Trevorum

David, I was lucky enough to get a copy of a terrific council database compiled by a fellow patch collector. (I'm chagrined to admit I forget his name right now, but I have it on my computer at work). I'll send you a copy. By the way, my compliments on several wonderful articles on the stamps and currency of Mafeking. Your work is meticulous and truly raises the bar for all. Thank you! OakTree, I will check on Pennsylvania. I'm pretty sure it is less than NY or TX. There were a bunch of mergers in the 90s. I'm not sure what the largest council is now, but it will very shortly be the one resulting from the announced merger of Southeast Alaska and Western Alaska. The smallest council is Piedmont, Calfornia.

Today, California has the most councils at 24, followed by New York and Texas tied at 19 each. Historically, New York has had the most councils. A total of 167 different councils have been registered in New York state! Of these, 148 have merged or disbanded. New York is followed by Pennsylvania (156), Illinois (141), and distantly by Texas (116) and California (113). The earliest councils seem to be Chicago, Columbus Ohio, and Burlington Vermont, all incorporated in 1910 (along with the National Office in New York). 1911 saw Saint Louis, Brooklyn, Delaware and Montgomery County (Philadelphia), Norfolk (Virginia), and Greater Boston.

Today, California has the most councils at 24, followed by New York and Texas tied at 19 each. Historically, New York has had the most councils. A total of 167 different councils have been registered in New York state! Of these, 148 have merged or disbanded. New York is followed by Pennsylvania (156), Illinois (141), and distantly by Texas (116) and California (113). The earliest councils seem to be Chicago, Columbus Ohio, and Burlington Vermont, all incorporated in 1910 (along with the National Office in New York). 1911 saw Saint Louis, Brooklyn, Delaware and Montgomery County (Philadelphia), Norfolk (Virginia), and Greater Boston.

Ed, well, I don't know who is correct - my data show Montclair as forming in 1913. What infor do you have? Anyways, as Eamonn points out, the question was seeking the oldest council (not the first formed). Miki - When I posted the trivia I seriously thought of excluding you as a professional Scouting historian who was certain to know the answer, but then I knew that wouldn't be fair! I'm sure your sources are going to be much better than mine! And so, (with a hint) Crew21 takes Round 1! The oldest continuously incorporated council in the US is Maui County Council, headquartered in Wailuku, Maui, HI, which formed in 1915. Second is Alameda Council in Alameda, CA, formed in 1917. Here's an easier one: Which state currently has the most councils? (and bonus round: which state has had the most total councils?)

Nope. Montclair council, headquartered in Montclair, NJ formed in 1913 and was renamed Eagle Rock Council in 1931. (Eagle Rock merged in 1946 and became Essex, and is now in Northern New Jersey Council). And, nope! The National Council was incorporated as a council in 1979 when the National Office moved to Irving, Texas. Before than it was just the National Office / National Headquarters in New Brunswick NJ (1954-1979) and New York, NY (1910-1954). Here's a hint: I'll bet our buddy Kahuna knows the asnwer...

Here's a good piece of BSA trivia: We've learned that Glaciers Edge is the newest council - what is the oldest council in the country?

The Adirondack website is still up, so it probably wasn't that. Do you recall when this happened? The last meger into Twin Rivers that I know of was Mohican Council in 1998.

Hello Fred! How are ya? I hope you had an excellent Christmas! Whether or not one thinks that gender identity is determined before birth or not does not diminish my argument. My point was that many of the same arguments that were used to justify rascism in scouting (and in society) are being recycled today. Regardless, your point is that science does not yet know for certain what causes sexual orientation to vary. Yes, this is very true. But there is increasing scientific evidence that such orientation is due to a complex interplay of genetic and gestation-hormonal factors. (Remember that some sea turtles become either male OR female depending on something as simple as temperature.) Some researchers think that this issue may be unraveled within 10 years. I know that neither you nor I made a "choice" to be attracted to women. That's just the way we were made. The same is true for gay people. But I don't expect to convince you or anyone else on this point. I'm not a specialist in this field (shoot, I can't even convince some people of the power of evolution!) but. fairly soon, I believe the science will speak clearly. In the meantime I feel I have a moral obligation to speak out against what I see as a social injustice.

