Tokala

A long time ago, when I was a youth, I performed speaking ceremonial parts for other lodges in my Section. I was visiting and they knew that I was a competent ceremonialist. They were in a bind because someone didn't show and asked me to fill in. Heck, once they even gave me a part that I had never memorized or potrayed. They were kind enough to give me an hours notice. I have also participated in Vigil cermeonies at 2 other lodges. Again, because they asked my help. If someone can supply proof that they're Vigil, then there's no reason to keep them from observing the ceremony.

A small correction to Scouter760's comment: "Anyway, when we give the boys choices, sometimes they choose differently than we would. In this case, the SM could override their choice, but I hope that doesn't have to be done very often." The Scoutmaster approves the eligible Scouts prior to the election. Once they cast their votes he doesn't have the "option" to override the results of the election. A good Scoutmaster gives his approval ahead of time and let's the youth decide.

Interesting statement. I would bet if you asked anyone at National if the BSA was a white middle-class organization, they would tell you "no, it never has been." And for those who think this, yup you need diversity! Interesting statement as well. If the BSA is such a diverse and all-inclusive group, why create such programs such as ScoutReach, Asian American Emphasis, Hispanci/latino Emphasis and African-American Emphasis? Could it be that the BSA realized that it wasn't reaching those particular groups of young men and wanted to reach out and make an effort to include them? Scoutreach ma

Boy Scouts has been largely a white, middle-class organization. Sure there's an occasional unit with minorities or kids with disabilities. I think that National has finally decided that they can't remain white, middle-class and continue to grow. With a growing population of hispanics, asians, and many others in the US, they're attempting to reach out to different people. Including diversity is a sure way to get people to look at the program from a different perspective. I don't view this a politically correct thing to do, it seems like the best thing to do if we want to see the BSA progra

A similar concept with the change from "Fort A.P. Hill" to "Caroline County".

"I'd send all but 50 delegates home... one for each state, and shrink the size of the thing down to one hotel conference room. Then I'd ask the delegates to donate what they would have spent to the American Red Cross... and to donate blood." I'd swear John McCain said the same thing. Let's all take off our political hats and put on our American hats.

When I was serving as SM, my troop decided to replace all the tents, stoves and lanterns. The equipment was still in good shape, but the committee wanted to change the style/size of the tents, etc. I had served on Wood Badge staff with a para-professional Scouter who worked with inner city units. He was coordinating and stocking a QM "base" for these innter city units to draw equipment from to go camping. We donated every piece of equipment that worked when we replaced our equipment. He literally filled a trailer with tents, stoves, lanterns, ice chests, igloo coolers, etc. I thought it was a

I've been a member since 1977 so my view may be skewed. Leadership at a troop level is limited. Leadership possibilities for young men in the Order of the Arrow is open all the way through area, region and national levels. Developing the young men to think and act to be unselfish in cheerful service is probably the most important concept in the OA. As with any "club", you're going to get out of it whatever you put into it. I've seen some very talented young men serve as leaders in the lodge level, section, region and national level. We might have not been able to see those young men not r

But, the residents of New Orleans already know that the Bush administration doesn't care about them. Although, they did reelect the bumbling Nagin also.

I have attended some Eagle Scout Courts where there is the traditional Scout-type reception at wherever the ceremony was held. The only times that I have seen a reception with alcohol, it was typically a secondary one that didn't started until later at the parent's house. This gave people a chance to go home and change clothes if they were uncomfortable having a drink while in uniform.

I went to one in 1982 as a learner bee. I was paired as a staffer with the current Southern Region president. I haven't been to one since. I don't think the impact or "wow" factor has changed since. To this day, I would have to say that NLS was one of the most intense Scout training events that I have participated in or staffed. I would encourage you to go also, even if I'm not aware of the current syllabus/curriculum.

In the past, we've used the looser interpretation that something done across the program level, i.e. taking a Boy Scout to work with a Cub Scout den would satisfy the ticket requirement. As a troop guide, I challenged the patrol members. One took her den/pack to the local folk festival where different cultures have displays and then reported what they learned at a pack meeting. Another took their Scouts to the local Holocaust Museum. We have a course starting in 2 weeks, and as a staff have agreed that the emphasis of the diversity item is to challenge people to get involved with people o

fotoscout wrote: "They are wholly and completely out of touch with the todays boys AND todays parenting challenges." If an older person is involved in a troop, I fail to see how they can become out of touch with today's youth. Being involved n the program where you interact with the youth keeps someone aware of timely youth "issues". I would hazard a guess that a person involved on a District or Council level with limited contact with the youth may lose touch, but on a unit level it has to be nearly impossible.(This message has been edited by Tokala)

