Trevorum

hmmm... Nope, she's too cool headed.

jd, you're absolutely right about labels and broad caricatures. And I second your acknowledgement of Lisbob. However, I would like to point out that she is a Bob White, and everybody knows that Bob Whites are far more "intelligent and cool-headed" than other critters ...

shaman, welcome to the forums! We're glad you've joined us. As I recall, we have recently discussed this very point (you can do a search for that thread); yes there are some Scouters who tend to very narrowly define "God" as being the the Judeo-Christian-Islamic deity. These folks, while good Scouters, are apt to be discomfitted when confronted with scouts and Scouters of minority faiths. I always take the time to remind such folks that "BSA does not define what constitutes belief in God or the practice of religion" (BSA policy statement, 6/2000). And, as OGE has pointed out in another related thread, BSA partners with a diversity of faiths in the religious awards program including many non-Christian and several pre-Christian faiths. That being said, I'm not sure that "Ralph" would qualify any more than the Holy FSM with his noodly appendages. (However, I'm quite sure that someone is going to try...)

Hey there Rooster! Where have you been lately? You've missed out on some juicy threads! Here, I agree with you. With the sole exception that I believe that most units are in fact racially segregated. Not out of bigotry (as was perhaps the case in decades long past) but from simple demographic reality. I further believe that nearly all such de facto racially segregated units would welcome any recruit of any race (or religion, for that matter)

Hi Stephanie! Glad you joined us! Tiger Cubs is a blast isn't it?

We're sponsored by a wonderful Presbyterian CO. I would guess that about 10-20% of our families are members of that congregation.

Need some advice. It looks like the Black Jags will have two more of their old Den mates join us so they will be a patrol of 10 - a good size. AND, I've just learned that Pack #2 has 6 Webelos who are planning on joing our troop, and Pack#3 has another eight. Given the fact that we have experienced a 30% attrition rate the first year (seems to be common, though regrettable), what are your feelings about forming two more patrols, or combining the fellows from Packs #2 and #3 into one big patrol? The two new groups will both be crossing over in late Feb. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each option?

I'm gonna hafta get my speakers fixed ...

OGE, How about I just take store credit?

OGE, OK, I'll play! How about this: they all originated in agrarian societies in Asia. Not a single African, American, Australian, or European faith among them. Also, no animistic or shamanistic faiths. Do I win the dime?

Brent, I'd be pleased to count you among my conservative friends. I believe you are correct in that the majority of adults in Scouting today are probably politically conservative (ooo, deja vu ... I think we've had this discussion before ...). One reason of course is that the BSA automatically rejects membership from many people who happen to be politically liberal. Nonetheless, please know that there are many of us Scouters whom you might paint with a blue brush! That is one of the remarkable values of ScouterTerry's website here. It provides a forum for a diversity of Scouters to exchange views and get to know one another.

Pete, welcome to the forums! I asked the same question on Scouts-L a few years back and no one had a good answer. My guess is the numbers are apocryphal. They certainly dated, as evidenced by the 50% of scouts joining the military. The "one in four" boys becoming scouts also seems to be closer to one in ten these days. (Census data gives 2004 population as 288M, 21% ages 5-19, 50% male = 30M target population; 2004 BSA youth membership was 3,145,331). The cited numbers are good PR, nothing more.

Brent and Randy, I agree. For Cubs, "announcements" should be more like "headlines", just enough to whet the appetite and for parents to realize that something's up. In our troop, we do "News Flashes". These are like the headline plus the lead paragraph. The occasional slip up use of the "A" word and the resulting burst of song reminds everyone to keep it short 'n sweet.

Fun, of course we forgive you. Everyone here slips up now and then and says something askew. Shoot, one of MY best friends is black (wait, did I really say that?) I mean, one of my best friends is a woman (no, that's not right either..) ... OK. One of my best friends is gay (! ...) Hmmm... how about, one of my best friends is a Conservative. ... Not that there's anything wrong with that ...

Merlyn, Obviously, She just changed Her mind ...

Oh, that's good trivia! This just in: on Jan 1st, the Southeast Alaska Council and Western Alaska merged. The new Council name looks to be GREAT ALASKA Council. http://www.bsawac.org/

We had our first new scout patrol of the year form up at the meeting tonight - 8 hi-octane fellows straight from Webelos. Choosing a patrol name was surprisingly difficult. They were deadlocked at 4 and 4 for a lonnnnng and highly vocal debate until one fellow suggested maybe a completely different name would be acceptable to everyone. They quickly chose "Black Jaguars" and went on to pen a pretty good ditty as the patrol yell. The diplomat? He was elected Patrol Leader. I'll be watching the dynamics in this new patrol with interest!

Yep. I just realized that the 6 month point is almost here. Where has the time gone? It seems like just last month we were bivouaced on the Hill ...

To those of you who attended the Jamboree last summer - how many are planning to remove the Jambo patches after 6 months? What say the uniform police?

Howdy back at'cha Bob! Glad you decided to join us! Scouting in the blood - just like a lot of us! (and HEY! All you OTHER lurkers, follow Bob's lead and join in! We want to hear what y'all have to say!)

Hello Jayhawk ad welcome to the forums! I know of several Scouts who laminate their actual MB cards, but I don't see any reason to do that to the blue cards (or rather the portion that is retained by the scout). That said, there is no reason NOT to if anyone wants to do that ...

Funscout, yes, I understand how starting from that premise you would need to make that conclusion. I'm unfamiliar with Peter Marshall or Christy. However, I'd like to point out that the logic linking social behavior and the fall of civilizations is severely flawed. NO civilization has EVER survived. Ever. Ask any archeologist. All civilizations rise, flourish and then either 1) decay, 2) collapse, 3) are conquered, or 4) are absorbed. Gern, great quote! Lincoln showed a true understanding of humility during a terrible war. Very unlike "Gott mit Uns!"

LOL! Our troop sings almost the same song! (The only major difference is in the 3rd line: "A terrible way to be talked to death, a terrible way to die." Our scouts love this tradition, young and old alike. It's become a game - at the end of the meeting we have various "news flashes" of upcoming activities and if some poor Assistant SM uses the word "announcement", then the whole troop spontaneously bursts into song. Some adults love to hear themselves talk, and this tradition serves to remind everyone to keep the speeches "short and sweet".

It sounds like this troop is being run BY adults and FOR adults.

Monique, ooo - you've selected a GREAT itinerary! You are going to see some absolutely spectacular scenery. Camping is very popular in these areas. Have you looked at camping at National Park, State Park, and National Forest campgrounds? These places take reservations and in some places the reservations are filled up 6 months or more in advance. In general, scout camps are very busy during that time of the summer and do not take family camping (even scouting families). There may be some that do, but I am unaware of any. In addition, there are lots of private campgrounds near these popular sights, but many of them are "camping" in name only - more like parking lots. Some are OK, though - it's sort of chancy though. Have a wonderful visit to North America!