Sturgen

I would suggest daily uniform inspection by the SPL or acting SPL for summer camp. Uniforms are just that uniform, and ought to be kept clean and ordered. As a camp staff member for 5 years i was able to keep my uniform clean for the entire summer, and have never seen a reason why the scouts can't do the same. (just a side note: this whole running around with shirts untucked has resulted in more than one "show some respect to the uniform, tuck it in or take it off son" speeches from the fish)

I don't have any of my paper work handy, but if memory serves, the sash is only to be worn either at an OA event or when representing the OA or the Lodge at another scouting event. Because of this, a member who fails to be in good standing (i.e. not registered or dues are not payed) is unable to wear his sash. You are correct in regards to Lodge flaps, and although I'm not sure on the ribbon, I believe it is acceptable for a member not in good standing to wear the ribbon. In the end, there is one realy easy way to solve the problem, register and pay up dues to your new councils lodge

BOY Scouts

The only part of the BSA that has strict ceremony rules is the OA, and for any ceremonies that the OA does that don't occure at an OA event are reallllllllly adaptable as well. Since you are doing a cub scout cross over ceremony, do whatever you want, try contacting your local lodge and they may be able to do a simple crossover ceremony without AOL, I have done a few of those in my time, and it just makes it a shorter ceremony for the team to do.

I earned my Eagle not much more than 2 months before my 18th birthday, and I'm glad that it was then and not earlier. Personally I wish BSA would require one to be atleast 16 years of age to start ones Eagle Project, but thats just me. For those that believe "Eagle in three" is good, please look into the Venture program and Ranger as an option for your boys afterwards. My old SM always said that when dealing with boys, nearly everything you say goes in one ear and out the other until around the age of fifteen or sixteen. In all my years of scouting and my time working in the public school s

I say burn it, burn it all then pack out the metal. To be honest, I would even say bury the metal in small amounts. I'm sorry, but this whole carrying your garbage another 40 miles out is foolish. For those of you worried about the air polution, natural releases of "green house gas" out number man made by somewhere in the range of 1000 to 1, the sandwich bag isn't going to cause global warming, heck, we don't even know if global warming is something we can control.

The story has hit national news media, figgured since it involves scouting it was about time it be posted here.

Spokane Scout Scandal I was going to let this sit and wait until someone else brought it up, but If no one else wants to, or knows about it, its time the story is told. Spokane Mayor Jim West has recently been outed as a bi/homo-sexual, nothing unusual in light of the last few years. But heres the kicker, this is accompanied with atleast four seprate aqusations of child molestation as early as the 1970's and as recent as late as the early 80's. But why bring it up here you might ask? Mr. West at the time this all occured was a Troop Leader and Sheriffs deputy. West ran my camp (the sa

In regards to the "at camp" portion, I just brought that up to show my link of playing to Scouting. In my case it was a matter of eight or ten senior staff members getting together durring BOB time or evening free time. I tend to agree with DugNevius in regards to when they can play, many troops pull out the Risk boards, decks of cards at night when a hard days work is done, its a good way to relax after a long days work. In no way am I implying they should play durring merit badge time, but theres always an hour here and there that the scouts have free in the evening or early morning, might

Cowles Scout Reservation, Diamond Lake, Eastern Washington, almost Idaho. Five years as a youth, 5 years as staff, both Boy Scout and Cubbies. Can you C.O.P.E. with it??? Japeechen can. http://www.scoutcampsusa.com/cowles/cowles.html <

I'm going to have to go with Torveaux on this one, admiting that the troop I earned my Eagle in, and currently act as an ASM in isn't exactly by the book (a completely different thread long ago). My view is that both the SM conference and BOR are not a "you go and you pass" kind of thing. Obviously some parents are not going to be happy with this, but rank isn't everything, in reality it isn't much, it is the skills and experience that count. In Hula's case, their is obviously some confusion, this along with a lack of information, most of which would apear to be second or third hand,

Don't forget to add the Bible, the Louve, Vatican City, nearly all plays, books, painting from the romantica era..... I'll stop now, I think my point is clear enough.

