Tampa Turtle

During my brief time of Federal service I used to love to root around in the old store rooms since much of the old federal furniture could only be disposed of with great difficulty. You could find all sorts of old museum pieces (well 1940's or so) to stick in your cubicle. One the "prizes" reserved for managers or above were old ornate wood hat stands. I rarely see them anymore. I recall when I was young that you went into a restaurant, even a diner, and there was a hat rack or hat/jacket rack near the door. You took off your hat when you came in. This was in Florida so it was not just a

I don't mind a rollicking good theological or historical debate but did not like the disrespectful tone...most other folks beliefs have things that on the surface to outsiders seem silly or ridiculous but have been meaning to them.

Probably not, the War on Terror will never end and we got SF folks all over the place now. The reality is that it costs money and we pretended like it was all free --both parties.

I admit I get more meaning, satisfaction, and fun from Scouting than I do from my job. So yeah just like any service you get back more than you give in. Working with the boys keeps you young. The lows can be pretty frustrating but the highs are great! I think that good folks who honestly think that "it is all about the boys" can disagree on a whole range of issues.

I think it was a BIG mistake that their was not a War Tax. Everyone, beyond the families of servicemen and women needed to have skin in the game.

I was only a DL but this seems to be what leader's meetings are for; to iron out who does what especially in a small unit. Since you are moving from a one-man show it may take some time to get everyone to do their bit.

Ann, I hesitated to make Papadaddy's point since obviously you decided to stay. Buy yeah at a certain point in these situations you either: (a) Stay and have the confrontation (fight) (b) Move to another pack (flight) © Stay and work around it (Deal) I am hoping your CO will do something or some of the parents. It is a shame what is going on. Good luck with whatever your choice is.

When I was a wee boy (Kennedy/Johnson eras) men still wore hats. Also ties and at least a sport jacket. Since everyone is so casual now I think proper dress etiquette is largely lost; I do not think there is much of a hat norm. On a digression I have noticed this at my church where the young ladies and young moms wear club-wear and mini-dresses now because they equate that with "dressy". It certainly is not modest though I must confess I find their display of pulchritude in conflict with me concentrating on more heavenly thoughts...

I thought a scout was supposed to be respectful of others beliefs. Assuming the construct of a bunch of scouters talking around a fire it seems disrespectful to call another's beliefs "a myth". I grew up as a Catholic in a 80% jewish neighborhood; we were the token "handy goy" household but we were always respectful each other's faiths. Come on, act like scouts!

Ann, Hang in there. Adults can really screw things up. We had a our big defectors "crisis" at our Troop and I lost sleep a few nights over it. Didn't want to but did. I guess that is the cost of caring. We have had a few confrontations but things are working out better. Would not have thought so at the time. So I will pray that these folks in your pack see the light. Hang in there; keep your focus on the boys.

What the heck IS a tapout?

Shortridge, I can beat that. I got into an accident the first DAY I had my unrestricted. Misjudged my stopping distance and ran right into the back of a police cruiser.

Ah my 13 year old still believes in Santa but we will try letting him into "the biggest secret of all time" (as my mom called it) a week afterwards. My youngest (12) has been highly skeptical since 5.

As an Adult Leader who were never Scouts (can we get a snappier acronym please!) there are some advantages. If you just learned something it can be easier to teach sometimes; i.e. "yes, I had trouble with that until I held this way, etc". Also as some have suggested rusty skills may not be all that useful. Some of our best leaders have not been scouts but were outdoorsman and military types with good skills. In my limited observation the biggest strength of the ex-scout adult is when they came from a good "classic" program that was boy-led and is willing to bring that vision to the Troop

Boy Scouts are militaristic war-mongers. Boy Scouts are a fundamentalist christian organization

I have to agree with the the simple bullets. Too many words on screen. People HATE reading to them. If you must put the words on the notes in Powerpoint and print out the presentation with notes as a handout. That way they can pay attention to YOU and not worry about the writing down a web address or anything. A couple people will make notes anyway; it aids their comprehension (I do and then throw them away) Great content! Few quibbles. I would add a few places for ideas and inspiration. I found the Cub Scout How-To book really, really a life saver; a lot of good ol ideas.

Thanks!

My sons were one year behind the other. Got AOL and crossed over at B&G. My oldest really wanted that arrow and was pretty happy--he never gets much recognition. As I was up on stage as Assistant WL I didn't see much. Enjoyed my youngest more. He was really happy; decorated much of the room, I was WDL then and was proud of all of "my boys". My older son was a Boy Scout then and serving food and proud of being "an older guy".

I should be more positive! Casualties are problemtunities for practicing First Aid. Emergency Prep scenario: rescue the downed Patrol. Kudo's 1/4 mile separation saves lives --don't bunch up boys! Lashing has meaning when you need build a litter to carry out the fat SM. I gotta a couple boys I would be more than happy making them take point. "Thats right son, just gobble like a turkey". Downside: shot scouts = paperwork and new GSS revisions.

I mentioned this MB to my wife who thought it sounded very exciting. Hey Moose, where do you go to find some welders these days?

Gee, I like meat but don't like hunting. I am a homo sapien and we get to eat the rest, destroy the planet, just grind it up into hamburger and I am happy. So I get things have to die so I can live. I have had bambi-burgers; pretty good. I just want to walk in the woods in designated "no hunting" areas without being shot.

Parlor of the Brother Scouts. Den of the Dangerous Divans. Nest of Nettles.

I got mixed feelings regarding hunters. The ones I know are about 50% yahoos; which would be OK if they weren't armed yahoos. We have had problems during some campouts where there was illegal hunting going on near the boys --in areas where none was ever allowed. Pretty sure GSS frowns on boys getting shot and all.

Our brand new SPL seemed to put a lot of thought in his selections and those I have observed seemed to start doing stuff without being asked so hopeful signs.

Just a follow-up. It was just a boy or two that was the problem so instead of instituting a new policy we just dealt with them. Problem solved.