Trevorum

Thanks, John. As I suggested, this change will probably be down the road some months; the first order of business is to reinvigorate the program. The backstory (with which I did not complicate the CO issue) is that the CC has been excessively controlling all aspects of the unit for some time now. At the request of the new SM and ASM, the CC resigned last week (what a showdown that was!) and a new CC is ready to step up. Things are on the mend. The unit is down to 10 scouts, of whom six are Star rank or above, but the new leadership has a plan for recruiting.

Thanks, guys. I will bring this up with my DC and DE. They may have some good ideas on a possible replacement CO

As a brand new UC, I have been assigned to assist one of the most problematic units in our district. Go figure. The troop has several serious issues including lack of recruiting, poor rentention, and an anemic outdoors program. I believe I can offer them some good suggestions towards those issues. However, an underlying context is the Chartering Organization (CO). The CO is a neighborhood association which, while once supportive, has become uninterested and distant. The unit gets NO support from the CO and the CO is not interested in changing the relationship. The CC and SM have expressed an interest in finding a new CO which will be more supportive, might provide a recruiting base, and which the troop could actively support in return (service projects, ec.). We are focusing on the immediate issues for now (starting with program) but my question to the forums is this: how does a unit go about finding a new CO? This is new territory for me and I appreciate your advice! Thanks! -trevorum

That is good news. Thanks for spreading the word, Barry! I'll pass the info along to our PLC and SM. I wonder what happened since last month to suddenly make laser tag safer than it was before?

Hey! I know of a BUNCH of books we could burn, too! Some of them have really objectionable ideas!

So if the nationality of our scouting program is indicated by the "BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA" strip above our right pocket, what does the flag insignia indicate? Is this supposed to indicate the nationality of the individual Scout? Can the young BSA member who is a Canadian national wear a maple leaf flag instead?

Scouter.com is sorta like a troop - constantly reinventing itself with folks coming, staying a while, and then leaving. I'm glad to see old friends. Some of us overstay our welcome, others leave too soon. I miss Kahuna, NJCS, Rooster and others.

A sweater for camping? That's just fruity. I'll bet you wear a beret, too!

"I'd let him sit it out. It might be percieved as mean but it might do him some good to see what he's missed." I agree with GW. Tough love.

The knot is not the award - it only represents the award. If the knot can be worn by an adult, then the medal may be worn for formal occasions.

Now THAT's a Scoutmaster minute! "Boy scouts in the Maldives are similar to their U.S. counterparts, receiving training in first aid and participating in activities such as camping. Like in the U.S., their motto is "Be prepared." The Scout was wounded; I hope he recovers fully.

Webdog, I see lots of folks wearing the eagle pins on their collars.

John, I don't see where you answered my question, but I will drop it here because we could be fast heading towards an "issues" thread.

Without weighing in on the Aide thing, I don't understand the comment about "screwing up". That is nonsensical to me. Are you assuming that a child MUST follow the religion of his parents or else he is screwed up?

As I recall, several councils have issued district strips to be worn underneath the CSP immediately following a multiple council merger. I think Buckskin may have been one of these, but I'm not sure.

The BSA neckerchief is now fully on par with the necktie: once functional, both are purely symbolic neckwear. When in the field, I wear a bandana (sometimes two) and a broad brim hat; that Texas summer sun can be brutal. It's too bad the BSA Scout uniform is no longer practical field wear.

I think Huckabees meteoric rise might scare enough traditional Republicans to boost McCain. Romney will keep sliding. On the other side, I suspect Clinton will come back at Obama with both barrels but Edwards is too nice a guy to rise above second place.

Time was, the cent was solid bronze, now it's copper coated zinc; there have been proposals in Congress to shift to aluminum. Personally, I think that would cheapen the entire dollar to that of a third world. Like the Franc or the Lira.

GW must have me on ignore

Ed, we have long since just accepted it as part of your persona. It's different but not bothersome. Sorta like a good friend who has a stutter.

Eamonn, never once have I ever thought you were "heavy handed", and I suspect others feel the same. (But then, if moderators don't 'sign their work', who is to know? )

(Sidebar comment having nothing to do with religion.) "While we're at it, get rid of the penny too. That would save more billions, and conserve copper and aluminum natural resources at the same time." FScouter, pennies don't have any aluminum. Mostly zinc these days with a tad of copper. There has actually been some serious consideration in Congress towards eliminating the one cent piece. Coinage history tells us it's gonna happen sooner or later. Personally, I think that 2009 should be the last year of the Lincoln cent - on his 200th birth year and the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln cent.

Gern makes a very good suggestion. Way back when we all carried metal Army canteens (this was during the pre-Nalgene epoch), I remember hearing a tinkling metallic sound coming from Phil's tent in the middle of the night. Next morning we saw him washing out his canteen in the creek. None of us ever shared a drink from him again.

SSS, giving thanks before a meal is always a good idea. I wouldn't object either, if someone asked. I get rather weary though when such invocations always give thanks to Ganesha. I mean, not everyone recognizes Ganesha as God, right? It's always Ganesha this and Ganesha that. As a religious minority, I much prefer a non-sectarian grace which allows each person to privately name their own favorite deity.

aha! We have identified the culprit! Thanks for 'fessing up, Hops. Now I know to whom I should direct my comments and suggestions. (I find it ironic that we are discussing censorship in another thread.) It boils down to this: as a moderator you have free reign to delete threads and edit our posts for whatever reason. Or no reason. That is a great power. However, with great power comes great responsibility. Moderators must be responsible for each and every change they make. Like others on this forum, I bristle at the notion that someone can come along and CHANGE MY WORDS without my permission. So my request to all moderators is simple: PLEASE SIGN YOUR WORK. Let us (and the world) know what your edits are and why. thanks.