Seattle Pioneer, While no one directly stated that obese Scout Leaders ought to be removed from Scouts, you do ask for suitable ways of dealing with obese leaders. From this it may be inferred that you feel that they must be dealt with in some way, shape or form. An abbreviated list would include reprimand, letting it go, and removing them from program. Personally I believe that telling a volunteer that they are to fat and setting a poor example for youth is not only in poor taste, but just down right idiocy, and is only going to result in these leaders walking away from the program, and

Try contacting a local hardware store, some may be willing to donate a few simple hand tools to the pack as a whole. Another option would be some of the larger companies like Lowes and Home Depot have workshops once or twice a week, if your meetings don't fall on these days you may be able to borrow their workshop tools for an evening or two.

Just a general question: Do D&D and Scouts contradict each other or complement each other? I know some individuals/churches believe that D&D (Dungeons and Dragons) is a satanic, ritualistic game of cults and idol worshipers. Personally I think they fit together well, I started to play at Scout Camp and nearly everyone I play with is in Scouting. If you play a good game, honor, loyalty and wit are the skills that will take you far in the game, and when compared to video games or TV, it is far more intellectual.

Just a few points: If obese scout leaders were banned the Order of the Arrow would be nonexistent (my lodge might have two or three advisors/active adults left), the council office would be nearly bare, and half of the Scout Masters out there would be gone. The scout oath says physically strong, in my experience, if you take the average heavy set to mildly obese individual, and you put them up against an average fit person, the heavier of the two will win in nearly every feet of brute physical strength (ie lifting, pulling,etc) Personally I would consider myself in the pleasantly plu

Coming from a true and proud redneck (my truck only has 5 pro US magnetic ribbons and three flags on it right now and the gun rack, and the scraps of leather in the bed, well you get the idea) , there is nothing racists, sexist, evil or abhorrent about Get er done. For centuries her has been used to refer to cars, boats, planes, etc. In this case, er refers to a task to be completed. So by saying get er done one is simply saying get up off your posterior and finish the job. A good motto for scouts and young men in general; and one that if more people were to prescribe to a lot more would be

Not to discourage you but to make a safe, working bow is a formidable task. Many adults have trouble building one. As an archery director for cub resident camp 4 years running and 13 years experience as an archer, I would never shoot, or allow cubs to shoot a homemade/handmade bow made by youth or anyone with out years of experience in bow design and construction. Additionally the tools and materials (especially the wood) are especially expensive for any scout event, knowing the average budget for camps.

Dug, youre my kind of man. My troops the same way; focusing on leadership and high adventure, real camping before we hit the books. Boys run it all boards all the way through and its been that way for 35 years, ever since our current Scoutmaster took the position. The council office doesnt exactly approve, but what the heck, it works, and we produce quality young men.

Gotta love how the liberal media throws former Cub Scout/Boy Scout Leader whenever they can on a murder/drug/assault case.. Accused BTK Killer 'Guy Next Door' WICHITA, Kansas, Feb. 26, 2005 (CBS/AP) Dennis Rader lived in a suburb of Wichita with a wife and two children, led a Cub Scout troop and was active in his Lutheran church. But police say he is also the serial killer who called himself BTK - for "Bind, Torture, Kill" - and is responsible for the deaths of ten people, mostly young women, since 1974, reports CBS News Correspondent Cynthia Bowers. As an ordinan

I can't be the only person here in a western region lodge can I? Well either way i thought i would at least put post one for the region. Es-Kaielgu

Finally a refreshing voice that demands excellence instead of mediocrity, thank you marcpaige. Of course testing during trips, weekly meeting etc. is always good but often it takes some one on one time to find out what each individual knows, one change I would suggest would be instead of you testing the scout directly, have one of your JASMs or other older experienced scouts test right before or during the SMC, one of the best methods of learning is teaching after all. In regards to wingnut, if you are using the SMC to build a bond with your scout you are wasting your time. It is the resp

For some clarity the archery range was in reference to cubbies being little monsters. Also, making a dozen or so phone calls is not leadership.

Popcorn sales for cubbies I can understand, its simply, and lets face it, some people consider the monsters cute.(forgive the sarcasm, but try running a cub scout archery range and see what you think then) But Boy Scouts and the Venture Program need to come up with something a little more creative, that requires some leadership from the boys, in my opinion getting a card table and sitting outside walmart is not leadership, there are hundreds of options out there, you just have to be creative.

A couple of things I hav noted as a member of the OA: It is my understanding that in the past an individual could fail an ordeal, essentially be refused membership into the OA, this no longer occurs, or at least I have never seen or hear of it occureing in recent years. As to being an active member, most lodges have multiple committees that always need youth members, the youth simply have to take the initiative to talk to advisors and members of the LEC