scout purposes, it was like the rest of the year didn't exist. Council? District? Old traditional "we've always done it then" stuff, out of 6 Old Districts, we now have ONE mega district. And 4 or 5 "sub areas"; so we may have 3 camporees in October, and 2 Klondike Derbies in January and multiple IOLS in April. This is looked on as a good thing in many respects, and egos need to be salved. Communicate better and you may want to be glad for the multiple opportunities Like the man said, ya pays yer money and takes yer cherce.

Hey Hal, so what does your Troop do with all the ribbons? Toss'em out? Stuff'em in a box in someones basement? Lose 'em? Stick'em to a display board and put'em up at CoH every so often? I know our 50 year old Troop doesn't have all of ours on the flag staff. And I truly don't know where they are.

Perhaps I am not fully cognizent of the conditions that led to this case and it's decision. Were the plantifs DENIED access to the "public facilities", either by gvmnt authorities or by agents of the BSA? Or did the plantifs decide PERSONALLY that they could not bear to utilize the "facilities" because of the taint of BSA leasing? Therein lies the inappropriateness of the Parks/bus analogy. My understanding is that the plantifs CHOSE not to even try to use the facilities. Ms Parks was DENIED use of the bus by the guvmnt and the bus authority. If the KKK owned and operated the bus system and Ms Parks and her family and friends were allowed full use of the bus system, we might not be having this conversation. If, however, Ms Parks refused to even attempt to board the KKK bus line, because she was offended by the KKK's avowed value system, then we still might not be having this conversation because the courts would have politely laughed at her attempt to sue the KKK bus system when she chose not to ride it. But she DID choose to ride it,and she WAS denied full access to it's service, and it did not matter WHO owned the bus system. So why does it matter WHO leased the facilities? How were the Plantifs denied access and use? ((image: driving a bus with a bed sheet over your head...))

Certainly the CG and AqC start out as "public". But if those areas are "leased", then what are the conditions of the lease? If the campground and aquatic center is "public" then they are not leased as a "private" area. Where is the problem? Does the path to the Campground or aquatic center pass THRU the BSA leased area (as they do in our mentioned park)? The legal decision as I read it does not hinge on what is PUBLIC versus PRIVATE, but on what the plaintifs view as being too distasteful to approach, ie Boy Scouts. The plaintifs self limit their approach because proximity to Boy Scouts is, to them, distasteful. It's as if a chitlin packing plant leased the campground and moved it's packing operations there in temporary tents and I decide the (ahem) aroma is too distasteful for me to approach in my daily jog. Do I reroute or do I sue the b*st*rds for limiting my activities? Can the guvmnt legally lease the campground, or did it? If the chitlin plant is a bad choice for leasing to, then those county commissioners ain't gonna get re-elected. But if the fed court rules that mere opinion is sufficient to show unreasonable limitation of use, well...

Geewillikers, MLR, if they leased it for abuck ayear or (in our case) $4000 a week, it is leased. If the Guvmnt later thinks a mistake was made, then let the lawyers duke it out and correct it. But if it is LEASED and use of the property CONTRACTED, then my last post stands as written. The Leasee has use of the property, as described in the appropriate documents (I did not see them attached). Therefore, ipso facto, in re proviso and ergo sum, the public needs to consider their limitations and access. Not whether they are offended merely by the organization's professed membership requirements. If the leasing agreement is written too broadly or too limiting, let someone decide that and fairly decide what, in a democratic society, is fair to the reasonable person. If the "public facilities" are legally leased for a "private leasee" then the problem should hinge on what is truly "public" and what is "private" as a result. If Mr. & Mrs. Hernandez "rent" a pavillion for their daughter's quinceanos, then you can't expect Ms Slovikosky to insist on sunbathing next to it. For the duration of the contract, it is NOT "public facilities", despite Ms Slovikosky's pronounced offense at all the hispanic brouhaha... Ha?(This message has been edited by SSScout)