Trevorum

This sounds like a terrific activity for kids. I would have loved to decipher a treasure map back when I was a kid (come to think of it, that's probably why I enjoyed The DaVinci Code). Anyway, I can't see how this would translate into a fundraiser. Who would buy these? and for how much? It sounds fun, but I'm not sure it would be the best way to raise money for the unit.

Lisabob, I'm not following your question. I can't envision a situation in which one would do a ticket item but purposely try to keep it secret. Some ticket items are more interesting than others and some are interesting only to certain people or sets of people. Ticket items are supposed to be "helpful", so why would anyone choose something that was sure to hurt anyone's feelings? One of my ticket items resulted in a booklet entitled "A Scout is Reverent" which our friend Kudu later (with my permission) published on his website Inquiry.net. I didn't originally intend for the booklet to be widely public but I am pleased that it has reached so many people. Trevorum

A different colored T shirt for each day of camp! Clean clothes at camp - what an interesting idea - I winder if we could extend this to underwear as well ...

Religious awards are not issued by Programs of Religious Activity with Youth (PRAY). They are issued by individual religious groups. PRAY is a third party which partners with some, but not all, religious groups to facilitate the distribution of religious study curricula and, upon approval by the appropriate religious group, the medals. please see http://www.praypub.org/main_frameset.htm

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Does the unit have a good program? Are the boys advancing? Are the greenbars leading? Is membership stable or growing? Are the boys having fun? If so, then mebbe the Class A isn't an issue. I agree with epalmer - uniforming is a method to help achieve the goals of scouting (character development, etc.). Uniforming is not a goal in itself. If the unit is uniformly presented at activities - that is, all members are wearing the same garb - then unit self identity is being achieved and the goals are being promoted. As Beav says, 95% dressed uniformly is much better than 40% dressed uniformly. Get to know the members are you will soon learn who greenbar and who isn't. Evidently this unit functions quite well without the shoulder patches.

Happy Hanukkah to all!

Thank you Fred for posting this. I was not previously aware of Ms. Pollard's battle for justice but I will now tell her story along with those of Judith Livers, Rosa Parks, Anna Mae Hays, and Jackie Robinson.

Agree with Hunt and scoutldr. Council policies vary on this issue. For this reason I also suggest that the Scout should himself call the chair of the district Eagle committee (he should already know this person, having obtianed his/her signature for the Eagle project) and ask for clarification of the council's policy. That said, affiliation with any organized religion is NOT required for BSA membership and so can not be a pre-requisite for any rank.

"poofy" ... ?? I gotta admit, I don't understand legal jargon ...

f2c, Thank you for volunteering! BSA is not an efficient or well run organization - but it means well. Be patient. If you want to volunteer your services, sooner or later, the niche will find you. Reminds me of my own experiences. When I first came to this town some 15 years ago, I visited the scout office, introduced myself, and said I would like to volunteer as a merit badge counselor. Blank stares back at me, "We don't do that." I finally gathered that in these parts, counselor lists are maintained by individual units, so no one at council knew how to respond to my volunteering. Some years later, my son joined a pack. For two years, I attended all of his den meeting and pack meetings but never once did the DL or CM ask me to volunteer. My niche finally found me when a new elementary school opened and I was catapulted to become CM of the new pack. Ask you friends and neighbors what troop/pack their sons belong to. Visit some meetings. Make friends. Attend activities. Have fun. Teach the boys something you know. Have fun. Before you know it, you'll be up to your eyeballs in Scouting!

Excellent advice from both Mark and Lisa. I believe that cheating is rampant throughout our society and that trustworthiness is one of the most valuable ethical lessons that Scouting offers. This episode is a teaching moment in the young man's life. What he learns from his mistake will shape his character. Good luck.

gwd - just how many husbands does your wife have??

Gern is mocking the beliefs of ancient Near-Eastern nomadic sherpherds! Apostate heathen! I suspect he also embraces the modern heresies of fossils, evolution, and heliocentrism.

One year before the OA election, I remember a mom bringing me a list of all the times her little Johnny had gone family camping. In their RV.

Sue, while small popups are one thing, I don't think tents would be appropriate in this situation. Beav, yah. John, like I said, I'm not too worried about the temp. Grandma's a tough old bird. I'm mostly thinking about the chance of rain. Thinking about other outdoor ceremonies I've witnessed, I've seen umbrellas at funerals and such. I had completely forgotten about them! (Don't even own one) Umbrellas are verboten on Scout outings of course, but they would be perfectly fine at a CoH for civilians in the audience, huh?

Hello Pat, and welcome to the forums! I've not heard this term. Could it be simply the sheet bunched and tied around a smooth pebble? I've often used that type of expedient grommet.

huh? it sounds like you're saying that any criminal conviction should be an automatic disqualifier, regardless of circumstances.

I'm not too concerned about the temperature. Here in Texas, we get the occasional ice storm, but usually the daytime temps are pretty mild (my lovely bride will of course disagree). I'm thinking more about the chance of rain. The scouts all have pretty good raingear of course, but it would nonetheless put a damper on the ceremony. Plus, we wouldn't want the cake to get soggy!

I don't find your remarks humorous in the least. I'm going to close this thread immediately. ...Oh, wait. I'm not a moderator ... Never mind.

A fire is a great idea but won't be allowed. But, yeah - I'll have some popups ready just in case ...!

Well, my oldest son has finally decided on a time and place for his Eagle ceremony. He emphatically did not want an indoor ceremony. So, its going to be outdooors, in the dead of winter, on the highest peak in the county. {brrr...} The troop can certainly handle the weather (hey, it's scouting!), but I'm not sure about guests, like his 83 year old grandmother. I'll just pray for a sunny day.

If we ever do all get together at OGE's Philmont training session some summer, before we make introductions we should first try to guess each other's identities based on our uniforms ...

just cracks me up .... Call me what you will, but I try to keep in mind that the uniform is a method and not an aim of scouting.

Tonya, I'm not a recharter specialist, but I don't think tht adults are expected to subscribe to Boy's Life. After all, it's a magazine for youth. As a registered adult, I've always recieved Scouting.

"Kids do stupid things." Boy, howdy! I've told you about (one of) the stupid things I did as a kid. Let me tell you about one of the stupid things my Eagle Scout son did. Back when he was 10 or 11 he built a fort in the woods behind our house. One day, as I was relaxing on the porch with a book, I saw him running off towards the fort carrying two buckets of water. Did not register in my brain. Several minutes later he was back, again lugging a couple of pails of water. CLICK! Why does a kid urgently need several buckets of water? Like a shot, I was up out of my chair, sprinting into the woods with a shovel. Luckily, by the time I got there, the fire inside the fort was almost out. Another couple of buckets and some quick work with the shovel and I was able to gasp at him, "What the heck were you thinking??" It was a classic teaching moment and we both made good use of it. Ever since he almost burned down the woods, I've noticed that he has a profound respect for fire. Did I mention that he is an Eagle? I think that all kids (well, mostly boys) do stupid things now and then. It's part of growing up and learning about the world. I hope that the fellow in baden's troop will learn from his mistake and that he will be given the opportunity to prove it to his friends and to his Scoutmaster.