Oh, come on, John! It's only an hour a week!

Our troop is tremendously lucky to have a wonderful parent who is very experienced in dealing with children with disabilities. I think she has plans to become more active on the council level so as to share her experience with other units.

T729SM, welcome to the forums! We're glad you've joined us -- you've boldly jumped right into the thick of the gay debate on your first post! Reading your arguments, I could hear the echoes of an era long past, when upstanding Scouts and Scouters in this country did not want "coloreds" in scouting, and certainly not in their own troop. "Why don't they start their own organization for 'their kind'. We don't want our sons to join that sort of organization. What is wrong with us wanting our troop to be 'whites only'?" To me, the parallels are stark, and frightening. As a person of conscience, I will continue to speak out against, and fight, injustice. I have absolutely no doubt that one day the BSA will no longer discriminate on the basis of genetic and hormonal characteristics over which we have no control and which have no bearing on character. Either that, or we should also revoke membership to achrondroplastics and those with trisomy 21.

oops. glitch in the ol' wetware ... You're absolutely right. Sinnissippi Council and Four Lakes Council merged to form Glaciers Edge. Earlier in 2005, Viking and Indianhead merged to from Northern Star.

I'll bet that'll be the biggest council in the country! Do you know when the merger is planned?

My heart goes out to her family. Years ago, my father passed away on December 21, the winter solstice. It was a somber holiday that year, but the gathering of family reminded us all of what is truly important.

I've heard that Viking Council and Sinnissippi Council are merging to form the new Glaciers Edge Council. I''ll be sorry to see Viking go - that was a cool name... But the new Glaciers Edge council patch will have a wooly mammoth! Awesome! Does anyone know of any other council mergers planned for 2006 ??

During SM conferences, I always ask my scouts. "Which point of the Scout Law gives you the most trouble?" The answers are very interesting and always insightful. We take the opportunity to discuss setting personal goals and self improvement as a continual life process. I'm going to take my own advice. For 2006 I'm going to focus on the point of the Scout Law that I have the most trouble with. This self-improvement business can be tough ...

from the best place in my heart - Happy Channukah to all!

When my kids turned 14, I got them each a cell phone. They thought the phone was cool, but it actually gives me the reins to check on them any time, anywhere. When #1 son was on summer camp staff, he learned to be responsible for his own weekly laundry -- and of course, he washed his phone! It was fried. But when the summer was over, he had saved up enough to buy a new phone. Anyone remember party lines? When I was in kindergarten, we had to wait until the other person was done with their conversation before we could make a call. Imagine!

I just saw the same story while waiting in line at the bank. The x-ray was incredible! I think I'll work this story into a SM minute for January sometime ...

Any word on a new council patch? Will Chehaw use the same design as before or come up with a new one?

The one day of the year when double dipping is OK, and the 5 second rule is suspended!

Ho, Ho, Ho! and a Merry Christmas to all!

Our troop is sponsored by a wonderful Presbyterian congregation and I am proud to be associated with a unit that is so welcoming to families of all backgrounds: Protestants, Catholics, Hindus, Jews, Mormons, pagans, UUs, and an Islamic family. Our families celebrate a variety of holidays throughout the year and we are as respectful of the holidays of Ramadan and Yom Kippur as we are of Christmas and Easter. Merry Christmas to all!

Remember Dick Tracy's two-way wrist radio? Wow, that sci-fi gizmo was pretty far out there wasn't it?!

OGE (and others) Again: Evolution is not a theory. Evolution is a FACT. The evolution of biological systems over geologic spans of time is a demonstrated fact. What is a theory is the mechanism by which evolution proceeds; natural selection is currently the best explanation. Hence, the "theory of evolution by means of natural selection". It's the natural selection part that is the theory, not the evolution part.