Trevorum

Our family went to PTC in 2000 and I echo the above sentiments. Everyone in our family had a great time and I recommend the experience. However, that being said, it's a great supplemental camping experience but it should not be considered to be a replacement for a Scout's regular summer camp experience. There's no MB program and a Scout will not get the opportunity to experence a week of camping with his regular patrol. Plus, his parents and siblngs are there every day, which vastly changes the whole camping dynamic.

I know that a scout can be simultaneously registerd in a troop and in a crew, and I am aware that Webelos are often registered in both their outgoing pack and their incoming troop for the entire year of their crossover. However, this last weekend I discovered that one of our new scouts is registered in two troops, ours and his LDS Ward, and plans to be active in both. This is a new one on me. Is this kosher?

I know that a scout can be simultaneously registerd in a troop and in a crew, and I am aware that Webelos are often registered in both their outgoing pack and their incoming troop for the entire year of their crossover. However, this last weekend I discovered that one of our new scouts is registered in two troops, ours and his LDS Ward, and plans to be active in both. This is a new one on me. Is this kosher?

hmm... thanks, Semper! I should have thought to check with the answer-man BlackEagle!

I recently saw a position patch for "Paraprofessional". Can anyone tell me what that was? and when? I thought we were all either volunteers or professionals, and this is a new one on me!

I asked 'cuz I was a newbie and didn't know the protocol.

Before the first National meeting I attended, I asked whether I should wear my uniform and was told "no". I'm glad I asked, too - scouters everywhere but nary a uniform in sight, just suits. It was strange.

Semper Fi! Thanks for sharing this with us. One thing I did not know was that BSA heroism medals are awarded not by National, but by the National Capital Area Council (NCAC) in Washington, DC

The old joke, "A religion is just a cult with more members" has a certain degree of truth to it. While not arguing with Pack, I'd like to point out that creating a religion out of whole cloth is not that simple (the "Bab", Mr. Smith, and Mr. Hubbard being notably successful). Scholars view all religions as being comprised of three essential elements: theology, ritual, and morality. Theology provides answers to the great questions: "Why are we here?", Why is there suffering?", "What happens after we die?". To address these, theology generally invokes a pantheon of supernatural beings, forc

I've long thought we need advertising on TV. The ad spot I see is an x-gamesish montage of guys rapelling down sheer rock walls, whitewater rafting, shooting sports, hiking a breathtaking vista, telling jokes around a campfire, etc. with a pumped up soundtrack and voice over. This could be done in 15 seconds. A national campaign would cost money for sure, but I'll bet it would work. I think Irving needs some marketing gurus.

Ditto TexasScouter. A garage sale is easy to prepare for, fun for the boys, and lucrative. Make sure you advertise. Have everything ready to go the night before, and get up early!

"The only time green loops are worn on the khaki shirt is for Venture patrols in a troop, not the same as a crew." Is this true?? I did not know that! I have never seen green loops on a khaki shirt, youth or adult. But a Boy Scout who is in a Venture Patrol may elect to wear the green loops? (I assume it is a Patrol vote?)

We do of course, but I cut slack. Maybe we just see the uniform more as a method to achieve the aims, not as an aim in itself. (The last time I said that OGE called me a "tweaker" ) I realize that uniforming is a big issue with you (possibly y'all know by now what my "big issue" is) and if your unit can achieve 100% Boy's Life uniforming, that's great and I commend your unit and its leaders!

Whether or not it is "picky", I do think it is a forest-for-the-trees issue. The Uniform Police notwithstanding, I am going to encourage our scouts to salute the US flag at every opportunity, even if they are wearing blue jeans or (gasp) white socks.

thanks guys!

Last night at our Crew meeting we watched the Venturing YP video for the first time. It was excellent and our Advisor facilitated a great discussion among the young men and women who were present. We all benefited from the experience and I recommend the video to other crews. However, I can not recall our troop showing the comparable video (A Time to Tell). I think this would be a good idea and I'd like to get your thoughts on how to proceed. Thanks!

Ed, as much as I am surprised to admit it, I agree with you 100% on this! The ACLU will stop at nothing to further "their own agenda" - namely protecting the constitutional rights of all Americans. The ACLU has no ideological axe to grind; their cases are found on both sides of the labeled political spectrum, wherever our basic American rights are encroached upon. Those who disagree with them always have a vested interest

aha. Thanks for clarifying! I suspected there was something that I was not understanding - my knowledge of the Venturing program is still fairly sketchy

hey OGE, please clarify this for me as well? A Boy Scout who has joined a crew may continue to be registered in his troop, right? In fact, he must be registered in a troop in order to advance towards Eagle, also right? (or not?) So if lots of fellows are registered in two units simultaneously, how does a district or council count the total number of youth? They can't just add cubs+scouts+venturers...

"Doing right is not always easy, but doing right is always right."

(off thread) I will never cease to be amazed - and fascinated - by the twists and turns that an online discussion will take. The dynamics of this medium are truly unique in human discourse. I believe that if the same diverse group of good folks were chatting around the campfire instead of online, the same conversational thread would always take a very different path. But let us return to the debate already in progress...

But Eamonn, that's where the scouts are!! Reading the wide variety of threads on these forums makes me realize that Scout units are microcosms of our society. I so firmly believe that Scouting is a wonderful growth experience for our young men. I wish I could convince every family in my neighborhood.

OK, OK. Out of respect for newbies, I will refrain from using these outlandish terms here in the forum. I gotta tell you though, the usage is so widespread it's like stuffing the genie back in.

From what I can tell, BSA's "administrative burden" consists mostly of reviewing and approving the proposed program curriculum. After approval of the curriculum materials, BSA has very little involvement. IMHO (and yours may well differ), the rule is a device which BSA has found useful in these fractious times. It allows BSA to avoid having to approve of (or even discuss) awards programs for a variety of minority faiths. While these faiths are 100% legitimate, they are not well understood by the majority of BSA membership (or for that matter, most Americans) and are the subject of some

Class A and B are not official BSA terms. As our esteemed BobWhite might say, these terms do not appear in any BSA publication. He'd be right of course. However, the rank and file has found them to be useful shorthand. A so-called "Class B" uniform is an "activity" uniform (as opposed to a "field" or "dress" uniform) and is characterized by a unit designated T-shirt or similar shirt. The so-called "Class A" includes the official BSA shirt with all emblems, awards, and badges of rank. Occasionally the term "Class C" is used to refer to a scout-related T-shirt other than the unit designate