OGE-"Some OA Lodges, The Honor Camping Society of Boy Scouts, have such a resource." They phased that out a while ago. It's no longer the "Honor Campers Society" it's "Scouting's National Honor Society". ;-)

I'll add my personal experience to the thread. I have been a member of the same council since I joined as a Cub Scout in 1972. I am an eagle scout, Vigil and Founders Award recipient, worked summer camp staff, lodge chief, section officer, jambo troop SPL, a SM, and on, and on..... I'm single, never married, middle-aged guy with no kids. For the most part, I don't see many that question my involvement. Most respect me for my many years of service and the long history within this council. Occasionally, there's someone that raises an issue. My response has always been to do exactly wha

Having used Goshen as our base camp for Arrow Corps 5 this summer, I was not surprised to see this type of report. It's not a very well maintained camp.

The local council, West Central Florida, has held a Wood badge reunion/recruitment dinner for many years. It's held at in the dining hall at our camp. They do not charge a fee.There is no trading post or merchandise for sale. It's simply a covered dish dinner where previous courses are recognized and a video from the latest is shown to the attendees. The menu is divided by critter. Each critter has an assigned part of the meal to bring and it rotates so the critters don't bring the same dish every year. It's broken done by appetizers, salads, breads, meats, desserts. The council promotes it,

From the latest NYLT syllabus: "Most councils have deep-rooted traditions regarding their youth training courses. Many have a special name for their course, and some have a special award or symbol that has been carried on for many years. These traditions may be continued, but the title National Youth Leadership training needs to be added to the traditional name." I don't see where local council names for NYLT/JLT/TLDC (if you want to go back even further) have been eliminated.

My local lodge has done projects at camp such as: Build a control tower for the council ring lights & audio. Built a basketball court Built a volleyball court Built 15 2-man cabins for the summer camp staff housing Built smokers at each camp near the kitchen The innovative and lasting projects are few and spread out. They usually take more planning and funds so we don't necessarily even accomplish 1 per year. Section Conference (everyone else calls them Conclaves) are hosted differently in Florida. The host lodge plans, prepares and administers the entire Conference. Prepari

Deciding to become a scoutmaster is not the easiest decision, by far. I've been in your shoes and took the job. My "upbringing" was 1970's vintage Scouting. I had a solid core of ASMs from the same era. As much as we tried to steer the troop back to strong patrols and a functioning Leadership Corps, it just didn't happen. Time, people, society, and technology have changed since BP penned that first manual. As much as "old timers" work, strive, and long for the "old" days, sometimes it doesn't work with the adults and youth present in the troop. I would caution against the folks that

Seems unfair to single out just one Scout when you state: " throughout the day the other scouts got in some birthday punches,all the time avoiding being caught by any leaders. Well this scout just happened to get in the last punch that put the birthday boy past his limit. It wasn't a fair punch, it was in the ribs and not the arm." It seems to me that ALL of the birthday punches weren't "fair" punches. I'd suggest that the committee, SM and ASMs do some self appraisal on why they let things go as long as they did and why they felt it was necessary to single out one Scout. It seems all p

kahits, There may be one of these pins in a bag of stuff that was donated to my lodge. We use the stuf for auctions to raise funds. I'll see if it is still in storage. If so, we'd have to make arrangements for a swap for something that the lodge could auction instead.

I have only sent Scouts home once. I was the SM for the Council JLT program. One Scout decided to coax a Scout from another patrol into his patrol campsite. He then had a buddy help him tie him up under a picnic table. Two other Scouts were present, watched and did nothing to stop or report the behavior. Shortly afterwards a staff member discovered what had transpired. I sent all 4 kids home. As a SM of a troop I took a very large group to Wyoming for our high adventure trip. When we returned home, I discovered that one Scout spent the last day of the trip shoplifting in his uniform. Didn

Wow! Someone resurrected an old thread! "OA does not have any official call out ceremonies " I have not seen a National generated tap out/call out script ever (since 1977). Lodges were encouraged to generate their own and include local tribal/camp legends/history in their ceremonies.

"I'm curious - one of the main changes being touted seems to be the roll-up tabs to secure long sleeves in place. Do you find that many Scouts or Scouters are buying those long-sleeved shirts?" In over 30 years of Scouting, I have yet to buy, or wear a long-sleeved uniform shirt. I suppose living in Florida all of that time has about 100% to do with it.