Trevorum

blade, I beg to differ. "Truth" is always contextual. What is true in one place and time is not necessarily so in another place and time. For example, before Galileo, Kepler, Copernicus, et al., Catholic "Truth" said that the earth was the center of the universe. Good people were executed for heresy for saying otherwise. As another example, in the ante-bellum South, God-fearing people knew the inferiority of Africans to be "Truth" and this was proclaimed from the pulpit as God's will (the curse of Ham, etc.) Another example: In the first decades of the 20th century, tens of mill

"Bush didn't attend the 2001 Jambo due to rain" [hahahahah, HoHo!] Good one! We can tell he wasn't a scout! Reminds me of the quote from Brian Birdsall, "There is no such thing as bad weather, just poor choices in clothing."

Methinks that didn't even register on the "Rooster Scale" ... Actually, I thought it was a fairly mild opinion

tortdog, thanks for an excellent explanation! It clears up a lot. So, LDS COs use the Varsity program sort of like how we use a Venture Patrol for our 14-15 year olds. This also explains why many of the LDS troops are smaller in size - they have an age ceiling.

Thanks, Bob and tortdog. I had heard that Varsity was somehow related to LDS but I thought it was misinformation, having a hard time believing that BSA would create an entire program just for one religious sect (why not Episcopalians?) But that begs the question, what is so different about Varsity Scouting that it appeals to LDS boys and few others? Why do LDS boys join a Team and not a Crew? Is there some difference in the relationship betwen the unit and the CO? I can't believe that LDS guys are that much more involved in athletics than other faith groups ...

Being somewhat unfamiliar with Varsity Scouting, can someone explain to me what a Team offers that a Venturing Crew does not? From what I can tell, Varsity Teams sound like Crews for 14+ boys but just with a sports focus, instead of high adventure (or whatever). Like troops, crews are not coed and membership teminates at 18. Do teams have their own methods? Given the choice, why would a 14+ boy want to join a Team or a Crew? I don't even think there are any Varsity Teams in our district - is Varsity Scouting some 1980s program experiment that didn't really gel?

Does the current POTUS have plans to visit the Jamboree this summer?

Hi Ken, Welcome to the forums! Throw a log on the virtual campfire!

aCHOoo! (ahh... spring is sprung!)

OK, I'm surprised. It's good to learn new stuff. For the record, Bob or Ranik, what exactly do the regulations say about troops and crews camping together?

BigBeav, under this scenario, the rules allow BOTH private deposits AND fund raising to be comingled. Not a good idea, IMHO. Our "Scout Bucks" program includes ONLY money credited to Scouts that they have raised during a troop fund raising effort. The funds belong to the troop, not the individual. Upon request, the troop applies the Scout Bucks to a Scouts summer camp tuition (or other approved expenditure). Our Scout Bucks plan does not accept money on deposit directly from families. If they want to make an advance payment towards siummer camp, that is totally separate.

I've never heard of such a prohibition and would be extremely surprised if there was one. Can't see any reason for one. Their definition of "adult" differs and, as Bob says, generally troops and crews have different interests, but that certainly wouldn't preclude a joint activity now and again.

In SM conferences, I like to find out what a Scout thinks "physically strong" means to him. Rarely does a candidate think that "phyically strong" equates to being "muscular". Generally, we agree that it means showing a respect for one's body, and includes eating right, getting enough sleep, avoiding poisons like tobacco, alcohol, drugs, as well as getting exercise.

This last year we adopted an ammendment to our written troop guidelines to the effect that if a Scout moves, we will forward his funds to the new troop upon reciept of a request from his new SM

Fred asks, "...do you turn down a volunteer..."????? I can't see a reason to turn down anyone. I don't care if he's fat or skinny, or if he's a she. I don't care if he has a son in the unit (remember that thread?), if he's a Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, or non-theist. I don't care if he's a Log-Cabin Republican. I feel there is role in our troop for all volunteers. Maybe that fellow with the alcohol problem isn't the one to drive on a campout, but he's great at teaching knots. Maybe that overweight guy isn't cut out for a Philmont trek, but he'd be a terrific webmaster. Maybe BSA

If the funds were "on deposit" with the troop from the parents to pay for summer camp, etc., they should be refunded to the family. OTOH, if the funds were the result of fund-raising activities by the scout (on behalf of the troop), they should revert to the troop. IMHO.

I'm not on an advancement committee, but I seem to recall a discussion - maybe it was on Scouts-L - that pointed out that while the Eagle app. suggests a letter from a religious reference, one is not required. Is this correct?

Hunt, I agree with your point. However, my question was "Would a ... BoR be within its rights to reject ANY candidate who says they do not believe in God/gods?" I can certainly envision this happening in some parts of my own state.

Most moral issues are slippery slopes. Very few moral issues are so black and white that there is no grey area. (Even "Thou shalt not kill" is ammended to "... except if duly authorized by your government".) In my opinion, one of the great things about our society is the tremendous diversity of perspectives we allow. We do not insist on a one-size-fits-all morality as did the Taliban or the Inquisition. We are civilized and respect each other. People are welcome to examine the issues and draw their own lines in the grey areas and, on that basis, join this religion or that one, this poli

Pack is right about the power of labels to shape our thinking and opinions. Labels can be useful as language shorthand when we want to quickly summarize complex ideas, but they are often misused to simply categorize people into little conceptual boxes we all think we understand. Labels are one-dimensional and do not recognize the tremendous complexity of human experience. --- This discussion has got me to wondering about Buddhist Scouts. While there are several traditions, Buddhism as a general rule is atheistic in that it does not recognize supernatural beings: Buddhists do not believ

I've found that Astronomy and Paleontology have a lot in common as far as the public goes. Everybody loves both, but only in small doses. Bob is right; 45-60 minutes may be OK for a den-sized group where you can provide personal attention to each cub, but may be too long for a larger group who will probably start to fidget and talk amongst themselves. Also, make sure the material is tailored to the age of the audience. You're going to have fun!

Thanks, Parairie. Yes, it all depends on the Scout - and even Scoutmasters aren't immune. Last campout I was scrambling down a cliff face, lost my footing, and landed in a mess of prickly pear. You can imagine what the Scouts are calling me now! "Pincushion" is just one on them...

A picture of his marker is at: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pif&GRid=1271&PIgrid=1271&PIcrid=639693&pt=Robert+Baden-Powell&ShowCemPhotos=Y& ... showing the trail sign for "gone home".

Pack, thanks for that! Interesting folklore. Way out in west Texas, we have the Marfa Lights. They invoke legends about Apaches, gold treasure, aliens, the whole bit. http://www.texasmonthly.com/ranch/readme/marfa.php http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/MM/lxm1.html

ScoutNut, thanks - my thoughts exactly. However, I'd like to point out that building "altars in the woods" is not necessarily a bad thng! Wiccans, who are very moral people, do this I believe in some nature reverence ceremonies.