Tampa Turtle

Thank you.

I was re-reading "Masterminds and Wingmen" (good one BTW) on the problems Boys face in this culture last night and it reminded me the focus (duh) should be on how it impacts boys for the better or worse. I could argue it either way. Girls have a lot more opportunities and support today than boys; I would hate to take away what BSA gives boys now for a new family policy without getting into the details. This sort of change requires a great deal of trust between parties to pull off and it is not a good sign when National starts off with a disingenuous way to begin the discussion. To me it i

I really, really dislike how this is being handled. I am not sure what side of the issue I would go because I am tiring of all this mismanagement by National on this and so many other issues. Working with the boys is so very rewarding but I got other things I can be doing as well. I do not like feeling manipulated.

I once saw a proposed Boy Scout-Cub Scout-Girl Scout shared Camporee in an adjoining district. At some point it got scuttled.

I just started to broach the subjects with my two sons and both voted "out for me" which is a shame since Son#1 is an Eagle who came back as a young ASM and Son#2 will soon get his Eagle, loves OA, and was going to come back too. Son#2 has lots of girls who are friends and said "I am friends with them in band do I have to see them all the time". 80% of the Scouts that have brought it up by rumor said they would probably leave. That includes the 2 Gay scouts.

I just got my survey. Speaking as a commie pinko proud to be a Liberal scouter EVEN I found it was one the most dishonest pre-loaded surveys corralling takers to a pre-destination. I wonder what was the point other than to publish support statistics to a decision obviously made. Girls are coming and I am sure that BSA, once the attaboys in the press and social media are over, will make a total hash of it.

Gosh, really terrible news....

We have one (terrific) mom who also is active duty marine and lawyer who specializes in sexual discrimination cases in the USMC. We previously had 'discouraged' moms from coming on camp-outs and she sweetly asked to see where in the BSA policy that was supported because that would surprise her. Well now we have moms on the Boy Scout camp-outs*. I am pretty sure that there will be other mom's who will push their girls to be in the boys program pretty quick and I am sure that council and national will fold lightning fast. *(This does piss off some existing ASM wives as they were tolerant

If you cannot re-direct your anger you should not be a SM as you are at the tip of the spear. Far easier to be an ASM. Thus I am not SM material; occasionally I lose it; though I have never touched a scout. And I always apologize to the lad afterwards if I was a dick.

Yes I wonder what reaction GSUSA will have, if any...

I deal with women ASM's and SM's and OA guys in our OA chapter all the time (and a few Sea Scouts as well). The issue that should even be "a thing" is disheartening.

Our Troop interferes with elections; ie. screens, scout master approvals, min requirements. Almost always backfires. Let the boys sort it out.

Free speech is not the same as courtesy, kind, respectful, and appropriate speech. I have the constitutional right, for example, to drop the 'F' bomb in a church sermon but should be willing to accept the consequences of my actions. The issue is was his remarks appropriate to the setting and to the apolitical nature of scouting.

I use the AOM website as well as Eagle94-A1 does. Overall I love the site maybe not this so much. I get the host is trying to make a living but my response is 'meh'. I am an adult and can design my own program...earning virtual merit badges strikes me as a bit juvenile. I think ol TR would harumph "Bully...not". Too much of this "Man Scouting" creeping into our society. But I suppose it might do some guys some good.

To be fair to the CSE I have been at various functions where the dignitary (Governor, Mayor) went wildly off course to the occasion. Our Mayor was the guest of honor at a church fund raiser and spent the whole time talking about getting calls in the middle of the night to go out to police shootings and seeing the oozing bloody body. Major downer, folks wondered if he was having a depressive episode. I kept wondering how it would link up to the United Methodist Women Art Show but it never did.

Very very sorry. We went through this a couple months ago. Take care of your boys; some may be very disturbed by it.

People have written whole books on the phenomena of the therapy of the journey especially the ones in woods and mountains. I think it is having time to think with less distractions, the reality of carrying your 'house' on your back and how literal 'all that baggage' can be in slowing you down. For me it is the physical challenge and the planning. Even a bad hike makes me appreciate modern amenities like beds, AC, and inside plumbing.

My pack weight keeps going down BUT so does the weight I can tolerate seems to go down faster!

I had three siblings so I knew if I got in trouble that sometime in the next 24 hours one of them would do something to take the heat off me.

I saw Trump's speech online. Hardly seems fair Scouters are not allowed to politic in their uniform but he basically does a campaign speech. Talked a bit about Loyalty but seems challenged on Honesty and Kindness. He can surround himself all he wants with Scouters but not much seems to rub off on him.

I agree the writing is on the wall and it will happen. If for no other reason than for the optics ("You go girl!") and because some more corporate dollars to National. It may be good or bad but it will be different. And some girls will push hard to get into Boy's Troops (we are ALREADY getting inquiries) and will be let in by National CO or not. The first ones will probably be high quality outdoor types. The reaction from GSUSA will be interesting. I do not think that National has its act together to keep the core of the traditional outdoor program intact enough to overcome their misma

Cambridge Skip brings up some valid points. Recently when our Troop had a scout die (long sad story not to go into here) and while the news spread as fast as electrons when we announced an informal evening meeting for any scouts to get together and talk about it we got about half the Troop show up on short notice. It was the later teen boys who seemed the most affected and just wanted to be in each other's company for comfort (in spite of adults attempts at crisis management). Smack talk and generational camaraderie seemed to count for a lot. It was a very humbling experience to be in that roo

I have run into this. If their is another MBC then use them, at least for sign offs. On occasion I have signed off, usually to my son's detriment (I was too hard on him). If there is any other judgment call (can I use 'X' to meet requirement 'Y') then I always get a second opinion. And I always get permission from the SM. That all said, I'd rather him do the Merit Badge the right way with me (learning, exploring, taking his time) then signing up for a Council Merit Badge Academy slam-bam-thank-you-mam one day affair.

We had this happen and I had the same qualms but it did work out well. One was a career Marine Mom who was a great resource on homesick boys (said 19 year old men in a war zone were more of a challenge) and the other was a Girl Scout leader who loved camping and could not get enough of it with her girls.

Well if YOU did it you would get in trouble.